Make your own luck by understanding probabilityOver the years, some very smart people have thought they understood the rules of chance?only to fail dismally. Whether you call it probability, risk, or uncertainty, the workings of chance often defy common sense. Fortunately, advances in math and science have revealed the laws of chance, and understanding those laws can help in your everyday life.In Chancing It, award-winning scientist and writer Robe...

Lewis Bokurtz is not saving the world. This isn't that kind of story.His parents don't keep him in a cupboard under the stairs. His teacher doesn't lock him in a closet filled with broken glass. His friends have never treated him with disdain due to his expression of any unique supernatural powers.He desperately wishes they would.A thoughtful young boy yearns for adventure, like so many he has lived between the covers of his favorite books....

You've been watching television news forever. You're intimately familiar with the friendly faces and soothing voices that nightly tell you what's wrong with the world. You think you know everything there is to know about them. You're wrong.If It Bleeds, It Leads takes us minute-by-minute through two-and-one-half real hours of syndicated, local, and network information programming to uncover the truth behind what passes as news. Why is the only real difference between Jerry Springer and Dan...

Whether it is the binding of shattered bones or the creation of herbal remedies, human agency is a central feature of the healing process. Both archaeological and anthropological research has contributed much to our understanding of the performative aspects of medicine. The papers contained in this volume, based on a session conducted at the 2010 Theoretical Archaeology Conference, take a multi-disciplinary approach to the topic, addressing such issues as the cultural conception of disease...

Why are we here? Why do we take up real estate on this little planet called Earth? The default answer for most evangelicals is found in the Westminster Catechism, which states, "Man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever." That's great, but just how do we do that? Well, the author suggests that God planted a garden (us) on this planet for the same reason that anyone else plants a garden-to harvest the fruit. So just what is this fruit that the Master Gardener is looking for...

The first biography of "one of Kentucky's best Confederates . . . [who] became a good citizen working for reconciliation between North and South."— The Post and CourierAfter practicing law for several years in St. Louis, Basil Wilson Duke (1838-1916) enlisted in the Confederate army in 1861 and was elected first lieutenant of John Hunt Morgan's legendary cavalry unit. As second in command, he was, Morgan recorded, "wise in counsel, gallant in the field," a...

This book discusses the words and pictures that constituted coverage of the 1992 presidential campaign on ABC and CNN. It addresses the implications of the news product for the viewing audience and the impact of the forces that create television news on the political system.

In this biography, Robert Walker skilfully blends the fascinating story of Rachmaninoff's life with the historical background of his times. The author shows, too, how outside influences- the 1905 and 1917 revolutions, the Great War, the Wall Street Crash and the Great Depression- very much affected Rachmaninoff as an artist. As well as the use of contemporary accounts, letters and reminiscences, the author has obtained recollections first-hand from distinguished musicians who knew the comp...

In this biography, Robert Walker skilfully blends the fascinating story of Rachmaninoff's life with the historical background of his times. The author shows, too, how outside influences- the 1905 and 1917 revolutions, the Great War, the Wall Street Crash and the Great Depression- very much affected Rachmaninoff as an artist. As well as the use of contemporary accounts, letters and reminiscences, the author has obtained recollections first-hand from distinguished musicians who knew the comp...

The progressive "netroots," fueled by bloggers writing on websites like the Daily Kos and working through online organizations like MoveOn, are on the verge of spearheading a revolution that may well define the coming political era. Still, their purpose, goals, and track record remain largely misunderstood. This book provides an understanding of the loosely affiliated groups that collectively call themselves the progressive netroots: who they are, what they hope to accomplish, what they've...

Remote and Controlled examines the issue of widespread cynicism in an era of abundant information, asking whether it is possible to consume a steady diet of mainstream media and still understand and respect the political process. Starting with central examples of television's political coverage and the media's focus on the president, the author explores a variety of media—from newspapers and radio to MTV and computer networks—and political events and institutions. Against a historical back...

The loss of the Titanic in 1912 cast a pall over all future voyages, and in the wake of the most famous sinking in history, a number of crucial changes were made, including the requirement that there be enough lifeboats available for every passenger, a change that was codified by the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea in 1914. That same convention also made a change to the way distress signals were used, and the British subsequently ensured that the bulkheads be raised ...