Eminent Disdain

This book comments on serious social, economic, political, historical, environmental and other issues which have tested our elected governments from both parties. It points out areas of Constitutional conflict, political inertia, selective law enforcement and others that pose a real peril to our republic. Whether in our foreign, economic, immigration, health care, agricultural or other policy choices, it finds a common thread which ties our elected representatives to the service of interests that are special rather than national. At the root of these failed policy and legislative efforts is an equally damaging failure of our electoral system whereby money is dominant and delivers a Congress that enjoys an incumbency reelection rate of over 90%. Not all of our problems are internal, however. The role assigned to America as sole superpower following the collapse of the USSR has been one which called for our assumption, but for which we were psychologically and historically less than suited. The point is not whether others could do better, but rather that it has had a negative impact upon our national character and actions. This book makes clear that unless we are willing to make a real effort to return to the principles and ideals of our founding and literally "pull ourselves together", our enviable experiment in representative democracy will no longer be able to meet the needs of its citizens and will fail due to our lack of will, not its merit.

It is widely understood that there is a vast field of knowledge referred to as Cosmic Consciousness. It contains all the glowing yet heart-wrenching facts about life, love and purpose, including every human's participation in this ever-expanding wisdom. Through circumstances previously set up on the Spirit side, the Great Creator requests that selected "volunteers" be picked up from Earth by his personally trained instructors and transported to his cosmic education center on planet Rapture. Here, these students are exposed to what is essential to understand about the many challenges a Soul faces on the Earth plane, about connecting to their True Selves, and about activating that Divine Pulse within-The Voice! Coming to terms with this vast array of personal growth issues is a must before these novices can be returned to Earth to assist their fellow humans in their growth challenges. Their training proves to be the necessary prelude for a much anticipated and desired Shift in Consciousness due for their home planet. This rigorous and demanding program prepares them for that purpose by guiding them through a process that reveals itself as the next wave for all humans-Conscious Evolution!

In a collection of intriguing essays on the work of Edward Said, internationally-recognized scholars pay homage to the late critic by addressing many aspects of his oeuvre, including his breakthrough Orientalism, the role of the intellectual, the Question of Palestine, and finally his dramatic memoir, Out of Place. This volume is a useful contribution for classroom use, as well as recreational reading for those interested in the work of this controversial thinker.

This collection of authoritative essays represents the latest scholarship on topics relating to the themes, movements, and forms of English fiction, while chronicling its development in Britain from the early 18th century to the present day. Comprises cutting-edge research currently being undertaken in the field, incorporating the most salient critical trends and approaches Explores the history, evolution, genres, and narrative elements of the English novel Considers the advancement of various literary forms – including such genres as realism, romance, Gothic, experimental fiction, and adaptation into film Includes coverage of narration, structure, character, and affect; shifts in critical reception to the English novel; and geographies of contemporary English fiction Features contributions from a variety of distinguished and high-profile literary scholars, along with emerging younger critics Includes a comprehensive scholarly bibliography of critical works on and about the novel to aid further reading and research

Book one of the acclaimed, bestselling epic fantasy Renshai Chronicles—discover the intricate Renshai universe, infused with Norse mythology, tangled intrigue, and cataclysmic magical battles. They’ve survived the end of the universe. But now, nearly three hundred years after the time of Ragnarok—the death battle of the gods—humankind faces a new and potentially fatal trial. The balance between Law and Chaos has long been maintained by the rulers of Bearn, but with the current king dying, a new keeper of neutrality must be found among his heirs. When the search becomes desperate, a small band forms in secret to seek out the last possible heir. The team—consisting of the king’s granddaughter, a knight in training, an apprentice bard, a young and untested Renshai warrior, and a fickle thief—struggle to survive the perils of the wild as well as enemies equipped with magical powers. And if any of them actually reach their goal, can they bring the one remaining heir back to Bearn alive?