George W. Bush has fundamentally changed America's place in the world. In some neo-conservative circles the word 'empire' is back in fashion, and a great republic that broke away from the British empire is now supposed to be proud of its new imperial role. This book explains how the neo-conservatives and the petro-military complex have hijacked US foreign policy. It examines the price that Americans will have to pay for this new era of unlimited US military might - a never ending fear of terrorism; mushrooming defence and security spending; the erosion of civil liberties at home and the deaths abroad of tens of thousands of civilians and military combatants. At the heart of this disturbing and timely book is the ultimate question. Previous empires have foundered on the rock of imperial overstretch - the costs of trying to run and protect empires eventually outstripping the capacity and willingness of the citizenry to pay for them. Is the US in danger of going down that road? Who around George 'Dubya' Bush is pushing him along that path?
If you're looking for a trite phrase to describe the essence of this book, try "A trip down memory lane." It might be as apt as any. And Jim Whiting's Analecta fits that mold. His bittersweet telling of a childhood filled with sometimes warm and fuzzy anecdotes may trigger fond memories of your own younger days. The more unpleasant aspects of growing up are also visited here and these tales will have you grateful that your experiences--perhaps similar--are in the past . . . only to be remembered, sometimes painfully. Analecta begins at a critical point in the author's life. He is on the final lap of a solo car journey from upstate New York to Southern California. Six days ago he had left a life that had become routine, comfortable, and very much a part of himself-- in retrospect, perhaps too much so. He would, in a matter of hours be reunited with his wife, who had taken a job a month prior, in Solana Beach. In New York State they had left behind four of five of their grown children and five grandchildren. He also left behind almost twenty-nine years in broadcasting and an overlapping career in cartooning-that's his resume. Flashbacks to his preteen years reveal a kid who shows very early entrepreneurial leanings. He has a tendency to want to "belong" but he has difficulty being at ease in belonging. Whiting touches on the uneasy relationship with his older brother (is that so different from many siblings have?) There are interludes about a twelve-year-old kid getting lost in on his first visit to New York City; a high school girl friend; Navy boot camp; magic in New Orleans; personalities in Radio; poems (some very good-- some not so-- but fun); observations made in classrooms, business offices, and on the tennis court. Don't look for gossip, accusations, or grievances; none of them are in this book. It's definitely not a downer. Returning to Mell Lazarus's Introduction for a final note: "It's a great book! If you're like me, you'll love it. If you're not like me, you'll love it.
Pull back the curtain on the real history of magic – and discover why magic really matters If you read a standard history of magic, you learn that it begins in ancient Egypt, with the resurrection of a goose in front of the Pharaoh. You discover how magicians were tortured and killed during the age of witchcraft. You are told how conjuring tricks were used to quell rebellious colonial natives. The history of magic is full of such stories, which turn out not to be true. Behind the smoke and mirrors, however, lies the real story of magic. It is a history of people from humble roots, who made and lost fortunes, and who deceived kings and queens. In order to survive, they concealed many secrets, yet they revealed some and they stole others. They engaged in deception, exposure, and betrayal, in a quest to make the impossible happen. They managed to survive in a world in which a series of technological wonders appeared, which previous generations would have considered magical. Even today, when we now take the most sophisticated technology for granted, we can still be astonished by tricks that were performed hundreds of years ago. The Secret History of Magic reveals how this was done. It is about why magic matters in a world that no longer seems to have a place for it, but which desperately needs a sense of wonder.
The fateful blunder that radically altered the course of the twentieth century—and led to some of the most murderous dictators in history President Woodrow Wilson famously rallied the United States to enter World War I by saying the nation had a duty to make “the world safe for democracy.” But as historian Jim Powell demonstrates in this shocking reappraisal, Wilson actually made a horrible blunder by committing the United States to fight. Far from making the world safe for democracy, America’s entry into the war opened the door to murderous tyrants and Communist rulers. No other president has had a hand—however unintentional—in so much destruction. That’s why, Powell declares, “Wilson surely ranks as the worst president in American history.” Wilson’s War reveals the horrifying consequences of our twenty-eighth president’s fateful decision to enter the fray in Europe. It led to millions of additional casualties in a war that had ground to a stalemate. And even more disturbing were the long-term consequences—consequences that played out well after Wilson’s death. Powell convincingly demonstrates that America’s armed forces enabled the Allies to win a decisive victory they would not otherwise have won—thus enabling them to impose the draconian surrender terms on Germany that paved the way for Adolf Hitler’s rise to power. Powell also shows how Wilson’s naiveté and poor strategy allowed the Bolsheviks to seize power in Russia. Given a boost by Woodrow Wilson, Lenin embarked on a reign of terror that continued under Joseph Stalin. The result of Wilson’s blunder was seventy years of Soviet Communism, during which time the Communist government murdered some sixty million people. Just as Powell’s FDR’s Folly exploded the myths about Franklin Roosevelt and the New Deal, Wilson’s War destroys the conventional image of Woodrow Wilson as a great “progressive” who showed how the United States can do good by intervening in the affairs of other nations. Jim Powell delivers a stunning reminder that we should focus less on a president’s high-minded ideals and good intentions than on the consequences of his actions. A selection of the Conservative Book Club and American Compass
So you think you've got to grips with the features of Macromedia Flash MX? Welcome to this inspirations upgrade from friends of ED. Upgrade your thinking, upgrade your attitude, and upgrade your standards to take on board the host of exciting features incorporated into this version of Flash. With this title, we run the gamut of new features, from the Drawing API ("to die for"), through new video compression, Scriptable Masks and Components. We explore the new territory with experimental interfaces, check out the improvements in the 3D arena, and quarry the back-end technologies to see what gems we can turn up! Some of the best designers in the Web community have concentrated their efforts on this project. This has resulted in the highest caliber of work, including an exclusive insight into the creation of Jim Armstrong's New York Flash Film Festival final piece. From the acclaimed team that brought you Flash Math Creativity comes this inspiring volume, full of brand new effects and discussion on what Flash MX is going to do for designers—and where we go from here.
What secrets connect Egypt‘s Great Pyramids, the Freemasons, and the Council on Foreign Relations? In this astonishing book, celebrated journalist Jim Marrs examines the world‘s most closely guarded secrets, tracing the history of clandestine societies and the power they have wielded – from the ancient mysteries to modern–day conspiracy theories. Searching for truth, he uncovers disturbing evidence that the real movers and shakers of the world collude covertly to start and stop wars, manipulate stock markets, maintain class distinctions, and even censor the news. Provocative and utterly compelling, Rule by Secrecy offers a singular worldview that may explain who we are, where we came from, and where we are going.
Enos Jones of Augusta County, Virginia, was the son of Robert Jones & Anne Coulston of the Welsh settlement of Gwyndd in what is today Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. They were Friends or Quakers if you prefer, as were the majority of the first settlers of Gwyndd, fleeing from the religious intolerance of 17th Century England. These early Quakers were soon joined by a host of 18th Century settlers from Germany, France, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England who also contributed their unique heritage to the growth of our country's culture. They were quickly followed by others from almost every corner of the world. Around the time of the American Revolution, Enos Jones and his wife Lydia, daughter of Palatine Germans, packed up their family and, along with Lydia's brothers, made their way west into the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. The following generations moved on west in search of new lands to farm stopping in Ross County, Ohio, then Linn County, Iowa, and finally in Page County, Iowa where the tale ends.
A professional performer presents tricks for magicians at every level of skill, especially novices. Intended for performances in bars, restaurants, and other close-up venues, these 29 routines include original tricks as well as tried-and-true crowd pleasers. Over 300 photographs illustrate clear instructions for illusions involving cards, money, fire, mind reading, and comedy"--
What Hath TR Wrought? “I don’t think that any harm comes from the concentration of power in one man’s hands.” —Theodore Roosevelt The notion that Theodore Roosevelt was one of America’s greatest presidents is literally carved in stone—right up there on Mount Rushmore. But as historian Jim Powell shows in the refreshingly original Bully Boy, Roosevelt’s toothy grin, outsized personality, colossal energy, and fascinating life story have obscured what he actually did as president. And what Roosevelt did severely damaged the United States. Until now, no historian has thoroughly rebutted the adulation so widely accorded to TR. Powell digs beneath the surface to expose the harm Roosevelt did to the country in his own era. More important, he examines the lasting consequences of Roosevelt’s actions—the legacies of big government, expanded presidential power, and foreign interventionism that plague us today. Bully Boy reveals: • How Roosevelt, the celebrated “trust-buster,” actually promoted monopolies • How this self-proclaimed champion of conservation caused untold environmental destruction • How TR expanded presidential power and brought us big government • How he heralded in the era of government regulation, handicapping employers, destroying jobs, and harming consumers • How he established the dangerous precedent of pushing America into other people’s wars even when our own national interests aren’t at stake • How this crusader for “pure food” launched loony campaigns against margarine, corn syrup, and Coca-Cola • How Roosevelt inspired the campaign to enact a federal income tax that was supposedly a tax on the rich but became a people’s tax Bully Boy is both a groundbreaking look at a pivotal time in America’s history and a powerful explanation of how so many of our modern troubles began.
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