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Information published in these Proceedings books will be useful for researcher working in Astronomy and Astrophysics, mainly in the field of observational and theoretical studies of compact objects (such as super-massive and stellar mass black holes, highly and weakly magnetized neutron stars, and white dwarfs, isolated or in binary systems, Galactic or extra-galactic) and their progenitors or end points (such as Supernovae and Gamma-ray Bursts).

All papers have been peer-reviewed. These two Proceedings books contain the scientific discussions that more than one hundred scientists from all over the world have had during a two-weeks conference held in Cefalù (in the beautiful island of Sicily, Italy) from 11 to 24 June 2006. Oral contributions and posters were presented at the conference dealing with the astrophysics of compact objects, such as super-massive and stellar mass black holes, highly and weakly magnetized neutron stars, and white dwarfs, both isolated and in binary systems, and of their progenitors or end-points, such as Supernovae and Gamma Ray Bursts. In particular the meeting (and the following Proceedings books) are focused on several scientific areas that are briefly described in the following.

The first volume starts with the discussion of the so-called GAMMA RAY BURSTS (GRBs), which are among the most violent explosions in the Universe, most probably related to the final stages of the life of a massive star and the formation of a black hole, or to the coalescence of two neutron stars in a close binary system. In particular we discuss the globalproperties of long and short GRBs and of their Afterglows, the relation between GRBs and Cosmology, the connection to particular types of Supernovae, as well as present and future instrumentation. Then we discuss the so-called MAGNETAR CANDIDATES, which are neutron stars with very large magnetic fields (above 10^13 Gauss) showing coherent X-ray pulsations. These are usually observed as Anomalous X-ray Pulsars or Soft Gamma Repeaters. This last class of objects show sometimes very powerful soft gamma-ray outbursts from which a connection to the GRBs phenomenon has been proposed. The first volume ends with the discussion of the properties of SUPERNOVAE, which are connected tothe GRBs and are often the progenitors of collapsed objects.

In the second volume of the Proceedings we discuss the properties of PULSARS and millisecond pulsars. In particular, an update of the recently discovered double neutron star system is presented, were it is shown that with this system the theory of General Relativity has been tested with a precision of 0.05%, becoming the most precise physical theory to date. The discussion continues with the observational and theoretical properties of INTERACTING BINARIES containing white dwarfs, neutron stars or black hole candidates.

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An important new collection of original essays that examine how Ellison's landmark novel, Invisible Man (1952), addresses the social, cultural, political, economic, and racial contradictions of America. Commenting on the significance of Mark Twain's writings, Ralph Ellison wrote that "a novel could be fashioned as a raft of hope, perception and entertainment that might help keep us afloat as we tried to negotiate the snags and whirlpools that mark our nation's vacillating course toward and away from the democratic ideal." Ellison believed it was the contradiction between America's "noble ideals and the actualities of our conduct" that inspired the most profound literature -- "the American novel at its best." Drawing from the fields of literature, politics, law, and history, the contributors make visible the political and ethical terms of Invisible Man, while also illuminating Ellison's understanding of democracy and art. Ellison hoped that his novel, by providing a tragicomic look at American ideals and mores, would make better citizens of his readers. The contributors also explain Ellison's distinctive views on the political tasks and responsibilities of the novelist, an especially relevant topic as contemporary writers continue to confront the American incongruity between democratic faith and practice. Ralph Ellison and the Raft of Hope uniquely demonstrates why Invisible Man stands as a premier literary meditation on American democracy.

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Chapters: Blade, Martha Jones, Billie Jackson, Lucas Johnson, Calvin Valentine, Sasha Valentine, Mickey Smith, Patrick Trueman, Kelvin Carpenter, Libby Fox, Hattie Tavernier, Denise Johnson, Yolande Trueman, Lauren Valentine, Lloyd Mullaney, Danny Valentine, Kelly Crabtree, Francine Jones, Bolton Smilie, Jal Fazer, Chelsea Fox, Della Alexander, Gus Smith, Alan Jackson, Liberty Baker, Mick Mcfarlane, Michael Stone, Ross Kirk, Clive Jones, Ali Taylor, Clyde Tavernier, Clyde Langer, Dean Learner, Tish Jones, Sonny Valentine, Darlene Taylor, Juley Smith, Denzil Tulser, Michaela White, Kim Mcfarlane, Leo Jones, Paul Trueman, Aleesha Dillon, Naomi Julien, Lloyd Tavernier, Leo Valentine, Tremaine Gidigbi, Anthony Trueman, Lotta. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 279. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Blade (Eric Brooks) is a fictional character, a superhero vampire hunter in the Marvel Comics universe. Created by writer Marv Wolfman and penciller Gene Colan, his first appearance was in the comic book The Tomb of Dracula #10 (July 1973) as a supporting character. The character went on to star or co-star in several comic book series as well as a film and television series. Actor Wesley Snipes portrayed the vampire hunter throughout the film series while Kirk "Sticky Fingaz" Jones took on the role for the television series. Blade was introduced as a supporting character in Marvel Comics' The Tomb of Dracula #10 (July 1973), written by Marv Wolfman and penciled by Gene Colan. The artist recalled in 2003, "Marv told me Blade was a black man, and we talked about how he should dress, and how he should look very heroic looking. That was my input. The bandoleer of blades that was Marv's idea. But, I dressed him up. I put the leather jacket on him and so on". Colan based the character's features on "...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=505035 ... Read more

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This book will bring clarity, simplicity and a sense of purpose to high achievers. While many people are high achievers, and some people are quite contented, it is very rare indeed to find a person who is both at the same time.

Full of fun-to-read and insightful stories, it helps answer questions plaguing many people today. How can I avoid having an abundance of work and a shortage of joy? How can I spend more time on activities that nurture my soul? How can I be a high achiever, make it to the top of my profession, and still be contented?

It encourages you to design your own path in life, and in the process, realize that having it all is as much about a balanced life as it is about a balance sheet. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Excelent book, will read it many times over
I found this book to be a good guide to turn your life situation around. I'm employeing instructions presented in it and I see it working. I found that Think and Grow Rich expands on some of the concepts presented in this book. Although Think and Grow Rich has faults of its own. Bottom line, if your at a point in your life where you've always felt that your dreams are just not happening but you're unwilling to give up on them and are looking for a guide or a way to make them into reality the this book will help you. It was written by 3 different authors, which is unique and presents different points of view. I strongly recommend it.

Thought Provoking, Inspiring
Rush, rush, rush. Push, push, push. Gotta achieve. Gotta make it! Life is complicated, but that's the fun. Go go go!

So is this what achievement is all about? Not really, say these authors. There's a system for success, and it's simple. In fact, simplicity in life is part of the magic. But it all starts inside. As the book explains, "what's in the well comes up in the bucket."

This is an interesting book because it's written by three authors-three people who have "been there, done that, and taught others." But the book is written in the singular. The authors realized that their ideas were bouncing all over the place, so they engaged a writer to "harmonize them into one voice." Clever idea, but a little unnerving at times, knowing that there are three people behind the message.

Readers will begin the journey through this book by Defining Success. Chapter 2 talks about Creating Desired Results, with the obligatory four-quadrant model. The dimensions of this one are Failure and Success, Frustration and Fulfillment. The Impact of Thoughts, Words, and Actions is explored in the third chapter. Values are addressed in a chapter entitled "Reflecting on Your Belief System" before an advisory chapter on getting clutter out of your life. The balance of the book focuses on creating an environment for success. It's a "typical" self-help book, but well put together.

Extra features include the inspirational quotes you might expect, sprinkled through the pages. A 19-question assessment at the back of the book serves as a summary, but could also be taken before reading the book as a sort of benchmark. The Points to Ponder at the end of each chapter add value to this book, moving the reader from absorption of good advice to a pensive and self-reflection mode to stimulate progress.

Are you living the life you want?
The Contented Achiever is an excellent book that helps us on our journey as to whether we are living the life we truly want!Inthe back of the book, there is a Self Assessment entitled "Are You a Contented Achiever?"My score told me that this book would absolutely be read next!

The lessons learned about being centered and living in the "now" have greatly impacted my life.The chapter on "Clutter" has created even more satisfaction and peace in my daily life.Iask myself the following question:Are there things that tie me to my past that prevent me from enjoying the present?Try it, you'll experience a wonderful sense of letting go and enjoying life more!

great reading for organizations
This book is a quick and easy read suitable for individuals or groups.For the "puzzle of life" the book provides, in outline form, key factors to build success and a belief system to allow one to enjoy the ride.I recommend it highly and recently purchased copies for my entire organization.

Never Throw Away a Big Box Until You Have Thought It Through
I enjoyed this book so much that I got several copies to give away to friends.It was humorous, nostalgic, thought-provoking, cathartic and inspiring.

Not since I read Co-Dependent No More have I had a more graphic awakening to my own reality. This book provided me with a plethora of labels to apply to many dysfunctional life-situations and thereby provided many clues to personal problem-solving answers.

Even though I already know I am an extremely organized individual, still, I learned many new ideas to experiment with in my constant quest for even better methods for pursuit of a productive life both physically and emotionally.No one could read this book without coming away with something new to think about.

Big Boxes can hold many miracles...don't miss Chapter 6. ... Read more

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"De Tagle is a truly gifted storyteller and is able to capture her life and the political circumstances of her time with great bravado. I found her book funny, entertaining, amusing, joyful, and sad. A wonderful memoir."--Marjorie Agosin, Professor and Chair of Spanish, Wellesley CollegeLillian Lorca de Tagle is living proof of women's progress in the twentieth century. Born into a privileged, yet circumscribed world in 1914 as the daughter of a wealthy Chilean diplomat, she became a translator and journalist at a time when few women of her class held jobs. Ordered into exile in the United States by her disapproving mother, she became a successful reporter, translator, and editor, while raising two daughters as a single working mother. In this beautifully written memoir, de Tagle looks back over a fascinating, cosmopolitan life. She describes how her upbringing in various European capitals prepared her for a life of continual change. She remembers the restrictions that upper class Chilean society placed on women and how these ultimately propelled her to a career in the United States that included an editorship at Américas magazine and work for the State Department, as well as a series of posts with the USIA/Voice of America. Woven throughout her memoir are vivid glimpses of family, friends, husbands, and lovers, including the artist Roberto Matta. This spicy blend of personalities, work, and culture tells a quintessential coming-of-age story of a thoroughly modern woman. ... Read more

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Built on a flat terrace overlooking the Black Warrior River in Alabama, the Moundville ceremonial center was at its height a densely occupied town of approximately 1,000 residents with at least 29 earthen mounds surrounding a central plaza. Today Moundville is not only one of the largest and best-preserved Mississippian sites in the United States but also one of the most intensively studied. This volume brings together nine Moundville specialists who trace the site's evolution and eventual decline. ... Read more

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On 28 April 1998, young attractive housewife Arlene Fraser made a phone call to her son's school. It was to be the last time anyone would hear from her. After her children left for school that morning, Arlene was never seen again alive or dead. Or was she? Five years on, the biggest police operation ever seen in the north of Scotland led to Arlene's husband, Nat, along with two friends, Hector Dick and Glenn Lucas, standing trial for her murder. With no body, forensics or witnesses, the case looked hopeless. Profilers, forensic lip-readers, psychics, nothing worked - until betrayal stalked the court and Hector Dick turned Queen's evidence. He churned out a tale of hit men, corpse disposal and attempted murders. It was enough to convict Nat Fraser and sentence him to life in jail. But was it the whole story? Was it even true? Murdered or Missing? reveals the whole truth - no holds barred. Folk bullied into silence. Arlene sighted. The corrupt underbelly of life in her small community. The real Arlene - not the quiet housewife she was portrayed as. Reg McKay and Glenn Lucas answer the question that has had everyone guessing - Arlene Fraser, murdered or missing? ... Read more

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A discourse on the re-invention of love but beginning on a sombre note of suicide. A work of desire, despair, and reconciliation. A polemical and theoretical text far ahead of its time. One of the most extraordinary texts of any of the Surrealists of that time period (1940's) by one of Romania's most important members of the Bucharest Surrealist group. First translation into English. An overview of Luca's work. ... Read more

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219 pages ... Read more

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She therefore put into his hands the most sentimental exotics of the
publishing firms. There was the 'Elegant Maniac; or, the Snuff-coloured
Rose and the Field of Silver,' a beautiful romance. Then there was the
'Sentimental Footpad; or, Honour among Thieves.' And 'Syngenesia,' the
last of the melancholies; with the 'Knight of the Snorting Palfrey; or,
the Silken Fetlock.' These works she read to Mr. Mumbles on evenings
instead of suffering him to repair to his bowls, and after a short time
had the satisfaction to find him a ready and an eager listener. She read
and read and read, and he became more and more interested, till at last
he could scarcely find time to serve a customer if one happened to come
in when the hero was in some 'interesting situation.'
... Read more

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Meet Jerry: a poor, uneducated, homeless girl on the gritty streets of Newark. Jerry is tired of all the disappointments life has thrown her way. Now she's ready to do whatever it takes to live the American Dream. When Jerry meets Vernon during the infamous Newark riots, she begins an intense love affair that leads to the break she's been waiting for and a whole new world filled with money, houses, cars, jewelry--and lots of drugs...

But with the man she loves by her side, Jerry is undaunted. From the building of a $250 million empire to the jungles of Thailand and Vietnam; from lust, deceit, and family betrayal to infidelity and imprisonment, Jerry's bond with Vernon remains unbreakable--until she's forced to pay the greatest price of all...

The female side of the story to the hit movie American Gangster, this riveting, compelling memoir reveals the fascinating life of one woman and the lengths she went to stand by the man she loves... ... Read more