Plan Your Year


Book Description




The Party Decides


Book Description

Throughout the contest for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination, politicians and voters alike worried that the outcome might depend on the preferences of unelected superdelegates. This concern threw into relief the prevailing notion that—such unusually competitive cases notwithstanding—people, rather than parties, should and do control presidential nominations. But for the past several decades, The Party Decides shows, unelected insiders in both major parties have effectively selected candidates long before citizens reached the ballot box. Tracing the evolution of presidential nominations since the 1790s, this volume demonstrates how party insiders have sought since America’s founding to control nominations as a means of getting what they want from government. Contrary to the common view that the party reforms of the 1970s gave voters more power, the authors contend that the most consequential contests remain the candidates’ fights for prominent endorsements and the support of various interest groups and state party leaders. These invisible primaries produce frontrunners long before most voters start paying attention, profoundly influencing final election outcomes and investing parties with far more nominating power than is generally recognized.




California Out of the Box


Book Description

California Out of the Box uses story as a basis for an interdisciplinary exploration of Golden State history, life and earth science, geography, social studies, the arts, and more! The content spans prehistory through the 1930s. This homeschool/progressive education curriculum includes a teacher guide with comprehension questions, reproducible student pages (for within a family), and answer keys; it is geared for students in grades 3-6, but suggestions are included for families with younger siblings. Note: families must purchase the 8 historical fiction and resource books separately, or request them from their local library.




The Concise Guide to Sounding Smart at Parties


Book Description

Banish awkward silences, boring weather talk, or (worst of all) the embarrassing conversation gaff with this pithy, hilarious guide to effortless party banter. We’ve all been there. You’re at a party, surrounded by the most important people in your life. You’re cool. You’re casual. You’re witty and urbane. Until suddenly, quite unexpectedly, things take a turn for the worse when a subject thought to be common knowledge is lobbed your way. A hush falls over the room and every head seems to swivel expectantly in your direction. [ART: SET THESE OFF IN A DIFFERENT COLOR?] “Rasputin. Sure, Rasputin. The Russian guy, right? Who . . . who . . . whooooo was Russian.” “Che Guevara? You mean the dancer?” “Oh my God! Mao Tse-tung? They have the best chicken with cashews!” The Concise Guide to Sounding Smart at Parties was written with just this moment in mind. In fourteen pain-free, laughter-filled chapters, authors David Matalon and Chris Woolsey brush away years of cobwebs on subjects as wide-ranging as the typical round of Jeopardy: war, science, politics, philosophy, the arts, business, literature, music, religion, and more. Armed with The Concise Guide to Sounding Smart at Parties, you’ll know that Chicago Seven wasn’t a boy band, Martin Luther never fought for civil rights, and Franz Kafka isn’t German for “I have a bad cold.” You’ll be the smart one who’s the center of conversation—and nothing beats that feeling.




Discovering the Deep


Book Description

A beautifully illustrated reference providing fascinating insights into the hidden world of the seafloor using the latest deep-sea imaging.




Why Parties?


Book Description

Since its first appearance fifteen years ago, Why Parties? has become essential reading for anyone wishing to understand the nature of American political parties. In the interim, the party system has undergone some radical changes. In this landmark book, now rewritten for the new millennium, John H. Aldrich goes beyond the clamor of arguments over whether American political parties are in resurgence or decline and undertakes a wholesale reexamination of the foundations of the American party system. Surveying critical episodes in the development of American political parties—from their formation in the 1790s to the Civil War—Aldrich shows how they serve to combat three fundamental problems of democracy: how to regulate the number of people seeking public office, how to mobilize voters, and how to achieve and maintain the majorities needed to accomplish goals once in office. Aldrich brings this innovative account up to the present by looking at the profound changes in the character of political parties since World War II, especially in light of ongoing contemporary transformations, including the rise of the Republican Party in the South, and what those changes accomplish, such as the Obama Health Care plan. Finally, Why Parties? A Second Look offers a fuller consideration of party systems in general, especially the two-party system in the United States, and explains why this system is necessary for effective democracy.




Quiet Journal


Book Description

Harness your hidden talents, empower communication at home and at work, and nurture your best self with this guided journal based on the #1 New York Times bestselling phenomenon Quiet. Susan Cain’s Quiet permanently changed how we see the psychology of introverts and, equally important, how introverts see themselves. Now here is the companion journal for the textbook introvert, the natural extroverts, and everyone in between, with a self-assessment quiz and powerful prompts that take you on the Quiet journey to becoming a stronger, more confident person. In part one, you’ll learn more about yourself and your own mindset and temperament, make progress towards self-awareness, and realize your own authentic qualities and worth. Then, in part two, you’ll put that knowledge into practice with prompts for taking action to better empower yourself when communicating with family, friends, or colleagues. With a lay-flat cover, smooth writing paper, and a ribbon marker, Quiet Journal is a beautiful and accessible tool for reflection and exploration.




The Presidentialization of Politics


Book Description

The Presidentialization of Politics shows that the politics of democratic societies is moving towards a presidentialized working mode, even in the absence of formal institutional changes. These developments can be explained by a combination of long-term structural changes in modern politics and societies' contingent factors which fluctuate over time. While these contingent, short-term factors relate to the personalities of office holders, the overall political agenda, and the majority situation in parliament, there are several structural factors which are relatively uniform across modern nations. First, the internationalization of modern politics (which is particularly pronounced within the European Union) has led to an 'executive bias' of the political process which has strengthened the role of political top elites vis-à-vis their parliamentary groups and/or their parties. Their predominance has been amplified further by the vastly expanded steering capacities of state machineries which have severely reduced the scope of effective parliamentary control. At the same time, the declining stability of political alignments has increased the proportion of citizens whose voting decisions are not constrained by long-standing party loyalties. In conjunction with the mediatization of politics, this has increased the capacity of political leaders to by-pass their party machines and to appeal directly to voters. As a result, three interrelated processes have led to a political process increasingly moulded by the inherent logic of presidentialism: increasing leadership power and autonomy within the political executive; increasing leadership power and autonomy within political parties; and increasingly leadership-centred electoral processes. The book presents evidence for this process of presidentialization for 14 modern democracies (including the US and Canada). While there are substantial cross-national differences, the overall thesis holds: modern democracies are increasingly following a presidential logic of governance through which leadership is becoming more central and more powerful, but also increasingly dependent on successful immediate appeal to the mass public. Implications for democratic theory are considered.




Ideas for Themed Birthday Parties to Inspire Your Celebration


Book Description

Looking to add a touch of magic to your next birthday celebration? Dive into the world of themed birthday parties for endless inspiration and unforgettable memories! Whether you're planning a bash for yourself or a loved one, themed parties offer the perfect opportunity to transform any gathering into a whimsical adventure tailored to your interests and passions. In this two volume work, we present you with 100 exciting and creative ideas, presented in two parts, Volume One and Volume Two, for themed birthday parties that are sure to inspire and elevate your next celebration. Whether you're planning a party for a child, a teenager, or an adult, there's something for everyone on this list. From whimsical fairy tales to thrilling adventures, elegant masquerades to immersive cultural experiences, we've curated a diverse range of themes to spark your imagination and help you create an extraordinary celebration. Movie Night Extravaganza: Roll out the red carpet and turn your living room into a mini movie theater for a Hollywood-inspired bash. Guests can come dressed as their favorite movie characters, and you can screen classic films or host a movie marathon featuring all-time favorites. Under the Sea Adventure: Dive deep into the depths of the ocean with an under the sea-themed birthday party. Transform your space into an underwater wonderland with shimmering blue decorations, mermaid tails, and colorful sea creatures. Serve seafood delicacies and ocean-inspired treats for a truly immersive experience. Gatsby Glamour Soiree: Step back in time to the roaring '20s with a Gatsby-inspired birthday bash. Deck out your venue in art deco decor, don your finest flapper attire, and indulge in decadent cocktails and jazz music reminiscent of the prohibition era. Enchanted Garden Party: Create a magical oasis in your backyard with an enchanted garden-themed birthday party. Adorn your space with fairy lights, floral arrangements, and whimsical decor inspired by nature. Invite guests to dress as woodland creatures or fairytale characters for an ethereal celebration. Carnival Spectacular: Bring the excitement of the carnival to your birthday bash with a colorful and lively carnival-themed party. Set up carnival games, popcorn machines, and cotton candy stands for a fun-filled extravaganza. Don't forget to provide plenty of prizes for your guests to win! Superhero Showdown: Channel your inner superhero with an action-packed superhero-themed birthday party. Encourage guests to come dressed as their favorite heroes or villains, and set up fun activities like obstacle courses and superhero training sessions. Serve up heroic snacks and treats to keep your guests fueled for adventure. Outer Space Odyssey: Blast off into the cosmos with an out-of-this-world space-themed birthday party. Deck out your venue with glowing stars, planets, and space-themed decorations. Guests can come dressed as astronauts or aliens, and you can serve cosmic cocktails and celestial snacks for an intergalactic experience. Mystical Masquerade Ball: Step into a world of mystery and intrigue with a mystical masquerade ball-themed birthday party. Encourage guests to don masks and elegant attire for an evening of enchantment and glamour. Create an atmosphere of magic with candlelit ambiance, live music, and decadent desserts fit for royalty. No matter what theme you choose, themed birthday parties offer endless opportunities for creativity, imagination, and fun. So pick a theme that speaks to you and let your imagination run wild as you plan the celebration of a lifetime!"




Ambitious Science Teaching


Book Description

2018 Outstanding Academic Title, Choice Ambitious Science Teaching outlines a powerful framework for science teaching to ensure that instruction is rigorous and equitable for students from all backgrounds. The practices presented in the book are being used in schools and districts that seek to improve science teaching at scale, and a wide range of science subjects and grade levels are represented. The book is organized around four sets of core teaching practices: planning for engagement with big ideas; eliciting student thinking; supporting changes in students’ thinking; and drawing together evidence-based explanations. Discussion of each practice includes tools and routines that teachers can use to support students’ participation, transcripts of actual student-teacher dialogue and descriptions of teachers’ thinking as it unfolds, and examples of student work. The book also provides explicit guidance for “opportunity to learn” strategies that can help scaffold the participation of diverse students. Since the success of these practices depends so heavily on discourse among students, Ambitious Science Teaching includes chapters on productive classroom talk. Science-specific skills such as modeling and scientific argument are also covered. Drawing on the emerging research on core teaching practices and their extensive work with preservice and in-service teachers, Ambitious Science Teaching presents a coherent and aligned set of resources for educators striving to meet the considerable challenges that have been set for them.