- Table View
- List View
Computer, Communication, and Signal Processing. Smart Solutions Towards SDG: 8th IFIP TC 12 International Conference, ICCCSP 2024, Chennai, India, March 20-22, 2024, Revised Selected Papers (IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology #723)
by Eunika Mercier-Laurent Xavier Fernando Aravindan ChandraboseThis book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 8th IFIP TC 12 International Conference on Computer, Communication, and Signal Processing with special focus on Smart Solutions towards SDG, ICCCSP 2024, held in Chennai, India, during March 20-22, 2024. The 32 full papers and 4 short papers presented in this book were carefully selected and reviewed from 166 submissions. They were organized in topical sections as follows: SDG 3 Good Health and Well-Being; SDG 4 Quality Education; SDG 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; and SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities.
Stigmatisierende Kommunikation: Eine theoretische Konzeptualisierung gruppenbezogener abwertender Kommunikation
by Anna FreytagDie Arbeit von Anna Freytag setzt sich theoretisch mit dem Phänomen der gruppenbezogenen abwertenden Kommunikation auseinander. Die Kommunikationswissenschaft und andere Disziplinen haben sich in der Vergangenheit unter einer Vielzahl von Begriffen und aus unterschiedlichen theoretischen Perspektiven mit gruppenbezogener abwertender Kommunikation auseinandergesetzt. Die etablierten Begriffe bergen jedoch Herausforderungen und vernachlässigen zum Teil soziologische und sozialpsychologische Perspektiven, wie etwa das Konzept der Stigmatisierung. Vor diesem Hintergrund entwickelt die Autorin mit „Stigmatisierender Kommunikation“ ein eigenes kommunikationswissenschaftliches Konzept, das Erkenntnisse aus verschiedenen Disziplinen integriert. Darauf aufbauend entwirft sie ein Forschungsprogramm für die weitere wissenschaftliche Auseinandersetzung mit stigmatisierender Kommunikation. Es werden Forschungsfragen zu beteiligten Akteur*innen, Motiven und Determinanten, zur inhaltlichen Ausgestaltung und zu den vielfältigen Auswirkungen stigmatisierender Kommunikation abgeleitet. Dazu werden methodische Ansätze und Herausforderungen für eine erfolgreiche empirische Untersuchung stigmatisierender Kommunikation diskutiert.
Proceedings of the Eighth International Scientific Conference “Intelligent Information Technologies for Industry” (Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems #1210)
by Sergey Kovalev Igor Kotenko Andrey Sukhanov Yao Li Yin LiThis book contains the works connected with the key advances in Intelligent Information Technologies for Industry presented at IITI 2024, the Eighth International Scientific Conference on Intelligent Information Technologies for Industry held on November 1–7, 2024, in Harbin, China. The works were written by the experts in the field of applied artificial intelligence including topics such as Machine Learning, Explainable AI, Decision-Making, Fuzzy Logic, Multi-Agent and Bioinspired Systems including their modern applications. The following industrial implementations were touched: railway automation, cyber security, intelligent medical systems, navigation systems. The editors believe that this book will be helpful for all scientists and engineers interested in the modern state of applied artificial intelligence.
Project Objectives Management: Aligning Targets, Delivering Results, and Adapting to Changes
by Reitse van der WekkenManage supplier objectives effectively to align project and organizational success within your organization. This book introduces a dedicated method for suppliers to follow to ensure that all relevant targets and expectations are successfully meet. The method integrates a day-to-day high awareness, urgency, and focus on the management of all relevant objectives within the supplier’s project to provide maximum benefit for its organization. You'll learn that formal targets are routinely established at the start of a project and captured in a contract or project charter. Formal customer expectations, such as timelines, scope, and budget, have high focus and are often pitted against internal day-to-day challenges, such as cost increases and other unexpected changes. These challenges can seem even more daunting as a project progresses, especially when other stakeholders have expectations as well. When not managed properly, this can obstruct the focus of less urgent or informal objectives, such as employee development, process assets, and lessons learned, some of which provide a critical benefit for the supplier’s organization and its future. To combat this, you'll follow detailed instructions on how to handle such potential roadblocks and how to focus on achieving all relevant project objectives by applying the established method. Each chapter expands the dedicated method itself and provides insight into this philosophy. In the end you'll have all the necessary prerequisites for a successful implementation of these principles within your organization. What You Will Learn Define organizational objectives aligned with the organization’s purpose and values Prioritize and align project specific objectives with the organizational objectives Facilitate to achieve the project objectives Handle day-to-day challenges with managing the project objectives Balance customer and supplier targets and expectations Who This Book is For Project management professionals with various levels of skill and experience working at small-to-medium sized project suppliers, both for-profit and non-profit organisations.
Intracellular Lipid Transport: Methods and Protocols (Methods in Molecular Biology #2888)
by Guillaume DrinThis fully updated volume explores different classes of lipid transporters, such as lipid transfer proteins, flippases, and scramblases, and significant advances in solving their biological functions. The first half of the book features methodologies to measure the movement of lipids between or in organelle membranes inside eukaryotic cells, including plant cells, or in prokaryotic cells, and the book continues with in vitro or in silico approaches aiming to define, more from a biochemical and structural standpoint, how lipid transfer proteins function. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step and readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and up-to-date, Intracellular Lipid Transport: Methods and Protocols, Second Edition serves as an ideal guide for researchers seeking to shed light on diverse aspects of this critical and often elusive cellular process.
Gravity, Cosmology, and Astrophysics: A Journey of Exploration and Discovery with Female Pioneers (Lecture Notes in Physics #1022)
by Betti Hartmann Jutta KunzThis book is a compilation of enlightening tutorial essays, showcasing the forefront of research by exceptional female scientists. This invaluable collection provides graduate students and researchers in the field with an engaging and pedagogical introduction to a wide range of compelling topics. Delve into the depths of theoretical and observational realms, exploring intriguing subjects including modified gravity models, quantum gravity, fields in curved space-time, particle dynamics, gravitational waves, and enigmatic black holes. Embracing both the theoretical foundations and the practical applications, this comprehensive edited volume offers an accessible and all-encompassing panorama of gravity and cosmology. Moreover, it shines a much-needed spotlight on the significant contributions made by remarkable women across the globe, fostering recognition and admiration for their indispensable role in shaping this ever-evolving field.
Streben nach Momentum: Musikkultur zwischen Marken und Medienplattformen (Musikwirtschafts- und Musikkulturforschung)
by Lorenz Grünewald-SchukallaSeit der industriellen Produktion von Notendrucken nutzen Unternehmen Musik, um ihre Marken zu entwickeln und zu etablieren. Diese Studie beleuchtet die vielfältigen Formen der Verbindung von Marken und Musik, von den gebrandeten Radioshows im frühen 20. Jahrhundert bis hin zu den modernen, integrierten Musik-Dachmarken von Red Bull, der Telekom oder Seat. Sie zeigt, wie die Beziehungen zwischen Marken und Musik im Verlauf der Geschichte verändert wurden. Dabei lenkt sie erstmals den Blick auf die Rolle neuer Medienentwicklungen in diesem Prozess. Anhand der innovativen Methode einer digitalen, fokussierten und verteilten Ethnographie wird die besondere Rolle digitaler Plattformen für gegenwärtige gebrandete Musikkultur in den Blick genommen. Der Autor zeigt anschaulich, wie Markenunternehmen Orte und Events so arrangieren, dass medienbezogene Praktiken auf Plattformen ausgerichtet werden. So steigern Unternehmen die Wahrscheinlichkeit gebrandeter Kommunikationsströme und erzeugen ein „Momentum“, das den Wert einer Marke, die Karrieren von Musikschaffenden, aber auch gewöhnliche Musikerfahrung beflügeln kann. In der Summe führt dies zu einer neuen Musikkultur, einer Musikkultur zwischen Marken und Medienplattformen. In dieser können zwar viele an Musikkultur teilhaben, sind jedoch dem Zwang ausgesetzt, etwas zum Momentum einer Marke beizutragen.
ESG als Treiber von M&A: Unternehmenskäufe und -zusammenschlüsse erfolgreich managen
by Oliver Everling Markus B. Hofer Rudolf Schmitz Karl A. Niggemann Ulrich DahlhausenDieses Buch bietet den Leserinnen und Lesern einen einzigartigen Zugang zum Thema "Erfolgreiches Management von Unternehmenstransaktionen", insbesondere im Kontext vonMergers & Acquisitions (M&A) und Rating:● Umfassendes Fachwissen: Unsere Autorinnen und Autoren sind ausgewiesene Experten auf ihrem Gebiet und verfügen über langjährige Erfahrung in der Branche. Ihr fundiertesWissen wird in diesem Buch umfassend vermittelt.● Praxisorientierte Ansätze: Das Buch enthält zahlreiche praxisnahe Ansätze, Fallstudien und bewährte Methoden, die Leserinnen und Lesern helfen, reale Herausforderungen im Management von Unternehmenstransaktionen zu bewältigen.● Ratings im Fokus: Wir legen besonderen Wert auf die Bedeutung von Ratings in M&A-Transaktionen und zeigen auf, wie diese den gesamten Transaktionsprozess beeinflussen können.● Aktualität und Zukunftsperspektiven: Wir beleuchten aktuelle Trends und Entwicklungen im M&A-Bereich des Gesundheitswesens und bieten einen Ausblick auf die zukünftige Entwicklung dieses wichtigen Wirtschaftszweigs.● Lösungen für komplexe Probleme: Das Buch präsentiert praxiserprobte Lösungen für komplexe Herausforderungen im Unternehmensmanagement und in Transaktionsprozessen insbesondere am Beispiel der Medizintechnik.● Wertsteigerung für Unternehmen: Unsere Methoden und Ratschläge zielen darauf ab, den Wert von Unternehmen zu steigern und den Erfolg von Transaktionen sicherzustellen. Letztendlich bietet unser Buch einen wertvollen Leitfaden für Unternehmensinhaber, Führungskräfte und Experten, die M&A-Transaktionen erfolgreich durchführen möchten, sei es inBezug auf Bewertung, Due Diligence, Verhandlungen oder Integration. Wir vermitteln praxiserprobte Strategien und Ansätze, um die Erfolgschancen von Unternehmenstransaktionen zu maximieren und die mit ihnen verbundenen Risiken zu minimieren. Dieses Buch ist ein unverzichtbares Werkzeug für alle, die in der Welt der Unternehmensentwicklung tätig sind.
Prolonged and Long-Term Mechanical Ventilation in Children
by Robert J. Graham Atsushi Kawaguchi Marti Pons OdenaThis book comprehensively reviews the concept, epidemiology, management strategy, possible therapy and future considerations of children requiring continuous ventilatory support. The chapters discuss both invasive and non-invasive therapy, and the transition from hospital to home ventilation, complications, management of tracheostomy and much more. The book offers insight into ways of reducing the number of children requiring mechanical ventilation and how to manage the complicated situation when it happens. As science advances, the population growth, lower mortality, and increasing complexity of diseases have boosted up the number of patients requiring prolonged breathing assistance with mechanical ventilators. However, there is a few cases in one center with children requiring such intensive care medicine, and so there is no agreed-upon management strategy. This book brings together information and experiences from around the world aiming to improve the quality of medical care and to create a foundation for a clear and effective guide to healthcare professionals. Prolonged and Long-Term Mechanical Ventilation in Children is edited by pioneering scientists and chapters are contributed by international experts. It is thought-provoking for pediatricians, general practitioners, family physicians, nurses and medical staff in pediatrics, pediatric pulmonologists, intensivists and many more associated with hospital and home ventilated cases.
SIMPLE-G: A Gridded Economic Approach to Sustainability Analysis of the Earth’s Land and Water Resources
by Thomas W. Hertel Iman HaqiqiThis is an open access book. Crafted for both the economist and the curious mind, this book introduces a novel approach to blending economic and biophysical sciences to enable multi-scale analysis of a range of sustainability challenges confronting the world’s land and water resources at both local and global scales. It focuses specifically on the interface between the environment and food systems, utilizing economic theory to structure the overall framework. However, within the SIMPLE-G framework, there is ample room to incorporate fine-scale biophysical knowledge from agronomy, climate science, ecology, geography, hydrology, as well as a range of socioeconomic considerations. This enables multi-scale analyses incorporating grid cells that can vary in size from 250 meters to sub-regional scales. This, in turn, allows for investigation of global change drivers’ impacts on local sustainability, as well as feedbacks from local sustainability policies to regional and global outcomes. The book opens with a foreword by a prominent sustainability scientist, Prof. Navin Ramankutty, and proceeds in five parts covering, respectively: (1) introduction and overview, (2) basic economic theory underpinning SIMPLE-G, (3) the SIMPLE-G framework, including structure, data, parameters, computer implementation, and validation, (4) eight diverse applications of the SIMPLE-G framework, covering a range of geographies and sustainability challenges, and (5) a forward-looking chapter on future directions. The book provides step-by-step guidance on building and utilizing gridded models with real-world case studies demonstrating practical applications which will facilitate its use by academics, practitioners, and students conducting research on climate impacts, land-use, water resource management, food security, poverty, equity, nutritional outcomes, and overall sustainability.
The Agent ID Model: A Multidisciplinary Framework of Evolutionary Human Behavior (Integrated Science #32)
by Orlando Gomes Michelle Lins de Moraes Paulo FagandiniThis book presents a comprehensive model that simulates human behavior in society, meticulously selecting and analyzing fundamental determinants such as skills and productivity, connectivity and network formation, psychological biases, moral behavior, consumption preferences, institutional arrangements, and political choices. Each agent in the model is characterized by a unique profile, and the aggregate outcomes emerge from the interactions of these diverse agents. The model is codified and simulated, and its results are compared with empirical evidence. This work offers an elegant and stylized approach to understanding complex outcomes resulting from simple interaction rules, making a significant contribution to the literature on complexity and agent-based computational economics. The model developed here serves as a transdisciplinary framework, providing an integrated and holistic perspective on human behavior.
Comparative Governance Reforms: Assessing the Past and Exploring the Future (Public Administration, Governance and Globalization #52)
by Ali FarazmandThis book presents a comprehensive view of governance reforms, changes, and developments in the structure, process, and cultures of governments and public administration systems around the world since the 1980s. The focus of this book is on the last forty years of experimentation with governance and public administration reforms, with an eye to the future. A wide range of chapters covers various countries—both comparatively and individually—and the nature and dynamics of their governance reforms and changes in administrative systems. The volume utilizes several theoretical approaches that include: 1) institutional theory as applied to explain the ‘context’ of changes and reforms; 2) political economy that explains who gets/gains and who loses; 3) dialectical theory that explains and analyzes the past and the present and predicts the future of governance reforms across the world; and 4) path-dependency theory that explains how past experiences tend to influence the future reform efforts. Governance reforms are also assessed with the alternative theory of Sound Governance (Farazmand 2004) which considers powerful external political, economic, and military forces of globalization and their effects on developing nations. The book is organized into five parts, excluding the Introduction. Part I provides a robust theoretical backbone for the volume. Parts II-IV present case studies (as single or groups of countries) on governance reforms in select countries of Europe, Asia and Central/Latin America. Part V offers a long concluding chapter on the global governance reforms and puts the previous reform measures with recommendations for future governance and administrative reforms. Contributing significantly to knowledge on governance reform, administrative reform, government and public administration, this volume will be of use to scholars and students of public administration, governance, and policy, as well as policy makers and government administrators worldwide.
Harnessing Data Science for Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resource Management (Studies in Big Data #161)
by Sanjay Chaudhary Mehul S. Raval Wei Guo J. AdinarayanaThis book is a comprehensive resource that handles the issues of sustainable agriculture and natural resource management, aligned with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The book is organized into five sections, Understanding the Problem, Data Collection and Cleaning, Exploratory Data Analysis and Visualization, Model Building, and Model Deployment. Each section covers a critical aspect of data science in this context and addresses specific SDGs 2—zero hunger, 6—clean water and sanitation, 12—responsible consumption and production, 13—climate action, and 15—Life on land. The organized sections are arranged to seamlessly follow the data science pipeline and provide practical guidance from problem understanding to its model deployment and stakeholder management. The book is useful for researchers, students, practitioners, and policymakers.
Building Scalable Deep Learning Pipelines on AWS: Develop, Train, and Deploy Deep Learning Models
by Abdelaziz TestasThis book is your comprehensive guide to creating powerful, end-to-end deep learning workflows on Amazon Web Services (AWS). The book explores how to integrate essential big data tools and technologies—such as PySpark, PyTorch, TensorFlow, Airflow, EC2, and S3—to streamline the development, training, and deployment of deep learning models. Starting with the importance of scaling advanced machine learning models, this book leverages AWS's robust infrastructure and comprehensive suite of services. It guides you through the setup and configuration needed to maximize the potential of deep learning technologies. You will gain in-depth knowledge of building deep learning pipelines, including data preprocessing, feature engineering, model training, evaluation, and deployment. The book provides insights into setting up an AWS environment, configuring necessary tools, and using PySpark for distributed data processing. You will also delve into hands-on tutorials for PyTorch and TensorFlow, mastering their roles in building and training neural networks. Additionally, you will learn how Apache Airflow can orchestrate complex workflows and how Amazon S3 and EC2 enhance model deployment at scale. By the end of this book, you will be equipped to tackle real-world challenges and seize opportunities in the rapidly evolving field of deep learning with AWS. You will gain the insights and skills needed to drive innovation and maintain a competitive edge in today’s data-driven landscape. What You Will Learn Maximize AWS services for scalable and high-performance deep learning architectures Harness the capacity of PyTorch and TensorFlow for advanced neural network development Utilize PySpark for efficient distributed data processing on AWS Orchestrate complex workflows with Apache Airflow for seamless data processing, model training, and deployment Who This Book Is For Data scientists looking to expand their skill set to include deep learning on AWS, machine learning engineers tasked with designing and deploying machine learning systems who want to incorporate deep learning capabilities into their applications, AI practitioners working across various industries who seek to leverage deep learning for solving complex problems and gaining a competitive advantage
Performativität in der Klassischen Deutschen Philosophie (Abhandlungen zur Philosophie)
by Stefan LangPerformativität spielt avant la lettre in der Klassischen Deutschen Philosophie eine bedeutende Rolle. Sie ist u.a. ein zentraler Bestandteil originärer Interpretationen des Absoluten, des Subjekts oder auch des Wissens. Seit den 2010er Jahren mehren sich daher Untersuchungen, die dem Performativen bei Kant, Fichte, Schelling, Hegel und in der Frühromantik nachspüren. Dieser Sammelband greift diese Entwicklung auf. Anhand interdisziplinärer Beiträge wird Performativität innerhalb der Klassischen Deutschen Philosophie erläutert und diskutiert. Dabei wird der hermeneutische und systematische Ertrag performativer Interpretationen dargestellt.
Therapeutic Endoscopy in the Gastrointestinal Tract
by Georg Kähler Martin Götz Norbert SenningerIn the second edition of the book, the diversity of established and modern endoscopic therapeutic interventions is systematically, comprehensively, and practically presented by experts in visceral surgery and gastroenterology. Numerous endoscopic images and schematic drawings illustrate the descriptions of therapeutic procedures. For each endoscopic procedure, the following is described: Indications Personnel, instrumental, and technical requirements Implementation Results Limitations, complications, and their management All contributions have been updated; a new chapter on hygiene measures has been added. Practical tips and references to alternative approaches appeal to both the young specialist and the experienced endoscopist, as well as endoscopy professionals from other fields.
AI Versus Epidemics (Synthesis Lectures on Learning, Networks, and Algorithms)
by James Hughes Daniel Ashlock Joseph Alexander Brown Sheridan Houghten Michael Dubé Wendy Ashlock Matthew StoodleyThis book presents algorithms and tools that are designed to model and extract information from personal contact networks, which represent which individuals in a population are physically in contact with one another. The authors developed these tools based on research they conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the goal of improving responses to epidemics in the future. The book provides methods for modelling the transmission of infection across a population. The authors explain how an epidemic model can be used to strategically distribute vaccines and minimize the spread of a virus. The book shows how evolutionary computation, graph compression, and network induction can be utilized to manage issues that arise from an epidemic.
Kriminalität und Künstliche Intelligenz: Explorative Analyse der Herausforderungen im Umgang mit Deepfakes in Sicherheitsbehörden (BestMasters)
by Robert Diedrich LippitzKünstliche Intelligenz führt zunehmend zu gesamtgesellschaftlichen Veränderungen, die unweigerlich auch kriminelle Handlungsweisen umfassen. Ein vergleichsweise neues Phänomen ist dabei die Nutzung von Deep Learning Software zur Erstellung authentisch wirkender, aber gefälschter, digitaler Inhalte – sog. Deepfakes. Diese bieten neben legitimen Anwendungsbereichen auch Möglichkeiten zur Optimierung vorhandener und Innovation neuer Modi Operandi, welche insbesondere Betrugsdelikte, Meinungsbeeinflussung und die Erstellung pornografischer Inhalte umfassen. Diese Ausarbeitung verfolgt das Ziel, ein tiefgreifendes Verständnis des Phänomens Deepfakes zu vermitteln, relevante Herausforderungen zu identifizieren und potenzielle Lösungsansätze aufzuzeigen. Die Studie kombiniert eine Literaturanalyse aus deutschsprachigen und angloamerikanischen Publikationen mit semistrukturierten Interviews mit Personen, die über praxisnahe Expertise verfügen. Anhand der empirischen Untersuchung konnte festgestellt werden, dass ein fundamentaler Bedarf an Aufklärung und Bildung besteht, um die gesellschaftliche Resilienz gegenüber den Herausforderungen von Deepfakes zu stärken.
The Washington Post Pulitzers: National Reporting, Carol Leonnig
by Carol LeonnigThe Secret Service has one of the most important jobs in the United States. In this Pulitzer Prize winning investigation, Carol Leonnig’s exposes the dereliction of duty that has put the President—and the nation—at risk. In September of 2014, a man leapt the White House fence, ran across the lawn, and got into the mansion, where he was only later tackled by an off-duty agent who happened by. In 2011, the Secret Service mishandled the aftermath when a shooter took aim at the White House itself, sewing confusion within the division and amongst the First Family. The mission of the Secret Service is to keep our leaders safe. In this respect, the Secret Service has had a string of failures bordering on near-catastrophe. Carol Leonnig got beyond the stonewalling of the Secret Service, notoriously tight-lipped about its procedures, and its shortcomings, to write a meticulously researched, utterly devastating expose into one of the most vital police forces in America. She has chronicled security lapses, mishandled resources, failures from the leadership on down, and reported on the men and women who protect the President. This Pulitzer Prize winning work offers an unprecedented window into the flaws of an agency that once seemed picture-perfect. Many agents and officers spoke to Leonnig at the risk of their livelihoods. The impact of her groundbreaking work cannot be underestimated: the President, present and future, will be safer.
The Detective and Mr. Dickens: Being an Account of the Macbeth Murders and the Strange Events Surrounding Them
by Wilkie Collins"[A] delightful hot toddy of a winter's read." —LA TIMESIt was the best of times, it was the worst of crimes in this delightful Dickensian romp, with the canonical author teaming up with a famous upstart to solve a devilish murder.In Victorian London, Charles Dickens and his protege, the renowned author Wilkie Collins, make the acquaintance of the shrewdest mind either would ever encounter: Inspector William Field of the newly formed Metropolitan Protectives. A gentleman's brutal murder brings the three men together in an extraordinary investigation that leads Dickens to the beautiful young actress Ellen Ternan. Almost immediately, she becomes the love of his life. But first, Dickens must protect her from the noose, as she is the main suspect.
Thurm: Memoirs of a Forever Yankee
by Marty Appel Thurman MunsonThurman Munson's memoir, written just the year before his death, returns with a new introduction about his lasting legacy and a new foreword by his wife Diana who reveals the man dedicated to family and fans above himself.Over forty years since Thurman Munson’s death, Thurm: Memoirs of a Forever Yankeerevives the life of the famous New York Yankees catcher. In collaboration with longtime Yankee historian Marty Appel, Munson chronicles in his own words his path to the majors, his career success, his approach to being the first team captain in nearly forty years since Lou Gehrig, the Yankees return to glory when they won the 1977 and 1978 World Series, the breakdown of his body as he gave his all to the sport, and his absolute dedication to his wife and children above all else. Munson, the Ohio native who quickly rose to Yankee stardom, played in an age of Hall of Famers, including a competitive relationship with teammate Reggie Jackson, a fierce rivalry with Boston Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk, and clashes with new owner George Steinbrenner on their way to championships. Munson shares further stories such as catching for pitchers Ron Guidry, Catfish Hunter, and Goose Gossage, who all later attributed their success to Munson behind the plate. Appel’s conclusion gracefully recounts Munson’s tragic death at age thirty-two in the plane he was piloting and with Diana Munson writing the Foreword, they reflect on the impact Munson left in baseball and in life and celebrate his timeless legacy.
Camilla: From Outcast to Queen Consort
by Angela LevinA compelling new biography of Camilla, Queen Consort, that reveals how she transformed her role and established herself as one of the key members of the royal family. For many years, Camilla was portrayed in a poor light, blamed by the public for the break-up of the marriage between Prince Charles and Lady Diana. Initially, Queen Elizabeth refused to see or speak to her, but, since the death of Prince Philip, Camilla had become one of the Queen's closest companions. Her confidence in Camilla and the transformation she had seen in Prince Charles since their wedding resulted in her choosing the first day of her Platinum Jubilee year to tell the world that she wanted Camilla to be Queen Consort, not the demeaning Princess Consort suggested in 2005. Angela Levin uncovers Camilla’s rocky journey to be accepted by the royal family and how she coped with her brutal portrayal in Netflix's The Crown. The public have witnessed her tremendous contribution to help those in need, especially during COVID. Levin has talked to many of Camilla's long-term friends, her staff and executives from the numerous charities of which Camilla is patron. She reveals why Camilla concentrates on previously taboo subjects, such as domestic violence and rape. Most of all, Levin tells the story of how Camilla has changed from a fun-loving young woman to one of the senior royals’ hardest workers. She has retained her mischievous sense of humor, becoming a role model for older women and an inspiration for younger ones. Camilla is both an extraordinary love story and a fascinating portrait of an increasingly confident Queen Consort in waiting. It is an essential read for anyone wanting a greater insight into the royal family.
Family Trust
by Amanda BrownFrom the author of LEGALLY BLONDE comes a hilarious romance about finding family—and yourself—in the strangest of places. Firmly planted on the Wall Street fast track to success, Becca Reinhart has no desire to marry and raise a family. Ditto Edward Kirkland, a charming playboy who has never known what it means to work for a living—and hopes never to find out. Enter Emily, who becomes Becca and Edward's common denominator when a quirk of fate gives them joint custody of the precocious little girl. Suddenly, two people who have never met find themselves sharing the trials and tribulations of domestic life as they navigate the rocky shoals of parenthood, from naptime to play dates to preschool admissions. And amid the daily demands of raising a young child, Becca and Edward discover something else: They're made for each other.
The 2016 Contenders: Marco Rubio
by Mary Jordan The Washington PostPresidential candidates are a breed apart, often propelled by traits that have shaped their careers and have deep roots in personal histories. Often their greatest strength can turn at supernova speed into their greatest weakness. The exact qualities that set them apart from the field trip them up eventually over the long haul of a presidential campaign. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio is a man in a hurry, whose dizzying political ascent—he has never lost a race—is a testament to his quickness to spot openings and go for them. The question now, as he aims for the White House, is whether voters ultimately see Rubio as refreshing and bold, the inspiring face of a new generation—or just a promising young pol getting ahead of himself. In this series of eBooks, The Washington Post is exploring in-depth all these key characteristics of the leading presidential contenders, the very characteristics that could help make one of them the country’s next commander in chief—or forever sink their presidential ambitions.
Suspects
by Thomas BergerLittle Big Man author Thomas Berger takes the murder mystery and runs with it in this trip around a quiet suburb with a dark secret. “A cutting, ironic wit and a precision of detail so deadly it hurts when you laugh.” —Ms. Mary Jane Jones doesn't like to meddle. She's content to stay out of the admittedly tame gossip of her suburban neighborhood, even in the fresh loneliness of widowhood. In fact, if it wasn't for the daily invites to dinner she receives from her sweet neighbor, Donna, she would be content to just stay home alone. Never one to risk being rude, Mary slowly finds herself not just a frequent guest in Donna's spotless house, but enjoying her company, and that of her three-year old daughter. So when Donna doesn't pick up the phone during their usual dining hours, something's too amiss for Mary to stay put. Unable to depend on slow moving cops, Mary doesn't just come over, she breaks in. What she finds is almost beyond comprehension. Donna and her little girl have been brutally slaughtered in their beds. The innocent façade of the town shattered, two world-weary detectives must find the murderer before he strikes again. But as officers Nick Moody and Dennis LeBeau grill their two primary suspects, Larry Howland, the late Donna Howland’s husband, and Lloyd Howland, Larry’s half-brother, the harder it is for them to piece together the motive. Lloyd, who had been in love with Donna for as long as he can remember, forges a bond with one of the detectives, but can’t seem to keep away from oddball scenarios that put him at odds with the law. Between his misadventures and the mystery brewing in town, Suspects is a story that entertains on every single page.