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Mark d'Inverno and Michael Luck present a formal approach to dealing with agents and agent systems in this second edition of Understanding Agent Systems. The Z specification language is used to establish an accessible and unified formal account of agent systems and inter-agent relationships. In particular, the framework provides precise and unambiguous meanings for common concepts and terms for agent systems, allows for the description of alternative agent models and architectures, and serves as a foundation for subsequent development of increasingly refined agent concepts. The practicability of this approach is verified by applying the formal framework to three detailed case studies. The book will appeal equally to researchers, students, and professionals in industry.
Throughout his life, Michael Harding has lived with a sense of emptiness - through faith, marriage, fatherhood and his career as a writer, a pervading sense of darkness and unease remained. When he was fifty-eight, he became physically ill and found himself in the grip of a deep melancholy. Here, in this beautifully written memoir, he talks with openness and honesty about his journey: leaving the priesthood when he was in his thirties, settling in Leitrim with his artist wife, the depression that eventually overwhelmed him, and how, ultimately, he found a way out of the dark, by accepting the fragility of love and the importance of now. Staring at Lakes started out as a book about depression. And then became a story about growing old, the essence of love and marriage - and sitting in cars, staring at lakes.
In May of 1857, the body of Duncan Skinner was found in a strip of woods along the edge of the plantation near Natchez, Mississippi, where he worked as an overseer. Although a coroner's jury initially ruled his death to be accidental, an investigation organized by planters from the community concluded that he had been murdered by three slaves acting under instructions from John McCallin, an Irish carpenter. Now, almost a century and a half later, Michael Wayne has reopened the case to ask whether the men involved in the investigation arrived at the right verdict. Part essay on the art of historical detection, part seminar on the history of slavery and the Old South, Death of an Overseer is, above all, a murder mystery--a murder mystery that allows readers to sift through the surviving evidence themselves and come to their own conclusions about who killed Duncan Skinner and why.
Monsieur Pamplemousse and his trusty dog, Pommes Frites are called into Le Guide's offices early one morning and presented with a string of Leclercq's plaintive conundrums - all relating to his mobster uncle-in-law. These include a letter about a juicy steak turned brisket, a dead restaurant owner and a giant truffle delivered by post . With all these seemingly random problems at hand, Pamplemousse attempts to unravel each but it quickly proves impossible as they overlap and tangle at every turn - usually making him look the fool.
Mathability gives students the experience and ability to analyze and solve real-life mathematical problems, and explain their methods for arriving at the solution. Mathability is an excellent resource for preparing students for the performance tasks of standards-based tests. The six units in this book each have 10 problems that deal with a variety of real-life situations, such as those at a construction site, on vacation, in a business, and at home. The open-ended problems let students hone their skills in geometry, probability, percentages, use of charts, algebra, number relations/operations, money, and decimals. Open-ended performance tasks have become a mainstay of standards-based testing. It is one of the tasks that most students perform at below proficiency level. Much of this low performance is due to a student's lack of experience with writing explanations of the mathematics that made it possible to solve the problem. Mathabilty presents a systematic approach that will lead students to proficiency. Within each unit, this book provides four different levels of problems. The Step-by-Step Level leads a student through the problem and provides a format for presenting their answers. The Prompted Level provides the format for presenting the solution and hints on how to solve the problem. The Independent Level allows students to solve and explain their answers on their own, and the Challenge Level problems present a venue for gifted and talented students to push their skills to a higher level. Grades 5-8
An Invitation to Environmental Sociology invites students to delve into this rapidly changing field. Written in a lively, engaging style, the authors cover a broad range of topics in environmental sociology with a personal passion rarely seen in sociology texts.
In Why the Grateful Dead Matter, veteran writer and lifelong Deadhead Michael Benson argues that the Grateful Dead are not simply a successful rock-and-roll band but a phenomenon central to American culture. He defends the proposition that the Grateful Dead are, in fact, a musical movement as transformative as any -ism in the artistic history of this century and the last. And a lot more fun than most. From the street festivals of Haight-Ashbury to the cross-country acid tests with the Merry Pranksters, and from the sound-and-light show at the Great Pyramid at Giza to the ecstatic outpouring of joy at Soldier Field in the summer of '15, the Grateful Dead have been at the center of American life, music, and karmic flow for fifty years. In Why the Grateful Dead Matter, Michael Benson brings it all back to life and makes a compelling case for the band's lasting cultural importance.
You get the insurgents you deserve. The United Kingdom lies in ruins, torn apart by fear, arrogance, and an inexhaustible supply of stupidity. England teeters on the brink of economic disaster, while behind a giant wall, Scotland labours under the tyrannical rule of the Marischal. The people cry out for a hero. Unfortunately, they’ve got James Macfarlane. The incidental tycoon and aspiring alcoholic is ill-equipped to launch a rebellion. But Mac —as he is warmly known to a dwindling number of people — has his reasons and he’s going to give it his best shot. As he races to keep one step ahead of a merciless police state, leaving chaos in his wake, he is accompanied by an unforgiving bootlegger, a shrewd siren, an eccentric aristocrat, a calamitous hacker, and one of Glasgow’s most violent sons. Can Mac save the country and himself from the wicked regime? It’s not looking good. ‘A great read. Lose yourself as Michael takes you on a thrilling adventure.’ – Tim Lovejoy, TV presenter ‘A fascinating, dark and witty look at a world gone wrong. A glorious read.’ – Lou Sanders, comedian ‘Bloody (and) brilliant. Prepare to be pulled into a world where dark comedy and high tension collide, driven by characters alive with hope and desire, greed and violence.’ – Phil Davies, playwrite and screenwriter ‘Taut writing and sharp-edged tension. Millar is like a darkly humorous Kafka.’ – Jack Hayes, author of When Eagles Burn
Patrick Petrella is considered a curiosity by his fellow police officers. The son of a Spanish policeman and an English school mistress, he speaks four languages and is as good at picking fine wines as he is locks. These short stories deal with burglaries, delinquents, bent lawyers, gangs, drugs trafficking and murder.
Experienced speakers know the value of humor for adding punch to their point and muscle to their message. That's why 1001 More Humorous Illustrations for Public Speaking belongs in every pastor's and speaker's library -- including yours! Like its rib-tickling predecessor, 1001 Humorous Illustrations for Public Speaking, this volume is a gold mine of one-liners, jokes, and humorous anecdotes for almost any situation or subject. Pick your topic: Attitudes, Evangelism, Romance, Weddings . . . you'll find what you're looking for, conveniently alphabetized, numbered, and indexed for instant referencing. There's even a space for you to record the times and places you use each illustration, so no one will hear you tell the same joke twice. Most of these humorous gems have already been tested by preachers and other speakers. And the huge variety ensures you'll find something to tickle any congregation's funny bone -- and grab its attention.
A powerful story of one man's redemption through the Lakota Sun Dance ceremony. • Written by the only white man to be confirmed as a Sundance Chief by traditional Lakota elders. • Includes forewords by prominent Lakota spiritual leaders Leonard Crow Dog, Charles Chipps, Mary Thunder, and Jamie Sams. The Sun Dance is the largest and most important ceremony in the Lakota spiritual tradition, the one that ensures the life of the people for another year. In 1988 Michael Hull was extended an invitation to join in a Sun Dance by Lakota elder Leonard Crow Dog-- a controversial action because Hull is white. This was the beginning of a spiritual journey that increasingly interwove the life of the author with the people, process, and elements of Lakota spirituality. On this journey on the Red Road, Michael Hull confronted firsthand the transformational power of Lakota spiritual practice and the deep ambivalence many Indians had about opening their ceremonies to a white man. Sun Dancing presents a profound look at the elements of traditional Lakota ceremonial practice and the ways in which ceremony is regarded as life-giving by the Lakota. Through his commitment to following the Red Road, Michael Hull gradually won acceptance in a community that has rejected other attempts by white America to absorb its spiritual practices, leading to the extraordinary step of his confirmation as a Sun Dance Chief by Leonard Crow Dog and other Lakota spiritual leaders.
The experts at Kennel Club Books present the world's largest series of breed-specific canine care books. Each critically acclaimed Comprehensive Owner's Guide covers everything from breed standards to behavior, from training to health and nutrition. With nearly 200 titles in print, this series is sure to please the fancier of even the rarest breed!
Not just anyone sits down to write their own personal Bible. The famous one, popular with millions of Christians, was penned by 35-40 different authors, over a span of some 1100 years. As of 1995, it was still considered (Guinness) the world’s #1 best seller of all-time. In stark contrast, Michael’s 2-volume Principles of Philosophy was meditated, contemplated, drafted, and written - in deep anonymity and solitude - over a daily and nightly 30-month span. His two books come in at over 800,000 words (the same as ten 80,000-word works). With the King James Old and New Testament totaling just over 783,000 words, it is easy to see why Michael views himself as both prolific (plentiful) and loquacious (talkative) when it pertains to laying down thought. As the Bible is for millions on the planet, Michael feels his principles are also a template - an owner’s manual - a guidebook - for (in particular) how to: (1) view life on earth; (2) work on the detail of one’s philosophy and worldview; and (3) examine and conduct a balanced, meaningful existence on this planet. The Holy Bible consists of 80 books (39 in the Old Hebrew part, 14 in the Apocrypha, and 27 in the New Christian part). Michael’s Principles (Volumes One and Two) each cover 84 chapters of the basic areas of life as he views them, with 21 chapters outlined each, for: (1) the mental; (3) the social; and (2) the material; (4) the spiritual areas of our lives. A detailed numbering system is in place for quick reference to topics. Each volume happens to come in at 613 entries, making a total of 1226 separate entries in the two books. By dictionary definition, a “principle” is defined as a “fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior or for a chain of reasoning.” This is precisely why he chose “principles” in the title. His own personal philosophical principles are what he tries to practice daily. Michael even states they are likely the reason he is still with us in bodily form on the earth, and remains in (relative) possession of his right mind as well. Since leaving organized religion early on in life, these tenants, practiced in balance, have been what Michael has focused on for several decades. They work well for him. In the course of these pursuits, he says he has come to thousands of conclusions. And they all point to the balanced life. As he insists, for him, it is all about equivalent portions of mind (mental), body (material), relationships (social), and spirituality (God; the Universe). Basically, everything can be summed up within these four primary areas of life. Michael seems to never hesitate to conclude that he has found his own personal means of salvation in the midst of pursuing his balance of the Principles of Philosophy. - Tanya Walker (wife)
Contemporary Irish Plays showcases the new drama that has emerged since 2008. Featuring a blend of established and emerging writers, the anthology shows how Irish writers are embracing new methods of theatre-making to explore exciting new themes – while also finding new ways to come to terms with the legacies of the Troubles and the Celtic Tiger. Freefall is a sharp, humorous and exhilarating look at the fragility of a human life, blending impressionistic beauty, poignancy and comedy. Forgotten features the interconnecting stories of four elderly people living in retirement homes and care facilities around Ireland, who range in age from 80 to 100 years old. Drum Belly is a fascinating play about the Irish mafia in late 1960s' New York. It premiered at the Abbey Theatre in 2012. Previously unpublished, Planet Belfast by Rosemary Jenkinson is about a woman named Alice – Stormont's only Green MLA who must toe a delicate line between large, sectarian power bases in order to promote an environmental agenda in Northern Ireland. Desolate Heaven is a story about two young girls hoping to find freedom from home in the trappings of love. It was first performed at Theatre 503, London, in 2013 Written for the 2012 Dublin Theatre Festival, and previously unpublished, The Boys of Foley Street by Louise Lowe is a piece of site-specific theatre which led audience members on a tour of the backstreets of inner-city Dublin. Edited by the leading scholar on Irish theatre, Patrick Lonergan, Contemporary Irish Plays is a timely reminder of the long-held tradition and strength of Irish theatre which blossoms even in its new-found circumstances.
First published in 1998, this Darlington child care study looks at the return experiences of children looked after by local authorities. It shows that although the great majority of children go back to their families and home communities, little is known about the process. How can professionals and carers make the transition as easy as possible? The book takes forward ideas first reported in the Dartmouth publication, going home: The return of children separated from their families and tested in subsequent research. It charts patterns of separation and return, considers the experiences of those involved and highlights factors associated with the likelihood of return and its success. Because the factors described in the earlier research have since been confirmed in a blind prospective study they are among the most robust indicators available.
Drawing on archival materials, Michael Ng challenges the widely accepted narrative that freedom of expression in Hong Kong is a legacy of British rule of law. Demonstrating that the media and schools were pervasively censored for much of the colonial period and only liberated at a very late stage of British rule, this book complicates our understanding of how Hong Kong came to be a city that championed free speech by the late 1990s. With extensive use of primary sources, the free press, freedom of speech and judicial independence are all revealed to be products of Britain's China strategy. Ng shows that, from the nineteenth to the twentieth century, Hong Kong's legal history was deeply affected by China's relations with world powers. Demonstrating that Hong Kong's freedoms drifted along waves of change in global politics, this book offers a new perspective on the British legal regime in Hong Kong.
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