Energy Transition - The Mandatory Reality Check
As a matter of fact, world coal production is still experiencing a notable increase. This rise has nothing to do with current changes in the US administration policy. It is just a new trend. As an example: In 2024, Australia approved three coal mine expansions. There are 25 additional proposals for new or expanded coal mines currently waiting for Federal government approval. This is more than during the last ten years and will simply represent massive additional CO2 emissions. These pending projects exceed the total from any single year of the last decade. Energy transition appears fraught with challenges, complexities, and structural contradictions. As we grapple with the harsh truths of the present, two fundamental questions arise: Will we be able to reach the 2050 net zero targets? What needs to change to make it happen? Clearly, the world will not be saved by: Switching to an electric car. Limiting your meat consumption. In what we could name "sofa-ecology behavior," we must refuse to shy away from inconvenient truths. Society should observe no taboos. We have no time for fear.
A Hunter's Eye
This book closes where behavioral detection truly begins - in the field, in the moment, where awareness meets action. Every concept, method, and framework within these pages is only as valuable as the professional who applies it with discipline, integrity, and clarity of purpose.Behavioral detection is not about reading people; it is about understanding the human condition under pressure - and using that understanding to protect, prevent, and preserve life. The craft demands vigilance, humility, and continuous learning.If this work has sharpened your perception, strengthened your judgment, or reminded you of the quiet power of observation, then it has achieved its mission. The rest is up to you - out there, where behavior tells the truth first. Use the book, use the techniques, and most of all... stay safe out there
Infant Death Exonerations
suspicion, advocates supporting the wrongfully accused, and professionals seeking to improve practice and policy. It highlights warning signs of flawed investigations, points to emerging scientific developments, and outlines constructive reforms that can save families-and systems-from repeating the same mistakes. CAN YOU PROVIDE A 250 WORD SHORT DESCRIPTIONShow moreInfant deaths are every parent's worst nightmare-and when grief is compounded by wrongful accusation, the result is a lifelong catastrophe. Infant Death Exonerations: The Folbigg Case - A Practical Guide for Families, Advocates and Professionals examines how misunderstandings of medical evidence, rare genetic conditions, and entrenched biases can turn tragedy into a criminal conviction. Centered on the Kathleen Folbigg case and linked to other infant death exonerations worldwide, it shows how shaken baby syndrome allegations, SIDS diagnoses, and ambiguous autopsy findings can be misread in court, and how emerging genetics and forensic science are changing the landscape.Written in clear, accessible language, the book explains how infant deaths are investigated, where evidence commonly goes wrong, and how tunnel vision, flawed expert testimony, and systemic failures can produce miscarriages of justice. It highlights warning signs of defective investigations, points to new medical and scientific developments, and outlines practical steps families, defence teams, innocence projects, and journalists can take when a baby's death is treated as a crime. Both a case study of the Folbigg exoneration and a broader roadmap for reform, this guide is essential reading for lawyers, doctors, forensic pathologists, child protection professionals, and anyone concerned about how the criminal justice system handles sudden infant deaths.
I Ate His Heart
"I ate his heart," were the first words said to author and psychologist Nathalie von Zelowitz during an interview with a man convicted of killing and cannibalizing another man. Between 2011 and 2021, French prison psychologist Nathalie von Zelowitz met regularly with a man who had been sentenced to a high-security psychiatric facility for a homicide and an act of cannibalism. Unlike most defendants in such cases, the man was found mentally sound and legally responsible for his actions and received a criminal sentence.I Ate His Heart is a true crime confessional like no other--a darkly philosophical interrogation into the meaning of love, desire, and annihilation. This is not a Hannibal Lecter thriller.Von Zelowitz's work explores the internal logic of the crime from the perpetrator's perspective. Using firsthand interviews, reconstructed dialogue, and excerpts from the subject's writing, she presents a detailed account of the psychological, philosophical, and emotional framework that led to the killing. She neither sensationalizes nor excuses. Instead, she allows the subject's words and justifications to speak for themselves, offering readers a rare view into a case that defied common explanations of psychosis or insanity.Originally published in France to critical acclaim, I Ate His Heart arrives in English for the first time--a chilling, cerebral, and elegantly disturbing book that questions whether understanding evil can ever leave you unchanged.Perfect for readers of: My Dark Places by James Ellroy, The Adversary by Emmanuel Carr癡re, Come and See by Sarah M. Broom, American Psycho by Bret Ellis Easton, The Cannibal by John Hawkes, Without Conscience by Robert D. Hare, Mindhunter by John Douglas, The Anatomy of Evil by Michael H. Stone. . .and those drawn to literary horror, transgressive psychology, and criminal obsession.Inside you'll find...Details of a criminal case involving consensual homicide and cannibalism.Expert analysis and insights by a prison psychologist with ten years of direct access to the subject.Includes reflections on criminal responsibility, consent, identity, and pathology.Relevant for readers interested in forensic psychology, criminal justice, and abnormal behavior.
War and AI
"War and AI" tracks the lethal contradiction at the center of the AI boom: the same systems marketed as tools of progress are already being wired into kill chains, targeting systems, andautomated decisions about who lives and who dies.From Gaza to Ukraine, machine vision, autonomous drones, and algorithmic targeting are no longer speculative. They are shaping real battlefields in real time, with civilians trapped inside the margin of error.This urgent new book maps the doctrine, supply chains, and moral collapse behind algorithmic warfare, arguing that the most dangerous lie of the AI age is the claim that we can build machines to save humanity without first teaching them how to kill.
Model Detective
MODEL DETECTIVE takes readers where true crime has never gone before-inside the heart, mind, and soul of a Chicago homicide detective whose grit and instincts prove that a woman's place is in the homicide division.Sergeant Michele Wood, a 25-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department, has spent nearly two decades in the Detective Division. With hundreds of arrests, and an extraordinary record of solving murders, she has led homicide teams while also appearing as a legal expert on ABC's 20/20 and other national true crime series.In MODEL DETECTIVE, Wood takes readers through complex murder cases, revealing how she interprets evidence and uses her perspective as a woman to succeed in a male-dominated world. Wood's skills attest to her high success rate and stellar reputation on the force and explains why she's Chicago's (and probably the country's) only detective who previously worked as a flight attendant, moonlighted as a fitness-magazine model, and continues her on-air fame as a crime TV expert. From the story of her Chicago upbringing to the extraordinary perils of policing in Chicago, MODEL DETECTIVE is the raw, inspiring tale of courage, resilience and determination in America's most violent city.
Crafting Peace Between Past And Present
Crafting Peace Between the Past and Present by Dr. Nadera Awad Nassif o ers a comprehensive study of humanity's evolving relationship with peace from ancient treaties to contemporary diplomacy. This volume bridges historical insight and modern innovation, integrating philosophy, religion, psychology, and technology into a uni ed theory of peacebuilding.Through rigorous scholarship and lived experience, Dr. Nassif explores how civilizations have negotiated coexistence, and how modern societies can overcome the systemic and digital challenges of the twenty- rst century. Her interdisciplinary analysis combines historical examples, ethical frameworks, and global case studies from the Treaty of Kadesh and the Enlightenment to the most recent cease re initiatives in Gaza.This work is both re ective and practical, designed for scholars, diplomats, policymakers, and educators who view peace not as an abstraction but as a discipline of justice, empathy, and design. Crafting Peace Between the Past and Present ultimately challenges readers to see peace as a living process one crafted daily by humanity's moral and intellectual choices."The greatest victory of this century will not be over enemies, but over indi erence. Peace will prevail when compassion becomes our common language." Dr. Nadera Awad Nassif
Digital Media and Storytelling in Higher Education
Anita Lanszki's book is about storytelling in the digital media environment. The enterprise is both classical in that it explores the nature of storytelling, which is found in all historical periods and human communities, and modern in that it undertakes a broad overview of contemporary digital culture from the perspective of storytelling. The book is also a methodological guide, illustrated with numerous examples, which has emerged organically from the author's many years of teaching experience. Although the title reflects a focus on the use of digital storytelling in various fields of higher education and research, this excellent work can also be used by professionals working in other spheres of education. Whatever our views on the digital space and age may be, we can probably all agree that we are witnessing a democratization of storytelling in our time. The insights in this book are therefore extremely useful for anyone who is interested in how the timeless practice of storytelling is adapting to the new media environment. Andr獺s M羹llner, associate professor E繹tv繹s Lor獺nd University, Department of Media and Communication
Losing Interest
Nothing about endless capitalist growth is normal.Across thousands of years of human history, most cultures have placed explicit social and moral restrictions on economic growth, with charging interest scorned as benefiting from another's hardship and profit-making as divisive. So how did interest rates, monetary gains, and return on investment come to rule our modern world?Though most economic histories tell this story as one of overcoming superstition in favor of social progress, Losing Interest explains how the concept of "interest" had to be continuously rehabilitated over six centuries of European colonial expansion, transforming profit from a mortal sin into a business model. From early Medici innovations in banking to the development of insurance schemes in the trans-Atlantic slave trade, our current economic system was built on legal and financial tools that abstract capital from the ongoing reality of deception, theft, and mass murder at its core.With wit and lyricism, anthropologist Scott W. Schwartz makes a clear, commonsense appeal for our shared wellbeing against capitalism's nonsensical demand for widespread suffering to produce the mounting wealth of the few. In the spirit of David Graeber, Thomas Piketty, and Kohei Saito, Losing Interest serves as a prequel to contemporary degrowth literature, illuminating the history and mechanics of how interest has risen to take from the poor and give to the rich.
Relinquished
WINNER, THE 2026 ADELE CLARK BOOK AWARDFINALIST, NONFICTION, NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARDS, 2024 FINALIST, 2024 GODDARD RIVERSIDE STEPHAN RUSSO BOOK PRIZE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE "Essential reading." --NPR "Books We Love" "Dares to imagine a different world where Americans treat adoption like the justice issue it is." ―Washington Post "Impressively reported...[Sisson] uses her deep well of knowledge to make the case that adoption is no solution for Americans' reduced access to abortion." ―San Francisco ChronicleA powerful decade-long study of adoption in the age of Roe, revealing the grief of the American mothers for whom the choice to parent was never real Adoption has always been viewed as a beloved institution for building families, as well as a mutually agreeable common ground in the abortion debate, but little attention has been paid to the lives of mothers who relinquish infants for private adoption. Relinquished reveals adoption to be a path of constrained choice for those for whom abortion is inaccessible, or for whom parenthood is untenable. The stories of relinquishing mothers are stories about our country's refusal to care for families at the most basic level, and to instead embrace an individual, private solution to a large-scale, social problem. With the recent decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization revoking abortion protections, we are in a political moment in which adoption is, increasingly, being revealed as an institution devoted to separating families and policing parenthood under the guise of feel-good family-building. Rooted in a long-term study, Relinquished features the in-depth testimonies of American mothers who placed their children for domestic adoption. The voices of these women are powerful and heartrending; they deserve to be heard.
Along the Way
This work is an intimate atlas of influence-a personal cartography that maps the terrain of a life shaped by others. It chronicles my encounters with over thirty remarkable individuals, a diverse assembly spanning the rigid structures of Law, Politics, and Medicine to the fluid, expressive realms of Dance, Poetry, and the culinary arts. While their disciplines vary, a singular narrative thread binds them. By observing these mentors-not merely as professionals, but as architects of character-I have distilled seven universal pillars that sustain a life of integrity and impact: Honesty, Hard Work, Patience, Sacrifice, Consistency, Discipline, and Self-Confidence. These are not abstract ideals or dry academic theories; they are lived realities. This book serves as a bridge between the formative curiosity of the student and the seasoned reflection of the professional. It is written for both the young seeker looking for a North Star and the veteran soul looking for a mirror. My aim is to offer a voice that is learned and crystal clear-a sophisticated yet humanized exploration of how we become who we are meant to b, through the quiet power of principle.
Model Detective
MODEL DETECTIVE takes readers where true crime has never gone before-inside the heart, mind, and soul of a Chicago homicide detective whose grit and instincts prove that a woman's place is in the homicide division.Sergeant Michele Wood, a 25-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department, has spent nearly two decades in the Detective Division. With hundreds of arrests, and an extraordinary record of solving murders, she has led homicide teams while also appearing as a legal expert on ABC's 20/20 and other national true crime series.In MODEL DETECTIVE, Wood takes readers through complex murder cases, revealing how she interprets evidence and uses her perspective as a woman to succeed in a male-dominated world. Wood's skills attest to her high success rate and stellar reputation on the force and explains why she's Chicago's (and probably the country's) only detective who previously worked as a flight attendant, moonlighted as a fitness-magazine model, and continues her on-air fame as a crime TV expert. From the story of her Chicago upbringing to the extraordinary perils of policing in Chicago, MODEL DETECTIVE is the raw, inspiring tale of courage, resilience and determination in America's most violent city.
Don't Let Them Down
Don't Let Them Down examines how family court processes can unintentionally prioritise procedural balance over child protection. Through a detailed first-hand account of custody proceedings, safeguarding assessments, and institutional decision-making, the book explores how allegations of harm may be reframed as parental conflict, and how evidentiary standards, professional neutrality, and risk management frameworks shape outcomes for children.Positioned at the intersection of family law, child safeguarding, and public policy, this work offers a critical perspective on systemic responses to abuse allegations within private law disputes.This is not merely a personal narrative. It is an examination of what happens when legal structures designed to protect children fail the very individuals they were created to safeguard.
Folklore of Scotland
Bitesize tales of elf and fairie; brownie and goblin kin; faerie animals; demons of land and sea; giants, ogres and hairy men; dragons and serpents; mermaids, seal people and the blue men; spectral dogs and demon cats; wyrd creatures; the Beast of Buchan and the Gorbals Vampire.Come on a magical journey in faerie tales and folk horror, introducing almost 200 characters from Scottish folklore.
The Silence They Wrote for Me
The Silence They Wrote for Me is a searing memoir that lays bare the realities of being Black, disabled, and institutionalised in the UK. Tracing the author's time in a psychiatric ward, the narrative reveals how spaces designed for healing often become instruments of control, especially for those whose identities already exist on the margins. What begins as a search for support quickly descends into confinement, surveillance, and emotional erasure.With unflinching clarity, the book exposes how systemic racism, ableism, and misogyny intersect within mental health institutions-and how even the staff, often racialised and under-resourced, are entangled in the cycle of harm. Drawing on lived memory, recorded conversations, and letters, the author recounts not only the violence of institutionalisation but the loneliness, stigma, and barriers that follow on the outside: the struggle to re-enter education, the silence from friends, the daily fight to be seen.This is not just a memoir-it's a demand for justice and a reimagining of care rooted in dignity, truth, and humanity. A bold and necessary contribution to discussions on race, disability, and gender, The Silence They Wrote for Me is a defiant voice rising from the margins, refusing to be erased.
Left Behind
Why, despite decades of legislation, quotas, and incentives, do persons with disabilities in South Africa remain excluded from meaningful work?Left Behind presents original nationwide research into the employment crisis facing persons with disabilities. Using a mixed methods approach that combines survey findings with qualitative insights, the book uncovers systemic barriers in recruitment, workplace access, and education. It shows how discrimination and weak policy implementation intersect with race, gender, geography, and socioeconomic status to shape outcomes. Through rigorous analysis and the voices of those directly affected, it exposes why existing measures fall short and what must change to achieve real inclusion.Looks at the experiences of people with physical and sensory disabilities in South Africa on their path to and in employment. It takes a look at the challenges and discrimination they face in gaining employment as well as in the workplace. Aims to gain insight through surveys and interviews as to what people feel could be helpful or what should be done to include them in the workplace and where they feel the core issues lie to gaining employment.
The Wokeness Spectrum
The Intriguing Journey Through Society's Most Debated PhenomenonAre you curious about the social movement that's revolutionizing modern culture? Dive into the heart of one of this generation's most contentious topics with "The Wokeness Spectrum: The Good, The Bad, The Progressive". This compelling exploration invites you to navigate through an intricate web of perspectives.From its roots in historical movements to its vibrant ripple effects on today's society, this book provides a thorough understanding of wokeness. Unveil the positive transformations sparked by wokeness, highlighting how prominent activists have harnessed its energy to drive societal change. Discover the controversial aspects, examining the contentious nature of cancel culture and its profound impacts. With a balanced perspective, explore how wokeness is reflected in education, media, and the corridors of politics.As you embark on this journey, gain insights into the complexity of wokeness through intersectionality and diverse perspectives. Grasp the role of social media and activism in shaping modern-day narratives, and understand the cultural shifts it incites both globally and within communities. Does your curiosity extend to how businesses are adapting? Uncover the strategic yet challenging landscape of corporate inclusivity driven by woke ideologies.Prepare yourself for a thought-provoking ride that challenges your views and broadens your understanding. This book doesn't just leave you pondering the present; it projects into the future, offering predictions and trends about the ongoing dialogue surrounding wokeness. Read on to stay informed-and perhaps redefine your stance on one of the most pivotal movements of our time.
The American Dream Blueprint
Embark on Your Journey to American CitizenshipHave you ever dreamt of calling the United States your permanent home? Whether it's for the opportunities, the culture, or the promise of a new beginning, achieving U.S. citizenship is a pathway to unlocking the full spectrum of the American Dream. The American Dream Blueprint: Your Ultimate Guide to US Citizenship is an indispensable resource designed to guide you every step of the way.This comprehensive guide starts with an insightful Introduction, preparing you to embark on your journey to citizenship. From understanding the intricacies of eligibility and the application process to the essential knowledge of America's foundational history and democratic principles, this book leaves no stone unturned. You'll gain a thorough understanding of the different paths to citizenship, from green cards to naturalization and beyond.Dive deep into the roots and principles of American democracy, exploring the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and the complexities of federalism. Learn how the U.S. government is structured, with detailed explanations of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Comprehend your voting rights, the political landscape, and the significance of civic participation.Your journey doesn't end there. Equip yourself with the knowledge of your rights and responsibilities as a future citizen, the cultural diversity of American society, and the fundamental aspects of the U.S. economy. Prepare diligently for the USCIS Civics Test with proven study strategies, sample questions, and essential tips to ace the interview and oath ceremony.Beyond achieving citizenship, this book encourages continuous learning and active engagement, ensuring that you keep the dream alive throughout your life as a new U.S. citizen. With invaluable resources, key historical documents, and practical advice, The American Dream Blueprint: Your Ultimate Guide to US Citizenship is your all-encompassing companion on the pathway to realizing your American Dream.
Under the Shade of the Guam繳chil
Have you ever wondered about the untold stories of women whose voices are often silenced by societal structures?In the Shade of the Guamuchil Tree: Life Stories of Indigenous and Peasant Women in Prison in Mexico, by the Sisters in the Shadow Editorial Collective, reveals the gripping experiences of indigenous and mestizo women at Cereso Morelos. This book brings to light the struggles of 206 women and 15 children imprisoned by a system that fails to address the root causes of crime, resorting instead to punitive measures.Through nine powerful narratives collected in Life Stories workshops over nearly three years at the Atlacholoaya women's detention center, this book offers a profound look at inequality and social injustice.Ideal for readers interested in social justice, human rights, and gender studies, as well as educators and students exploring these themes, this book is a crucial resource for understanding and addressing systemic inequalities.
The Lived Experiences of a Non-Academic Woman of Colour Working in UK Higher Education
What does it mean to navigate UK higher education as a non-academic Black woman, foreign-born and working within predominantly White institutions? This powerful book offers a rare and necessary perspective, uncovering the ways race, gender, and foreignness intersect to shape identity, career, and belonging.Through deeply personal narratives, reflective analysis, and scholarly insight, Dr. Abigal Muchecheti reveals how systemic colorism, unconscious bias, and institutional racism persist in spaces that claim diversity. She highlights how foreign-born Black women in particular are hyper-visible yet undervalued, often facing compounded exclusion because of accent, cultural background, and perceived "outsider" status.Challenging the illusion of meritocracy in higher education, this book builds on intersectionality theory and key research to illuminate how hidden barriers continue to marginalize women of colour in the sector.Ideal for students, scholars, and practitioners in Black Studies, Gender Studies, Sociology, Anti-Racism, and Higher Education, as well as anyone committed to understanding and dismantling systemic inequalities.
S矇minaires sur la coop矇ration transfrontali癡re 2018-2022
Les textes issus de ce volume portent sur la coop矇ration transfrontali癡re ? partir des exemples pris le long de la fronti癡re franco-allemande et sur les fronti癡res de la Roumanie. Les contributions rassembl矇es soulignent comment dans les espaces frontaliers les soci矇t矇s civiles construisent un peu d'Europe. Cela ne va pas sans difficult矇 ni arri癡re-pens矇e, et ces laboratoires n'矇chappent pas non plus aux probl癡mes que traversent les relations bilat矇rales entre ces ?tats frontaliers. D癡s lors, si la coop矇ration frontali癡re peut 礙tre une opportunit矇 pour approfondir l'int矇gration europ矇enne, elle n'en reste pas moins travers矇e par les vicissitudes que soul癡ve ce processus. Les diff矇rents exemples pr矇sent矇s dans ce volume mettent en valeur les possibilit矇s ouvertes ou non par ces processus transfrontaliers. Ils permettent 矇galement une comparaison entre coop矇ration transfrontali癡re en Europe de l'Ouest et en Europe centrale et orientale.
Transforming a Disability Through Everyday Life Experiences
Transforming a Disability Through Everyday Life Experiences by Anne-Lyse Chabert explores when disability begins and how it can be defined beyond conventions. Using her own experience, she examines metamorphosis as a strategy to overcome physical and environmental constraints. She analyzes disability through normativity, affordance, and capability. Real-life cases- a quadriplegic calligrapher, blind footballers, and an autistic person finding societal inclusion- illustrate how creativity transforms limitations into possibilities.
Redefining European Security in a Post COVID-19 World
How do we define resilience in the context of security? How do we build resilience? What is disinformation and how is it being used by Russia in Eastern Europe? Is it a new phenomenon or a continuation of an old one with roots in the sovietization process? Are the education policies regarding democracy helping to build resilience? Are the research programmes of the EU targeting the right key areas for increasing resilience? These are the main inquiries that the book addresses. While looking in the past and linking it to the present, the research covers the synergies between security, resilience, disinformation, education and research, and offers solutions for building resilience and combating disinformation through education.
Open Semiotics. Volume 4
Given that signs and meanings pervade the world in its different aspects, semiotics is naturally open to interactions with other fields, from the humanities and social sciences to the natural and pure sciences. Open Semiotics aims to explore and expand these interactions, and to facilitate new avenues for interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research, providing insights into a redeployment of disciplinary fields. Such an endeavor, which is intended to benefit the entire scientific community, has drawn upon extensive cooperation. This has resulted in 141 chapters authored by 178 scholars from 58 countries spanning all continents, which represent a broad array of trends and approaches as well as numerous and diverse disciplinary crossings. Open Semiotics comprises four volumes: (1) Epistemological and Conceptual Foundations, (2) Culture and Society, (3) Texts, Images, Arts, (4) Life and its Extensions. This book is the fourth and last volume of the project.
Open Semiotics. Volume 1
Given that signs and meanings pervade the world in its different aspects, semiotics is naturally open to interactions with other fields, from the humanities and social sciences to the natural and pure sciences. Open Semiotics aims to explore and expand these interactions, and to facilitate new avenues for interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research, providing insights into a redeployment of disciplinary fields. Such an endeavor, which is intended to benefit the entire scientific community, has drawn upon extensive cooperation. This has resulted in 141 chapters authored by 178 scholars from 58 countries spanning all continents, which represent a broad array of trends and approaches as well as numerous and diverse disciplinary crossings. Open Semiotics comprises four volumes: (1) Epistemological and Conceptual Foundations, (2) Culture and Society, (3) Texts, Images, Arts, (4) Life and its Extensions. This book is the first volume of the project.
Open Semiotics. Volume 2
Given that signs and meanings pervade the world in its different aspects, semiotics is naturally open to interactions with other fields, from the humanities and social sciences to the natural and pure sciences. Open Semiotics aims to explore and expand these interactions, and to facilitate new avenues for interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research, providing insights into a redeployment of disciplinary fields. Such an endeavor, which is intended to benefit the entire scientific community, has drawn upon extensive cooperation. This has resulted in 141 chapters authored by 178 scholars from 58 countries spanning all continents, which represent a broad array of trends and approaches as well as numerous and diverse disciplinary crossings. Open Semiotics comprises four volumes: (1) Epistemological and Conceptual Foundations, (2) Culture and Society, (3) Texts, Images, Arts, (4) Life and its Extensions. This book is the second volume of the project.
Open Semiotics. Volume 3
Given that signs and meanings pervade the world in its different aspects, semiotics is naturally open to interactions with other fields, from the humanities and social sciences to the natural and pure sciences. Open Semiotics aims to explore and expand these interactions, and to facilitate new avenues for interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research, providing insights into a redeployment of disciplinary fields. Such an endeavor, which is intended to benefit the entire scientific community, has drawn upon extensive cooperation. This has resulted in 141 chapters authored by 178 scholars from 58 countries spanning all continents, which represent a broad array of trends and approaches as well as numerous and diverse disciplinary crossings. Open Semiotics comprises four volumes: (1) Epistemological and Conceptual Foundations, (2) Culture and Society, (3) Texts, Images, Arts, (4) Life and its Extensions. This book is the third volume of the project.
Too Influential to Survive
Power is usually sold as a personal possession-something you earn through talent, confidence, money, or grit. But in modern life, influence doesn't rise in a straight line, and it doesn't belong to individuals in the way we like to imagine. It is granted through networks, reinforced by institutions, and amplified by technology-and the same architecture that elevates a person can quietly decide when their reach has become inconvenient. Too Influential to Survive examines a modern paradox: the more visible you become, the more vulnerable you are. Visibility creates reach-but it also creates exposure, scrutiny, and a permanent record. Credibility opens doors-but it can be re-framed, reduced, and professionally "managed" when your independence starts to look like risk. Access feels like freedom-until you realize it can function like a leash.This book walks you through the machinery behind public influence and reputational survival: how "individual power" is often a negotiated position; how legitimacy is assigned by gatekeepers; how access operates through silent contracts; how narrative warfare reshapes memory; how economic leverage punishes deviation; and how digital systems don't merely reflect public interest-they engineer it. Most importantly, it explains what happens at the tipping point-when influence stops being treated as an asset and starts being treated as a liability. Not through dramatic confrontation, but through subtle recalibration: fewer endorsements, shrinking invitations, shifting coverage, and credibility erosion that changes how the same visibility is interpreted.If you've ever wondered why certain people rise fast-and then fall in ways that seem strangely "organized"-this book gives you a framework to read power clearly, without superstition and without na簿ve optimism. Influence isn't just what you have. It's what the system still tolerates.
Too Influential to Survive
Power is usually sold as a personal possession-something you earn through talent, confidence, money, or grit. But in modern life, influence doesn't rise in a straight line, and it doesn't belong to individuals in the way we like to imagine. It is granted through networks, reinforced by institutions, and amplified by technology-and the same architecture that elevates a person can quietly decide when their reach has become inconvenient. Too Influential to Survive examines a modern paradox: the more visible you become, the more vulnerable you are. Visibility creates reach-but it also creates exposure, scrutiny, and a permanent record. Credibility opens doors-but it can be re-framed, reduced, and professionally "managed" when your independence starts to look like risk. Access feels like freedom-until you realize it can function like a leash.This book walks you through the machinery behind public influence and reputational survival: how "individual power" is often a negotiated position; how legitimacy is assigned by gatekeepers; how access operates through silent contracts; how narrative warfare reshapes memory; how economic leverage punishes deviation; and how digital systems don't merely reflect public interest-they engineer it. Most importantly, it explains what happens at the tipping point-when influence stops being treated as an asset and starts being treated as a liability. Not through dramatic confrontation, but through subtle recalibration: fewer endorsements, shrinking invitations, shifting coverage, and credibility erosion that changes how the same visibility is interpreted.If you've ever wondered why certain people rise fast-and then fall in ways that seem strangely "organized"-this book gives you a framework to read power clearly, without superstition and without na簿ve optimism. Influence isn't just what you have. It's what the system still tolerates.
Metal Music, Masculinity, and Mass Shootings
What happens when a woman enters the hypermasculine world of heavy metal and is forced to confront not only exclusion, but trauma and violence? In Metal Music, Masculinity, and Mass Shootings, Deborah Kay Phillips offers a powerful autoethnographic account that weaves lived experience with cultural and gender theory to examine metal music scenes, gun culture, and toxic masculinity in North America. Drawing on her experiences as a cis woman navigating metal concerts and communities, Phillips critically engages academic research on gender and popular music while reflecting on her own search for belonging within a male-dominated cultural space. The narrative takes a harrowing turn as she confronts the psychological aftermath of witnessing a fatal shooting at a concert, exploring how performances of masculinity intersect with firearms, public violence, and fear. Through honest reflection and scholarly insight, the book traces her journey of coping with PTSD and the difficult act of returning to a space marked by both passion and trauma, ultimately offering a deeply human meditation on resilience, accountability, and cultural change.This book is ideal for students and scholars in gender studies, cultural and media studies, popular music and metal studies, sociology, and communication, as well as readers interested in gun culture, toxic masculinity, trauma, PTSD, and the social dynamics surrounding mass shootings at concerts.
Broken Plea
Was there more than one killer? Had the crime scene been cleaned and sanitized before the police arrived? Was furniture staged to throw off detectives? In one of the most extraordinary true crime stories ever published, Broken Plea questions what really happened in the house on King Road--and the results of that investigation will astound you.In the early morning hours of November 13, 2022, four lives were lost in a brutal crime in Moscow, Idaho--and a nation demanded answers. When a suspect accepted a plea bargain, the story seemed settled. Justice, many believed, had been served.Broken Plea challenges that assumption.Drawing on court records, investigative timelines, witness statements, and apparently overlooked inconsistencies, this meticulously researched expos矇 examines how a rush to judgment may have shaped one of the most closely watched murder cases in recent memory. As the official narrative hardened, critical leads went unexplored, contradictory evidence was minimized, and alternative explanations faded from view.This book does not claim certainty where none exists. Instead, it asks the questions that were never fully pursued: What happens when pressure to close a case outweighs the search for truth? What evidence may have been sidelined, and why? And what are the consequences when a plea doesn't end scrutiny but invites it?Clear-eyed, unsparing, and deeply unsettling, Broken Plea reopens the case--and invites readers to look again at what justice demands when the truth remains unresolved.
Essays On Mankind And Political Arithmetic
Essays on mankind and political arithmetic presents a reflective exploration of population studies, economic patterns, and the broader forces that shape societies. The text examines how shifts in urban growth influence economic conditions and social structures, drawing attention to the expansion of major cities and the pressures created by rapid development. It highlights the significance of studying population records, viewing demographic patterns as a way to interpret collective behavior and long-term stability. The work discusses how data drawn from everyday civic systems can reveal larger movements in trade, labor, and resource distribution, offering insights into how communities adapt in the face of adversity. It also considers early efforts to quantify human activity, using numerical observations to understand productivity and societal resilience. Through these reflections, the collection encourages readers to consider how human life, population changes, and economic reasoning intertwine to shape the foundations of governance and public well-being, creating a structured approach to interpreting the forces that influence social progress.
Evolution Of Expression Volume 1
Evolution of expression Volume 1 offers a structured exploration of how expressive ability develops when approached as a gradual, disciplined craft. The work introduces an educational philosophy centered on the idea that communication grows through identifiable stages shaped by psychological principles. It compares the growth of an effective speaker to the development found in other artistic practices, suggesting that progress begins with simple energy before advancing toward controlled movement, fuller resonance, and polished articulation. Early chapters outline this progression while encouraging learners to engage deeply with selected literary passages chosen to illustrate each stage. Through these examples, the text emphasizes intentional practice, attentive listening, and a thoughtful connection between inner understanding and outward delivery. The opening portion highlights how expression is not merely a skill but a cultivated response to thought, emotion, and experience, guiding students toward greater clarity, purpose, and confidence. By blending theory with practical application, the volume establishes a systematic path for strengthening communication in both academic and personal settings.
Communaut矇s rurales du Laos
Dans les ann矇es 90, avec plus de 130 groupes ruraux revendiquant des sp矇cificit矇s ethnolinguistiques et historiques particuli癡res, la mosa簿que ethnique du Laos est unique. Lors de la p矇riode 矇tudi矇e (1988-2003), malgr矇 les influences externes politiques et 矇conomiques, les forces sociales des unit矇s villages et m矇nages pouvaient encore s'exprimer dans une logique relativement respectueuse des traditions, m礙me si celles-ci avaient d矇j? bien 矇volu矇 depuis les ann矇es 60. Le d矇veloppement rapide depuis le d矇but des ann矇es 2000 abandonne sur son chemin la richesse et la diversit矇 du patrimoine mat矇riel et immat矇riel des soci矇t矇s rurales, qu'elles avaient pu 矇laborer de g矇n矇ration en g矇n矇ration. Avec l'矇ducation formelle en langue lao et l'adoption rapide du t矇l矇phone mobile et des r矇seaux sociaux mondialis矇s, les jeunes g矇n矇rations deviennent 矇galement acteurs de la rupture g矇n矇rationnelle de la transmission des savoirs: la g矇n矇ration de l'oubli.
The United Rite
The United Rite explores the male+male mysteries of witchcraft-quiet yet meaningful bonds that have shaped magical practice for centuries. Blending equal parts catechism, guide, and elevator speech, this foundational text distills the core symbols, structures, and shared practices that define this initiatory current. Written with clarity and a steady, intimate pulse, The United Rite offers men on the crooked path a framework for understanding the transformative power of brotherhood, practice, and the charged space where two choose to walk together.This work explores the revisioning of folklore as a modern practice. It examines the influence of male-to-male bonds, ritual frameworks, and archetypal forces in witchcraft, encouraging readers to approach these mysteries with openness and personal insight. Whether used for study or as inspiration for practice, The United Rite: Brother Walking with Brother is a grounded resource for those interested in the intersection of magic, myth, and male-to-male connection.The United Rite is a nonprofit organization dedicated to exploring, articulating, and preserving the male+male mysteries of witchcraft, offering a clear, ethical, and transformative path rooted in brotherhood and grounded in the tripartite principles of practice, equipoise, and service.
Deciphering Legalese
Language is the lifeblood of law. Judgments, and legal opinions rests upon precision, clarity and most decisively on the merit of words. Legalese is a distinct mode of communication and a technical tool with its own conventions, vocabulary and reasoning patterns. The present book 'Deciphering Legal Language: A Practical Handbook for Law Students' explores the nature, function, lexicon, structure and syntax of legal language that accords the legal discourse its distinctive character. Drawing on examples from legislation, case laws and legal drafting practices, the book aims to decipher legal language and reveals how words act as lawyers' tool in determining and interpreting law and justice. As a handbook of information for law students it offers a practical insight into the nuances of legalese. The book aims to engage and encourage the readers and the budding lawyers to use legal language in a more refined and enduring way.
Augmented
A provocative rethinking of the intersection of death, technology, and disability, for a better life. We are all cyborgs, relying on technology--whether it's Alexa, a pacemaker, or a titanium knee--for our quotidian existence. In our deep connection to a technological world, from robots to augmented and virtual realities, metaverses, and gaming, Candi Cann sees an opportunity, and good reason, to question our ideas about accessibility and inclusion. In augmented, she asks us to reconsider traditional notions of biology and death. Having relied on hearing aids from the age of four, Cann uses her experience to challenge readers to reconsider their assumptions about technologies and their role in life--and death. She also focuses on what it means that most of us are living longer with the intervention of medical technologies, and how a better understanding of our relationship to technology will grant us greater control as we age. Drawing on her life experience in Asia, the author explains how cultural and religious views of machines and artificial intelligence vary globally--in particular, how a Western fear of machines contrasts with an animistic worldview that can see machines as conduits of care for others, embedding spiritual possibilities.
The Progressive Democracy Of James M. Cox
The progressive democracy of James M. Cox offers an examination of American political life during a turbulent period shaped by the aftermath of global conflict and the search for renewed national direction. The book begins by presenting a landscape marked by uncertainty, where public responsibility and decisive leadership are essential to rebuilding confidence. Against this backdrop, the narrative introduces James M. Cox as a figure whose progressive outlook emphasizes action, civic duty, and a belief in cooperative international engagement. Early chapters highlight the pressing need for leaders capable of translating ideals into meaningful policies, using his support for broader global cooperation as an example of this commitment. The work reflects on shifting political expectations, the public's desire for stability, and the moral weight placed on those guiding the nation forward. Through its focus on resilience, democratic participation, and the pursuit of constructive reform, the book presents a portrait of a statesman whose vision is shaped by both national challenges and the conviction that collective effort can advance social progress.
Dona Torr
Dona Torr is often mentioned in passing or in a footnote or an index when the work of the now famous Communist Party Historians' Group (CPHG) is discussed, but rarely in her own right as a historian and much less as the lynchpin and mentor of the Group. Born into a world where women's voices were often marginalized, Torr defied the norms of her time by immersing herself in the study of history with a focus on Marxist theory. She became a founding member of the Communist Party of Great Britain in 1920, marking the start of a lifelong commitment to Marxist politics and historical scholarship.As a mentor and key influence on the predominantly male Communist Party Historians' Group (CPHG), Torr played a crucial role in guiding and shaping the work of her contemporaries. As such, it is now clear that she had a profound influence on many of the influential books authored by members of the Group through her extensive historical knowledge, but above all as a Marxist with a firm grasp of historical materialism as the basis for all historical research and interpretation.The recent re-discovery and current cataloguing of a Dona Torr archive in Marx Memorial Library (MML) has substantiated these claims. The archive was donated by Torr's husband Walter Holmes after her death in 1957. This archive reveals Torr's extensive involvement in the conceptualisation of the work of the CPHG, and critique of many key works produced by the Group, affirming her status as an indispensable figure in the annals of Marxist historiography. Dona Torr's archive at MML consists of copious letters to her from now famous historians asking for her advice and acknowledging its value. Her archive also contains some details of the work of the Communist Party Historians Group (CPHG) and her role within it, especially relating to the major debates on Absolutism, the English Revolution, mercantilism, the peasantry, the transition from feudalism to capitalism,19th century history and more. It also contains Torr's abundant, often handwritten research notes on a huge array of historical subjects and periods. In addition, the archive comprises her unpublished interventions on issues relating to Marxist method, the application of historical materialism and Marx's own writings on China.Author Mary Davis, a renowned Marxist historian of the British labour movement, has rediscovered the richness of Dona Torr's work through extensive research in the Dona Torr archive at MML.
Islam In The West
This book emerges from lived experience, long observation, and deep reflection on migration, identity, and belonging. It does not seek to provide a definitive account of Australia or of migration itself, but rather to explore the emotional and social realities encountered by many who arrive in a new country with hope and expectation.Migration is not merely a physical journey; it is an ongoing negotiation between past and present, identity and acceptance, memory and survival. The reflections in this work aim to give voice to experiences that are often discussed privately but rarely examined openly.This book is written for readers willing to engage with complexity-to sit with discomfort, contradiction, and unanswered questions. Its purpose is not to accuse or condemn, but to invite thought, conversation, and deeper understanding of how societies receive those who arrive seeking dignity and belonging.Islam in the West presents a faith-based critique of contemporary Western political and cultural systems through an Islamic moral lens. The book argues that modern global power structures prioritise control, materialism, and surveillance while eroding spiritual accountability and justice.Drawing on religious belief, historical interpretation, and social observation, the author challenges secular governance, media influence, economic dominance, and cultural narratives, contrasting them with Islamic concepts of morality, purpose, and accountability. The work positions Islam not as a political movement, but as a comprehensive ethical framework addressing the moral vacuum the author perceives in modern civilisation. Compliant with: Australian hate-speech thresholdsUK Public Order Act standardsMajor publisher risk policiesMost online platform moderation rules Still controversial but legally framed as: religious beliefideological critiquemoral philosophyhistorical interpretationKey publishing safeguards appliedpersonal reflection, social critique, and lived experienceanalysis, observation, and widely debated social issuesIt is written to meet typical publisher and legal-review standards while retaining intellectual seriousness and moral force.
The American Republic
The American republic: Its constitution, tendencies, and destiny offers an analytical reflection on the guiding principles that shape the structure, purpose, and long term direction of the national government. The work begins by examining how a nation, much like an individual, must develop an awareness of its own identity in order to function with clarity and stability. It considers the importance of understanding the framework of the constitution as well as the deeper reasoning behind the distribution of authority within the governmental system. Using historical challenges as a backdrop, the text emphasizes how moments of conflict compel a renewed examination of political foundations and expose weaknesses in long held interpretations. Through exploring debates surrounding unity, sovereignty, and the nature of power, the analysis highlights the need for a more precise grasp of the doctrines that define the republic. In presenting these ideas, the work encourages readers to consider how thoughtful engagement with foundational principles contributes to institutional strength, national coherence, and an informed sense of collective purpose.
The Corporation Of London, Its Rights And Privileges
The corporation of London, its rights and privileges presents a detailed historical examination of the governing body of the City of London, focusing on its evolution, legal privileges, and role in civic administration. The text explores how charters granted by monarchs established the foundation for the Corporation's authority and the ways these rights have been defended over time. The opening preface positions the author as a supporter of the Corporation, emphasizing its traditional responsibilities in managing civic affairs while resisting undue interference from central government. Key discussions include the balance between historical precedent and contemporary reform, highlighting tensions between maintaining established privileges and adapting to legislative changes. The work also examines the Corporation's resilience in asserting autonomy against royal authority, offering insights into the legal, political, and social mechanisms that sustain its governance. Through analysis of historical documents, charters, and civic practices, the text provides a comprehensive understanding of the Corporation's rights, its role in shaping city governance, and the enduring importance of institutional continuity amid evolving societal and governmental pressures.
1776...A Completely New and Convincing Proof of God
The Pi Encryption is a standing, undeniable, unshakeable, testable, ever-present and enduring testimony of the truth of Christ's claims concerning His deity and the salvation that He alone can give to every soul who will trust in Him. It has only been discovered in recent years, by the use of 21st century technology. Phenomena like the Pi Encryption do not "just happen" by themselves - at least, not in the real world. This book is the means by which it is being made public for the very first time. Until now, no one - no one at all - has ever been able to find even a simple and meaningless pattern in π, let alone a complex one that conveys detailed information. BUT NOW, FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE HAVE THE PI ENCRYPTION!
Such Is Life
Such is life presents a reflective portrait of rural existence shaped by shifting landscapes, physical labor, and the quiet resilience found in everyday routines. The narrative moves through encounters among traveling workers, using their shared experiences to reveal the emotional undercurrents of hardship, uncertainty, and perseverance. Instead of focusing on individual identities, the book highlights the collective rhythm of their journeys, where conversations about work, movement, and practical concerns gradually expand into deeper meditations on purpose and adaptability. The narrator's contemplative outlook frames these moments with a blend of observation and understated humor, allowing the ordinary to acquire philosophical weight. As the group navigates changing conditions and the demands of their environment, their interactions subtly expose the tension between outward challenges and private reflections. Through this interweaving of travel, dialogue, and introspection, the book captures the unspoken bonds formed through shared struggle, creating an exploration of human endurance grounded in landscape, labor, and the search for meaning across shifting circumstances.
Female Suffrage
Female suffrage: A letter to the Christian women of America offers a reflective examination of the social and moral questions surrounding the growing demand for political rights for women. The text presents a viewpoint shaped by religious conviction and traditional social expectations, expressing concern that expanding political participation may disrupt established patterns of family life and communal order. It contrasts public authority with the quieter but influential responsibilities often associated with home and community, suggesting that lasting social well-being arises from personal integrity, ethical conduct, and the nurturing guidance offered within domestic spaces. The work argues that moral influence can be more transformative than legal power, framing the household as a place where values are shaped and reinforced. It also warns against rapid changes driven by political enthusiasm, encouraging readers to consider how shifting duties might affect broader social stability. By appealing to spiritual responsibility, it invites reflection on whether meaningful societal progress can emerge from strengthening inner character and communal bonds rather than seeking formal political authority.
Oceana
Oceana presents a structured vision of political organization built around the idea that stability and freedom emerge when power and property are balanced across a community. The opening sections offer background on the thinker behind the work, describing an upbringing shaped by education, travel, and exposure to differing political arrangements that encouraged a lifelong interest in governance. These early experiences highlight how observation of other societies, particularly those emphasizing broad participation and disciplined civic life, helped form a perspective that questioned traditional concentrations of authority. The text introduces the belief that social disorder arises not simply from flawed institutions but from unequal distribution of material influence, suggesting that enduring harmony depends on establishing conditions where civic responsibility is widely shared. By combining reflection on personal development with early explorations of political structure, the book begins to frame a model of communal life grounded in equality, public virtue, and active citizenship. This foundation prepares readers for a detailed exploration of how a reimagined commonwealth might function with fairness and collective purpose.
U.S. Presidential Inaugural Addresses
U.S. presidential inaugural addresses offers a broad reflection on how a nation defines its purpose through the words of its leaders at pivotal moments. This collection traces the progression of political ideals, national aspirations, and shifting priorities expressed during transitions of power. The early speeches in the compilation reveal the concerns of a young country establishing its identity, emphasizing unity, responsibility, and the challenges of guiding a developing republic. These opening addresses convey a mixture of humility and determination as newly appointed leaders articulate hopes for stability, cooperation, and balanced governance. As the collection moves forward, it captures the evolving language of public duty, highlighting how each administration responds to the social, political, and economic pressures of its time. The work underscores how inaugural messages serve not only as ceremonial declarations but as markers of national direction. Through discussions of principles, collective purpose, and the expectations placed upon public office, the compilation illustrates how these speeches shape and reflect the nation's ongoing democratic discourse.
Alaeddin And The Enchanted Lamp
Alaeddin and the enchanted lamp presents a set of stories shaped by the imaginative depth and moral complexity found in traditional Middle Eastern folklore. The opening introduces two central figures whose journeys unfold within a world defined by mystery, fortune, and the testing of character. One narrative follows a royal heir who faces warnings about future trials and gradually becomes entangled in the allure of wealth and power, prompting a difficult search for clarity and redemption. Alongside this tale, the story of a restless youth begins as he encounters a stranger whose intentions draw him into a path marked by transformation and unexpected responsibility. These early scenes establish a setting where magic influences fate, where personal choices lead to unforeseen consequences, and where growth emerges from the challenges encountered along the way. Through its blend of wonder, introspection, and adventure, the collection reflects on how desire, ambition, and the struggle for self-understanding shape the evolving lives of its characters.
