Orion's Web


Book Description

A captivating and immersive near-future fantasy adventure set against a backdrop of the Australian landscape. How far will a mother go to save her child? In a world where humanity is confined to climate-controlled domes, Outdwellers, Anna and Gardner must make it across the New Desert to find treatment for their daughter who is about to undergo her very first Change. Faulk Parker is trying to stop them. He has never missed a target, but this family is proving his most challenging yet. From a vast landscape to the glittering confines of the city, Faulk, Anna and Gardner become more than hunter and hunted, and find themselves challenged to question their own most deeply held truths. Order and wildness are on a collision course, and time for Anna and her family is fast running out...




Beyond the War on Invasive Species


Book Description

Invasive species are everywhere, from forests and prairies to mountaintops and river mouths. Their rampant nature and sheer numbers appear to overtake fragile native species and forever change the ecosystems that they depend on. Concerns that invasive species represent significant threats to global biodiversity and ecological integrity permeate conversations from schoolrooms to board rooms, and concerned citizens grapple with how to rapidly and efficiently manage their populations. These worries have culminated in an ongoing “war on invasive species,” where the arsenal is stocked with bulldozers, chainsaws, and herbicides put to the task of their immediate eradication. In Hawaii, mangrove trees (Avicennia spp.) are sprayed with glyphosate and left to decompose on the sandy shorelines where they grow, and in Washington, helicopters apply the herbicide Imazapyr to smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) growing in estuaries. The “war on invasive species” is in full swing, but given the scope of such potentially dangerous and ecologically degrading eradication practices, it is necessary to question the very nature of the battle. Beyond the War on Invasive Species offers a much-needed alternative perspective on invasive species and the best practices for their management based on a holistic, permaculture-inspired framework. Utilizing the latest research and thinking on the changing nature of ecological systems, Beyond the War on Invasive Species closely examines the factors that are largely missing from the common conceptions of invasive species, including how the colliding effects of climate change, habitat destruction, and changes in land use and management contribute to their proliferation. There is more to the story of invasive species than is commonly conceived, and Beyond the War on Invasive Species offers ways of understanding their presence and ecosystem effects in order to make more ecologically responsible choices in land restoration and biodiversity conservation that address the root of the invasion phenomenon. The choices we make on a daily basis—the ways we procure food, shelter, water, medicine, and transportation—are the major drivers of contemporary changes in ecosystem structure and function; therefore, deep and long-lasting ecological restoration outcomes will come not just from eliminating invasive species, but through conscientious redesign of these production systems.




Orion and Orisha


Book Description

Orion and Orisha: A Journey into Afro-Futurism In the vast realm of Afro-futurism, where science and spirituality intertwine, a new saga emerges. Welcome to the world of "Orion and Orisha," a groundbreaking book that takes readers on a captivating journey through three interconnected tales set in a futuristic universe. In this visionary work, we encounter two remarkable protagonists: Orion, a brilliant scientist, and Orisha, a gifted physicist. These individuals are destined to play pivotal roles in shaping the destiny of both outer space and planet Earth. The first tale unfolds amidst the limitless expanse of outer space, where Orion unleashes his intellect and tireless determination to save the people inhabiting distant galaxies. With his advanced technology and unwavering courage, Orion ventures into the depths of the cosmos, defying all odds to protect those who dwell beyond the reaches of our home planet. Meanwhile, on Earth, Orisha, with her profound understanding of physics and metaphysics, embarks on a mission to safeguard humanity's existence. She delves into the mysteries of quantum mechanics and harnesses her knowledge of energy manipulation to confront the looming threats that endanger the very fabric of our shared world. In this book, the narratives of Orion and Orisha intertwine, each representing a unique facet of the Afro-futuristic landscape. Through their intertwined stories, we witness the power of collaboration, resilience, and the inherent strength within each individual to overcome adversity. "Orion and Orisha" goes beyond the boundaries of traditional science fiction literature. It delves into the rich tapestry of Afro-futurism, celebrating Black culture, spirituality, and African diasporic perspectives. It invites readers to explore a future where the contributions of Black visionaries shape the scientific and technological advancements that propel humanity forward. Through these tales, we are reminded of the urgent necessity to bridge the gaps between disparate worlds and safeguard the future of both outer space and planet Earth. The characters of Orion and Orisha serve as beacons of hope and inspiration, urging us to unite our collective potential and protect our cosmic home. Join us as we dive into the immersive world of "Orion and Orisha," where the boundaries of science, spirituality, and culture converge. Let this book be your guide to a future that embraces diverse perspectives, redefines our relationship with the cosmos, and empowers us to become guardians of our shared existence. Prepare to embark on a transformative journey through the cosmos, where adventure, discovery, and the triumph of the human spirit coalesce. Together, let us embrace the call of the stars and forge a destiny that harmonizes the diverse threads of our universe. Welcome, traveler, to "Orion and Orisha."




Orion's Web


Book Description




Learning Together Online


Book Description

This book is about the past and future of research on the effectiveness of learning networks (also known as "e-learning" or "online learning" or "Web-based learning"). Learning networks are groups of people using computer technology, communicating and collaborating online to build knowledge together. Over the past decade there has been an explosion not only of online courses, but also of studies on them. In Learning Together Online: Research on Asynchronous Learning Networks, leading researchers in the field use an integrated theoretical framework, which they call "Online Interaction Learning Theory," to organize what past research shows and where future research is going. It models the variables and processes that are important in determining the relative effectiveness of online learners working to reach a deeper level of understanding by interacting with each other and with the texts under investigation. Now that there have been hundreds of studies and thousands of courses offered online, what does the empirical evidence show? This book addresses the question directly by presenting what is known from research results about how to design and teach courses effectively online, ranging from the organizational context and characteristics of students to learning theories and research design methods. It also provides a research agenda for the next decade. Learning Together Online: Research on Asynchronous Learning Networks is both a textbook for graduate students and a professional reference for faculty teaching online, researchers conducting studies, and graduate students taking courses about learning technologies who need to know the state of the art of research in the area of online learning.




The World of Critical Role


Book Description

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Dive deep into the history of the world’s most popular fantasy RPG livestream with the cast of Critical Role in this definitive guide featuring never-before-seen illustrations and photos. From its unassuming beginnings as a casual home game between friends to the role-playing phenomenon it is today, Critical Role has become the stuff of legend. These pages chronicle how a circle of friends who all happen to be talented voice actors built the most-watched tabletop role-playing livestream of all time. Discover dazzling new illustrations and richly written insights into the locations, characters, and adventures featured in the hundreds of episodes across Critical Role’s two campaigns, Vox Machina and the Mighty Nein. Go behind the scenes with archival photos and exclusive interviews with Dungeon Master Matt Mercer and the entire Critical Role cast as they explore their characters’ most triumphant moments and darkest hours. And celebrate the massive community of Critters who support and expand the show’s world through a highlighted tour of the crafts, cosplay, and art they create every day. Featuring a foreword from Felicia Day, lush illustrations, and the inside story you won’t find anywhere else, this book is your indispensable guide to Critical Role. The adventure begins!




Queen of the Road


Book Description

A pampered Long Island princess hits the road in a converted bus with her wilderness-loving husband, travels the country for one year, and brings it all hilariously to life in this offbeat and romantic memoir. Doreen and Tim are married psychiatrists with a twist: She’s a self-proclaimed Long Island princess, grouchy couch potato, and shoe addict. He's an affable, though driven, outdoorsman. When Tim suggests “chucking it all” to travel cross-country in a converted bus, Doreen asks, “Why can’t you be like a normal husband in a midlife crisis and have an affair or buy a Corvette?” But she soon shocks them both, agreeing to set forth with their sixty-pound dog, two querulous cats—and no agenda—in a 340-square-foot bus. Queen of the Road is Doreen’s offbeat and romantic tale about refusing to settle, about choosing the unconventional road with all the misadventures it brings (fire, flood, armed robbery, and finding themselves in a nudist RV park, to name just a few). The marvelous places they visit and delightful people they encounter have a life-changing effect on all the travelers, as Doreen grows to appreciate the simple life, Tim mellows, and even the pets pull together. Best of all, readers get to go along for the ride through forty-seven states in this often hilarious and always entertaining memoir, in which a boisterous marriage of polar opposites becomes stronger than ever.




Database and Expert Systems Applications


Book Description

This two volume set LNCS 10438 and LNCS 10439 constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 28th International Conference on Database and Expert Systems Applications, DEXA 2017, held in Lyon, France, August 2017. The 37 revised full papers presented together with 40 short papers were carefully reviewed and selected from 166 submissions. The papers discuss a range of topics including: Semantic Web and Semantics; Graph Matching; Data Modeling, Data Abstraction, and Uncertainty; Preferences and Query Optimization; Data Integration and RDF Matching; Security and Privacy; Web Search; Data Clustering; Top-K and Skyline Queries; Data Mining and Big Data; Service Computing; Continuous and Temporal Data, and Continuous Query Language; Text Processing and Semantic Search; Indexing and Concurrency Control Methods; Data Warehouse and Data Stream Warehouse; Data Mining and Machine Learning; Recommender Systems and Query Recommendation; Graph Algorithms; Semantic Clustering and Data Classification.




To Eat with Grace


Book Description




Turn Left at Orion


Book Description

With over 100,000 copies sold since first publication, this is one of the most popular astronomy books of all time. It is a unique guidebook to the night sky, providing all the information you need to observe a whole host of celestial objects. With a new spiral binding, this edition is even easier to use outdoors at the telescope and is the ideal beginner's book. Keeping its distinct one-object-per-spread format, this edition is also designed for Dobsonian telescopes, as well as for smaller reflectors and refractors, and covers Southern hemisphere objects in more detail. Large-format eyepiece views, positioned side-by-side, show objects exactly as they are seen through a telescope, and with improved directions, updated tables of astronomical information and an expanded night-by-night Moon section, it has never been easier to explore the night sky on your own. Many additional resources are available on the accompanying website, www.cambridge.org/turnleft.