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The twenty-first century's great geopolitical contest has begun. A major trade war has broken out. American and Chinese naval vessels are having close encounters in the South China Sea. American congressmen and businessmen are cheering their government's public attacks on China. China is standing firm and resolute. Who will win this contest? What is at stake? And who will judge the winner?In this book, Kishore Mahbubani evaluates the two sides, and shows how China has been thinking on a global scale, launching ambitious initiatives under some of the world's most pragmatic and competent leaders. Most critically, the Chinese people have regained their cultural confidence. Chinese society is now infused with innovation and dynamism. Meanwhile, America has seen the power of its economic model badly damaged by the 2008 financial crisis. To many it is no longer the indispensable nation but an awkward interloper.The global rise of China and the relative strategic decline of the US presents a political challenge that the US has never faced before. American policymakers must shake off their complacency and launch a major strategic reboot of both domestic and foreign policies that have weakened the nation's social foundations and global standing. Otherwise, the start-up nation, barely two hundred and fifty years old, with only a quarter of China's population, cannot expect to defeat the world's oldest continuous civilization. With his trademark candor, Mahbubani delivers impartial and incisive insights on the strategic stakes and mistakes in this new great game.

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A gripping new thriller from the bestselling author of THE GIRL IN THE SPIDER'S WEB"A classic murder mystery . . . one Holmes himself would have loved to solve" Independent"Fans of dark Swedish crime will love this moody thriller" The Sun"A nerve-racking political thriller with the most exciting detective duo in a long time. Bring on their next case" Romy Hausmann, author of Dear Child"A rich, engrossing novel" Literary Review"Complex and dark" Irish IndependentThe launch of a new series inspired by Sherlock Holmes. A murder investigation brings together two unlikely allies in a race to uncover a shadowy international conspiracy.Professor Hans Rekke: born into a wealthy Stockholm family, world authority on interrogation techniques, capable of vertiginous feats of logic and observation . . . But he might just fall apart when the going gets tough, leading to substance abuse and despair.Micaela Vargas: community police officer, born to Chilean political refugees in a tough suburb, with two brothers on the shady side of the law.Vargas feels she has something to prove. She's tenacious and uncompromising, but she needs Rekke's unique mind to help her solve the case. Rekke has it all - wealth, reputation - but also a tendency to throw it all away. He needs Vargas to help him get back on an even keel so he can focus his mind on finding the killer before they're both silenced for good.Translated from the Swedish by Ian Giles

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Advances in Dairy Product Science & Technology offers a comprehensive review of the most innovative scientific knowledge in the dairy food sector. Edited and authored by noted experts from academic and industry backgrounds, this book shows how the knowledge from strategic and applied research can be utilized by the commercial innovation of dairy product manufacture and distribution. Topics explored include recent advances in the dairy sector, such as raw materials and milk processing, environmental impact, economic concerns and consumer acceptance. The book includes various emerging technologies applied to milk and starter cultures sources, strategic options for their use, their characterization, requirements, starter growth and delivery and other ingredients used in the dairy industry. The text also outlines a framework on consumer behavior that can help to determine quality perception of food products and decision-making. Consumer insight techniques can help support the identification of market opportunities and represent a useful mean to test product prototypes before final launch. This comprehensive resource: Assesses the most innovative scientific knowledge in the dairy food sector Reviews the latest technological developments relevant for dairy companies Covers new advances across a range of topics including raw material processing, starter cultures for fermented products, processing and packaging Examines consumer research innovations in the dairy industry Written for dairy scientists, other dairy industry professionals, government agencies, educators and students, Advances in Dairy Product Science & Technology includes vital information on the most up-to-date and scientifically sound research in the field.

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Hackers exploit browser vulnerabilities to attack deep within networks The Browser Hacker's Handbook gives a practical understanding of hacking the everyday web browser and using it as a beachhead to launch further attacks deep into corporate networks. Written by a team of highly experienced computer security experts, the handbook provides hands-on tutorials exploring a range of current attack methods. The web browser has become the most popular and widely used computer "program" in the world. As the gateway to the Internet, it is part of the storefront to any business that operates online, but it is also one of the most vulnerable entry points of any system. With attacks on the rise, companies are increasingly employing browser-hardening techniques to protect the unique vulnerabilities inherent in all currently used browsers. The Browser Hacker's Handbook thoroughly covers complex security issues and explores relevant topics such as: Bypassing the Same Origin Policy ARP spoofing, social engineering, and phishing to access browsers DNS tunneling, attacking web applications, and proxying—all from the browser Exploiting the browser and its ecosystem (plugins and extensions) Cross-origin attacks, including Inter-protocol Communication and Exploitation The Browser Hacker's Handbook is written with a professional security engagement in mind. Leveraging browsers as pivot points into a target's network should form an integral component into any social engineering or red-team security assessment. This handbook provides a complete methodology to understand and structure your next browser penetration test.

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A history of a political practice through which East Africans have sought to create calm, harmonious polities for five hundred years. “To speak and be heard” is a uniquely Ugandan approach to government that aligns power with groups of people that actively demonstrate their assent both through their physical presence and through essential gifts of goods and labor. In contrast to a parliamentary democracy, the Ugandan system requires a level of active engagement much higher than simply casting a vote in periodic elections. These political strategies—assembly, assent, and powerful gifts—can be traced from before the emergence of kingship in East Africa (ca. 1500) through enslavement, colonial intervention, and anticolonial protest. They appear in the violence of the Idi Amin years and are present, sometimes in dysfunctional ways, in postcolonial politics. Ugandans insisted on the necessity of multiple voices contributing to and affirming authority, and citizens continued to believe in those principles even when colonial interference made good governance through building relationships almost impossible. Through meticulous research, Holly Hanson tells a history of the region that differs from commonly accepted views. In contrast to the well-established perception that colonial manipulation of Uganda’s tribes made state failure inevitable, Hanson argues that postcolonial Ugandans had the capacity to launch a united, functional nation-state and could have done so if leaders in Buganda, Britain, and Uganda’s first governments had made different choices.

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On 29 October 1914 the hospital ship Rohilla left Queensferry with 234 people on board bound for Dunkirk. Just after 4 a.m. on 30 October there was a tremendous impact as the ship ran onto rocks at Saltwick Nab, a mile south of Whitby. Mortally wounded only 600 yards from shore, she was ‘so close to land yet so far from safety’. It was impossible to launch the Whitby No. 1 lifeboat to aid those stranded on the ship, instead the No. 2 boat, John Fielden, was lifted over the sea wall and hauled over the rock Scar to opposite the Rohilla. Despite being holed, the lifeboat reached the wreck after great difficulty and rescued five nurses and twelve men. A further eighteen men were saved in a second trip, but damage to the lifeboat barred any further rescues. This book unfolds the heroic events that transpired as members of the public and lifeboatmen struggled to reach those stranded on the wreck. The final fifty souls were saved in an impressive rescue from a motor lifeboat that had travelled over 40 miles in perilous conditions to reach them. Of the 234 people on board the Rohilla eighty-nine were lost. Such was the effort involved that the RNLI bestowed some of its highest medals on several of those involved in the rescue. The loss of the Rohilla is still regarded as one of the worst tragedies to have occurred amongst the annals of the RNLI.

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The major contribution made by Coastal Forces to the Allied war effort has had surprisingly little coverage in the literature of the Second World War. Motor torpedo boats, PT boats, motor gunboats, launches and submarine chasers served with distinction throughout the War, and in every theatre. They performed invaluable service as patrol boats, convoy escorts, minelayers and minesweepers, harbour defence vessels, light landing craft, RAF rescue boats and transports for agents and clandestine missions. Allied Coastal Forces, now a recognised classic work and first published in 1990, remains the only publication to deal comprehensively - in words, photographs and drawings - with the technical detail of all these boats. Design, construction and subsequent development are all covered, and the builders, construction lists, fates and the technical data are given for each type. Separate sections cover armament and equipment, sea-going qualities and habitability. This first volume covers all the designs of the Fairmile Marine Company (including those craft built and equipped for Canada), together with the 72ft Harbour Defence Motor Launch and the US Navy 110ft subchaser. The authors, firmly established as the recognised authorities on small warships, unearthed a remarkable body of information now included in this major work, and their finely detailed drawings, redrawn form original builders' plans, offer an unparalleled view of all these remarkable designs. The new editions of their work will be welcomed by naval enthusiasts and modellers alike.

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The instructional designer’s pocket guide to training is back. If you are designing a training program for the first time, this practical book is for you. Part of ATD’s Training Basics series, it zeroes in on how to design successful training for the face-to-face or virtual classroom. It also serves as a guide for developing self-study training programs, such as online tutorials and workbooks.Internationally renowned workplace learning expert and educator Saul Carliner not only delves into the analysis and evaluation phases of training design—where most books stop—but also gives prominence to core competencies like materials development, marketing, and administration.Updated to reflect changes in training practices, this second edition helps instructional designers hone key training skills. Major additions include guidance on live virtual and online tutorials, completely new training programs, and tips for how to adjust design practice when working under stringent conditions. In this book you will learn:• Best practices for designing and developing training programs in the real world• Tactics to successfully launch and run training programs you’ve designed• How to adjust design practices along three tiers of effort in platinum, silver, and bronze scenarios.About the Training Basics Series ATD’s Training Basics series provides a baseline explanation of the theories and concepts behind featured topics, as well as instructions for their practical day-to-day application in the workplace. Additional titles include Adult Learning Basics, Competency-Based Training Basics, Technical Training Basics, and Virtual Training Basics.

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Get into the business of speaking and training. There are dozens of books on public speaking. But only Speak for a Living will show you how to launch, build, and sustain a successful speaking and training career. Wondering whether making the leap into this industry is for you? In this revised and expanded edition, authors Anne Bruce and Sardék Love offer updated strategies for navigating the public-speaking business. Their new material on social media and website marketing will help you find your niche and create a unique brand that reaches the right audience. They’ll show you how to diversify your services in an increasingly globalized industry, whether through booking international gigs, getting published, or developing new products. And they’ll use their years of experience to help you avoid the mistakes so many speakers and trainers make. Speak for a Living also has field-tested tools and checklists that all speakers and trainers will find valuable, whether they’re new to the profession or old pros. Use them to identify ideal clients, prepare for any presentation, and become a meeting or event planner’s dream speaker. And if you want to sharpen your performance skills, the book has a whole chapter on how to take your abilities to the next level. Speak for a Living is the ultimate insider’s guide. Use it to gain insight into the professional speaking lifestyle and become the speaker or trainer people request again and again.

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The story of Alpha is of major significance for understanding the place of religious faith in the modern world, but that story has never been told - until now.Since its launch in 1993, the Alpha movement has evolved from 'supper party evangelism' in the Kensington suburbs into a global brand of Christian outreach. Today, over a million people attend Alpha every year, but the history of its rise to popularity has never been documented. What caused such spiritual renewal in an age of scepticism? And what propelled Alpha into a phenomenon that is recognised across the globe?Alpha is far more than an introductory course to Christianity. At the core of its brand identity is a 'repackaging' of the Christian message for contemporary audiences. Innovation and cultural adaptability are built into Alpha's DNA, one of the chief reasons for its longevity and influence. Nimbly utilising the multimedia and digital revolutions, it has contextualised into cultures and languages across the planet. And led by charismatic, savvy individuals, it has attracted people from across the social spectrum, making waves in national media.Andrew Atherstone leaves no stone unturned as he presents this fascinating history. With exclusive access to original archives, Atherstone recounts the miraculous stories of HTB's early years, the first full account of Nicky Gumbel's conversion, and the strategic decisions that launched Alpha onto the global stage of Christian influence.With sharp historical analysis, Andrew Atherstone uncovers the story of Christian resurgence in our contemporary age.

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This book tells the story of romantic companionship in one hundred works of art. Chronologically arranged and emotionally driven, this study of couples runs through many cultures, civilizations, and epochs. With examples from across the globe, it portrays iconic and lesser-known (yet fascinating) couples immortalized in the history of art. Whether affectionately embracing, engaged in flirtatious exchanges, seducing one another, or simply enjoying each other's company, readers are invited into their complex world of passion, lust, and love. This celebration of these romantic relationships is expressed through sculptures, paintings, photographs, tapestries, stained glass, and illustrations.Gathered together are representations of couples from ancient cultures (Amenophis IV and Nefertiti), the Middle Ages (Tristan and Isolde), and the Renaissance (Paolo and Francesca). The book also covers contemporary pairs such as John Lennon and Yoko Ono or Gilbert and George, and artists such as Manet, Gainsborough, Renoir, Metsys, Rembrandt, Rubens, Blake, Moore, and Munch, to name but a few. The artists offer us an extensive selection of couples: from history, folklore, and legend, to pairs of a purely fictional nature. This variety of artistic means and vision results in a charming and irresistible collection.Art historian Agata Toromanoff has written several books on design. After running a contemporary art gallery and participating in the launch of a fashion brand, she founded a book packaging agency, Fancy Books. She also curates photography shows across Europe.

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'Terrific and enthralling' New Scientist'An authoritative account of Apollo 11 and the end of the space race, shedding light on the true drama behind the mission.' ObserverFifty years ago, in July 1969, Apollo 11 became the first manned mission to land on the Moon, and Neil Armstrong the first man to step on to its surface. He and his crewmates, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins, were the latest men to risk their lives in this extraordinary scientific, engineering and human venture that would come to define the era.In Apollo 11: The Inside Story, David Whitehouse reveals the true drama behind the mission, putting it in the context of the wider space race and telling the story in the words of those who took part - based around exclusive interviews with the key players.This enthralling book takes us from the early rocket pioneers to the shock America received from the Soviets' launch of the first satellite, Sputnik; from the race to put the first person into space to the iconic Apollo 11 landing and beyond, to the agonising drama of the Apollo 13 disaster and the eventual winding-up of the Apollo program.Here is the story as told by the crew of Apollo 11 and the many others who shared in their monumental endeavour. Astronauts, engineers, politicians, NASA officials, Soviet rivals - all tell their own story of a great moment of human achievement.

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In August 1944 the British Pacific Fleet did not exist. Six months later it was strong enough to launch air attacks on Japanese territory, and by the end of the war it constituted the most powerful force in the history of the Royal Navy, fighting as professional equals alongside the US Navy in the thick of the action. How this was achieved by a nation nearing exhaustion after five years of conflict is a story of epic proportions in which ingenuity, diplomacy and dogged persistence all played a part. As much a political as a technical triumph, the BPF was uniquely complex in its make-up: its C-in-C was responsible to the Admiralty for the general direction of his Fleet; took operational orders from the American Admiral Nimitz; answered to the Government of Australia for the construction and maintenance of a vast base infrastructure, and to other Commonwealth Governments for the ships and men that formed his fully-integrated multi-national fleet.This ground-breaking work by David Hobbs describes the background, creation and expansion of the BPF from its first tentative strikes, through operations off the coast of Japan to its impact on the immediate postwar period, including the opinions of USN liaison officers attached to the British flagships. The book is the first to demonstrate the real scope and scale of the BPF's impressive achievement and this new affordable edition will be welcomed by all those who missed this major work first time around.

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'Paints a vivid picture of life aboard the mighty ship-of-the-line' - Daily ExpressCape Colony is proving a tiresome assignment for Captain Kydd's daring commander-in-chief Commodore Popham. Rumours that South America's Spanish colonies are in a ferment of popular unrest and of a treasure hoard of silver spur him to assemble a makeshift invasion fleet and launch a bold attack on the capital of the Viceroyalty of the River Plate, Buenos Aires.Navigating the treacherous bars and mud flats of the river, the British invasion force lands and wins a battle against improbable odds, taking the capital and the silver. But nothing is as simple as it seems in this region of the world: the uprising that will see the end of Spanish rule never arrives and the locals begin to see dark conspiracies behind the invader's actions. Soon the tiny British force finds itself surrounded by an ever more hostile population. The city begins to revolt against its liberators.Now Kydd's men must face fierce resistance and the betrayal of their closest allies. Can they save themselves, and their prize?****************What readers are saying about BETRAYAL'Another page-turner from a sailor who knows his craft' - 5 stars'An outstanding addition to an excellent series' - 5 stars'A great read and I would highly recommend it!' - 5 stars'A really good naval series written with good taste and fine detail' - 5 stars'A triumph' - 5 stars

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The story of Alpha is of major significance for understanding the place of religious faith in the modern world, but that story has never been told - until now.Since its launch in 1993, the Alpha movement has evolved from 'supper party evangelism' in the Kensington suburbs into a global brand of Christian outreach. Today, over a million people attend Alpha every year, but the history of its rise to popularity has never been documented. What caused such spiritual renewal in an age of scepticism? And what propelled Alpha into a phenomenon that is recognised across the globe?Alpha is far more than an introductory course to Christianity. At the core of its brand identity is a 'repackaging' of the Christian message for contemporary audiences. Innovation and cultural adaptability are built into Alpha's DNA, one of the chief reasons for its longevity and influence. Nimbly utilising the multimedia and digital revolutions, it has contextualised into cultures and languages across the planet. And led by charismatic, savvy individuals, it has attracted people from across the social spectrum, making waves in national media.Andrew Atherstone leaves no stone unturned as he presents this fascinating history. With exclusive access to original archives, Atherstone recounts the miraculous stories of HTB's early years, the first full account of Nicky Gumbel's conversion, and the strategic decisions that launched Alpha onto the global stage of Christian influence. With sharp historical analysis, Andrew Atherstone uncovers the story of Christian resurgence in our contemporary age.

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When writing his memoirs after World War II, German Generalfeldmarschall Albert Kesselring stated, Italy's missing her chance to occupy the island [of Malta] at the start of hostilities will go down in history as a fundamental blunder. It's easy to see why this tiny 95 square mile island held such a prominent place in the war's Mediterranean Theater. Located almost halfway between the British bases of Gibraltar and Alexandria, Egypt, and just 60 miles south of Sicily, her airfields and naval base stood directly in the path of Italy's (and her German partner's) line of communication from Europe to North Africa. Operation C3 is a detailed study of the Axis 1942 plan to invade and take the island of Malta. The book examines the future combatants up to the Axis capture of Tobruk, in June 1942. The book then provides a realistic assessment of what would have had to happen if the Axis had decided to launch the invasion. Operation C3 then provides a day-by-day battle narrative of the invasion as if it had occurred on Saturday, August 15, 1942. The battle narrative is based on the combatant's actual plans from the Italian and Maltese archives. and the realistic appraisal of what could have happened when those plans collide. A Reality & Analysis section is added after the battle narrative to discuss what really happened after Tobruk fell and why Operation C3 was never attempted.

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Does nationalism lead to interstate war? This book challenges the existing presumption about the link between nationalism and war and systematically investigates how popular nationalism affects a country's decision to launch military aggression. In doing so, the book makes a provocative and novel claim that popular nationalism has not only a conflict-inducing effect but also a restraining effect and identifies the conditions under which popular nationalism causes war. Specifically, the book claims that popular nationalism leads to war only when leaders who confront it are very confident about their chance of achieving complete victory in conflict or they are politically vulnerable. If these two conditions are not met, popular nationalism has a restraining effect, making leaders seek the status quo and avoid the use of force. The book first shows the restraining effect of popular nationalism focusing on China through a survey experiment and an in-depth case study on the territorial dispute between China and Japan in the East China Sea. It then offers a comprehensive historical and contemporary analysis of when popular nationalism's restraining effect turns into a conflict-inducing one through case studies on the War of 1812 and the Falklands War. The book provides important insights into whether popular nationalism could put great powers like the United States and China on a collision course and offers broad policy implications for how we can prevent war driven by popular nationalism.

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"ROMAN AND LATE ANTIQUE MEDITERRANEAN POTTERY". In November 2008, an ICREA/ESF Exploratory Workshop on the subject of late Roman fine wares was held in Barcelona, the main aim being the clarification of problems regarding the typology and chronology of the three principal table wares found in Mediterranean contexts (African Red Slip Ware, Late Roman C and Late Roman D). The discussion highlighted the need to undertake a similar approach for other ceramic classes across the Mediterranean provinces. In addition, it was perceived that ceramic studies are often dispersed and in such a variety of publications that it is difficult to follow progress in this vast field. Therefore, a series devoted to Roman and late Antique pottery in the Mediterranean was proposed to serve as a reference point for all potential authors devoted to pottery studies on a pan-Mediterranean basis. The creation of such a series would not only serve as a means of publishing the results of the ICREA/ESF workshop but also as a network for publication of in-depth monographs devoted to archaeological ceramics of the Mediterranean in the Roman and late Antique periods. With this first volume on ceramic assemblages and the dating of late Roman fine wares, Archaeopress launch this new series devoted to the publication of ceramics in the Roman Mediterranean and outlying territories from the late Republic to late Antiquity.

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College isn’t for everyone. It’s time to challenge the status quo and embrace the potential of apprenticeships in tech, healthcare, finance, and more—which can provide a sustainable pathway to economic opportunity.For decades, college has been the only respectable way to access the world of work, despite paralyzing tuition and a dire lack of practical skills that has left 40 percent of college graduates underemployed, unfulfilled, and struggling to repay student loan debt.Education and workforce expert Ryan Craig explores how a modern apprenticeship system will allow students and job seekers to jump-start their careers by learning while they earn—ultimately leading to greater workforce diversity and geographic mobility.With a deep dive into the history behind America’s outdated college system, Craig reveals: The origins of the student debt crises and admissions scandals Why apprenticeships are an effective pathway to career opportunity What America can do to catch up with other nations making apprenticeship opportunities broadly available Where students and job seekers can go to land an apprenticeship Featuring a directory of US apprenticeship programs by industry and location, Apprentice Nation is an accessible blueprint for a country where young Americans of all backgrounds can launch careers in a variety of in-demand fields. With just a few common sense changes to education and workforce development, anapprentice nation will put the American Dream within reach—for everyone.

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At dawn on April 28, 1789, Captain William Bligh and eighteen men from HMS Bounty were herded onto a twenty-three-foot launch and abandoned in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Thus began their extraordinary journey to Java. Covering 4,162 miles, the small boat was battered by continuous storms, and the men on board suffered crippling illness, near starvation, and attacks by islanders. The journey was one of the greatest achievements in the history of European seafaring and a personal triumph for a man who has been misjudged by history.Captain Bligh's Portable Nightmare reveals Bligh's great mapmaking skills, used to particular effect while he was exploring with Captain Cook. We discover his guilt over Cook's death at Kealakekua Bay. We learn of the failure of the Bounty expedition and the myths that surround the mutiny led by Lieutenant Fletcher Christian, the trials and retributions that followed Bligh's return to England, his successes as a navigator and as a vice admiral fighting next to Nelson at the Battle of Copenhagen. Combining extensive research with dazzling storytelling, John Toohey tells a gripping tale of seafaring, exploration, and mutiny on the high seas, while also dismissing the black legend of the cruel and foulmouthed Captain William Bligh and reinstating him not just as a man of his times but as a true hero.

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In an uncertain economy where business risk is significant, the company tends to rely more on its environment than to invest, for example, in all steps of technological creation; This can be explained by the fact that investments in the acquisition (ownership) of production resources are less expensive than those implied in the formation of these resources; which also explains the attractiveness (in an open economy) of regions with abundant scientific and technical resources. To understand and analyze the innovation process in order to better design and launch new goods, services and technologies, one has to consider the creative dimension of the individual, the business and the organization in general. In new approaches to innovation, the entrepreneur and the company are analyzed through their skills, and their function of resource generation; Innovation thus becomes endogenous, gradual or radical, integrated in a complex process with many feedbacks and interactions. The innovative organization (small or large) is presented in this book as a dynamic system composed of specific and diverse skills (including those of the contractor, engineers or managers). By acquiring, combining and mobilizing these skills, the innovative agent (entrepreneur or company) can create technological resources and develop relations with its environment. Hence the importance of management in design, implementation, protection of intellectual property as well as of the development of new goods, services and technology, commercial and organizational models.

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Los Angeles Times Bestseller! Airstrikes rain down, Gatling guns pound, and snipers lurk in the distance—welcome to the combat aid station of a young doctor embedded with the heavily weaponized 1st Marines Division as the Battle of Fallujah boils over.On the night of April 4th, 2004, 1st Marine Expeditionary Forces launch a major assault on the city of Fallujah. U.S. Navy Lieutenant Donnelly Wilkes’s battalion leads the assault into Fallujah as he is positioned with Navy Corpsmen and Marines at the tactical highway intersection called “The Cloverleaf.” Rarely have U.S. military physicians been so close to combat in a major conflict as they were in the chaotic, embattled streets of Fallujah—Code Red Fallujah will take you there. Sharing the harrowing entries from his field diary, Wilkes becomes the first-ever Navy physician to recount the sights and sounds of one of the most violent events of the entire Iraq War. In heart-pounding detail, he divulges his struggles to save wounded warriors amidst rockets landing close enough to knock him off his feet. When Wilkes—fresh out of medical school—is suddenly thrust into this war zone, his skills, his faith, and his ability to endure are all put to the test. Code Red Fallujah is the firsthand narrative of Wilkes’s role in the Battle of Fallujah, scintillating combat trauma, and the spiritual challenges that pierced his journey.

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Stirling Convertor Regenerators addresses the latest developments and future possibilities in the science and practical application of Stirling engine regenerators and technology. Written by experts in the vanguard of alternative energy, this invaluable resource presents integral scientific details and design concepts associated with Stirling converter regenerators. Content is reinforced with novel insights and remarkable firsthand experience that the authors and their colleagues acquired while working at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and other leading organizations.Apply NASA Experience & ExperimentationIntrigued by its special potential to improve energy generation, NASA has been working on Stirling technology since 1980—first for automotive applications, and later for use in generating auxiliary power during space missions. Now, after three decades of development, the Department of Energy and NASA and its contractors have developed a high-efficiency Stirling radioisotope generator (SRG), and NASA plans to launch such a Stirling engine/alternator for use in deep space.With contributions from top experts in their fields, this reference offers a rare insider’s perspective that can greatly benefit engineers, scientists, and even students who are currently working in R&D for Stirling machines, as well as other burgeoning areas of alternative power generation—particularly solar and wind technologies. This book is a significant resource for anyone working on application of porous materials in filters, catalytic convertors, thermal energy storage, electronic cooling, and more.

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If you have a child with a physical disability, how can you plan your family's life in a way that is inclusive for everyone? What can you do to create a family where every member pulls his or her own weight (in appropriate measure), meets challenges, and has moments in the spotlight along the way? Most parents of a child who has a physical disability want their child to have fun, be responsible, make friends, and take acceptable risks-in short, to feel like "just one of the kids"-and they want to make sure that the needs of the whole family are met, too. Just One of the Kids is designed to help parents focus not on what could have been but instead on what can be, so that they, their children, and the grandparents thrive as individuals and as a family. The advice from psychologists Kay Harris Kriegsman and Sara Palmer is valuable for any family with children who have a physical disability, from any cause. Their warm and encouraging book is full of family stories, tips, and tools. Parents of children with physical disabilities can help them develop the skills needed to meet life's challenges and launch into independence. Parents, building on that foundation and acknowledging each person's contributions, interests, and aspirations, create an inclusive and resilient family.

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Discover how a founder’s personality can impact the culture of a startup In The Soul of Startups: The Untold Stories of How Founders Affect Culture, award-winning HR and diversity and inclusion professional Sophie Theen delivers an insightful and eye-opening discussion of the importance of culture in the vibrant and, sometimes, chaotic world of startup enterprise. In the book, you’ll hear from a people management expert who has sat alongside those who launch exciting new ventures. The author describes company founders who lacked the emotional maturity and intelligence to start an organization on which an entire team would rely for their wellbeing, as well as those who excelled at creating environments that allowed their team members to thrive, personally and professionally. You’ll also find: Unvarnished truths from people who have lived through the ups and downs of the startup experience Celebrations of the people who have worked for—and with—the celebrity CEOs to help them realize their vision Illuminating stories of the journeys of startup operators, including the good, the bad, and the ugly A can’t-miss resource for company founders, entrepreneurs, managers, executives, and startup professionals, The Soul of Startups also belongs in the libraries of human resources and people management professionals seeking unique insights into how the personalities of startup founders shape the structures, processes, and realities of working in a fast-growing company.

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The Proven, Professional Resume and Job Search Guide for Executives in the 100K and Above Salary Range This new, expanded edition of a classic bestseller supplements veteran career advisor William Montag's years of experience with the powerful online resources of CareerJournal.com, The Wall Street Journal's own career Web site. Let this handy resource be your own professional executive coach with up-to-the-minute advice on how to land your ideal executive job using proven high-visibility marketing techniques. The top-notch, real-world resume and cover letter samples inside will help you launch your search with the same competitive edge held by the top-level clients of Montag Associates. You'll learn how critical self-marketing is to your success and how to maximize your marketability by pairing the perfect cover letter with the right resume for any job opportunity. By combining the author's power packaging and patented Expansionist Theory(TM) methods with 24/7 online job search strategies you can outmarket, outsmart, and outclass the competition. Put your executive job search on the fast track with: * All the marketing techniques and online skills of professional executive career coaches * Up-to-date listings of the best career and job search sites on the Internet * Sample resumes accompanied by their own specially designed cover letters * Frequently asked questions and market-tested answers * Top ten rules for the twenty-first-century job market

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Learn the secrets of direct response marketing with the man who created the George Foreman Grill campaign In today's highly competitive, global marketplace, businesses have to do more than just advertise their products. By taking advantage of the accountable advertising model that direct response has to offer, you can improve your bottom line, build brands, and develop lasting relationships with legions of satisfied customers. In Buy Now!, Rick Cesari reveals twenty-five years' worth of insights and methods, enabling you to make the most of direct response marketing in your business toolkit. Whether you're a business owner, executive, inventor, or marketer, Buy Now! gives you the secrets behind the successful campaigns that catapulted products into millions of homes. Find out how to use direct response to create a "self-funding "marketing campaign Learn the techniques to building offers that will get people to respond to your products Use "high touch" direct response marketing to build brand equity and drive sales at retail Find out why large companies like Johnson & Johnson and Valvoline are using these concepts for their consumer brands Cesari has put more companies on the Inc. 500 list of fastest growing companies than anyone else Buy Now! to launch your products and campaigns to new heights-and connect with customers as never before-with Cesari's market-leading insights.

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The book aims to provide both comprehensive reviews of the classical methods and an introduction to new developments in medical statistics. The topics range from meta analysis, clinical trial design, causal inference, personalized medicine to machine learning and next generation sequence analysis. Since the publication of the first edition, there have been tremendous advances in biostatistics and bioinformatics. The new edition tries to cover as many important emerging areas and reflect as much progress as possible. Many distinguished scholars, who greatly advanced their research areas in statistical methodology as well as practical applications, also have revised several chapters with relevant updates and written new ones from scratch.The new edition has been divided into four sections, including, Statistical Methods in Medicine and Epidemiology, Statistical Methods in Clinical Trials, Statistical Genetics, and General Methods. To reflect the rise of modern statistical genetics as one of the most fertile research areas since the publication of the first edition, the brand new section on Statistical Genetics includes entirely new chapters reflecting the state of the art in the field.Although tightly related, all the book chapters are self-contained and can be read independently. The book chapters intend to provide a convenient launch pad for readers interested in learning a specific topic, applying the related statistical methods in their scientific research and seeking the newest references for in-depth research.

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Created in 1943 from members of the Hitler Youth born in 1926, the division was attached to I SS Panzer Corps in March 1944 and transferred to Normandy. Based around Caen, it was intended to repel a possible and expected invasion from the sea. When the invasion came in June, it was one of the two closest panzer divisions to the landing beaches. The defensive battles that took place in Normandy, particularly the four battles around the city of Caen, saw the young soldiers of the Hitlerjugend demonstrate determined resistance, conceding only due to being greatly outnumbered. After the battles fought in Normandy, the division was withdrawn first to the Franco-Belgian border, where it was engaged in hard defensive fighting and then to Germany for reorganisation.Other difficult and demanding battles followed during the offensive in the Ardennes, on the Bastogne front, in Hungary and finally the last battles fought in Austria, on the sacred ground of the Reich, where the soldiers of the Hitlerjugend, despite the desperate situation and the superiority of the enemy, managed to achieve local success and launch desperate counterattacks even into the last weeks of the war, in the name and in defense of their homeland. Packed with photographs, maps and profiles, this Casemate Illustrated follows the actions of the 12th SS Panzer Division throughout its existence.

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Data Mining and Analytics provides a broad and interactive overview of a rapidly growing field. The exponentially increasing rate at which data is generated creates a corresponding need for professionals who can effectively handle its storage, analysis, and translation. With a dual focus on concepts and operations, this text comprises a complete how-to and is an excellent resource for anyone considering the field. Case studies and hands-on activities incorporate real-world data sets and allow students the opportunity to exercise their new skills. Our Cloud Desktop integrates popular data mining tools, giving students a valuable familiarity with industry-standard applications. After defining the concepts of data mining and machine learning, Data Mining and Analytics delves into the types of databases, their respective relevance and popularity, and the trends that affect their use. The importance of data visualization for communication purposes is explored, as are the processes of data cleansing, clustering, and classification. Excel, SQL, NoSQL, Python, and R programming all receive in-depth treatments, supplemented with hands-on exercises. Operations covered in earlier chapters are given real-world context through a practical application to the current issues of “big data” and of text and image data mining. The text concludes by describing an analyst’s steps from planning through execution, ensuring that readers gain the technical know-how to launch, lead, or support a data project in the workplace.

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With mental health increasingly in the spotlight, this book offers a new perspective on anxiety. The focus of this book is on the application of psychological alchemical practice to address, explore and examine the nature and cause of anxiety in order to tackle and overcome it. It has never been more relevant to illustrate the reality that scientific, artistic and spiritual understanding, together with practical application, has the capacity to eliminate anxiety and gain personal control, liberation and fulfilment. The first half of the book identifies the issues to be considered and the second half explains and illustrates the alchemical practices with which to approach them. While the book puts a slight emphasis on musical performance, it is made clear at the outset that performance concerns everyone and the contents, therefore, apply universally. Music is simply a very clear example. The book is designed as a personal development book rather than a scholarly work and, although it is relevant to all ages (depending on timing), it was written with 18 – 30 year olds being the main inspiration through apparent and ever increasing necessity. It is a source book that can be dipped into anywhere or launch further investigation into any of the various disciplines and practices covered. Alchemy has the capacity to bind it all together and the alchemy of performance can become a way of life for anyone.

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"A cute, sentimental tale that will appeal to those who love The Giving Tree"––School Library Journal Adults and children alike will delight in this heartwarming and visually powerful picture book, which shares a timeless story about love, connection, and finding the courage to grow tall on one's own. Every year when the wind blows, the tree’s seeds sail away to a mysterious place—until one little seed decides to stay. At first, the tree supposes the seed should leave. How else would it grow roots to rise tall and strong? But the tree is also lonely, and the mysterious place is far, far away. Will the seed be safe on its own? Stay, Little Seed celebrates the rhythms of the natural world and shares a gentle message for all of us, no matter our age: Sometimes, by letting go and being brave, we begin life’s greatest adventures. “Careful nurturing begets the launch into the unknown: Valentini celebrates both as natural and fitting.” —Kirkus Reviews “Both children and adult readers will identify with [Stay Little Seed’s] timeless themes, from the joy in comforting familial bonds to the growth that can only happen with independence.” —Booklist “A charming and quietly profound story, Stay, Little Seed encourages readers to be courageous enough to let go and experience new adventures in life.” —Books to Borrow, Books to Buy

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Set sail for the adventure of your life and work! This book will help you to articulate your most important dreams in work and life and will then give you a practical approach for realising those dreams. Through engaging, real-life examples, you will be inspired to live life to your full potential. Author Jeremy Cage begins with the premise that there is no such thing as work-life balance. There is only life balance -- of which work is an important part. With this as the foundation, he will guide you through a simple and actionable approach to determining the most important components of your life -- the Grab Bags in your LifeBoat -- then chart the course to making all the dreams in that LifeBoat a reality. Jeremy, who has lived and worked in nine countries, has used this approach to help thousands of executives, managers, and their teams unleash their potential. He has also realised his own dreams by taking a sixteen-month sabbatical to sail around the world with his family before returning to the US to launch several exciting new companies. So rather than theoretical mumbo jumbo, Jeremy presents compelling, real-life examples of how to dream specifically, get highly intentional about those dreams, plan and prepare well -- then summon the courage to set sail.

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Russia has deployed cyber operations to interfere in foreign elections, launch disinformation campaigns, and cripple neighboring states—all while maintaining a thin veneer of deniability and avoiding strikes that cross the line into acts of war. How should a targeted nation respond? In Russian Cyber Operations, Scott Jasper dives into the legal and technical maneuvers of Russian cyber strategies, proposing that nations develop solutions for resilience to withstand future attacks. Jasper examines the place of cyber operations within Russia’s asymmetric arsenal and its use of hybrid and information warfare, considering examples from French and US presidential elections and the 2017 NotPetya mock ransomware attack, among others. A new preface to the paperback edition puts events since 2020 into context. Jasper shows that the international effort to counter these operations through sanctions and indictments has done little to alter Moscow’s behavior. Jasper instead proposes that nations use data correlation technologies in an integrated security platform to establish a more resilient defense. Russian Cyber Operations provides a critical framework for determining whether Russian cyber campaigns and incidents rise to the level of armed conflict or operate at a lower level as a component of competition. Jasper’s work offers the national security community a robust plan of action critical to effectively mounting a durable defense against Russian cyber campaigns.

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Companies that don't use AI will soon be obsolete.From making faster, better decisions to automating rote work to enabling robots to respond to emotions, AI and machine learning are already reshaping business and society. What should you and your company be doing today to ensure that you're poised for success and keeping up with your competitors in the age of AI?Artificial Intelligence: The Insights You Need from Harvard Business Review brings you today's most essential thinking on AI and explains how to launch the right initiatives at your company to capitalize on the opportunity of the machine intelligence revolution.Business is changing. Will you adapt or be left behind?Get up to speed and deepen your understanding of the topics that are shaping your company's future with the Insights You Need from Harvard Business Review series. Featuring HBR's smartest thinking on fast-moving issues--blockchain, cybersecurity, AI, and more--each book provides the foundational introduction and practical case studies your organization needs to compete today and collects the best research, interviews, and analysis to get it ready for tomorrow. You can't afford to ignore how these issues will transform the landscape of business and society. The Insights You Need series will help you grasp these critical ideas--and prepare you and your company for the future.

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For companies and individuals stuck in in the same place, unable to move forward, this book provides not only a clear roadmap from point A to point B but also a way to arrive faster than anticipated and with measurable results. B State is about the state of transformation that removes old mindsets, inefficient behaviors, and undesirable habits to bring about breakthrough culture and business change. It focuses on where someone is going, and it helps them get there fast. In B State, Mark Samuel offers accountability-based executive and management coaching to assist individual leaders in developing strategies to create the new behaviors and habits their organization needs in order to perform at higher levels. The principles and methods he presents focus on building high performance teamwork at all levels and creating results that are both unprecedented and sustainable. Written for business executives, managers, and supervisors, this is not just a book about how to do business but also a book about how to live life. Samuel empowers readers with a way to understand and adopt his system, offers tangible solutions, illustrates how these work through case studies, and shows readers how to bring about the dynamic forward launch they're looking for. This is a useful guide for anyone but can also be a powerful complement to training and consulting programs.

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This updated edition shows you how to use the agile project management framework for success! Learn how to apply agile concepts to your projects. This fully updated book covers changes to agile approaches and new information related to the methods of managing an agile project. Agile Project Management For Dummies, 3rd Edition gives product developers and other project leaders the tools they need for a successful project. This book’s principles and techniques will guide you in creating a product roadmap, self-correcting iterations of deployable products, and preparing for a product launch. Agile approaches are critical for achieving fast and flexible product development. It’s also a useful tool for managing a range of business projects. Written by one of the original agile technique thought-leaders, this book guides you and your teams in discovering why agile techniques work and how to create an effective agile environment. Users will gain the knowledge to improve various areas of project management. Define your product’s vision and features Learn the steps for putting agile techniques into action Manage the project’s scope and procurement Plan your team’s sprints and releases Simplify reporting related to the project Agile Project Management For Dummies can help you to better manage the scope of your project as well as its time demands and costs. You’ll also be prepared to skillfully handle team dynamics, quality challenges, and risks.

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'CAPTIVATING EPIC FANTASY FROM A MAJOR NEW TALENT' Anthony Ryan on The Rage of DragonsDesperate to delay an impending attack by the indigenous people of Xidda, Tau and his queen craft a dangerous plan. If Tau succeeds, the queen will have the time she needs to assemble her forces and launch an all-out assault on her own capital city, where her sister is being propped up as the 'true' Queen of the Omehi.If the city can be taken, if Tsiora can reclaim her throne and reunite her people, then the Omehi might have a chance to survive the coming onslaught.THE FIRES OF VENGEANCE CONTINUES THE UNMISSABLE EPIC FANTASY SERIES THAT BEGAN WITH EVAN WINTER'S ACCLAIMED DEBUT THE RAGE OF DRAGONS.Praise for The Rage of Dragons:'Intense, inventive and action-packed from beginning to end - a relentlessly gripping, brilliant read' James Islington, author of The Shadow of What Was Lost'Stunning debut fantasy' Publishers Weekly'Intense, vivid and brilliantly realised - a necessary read' Anna Smith Spark, author of The Court of Broken Knives'Impossible to put down' Rick Riordan'Fans of Anthony Ryan's Blood Song will love this' Django Wexler, author of The Thousand Names'A Xhosa-inspired world complete with magic, dragons, demons and curses, The Rage of Dragons takes classic fantasy and imbues it with a fresh and exciting twist' Anna Stephens, author of Godblind

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The launch of the Sierra RS Cosworth in 1985 was a giant step forward for Ford. Initially developed for competition homologation, it was soon one of the most desirable fast cars that the public could buy. Its performance, at the time, was truly astonishing and remains impressive today. It was also the first of a family of turbocharged sporting Ford Cosworth models, ranging through the Sierra 500 RS Cosworth, the Sapphire RS Cosworth, the Rouse Sport RS Cosworth, the Escort RS Cosworth and the Escort RS Cosworth Monte Carlo.All these cars are doubly desirable today, and owners and potential owners anxious to establish the cars' correct original factory specifications and equipment will find all the information they need here in this book, backed up by hundreds of specially commissioned colour photographs of outstanding examples. As in the other titles in our authoritative and successful Factory-Original series, all aspects are covered: body panels, external trim and badging, paint colours, interior trim, dashboard, instruments and switches, under-bonnet components, engine and transmission, lamps and all other features right down to the tool kit. Of particular interest is the detailed information provided on components developed for and unique to the RS Cosworths as against the standard Ford models, and on the parts borrowed or adapted from a variety of Ford models to create the perfect recipe for the Cosworths.

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Throughout history, selling and entertainment have gone hand in hand - from the medieval pedlar and the medicine show, to generations of TV commercials featuring song and dance, comedy, and cartoon animals, right up to today’s celebrities who launch their own multi-million dollar brands. There are good reasons for this; we now understand better than ever before the psychological and sociological reasons why apparent frivolity creates serious business benefits. And yet the advertising business today seems reluctant to embrace its powerful links with popular culture. Misled on one side by managerial myths of rationality and logic, and on the other by a cultish misunderstanding of ‘creativity’, it risks forgetting how to appeal to the public, and how to build successful brands. As a result, evidence suggests, today’s advertising is less liked and less effective than ever before. But it is not too late to reverse this trend. Advertisers and agencies who read this book will rediscover why the pedlar sings, and despite what we’ve all been told, why people do buy from clowns. They will be inspired to make their advertising more popular, more famous, more fun again – and much more effective. ‘This is a fabulous book. ...It is possibly the book I would most highly recommend to anyone in marketing.’ Rory Sutherland, Vice Chairman, Ogilvy

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_Building the Wooden Fighting Ship_ is a fascinating account of the building of an historic ship, as well as a vivid and often surprising account of life and labour in the eighteenth century. In an age before industrialisation, the warship was the most complex object built by man and employed the most advanced technology of its time. Naval vessels of the period were, not surprisingly, so expensive to construct that meticulous records were kept, from the purchasing of timbers to the last details of their furnishings and armament, including even the individual names of some of the shipwrights and craftsmen. By carefully studying these records, the authors have reconstructed, in extraordinary detail, the building of HMS Thunderer -a two-decked, 74-gun ship-of-the-line. In words and specially drawn illustrations, contemporary prints and paintings, the authors show every stage of the building of this ship, from the purchase and cutting of timbers right through to the launch in 1760\. There are descriptions of Woolwich dockyard where she was built and details of all the skills and trades involved in her construction. First published in 1984, this book is a beautiful and highly informative work on a significant aspect of the Royal Navy and will appeal to enthusiasts, modellers, historians and anyone with an interest in traditional crafts.

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By early August 1944 the Germans fighting in Normandy had been worn down by the battles around Caen, while to the west, the American breakout was finally gaining momentum. Now was the time to launch II Canadian Corps south towards Falaise. With much of the German armour having been stripped away for the Mortain Counter-Attack, hopes ran high that the Corps, reinforced with British tanks, the 51st Highland and the Polish Armoured Divisions, would repeat the success of their predecessors in the Battle of Amiens. An innovative change of tactics to a night armoured assault and the conversion of seventy-two self-propelled guns to armoured personnel carriers for the accompanying infantry was very successful, but up against their implacable foes, 12th Hitlerjugend SS Panzer Division, the pause for bombing allowed Kurt Panzer' Meyer to deploy his division. Consequently, when the 4th Canadian and Polish Armoured Divisions were launched into their first battle they made frustratingly little progress. As the Canadians advanced over the following days, the battle degenerated into a costly fight for ground as the Hitlerjugend struggled to contain the inexperienced Poles and Canadians. Operation Totalize is renowned for the death of SS panzer Ace Michael Wittmann at the hands of Trooper Joe Ekins and the destruction of Worthington Force, the result of a navigational error.

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'Wilfred's sheer ambition is an inspiration. We can all learn from it.' - Peter Bazalgette'Based on my career, Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones' approach to risk can produce huge dividends' - Nigel Travis, chairman of Dunkin' Brands and author of The Challenge CultureJeopardy is the single greatest catalyst for making things happen in life.In Jeopardy, award-winning entrepreneur Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones argues that our natural instinct for caution is one of the greatest barriers to making progress in life, and shows how embracing jeopardy is essential if you want to succeed.Drawing on a life that has taken him from a deprived childhood in inner-city Birmingham to becoming one of the nation's most famous farmers, he demonstrates how we can all go further in life by learning to escape the fears that stop us from achieving our ambitions.Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones is no stranger to jeopardy: he remortgaged his house in 2005 to launch his brand 'The Black Farmer' from nothing. Its products are now stocked in all major supermarkets and the business has an annual turnover of several million. In this book, he shows that only by embracing jeopardy, and liberating ourselves from the shackles of uncertainty and self-doubt, can we realise our full potential.What could you achieve, if you decided to stop letting fear hold you back?

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If you have a child with a physical disability, how can you plan your family's life in a way that is inclusive for everyone? What can you do to create a family where every member pulls his or her own weight (in appropriate measure), meets challenges, and has moments in the spotlight along the way? Most parents of a child who has a physical disability want their child to have fun, be responsible, make friends, and take acceptable risks - in short, to feel like "just one of the kids" - and they want to make sure that the needs of the whole family are met, too. Just One of the Kids is designed to help parents focus not on what could have been but instead on what can be, so that they, their children, and the grandparents thrive as individuals and as a family. The advice from psychologists Kay Harris Kriegsman and Sara Palmer is valuable for any family with children who have a physical disability, from any cause. Their warm and encouraging book is full of family stories, tips, and tools. Parents of children with physical disabilities can help them develop the skills needed to meet life's challenges and launch into independence. Parents, building on that foundation and acknowledging each person's contributions, interests, and aspirations, create an inclusive and resilient family.

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Are you ready to wake up for your life and not just to your life?Don't worry; you don’t have to be a morning person to start each new day well. Join Kat Lee and thousands of women from countries around the world who have learned to maximize their mornings. In Hello Mornings, Kat introduces a simple yet powerful three-minute morning routine that integrates Bible study, planning, and fitness into a foundational morning habit that fits into every schedule. She then helps you build each of these core habits for life-long growth.Everyone can find three minutes. And instead of adding one more thing to the list, Hello Mornings lifts the weight off women by revealing a grace-filled way to establish a powerful morning routine that offers a simple way to incorporate the most-sought-after daily habits into a simple morning routine: God. Plan. Move. the latest research on habit formation and development practical tools to help readers develop and grow their own personalized, adaptable plan for mornings stories of transformed mornings from women in every season and stage of life Hello Mornings helps readers renovate their mornings to establish and grow a powerful daily routine—a long-term, Jesus-centered habit to anchor them in every season. Each morning can then become a launch pad into God’s amazing plan for their lives.

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A witty and warm-hearted novel about a trans teen finding his place in the world perfect for fans of Red, White and Royal BlueThere’s only one thing standing between Finch Kelly and a full-blown case of high school senioritis: the National Speech & Debate Tournament. Taking home the gold would not only be the pinnacle of Finch’s debating career, but the perfect way to launch himself into his next chapter: college in Washington, DC, and a history-making career as the first trans congressman. What could possibly go wrong? Well, for starters, Finch could develop a teeny tiny crush on his very attractive, very taken, and very gay debate partner, Jonah. Never mind that Finch has never considered whether he’s interested in more than just girls. And that dream of college in DC? Finch hasn’t exactly been accepted anywhere yet, let alone received the full-ride scholarship he'll need to make this dream a reality. Worst of all, though, is this year's topic for Nationals: transgender rights. If he wants to cinch the gold, and get into college, Finch might have to argue against his own humanity. People say there are two sides to every argument. But, as Finch is about to discover, some things—like who you are and who you love—are not up for debate.

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The first-ever comic book event in the world of Joss Whedon’s Firefly is here as Mal must reunite the crew of the Serenity for one last impossible job to save the ‘Verse from the Blue Sun Corporation in a new hardcover collecting the entire story.THE FIRST-EVER FIREFLY COMIC BOOK EVENT! Sheriff Mal Reynolds has a new partner—a law enforcing robot from the Blue Sun corporation, who doesn't care about motives, about mercy, about anything other than enforcing the law—no matter the cost. The Blue Sun Corporation has helped to run the ‘Verse from the shadows for years, but they’re ready to step into the light and take over. If Mal wants to keep his job and protect his sector, the smart move would be to play by their rulebook. But for Mal, there’s really one choice —reunite the crew of the Serenity for one last impossible job to save everyone they love. Now the ‘Verse is changing in ways no one ever expected - and will lead to the beginning of an all new, all different chapter in the world of Firefly. New York Times best-selling writer Greg Pak (Darth Vader), along with acclaimed artists Dan McDaid, Lalit Kumar Sharma & Daniel Bayliss, launch Mal & the crew of Serenity into their biggest war yet. Collects Firefly Blue Sun Rising #0-1, and Firefly #21-24.

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The Pact Worlds are the beating heart of the Starfinder campaign setting, a solar system full of citizens both familiar and bizarre. From the cosmopolitan corridors of Absalom Station to the carnivorous jungles of Castrovel or the floating cloud-cities of the gas giant Bretheda, this hardcover rulebook is your guide to Starfinder's core worlds and civilizations, and the perfect place to launch any adventure. Inside, you'll find: • In-depth gazetteers of the system's 14 major worlds, from high-tech Verces and the draconic empires of Triaxus to the necromantic wastleands of Eox or magical bubble cities floating on the surface of the sun. Each gazetteer features a detailed world map, residents and cultures, settlements and adventure locations, a unique theme to customize characters from that world, and more. • New playable alien races, from undead Eoxians to Castrovellian plant-people. • New starships, from the living vessels of the Xenowardens to sinister Hellknight dreadnoughts. • A codex of themed NPC stat blocks to help Game Masters create vivid encounters. • New archetypes for every class, including the Star Knight, Skyfire Centurion, and Divine Champion. • Tons of new weapons, armors, spells, feats, magic items, technological gadgets, and more to help outfit your adventurers. The pocket edition presents the same contents in a smaller sized softcover for a lower price and better portability.

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