In Pursuit of the Speckled Gumball is a heartrending and hilarious recounting of the quest for recognition and acceptance by a young boy amid the chaos of alcoholism, abuse, and deceit. Henry, a gentle old Black man, takes the boy into his heart and with words inspires him to overcome the forces trying to destroy him. His father, a handsome philandered, is transformed into a demon by alcohol. The mother's weakness allows abuse and violence to dominate the boy's life. His sister, six years older, is assigned responsibility for his care at too early an age; her resentment explodes into rage. Finally he faces the obstacles initiated by a tyrannical school administrator." . . . I found Myers' story telling as compelling as the hard fiction of Walter Mosley . . . and Barbara Hambly . .. And even equal to Maya Angelou's I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings . . . I laughed and I cried as he masterfully unfolded the twists and turns of his life. . . ." -Deborah Wright, Port Saint Joe, Florida."I loved the book . . . . (In Pursuit of the Speckled Gumball) . . . reminded me of Frank McCourt's Angela's Ashes . . . . hooked me from the start . . . How profound that just a few simple words can keep a child going." -Gwen Hewitt, Canton, Oklahoma."Those of us who from time to time deal with troubled children particularly ought to read this book . . . a reading experience in which I could hardly wait to get back to . . ." -Briefcase, Book Notes, Oklahoma City"What a magnificent book it (In Pursuit of the Speckled Gumball) was. . . . " -Kathryn Rager, Waco, Texas.. "I read the whole book before I put it down . . . loved it . . ." -Linda Royal Bridges, Harrah, Oklahoma.

Rapid social change requires that major institutions adapt. Management professionals who are called in to help presumably know what to do, but in fact their typical ways of working are anachronistic. Many professionals tacitly assume stability and a level of knowledge that no longer exists. They devise change programs that, while consistent with cultural expectations and professional standards, are flawed from the start and may actually reduce institutional capacity to adapt. Their practices and culture were developed for a different time and are ill-suited to fluid and highly interconnected situations. The very people who are relied upon for adaptive solutions are preventing what they should be providing.

Weaknesses of four familiar patterns of professional thinking are reviewed. Each puts society at risk:

- a rational pattern locks in optimal solutions that rapidly become obsolete

- a focused pattern is blind to reconfiguration options and the influence of external relationships

- a principled pattern fails to apprehend and develop the unique opportunities of a situation

- a interested pattern undercuts common interests that are already imperiled

An ominous feature of these at-risk patterns is the lack of awareness of limitations or of how the professional is included within the problematic situations to be addressed.

A different pattern is described - "reflexive practice" - that takes turbulence seriously and does not make convenient, traditional, and incorrect assumptions about stability, certainty, and the capacity of the professional for insight, foresight, and separation from the problem. These practitioners promote adaptive strategies appropriate for turbulent situations. Distinguishing features of these strategies include rapid generation and pruning of options, building capacity and readiness for continuous modification and reconfiguration, a greater comprehension of external changes, and reliance on mutual interaction through networks across boundaries.

Examples of reflexive practice, and the contrasting failures of at-risk practices, are traced through domains where the need for adaptation is acute - in national security, economics, energy, and environment. Personal characteristics and education of the reflexive practitioner are examined in greater detail. A simple survey of guests on C-SPAN illustrates the prevalence of the various types and their difference.

Reflexive practice is the most appropriate pattern for thinking and action for management professionals under current conditions, and in particular when devising responses to global threats. The thinking pattern remains fallible, however, and will often violate standards and appear weak in comparison with other types. This condition will persist until professional cultures themselves become adapted to the times.

After college, Martin Sommerville joined the Royal Marines; Great Britain's premier naval force. During the Falkland Islands War with Argentina, he was a lieutenant, assigned to naval intelligence. When the War was over he returned to England to start a career as a ship designer.

Some time later, at the urging of his mentor, he packed up and left for greener pastures. First he journeyed to the United States. While there he worked as a designer, and met his fi ancee, Betsy Kilmer. Sadly, Betsy was killed in an auto accident 3 weeks before their wedding. Grief stricken, he left the States for employment in the shipyards of China and Russia. Several years later he returned to England.

Once back in the U.K. he meets a new love, Dr. Cybil Simpson, M.D. She and her Father thrust him into an unexpected career as a university teacher, and an agent for the secretive MI 5.

In his newly found occupation he is assigned to a terrorism investigative unit, and given the code name 'The Sparrow.' In this capacity, he and his new paramour, 'The Wren, ' fi t well together, always seeming to know what the other is thinking. Using this unusual gift, they soon become an indispensable force within MI 5.

Building upon the work of Donald Schon, this edited collection expands the research into the idea of the reflexive practice - understanding how to create better solution-oriented practices for business during turbulent and chaotic situations.

After college, Martin Sommerville joined the Royal Marines; Great Britain's premier naval force. During the Falkland Islands War with Argentina, he was a lieutenant, assigned to naval intelligence. When the War was over he returned to England to start a career as a ship designer.

Some time later, at the urging of his mentor, he packed up and left for greener pastures. First he journeyed to the United States. While there he worked as a designer, and met his fi ancee, Betsy Kilmer. Sadly, Betsy was killed in an auto accident 3 weeks before their wedding. Grief stricken, he left the States for employment in the shipyards of China and Russia. Several years later he returned to England.

Once back in the U.K. he meets a new love, Dr. Cybil Simpson, M.D. She and her Father thrust him into an unexpected career as a university teacher, and an agent for the secretive MI 5.

In his newly found occupation he is assigned to a terrorism investigative unit, and given the code name 'The Sparrow.' In this capacity, he and his new paramour, 'The Wren, ' fi t well together, always seeming to know what the other is thinking. Using this unusual gift, they soon become an indispensable force within MI 5.

*AN ARCHITECTURAL AND SPIRITUAL LANDMARK FOR HUMANITY* This is the true story of a group of people who were "Guided From Beyond" and received over 160 transmissions from the Spiritual Hierarchy detailing architectural plans for a temple of transformation for the benefit of humanity. The revealing account of "The Templar, a Divine Edifice for the Coming Golden Age," expresses through sacred architecture the evolution of consciousness and it's purpose for coming into manifestation. As with the Knights Templar of old who provided safe passage for the spiritual pilgrims from the West to the holy land so will The Templar provide safe passage to all who aspire to spiritually connect to the wholeness of creation. "The Story of The Templar," with over 20 architectural drawings, documents the superhuman science expressed through it's architecture of sacred geometry and number. The ancient science of the initiates resides in The Templar's details of specific symbols, materials, and astronomical alignments. Within The Templar, the vibrational patterns of light, color and sound designed into each level rises in vibrational frequency. Through the architectural drawings of the exterior and four of the seven levels within The Templar, the reader is given the opportunity to visually connect and when possible to tune into the The Templar's vibrational resonance. This Divine Edifice, "The 12th Wonder of the World," gives a new vision for humanity. The compelling story of human participation with "masters" from the 7th dimension and higher reveals the triumphs and lessons leading to the spiritual teaching of group work for the future. The inspiring story of The Templar gives hope and direction to the many people around the world who spiritually aspire and work for "The Coming Golden Age" on Earth.

In Pursuit of the Speckled Gumball is a heartrending and hilarious recounting of the quest for recognition and acceptance by a young boy amid the chaos of alcoholism, abuse, and deceit. Henry, a gentle old Black man, takes the boy into his heart and with words inspires him to overcome the forces trying to destroy him. His father, a handsome philandered, is transformed into a demon by alcohol. The mother's weakness allows abuse and violence to dominate the boy's life. His sister, six years older, is assigned responsibility for his care at too early an age; her resentment explodes into rage. Finally he faces the obstacles initiated by a tyrannical school administrator. " . . . I found Myers' story telling as compelling as the hard fiction of Walter Mosley . . . and Barbara Hambly . .. And even equal to Maya Angelou's I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings . . . I laughed and I cried as he masterfully unfolded the twists and turns of his life. . . ." -Deborah Wright, Port Saint Joe, Florida. "I loved the book . . . . (In Pursuit of the Speckled Gumball) . . . reminded me of Frank McCourt's Angela's Ashes . . . . hooked me from the start . . . How profound that just a few simple words can keep a child going." -Gwen Hewitt, Canton, Oklahoma. "Those of us who from time to time deal with troubled children particularly ought to read this book . . . a reading experience in which I could hardly wait to get back to . . ." -Briefcase, Book Notes, Oklahoma City "What a magnificent book it (In Pursuit of the Speckled Gumball) was. . . . " -Kathryn Rager, Waco, Texas. . "I read the whole book before I put it down . . . loved it . . ." -Linda Royal Bridges, Harrah, Oklahoma.