Category: Popular Culture

By John L. Casti

Review:

From the stories: "They [the chapters] inform an engrossing tale, and the secret heightens because it is going. . . . it's chatty and knowing." Greg Benford, Physicist and science-fiction author, writer of "Timescape" and "Deep Time" "I am struck by means of how thought-provoking all of it is. i'm convinced that your e-book will draw loads of attention" Tor Norretranders, technology author, writer of "The beneficiant Man" and "The consumer Illusion". “This is John Casti’s daring speculation in temper issues, which demanding situations either conventional monetary concept and human intestine response approximately how the area works. … The wealth of proof he provides may still function necessary gas for destiny medical researchers arguing either for and opposed to socionomics. In those instances of economic turmoil, many folks will choose up temper issues with the desire of predicting monetary markets. … The e-book emphasizes the significance of sociometers in signaling that fate.” (Richard Taylor, technological know-how, Vol. 329, September, 2010) “Readable, exhaustively researched, and entirely iconoclastic, this booklet was once a excitement for me on many degrees. i'm consistently desirous to pay attention approximately new how you can view this outdated global, and Casti has a truly new method to view international occasions. His thesis is that the temper of the folks isn’t MADE by means of occasions, yet … MAKES occasions. … The exhaustive learn i discussed is all documented in his appendices.” (Richard Derus, LibraryThings, October, 2010) “In temper concerns (2010) John Casti says loads of issues … approximately how ones perspective (mood) shapes occasions, and the way we cycle from side to side among pessimism and optimism (mood). … a proposal upsetting book.” (LibraryThing, August, 2010) “Mood issues is superb enjoyable to learn as Casti’s writing all through is delicate, clever and funny. … Casti explores the correlation among the ‘mood of the crowd’ and more than a few different developments … and occasions, together with the autumn of countries and the outbreak of struggle. it's a highly attention-grabbing and wide-ranging learn. … For these occupied with assessing traits and in predicting destiny occasions, no matter if social, political or fiscal, this publication … switch the entire approach they ply their trade.” (Goodreads, August, 2010) “John Casti … bargains a really distinctive and various point of view of why issues occur – in our lives, in our global, and in our political structures. … i locate John’s perspectives of exterior occasions to be clean and fascinating … . he supplies a truly attention-grabbing view of the way social impacts not directly – but without delay – impression the industrial overall healthiness of our society … . John has performed a truly great task … . temper issues is a really well-written booklet, very distinctive, and extremely thorough.” (Abraham Aizenman, TodayNewsline, February, 2011)

From the again Cover:

"Mood Matters" makes the unconventional statement that each one social occasions starting from models in track and paintings to the increase and fall of civilizations are biased through the attitudes a society holds towards the longer term. while the "social mood" is confident and other people look ahead to the long run, occasions of a wholly diverse personality are likely to take place than whilst society is pessimistic. The booklet offers many examples from each stroll of lifestyles in help of this argument. additionally, tools are given to really degree the social temper and to venture it into the long run for you to forecast what’s most likely or no longer over various classes of time. Casti's writing is a excitement to learn and its contents an eye-opener. "They [the chapters] inform an engrossing tale, and the secret heightens because it is going. . . . it's chatty and knowing." Greg Benford, Physicist and science-fiction author, writer of "Timescape" and "Deep Time" "I am struck via how thought-provoking all of it is. i'm yes that your e-book will draw loads of attention" Tor Norretranders, technological know-how author, writer of "The beneficiant Man" and "The person Illusion".

By Peter B. Dedek

ISBN-10: 0826341942

ISBN-13: 9780826341945

ISBN-10: 0826341950

ISBN-13: 9780826341952

Earlier than and because its authentic closure in 1985, old U.S. sixty six grew to become linked to the deserts, Indians, and cowboys of the Southwest, the "Okies" of the nice melancholy, and the thousands of tourists who took to the road of their streamlined vehicles and located event at the open street from the past due Forties to the Nineteen Seventies. direction sixty six has such identify reputation that previously two decades it's been used to promote items starting from blue denims, to root beer, to automobiles.

The street loved simply approximately thirty years of dominance as a main vehicle and truck path from 1926 to round 1956. steadily changed through interstates into the Nineteen Eighties, direction sixty six turned eternally mounted within the background and lore of the Southwest and the U.S.. path sixty six offers a different vantage element from which to higher comprehend American pop culture from the Twenties to the present.

The objective of this ebook isn't really to easily recount the heritage of course sixty six, yet to create a complete portrait of the cultural that means of the street. What used to be course sixty six at its top, what's it this present day, and what may well it turn into within the future?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Peter B. Dedek is assistant professor within the division of kinfolk and client sciences, Texas kingdom college, San Marcos.

ACCLAIM
"...well-written, well-reasoned, and should spark notion within the so much pro roadie. hugely recommended."--Route sixty six News

"Peter B. Dedek has written one of many few particularly sincere books concerning the heritage and culture...of U.S. 66."--Southwestern American Literature

"Dedek promotes the assumption of path sixty six as a panorama of historic and cultural importance that are supposed to be preserved as a geographic entity. hugely prompt for all collections."--Library Journal

"...a concise, thought-provoking learn of why direction sixty six captures americans' mind's eye and loyalty...--Montana the journal of Western History

"...an impressive paintings that mixes strong scholarship with sound analysis....Anyone making plans to take a nostalgic journey to the outdated road should still learn this e-book ahead of leaving home."--Journal of Arizona History

"...a strong creation to course 66's historical past, its cultural landscapes and the necessity and how one can guard it. The publication might paintings good in an undergraduate path at the West or Southwest."--New Mexico historic Review

"This publication will enlighten somebody with an curiosity within the cultural that means of direction 66."--New Mexico Magazine

"...a beneficial ebook. it's going to be within the library of a person eager about the background of yankee highways, or that of a person attracted to America's early vehicle culture."--Journal of yank Cultures

"Capturing the altering cultural effect of course sixty six is an bold goal....Hip to the journey is a fascinating read."--Galveston County day-by-day News

"Dedek surveys what path sixty six has come to intend in US pop culture...recommended for all libraries."--CHOICE: present experiences for tutorial Libraries

"...Dedek's booklet is not only one other path sixty six e-book. through the use of modern resources and comparative research, Dedek presents a transparent view of what direction sixty six quite skill to the rustic as a cultural icon and as an genuine cultural resource."--The Chronicles of Oklahoma

By Kim Cooper, David Smay

ISBN-10: 0415969980

ISBN-13: 9780415969987

Or the previous 12 years, the L.A.-based journal Scram has championed the paintings of musicians who may another way fly underneath the mainstream severe radar. the following, Scram co-editors Cooper and Smay demonstrate the feel of enjoyable that distinct their past assortment, Bubblegum tune Is the bare fact, in an immensely interesting, informative and infrequently exasperating encyclopedia, during which greater than seventy five individuals provide over 250 entries (a sequence of "miniature love letters") approximately their favourite artists and albums. With compliment provided for works through Captain Beefheart along the Cowsills, no style or artist is taken into account outdoors the sector of this book’s pursuits: a sampling from the "Ks" contains late-’60s pop grasp Andy Kim, mid-’90s blues minimalist Junior Kimbrough, early-’70s conceptual art-rockers King purple and an missed 1971 masterpiece by means of the Kinks, Muswell Hillbillies, which motivated lots an alt-country boy. whereas many of the albums and artists fall into the sizeable classification that's pop song, there also are fascinating choices within the parts of Latin jazz (Cal Tjader), dub reggae (Scientist) and soul (Swamp Dogg). lively, a professional writing via rockers (Meat puppets drummer Derrick Bostrom), novelists (Rick Moody and George Pelecanos) and a number of self-proclaimed tune geeks may possibly really make you must exit and purchase Buckner & Garcia’s Pac-Man Fever.

Reviews:

Lost within the Grooves is a genre-surfing Smithsonian of neglected musical marvels. with no fetishizing obscurity for its personal sake, the advisor sidesteps cynical cool vs. uncool upsmanship and celebrates castoffs -- by way of either the forgotten and the recognized -- which exude trend-transcending advantage. each one access compels you to search out the tune. -- Irwin Chusid, WFMU DJ and writer of Songs within the Key of Z: The Curious Universe of Outsider Music

Caprice is every little thing, and SCRAM's misplaced grooves are a tune geek's very heaven. The zinester spirit of lauding the formally uncool lives on during this eminently dip-worthy assortment. -- Barney Hoskyns, writer and editor of Rock's Backpages, the net Library of Rock & Roll

Kim Cooper and David Smay have scored back with their important advisor to the simplest sounds you've by no means heard. Impeccably researched, refreshingly subjective, they nearly make being vague as a lot enjoyable as being wealthy and well-known. after all, they forgot to say my band.. -- Blag Dahlia of The Dwarves

Scram is actually a source for these musicians simply open air the home windows of top-forty-land, these songwriters and guitar slingers trying to find an outlet for his or her personal specific model of paintings. therefore, misplaced within the Grooves takes up the place Scram leaves off -- a compilation of ruminations from seventy five critics and song aficionados detailing their favourite slices of the scene... misplaced within the Grooves isn't a publication for enthusiasts mad approximately one band or one specific singer. as a substitute, it is a e-book for the intense track fan, for these severe scholars of the artwork shape concerned about who-influenced-who and what sound rose out of what area. Like turning on a radio station and hearing a feverish wounded-voiced DJ let you know the explanation at the back of each checklist you by no means heard, there's 20 new issues to be realized on each web page here
. -- electrical Review

What makes misplaced within the Grooves a true groovy learn is the sincere ardour its individuals express for his or her lost-and-found faves. -- Mojo Magazine

Music minutiae lovers who benefit from the offbeat and abnormal get all of the tales in the back of those chosen notables-but-not-greats. hugely prompt. -- Bookwatch

By J. Jeremy Wisnewski, Kristopher G. Phillips

ISBN-10: 1118146263

ISBN-13: 9781118146262

A wise philosophical examine the cult hit tv convey, Arrested Development

Arrested improvement earned six Emmy awards, a Golden Globe award, serious acclaim, and a devoted cult following--and then it used to be canceled. thankfully, this booklet steps into the void left via the show's untimely dying by means of exploring the attention-grabbing philosophical matters on the center of the quirky Bluths and their comedian exploits. no matter if it's reflecting on Gob's self-deception or digging into Tobias's double entendres, you'll watch your favourite scenes and episodes of the express in a complete new way.
Takes an unique examine the philosophical rules and tensions within the show's plots and themes
can provide new insights in regards to the Bluth kin and different characters: Is George Michael's weigh down on his cousin unnatural? Is it immoral for Lindsay to lie approximately stealing outfits to conceal the truth that she has a role? Are the photographs rather of bunkers or balls?
permits you to sound super-smart as you rattle off the names of significant philosophers like Sartre and Aristotle to provide an explanation for key characters and episodes of the show

choked with thought-provoking insights, Arrested improvement and Philosophy is vital examining for somebody who desires to comprehend extra approximately their overdue, lamented television convey. And it'll maintain you entertained till the long-awaited Arrested improvement motion picture ultimately comes out. (Whenever that is.)

By Sheila Sweeny Higginson

During this bold new venture, an average previous witch has trapped Hansel and Gretel in a gingerbread condo. it truly is as much as the courageous brother and sister duo, Annie and Leo, to stick to the clues and rescue Hansel and Gretel from the witch's grab. Preschoolers will take pleasure in studying to learn during this interesting early reader.

By Jason Tondro

Few students nursed at the literary canon might dispute that wisdom of Western literature advantages readers and writers of the superhero style. This research of superhero comics as Romance literature indicates that the opposite is true--knowledge of the superhero romance has whatever to educate critics of conventional literature. developing the comedian style as a cousin to Arthurian fantasy, Spenser, and Shakespeare, it makes use of comics to notify readings of The Faerie Queene, The Tempest, Malory's Morte and extra, whereas using authors like Ben Johnson to assist clarify comics via Alan Moore, Jack Kirby, and provide Morrison and characters like Iron guy, the Hulk, the X-Men, and the Justice League. students of comics, medieval and Renaissance literature alike will locate it attractive.

By Stuart Wells

ISBN-10: 0896891348

ISBN-13: 9780896891340

Famous person Wars memorabilia and accumulating can be warmer than ever with the latest motion picture unlock in may well 2005. this convenient, moveable consultant can simply decide on creditors to vehicle boot revenues, auctions, conventions and anyplace else their quest for famous person Wars collectibles leads them. positive factors greater than three hundred complete color, specific images and illustrations of motion figures, playsets, autos and extra, with descriptions and contemporary buck industry values for every.

By Ben Thompson

ISBN-10: 0062074946

ISBN-13: 9780062074942

From sex-crazed gods to starving monsters, Ben Thompson brings mythical titans to existence in stories of event, bloodlust, and unrelenting badassitude.

because the starting of human historical past humans have created myths, tall stories, superheroes, and arch-villains—men and girls who launched into insane adventures, played notable feats of exceptional awesomeness, and overcame all odds to violently smite their foes into bloody pulp. In Badass: The start of a Legend, Ben Thompson compiles those fantastical stories from the start of time to this day and tells them within the thoroughly over-the-top demeanour during which they have been meant, together with:

Rama
The Indian god-king who led a military of monkeys opposed to the King of All Demons

Thor
The Viking god of thunder and extraordinary hair, who beaten the skulls of giants with a ridiculously large hammer

Beowulf
An Anglo-Saxon hero so hardcore he might arm-wrestle monsters' joints out in their sockets

Moby-Dick
The hate-filled literary behemoth who obliterated send hulls together with his face

Skuld
The Norse necromancer queen who summoned a horde of zombie berserkers

Dirty Harry Callahan
The prototypical modern day antihero and intensely embodiment of badass

From Publishers Weekly
In his first e-book, Badass, Thompson, writer of the website badassoftheweek.com, curious about warlords, samurai, pirates, and gunfighters who really existed; during this follow-up, he turns to mythological badasses all through historical past. From Anubis and Zeus to Capt. James T. Kirk and Godzilla, Thompson promises certain and adrenaline-fueled screeds on forty characters "whose tales of ball-crushing conquest are nonetheless striking adequate to make even the tamest readers are looking to seize up a sword and move trying to find dragon meat." matters comprise El Chupacabra ("this freakadelic ass-reaming spawn of Satan"); Diomedes ("the wanton slaughter of faceless jobbers is simply the start of awesomeness"); and, in a long-overdue tribute, the Daleks from health care provider Who ("these murderous, automatic salt-shakers are vile constructs of natural evil"). thankfully, the e-book contains badass girls in addition to males, and Thompson's overheated prose rises even extra whilst describing the Indian goddess Kali: "When she's now not eating the entrails of the gods, getting inebriated on human blood, acting her Dance of Annihilation... she shoots blood out of her mouth like a fireplace hose... she's pretty well the main completely steel being ever." (Mar.)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

About the Author
Ben Thompson has run the warhammer of an internet site badassoftheweek.com seeing that 2004, and has written funny history-related columns for retailers reminiscent of Cracked, Fangoria, Penthouse, and the yankee Mustache Institute. although he's by no means flown a jetpack over the Atlantic Ocean or punched somebody so difficult that his head exploded, he's thought of by means of many to be the world's most well known specialist on badassitude. His first booklet, Badass, was once published in 2009.

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Uploader unlock Notes:
Retail EPUB, comprises TOC/chapters
eISBN: 978-0-06-207494-2
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By Henry Jacoby

ISBN-10: 0470730196

ISBN-13: 9780470730195

An unauthorized examine the philosophical concerns raised through one in all today's hottest tv exhibits: House

House is among the most sensible 3 tv dramas at the air, pulling in additional than 19 million audience for every episode. This most modern ebook within the well known Blackwell Philosophy and dad tradition sequence takes a deeper examine the characters and concerns raised during this Emmy Award-winning scientific drama, supplying exciting solutions to the interesting moral questions audience have approximately Dr. Gregory residence and his clinical workforce.

By Kevin S. Decker, Jason T. Eberl

ISBN-10: 0812696492

ISBN-13: 9780812696493

Philosophy and house commute are characterised by way of a similar basic goal: exploration. a necessary advisor for either philosophers and Trekkers, Star Trek and Philosophy combines a philosophical spirit of inquiry with the cherished tv and picture sequence to think about questions not just concerning the medical clients of interstellar go back and forth but additionally the inward trip to check the human .

The expansive issues diversity from the chances for verbal exchange between assorted cultural backgrounds to questions on the stoic temperament exhibited via Vulcans to Ferengi company practices. in particular selected to damage new flooring in exploring the philosophical dimensions of Star Trek, those articles boldly pass the place no thinker has long past sooner than.