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The Last Decade of Cinema 25 films from the nineties: Twenty-five Unique Films From The Nineties
by Scott Ryan“ I feel like Scott Ryan could have written this directly to me and others in our generation who have basically ‘ given up' on movies. It is at once tribute and eulogy, so bittersweet.” – Screenwriter Helen Childress (Reality Bites)“ The nineties are lucky to have Scott Ryan.” – Actress Natasha Gregson Wagner (Two Girls and a Guy, Lost Highway)Ah, the nineties. Movies were something in those days. We' re talking about a decade that began with GoodFellas and ended with Magnolia, with such films as Malcolm X, Before Sunrise, and Clueless arriving somewhere in between. Stories, characters, and writing were king; IP, franchise movies, and supersaturated superhero flicks were still years away. Or so says Scott Ryan, the iconoclastic author of The Last Days of Letterman and Moonlighting: An Oral History, who here turns his attention to The Last Decade of Cinema— the prolific 1990s. Ryan, who watched just about every film released during the decade when he was a video store clerk in a small town in Ohio, identifies twenty-five unique and varied films from the decade, including Pretty Woman, Pulp Fiction, Menace II Society, and The Shawshank Redemption, focusing with his trademark humor and insight on what made them classics and why they could never be produced in today' s film culture. The book also includes interviews with writers, directors, and actors from the era. Go back to the time of VCR' s, DVD rentals, and movies that mattered. Turn off your streaming services, put down your phones, delete your Twitter account, and take a look back at the nineties with your Eyes Wide Shut, a White Russian in your hand, and yell “ Hasta la vista, baby” to today' s meaningless entertainment. Revel in the risk-taking brilliance of Quentin Tarantino, Amy Heckerling, Spike Lee, Robert Altman, Paul Thomas Anderson, and others in Scott Ryan' s magnum opus, The Last Decade of Cinema.
The Last Hope: A Maggie Hope Mystery (Maggie Hope)
by Susan Elia MacNealAll will be revealed in this no-holds-barred finale of the New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award–nominated Maggie Hope series as the intrepid spy teams up with fashion designer—and possible double agent—Coco Chanel to bring down the physicist behind Nazi Germany&’s nuclear program.&“Intrepid Maggie Hope&’s high-stakes mission is fraught with danger and moral questions. . . . A heartfelt story.&”—Cara Black, New York Times bestselling author of Three Hours in ParisMaggie Hope has come a long way since she was Mr. Churchill&’s secretary. In the face of tremendous danger, she&’s learned espionage, sabotage, and reconnaissance. But things are different now that she has so much to lose, including the possibility of a family with John Sterling, the man who&’s long held her heart.British Intelligence has ordered Maggie to assassinate Werner Heisenberg, the physicist who may deliver a world-ending fission bomb for Germany. She&’s shaken. An assassination is unlike anything she has ever done. How can the Allies even be sure Nazi Germany has a bomb? Determined to gather more information, Maggie travels to Madrid, where Heisenberg is visiting for a lecture.At the same time, couturier Coco Chanel, a spy in her own right with ambiguous loyalties, has requested a mysterious meeting with the British ambassador in Madrid—and has requested Maggie join them. As the two play a dangerous game of cat and mouse, Maggie tries to get a better understanding of Heisenberg, but is faced with betrayal and a threat more terrifying than losing her own life.Maggie desperately wants to find her happily-ever-after, but as the war reaches a fever pitch, the stakes keep rising. Now, more than ever, the choices she makes will reverberate around the globe, touching everyone she loves—with fateful implications for the future of the free world.
The Last Hours Of Jesus: From Gethsemane to Golgotha
by Fr. Ralph Gorman“Each of the four Gospels tells only part of the story of Jesus….and all of them leave out background facts that are essential to understanding events surrounding Jesus' arrest, trial, and crucifixion.That's because the Gospels were written for readers already familiar with many of the persons, places, parties, and politics that governed events in those long-past days. Not so modern readers, twenty centuries later!Which is why Fr. Ralph Gorman has here crafted a single, unforgettable, detailed account that combines material from all four Gospels with critically-important Old Testament passages, plus relevant facts from Jewish and Roman history, laws, traditions, and practices. He also includes helpful first century military, political, geographical, and archaeological information and keen depictions of Gospel places based on his three years residence there.The result?A richly-textured, moment-by-moment account that brings to vivid life the powerful events that transpired between Jesus' Agony in the Garden and His death on the Cross—a narrative that actually provides a fuller treatment of the events of Passion Week than is found in any of the Gospels.From The Last Hours of Jesus, you'll come to learn scores of new—and often surprising—things, including:—The exact moment that Satan entered Judas—The dangerous political currents in Palestine that fueled the fatal events of Holy Week—Why Jesus refused to answer many of His accusers—Pontius Pilate: why he admired—but condemned—Jesus—Why, so quickly, Palm Sunday's "Hosannas" led to Good Friday's "Crucify him!"—Why, after His death, the Sanhedrin still feared Jesus—And much more to enrich your knowledge, understanding, and love of Jesus!”-Print ed.
The Last Human Job: The Work of Connecting in a Disconnected World
by Allison J. PughA timely and urgent argument for preserving the work that connects us in the age of automationWith the rapid development of artificial intelligence and labor-saving technologies like self-checkouts and automated factories, the future of work has never been more uncertain, and even jobs requiring high levels of human interaction are no longer safe. The Last Human Job explores the human connections that underlie our work, arguing that what people do for each other in these settings is valuable and worth preserving.Drawing on in-depth interviews and observations with people in a broad range of professions—from physicians, teachers, and coaches to chaplains, therapists, caregivers, and hairdressers—Allison Pugh develops the concept of &“connective labor,&” a kind of work that relies on empathy, the spontaneity of human contact, and a mutual recognition of each other&’s humanity. The threats to connective labor are not only those posed by advances in AI or apps; Pugh demonstrates how profit-driven campaigns imposing industrial logic shrink the time for workers to connect, enforce new priorities of data and metrics, and introduce standardized practices that hinder our ability to truly see each other. She concludes with profiles of organizations where connective labor thrives, offering practical steps for building a social architecture that works.Vividly illustrating how connective labor enriches the lives of individuals and binds our communities together, The Last Human Job is a compelling argument for us to recognize, value, and protect humane work in an increasingly automated and disconnected world.
The Last Murder at the End of the World: A Novel
by Stuart TurtonFrom the bestselling author of The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle and The Devil and the Dark Water comes an inventive, high-concept murder mystery: an ingenious puzzle, an extraordinary backdrop and an audacious solution. Solve the murder to save what’s left of the world.Beyond the island there is nothing: the world was destroyed by a fog that swept the planet, killing anyone it touched.On the island it is idyllic: 122 villagers and three scientists living in peaceful harmony. The villagers are content to fish, farm and feast, to obey their nightly curfew, to do what they’re told by the scientists.Until, to the islanders’ horror, one of their beloved scientists is found brutally stabbed to death. And then they learn that the murder has triggered a lowering of the island’s security system, the only thing that is keeping the fog at bay. If the murder isn’t solved within ninety-two hours, the fog will smother the island―and everyone on it.But the security system has also wiped out everyone’s memory of exactly what happened the night before—which means that someone on the island is a murderer―and they don’t even know it.Meanwhile, the clock is ticking.
The Last Murder at the End of the World: A Novel
by Stuart TurtonFIRST PRINT RUN WITH SPRAYED EDGES!From the bestselling author of The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle and The Devil and the Dark Water comes an inventive, high-concept murder mystery: an ingenious puzzle, an extraordinary backdrop, and an audacious solution.Solve the murder to save what's left of the world.Outside the island there is nothing: the world was destroyed by a fog that swept the planet, killing anyone it touched.On the island: it is idyllic. One hundred and twenty-two villagers and three scientists, living in peaceful harmony. The villagers are content to fish, farm and feast, to obey their nightly curfew, to do what they're told by the scientists.Until, to the horror of the islanders, one of their beloved scientists is found brutally stabbed to death. And then they learn that the murder has triggered a lowering of the security system around the island, the only thing that was keeping the fog at bay. If the murder isn't solved within 107 hours, the fog will smother the island—and everyone on it.But the security system has also wiped everyone's memories of exactly what happened the night before, which means that someone on the island is a murderer—and they don't even know it.And the clock is ticking.
The Last Plantation: Racism and Resistance in the Halls of Congress
by James R. JonesA revealing look at the covert and institutionalized racism lurking in the congressional workplaceRacism continues to infuse Congress&’s daily practice of lawmaking and shape who obtains congressional employment. In this timely and provocative book, James Jones reveals how and why many who work in Congress call it the &“Last Plantation.&” He shows that even as the civil rights movement gained momentum in the 1960s and antidiscrimination laws were implemented across the nation, Congress remained exempt from federal workplace protections for decades. These exemptions institutionalized inequality in the congressional workplace well into the twenty-first century.Combining groundbreaking research and compelling firsthand accounts from scores of congressional staffers, Jones uncovers the hidden dynamics of power, privilege, and resistance in Congress. He reveals how failures of racial representation among congressional staffers reverberate throughout the American political system and demonstrates how the absence of diverse perspectives hampers the creation of just legislation. Centering the experiences of Black workers within this complex landscape, he provides valuable insights into the problems they face, the barriers that hinder their progress, and the ways they contest entrenched inequality.A must-read for anyone concerned about social justice and the future of our democracy, The Last Plantation exposes the mechanisms that perpetuate racial inequality in the halls of Congress and challenges us to confront and transform this unequal workplace that shapes our politics and society.
The Last Song of Penelope (The Songs of Penelope #3)
by Claire North'CLAIRE NORTH BRINGS A POWERFUL, FRESH AND UNFLINCHING VOICE TO ANCIENT MYTH' Jennifer Saint, author of Sunday Times bestseller AriadneFollowing the critically acclaimed Ithaca and House of Odysseus comes the final novel in Claire North's Songs of Penelope trilogy - an exquisite, gripping tale that breathes life into ancient myth. This is the story of Penelope of Ithaca, famed wife of Odysseus, as it has never been told before.Many years ago, Odysseus sailed to war and never returned. For twenty years his wife Penelope and the women of Ithaca have guarded the isle against suitors and rival kings. But peace cannot be kept forever, and the balance of power is about to break . . .A beggar has arrived at the Palace. Salt-crusted and ocean-battered, he is scorned by the suitors - but Penelope recognises in him something terrible: her husband, Odysseus, returned at last. Yet this Odysseus is no hero. By returning to the island in disguise, he is not merely plotting his revenge against the suitors - vengeance that will spark a civil war - but he's testing the loyalty of his queen. Has she been faithful to him all these years? And how much blood is Odysseus willing to shed to be sure?The song of Penelope is ending, and the song of Odysseus must ring through Ithaca's halls. But first, Penelope must use all her cunning to win a war for the fate of the island and keep her family alive, whatever the cost . . .Praise for the Songs of Penelope series:'Darkly fascinating, raw and breathtaking' Jennifer Saint, author of Sunday Times bestseller Ariadne'Richly poetic . . . This is an impassioned plea for the lost, disenfranchised queens of ancient Greece, a love letter to the silenced women of history' Booklist'Everything I've wanted in a retelling: a vibrant cast, full of suspense, told with a phenomenal narrative voice - this is an absolute masterpiece' Sarah Bonner, author of Her Perfect Twin'Penelope is proving to be an outstanding epic hero in her own right. The world building is sensational' Elodie Harper, author of The Wolf Den'Conjures up a world in which women, abandoned by their men, must weave their own destinies' The Times'Claire North has set a new standard for Ancient Greek retellings. Absolutely sublime' Hannah Lynn, author of Athena's ChildThe Songs of Penelope series:Ithaca House of OdysseusThe Last Song of Penelope
The Last Song of Penelope (Songs of Penelope #3)
by Claire NorthThe third book in award‑winning author Claire North's Songs of Penelope Trilogy, a "powerful, fresh, and unflinching" reimagining (Jennifer Saint) that breathes life into ancient myth and gives voice to the women who stand defiant in a world ruled by ruthless men. Many years ago, Odysseus sailed to war and never returned. For twenty years his wife Penelope and the women of Ithaca have guarded the isle against suitors and rival kings. But peace cannot be kept forever, and the balance of power is about to break . . . A beggar has arrived at the Palace. Salt-crusted and ocean-battered, he is scorned by the suitors - but Penelope recognises in him something terrible: her husband, Odysseus, returned at last. Yet this Odysseus is no hero. By returning to the island in disguise, he is not merely plotting his revenge against the suitors - vengeance that will spark a civil war - but he's testing the loyalty of his queen. Has she been faithful to him all these years? And how much blood is Odysseus willing to shed to be sure? The song of Penelope is ending, and the song of Odysseus must ring through Ithaca's halls. But first, Penelope must use all her cunning to win a war for the fate of the island and keep her family alive, whatever the cost...
The Last Song of Penelope (The Songs of Penelope #3)
by Claire North'CLAIRE NORTH BRINGS A POWERFUL, FRESH AND UNFLINCHING VOICE TO ANCIENT MYTH' Jennifer Saint, author of Sunday Times bestseller AriadneFollowing the critically acclaimed Ithaca and House of Odysseus comes the final novel in Claire North's Songs of Penelope trilogy - an exquisite, gripping tale that breathes life into ancient myth. This is the story of Penelope of Ithaca, famed wife of Odysseus, as it has never been told before.Many years ago, Odysseus sailed to war and never returned. For twenty years his wife Penelope and the women of Ithaca have guarded the isle against suitors and rival kings. But peace cannot be kept forever, and the balance of power is about to break . . .A beggar has arrived at the Palace. Salt-crusted and ocean-battered, he is scorned by the suitors - but Penelope recognises in him something terrible: her husband, Odysseus, returned at last. Yet this Odysseus is no hero. By returning to the island in disguise, he is not merely plotting his revenge against the suitors - vengeance that will spark a civil war - but he's testing the loyalty of his queen. Has she been faithful to him all these years? And how much blood is Odysseus willing to shed to be sure?The song of Penelope is ending, and the song of Odysseus must ring through Ithaca's halls. But first, Penelope must use all her cunning to win a war for the fate of the island and keep her family alive, whatever the cost . . .Praise for the Songs of Penelope series:'Darkly fascinating, raw and breathtaking' Jennifer Saint, author of Sunday Times bestseller Ariadne'Richly poetic . . . This is an impassioned plea for the lost, disenfranchised queens of ancient Greece, a love letter to the silenced women of history' Booklist'Everything I've wanted in a retelling: a vibrant cast, full of suspense, told with a phenomenal narrative voice - this is an absolute masterpiece' Sarah Bonner, author of Her Perfect Twin'Penelope is proving to be an outstanding epic hero in her own right. The world building is sensational' Elodie Harper, author of The Wolf Den'Conjures up a world in which women, abandoned by their men, must weave their own destinies' The Times'Claire North has set a new standard for Ancient Greek retellings. Absolutely sublime' Hannah Lynn, author of Athena's ChildThe Songs of Penelope series:Ithaca House of OdysseusThe Last Song of Penelope
The Last to Pie (A Pies Before Guys Mystery #3)
by Misha PoppPerfect for fans of Mia P. Manansala and Elle Cosimano, in Misha Popp&’s third Pies Before Guys mystery, the pies are deadlier than ever when Daisy receives a request for revenge against an abusive cop.Daisy Ellery is back to doing what she does best: making pies and killing guys. And it&’s about to get more dangerous than ever. Daisy knows the statistic–domestic violence perpetrated by cops is rampant. It was only a matter of time before she was called in to help. But when this request arrives in her inbox, it isn&’t accompanied by the required referral and that makes Daisy nervous. Is this really a woman trapped in a violent relationship, or is it a shady cop trying to uncover Daisy&’s murdery side hustle?Daisy hesitates to accept the job–until the woman who left the request goes missing and it&’s clear her boyfriend is responsible. Knowing the boyfriend&’s work buddies won&’t be any help with the investigation, Daisy sets out to find the woman and plans a little justice of her own. When Daisy finds evidence that the boyfriend wasn&’t just a monster in private, but corrupt at work too, things get even more perilous.Feeling guilty that she hesitated to help the woman, Daisy is determined to find her and get her justice–whatever it takes.
The Last Twelve Miles: A Novel
by Erika Robuck"Set against the backdrop of the Prohibition Rum Wars, Robuck has brought two real-life figures to the page with heartfelt intimacy and crackling suspense. A fascinating read!" — Chanel Cleeton, New York Times bestselling author of The Cuban HeiressTwo real, brilliant women on opposite sides of the law, in a deadly game of cat and mouse…1926. Washington, D.C.The Coast Guard is losing the Prohibition Rum War, but they have a new, secret weapon to crack smuggler codes, intercept traffic, and destroy the rum trade one skiff at a time. That secret weapon is a 5'2" mastermind in heels, who also happens to be a wife and mother: Mrs. Elizebeth Smith Friedman, one half of the husband-and-wife pair who invented cryptanalysis. BahamasCleo Lythogoe, The Bahama Queen, announces her retirement while regaling the thugs at the bar with tales of murder and mayhem on the high seas. Marie Waite, listening in, knows an opportunity when she hears it, and she wants the crown for herself so badly she can taste it. So begins Marie's plan to rise as rumrunner royalty long enough to get her family in the black. But the more sophisticated her operation grows, the more she appears on the radar of the feds.Meanwhile, Elizebeth is the only codebreaker battling scores of smugglers. Despite the strain of solving thousands of intercepted messages, traveling the country, and testifying in court, Elizabeth's work becomes personal—especially when she discovers the identity of her premier adversary is the notorious Marie Waite. From the glamorous world of D.C. Intelligence to the sultry shores of the Straits of Florida, The Last Twelve Miles is based on the true story of two women masterminds trying to outwit each other in a dangerous and fascinating high stakes game.
The Last Word: A Novel
by Elly GriffithsWords turn deadly with an unlikely detective duo on the case of a murdered obituary writer in this literary mystery from the internationally bestselling author of the Ruth Galloway series. Perfect for fans of Richard Osman and the Thursday Murder Club. Natalka and Edwin are perfect if improbable partners in a detective agency. At eighty-four, Edwin regularly claims that he’s the oldest detective in England. He is a master at surveillance, deploying his age as a cloak of invisibility. Natalka, Ukrainian-born and more than fifty years his junior, is a math whizz, who takes any cases concerning fraud or deception. Despite a steady stream of minor cases, Natalka is frustrated. She loves a murder, as she’s fond of saying, and none have come the agency’s way. That is until local writer Melody Chambers dies.Melody’s daughters are convinced that their mother was murdered. Edwin thinks that Melody’s death is linked to that of an obituary writer who predeceased many of his subjects. Edwin and Benedict go undercover to investigate and are on a creative writing weekend at isolated Battle House when another murder occurs. Are the cases linked and what is the role of a distinctly sinister book group attended by many of writers involved? By the time Edwin has infiltrated the group, he is in serious danger…Seeking professional help, the investigators turn to their friend, detective Harbinder Kaur, and find that they have stumbled on a plot that is stranger than fiction.
The Latecomer's Rise: Policy Banks and the Globalization of China's Development Finance (Cornell Studies in Money)
by Muyang ChenIn The Latecomer's Rise, Muyang Chen reveals the nature and impact of a rapidly growing form of international lending: Chinese development finance.Over the past few decades, China has become the world's largest provider of bilateral development finance. Through its two national policy banks, the China Development Bank (CDB) and the Export-Import Bank of China (China Exim), it has funded infrastructure and industrial projects in numerous emerging markets and developing countries. Yet this very surge and magnitude of capital has raised questions about the characteristics of Chinese bilateral lending and its repercussions on the international order. Drawing on a variety of novel Chinese primary sources, including interviews and official bank documents, Chen pinpoints the distinctiveness of Chinese bilateral development finance, explains its origins, and analyzes its effects. She compares Chinese policy banks with their foreign counterparts to show that the CDB and China Exim, while state-supported, are in fact also market-oriented—they are as much government organs as they are profit-driven financial agencies that serve both state and firms' interests. This approach, which emerged out of China's particular economic history, suggests that Chinese overseas lending is not merely a tool of economic statecraft that challenges Western-led economic regimes. Instead, China's responses to extant rules, norms, and practices across given issue areas have varied between contestation and convergence.Rich with empirical detail and penetrating insights, The Latecomer's Rise demystifies the little-known workings of Chinese development finance to revise our conceptions of China's role in the international financial system.
Latin American Geomorphology: From the Crust to Mars (The Latin American Studies Book Series)
by Andrea Coronato Grace B. AlvesThis book presents varied geomorphological topics and planetary studies from different geomorphological regions analysed by young researchers from Latin America, from Costa Rica to southern Argentina, from the mountains to the oceans, and from the Caribbean to the Scotia tectonic plates. The six chapters included in this book originate from presentations made during the “IAG Central and South American Webinar” carried on in March 2021 for the commemoration of the “Geomorphology Week”, promoted by the International Association of Geomorphologists (IAG) and coordinated by the invited book editors. The chapters develop topics related to landforms and geomorphological processes originated by modern tectonics along a transform tectonic plate boundary, by cryo-snowy environments in the drier Central Andes, by fluvial and littoral processes in the Brazilian inland and the Atlantic coast, and by high runoff generated by storm-cells driving into mountainousand wooded terrains. New insights on Mars water features research are also included in the book. Several chapters refer to risk assessment for society or resource management considerations; other chapters refer to present or recent geomorphological processes but others do so to those developed in the Quaternary.
Latin American Viticulture Adaptation to Climate Change: Perspectives and Challenges of Viticulture Facing up Global Warming
by Gastón Gutiérrez Gamboa Mercedes FourmentLatin American viticulture faces a wide range of difficulties that include social, political, economic, and productive aspects. Soil diversity, together with the climates in which the viticulture activity takes place, favours the production of grapes, juices, raisins, musts, wines, and distillates with unique and distinctive characters for the world. In addition, the great genetic diversity that covers autochthonous and minor grapevine varieties, including unknown genotypes, opens a wide range of research opportunities for the adaptation of the viticulture to the negative effects of global warming, favouring sustainability and social equity. This book compiles the research about the new viticultural trends performed in diverse regions from Latin America such as Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Dominican Republic, Haiti and Uruguay, covering different topics in viticulture of global importance. This book addresses the impacts of soil and climatic conditions and viticultural practices on vine physiology, berry quality and wine typicity, including topics related to social sciences and agricultural economics. This will allow to provide a relevant discussion for future guidelines in viticulture under a territorial development perspective.
The Latino Century: How America's Largest Minority Is Transforming Democracy
by Mike MadridAn insightful investigation of how and why the two major political parties have failed to appeal to the Latino vote—the largest ethnic voting group in the country—and the impact it will have on American democracy and politics for decades to come.In 2020, Latinos became the second largest ethnic voting group in the country. They make up the largest plurality of residents in the most populous states in the union, as well as the fastest segment of the most important swing states in the US Electoral College. Fitting neither the stereotype of the aggrieved minority voter nor the traditional assimilating immigrant group, Latinos are challenging both political parties' notions of race, religious beliefs, economic success, and the American dream. Given their exploding numbers—and their growing ability to determine the fate of local, state, and national elections—you&’d think the two major political parties would understand Latino voters. After all, their emergence on the national scene is not a new phenomenon. But they still don&’t. Republicans, not because of their best efforts but rather despite them, are just beginning to see a movement of Latinos toward the GOP. Democrats, for the moment, still win a commanding share of the Latino vote, but that share is dwindling fast. Now, in The Latino Century, veteran political consultant Mike Madrid uses thirty years of research and campaign experience at some of the highest levels on both sides of the aisle to address what might be the most critical questions of our time: Will the rise of Latino voters continue to foment the hyper-partisan and explosive tribalism of our age or will they usher in a new pluralism that advances the arc of social progress? How and why are both political parties so uniquely unprepared for the coming wave of Latino votes? And what must each party do to win those votes? By answering these questions, The Latino Century explores the true meaning of America at a time of rapid cultural change, the founding principles of self-government and individual responsibility, and one man&’s journey through a political party that has turned itself inside out.
Law and Economics of Justice: Efficiency, Reciprocity, Meritocracy (Economic Analysis of Law in European Legal Scholarship #17)
by Klaus Mathis Avishalom TorWhile previous volumes have examined specific issues and developments such as the coronavirus crisis or digital transformation from a law and economics perspective, the anniversary edition returns to the methodological and philosophical fundament of the discipline of law and economics. The present book aims to examine these foundations in general and, in particular, efficiency, reciprocity and meritocracy, and their relation to law and justice from an interdisciplinary perspective.Efficiency: Traditionally, the economic analysis of law has been guided by the goal of efficiency. Economists usually define efficiency as Pareto or Kaldor–Hicks efficiency. Any change that makes one member of society better off without anyone else being worse off is a Pareto improvement. A change is a Kaldor–Hicks improvement if the gainers value their gains more than the losers value their losses, with only hypothetical compensation required.Reciprocity: Economists have traditionally basedtheir models on the self-interest hypothesis of homo oeconomicus. In this model, an individual maximises his own utility without being altruistic or jealous. Behavioural economics challenges the self-interest hypothesis. In fact, many people deviate from purely self-interested behaviour. There are also signs that considerations of fairness and mutual benefit are important in bilateral negotiations and in the functioning of markets. Meritocracy: The concept of meritocracy refers to a system, organisation, or society in which people are selected and promoted to positions of success, power, and influence on the basis of their abilities and merits. This means that an individual is able to climb the social ladder through hard work. Moreover, meritocracy directs the most talented people into the most functionally important positions, thereby increasing a society's efficiency. However, the equalising function of meritocracy has been criticised. Rather than reducing inequality, meritocracy is seen as the cause of racial, economic and social inequality.
Law and Sustainable Development After COVID-19 (Law, Development and Globalization)
by Augustine Edobor Arimoro, Ezinne Mirian Igbokwe, and Tamaraoudoubra Tom EgbeThis book considers the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the realisation of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.Although efforts towards the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals are ongoing, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on these efforts: accentuating inequities, as well as absorbing resources. This book addresses this impact, as it takes up the question of how to ensure global recovery – in line with the target for the Sustainable Development Goals – after the pandemic. Adopting an interdisciplinary approach, but focusing particularly on the role of law and legal frameworks in this recovery, the book considers the effect of the pandemic on key industries such as shipping, insurance, manufacturing, and banking, as well as on the role of the State and non-State actors. Pursuing an explicitly Global South perspective, the book maintains that in the post-COVID era it is the elaboration a rule of law framework that is in sync with both the Global North and South that is crucial if the Sustainable Development Goals are to be achieved.This book will be of value to scholars, students and policymakers working in the general area of law and development, but especially those with specific interests in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
Law & Ethics for Health Professions
by Karen Judson Carlene Harrison Tammy AlbrightLaw and Ethics for Health Professions explains how to navigate the numerous legal and ethical issues that healthcare professionals face every day. Topics are based upon real-world scenarios and dilemmas from a variety of health care practitioners.
Law, Human Creativity and Generative Artificial Intelligence: Regulatory Options
by Julija KalpokienėThis book addresses the complex issue of human creativity in the age of Artificial Intelligence.Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used to create texts, images, and musical compositions. This increase in the application of AI within the creative industries can of course enhance human performance while producing creative and commercial challenges for human authors. Against this background, this book considers how current mechanisms for incentivising creativity – including legal regulations, such as copyright, state funding and tax regimes – are inadequate in the age of AI. Acknowledging the opportunity that AI presents, the book then proposes alternative regulatory mechanisms through which human creativity can be incentivised.This book will appeal to scholars and researchers in the areas of socio-legal studies, intellectual property law, media law, and law and technology.
The Laws of Connection: The Scientific Secrets of Building a Strong Social Network
by David RobsonThis groundbreaking study reveals how social connections are far more important than we thought, showing us the steps we can take to build better relationships and improve our lives.Social connection is as essential for our health and happiness as a balanced diet and regular exercise. It reduces our risk of stroke, heart disease, and Alzheimer&’s. It enhances our creativity and adds years to our life span. Yet many of us struggle to form strong and meaningful bonds—and the problem lies not with our personalities but with a series of cognitive biases that stop us from fulfilling our social potential. In The Laws of Connection, award-winning science writer David Robson describes the psychological barriers that lead us to keep others at a distance and offers evidence-based strategies to overcome them. Drawing on philosophy, neuroscience, and cutting-edge psychology, Robson introduces readers to new concepts such as the liking gap, the novelty penalty, the fast-friendship procedure, the beautiful mess effect, and the Japanese art of amae. Whether we are shy or confident, introvert or extrovert, we can all build deeper relationships. The Laws of Connection shows us how.
Laws of the Spirit: Ritual, Mysticism, and the Commandments in Early Hasidism (Stanford Studies in Jewish History and Culture)
by Ariel Evan MayseThe compelling vision of religious life and practice found in Hasidic sources has made it the most enduring and successful Jewish movement of spiritual renewal of all time. In this book, Ariel Evan Mayse grapples with one of Hasidism's most vexing questions: how did a religious movement known for its radical views about immanence, revelation, and the imperative to serve God with joy simultaneously produce strict adherence to the structures and obligations of Jewish law? Exploring the movement from its emergence in the mid-1700s until 1815, Mayse argues that the exceptionality of Hasidism lies not in whether its leaders broke or upheld rabbinic norms, but in the movement's vivid attempt to rethink the purpose of Jewish ritual and practice. Rather than focusing on the commandments as law, he turns to the methods and vocabulary of ritual studies as a more productive way to reckon with the contradictions and tensions of this religious movement as well as its remarkable intellectual vitality. Mayse examines the full range of Hasidic texts from the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, from homilies and theological treatises to hagiography, letters, and legal writings, reading them together with contemporary theories of ritual. Arguing against the notion that spiritual integrity requires unshackling oneself from tradition, Laws of the Spirit is a sweeping attempt to rethink the meaning and significance of religious practice in early Hasidism.
Lawyer Evaluation in Chinese Courtroom: A Social-Semiotic Perspective
by Liping ZhangThis book focuses on the speech style of lawyer talk in contemporary Chinese courtrooms. The topic is intriguing to readers who may wonder how lawyers compete with their opposing counterparts in an adversarial trial system in China. The legal tradition in Confucianism, which advocates harmony in interpersonal relationships, has historically guided the practice of law in China. The book analyses how lawyers manage to compete in this system. Applying the social semiotic view of language in the Hallidayian sense, specifically systemic functional linguistics and its appraisal theory, this study interprets the subjectivity of legal language by lawyers. The speech style in legal argument presentation is described as 'rational'. The exploration of the rational speech style of lawyers is a theoretical and discursive topic. It draws upon Habermasian philosophy of intersubjectivity in legal argumentation and considers the cultural and legal contexts of China as contextual constraints. The keyconstruct of lawyer evaluation is fully captured in this discussion. As a linguistic phenomenon and unit of analysis, discourse can be examined both within local clauses and in larger stretches of talk beyond clauses. Additionally, it serves as an effective means for constructing a rational speech style for lawyers. Most importantly, discourse is a discursive act that negotiates legal arguments in the dynamic speech exchanges of a court trial, which is embedded in a wider social and cultural context. The book showcases instances of lawyer talk in well-documented trials in China and offers a good opportunity for readers to gain a general understanding of courtroom discourse in the Chinese context. It introduces readers with special interests in legal language and the law to the solidarity dimension of legal language and arguments, an alternative to the confrontational or hostile lawyer talk in trials in countries with a common-law system. The analysis presented is refined and the language used is clear, concise, and objective.
Le avventure di Toby (Toby #1)
by Jennifer FreedmanLe avventure di Toby è una storia di forza, perseveranza e amore. Toby è un cucciolo di Schnauzer che deve lasciare la sua famiglia e si imbarca in una grande avventura in cerca di una nuova casa. Impara il significato di amicizia, lealtà e gentilezza, ma sperimenta anche la crudeltà e la disperazione. Le avventure di Toby è un romanzo pieno di personaggi colorati - sia a due che a quattro zampe - che svolgono ruoli chiave che accompagnano Toby ad ogni passo. Il viaggio di Toby verso l'età adulta è un'escursione lungo la strada della vita; un viaggio che mostra come tutte le creature sono alla ricerca del luogo sicuro a cui appartengono. Con questo obiettivo in mente, Toby supera le difficoltà e la solitudine trovando una forza interiore che veniva dai valori della sua famiglia, dell'amicizia, della lealtà e della fede. Questo romanzo è un'esperienza di apprendimento condivisa in modo visionario e divertente con lezioni preziose sulla vita. È una storia di scelte difficili. Un'avventura che dà alle persone quattro zampe invece di due, permettendo loro di vedere la vita attraverso gli occhi di un cane. Una storia di fede, tenacia e amore. Mentre le dita scorrono attraverso le pagine, Toby scorrerà nel tuo cuore.