The Evolution of Man Revisited Man Becomes Machine By: Dr. Michael Lesser The Evolution of Man Revisited: Man Becomes Machine is a scientific/philosophical treatise on evolution, but with a difference: Dr Michael F Lesser is more concerned with the prospects of evolution than the past of evolution. In cogently argued prose, he shows how man has evolved as a thinking organism and posits some ideas about how this process may continue in the future, with the advantage of looking back to his original book (out of print, Vantage Press, Copyright 1991. Library of Congress, Catalog 90-91364). Wondering how modern medicine has altered gene pools, allowing individuals that in the past would have perished in the process of natural selection to survive and reproduce, he sees new problems ahead of man. However, with faith in man’s adaptive abilities, he also sees great possibilities, as will his readers.
Must we fight terrorism with terror, match assassination with assassination, and torture with torture? Must we sacrifice civil liberty to protect public safety? In the age of terrorism, the temptations of ruthlessness can be overwhelming. But we are pulled in the other direction too by the anxiety that a violent response to violence makes us morally indistinguishable from our enemies. There is perhaps no greater political challenge today than trying to win the war against terror without losing our democratic souls. Michael Ignatieff confronts this challenge head-on, with the combination of hard-headed idealism, historical sensitivity, and political judgment that has made him one of the most influential voices in international affairs today. Ignatieff argues that we must not shrink from the use of violence--that far from undermining liberal democracy, force can be necessary for its survival. But its use must be measured, not a program of torture and revenge. And we must not fool ourselves that whatever we do in the name of freedom and democracy is good. We may need to kill to fight the greater evil of terrorism, but we must never pretend that doing so is anything better than a lesser evil. In making this case, Ignatieff traces the modern history of terrorism and counter-terrorism, from the nihilists of Czarist Russia and the militias of Weimar Germany to the IRA and the unprecedented menace of Al Qaeda, with its suicidal agents bent on mass destruction. He shows how the most potent response to terror has been force, decisive and direct, but--just as important--restrained. The public scrutiny and political ethics that motivate restraint also give democracy its strongest weapon: the moral power to endure when the furies of vengeance and hatred are spent. The book is based on the Gifford Lectures delivered at the University of Edinburgh in 2003.
The author helps readers determine which brain chemistry best applies to them while offering advice on how to improve one's mood and maximize cognitive strengths with the strategic use of nutritional regimens and vitamin supplements. Reprint.
This is the first major study based on Soviet documents and revelations of the Soviet state security during the period 1939-1953—a period about which relatively little is known. The book documents the role of Stalin and the major players in massive crimes carried out during this period against the Soviet people. It also provides the first detailed biography of V. S. Abakumov, Minister of State Security, 1946-1951. Based on Glasnost revelations and recently released archival material, this study covers the operations of Soviet state security from Beriia's appointment in 1938 until Stalin's death. The book pays particular attention to the career of V. S. Abakumov, head of SMERSH counterintelligence during the war and minister in charge of the MGB (the predecessor of the KGB) from 1946 until his removal and arrest in July 1951. The author argues that terror remained the central feature of Stalin's rule even after the Great Terror and he provides examples of how he micromanaged the repressions. The book catalogs the major crimes committed by the security organs and the leading perpetrators and provides evidence that the crimes were similar to those for which the Nazi leaders were punished after the war. Subjects covered include Katyn and its aftermath, the arrest and execution of senior military officers, the killing of political prisoners near Orel in September 1941, and the deportations of various nationalities during the war. The post-war period saw the Aviator and Leningrad affairs as well as the anti-cosmopolitan campaign whose target was mainly Jewish intellectuals. Later chapters cover Abakumov's downfall, the hatching of the Mingrelian and Doctors plots and the events that followed Stalin's death. Finally, there are chapters on the fate of those who ran Stalin's machinery of terror in the last 13 years of his rule. These and other topics will be of concern to all students and scholars of Soviet history and those interested in secret police and intelligence operations.
How significant relationship rifts affect people in therapy, and how therapists can help. Scratch the surface of almost any family and you will undoubtedly find a significant cutoff. Nearly everyone has someone in their lives with whom they stopped speaking for one reason or another, or someone who abruptly cut them off. Often these severed ties are forever unresolved, and the emotional strain and upset they cause—even if seemingly in the background of one’s life—never go away. Here, Elena Lesser Bruun and Suzanne Michael have gathered many stories about emotional cutoffs from psychotherapists, and personal stories from a host of laypeople they encountered in the course of writing this book. Based on their collective clinical experience spanning decades of work with clients, the authors identify basic themes, categories, and cutoff types. They then offer a set of guidelines to facilitate a deeper understanding of the dynamics of cutoffs, suggesting strategies for clinicians to use as they work with clients to overcome the emotional devastation that this sort of relationship breach can cause. Given the magnitude of the problem, its ubiquity, and the psychological complexity associated with it, this book is sorely needed. Each chapter addresses a particular cause for cutoffs, such as abandonment, jealousy, betrayal, matters of principle, and mental illness or substance abuse. All types of relationships are considered: parent-child, other relatives, siblings, former spouses, colleagues, and friends. Close analysis of all these scenarios led the authors to reach many conclusions about cutoffs and how to address them in therapy, including: • Cutoffs are common experiences—prevalent, sometimes embarrassing, and thus an elephant in the therapy room. • Cutoffs are extremely damaging even though people often tell themselves the other person is expendable. They induce involuntary suppression of feelings. • The aftermath of cutoffs can include depression, devastation, dismay, shock, isolation, as well as work problems and physical/psychosomatic issues. • Cutoffs, even decades old, are not always clients’ presenting problem; however, they often surface in the course of therapy.. • Clinicians often fail to identify cutoffs in their clients’ lives, or encourage clients to explore what happened, and to consider taking steps towards reconciliation. The author’s hypothesize reasons for therapists’ hesitancy and suggest ways to overcome it. Helping clients to successfully deal with emotional cutoffs will lead to reduction in self-blame for any lost relationships, less reactivity, and lower anxiety in general. No therapist dealing with this all-too-common, challenging issue should be without this book.
These poems are meant to be read and read over again. They are designed to arouse and to humor. They are designed to perplex and to infuriate. They are designed to break old notions and muddle about in rusty heads-to stir things up among the unstirrables. Ultimately, finally, these poems are designed to inspire. Their goal is to cultivate a more honest, more compassionate view of a fractured species.
The new international division of labor and the imposition of structural adjustment on Third World countries has necessitated a reexamination of development policies and a reevaluation of the role of gender in their success or failure. Although women often bear the heaviest burden under structural adjustment, there is also considerable evidence of women being empowered through their responses to the challenges of economic restructuring. Based on case study material from Eastern Europe, the Islamic nations, Africa, China, and Latin America, this volume explores the significant contributions women make to the wealth and well-being of their families and nations. The contributors argue persuasively that women may hold the key to sustainable development, an increasingly critical issue at a time when policymakers are reconsidering the full costs and benefits of a growth-fixated development model. One of the first to embody the new “gender and development” paradigm, this book reports on research at the frontiers of knowledge and theory about the gendered outcomes of economic transformation, restructuring, and social change. By incorporating “voices from the South,” it makes a provocative addition to our understanding of the political economy of development and of the relationship between world ecology and the world economy.
Knowledge and Communities is the first book dedicated to a major new knowledge management topic. "Communities of Practice" are cross-organizational groups of people sharing knowledge, solving common problems, and exchanging insights and frustrations. Knowledge and Communities, a collection of authoritative articles, describes the dynamics of these groups and explains how they enable organizational knowledge to be creating, shared, and applied. The book teaches how organizations can empower both traditional and on-line communities and make them a cornerstone of a general knowledge management strategy. Readers will learn how communities can help unify an organization and its external stakeholders, such as customers and suppliers, and how they can critically support an e-commerce strategy. Knowledge and Communities will help readers understand a primary vehicle for building an organization's social capital and competitive advantage.
Synopsis: Once again, the Coalition Forces are drawn together in a quest for peace. Never before would the skill and determination of these highly trained people be tested as it will be in this most exceptional of situations. The finest examples from the United States of America, British and Australian Armed Forces must again combine their efforts and even this may not be enough. Posted together at a remote and highly classified research facility, no one could have foreseen the tragic accident that tore them away from the world so familiar and cast them adrift in the midst of chaos. An ancient and brutal land awaits where the doctrine of modern warfare will struggle for credibility on a battlefield where a longbow is considered, ‘state of the art’ warfare. Each of the small group of people will have their courage pushed to the very limits in an epic clash of times and cultures. Featuring high drama, suspense, wry humour, romance and almost non-stop excitement, adults of all ages will be swept up in this tale. From ordered battlefields where legions of armoured men stand toe to toe on blood-soaked ground to war at sea in tall ships. From the burning desert sands to the sudden shocking combat of urban warfare, this “What If’ saga in four parts will answer the oft-asked question of Modern vs Ancient, who would emerge victorious? Breathtaking Romance, Non-stop Action, Heart-wrenching Drama and wry Humour, these fast-paced stories transverse cultures and times to take the reader on an assault to the senses.
With wide public support in 1994, Congress established more than sixty new capital crimes. In Justice in the Shadow of Death, Davis argues that, if the United States is ever to join the majority of the world in abolishing capital punishment, opponents of the death penalty must make a stronger philosophical case against it. He systematically dissects the arguments in favor of capital punishment and demonstrates why they are philosophically superior to opposing arguments. Justice in the Shadow of Death is an important book for philosophers, political theorists, policy analysts, and criminal justice specialists.
Lesser Dragons is a timely introduction to the fascinating, complex, and vital world of China’s national minorities. Drawing on firsthand fieldwork in several minority areas, Michael Dillon introduces us to the major non-Han peoples of China, including the Mongols, the Tibetans, the Uyghur of Xinjiang, and the Manchus, and traces the evolution of their relationship with the Han Chinese majority. With chapters devoted to each of the most important minority groups and an additional chapter exploring the parallel but very different world of inter-ethnic relations in Taiwan, Lesser Dragons will interest anyone eager to understand the reality behind regional conflicts increasingly covered by global media. From the tense security situation in Xinjiang to China’s attitude toward Tibet and the Dalai Lama, to the resistance efforts of Mongolian herders losing traditional grasslands, Dillon’s book both examines clichés—such as those found in the Chinese press, which often portrays ethnic minorities as colorful but marginal people—and defies expectations. He shows us how these minority peoples’ religions, cultures, and above all languages mark these groups as distinct from the Chinese majority—distinct, yet endangered by the systemic forces of integration.
Anyone who has studied taiji long enough to gain proficiency in the fundamental practices, probably has read enough to also grasp the general history and theory of the art. What we read influences our ideas about what the word “taiji” represents as a practice. For this reason, it is beneficial to look outside the mainstream writings to gain a broader view of the rich tradition taiji encompasses. A look at some of the lesser-known lineages can illustrate fascets of taiji that would have otherwise been overlooked or under appreciated. In the first chapter in this anthology, Wong Yuenming details the Li Family Taiji style as it developed from the teachings of Yang Luchan. Sources state that Yang Luchan gave his student Wang Lanting classics writings from Yang’s teacher Chen Changxing, manuals, secret instructions, “heart transmissions,” and various notes. Wang’s gifted disciple, Li Ruidong, formulated a curriculum that was uniquely immense, including training regimens he inherited at the turn of the century. Cai Naibiao’s chapter focuses on a “gatekeeper” of Wu Family Style Taijiquan, Wu Daxin. He was the grandson of Wu Jianquan (1870-1942), the founder of this lineage. Daxin was particularly famous for his taiji saber skills. The author is a lineage holder living in Hong Kong and was able to provide much information and insights into the life and contributions of Wu Daxin. Training in Sun Lutang’s taiji style presents not only an extremely healthy exercise, but also an effective system of combat as author Jake Burroughs discusses in chapter three. This is a concise yet inclusive overview of Sun Family Taiji boxing, including the historical background, real-world applications, and the theory involved in this often overlooked system of taiji. Burroughs is assisted in photographic presentations by Tim Cartmell. The final chapter presents a branch of Yang Style as taught by Xiong Yanghe (1888-1981), who was a leading scholar/practitioner in Taiwan over the decades. Information assembled here provides a comprehensive overview of Xiong Style Taiji. Included are Xiong’s lineage, his preservation of the system, and its significance for the understanding taijiquan as a martial art and exercise for health.
Celebrity chef, restaurateur, and meat lover Michael Symon—of Food Network’s Iron Chef America and ABC’s The Chew—shares his wealth of knowledge and more than 100 killer recipes for steaks, chops, wings, and lesser-known cuts. Fans across the country adore Michael Symon for his big, charismatic personality and his seriously delicious food. But there's one thing Michael is known for above all else: his unabashed love of meat. A devoted carnivore, Michael calls the cuisine at his six Midwestern restaurants "meat-centric." Now, in Michael Symon's Carnivore, he combines his passion and expertise in one stellar cookbook. Michael gives home cooks just the right amount of key information on breeds, cuts, and techniques to help them at the meat counter and in the kitchen, and then lets loose with fantastic recipes for beef, pork, poultry, lamb, goat, and game. Favorites include Broiled Porterhouse with Garlic and Lemon, Ribs with Cleveland BBQ Sauce, Braised Chicken Thighs with Kale and Chiles, Lamb Moussaka, and Bacon-Wrapped Rabbit Legs. Recipes for sides that enhance the main event, like Apple and Celeriac Salad and Sicilian Cauliflower, round out the book. Michael's enthusiasm and warmth permeate the text, and with 75 beautiful color photographs, Michael Symon's Carnivore is a rich and informative cookbook for every meat lover.
This book argues that a serious, scholarly study on exhumation is long overdue. Examining more well-known cases, such as that of Richard III, the Romanovs, and Tutankhamen, alongside the more obscure, Michael Nash explores the motivations beyond exhumation, from retribution to repatriation. Along the way, he explores the influence of Gothic fiction in the eighteenth century, the notoriety of the Ressurection Men in the nineteenth century, and the archeological heyday of the twentieth century.
An old cowboy stares into the eyes of his dead wife and remembers a time before he knew her; a photojournalist and his terminally ill wife enjoy one last night together under the hunter’s moon; a family wait for their son to return home from the civil war in Bosnia; and a dying man takes violent revenge against the people who ruined his life. Crisp, heartfelt and clear-eyed, Katakis’s debut short story collection bears comparison with those of the great American writers and demonstrates the enduring power of love in even the cruellest of environments.
Battered and psychologically abused by an alcoholic father and neglected by an equally abused mother, Michael, age seven, descended into rage at the murder of his beloved pet rooster and the death of his adored sister. Consumed by murderous hate, Michael was exiled to an obscure monastery between China and Tibet in the back of beyond, from a place it was assumed he would never return. A very special Buddhist monk, Kako, made it his life's work to reclaim the wreck that was this belligerent boy. It took Kako eleven years to transform Michael into the man of peace and charity he is today. The path was difficult and often seemed impossible as Michael resisted all of Kako's patient teaching. Michael's transformation was aided by a handwoven soccer ball made from bamboo and coconut skin and a team of young monks who played a game they had never seen before in their lives. By the time Kako passed away at the age of forty-four, Michael was ready to return to a world that had long ago forgotten him. Shinawa: The Story of a Reclaimed Life is the remarkable story of the long and difficult path to Michael's transformation.
“Nothing is more anathema to a serious radical than regionalism,” Berkeley English professor Henry Nash Smith asserted in 1980. Although regionalism in the American West has often been characterized as an inherently conservative, backward-looking force, regionalist impulses have in fact taken various forms throughout U.S. history. The essays collected in Regionalists on the Left uncover the tradition of left-leaning western regionalism during the 1930s and 1940s. Editor Michael C. Steiner has assembled a group of distinguished scholars who explore the lives and works of sixteen progressive western intellectuals, authors, and artists, ranging from nationally prominent figures such as John Steinbeck and Carey McWilliams to equally influential, though less well known, figures such as Angie Debo and Américo Paredes. Although they never constituted a unified movement complete with manifestos or specific goals, the thinkers and leaders examined in this volume raised voices of protest against racial, environmental, and working-class injustices during the Depression era that reverberate in the twenty-first century. Sharing a deep affection for their native and adopted places within the West, these individuals felt a strong sense of avoidable and remediable wrong done to the land and the people who lived upon it, motivating them to seek the root causes of social problems and demand change. Regionalists on the Left shows also that this radical regionalism in the West often took urban, working-class, and multicultural forms. Other books have dealt with western regionalism in general, but this volume is unique in its focus on left-leaning regionalists, including such lesser-known writers as B. A. Botkin, Carlos Bulosan, Sanora Babb, and Joe Jones. Tracing the relationship between politics and place across the West, Regionalists on the Left highlights a significant but neglected strain of western thought and expression.
“With complexity worthy of Ross Macdonald”, the award-winning author of Hard Line delivers a tightly crafted police procedural featuring Lt. Leroy Powder (Publishers Weekly). Nineteen years in Night Cover plus five years running the Missing Persons Bureau in the Indianapolis PD has certainly distinguished Lt. Leroy Powder’s already salty humor. It’s also granted him an unusual appreciation for the breadth of human behavior. When a twelve-year-old kid struts into the precinct claiming his father’s missing, Powder’s instincts tell him this won’t be a simple case. But neither is the fact that a sick killer is on the loose, targeting the city’s paraplegics. And now he’s got to play dad to his own son fresh out of an eighteen-month stint in prison. For Powder, it’s enough inspiration to crack an ill-timed joke or two, especially when the Feds suspect the lieutenant’s not playing it straight. Regardless, it’s time to get justice done. The question is who’s going to pay for it. Late Payments is the 3rd book in the Lt. Leroy Powder Novels, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
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