For junior- and senior-level simulation courses in engineering, business, or computer science. While most books on simulation focus on particular software tools, Discrete Event System Simulation examines the principles of modeling and analysis that translate to all such tools. This language-independent text explains the basic aspects of the technology, including the proper collection and analysis of data, the use of analytic techniques, verification and validation of models, and designing simulation experiments. It offers an up-to-date treatment of simulation of manufacturing and material handling systems, computer systems, and computer networks. Students and instructors will find a variety of resources at the associated website, www.bcnn.net/, including simulation source code for download, additional exercises and solutions, web links and errata.

How have modern democracies squared their commitment to equality with their fear that disparities in talent and intelligence might be natural, persistent, and consequential? In this wide-ranging account of American and French understandings of merit, talent, and intelligence over the past two centuries, John Carson tells the fascinating story of how two nations wrestled scientifically with human inequalities and their social and political implications.

Surveying a broad array of political tracts, philosophical treatises, scientific works, and journalistic writings, Carson chronicles the gradual embrace of the IQ version of intelligence in the United States, while in France, the birthplace of the modern intelligence test, expert judgment was consistently prized above such quantitative measures. He also reveals the crucial role that determinations of, and contests over, merit have played in both societies--they have helped to organize educational systems, justify racial hierarchies, classify army recruits, and direct individuals onto particular educational and career paths.

A contribution to both the history of science and intellectual history, "The Measure of Merit" illuminates the shadow languages of inequality that have haunted the American and French republics since their inceptions.

Two adventures from the early 1980s with Peter Davison starring as the Time Lord. In 'Kinda' (1982), the Doctor (Davison), Tegan (Janet Fielding), Adric (Matthew Waterhouse) and Nyssa (Sarah Sutton) land on paradisical Deva Loka, for rest and recuperation. However, the military expediton on the planet has lost several crew members, and the Doctor and Adric are taken hostage by the near hysterical Hindle. Meanwhile, Tegan's dreams have provided the gateway to an ancient evil, the snake-like Mara. The Doctor must prevent the Mara from taking over the Kinda and destroying the expedition, as the wheel of creation begins to turn. In 'Snakedance' (1983), a loose sequel to 'Kinda', Tegan must have made a mistake when she was setting the co-ordinates for the TARDIS, because the Doctor certainly hadn't intended landing on Manussa. When the Doctor learns that Manussa was once the home of the Sumaran Empire, he realises that an evil force has begun to take over Tegan's will. This force, the Mara, is planning to use Tegan as a vehicle to retake power on Manussa. Just as the celebrations to commemorate the destruction of the Sumaran Empire by the Federation are about to take place, the Legend of Mara is about to come true.

A collection of six BBC dramatisations of Jane Austen classics. Adapted by Andrew Davies after his success with his work on George Elliot's 'Middlemarch' for television, 'Pride and Prejudice' was the BBC's flagship drama in the schedule for autumn 1995. The story revolves around the arrival of the wealthy Mr Darcy (Colin Firth) and party and the excitement he causes amongst the five daughters of the Bennett family. In 'Persuasion' (1995), Anne Elliott (Amanda Root) has spent years regretting her rejection of Captain Wentworth's (Ciaran Hinds) proposal of marriage. When he returns from sea they meet, but instead of finding romance are kept apart through a series of misunderstandings. Anne is being pursued by her cousin, Mr Elliott (Samuel West), while Captain Wentworth is now regarded as a very eligible bachelor. 'Northanger Abbey' (1986) stars Peter Firth and Robert Hardy. The story follows the adventures of Catherine Moorland (Katharine Schlesinger), who is invited by the romantic Henry Tilney to stay at the Abbey - and finds it to be shrouded in mystery and intrigue. In 'Sense and Sensibility' (1980), sisters Elinor and Marianne Dashwood (Irene Richard and Tracey Childs) lose their family fortune to spiteful relatives, and are forced to seek out suitable husbands in order to survive. While Marianne falls for the heartless John Willoughby (Peter Woodward), Elinor finds herself attracted to Edward Ferrars (Bosco Hogan) - who is himself betrothed to Lucy Steele (Julia Chambers). In 'Mansfield Park' (1983), Fanny Price (Sylvestra Le Touzel) struggles to adjust to her new aristrocratic lifestyle when she is sent by her debt-ridden mother to live with her rich aunt and cousins. Her 'superior' relatives constantly ignore her, and only her cousin Edmund (Nicholas Farrell) shows Fanny any interest. However, Fanny's charm and wit eventually win her many potential suitors, and before long she has to decide whether she wishes to wed for love or for status. Doran Godwin stars in 'Emma' (1972), which tells the stroy of the eponymous heroine whose chief joy in life is organising the lives of the friends with whom she surrounds herself. She is soon the apple of Mr Knightly (John Carson)'s eye, an older family friend who has watched her grow and advised her on many things in life.