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The First Protectors: A Novel
by Victor GodinezThe last thing Ben Shepherd wanted was another war. But sometimes the universe won’t take no for an answer. His body and spirit mangled by a lifetime of combat, Shepherd, a retired Navy SEAL, has retreated to the desolate desert of New Mexico to heal his wounds and dodge his demons. All he wants now is peace and quiet. Both are shattered one starry night, when an alien ship crashes nearby. Out of the ship crawls the last, dying member of a conquered civilization. It’s been shot down by an extraterrestrial enemy, the vanguard of a ravenous force hunting for a new homeland. With its last gasp, the wounded alien injects Shepherd with a high-tech serum that gives him near superhuman powers. Now, with a new body but a soul as fractured as ever, Shepherd becomes the reluctant leader of the human resistance against the coming invasion. With enemies on all sides, the man who couldn’t bear the guilt of seeing one more friend die in battle now finds himself charged with protecting the entire planet.
The First State of Being
by Erin Entrada KellyWINNER OF THE NEWBERY MEDALA FINALIST FOR THE 2024 NATIONAL BOOK AWARDA NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER INDIE BESTSELLERChicago Public Library Best Fiction for Older Readers of 2024Shelf Awareness Best Books of 2024 for Kids and TeensBookPage Best Middle Grade of 2024Common Sense Media Best Books of 20242025 Excellence in Children’s and Young Adult Science Fiction Notable ListWhen twelve-year-old Michael Rosario meets a mysterious boy from the future, his life is changed forever. From bestselling author Erin Entrada Kelly, also the winner of the Newbery Medal for Hello, Universe and a Newbery Honor for We Dream of Space, this novel explores themes of family, friendship, trust, and forgiveness. The First State of Being is for fans of Rebecca Stead’s When You Reach Me.It's August 1999. For twelve-year-old Michael Rosario, life at Fox Run Apartments in Red Knot, Delaware, is as ordinary as ever—except for the looming Y2K crisis and his overwhelming crush on his sixteen-year-old babysitter, Gibby. But when a disoriented teenage boy named Ridge appears out of nowhere, Michael discovers there is more to life than stockpiling supplies and pining over Gibby.It turns out that Ridge is carefree, confident, and bold, things Michael wishes he could be. Unlike Michael, however, Ridge isn’t where he belongs. When Ridge reveals that he’s the world’s first time traveler, Michael and Gibby are stunned but curious. As Ridge immerses himself in 1999—fascinated by microwaves, basketballs, and malls—Michael discovers that his new friend has a book that outlines the events of the next twenty years, and his curiosity morphs into something else: focused determination. Michael wants—no, needs—to get his hands on that book. How else can he prepare for the future? But how far is he willing to go to get it?A story of time travel, friendship, found family, and first loves, this thematically rich novel is distinguished by its voice, character development, setting, and exploration of the issues that resonate with middle grade readers.Finalist for the National Book Award and Winner of the Newbery Medal.
The First to Die at the End: The prequel to the international No. 1 bestseller THEY BOTH DIE AT THE END!
by Adam SilveraIn this prequel to the NO. 1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING phenomenon of TIKTOK fame, They Both Die at the End, two new strangers spend a life-changing day together after Death-Cast make their first fateful calls. '[A] heart-pounding story [full] of emotion and suspense.' Kirkus 'An extraordinary book with a riveting plot.' BooklistMeet Orion and Valentino. It&’s the night before Death-Cast goes live, and there&’s one question on everyone&’s mind: Can Death-Cast actually predict death, or is it an elaborate hoax? Orion Pagan has waited years for someone to tell him that he&’s going to die, given his serious heart condition. Valentino Prince has a long and promising future ahead of him and only registered for Death-Cast after his twin sister nearly died in a car accident. Orion and Valentino cross paths in Times Square and immediately feel a deep connection. But when the first End Day calls go out, their lives are changed for ever – one of them receives a call . . . the other doesn&’t. Told with acclaimed author Adam Silvera&’s signature bittersweet touch, this story celebrates the lasting impact that people have on each other and proves that life is always worth living to the fullest. PRAISE FOR ADAM SILVERA: 'There isn't a teenager alive who won't find their heart described perfectly on these pages.' Patrick Ness, author of The Knife of Never Letting Go 'Adam Silvera is a master at capturing the infinite small heartbreaks of love and loss and grief.' Nicola Yoon, author of Everything, Everything 'A phenomenal talent.' Juno Dawson, author of Clean and Wonderland 'Bold and haunting.' Lauren Oliver, author of Delirium
The Five Forces That Change Everything: How Technology is Shaping Our Future
by Steven S. HoffmanThe Five Forces reveals how technology is unleashing forces that will forever alter our lives, politics, and society. Learn more about nanotechnology, transhumanism, the future of space exploration and colonization, super human computers, and so much more! Discover what lies in our future: How will humans change as we merge with our machines, embracing transhumanism? What happens when intelligent algorithms make all the decisions? Should we connect our brains directly to the Internet? And are we entering an age of simulated realities? The Five Forces takes you on a journey to see what the most brilliant minds of our age are dreaming up. Hoffman reveals how new scientific breakthroughs and business ventures are poised to reshape our lives and turn science fiction into fact. With scientists in Japan creating humanoid robots, Silicon Valley biohackers boosting their IQs, and Chinese labs developing human-monkey chimeras, Hoffman gives an inside look at the limits of what&’s possible today and the impact these developments will have. Mass Connectivity What happens when brain chips connect our minds directly to the internet? Will we be able to boost our IQs, exchange memories, and communicate with our thoughts? Or will this turn into a nightmare, with corporations reading our minds, hackers overwriting our identities, and governments controlling our actions? Bio Convergence Now that we can decode the building blocks of life and create new lifeforms that never existed before, what comes next? Will we conquer disease, resurrect extinct species, develop superior plants and animals, create DNA-edited babies, and even spawn other intelligent beings? Human Expansionism Is it our manifest destiny to colonize Mars and extend the human race beyond the limits of our solar system? How will technologies like space travel, new materials, and nanotech transform our civilization and open up new horizons we never imagined possible? Deep Automation As our machines become capable enough to do every job better, faster, and cheaper, how will this affect society? Will we wind up delegating our most important decisions to data crunching algorithms? And does this mean our machines will end up running our economies, our corporations, and even our lives? Intelligence Explosion As soon as we create a superintelligence that far surpasses human capabilities, what will happen to us? Will we be able to control our machines, or will they eventually control us? Are we headed for a paradise of plenty, where our technology eliminates hunger, disease, poverty, and war? Or will this be the end of our reign as the rulers of the planet?
The Five Impossible Tasks of Eden Smith
by Tom LlewellynChallenged by a secret society of metalworkers, Eden must do all she can to save the only family she has left in this fantasy adventure.When Eden Smith moves into the beautiful and bizarre old mansion housing her grandfather, she discovers a strange society of elderly metalworkers whose mastery verges on the magical. Deadly mechanical birds, a cavernous chamber full of dirty dishes, a highly dangerous game of Machinist BINGO–life at the guild is not only strange, it&’s also dangerous.Eden&’s grandfather, Vulcan Smith, the most gifted of all the metalsmiths in the mansion, has just been sentenced to live out the rest of his days locked in a tiny basement room for rebelling against the guild. To save him, Eden will have to complete The Five Impossible Tasks, a series of deadly feats that have already killed off many of Eden and Vulcan&’s ancestors. With the help of her new friend Nathaniel and a cast of eccentric old silversmiths, blacksmiths, and inventive machinists, Eden sets out to do the impossible before her newfound grandfather is lost to her forever.In The Five Impossible Tasks of Eden Smith, Tom Llewellyn has crafted a wholly original world of wild contraptions, roguish characters, and perilous feats perfect for fans of Karuna Riazi, Laura Ruby, and Lemony Snicket.
The Five Year Lie: A totally unputdownable domestic thriller with a pulse-pounding romance
by Sarina BowenWhat if you got a text from the love of your life... five years after he died?On an ordinary Monday morning, Ariel's phone buzzes with a text: Something's happened. I need to see you. Meet me under the candelabra tree ASAP.Her heat skips a beat. The message is from Drew, the only guy she's ever loved. The father of her child. The man who up and left five years ago without a word. The man who died shortly after in a motorcycle accident.The text upends everything she knew about the day he vanished. Only two things are clear: everything she was told back then is a lie, and someone is still deceiving her today.The truth is out there, and Ariel will do anything to find it. But she has no idea that if it finds her first, she and her four-year-old son will be in terrible danger.For fans of The Housemaid, It Ends With Us and The Last Thing He Told Me, and with a heart-stopping romance that only Sarina Bowen can execute, The Five Year Lie is a page-turning, spine-tingling thriller that will have you guessing until the very end.'YES, YES, YES!!! ... I absolutely loved this book. A little bit of romance, a lot of suspense, and all the best aspects of a domestic thriller. I fell in love... Will keep you turning the pages as fast as you can' *****'The best book I've read in a long time. Had me hooked from the first page and I had to hurry and figure out what happened!' *****'I loved it! This had me hooked right away ... Fast paced and twisty ... Will keep you on the edge of your seat' *****'I devoured it in two days' *****
The Flawed Genius of William Playfair: The Story of the Father of Statistical Graphics
by David R. BellhouseA product of the Scottish Enlightenment, William Playfair (1759–1823) worked as a statistician, economist, engineer, banker, land speculator, scam artist, and political propagandist. It has been claimed – erroneously – that Playfair was a spy for the British government and ran a forging operation to print the paper money of the French Revolution. The Flawed Genius of William Playfair offers a complete account of Playfair’s life, richly contextualized in the economic, political, and cultural history of the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars. The book explores the many peaks and troughs of Playfair’s career, ranging from moderate prosperity to bankruptcy and imprisonment. Through careful analysis, David R. Bellhouse shows that Playfair was neither a spy nor a forger, but perhaps briefly a one-time courier for a government minister. Bellhouse pieces together as complete a picture as possible of the forging operations supported by the British government and illuminates Playfair’s lasting contributions in economics and statistics, where he is known as the father of statistical graphics. Disputing the misinformation about the man, The Flawed Genius of William Playfair highlights that the truth about Playfair’s life is often more intriguing than the fictions that surround him.
The Fleece & Fiber Sourcebook: More Than 200 Fibers, from Animal to Spun Yarn
by Carol Ekarius Deborah RobsonThis one-of-a-kind encyclopedia shines a spotlight on more than 200 animals and their wondrous fleece. Profiling a worldwide array of fiber-producers that includes northern Africa’s dromedary camel, the Navajo churro, and the Tasmanian merino, Carol Ekarius and Deborah Robson include photographs of each animal’s fleece at every stage of the handcrafting process, from raw to cleaned, spun, and woven. The Fleece & Fiber Sourcebook is an artist’s handbook, travel guide, and spinning enthusiast’s ultimate reference source all in one.
The Flexible Electronics Opportunity
by Committee on Best Practice in National Innovation Programs from Flexible ElectronicsFlexible electronics describes circuits that can bend and stretch, enabling significant versatility in applications and the prospect of low-cost manufacturing processes. They represent an important technological advance, in terms of their performance characteristics and potential range of applications, ranging from medical care, packaging, lighting and signage, consumer electronics and alternative energy (especially solar energy. ) What these technologies have in common is a dependence on efficient manufacturing that currently requires improved technology, processes, tooling, and materials, as well as ongoing research. Seeking to capture the global market opportunity in flexible electronics, major U. S. competitors have initiated dedicated programs that are large in scope and supported with significant government funding to develop and acquire these new technologies, refine them, and ultimately manufacture them within their national borders. These national and regional investments are significantly larger than U. S. investment and more weighted toward later stage applied research and development. The Flexible Electronics Opportunity examines and compares selected innovation programs both foreign and domestic, and their potential to advance the production of flexible electronics technology in the United States. This report reviews the goals, concept, structure, operation, funding levels, and evaluation of foreign programs similar to major U. S. programs, e. g. , innovation awards, S&T parks, and consortia. The report describes the transition of flexible electronics research into products and to makes recommendations to improve and to develop U. S. programs. Through an examination of the role of research consortia around the world to advance flexible electronics technology, the report makes recommendations for steps that the U. S. might consider to develop a robust industry in the United States. Significant U. S. expansion in the market for flexible electronics technologies is not likely to occur in the absence of mechanisms to address investment risks, the sharing of intellectual property, and the diverse technology requirements associated with developing and manufacturing flexible electronics technologies. The Flexible Electronics Opportunity makes recommendations for collaboration among industry, universities, and government to achieve the critical levels of investment and the acceleration of new technology development that are needed to catalyze a vibrant flexible electronics industry.
The Flight 981 Disaster: Tragedy, Treachery, and the Pursuit of Truth (Air Disasters Ser. #1)
by Samme ChittumOn June 12, 1972, a powerful explosion rocked American Airlines Flight 96 a mere five minutes after its takeoff from Detroit. The explosion ripped a gaping hole in the bottom of the aircraft and jammed the hydraulic controls. Miraculously, despite the damage and ensuing chaos, the pilots were able to land the plane safely. Less than two years later, on March 3, 1974, a sudden, forceful blowout tore through Turk Hava Yollari (THY) Flight 981 from Paris to London. THY Flight 981 was not as lucky as Flight 96; it crashed in a forest in France, and none of the 346 people onboard survived. What caused the mysterious explosions? How were they linked? Could they have been prevented? The Flight 981 Disaster addresses these questions and many more, offering a fascinating insiders' look at two dramatic aviation disasters.
The Flinkwater Factor
by Pete HautmanGinger must save her high-tech hometown from robots gone rogue in this hilariously quirky science fiction novel from National Book Award-winning author Pete Hautman.Welcome to Flinkwater, Iowa, home of the largest manufacturer of Articulated Computerized Peripheral Devices in the world. If you own a robot, it probably came from Flinkwater. Meet Ginger Crump, the plucky, precocious (and somewhat sarcastic) genius who finds herself in the middle of a national emergency when Flinkwater's computers start turning people into vegetables. Mental vegetables, that is. In Ginger's words, they've been "bonked." When Ginger's father is bonked, she recruits her self-declared future husband, boy genius Billy George, to help her find the source of the bonkings. Soon they're up against a talking dog, a sasquatch, and a zombie, while Flinkwater is invaded by an army of black SUVs led by the witless-but-dangerous Agent Ffelps from Homeland Security. Can Ginger get to the bottom of the bonkings, or will computer chaos reign forever?
The Floating Strip Micromegas Detector
by Jonathan BortfeldtThis book discusses a novel and high-rate-capable micro pattern gaseous detector of the Micromegas (MICRO-MEsh GAS detector) type. It provides a detailed characterization of the performance of Micromegas detectors on the basis of measurements and simulations, along with an in-depth examination of analysis and reconstruction methods. The accurate and efficient detection of minimum ionizing particles in high-rate background environments is demonstrated. The excellent performance determined here for these lightweight detectors will make possible the live medical imaging of a patient during ion-beam treatment.
The Florentine Deception
by Eugene H Spafford Carey NachenbergYou never know what secrets you'll find buried inside an old computerOn a whim, twenty-something cyber-security expert Alex Fife engages in a bit of voyeuristic digital snooping while cleaning up an old PC for a charity. To his surprise, Alex learns that the computer's deceased owner, a shady antiquities smuggler, had been trying to unload a priceless object known as the Florentine on the black market. But with the dealer's death, the Florentine is unaccounted for and potentially ripe for the taking. Hooked by the prospect of solving a mystery, Alex embarks upon a quest through subterranean grottos, freezing morgues, and hidden cellars in search of the Florentine. But what starts out as a seemingly innocuous pursuit quickly turns into a nightmare, as Alex discovers that the Florentine may not be a lost treasure after all, but something far more insidious. A weapon that, in the wrong hands, could bring the developed world to its knees--one that Alex's adversaries will do anything to acquire.Will Alex unlock the secrets of the Florentine in time to prevent a catastrophic attack? Read The Florentine Deception to find out!
The Florentine Deception: A Novel
by Carey NachenbergA seemingly mundane computer cleanup leads to an electrifying quest for an enigmatic--and deadly--treasure in this gripping techno-thriller After selling his dorm-room startup for millions and effectively retiring at the age of twenty-five, Alex Fife is eager for a new challenge. When he agrees to clean up an old PC as a favor, he never expects to find the adventure of a lifetime waiting for him inside the machine. But as he rummages through old emails, Alex stumbles upon a startling discovery: The previous owner, a shady antiques smuggler, had been trying to unload a mysterious object known as the Florentine on the black market. And with the dealer's untimely passing, the Florentine is now unaccounted for and ripe for the taking. Alex dives headfirst into a hunt for the priceless object. What starts out as a seemingly innocuous pursuit quickly devolves into a nightmare when Alex discovers the true technological nature of the Florentine. Not just a lost treasure, it's something far more insidious: a weapon that could bring the developed world to its knees. Alex races through subterranean grottos, freezing morgues, and hidden cellars in the dark underbelly of Los Angeles, desperate to find the Florentine before it falls into the wrong hands. Because if nefarious forces find it first, there'll be nothing Alex--or anyone else--can do to prevent a catastrophic attack.
The Fluorescent Protein Revolution
by Vijay K. Vaishnavi William KuechlerAdvances in fluorescent proteins, live-cell imaging, and superresolution instrumentation have ushered in a new era of investigations in cell biology, medicine, and physiology. From the identification of the green fluorescent protein in the jellyfish Aequorea victoria to the engineering of novel fluorescent proteins, The Fluorescent Protein Revoluti
The Fly Who Flew to Space
by Lauren SánchezFlynn is a little fly with big dreams. School isn’t easy for Flynn, and they daydream of becoming an astronaut. One day while exploring a nearby rocket company they stumble onto a rocket ship and into the biggest adventure of their life. <P><P> Young readers will be introduced to early space concepts such as atmosphere and G-Force while being introduced to Earth’s amazing natural wonders, all while being reminded that big dreams and a curious mind can lead to the most astonishing discoveries. <P><P> Emmy-award winning journalist, pilot and philanthropist Lauren Sanchez takes readers on a high-flying space adventure with Flynn the Fly in her picture book debut. Inspired by her childhood battle with dyslexia and a lifelong love of flying, The Fly Who Flew to Space will have little readers learning about early STEM concepts and reaching for the stars. <P><P><i>Advisory: Bookshare has learned that this book offers only partial accessibility. We have kept it in the collection because it is useful for some of our members. Benetech is actively working on projects to improve accessibility issues such as these.</i> <p> <b>New York Times Bestseller</b>
The Fly in the Cathedral
by Brian CathcartThis book describes how a group of Cambridge scientists won the international race to split the atom.
The Flying Man: Otto Lilienthal – Geschichte, Flüge und Fotografien
by Markus Raffel Bernd Lukasch"Von allen Männern, die sich im 19. Jahrhundert mit dem Problem der Fliegerei beschäftigten, war Otto Lilienthal mit Abstand der bedeutendste. Seine Größe zeigte sich in jeder Phase des Problems. Niemand kam ihm gleich in der Fähigkeit, neue Mitstreiter für die Sache zu gewinnen; niemand kam ihm gleich in der Fülle und Tiefe des Verständnisses der Prinzipien des Fliegens; niemand tat so viel, um die Welt von den Vorteilen gekrümmter Flügeloberflächen zu überzeugen; und niemand tat so viel, um das Problem des menschlichen Fluges in die freie Luft zu verlegen, wo es hingehörte."Diese Worte stammen von Wilbur Wright, der 1903 zusammen mit seinem Bruder Orville auf den Sanddünen der Outer Banks vor der Küste North Carolinas den ersten Motorflug erfolgreich absolvierte. Wilbur sprach dabei über den bedeutendsten ihrer Vorgänger, Otto Lilienthal.Lilienthal erregte weltweites Aufsehen durch die spektakulären Fotos, die ihn im Flug zeigten und die durch eine Technologie ermöglicht wurden, die er gerade erst entwickelt hatte. Diese zufällige Verbindung zwischen einem Pionier der Luftfahrt und den Pionieren der so genannten "Moment- oder Augenblicksfotografie" ist verantwortlich für die immense zeitgenössische Popularität von Lilienthals Flügen rund um den Globus, den ersten Freiflügen eines Menschen überhaupt. Dieses Buch zeichnet das Leben des deutschen Luftfahrtpioniers nach und konzentriert sich dabei auf die Konstruktionen seiner zahlreichen Flugzeuge und die erhaltene fotografische Dokumentation. Die Darstellung endet mit einem bemerkenswerten Forschungsprojekt, das einer der Autoren bis hin zu eigenen Übungsflügen mit Lilienthals "Normalsegelflugapparat" und "großem Doppeldecker" durchgeführt hat. Dieses Projekt bot neue Einblicke in Lilienthals Arbeit und führte auch zu einer spektakulären Luftbegegnung von Lilienthals Doppeldecker von 1895 und dem Doppeldecker der Gebrüder Wright von 1902 an einem historischen Ort auf den Outer Banks. Das Buch bietet Zugang zu Videomaterial, das größtenteils im Rahmen dieses Projekts entstanden ist.
The Flying Man: Otto Lilienthal, the World's First Pilot
by Mike DownsHere is the little-known history of Otto Lilienthal, a daring man whose more than 2,000 successful flights inspired the Wright Brothers and other aviation pioneers.In 1862, balloons were the only way to reach the sky. But 14-year-old Otto Lilienthal didn&’t want to fly in balloons. He wanted to soar like a bird. Scientists, teachers, and news reporters everywhere said flying was impossible. Otto and his brother Gustav desperately wanted to prove them wrong, so they made their own wings and tried to take flight. The brothers quickly crashed, but this was just the beginning for Otto, who would spend the next 30 years of his life sketching, re-sketching, and building gliders. Over time, Otto&’s flights got longer. His control got better. He learned the tricks and twists of the wind. His flights even began to draw crowds. By the time of his death at age 48, Otto had made more than 2,000 successful glider flights. He was the first person in history to spend this much time in the air, earning the title of the world&’s first pilot and paving the way for future aviation pioneers.
The Flying Man: Otto Lilienthal—History, Flights and Photographs (Springer Biographies)
by Markus Raffel Bernd Lukasch"Of all the men who attacked the flying problem in the 19th century, Otto Lilienthal was easily the most important. His greatness appeared in every phase of the problem. No one equaled him in power to draw new recruits to the cause; no one equaled him in fullness and dearness of understanding of the principles of flight; no one did so much to convince the world of the advantages of curved wing surfaces; and no one did so much to transfer the problem of human flight to the open air where it belonged." These words were spoken by Wilbur Wright, who successfully accomplished the first powered flight together with his brother Orville in 1903 on the sand dunes of the Outer Banks off the coast of North Carolina. Wilbur was talking about the most important of their predecessors, Otto Lilienthal. Lilienthal attracted worldwide attention due to the spectacular photographs showing him in flight, made possible by technology that had only just been developed by him. This fortuitous union between a pioneer of aviation and the pioneers of so-called “instantaneous photography” is responsible for the immense contemporary popularity of Lilienthal’s flights around the globe, the first ever free flights performed by man. This book traces the life of the German aviation pioneer, focusing on the designs of his many aircraft and the photographic documentation that has survived. The presentation ends with a remarkable research project conducted by one of the authors, right up to and including his own training exercises with Lilienthal’s “normal soaring apparatus” and “large biplane”. This project offered new insight into Lilienthal’s work, and also led to a spectacular aerial meeting of Lilienthal's 1895 biplane and the Wright brothers’ 1902 biplane at a historic location on the Outer Banks. The book provides access to video material, largely stemming from this project.
The Foaling Primer: A Step-by-Step Guide to Raising a Healthy Foal
by Cynthia McFarlandStart your foal off on the right hoof! With correct handling, health care, and training during the first year, you can establish a strong foundation that will benefit your horse throughout his life. From bottle feeding to rope leading, Cynthia McFarland covers everything you need to know as you guide your foal from birth to yearling. With an emphasis on recognizing critical developmental signs, McFarland’s expert advice will help you raise a healthy, happy, and well-adjusted foal.
The Focus and Leverage Improvement Book: Locating and Eliminating the Constraining Factor of Your Lean Six Sigma Initiative
by Bob SproullCompanies all over the world try their best to improve their business by implementing efforts such as Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing, or a combination of the two methodologies. Logic would tell you that these two methods would be the right approach because you would have an improvement method that, through Lean, reduces waste and make value flow, while Six Sigma reduces and controls variation. If this were true, then why is it that many of these initiatives simply aren’t delivering quantifiable bottom-line results? After having studied many of these on-going improvement efforts, the author believes that these efforts are missing an important focusing mechanism. That is, most of these improvement efforts attempt to improve "everything" rather than finding that key part of the system that should be assessed and improved, the constraining factor, and then focusing the improvement efforts there and only there. The hallmark of this book is how to first locate this constraining factor and then determine the best way to exploit it to generate extreme profits, radically improve on-time delivery of products or services and increase market share by outperforming your competition at rates you never expected possible. How do we do this? By combining Lean and Six Sigma with the Theory of Constraints. This book demonstrates both the basics of improvement (i.e. results) with the "how to" (i.e. the methodology) in a very simple format that everyone within your organization will understand.
The Food Forest Handbook: Design and Manage a Home-Scale Perennial Polyculture Garden
by Darrell Frey Michelle CzolbaLearn how to mix and match plants in unique combinations to establish bountiful landscapes and create genuine self-reliance in years to come.A food forest is a productive landscape developed around a mix of trees and perennials. Rooted in permaculture principles, this integrated approach to gardening incorporates a variety of plants such as fruit and nut trees, shrubs, vines, and perennial herbs and vegetables. Food forests can help increase biodiversity, protect valuable habitat for beneficial insects, and promote food security and resilience, all while providing an abundant harvest.The Food Forest Handbook is a practical manual for the design and management of a home-scale perennial polyculture garden. Simple, straightforward instructions guide the reader through:Getting started—site assessment and planningTending the forest garden—maintaining soil health, succession planning, mulching, pruning and moreThe fruits of your labor—crop profiles, harvest, storage, nutrition and recipesThis timely book makes the concept of food forests accessible to everyone, offering a unique approach to low-maintenance, high-yield, sustainable food production.“What happens if we were to drop the boundary between the built environment and nature? Wouldn’t we all be much better off? The Food Forest Handbook guides our first steps along that path.” —Albert Bates, author of The Biochar Solution“Through this in-depth practical book you will learn the strategies for effective planning, design, establishment and management of perennial polycultures . . . I recommend this book to all those who are bringing diversity to their planting schemes.” —Jude Hobbs, permaculture land-use consultant, designer, and educator, Cascadia Permaculture
The Food Industry Innovation School
by Helmut TraitlerInnovation and new product development are increasingly perceived as drivers of profits in the food industry. Companies are dedicating a large amount of resources to these areas and it is crucial that individuals understand how to be part of this new strategy. Food Industry Innovation School focuses on key skills needed to drive new ideas from initial concepts through to successful products on the shelf. The author argues that any individual can learn how to lead innovation within complex organizations utilizing companies? commercial and financial resources. The book focuses on the impact of single individuals on company successes. Case studies from the marketplace provide valuable examples of accomplishments and failures. Product development involves a plethora of activities such as R&D, innovation, engineering, packaging and design, manufacturing, logistics and supply chain management, as well as marketing, sales and finance, and the book addresses all these crucial functions undertaken by food companies and manufacturers of other packaged consumer goods. The learning principles and examples (based on the author?s personal experience) are valid in many fast-moving consumer goods organizations and so the principles, best practices and solutions offered in the 12 chapters are relevant to a wide audience in the food industry and beyond, including those working in household products, retail, the automotive industry, computers and IT, furniture, and even media and publishing.
The Food Police
by Jayson LuskA rollicking indictment of the liberal elite's hypocrisy when it comes to food.Ban trans-fats? Outlaw Happy Meals? Tax Twinkies? What's next? Affirmative action for cows? A catastrophe is looming. Farmers are raping the land and torturing animals. Food is riddled with deadly pesticides, hormones and foreign DNA. Corporate farms are wallowing in government subsidies. Meat packers and fast food restaurants are exploiting workers and tainting the food supply. And Paula Deen has diabetes! Something must be done. So says an emerging elite in this country who think they know exactly what we should grow, cook and eat. They are the food police. Taking on the commandments and condescension the likes of Michael Pollan, Alice Waters, and Mark Bittman, The Food Police casts long overdue skepticism on fascist food snobbery, debunking the myths propagated by the food elite. You'll learn:- Organic food is not necessarily healthier or tastier (and is certainly more expensive).- Genetically modified foods haven't sickened a single person but they have made farmers more profitable and they do hold the promise of feeding impoverished Africans.- Farm policies aren't making us fat.- Voguish locavorism is not greener or better for the economy.- Fat taxes won't slim our waists and "fixing" school lunch programs won't make our kids any smarter.- Why the food police hypocritically believe an iPad is a technological marvel but food technology is an industrial evilSo before Big Brother and Animal Farm merge into a socialist nightmare, read The Food Police and let us as Americans celebrate what is good about our food system and take back our forks and foie gras before it's too late!