Conor McGregor's trainer tells the amazing story of his long road to success in the world's fastest-growing sport Growing up in Dublin, John Kavanagh was a skinny lad who was frequently bullied. As a young man, after suffering a bad beating when he intervened to help a woman who was being attacked, he decided he had to learn to defend himself. Before long, he was training fighters in a tiny shed, and promoting the earliest mixed-martial arts events in Ireland. And then, a cocky kid called Conor McGregor walked into his gym ... In Win or Learn, John Kavanagh tells his own remarkable life story - which is at the heart of the story of the extraordinary explosion of MMA in Ireland and globally. Employing the motto 'win or learn', Kavanagh has become a guru to young men and women seeking to master the arts of combat. And as the trainer of the world's most charismatic champion, his gym has become a magnet for talented fighters from all over the globe. Kavanagh's portrait of Conor McGregor - who he has seen in his lowest moments, as well as in his greatest triumphs - is a revelation. What emerges from Win or Learn is a remarkable portrait of ambition, discipline, and persistence in the face of years and years of disappointment. It is a must read for every MMA fan - but also for anyone who wants to understand how to follow a dream and realize a vision. 'For anyone interested in following their dream to the end of the line' Tony Parsons 'It kept me up well past my bedtime' Sean O'Rourke, RTE Radio One 'Remarkable' Irish Times 'Kavanagh is open and honest about his upbringing ... The journey hasn't been easy, but Kavanagh's inbuilt determination has carried him all the way' Irish Examiner
Just what is a human being? Who counts? The answers to these questions are crucial when one is faced with the ethical issue of taking human life. In this affirmation of the intrinsic personal dignity and inviolability of every human individual, John Kavanaugh, S. J., denies that it can ever be moral to intentionally kill another. Today in every corner of the world men and women are willing to kill others in the name of "realism" and under the guise of race, class, quality of life, sex, property, nationalism, security, or religion. We justify these killings by either excluding certain humans from our definition of personhood or by invoking a greater good or more pressing value. Kavanaugh contends that neither alternative is acceptable. He formulates an ethics that opposes the intentional killing not only of medically "marginal" humans but also of depersonalized or criminalized enemies. Offering a philosophy of the person that embraces the undeveloped, the wounded, and the dying, he proposes ways to recover a personal ethical stance in a global society that increasingly devalues the individual. Kavanaugh discusses the work of a range of philosophers, artists, and activists from Richard Rorty and Søren Kierkegaard to Albert Camus and Woody Allen, from Mother Teresa to Jack Kevorkian. His approach is in stark contrast to that of writer Peter Singer and others who believe that not all human life has intrinsic moral worth. It will challenge philosophers, students of ethics, and anyone concerned about the depersonalization of contemporary life.
Tense, involving, Camden’s Knife is a smart near-future thriller with a startlingly real sense of plausibility. In a world that's falling apart, can one ordinary person make a difference? Tremendous stuff! Kavanagh can write!” Hugo Award-winner David Wingrove, author of the Chung Kuo series and the Roads To Moscow trilogy In this near future pop-culture-filled dystopian novel, America is under the dark cloud of a new envirus, Camden-Young’s Disease. Unleashed five years earlier from an explosion at a genetic engineering laboratory, the stealth envirus has laid waste to 74% of Caucasians between puberty and their early thirties while the other 26% are mysteriously immune. From flu-like attacks to excruciating fevers, hair loss, blindness, insanity and death, there is no cure; the only respite available being the Febrifuge Blue line of pharmaceuticals controlled by the Southern United Enterprises conglomerate used to treat symptoms of the target population while also used recreationally by the fortunate Sixers. Dr. Arthur Camden, dispatched from the company a year earlier by the powerful and merciless executive Trisha Lane, believes a formula for a cure (which would destroy SUE’s incredibly lucrative money machine) is contained in a pair of notebooks seized when he was fired. For their return, Camden’s willing to exchange four ounces of the otherwise unobtainable distillate CY6A4 he purloined just before he was dismissed that Lane craves to manufacture an experimental potion of unimaginable potential. David Stonetree, Lane’s new administrative assistant, becomes the middleman between the players in this high-stakes chess match, spurred on by the fact that his partner Sharon has just been diagnosed as a CYD-positive. Torn between Lane’s seductive wiles and Camden’s selfless decency he finally takes a stand that could cost him his job and possibly his and Camden’s lives. The story continues in Kavanagh’s sequel, Weekend At Prism, with many of the characters returning in Las Vegas for the $100M World Standoff! Tournament and “the biggest rock concert ever held in the history of the Universe.” Praise for Sixers “Terrific.” – Scott Turow, author of Presumed Innocent and Burden of Proof “(a) well-wrought debut…both engaging and fun to read.” – Publisher’s Weekly “A stunning debut novel…skillfully crafted…gripping and disturbing…an important new voice.” – Rave Reviews “A writer to reckon with…engrossing and well-written.” - West Coast Review of Books “This is a brave, wonderful book.” – Arthur Shay, Speaking Volumes
Tense, involving, Camden’s Knife is a smart near-future thriller with a startlingly real sense of plausibility. In a world that's falling apart, can one ordinary person make a difference? Tremendous stuff! Kavanagh can write!” – Hugo Award-winner David Wingrove, author of the Chung Kuo series and the Roads To Moscow trilogy In the second novel in The Macroglint Trilogy set in the near future, Jip Spotswood, our intrepid pop culture reporter, is covering the biggest story of his life. The world has become riveted by a $100 Million Tournament of the game STANDOFF! which is to be held in Prism Resort in Las Vegas, at the same time as the greatest Battle of the Bands contest featuring Pandora’s Obsession vs. Christie Cramer, Billy Blair and the Alliance (CCBBA) in “the biggest rock concert in the history of the Universe.” And Spotswood has a stake in the outcome of both events that could not only change his own life, but the future of America.
The book as is called all kinds of everything I hope says it all. There is something for everyone somewhere in the collection. The book is written with the view to give hope, inspiration, a Sense of love, and some of remembrance, to all who read it and those who have supported the writing of the book. A big huge thanks to all involved it has been a pleasure having you All in my corner and making my dream possible.
Tense, involving, Sixers is a smart near-future thriller with a startlingly real sense of plausibility. In a world that's falling apart, can one ordinary person make a difference? Tremendous stuff! Kavanagh can write!” – Hugo Award-winner David Wingrove, author of the Chung Kuo series and the Roads To Moscow trilogy In this near future pop-culture-filled dystopian novel, America is under the dark cloud of a new envirus, Camden-Young’s Disease. Unleashed five years earlier from an explosion at a genetic engineering laboratory, the stealth envirus has laid waste to 74% of Caucasians between puberty and their early thirties while the other 26% are mysteriously immune. From flu-like attacks to excruciating fevers, hair loss, blindness, insanity and death, there is no cure; the only respite available being the Febrifuge Blue line of pharmaceuticals controlled by the Southern United Enterprises conglomerate used to treat symptoms of the target population while also used recreationally by the fortunate Sixers. Dr. Arthur Camden, dispatched from the company a year earlier by the powerful and merciless executive Trisha Lane, believes a formula for a cure (which would destroy SUE’s incredibly lucrative money machine) is contained in a pair of notebooks seized when he was fired. For their return, Camden’s willing to exchange four ounces of the otherwise unobtainable distillate CY6A4 he purloined just before he was dismissed that Lane craves to manufacture an experimental potion of unimaginable potential. David Stonetree, Lane’s new administrative assistant, becomes the middleman between the players in this high-stakes chess match, spurred on by the fact that his partner Sharon has just been diagnosed as a CYD-positive. Torn between Lane’s seductive wiles and Camden’s selfless decency he finally takes a stand that could cost him his job and possibly his and Camden’s lives. The story continues in Kavanagh’s sequel, Weekend At Prism, with many of the characters returning in Las Vegas for the $100M World Standoff! Tournament and “the biggest rock concert ever held in the history of the Universe.” Praise for Sixers “Terrific.” – Scott Turow, author of Presumed Innocent and Burden of Proof “(a) well-wrought debut…both engaging and fun to read.” – Publisher’s Weekly “A stunning debut novel…skillfully crafted…gripping and disturbing…an important new voice.” – Rave Reviews “A writer to reckon with…engrossing and well-written.” - West Coast Review of Books “This is a brave, wonderful book.” – Arthur Shay, Speaking Volumes BIO: John Patrick Kavanagh, aside from his writing and design projects, is also a member of the Illinois and California Bars. A Chicagoland native, he currently lives in Bucks County, Pennsylvania with his wife Susan. JOHNPATRICKKAVANAGH@FACEBOOK.COM JPK@PINKIEFINGER.COM TWITTER.COM@JOHNPKAVANAGH EXCERPT: Febrifuge Blue was the most popular legal drug in the country. For 74% of young adults, it was a state-of-the-art shock absorber that softened the rough road that CYD had paved over the country; over their lives. Febrifuge Blue was the most popular illicit drug in the country. For 26% of young adults, it was a state-of-the-art shock absorber which softened life’s hard corners into smooth contours. Sixers used it with impunity; with an almost imperceptible smugness. Febrifuge Blue used by Sixers was reaching epidemic proportions but there was no way it would stop until somebody, somewhere came up with a plausible reason to dissuade its disciples. The Addiction Research Center in Baltimore had recently reported after an exhaustive study that Febrifuge Blue and its chemical cousins had no lasting addictive qualities and caused minimal harm to a typical user. The comfort it provided to three quarters of its customers was simply more consequential than the immoral high it gave to the other quarter. Febrifuge Blue was like a prize bull roaming the streets of Calcutta, going where it wanted and revered by most who came in contact with it. On busy nights the crackles came from everywhere; by midnight the entire place smelled of exhaust. Stonetree felt a little uneasy about using a drug that made him feel wonderful when others needed it to maintain their health, but so much for philosophy. He pushed away his watch to make room for the unit and pressed the button. He stared into the wall of flames, not paying attention to the shapes of those standing at the ledge. The first wave coursed through him, its effect lasting longer than he was accustomed to; a smoother, deeper flow. The furnace grew dim but just to him. He chuckled. Tricked again.
In Sanctuary Creek, the third novel in the pop culture Macroglint Trilogy set in the near future, Chicago is the new home of the Papacy and the American Pope. But all is not peaceful. This American Century of new Catholicism is rocked by evidence of the authenticity of the recently discovered diaries of St. Sebastian (who claims Jesus was a third-rate magician), the suspicious death of one of the new Pope’s closest cardinals, and the rumored existence of a porn video featuring the world-renowned Catholic pop star Angelique and someone very high up in this new American Catholic Church. Only Terry Samson, a widowed accountant and friend of the Pope from before his Accession, can be trusted to find out the truth. “Tense, involving, Sixers is a smart near-future thriller with a startlingly real sense of plausibility. In a world that's falling apart, can one ordinary person make a difference? Tremendous stuff! Kavanagh can write!” – Hugo Award-winner David Wingrove, author of the Chung Kuo series and the Roads To Moscow trilogy
Welcome to Black Cat Weekly #58. This issue kicks off our Halloween celebrations with a holiday-inspired tale. An incomplete draft of “Had a Wife...” was found in Janet Fox’s papers following her death, and I completed it. I hope you enjoy it. Keeping up the fantasy theme, we have a powerful tale by Craig Laurance Gidney inspired by the music of Joni Mitchell (selected by our acquiring editor Cynthia Ward). Our other acquiring editors have been busy, too—Michael Bracken presents an original mystery by the talented Kaye George (in which an ancient cave painting holds a clue to a murder), and Barb Goffman presents a tale by Sherry Harris, in which Stew Davis finds himself walking a dusty road in Who Knows Where, Wyoming after his car is stolen.. On the mystery front, we have our ever-puzzle solve-it-yourself story from Hal Charles, plus a pair of historical novels—one by Frank C. Robertson (it’s a mystery-western) and one by John T. McIntyre (set near the turn of the 20th century in New York City).. For our fantasy and science fiction readers, we have the first Darby O’Gill story (most famously filmed by Walt Disney), plus a pair of vintage pulp novellas by Fletcher Pratt and Murray Leinster. Fun stuff!. Here’s the complete lineup:. Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Discovery,” by Kaye George [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “Nothing to Sneeze At,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Last Chance Lost,” by Sherry Harris [Barb Goffman Presents short story] The Boss of the Double E, by Frank C. Robertson [novel] In the Dead of Night, by John T. McIntyre [novel]. Science Fiction & Fantasy: “Maeve’s Quilt” by Craig Laurance Gidney [Cynthia Ward Presents short story] “Had a Wife…” by Janet Fox and John Gregory Betancourt [short story] “Darby O’Gill and the Good People,” by Herminie Templeton Kavanagh [short story] “Potemkin Village,” by Fletcher Pratt [short novel] “The Boomerang Circuit,” by Murray Leinster [short novel]
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