Over more than three decades starting in the 1990s, thousands of robberies, acts of piracy, and other violent attacks against merchant vessels have been reported in many of the world's waters. The grave danger of piracy poses a direct threat not only to the security and efficiency of marine transportation, but more seriously, to the lives of the men and woman carrying out this important function. This book collates ideas brought up by seafarers, shipowners, industry practitioners, government officials, academics, and researchers exchanged views and insights on the complex web of underlying factors behind the phenomenon of piracy. Piracy at Sea brings together a wide spectrum of maritime stakeholders, who present different aspects of the problem in an open manner and share their thoughts on how to deal with a truly complex situation. It encapsulates this collective wisdom in a publication that can serve as an easy reference for practitioners as well as researchers, and hopefully contribute to more concrete action.

Over more than three decades starting in the 1990s, thousands of robberies, acts of piracy, and other violent attacks against merchant vessels have been reported in many of the world's waters. The grave danger of piracy poses a direct threat not only to the security and efficiency of marine transportation, but more seriously, to the lives of the men and woman carrying out this important function. This book collates ideas brought up by seafarers, shipowners, industry practitioners, government officials, academics, and researchers exchanged views and insights on the complex web of underlying factors behind the phenomenon of piracy. Piracy at Sea brings together a wide spectrum of maritime stakeholders, who present different aspects of the problem in an open manner and share their thoughts on how to deal with a truly complex situation. It encapsulates this collective wisdom in a publication that can serve as an easy reference for practitioners as well as researchers, and hopefully contribute to more concrete action.

Master, Guru, Nun, Sinner, Swinger, ONE reveals the lives and spiritual messages of important "sharers" of the Truth, of Dhamma, of All That Is. The main six are: Swami Atmananda of Ajatananda Ashram-A humble man, wanting no fame, but from whom the Truth flows. A European religious scholar who came to India, he discovered two other Europeans who in prior decades had followed a similar path. Then he meets his Master. Robert Wolfe-A thin American man went through a second divorce. Instead of finding a new job and another wife he disappeared in to the Redwood forests for three years. The man who came out was not anything like the one who'd gone in. Thankfully, eventually he begins to write. Ramesh Balsekar-An Indian banker who was notorious for his scrupulous honesty. He found out there was an Advaitic sage not far from his home. This is Nisargadatta Maharaj, the source of the classic "I Am That." At Nisargadatta's feet the non-event called "Enlightenment" takes place. Maechee Brigitte-an attractive young Austrian woman enjoying a party lifestyle meets death face-to-face. Stunned, depressed, she tries yoga. At the end of the first class she meditates. Twenty-five years later she is the senior foreign Theravada Nun in Thailand, teaching hundreds and helping thousands. Bob Nickel-"Captain Bob" lived a "real American man's life." Soldier, sailboat captain, hard-drinker, womanizer, great worker, smart as a whip, aircraft engineer, great left jab-and somehow all this merges into a spiritual person recognized as a sharer of sincere and profound satsang. V. Ganesan-Honored and fated by birth to be the great-nephew of one of the 20th century's greatest spiritual masters, Sri Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi, Ganesan uses his pedigree in the best possible way-to share the truth set out by his illustrious uncle and other greats with all the rest of us. The interweaving of the lives and messages of these six wonderful sharers of Truth and bringers of the ultimate Freedom gives Master, Guru, Nun, Swinger, Sinner, ONE an even deeper aspect than each person's story holds on its own.

What is the truth about Islam? Is it the religion of peace and hospitality that some claim, or is it a murderous faith savage terrorists use to justify the slaughter of innocents? Is Islam truly inherently anti-female, or has something gone very wrong in how Islam is interpreted and understood? Is the Islam that is taught in most Muslim majority countries today really what the Prophet Muhammad (S) believed Allah intended? Is every woman who marries a Muslim man doomed to be a second-class servant? Married To Islam provides answers to these questions and more. This is the true story of a beautiful, intelligent, and kind Christian European Woman who converted to Islam, married a Euro-Arab Muslim man, and had wonderful children. Her life, her studies, and her insights and perspectives shed new light on all of these questions. Dalia's stories and insights are especially powerful in that they come from the viewpoint of a woman who tries to be the "good wife and kind mother" in accordance with the will of Allah even as her husband's cultural, religious, and social background compress upon him until life with him becomes a psychological nightmare for her and for her children.

Happiness is elusive like a dream when you are waiting for it to come to you. Don't wait. Go after your happiness and live in your dream. You don't have to look far...it's all around you. Choose happiness just for the fun of it donation to the American Cancer Society on each book purchased.

In looking at the remarkable proliferation of democracies since 1974, this volume offers important insight into the challenges and opportunities that democracy faces in the twenty-first century. Distinguished contributors detail difficulties that democracies face from within and how they deal with them. Among the contemporary threats to democracy emanating from internal sources are tensions arising over technology and its uses; ethnic, religious, and racial distinctions; and disparate access to resources, education, and employment. A democratically elected government can behave more or less democratically, even when controlling access to information, using legal authority to aid or intimidate, and applying resources to shape the conditions for the next election. With elections recently disputed in the United States, Mexico, Lebanon, and the Ukraine, debates about the future of democracy are inescapably debates about what kind of democracy is desired.

Contributors are W. Lance Bennett, Bruce Bimber, Jon Fraenkel, Brian J. Gaines, Bernard Grofman, Wayne V. McIntosh, Peter F. Nardulli, Mark Q. Sawyer, Stephen Simon, Paul M. Sniderman, and Jack Snyder.