This book presents perspectives on the past and present state of the understanding of snake origins. It reviews and critiques data and ideas from paleontology and neontology (herpetology), as well as ideas from morphological and molecular phylogenetics. The author reviews the anatomy and morphology of extant snakes. Methods are also critiqued, including those empirical and theoretical methods employed to hypothesize ancestral ecologies for snakes. The modern debate on squamate phylogeny and snake ingroup phylogeny using molecules and morphology is examined critically to provide insights on origins and evolution. Key Features Important major evolutionary transformation in vertebrate evolution Continuing historical debate in vertebrate paleontology Of wide interest to a core audience of paleontologists, herpetologists, and morphologists Author acknowledged as prominent contributor to debate over snake origins Based on remarkable well preserved fossil specimens

This book presents perspectives on the past and present state of the understanding of snake origins. It reviews and critiques data and ideas from paleontology and neontology (herpetology), as well as ideas from morphological and molecular phylogenetics. The author reviews the anatomy and morphology of extant snakes. Methods are also critiqued, including those empirical and theoretical methods employed to hypothesize ancestral ecologies for snakes. The modern debate on squamate phylogeny and snake ingroup phylogeny using molecules and morphology is examined critically to provide insights on origins and evolution. Key Features Important major evolutionary transformation in vertebrate evolution Continuing historical debate in vertebrate paleontology Of wide interest to a core audience of paleontologists, herpetologists, and morphologists Author acknowledged as prominent contributor to debate over snake origins Based on remarkable well preserved fossil specimens

Marx's 'Das Kapital' cannot be put into a box marked "economics." It is a work of politics, history, economics, philosophy and even in places, literature (yes Marx's style is that rich and evocative). "Marx's 'Das Kapital' For Beginners" is an introduction to the Marxist critique of capitalist production and its consequences for a whole range of social activities such as politics, media, education and religion. 'Das Kapital' is not a critique of a particular capitalist system in a particular country at a particular time. Rather, Marx's aim was to identify the essential features that define capitalism, in whatever country it develops and in whatever historical period. For this reason, Das Kapital is necessarily a fairly general, abstract analysis. As a result, it can be fairly difficult to read and comprehend. At the same time, understanding Das Kapital is crucial for mastering Marx's insights to capitalism.

"Marx's 'Das Kapital' For Beginners" offers an accessible path through Marx's arguments and his key questions: What is commodity? Where does wealth come from? What is value? What happens to work under capitalism? Why is crisis part of capitalism's DNA? And what happens to our consciousness, our very perceptions of reality and our ways of thinking and feeling under capitalism? Understanding and learn from Marx's work has taken on a fresh urgency as questions about the sustainability of the capitalist system in today's global economy intensify.

This book offers a clarion call, in the words of Franklin Roosevelt, to "try something!" And not just any something. A systematic, integrated, chronological, multi-disciplinary approach to reinvigorate the teaching of the liberal arts and put them back where they belong-at the center of a student's educational experience. It does not pretend to offer a cure-all or a one-size-fits-all solution to everything that is ailing American higher education, or even secondary education. It does, however, offer a place to begin a discussion, to invite experimentation, and to initiate reform based on solid pedagogy and 2,500 years of time-tested wisdom in the human experience. As such it should be of interest to many people. Those in higher education serious about the crisis facing their institutions could benefit from taking up the gauntlet this volume throws down. For students and parents, the book raises alternatives and poses some hard questions that they should be asking not only as they consider colleges and universities, but of their secondary schools. In fact, anyone who keeps a close eye on the state of education would be interested in what this book adds to the discussion.

How would you like to discover the secrets of how to identify, develop and maintain your relationships? Within these pages with the help of Ariel L. Lewis, you'll quickly discover the simple commonsense methods necessary to make better decisions, develop stronger relationships and how to deal and cope with life's ups and downs. You will also discover exactly how to identify and how to say goodbye to Toxic relationships. Join Michael Wayne Dickerson as he engages in many conversations all throughout the world with Ariel L. Lewis and by the end of this book, you will have discovered everything you need to know about how to become the person you have always wanted to become and it will all come...From A Lady's Lips

"Challenger Intrepid" is a quick paced, adventurous novel of Professor Georgia Challenger, a mad scientist spinster aging ungracefully in her own hand-crafted, full prosthetic, Cybernetic vehicle. She got her start in Britain's Edwardian period, and working quietly from her home, the Central Peak upon the Mystic Plateau, our Georgia became the greatest Physicist of all time. She needs to be, because this story thrusts Georgia into a role infinitely more demanding than physics research: Time Traveling Foster Mother. She must also contend with the plotting of an indomitable archrival. So Our Georgia, in the company of her sisters, and her fosters, is tossed and flung through time and space, to find she is confronting the inexplicable quirks of historical events in alternate dimensions, rendering them unrecognizable even though populated by recognizable if not iconic figures. Our Georgia must do all this while struggling against the relentless machinations of a shadowy man who could surely be anyone's ultimate enemy: a time-traveling psychiatrist. How do you beat an enemy who has all the time in the world? Our Georgia will, for she's one brassy lady, literally. Professor Georgia Challenger is not just the world's greatest Physicist. She's also an enthusiastic amateur surgeon working in cybernetic prosthesis. She's a woman who refuses to age gracefully, and so rebuilt her body with bones of titanium, and skin of brass plates polished to a high shine. Confronting a band of men willing to steal, kill, or destroy anything to make the world a pearl of their shaping, our Georgia fights back, and fights hard. Though her enemies have fled backward in time half a millennia, and perhaps halfway again, Georgia pursues. Her enemies are willing to destroy anyone to achieve their ends, yet Georgia will use precise and deliberate counter measures. Until it's time for Georgia to brawl in the street with her rivals, and she is willing to do that also, if need be. Our scrappy heroine is just as determined as the people she's chosen to oppose, and no matter where it takes her, she fights on. With the help of her sisters, the improvised family meets any challenge, and stands proud at the end of the day, even when that day includes striking bargains with a Vampire King who turns out to be more affable than the Pirate Queen. Whether it be Orleans France, ancient Constantinople, far off, and mysterious space stations, or her very own home, our Georgia doesn't back down.

Tow Truck Drivers hunting vampires and partying hard for their efforts An alein sorceress with a tyranical mother complex Crime Lords with mysterious backgrounds Corrupt cops, and a judge who won't let them rest And the biggest problem in town is a revolutionary war era vampire with a sadistic lust for punishing anyone who crosses her path Davy just wanted to be a lawyer, Annett just wanted to be a cheerleader, and Pablo wanted to be the biggest muscle man in the world. Davy never even got to take bar exam, Annett never got to wave a pom-pom, and Pablo never had to lift a single weight, instead they all have to go out hunting the undead. At least mother found a nice girl to help her boy through everything.