From ancient Rome to the current Internet age, this sweeping history of ideas explores how different epochs wrestled with the issue of truth and lies. From the ancient Greeks and Romans to the modern era, how have people determined what is true? How have those with power and influence sought to control the narrative? Are we living in a post-truth era, or is that notion simply the latest attempt to control the narrative? The relationship between truth and power is the key theme. Moving through major historical periods, the author focuses on notable people and events, from well-known leaders like Julius Caesar and Adolf Hitler to lesser-known individuals like Procopius and Savonarola. He notes distinct parallels in history to current events. Julius Caesar's publication of his Gallic Wars and Civil Wars was an early exercise in political spin not unlike what we see today. During the English Civil War and the Enlightenment, pamphleteering coupled with the new power of the printing press challenged the status quo, as online and social media does in our time. And "fake news" was already being used by German chancellor Otto von Bismarck in nineteenth-century Europe and by the "yellow journalism" of American newspaper magnates William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer near the turn of the twentieth century. The author concludes optimistically, noting that we are debating and discussing truth more fiercely today than in any previous era. The determination to arrive at the truth, despite the manipulations of the powerful, bodes well for the future of democracy.
Recent years in America have seen Confederate monuments toppled, statues of colonizers vandalized, and public icons commemorating figures from a history of exploitation demolished. Some were alarmed by the destruction, claiming that pulling down public statues is a negation of an entire cultural heritage. For others, statue-smashing is justified vandalism against a legacy of injustice. Monumental Fury confronts the long-neglected questions of our relationship with statues, icons, and monuments in public spaces, providing a rich historical perspective on iconoclastic violence. Organized according to specific themes that provide insights into the erection and destruction of statues — from religion, war, and revolution to colonialism, ideology, art, and social justice — author Matthew Fraser examines the implications of our monuments from the Buddhas of Bamiyan to those of Napoleon Bonaparte, Abraham Lincoln, Robert E. Lee, Vladimir Lenin, and many more. Above all, the book endeavors to frame moments of statue-toppling throughout history so we can better understand the eruptions of iconoclastic violence that we are witnessing today. Statues are erected as expressions of power, and the impulse to destroy them is motivated by a desire to defy, reject, and eradicate their authority. However, the symbolic power of statues can stubbornly persist even after their destruction. This enduring paradox — between destruction and resurrection – is at the heart of this book. Fraser concludes with reflections that propose new ways of thinking about our relationship with statues and monuments and, more practically, about how we can creatively integrate their legacy into our collective memory in a way that inclusively enriches shared historical experience.
In its march to becoming the world's first hyper-power, the United States has been as dependent on its soft power - the allure of American lifestyles and culture - as it has been on the hard power of military might. In Weapons of Mass Distraction, Matthew Fraser examines the role of American pop cultural industries in international affairs. Fraser focuses on the major areas of soft power - movies, television, pop music, and fast food - and traces the origins, history and current influence of these on U.S. foreign policy. He describes how the American film, television, and music industries enjoy a ubiquitous global presence that has made them indispensable to the U.S. government, which has often gone so far as to fund them directly, including the White House-sponsored radio station in the Middle East launched with the hopes of winning over Muslim youths with American pop songs. A Coca-Cola lobbyist once famously declared that "The best barometer of the relationship of the U.S. and any other country is the way Coca-Cola is treated." Fraser proves this claim isn't to be taken lightly. He charts the global spread of the fast food industry, the role of Coca-Cola and McDonald's in American foreign policy and the recent rise of their opponents: the anti-globalization movement. Do things really go better with Coca-Cola? Fraser's answer is a resounding yes. While American soft power remains a contentious issue, he believes it promotes values and beliefs that are ultimately good for the rest of the world. Still, what are the future implications of American soft power? Will national identities decline as the world order is transformed into a state of "electronic feudalism" where there is no central power? Weapons of Mass Distraction provides an engaging, enlightening, and provocative look at the future of American foreign policy and popular culture in the 21st century.
Critical Infrastructure is a collection of over one hundred and sixty questions and answers, all with one singular purpose; to explore how New England schools and colleges can create bright futures for everyone. At times there have been a polarization within our nation that has led to our inability to have constructive conversations that we must have to thrive as an expansive community. That's where this book comes in; a handbook designed for these troubled times; a tool for facilitating those conversations we need to be having. This book is also designed to be used in the classroom; I encourage students and teachers to expand on the answer I have provided. I throw the gauntlet down for you to make the content in this book a living conversation. One that will grow beyond the margins of the pages and enter your lives. Good Reading!
If you want to understand why Wikipedia is changing the world, this book is a must read." –Jimmy Wales, Founder, Wikipedia "This book is a must read for all - social activists, politicians or managers - who have an interest in understanding how our society is morphing." –Professor C.K. Prahalad, #1 Management Guru and author of Competing for the Future Synopsis The rise of social networks like Facebook, MySpace and Bebo is changing the way we see ourselves, how we interact with each other, how we work and how we do business on a daily basis. Throwing Sheep in the Boardroom explores the powerful forces driving the social networking revolution, the impact of these profound changes, and the far reaching consequences of social networking. Detailing the way social networks affects both individuals and societies as a whole, the book offers a detailed focus on the ways social networking affects the world of business and work. The generation entering the workforce today - and entering boardrooms everywhere - is fully engaged with social networking and its uses. Rather than feeling threatened and paranoid, today's business leaders need to understand this phenomenon, accept that it won't go away, and embrace its power in the world of business. Excerpts from Throwing Sheep in the Boardroom: "Your next CEO’s most impressive job credential might be status as an online gladiator, honing valuable leadership skills mercilessly slaying mortal enemies on World of Warcraft. Why not, the skills necessary to hack your way to the top levels of virtual games – especially a killer instinct – are excellent pre-requisites for managing complex organisations." "Many senior managers mistakenly believe Enterprise 2.0 is a product, like the latest Microsoft office suite. They don’t realise that Enterprise 2.0 is not a cost centre, but a “state of mind” – a revolutionary new way of managing companies and conducting business. Web 2.0 tools have no regard for “organisational boundaries, hierarchies, or job titles”. Try telling a senior executive that, henceforth, there will be no job titles, reporting lines, and organisational boundaries in the company – and watch the reaction closely." "When someone calls a meeting, he or she is asserting authority over those who are invited to attend. Meetings are exclusive and closed. In most corporations, who gets invited to a meeting – and who does not – sends a signal about who’s ‘in the loop’. Meetings are a form of social grooming inside organisations. Meetings impose vertical authority. They establish status hierarchies. The Enterprise 2.0 model is feared in corporations because it threatens status hierarchies." "Harnessing the dynamism of horizontal networks, Web 2.0 social media are bypassing institutional forms of social organisation and directly empowering people. This book has attempted to tell that story with illustrations, which, we hope, have offered intriguing and instructive insights into the powerful transformations we described. What has interested us most, indeed, is the transformative impact – or “e-ruptions” – of Web 2.0 social media on the three dynamics that gave this book its structure: identity, status and power.
If there has ever been a time when America needs innovative ideas, enthusiasm for change, and hope for the future, that time is now. In his comprehensive guidebook, "Ideas for America," educator Matthew Fraser shares core principles as well as a fresh perspective on how America can transform its old methodologies, approaches, and thought processes into an innovative society focused on progress, reconciliation, and peace. Fraser, a seasoned language teacher, relies on fifteen years of extensive research in order to present a diverse examination of our education system, health and wellness, community development, federal spending, and environmental progress. In his proposed solutions to the current American situation, Fraser shares such diverse ideas as encouraging greater utilization of vocational programs in high school education; introducing timebanking as a powerful tool for promoting business and community; exploring co-ownership as a new way to afford housing; promoting the study of health and wellness programs at universities; and using our colleges to help transition our country to a healthier, greener economy. Through revolutionary thinking methods, "Ideas for America" offers real solutions to real problems in America while encouraging others to replace complacency with their own creative answers.
Fish versus Power is an environmental history of the Fraser River (British Columbia) and the attempts to dam it for power and to defend it for salmon. Amid contemporary debates over large dam development and declines in fisheries, this book offers a case study of a river basin where development decisions did not ultimately dam the river, but rather conserved its salmon. Although the case is local, its implications are global as Evenden explores the transnational forces that shaped the river, the changing knowledge and practices of science, and the role of environmental change in shaping environmental debate.
A frequency dictionary for Polish learners of English and English learners of Polish. Readers can use the book to master basic vocabulary and sentence structure while seeing grammar in action. Core grammar is provided at the end of the book.
Fraser the Forest Ranger is on a mission: to find one true friend. He searches far and wide, but he might just discover a best friend is closer than he thinks. Fraser is a Forest Ranger and he loves his job. He checks on the trees, he checks on the animals, and he always ends his day with a stack of pancakes by the fire. But being a forest ranger can get lonely. Fraser spends his nights, weekends, and even birthdays alone. So, Fraser sets out to find a friend. He travels far. But the beach is too hot, the zoo makes him miss his own animal friends back home, and everyone in the city is too busy. All hope seems lost, but could it be that Fraser is just one wrong turn away from a true friend after all? Matthew Schufman’s heartwarming debut featuring his bold and expressive illustrations make Fraser the Forest Ranger a friend that young readers will be asking to visit again and again.
Introducing The PERFECT Gift for Your Dad This Holiday Season (Although His Use of These Jokes May Come Back To Haunt You...) "Are you going to cut the lawn?" Dad: "I would but I don't know where the scissors are" Deep down we all love our Dads horrendous jokes, even the most cringe worthy ones still can leave us in hysterics. After all, they are told by your Dad, who despite his terrible jokes, you have endless love for and you only get one Dad after all! So, wouldn't your Dad love to increase his personal collection of jokes he has ready to use no matter the situation he finds himself in? Well, that's what makes these 200 Awfully Good Dad Jokes the perfect gift for your Dad, and your Dad will be forever thankful you're giving him more ways to add humor to his everyday life! So, if you want to be left in even more hysterics by even cringier Dad jokes than before then scroll up and click "Add to Cart.
Vade Mecum is a major expansion to both the setting and the game rules. It provides setting information and rules to include para-psychics into CthulhuTech games, as well as variant and optional game rules, new monsters, and more mecha. It details government agencies, including the cult-hunting Federal Security Bureau and the dreaded Office of Internal Security, providing yet another part of the expansive CthulhuTech universe to explore. It is a must for any enthusiast.
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