Product Description
What responsibilities, if any, do we have towards our genetic offspring, before or after birth and perhaps even before creation, merely by virtue of the genetic link? What claims, if any, arise from the mere genetic parental relation? Should society through its legal arrangements allow 'fatherless' or 'motherless' children to be born, as the current law on medically assisted reproduction involving gamete donation in some legal systems does? Does the possibility of establishing genetic parentage with practical certainty necessitate reform of current legal regimes of parenthood? And what limits, if any, should we set on parental procreative choices in the interests of future children, particularly with regard to genetic engineering and related techniques? These are the questions explored in this book by some of the foremost legal, bioethical and biomedical thinkers. Assembled with a view to assisting the reader to reflect critically on the ongoing social experiment which medically assisted reproduction is today, the essays in this collection highlight what are - and what else might in the nearby future become - possible reproductive options and respond to the difficulties we encounter in assessing these practices and possibilities from our traditional ethical vantage points.

Contributions by: Andrew Bainham, Thomas Baldwin, Lisa Bortolotti, John Harris, Martin H. Johnson, Judith Masson, Martin Richards, Alison Shaw, Sally Sheldon, Bonnie Steinbock and Mary Warnock. ... Read more

Product Description

Every year, thousands of young Catholics leave their homes for higher education at our nation s colleges and universities. Very few realize, however, that from orientation day onward, they will be indoctrinated with a vision of reality that is very different from the values their families hold dear. Sadly, many of our young people will fall prey to one or more of the dominant ideologies engrained in their college education, ideologies that can lead them away from the Church and, ultimately, their faith in God. Students who are not taught how to think critically or who lack the tools needed to sift through the logic of these positions are easily swayed by the smooth sophistry of the intellectual elite.

Customer Reviews (2)

Not just for college students
Disorientation is specifically designed to help educate young Catholics on the threshold of leaving home for college and the "Wild West" (so to speak) of modern ideologies with which they will be bombarded upon entering the classrooms. The idea is that if they know what something is (progressivism, multiculturalism, hedonism, and so forth) then they can identify it up front and not fall prey to replacing solid Catholic teachings with skewed ideas. Fourteen essays by top Catholic writers explain and put into context these ideologies which so many people think are "just naturally the way things are." It is edited by John Zmirak so there is a reliable light touch with tongue firmly in cheek that permeates the book. (For the record, I think this is a good thing, especially if you are aiming at the college-bound.)

Let's face it. Chances are that your child has been exposed to these ideologies long before heading off for college. Most of those ideas are communicated through television, movies, and pals who they see every day. Talking about these things intelligently at home is the best way to make sure that everyone understands just why what the Church teaches is true and where those other ideas have skewed truth. If your kids are going to college, sure go ahead and getthem a copy. But you don't have to wait that long. This book does a terrific job of helping us understand things from a proper point of view. Get a copy for yourself now. And one for the kids ... no time like the present when it comes to understanding how our culture thinks versus how the Church does.

Wow, so eye opening!
What an insightful read!! I even love all the cartoon renditions of all "isms" throughout the book!! Very creative! I have a friend of mine who is about enter College and out of all the books I would want him to read before he enters, this book would be at the top of the list!! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Spencer's quality illustrated hardcover volume: a good introduction to the UFO phenomenon up to 1991

John Spencer, at the time of writing this book in 1991, was Vice-Chairman of the now defunct BUFORA (UK research organization) and a researcher for MUFON.

BCA/Hamlyn's UK edition of Spencer's "Definitive Casebook" is a large-format, 189-page triple-columned hardcover with very high production quality. The book is a generally impartial overview of the UFO phenomenon in its various manifestations up to 1991 which examines CE1s, 2s and 3s and is organised by continent following a roughly chronological timeline. A surprisingly high number of abduction cases are reported in some detail, revealing that even by the 1970s this disturbing phenomenon had emerged worldwide with reasonable frequency.

Although nowhere near as detailed nor as thorough as Jerome Clark's first-class 2-volume encyclopedia, Spencer's book would be a better starting point for the reader unacquainted with the volume of evidence for the UFO phenomenon and interested in gaining an overview of some of the better-known cases worldwide, for the most part accurately reported with enough factual detail without getting bogged down in minutiae or speculation.

Where the book really scores is in the quality of its illustrations, many full-page and almost all (except a few older monochrome photographs) in full color. There is no non-illustrated page of text. The artistic paintings of some of the incidents as reported are really first class and give the book an accessible, populist magazine-type feel.

In summary: there may not be much here for the seasoned reader steeped in this subject, as it's not the most scholarly or deep analysis (and probably not in fact "the definitive casebook"), but Spencer's book is a good medium-level introduction to the phenomenon as reported up to 1991 and a first-class quality hardcover publication. The mind retains images rather than text, and the excellent illustrations alone may be sufficient to recommend it for your personal library.
... Read more

Product Description
The conjunction of Friedrich Nietzsche and anarchism will sound like an audacious proposal to many, especially those who still associate Nietzsche with fascism, and anarchism with a simplistic notion of class struggle. However, anarchism — the project which aims at the abolition of all forms of power, control and coercion — should be free to appropriate the work of one of the greatest iconoclasts of all time. Although Nietzsche was rather harsh on his anarchist contemporaries, he nevertheless in some respects shared with them a vision of the total transformation of life. The notion of a transvaluation of all values clearly remains not merely compatible with, but an integral component of the anarchist project, and the idea of philosophy with a hammer underlies the anarchist commitment to radical social transformation. I Am Not A Man, I Am Dynamite! examines the historical, political and philosophical linkages between Nietzsche’s transgressive thought and the transformative political vision of anarchism. ... Read more

Product Description
Among the great facts in the history of West Africa prior to the age of European penetration has been the propagation of Islam and the way it has changed African societies. This book is not an attempt to write a history of West Africa, but to show the way in which Islam spread and moulded the history of the western Sudan. Dr Trimingham's conclusion is that a fundamental change occurred, towards the end of the eighteenth century, in Islam's relationship to the indigenous African civilizations, which transformed it into a social and political force that ushered in a new age. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Well worth tracking down
One of the earliest studies of Islam in West Africa, its development and influence on all aspects of social life in this corner of the continent.

Trimmingham does a good job of placing Islam both in its historical context in African history and also in compiling historical documents from Arabic sources relating to ancient West African kingdoms and their conversion.Trimmingham was also reasonably knowledgable in Sufism and so when writing on the development of Islam in Africa was able to study it from the correct historical point of view.

Well worth finding if you can. ... Read more

Product Description
In 1861, Oklahoma (Indian Territory) was the recent home of the transported Five Civilized Tribes (Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Seminole). When the Civil War broke outboth Union and Confederate state forces moved in and began fighting, both in the Indian Territory and across the borders of neighbouring states (mainly Kansas, but also Texas and Arkansas). Indians were recruited by both sides, and took the opportunity to pursue traditional hostilities which were supported by a variety of regular troops, guerrilla bands and outlaws. this book examines the warring sides in this fascinating and complex conflict. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

The far reaches of the Civil War
This book is full of arcane information about the far western reaches of the Civil War.It encompasses Kansas and the Indian territory mainly.Many rare photographs accompany the excellent text.

For those of you who have been "Gettysburged to death" this manuscript will be a treat of unknown history.

a good primer
The pictures and artwork are really good; but don't expect much information from this book.It doesn't have very much.This would be a great book for a junior high history class.If you're seriously researching the war in the Indian Territory, you'll have to look elsewhere.

Very detailed
Native Americans fought in both Union and Confederate units during the Civil War and the Indian Territory saw its share of battles and campaigns, some of which spilled into nearby states. Some of the detail is a bit mind-numbing but if you are a reenactor or modeler this is probably the kind of detail that you need. The photos and artwork make this a must-have if this chapter of U.S. history is of interest to you. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Description
Spencer is a journalist with particular interest in the events of earth (and vicinity) that elude explanation by traditional SCIENCE. His first work, which focused on the Bermuda Triangle, was titled ~Limbo of the Lost~. In this book he suggests that earth is a galactic experiment, i.e. we are someone's LABORATORY. He uses ancient civilizations to show how this experiment is being conducted - e.g. the building of the pyramid at Gizeh. From there he turns to UFOs and interplanetary science. Cond: Very clean, tight and crisp. Edges are v. lightly chipped. Corners fine. One discard stamp altho' NO other evidence of `library'. No names, no creases, no tears. 16 pages of b/w photos, handful of drawings and charts within text. 178 pages total. Quote from p.36: " Radar sightings at Goose Bay, Labrador showed an object moving 9,000 miles an hour at 60,000 feet altitude. Our nearest approach to such a speed is 4,000 m.p.h...." ... Read more

Product Description
A collection of readily reproducible techniques for determining most of the important factors governing microorganisms and their habitats. Presented in step-by-step detail, these cutting-edge methods range from those for the study of marine organisms, to those for investigating microorganisms occurring in groundwater, to the biodiversity of yeasts found in remote environments. The novel protocols for studying fermented milks are significant for investigators concerned with milk as an item of food for infants, small children, and even adults. Additional methods for the recovery and determination of nucleic acids and other compounds affecting, and affected by, microorganisms are given for certain enzymes produced by plant pathogens and for obtaining microbial species tolerant of such inhibitors as heavy metals. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (7)

Creative design studies and an imaginative future
This was a fun and engrossing read. The book took a look at several things, including the state of affairs in space tourism over the last 20-30 years, design studies for future orbital yachts, and current efforts to engage the tourism and entertainment industries with the "space geeks".

The description of efforts by space tourism enthusiasts was inspiring. These "true believers" kept the fire alive through the 80s and 90s. One detail I hadn't known was how they played an important role in hooking up Dennis Tito with MirCorp.

I was impressed by the design studies of orbital space yachts. They are quite imaginative and cool, and would make for a great experience. My only qualm is that they're a bit Star-Trekky with all the dependence on AI.

I enjoyed the discussions of the cruise line industry, which I hadn't known much about before. And it was great to see how John Spencer is engaging the tourism indutry to get them interested in space. His work will be very valuable in making these ideas go mainstream, hopefully in the near future.

A plausible future
John Spencer outnlines the ways that the average citizen will be able to go into space.He gets down to the details, including how the automated systems will function, and what the physical architecture will be.It may not actually happen this way, but it should!

CREATIVE!
Today we are on the cusp of a space tourism industry as being witnessed by Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galatic announcement to forge the Southwest Regional Spaceport in New Mexico into a significant launch facilities for hundreds of fare paying passengers before the end of the decade. Nonetheless, John Spencer's book is wonderfully imaginative in the Part 2 (Chapters 4,5, and 6). I commend the book to those who dare to think beyond the traditional. It takes this type of fanciful scenraio-building to create the reality many of us hope for in the next decades.

A Visionary Shares his/her Visions....
John Spencer offers a fascinating vision of what space settlement can entail, with solid, practical exercises that help people work through the intellectual and creative process that's required to make space habitation a reality.

A Great Contribution!
John Spencer has made a valuable contribution to the source of his life-long passion -- Space Tourism.He has produced a thoroughly enjoyable story to read, a solid reference book, a plan and a vision that should have wide appeal to everyone from young sci-fi readers to old aerospace crumudgeons and most people in between. Emphasizing that Space Tourism is an "experience business" rather than a space business puts it into clearer perspective.His modeling the nascent Space Tourism industry after the super yatch and cruise industry is an example of how he "thinks outside the sphere". As a long-time space professional, I highly recommend this book as an important addition to your library or as a fitting gift to an adventuresome friend.

Jack Flannery, President
National Space Science & Technology Institute ... Read more

Product Description
A collection of lively letters which provide insights into and details of race relations, social history, and the dawn of anthropological and biological interest in central Australia in the nineteenth century. ... Read more

Product Description
Examines the political events leading up to the assassination of President Kennedy, the shooting itself, and its effects on American society. ... Read more

Product Description
The second volume in Barron's Professional Secretary's Handbook series, this guide helps the secretary achieve effective administrative and supervisory skills in the areas of team management, time management, motivatingg others, and influencing fellow workers and clients. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great Starting Place
For those who are looking for a good place to start to be able to effectively communicate in an administrative position, this is it! It is very down to earth with great ideas, as well as things to think about thatfew would consider. Places emphasis in how you come across in businesssituations, helps you see your strengths as well as weaknesses. This is amust have for beginners. ... Read more

Product Description
From the Machui Picchu - the Inca stronghold in the Peruvian Andes - to the Pyramids in Egypt - the site of the dawn of civilization - there are certain places on Earth which continue to exert a mysterious hold over us through the centuries. In an easy-to-use reference form, this text tells the stories and the places where the foundations of religions and beliefs have been laid - both the famous, such as Easter Island, Lourdes in France, and England's Stonehenge, and the less well known, such as The Devil's Tower in Wyoming, an ancient Indian sacred ground which featured in the UFO movie "Close Encounters" with perhaps a closer link than was intended by the film makers. ... Read more

Product Description
Do hormone replacement therapy pills cause blue testicles?

“How far true is DAT!” is an irreverent diary of a hilarious, thought-provoking trip in South Africa's Capes. Plus, it provides the possibly definitive answer to the above question, at least in the case of vervet monkeys.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

not worth the paper
this shallow worthless piece is shameless and shameful. useless as a travelogue. or any other purpose. hard to fathom the thought behind its getting published. i have had more engaging moments reading a shopping. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an account of the civil and criminal rules affecting children in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland reviewing them in the light of the findings of psychologists and social scientists and makes proposals for reform. There have been many important developments which include hearsay evidence which has become freely available in civil proceedings involving children in both England and Scotland; videotapes of earlier interviews which have become admissible in criminal proceedings in England; in Scotland the law has been changed to allow the whole of a child's evidence in a criminal case to be taken ahead of trial on commission; there has been a wave of popular concern about ""ritual abuse"" amd among psychologists there is increasing concern about both ""repressed"" and ""implanted"" memories. ... Read more