In the tradition of "Blow" and "Another Bullshit Night in Suck City, The Last Pirate" is a vivid, haunting and often hilarious memoir recounting the life of Big Tony, a family man who joined the biggest pot ring of the Reagan era and exploded his life in the process. Three decades later, his son came back to put together the pieces.
As he relates his father's rise from hey-man hippie dealer to multi-ton smuggler extraordinaire, Tony Dokoupil tells the larger history of marijuana and untangles the controversies still stirring furious debate today. He blends superb reportage with searing personal memories, presenting a probing chronicle of pot-smoking, drug-taking America from the perspective of the generation that grew up in the aftermath of the Great Stoned Age. Back then, everyone knew a drug dealer. "The Last Pirate" is the story of what happened to one of them, to his family, and in a pharmacological sense, to us all.
"The Last Pirate" is a cultural portrait of marijuana's endless allure set against the Technicolor backdrop of South Florida in the era of "Miami Vice." It's a public saga complete with a real pirate's booty: more than a million dollars lost, buried, or stolen--but it's also a deeply personal pursuit, the product of a son's determination to replant the family tree in richer soil.

"From the Hardcover edition."

As women continue to bear children, all parents should ask the following question: How can a woman fulfill her unique responsibility as mother to her child when prevailing parenting practices deny the importance of breastfeeding and maternal care?

Maternal care is now thought to be impractical and a luxury for those who can afford it. Thus, many women need to defend their right and responsibility to care for even the youngest of babies.

Dr. Kawasaki, a pediatrician and stay-at-home mother of two, asserts in "Mothering with Breastfeeding and Maternal Care" that current attitudes toward mothering have not evolved naturally. Over the course of a century, child-rearing experts, sociologists, and feminists have made systematic efforts to undermine the importance of a woman's role in the home.

Dr. Kawasaki offers compelling reasons for parents to think seriously about the unique role women play in their children's lives, particularly in early childhood. She argues that the priceless benefits of breastfeeding and hands-on maternal care help to ensure the optimal growth and development of young babies and children.

'Birth is a feminist issue ' The Art of Birth offers a radical new approach to conception, pregnancy and birth using expressive Art for self-development. Alexandra will lead you on a gentle, respectful and artistic journey into a feminine world of Art, art exercises, relaxation, positive affirmations, inner work, emotional support and pleasure, where the dream of a natural, empowered journey to motherhood and a positive birth experience can become a new reality. The Art of Birth is about creative freedom rather than technical skill, so No experience of art is necessary. You will be able to interpret your art work to see what it reveals and with this insight, rejoice in connecting with yourself and your baby on a deeper level. Alexandra's personal story contrasts the beliefs and behaviours in the United Kingdom with those of the Balinese culture, and conveys the message that a new positive birth paradigm is desperately needed. Cutting edge research is included to substantiate her claims that emotional well being during the creation of new life is paramount. Likewise, we can collectively support one of the most significant rites of passage in a woman's life. Art and birth are creative and non-intellectual processes and this is why Art can be a great asset in our preparation for birth as it allows us to access images and the unconscious. Before conception, through pregnancy, birth and beyond a woman, and her partner, can clear unhelpful emotional and psychological barriers. This book will give you the tools to empower yourself to create the experience you desire. The Art of Birth aims to inspire, educate and support pregnant women, fathers, partners, midwives, doulas, childbirth practitioners and anyone who is passionate about conscious conception, pregnancy, birth and parenting. Alexandra Florschutz, MA is a registered Art Psychotherapist (hcpc), Artist, Film Maker, Doula and Mother who lives and works in East Sussex, UK, with her son. www.theartofbirth.co.uk www.florschutz.com

The book describe what educators can do to shape a student mind set and give hope for a brighter day. It tell the story of the importance of having God fearing parents in your life at the beginning sowing love. As you read the book further, you begin to picture a young man making a choice in his life to love or hate based on how he is treated. At the conclusion, a poor boy becomes a man; a soldier emerges as a good citizen of this "Great Nation" United States of America.

When we found out we were pregnant, we were ecstatic. After what seemed to be progressing as a normal pregnancy, crisis ensued. Being new parents to a micro-preemie, we searched libraries and had difficulty finding personal stories we could look to for inspiration. After fielding multiple calls from the hospital and our doctors' offices, we decided to share our NICU journey and experiences with families who find themselves in a similar situation.