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Fun Texas Festivals and Events
by Jim GramonTexans will use any excuse to have fun! Pull up a chair and let a legendary Texas storyteller take you on a yearlong tour to 1,600 of his favorite fun Texas events in over 600 towns.
What Washington Gets Wrong: The Unelected Officials Who Actually Run the Government and Their Misconceptions about the American People
by Benjamin Ginsberg Jennifer BachnerEach year unelected federal administrators write thousands of regulations possessing the force of law. What do these civil servants know about the American people whom they ostensibly serve? Not much, according to this enlightening and disturbing study. The authors surveyed federal agency officials, congressional and White House staffers, and employees of various policy-making organizations about their attitudes toward and knowledge of the public. They found a significant chasm between what official Washington assumes they know about average Americans and the actual opinions and attitudes of American citizens. Even in such basic areas as life circumstances (e.g., income levels, employment, racial makeup) the surveys revealed surprising inaccuracies. And when it comes to policy issues—on such crucial issues as defense, crime, social security, welfare, public education, and the environment—officials' perceptions of the public's knowledge and positions are often wide of the mark. Compounding this ignorance is a pervasive attitude of smug dismissiveness toward the citizenry and little sense of accountability. As a result, bureaucrats tend to follow their own preferences without much reference to the opinions of the public. The authors conclude with recommendations to narrow the gap between official perceptions of the American public and the actual facts. These include shorter terms, rotation from the Washington beltway to local offices, compulsory training in the responsibilities of public office, and better civic education for ordinary citizens in the realities of government and politics.
Only Kayak: A Journey into the Heart of Alaska
by Kim HeacoxWinner of the 2020 National Outdoor Book Award for Outdoor Classic!In this coming-of-middle-age memoir, Kim Heacox, writing in the tradition of Abbey, McPhee, and Thoreau, discovers an Alaska reborn from beneath a massive glacier, where flowers emerge from boulders, moose swim fjords, and bears cross crevasses with Homeric resolve. In such a place Heacox finds that people are reborn too, and their lives begin anew with incredible journeys, epiphanies, and successes. All in an America free of crass commercialism and overdevelopment.Braided through the larger story are tales of gold prospectors and the cabin they built sixty years ago; John Muir and his intrepid terrier, Stickeen; and a dynamic geology professor who teaches earth science "as if every day were a geological epoch."Nearly two million people come to Alaska every summer, some on large cruise ships, some in single kayaks--all in search of the last great wilderness, the Africa of America. It is exactly the America Heacox finds in this story of paradox, love, and loss.
That's Amore: A Son Remembers Dean Martin
by Christopher Smith Ricci MartinRicci Martin takes readers on a tour through his childhood, from the star-studded parties to the exploration of three marriages, eight kids, one family, to the treasured one-on-one time he shared with his father.
Red Pill, Blue Pill: How to Counteract the Conspiracy Theories That Are Killing Us
by David NeiwertA revealing trip down the rabbit hole of conspiracy theories -their appeal, who believes them, how they spread -with an eye to helping people deal with the alt-right conspiracists in their own lives.Conspiracy theories are killing us. Once confined to the fringes of society, this worldview now has adherents numbering in the millions -extending right into the White House. This disturbing look at this alt-right threat to our democratic institutions offers guidance for counteracting the personal toll this destructive mindset can have on relationships and families.Author David Neiwert -an investigative journalist who has studied the radical right for decades -examines the growing appeal of conspiracy theories and the kind of personalities that are attracted to such paranoid, sociopathic messages. He explains how alt-right leaders are able to get such firm holds on the imaginations of their followers and chronicles the destruction caused by the movement's most virulent believers.Colloquially, this recruitment to alt-right ideologies is called "getting red-pilled" -a metaphor for when believers of conspiracy theories become convinced that their alternate universe is real. Uniquely, and optimistically, Neiwert provides a "blue pill toolkit" for those who are dealing with conspiracy theorists in their own lives, including strategies drawn from people who counsel former far-right extremists who have renounced their former beliefs.
How to Coach Youth Baseball: A Step-By-Step Approach
by Kevin O'Brien Beverly Carroll Fran O'brienThis detailed guide provides everything a first-time coach needs to teach basic baseball skills--and have fun at the same time. Emphasizing fundamentals and not win-at-all-costs strategies, How to Coach Youth Baseballis the perfect book for any new coach. Beverly Carroll, along with longtime coaches Fran and Kevin O&’Brien, offers carefully outlined instructions to help coaches with everything from the basics to developing players who are on the same team but at greatly varying levels of play. Chapters include:* Coaching Youth Baseball * Power of Positive Thinking * Practice Basics * Designing Your Practice * Learning the Basics: Fielding, Hitting, Bunting, Running, Pitching, Throwing, and Catching * Improve as a coach! * Rules of Baseball
Somewhere in the Ocean
by Jennifer Ward T. J. MarshA counting book in rhyme presents various marine animals and their children, from a mother manatee and her little calf one to a mother octopus and her little babies ten. Complete with a glossary, musical score, and numbers hidden in the illustrations.
Lau's Laws on Hitting: The Art of Hitting .400 for the Next Generation; Follow Lau's Laws and Improve Your Hitting!
by Charley LauAfter working as a minor league hitting instructor, Charley Lau Jr. began his quest to resolve the myths and misunderstandings on how to hit a baseball in the most effective way possible. This book not only includes the secret ingredients to building the most dynamic swing possible, but he shows, step-by-step, how to teach yourself or your students.
Disappearance of Amy Cave: A True Account of Murder and Justice in Maine
by Pat FlaggWhen Amy Cave was reported missing and later discovered murdered, it was difficult for the police and reporters to keep their emotional distance. The controversial sexuality of the killer and the tragic nature of the story made that impossible.
She Took to the Woods: A Biography and Selected Writings of Louise Dickinson Rich
by Alice ArlenLongtime fans of Rich's writing will welcome this engaging and thoughtful biography of her life. There is also a wonderful section that includes many of Rich's essays and stories — which were published in magazines but never appeared in book form — as well as excerpts from her journal and letters.
Making Traditional Wooden Planes
by John M. WhelanJohn Whelan unlocks the fascinating secrets of an almost lost art: wooden planemaking. For those curious about the ingenious ways of the craft, this book lays out clear, step-by-step instructions that will enable any woodworker to make a plane. Each chapter (covering 20 different types of planes and spokeshaves) is fully illustrated by the author's line drawings. In addition, there are chapters on the history and alternative methods of planemaking, making plane irons, and the tuning and using of wooden planes. Every chapter that details the construction of a particular plane starts with a photograph of the plane that has been made by the author. As you would expect from Mr. Whelan, this book is the finest and most complete work on the making of wooden planes in print. The reader will enjoy it even if he never puts blade to wood. Should he make a plane or two, he will find Making Traditional Wooden Planes most satisfying
A Field Guide to Texas Critters: Common Household and Garden Pests
by Bill ZakA handy guide for identifying and dealing with common pests. Includes information on pests that infest your home and garden.
Living Again: A Personal Journey For Surviving the Loss of a Spouse
by William WallaceA guide to surviving the loss of a mate with practical exercises to gain greater insight into this agonizing, yet necessary personal journey.
Second Acts: Presidential Lives And Legacies After The White House
by Mark UpdegroveF. Scott Fitzgerald once wrote, "There are no second acts in American lives", but more and more, our former presidents are proving him wrong. No longer fading into the background upon leaving the highest office in the land, ex-presidents perform valuable services as elder statesmen and international emissaries - and by pursuing their own agendas. From Eisenhower taking Kennedy to the woodshed (literally) on the Bay of Pigs crisis, to Carter earning the Nobel Peace Prize, to Bush Sr. and Clinton joining forces in an unlikely partnership for tsunami and Hurricane Katrina relief, the author examines the increasingly important roles that former presidents assume in our nation and throughout the world. Through interviews with former presidents, first ladies, family members, friends, and staffers, the author also delves into the very human stories that play out as the modern ex-presidents - from Truman to Clinton - adjust to life after the White House and attempt to shape their historical legacies. In this, the first narrative history of the modern post-presidency, Mark K. Updegrove makes a refreshingly unique contribution to literature on the American presidents.
A New Ireland: Politics, Peace, and Reconciliation
by John HumeHume recounts the struggle for the nationalist community's rights and presents a blueprint for peace.
Seeing through the Smoke: A Cannabis Specialist Untangles the Truth about Marijuana
by Peter Grinspoon M.D.Depending on which doctor you speak with, or which websites you read, cannabis could be an appealing, low-risk medicine – even an aid to wellness – or an insidiously addictive drug rotting the brains of our youth. This dissonance confuses young people, distressed patients, and paralyzes politicians, all while inviting dubious sources of information and resulting in uninformed choices, enhanced polarization, and a fragmented national policy.Seeing Through the Smoke is an unflinching examination at the grossly misunderstood drug that uses data-driven medical science and a critical historical perspective to reveal the truth behind cannabis. In this balanced and measured investigation, Cannabis specialist and Instructor in Medicine at Harvard Medical School Dr. Peter Grinspoon untangles the reality behind cannabis, revealing how we ended up with radically divergent understandings of the drug and pointing a way toward a middle ground that we can all share.Moving through an illuminating tour of the social history and the medical science behind cannabis, Grinspoon unpacks the layers of disinformation left by a sordid history of government propaganda, racial suppression, and indifference from the medical community to answer questions like:Is cannabis addictive?What are its best-established medical uses? Can cannabis help cure cancer? How does cannabis affect memory? How dangerous is cannabis for teens? Is cannabis a safer treatment for ADHD and PTSD? What exactly is CBD and how is it different from marijuana?What are the most concerning side effects? By focusing on the most critical purported harms—driving, pregnancy, addictiveness, memory—and by focusing on the most commonly cited medical benefits—relieving chronic pain, sleep, anxiety, PTSD, autism, and cancer—Seeing Through the Smoke will help patients, parents, doctors, health experts, regulators, and politicians move beyond biased perceptions and arrive at a shared reality towards cannabis.
The Redfish Book: A Complete Anglers Guide
by Frank SargeantSpecial FeaturesWhere to find more redfishRedfish plug, spin and fly tackleTrophy redfish techniquesRigging your redfish boatRedfish biology, habitat and conservationPacked with expertise from the nation&’s leading redfish anglers and guides, The Redfish Book is an essential part of the library of any sportsman who pursues channel bass throughout the southeast. Every aspect of finding and fooling giant reds is covered, with dozens of secret techniques revealed for the first time. Whether you&’re just starting out or you&’re a seasoned angler, The Redfish Book is sure to improve your catches.
The Low-fat Low-carb Southwest Cookbook
by Anne Lindsay McCannA completely revised edition of the James Beard-nominated The Ultimate Low-Fat Mexican Cookbook, this new book reinvents Anne McCann's award-winning and nationally renowned Southwest dishes. Boasting nearly one hundred new or revised recipes of dishes such as Los Cabos Shrimp Cocktail, Veal Chops with Manchego Mushroom Sauce, and Lettuce Wrap Tacos, McCann's culinary creations combine the flavorful with the exotic, while still preserving a low-fat and low-carb health value for the weight- or health-conscious-of particular significance in today's Atkins mindful America. McCann's expert and detailed advice, drawn from years of experience, and the clear and concise presentation of recipes, make this cookbook especially reader-friendly.
The Sports Junkie's Book of Trivia, Terms, and Lingo: What They Are, Where They Came From, and How They're Used
by Harvey FrommerCombining the content of two of Frommer's previous books, Sports Roots and Sports Lingo, this book not only explains how nicknames, namesakes, trophies, competitions, and expressions in the world of sports came to be, but also serves as a useful dictionary of the language of sports-both technical and slang.
You, Disrupted: Seizing the Life You Want by Shaking, Breaking, and Challenging Everything
by Todd MitchemSticking to the same old routine may be comforting, but it gets most people nowhere. Inspirational speaker and recognized expert in leadership and government affairs, Todd Mitchem dares you to step outside your comfort zone to disrupt everything you take for granted. He calls this willingness to take a risk the "Disruption Effect." In this inspiring book, he shows you how to realize your full potential by intentionally disrupting yourself, no matter what career path or life journey you choose. Using compelling stories from his own life, Todd vividly highlights the key lessons he has learned from both his successes and failures. He then demonstrates how you can apply these lessons to your own circumstances. A major learning experience in his life came in 2013, when he left an impressive career as a corporate executive and leadership expert to join the emerging marijuana industry. Though that single decision sent his life on a wild and disruptive journey, the experience taught him new skills as a leader along the way. Three years later he left the industry as a CEO, having succeeded at taking one brand to "Largest Brand" status and building the world's first social network for cannabis enthusiasts. He then created a government affairs consultancy focusing on disruptive yet collaborative solutions. The author shares other stories about situations in both his personal and business life that he found particularly challenging but that ultimately led to growth and successful outcomes. Complete with exercises to help you master important lessons and stay on track to reach your goals, this motivating book has everything you need to become the owner of your own fulfillment. The message is clear: You, as an individual, have the power to break your paradigm in order to move into a new phase of your life. By disrupting your own way of being in the world, you become free to explore new ways of living and thriving.
American Patented Brace 1829-1924: An Illustrated Directory of Patents
by Ronald W. PearsonThis is a vastly expanded successor to Dr. Pearson s earlier Guide to American Brace Patents 1829 1910. Not only are many newly discovered patents included, but these are now cross-indexed and illustrated and, for the first time, the author provides an indication of their rarity. Over 500 brace patents are listed alphabetically by patentee name and chronologically by date and patent number. There is a third index that lists patents by type of brace in four major categories: brace ratchet patents, corner brace patents, brace wrench patents, and brace combination tool patents. An invaluable reference for anyone having an interest in these fascinating examples of American ingenuity.
A Guide To Rocky Mountain Plants, Revised
by Roger L. WilliamsA completely revised edition of Williams's previous work with the late Ruth Ashton Nelson, Handbook of Rocky Mountain Plants, this edition uses simple and clear keys to identify more than 350 species of plants found in the Rocky Mountain region from the United States to Canada. Useful in the classroom as well as the field, the new edition also contains seventy-two color plates of popular species in addition to over 350 line drawings.
The Osteoporosis Handbook
by Sydney Lou BonnickThe Osteoporosis Handbook, which has already helped thousands of people prevent and treat this disease, has now been updated with the most current medical information available.
Return of the Condor: The Race to Save Our Largest Bird from Extinction
by John Moir&“A heart-stopping saga of the rescue from the very brink of extinction of one of the grandest of all birds.&”—Thomas Lovejoy, president of the Amazon Biodiversity Center. RETURN OF THE CONDOR is the riveting account of one of the most dramatic attempts to save a species from extinction in the history of modern conservation. With the condor&’s population down to only twenty-two birds in the 1980s and their very survival in doubt, the condor recovery team flouted conventional wisdom and pursued a controversial strategy to pull the bird back from the brink of extinction. Thus began the ongoing, decades-long program to reestablish America&’s largest bird in its ancient home in Western skies. Award-winning science writer John Moir takes readers into the backcountry to get to know the recovery program scientists as well as some of the individual condors. These are stories of peril, uncertainty, and controversy. Woven throughout these tales of heartbreak and triumph is the extraordinary dedication of the humans who have sometimes risked their lives for this charismatic, intelligent, and social bird. Despite the program&’s remarkable successes, the condor&’s narrative is still unfolding with a number of challenges remaining. This includes the dilemma of lead poisoning among free-flying condors that is a major obstacle to the bird&’s recovery.Finalist for the William Saroyan International Writing Prize from the Stanford University LibrariesHonorable Mention from the National Association of Science Writers
Willie Sawgrass
by Aida GaleInspired by the author&’s own experiences and stories passed down, Willie Sawgrass takes place in the wilderness of Southwest Florida in the early 1900s, when the cattle and fishing industries were strong but rum running was more lucrative. Willie isn&’t sure how old he is when his ignorant and abusive Pa sends him away to live with a young Miccosukee woman and her son, Nakee.Willie and Nakee form a tight bond and share many adventures, like fighting an alligator and confronting a family of skunks. They eventually get stranded at sea in a dugout canoe, only to be rescued by the well-educated Captain O&’Keef. He takes the boys aboard the Bonnie Sue as extra deckhands on the big fishing schooner and teaches them the importance of reading and writing.Just as the boys are feeling comfortable in their home on the Bonnie Sue, everything changes when they rescue two men and some cattle from a sinking ship, bringing a mystery into their young lives. Willie and Nakee find themselves amid shady characters but manage to solve a mystery and get their revenge in the end.