There is no process, no beginning, no middle or end to grief; it just is. And that simple existence changes everything.

Author Pat Brown lost the love of her life in 2005. When Tom, her husband of eighteen years, died of a hemorrhagic stroke, she was surprised-and sometimes dismayed-to discover that grief reopened all the questions often described as spiritual, questions she thought had been settled long before. Her unease, even distrust, of religious answers to mystical conundrums made the journey difficult. But she hung in, bracketing her disbelief, while keeping an open mind and a cocked eyebrow.

In "Surprised Pink Geraniums," she shares stories of her life with Tom-stories filled with love, tenderness, humour, and sometimes the annoyances of loving another human being. Irish Wolfhounds played major roles in their lives, and these great beasts contribute their own version of charm and devotion. Even so, "Surprised Pink Geraniums" is not a depiction of happy couples romping with dogs. It is a story of grievous loss, of connections, and of recreating meaning. This memoir is not focused on redemption-only on the human possibility for joy.

Most men and women who aspire to be police officers begin their careers with a noble dream of community service, upholding the law, and helping those in need. Yet over time the rigors and emotional strain of dealing with society's worst element wear on even the most idealistic officers like a sheet of sandpaper, until what used to be a compassionate human being is slowly rubbed away. A few become corrupted and slip into criminal behavior, directly contradicting their oath to guard the public. Even worse, there are some who hide behind their badges to commit the most heinous crimes imaginable.
In a shocking true-crime narrative that reads like a thriller, former police officer, former detective, and mystery writer Stacy Dittrich tells eighteen stories about cops who kill. From the brutal to the bizarre, the senseless to the extreme, these men and women abused their power, took human life, and are now (except for one) paying the consequences. Some killed for love, others for money, and still others because of seemingly trivial personality conflicts. Dittrich profiles, among others:
- New Orleans cop Antoinette Frank, who brutally murdered three innocent people, including a fellow officer.
- Canton, Ohio police officer Bobby Cutts Jr., who murdered his former girlfriend when she was nine-months pregnant.
- California highway patrolman Craig Peyer, who pulled over San Diego State college student Cara Knott over a frivolous traffic violation, then murdered her.
- Columbia, Missouri officer Steven Rios, who slit the throat of his gay lover, after he threatened to tell everyone of their relationship.
As a veteran police officer with seventeen years of experience, Dittrich is careful to emphasize that the vast majority of law enforcement officers dutifully uphold their oath to protect the public trust. The fascinating stories she tells are examples of the few whose character flaws turned them into the very criminals they themselves at one time pursued.

A world-renowned criminal profiler takes a fascinating look at one of the most tragic mysteries in history.
For more than two thousand years, the great pharaoh Cleopatra VII has been portrayed as a failed monarch. Various ancient sources state that she desperately ended her life with the bite of an asp, as her nemesis - the Roman general Octavian, later known as Augustus, the first Roman emperor - stormed Alexandria. Now, a completely unique interpretation of history is brought to light by world-renowned criminal profiler Pat Brown in her new myth-busting book, "The Murder of Cleopatra."
As host and profiler of "The Mysterious Death of Cleopatra" (Discovery 2005), Brown challenged the long-enduring myth that Cleopatra died via snakebite and that she committed suicide to avoid further humiliation. Using the techniques and methodology of investigative criminal profiling and crime reconstruction, "The Murder of Cleopatra" takes up where the Discovery Channel documentary left off. Brown's findings, borne of scientific method, rigorous inquiry, and deductive reasoning, will be revealed against a historical backdrop of mystery, drama, politics, danger, and romantic intrigue.
The result: a thought-provoking analysis of the amazing woman Cleopatra truly was, a fascinating account of the queen's final desperate attempt to escape Egypt with her ships and treasure, and the brutal homicide that ended her life as the last Egyptian pharaoh.

Long considered one of the key books on the well-informed audio engineer's shelf, Sound System Engineering provides an accurate, complete, and concise tool for all those involved in designing, implementing, and testing sound reinforcement systems. This new fourth edition includes eight new chapters leading the reader through both cutting-edge topics-e.g., IBM's proposed thought-controlled sound system-and solid basics, such as loudspeaker specifications, wave equations, and digital audio. Topics covered include: Psychoacoustics and how the brain processes sound Digital theory Mathematics for audio systems Using the decibel Interfacing electrical and acoustical systems Audio and acoustic measurements Large room and small room acoustics Designing for acoustic gain Designing for speech intelligibility Wave equations Microphones Loudspeakers, loudspeaker arrays, and loudspeaker directivity Power ratings for amplifiers and loudspeakers Computer-aided system design Signal delay, signal synchronization, and signal processing Sound system equalization Packed with numerous illustrations and useful appendices, this is a concentrated capsule of industry standards and knowledge that spans the complete range of sound systems, from the simplest all-analog paging systems to the largest multi-purpose digital systems.

There is no process, no beginning, no middle or end to grief; it just is. And that simple existence changes everything.

Author Pat Brown lost the love of her life in 2005. When Tom, her husband of eighteen years, died of a hemorrhagic stroke, she was surprised-and sometimes dismayed-to discover that grief reopened all the questions often described as spiritual, questions she thought had been settled long before. Her unease, even distrust, of religious answers to mystical conundrums made the journey difficult. But she hung in, bracketing her disbelief, while keeping an open mind and a cocked eyebrow.

In "Surprised Pink Geraniums," she shares stories of her life with Tom-stories filled with love, tenderness, humour, and sometimes the annoyances of loving another human being. Irish Wolfhounds played major roles in their lives, and these great beasts contribute their own version of charm and devotion. Even so, "Surprised Pink Geraniums" is not a depiction of happy couples romping with dogs. It is a story of grievous loss, of connections, and of recreating meaning. This memoir is not focused on redemption-only on the human possibility for joy.

A self-described boy scout, Don Jamieson dedicated his life to being a devoted family man and perfect G. E. executive. Retired and financially secure, he thinks he has it made. Then he meets Sarah. Like many women her age, Sarah has come through some tough times with the help of women friends who tell it like it is yet are always on her side. Sarah pursues a life of excitement, travel, and society and her sense of adventure and sense of joy radiate. Don finds himself craving a different life, one in which he can fully explore the sexual passion and intense joy that Sarah sparks inside him. Even as they struggle with the conflict generated by their clandestine relationship, Don and Sarah are intoxicated by the wealth of possibilities suddenly within reach. From the heat of Austin, Texas to the snow-covered peaks of Aspen, Colorado, this contemporary novel is a poignant reminder of life as a joyous adventure throughout all the stages of a life well-lived.

How does it feel when someone you love develops dementia? How do you cope with the shock, the stress and the grief? Can you be sure that you and your family will receive the support you need? In Telling Tales About Dementia, thirty carers from different backgrounds and in different circumstances share their experiences of caring for a parent, partner or friend with dementia. They speak from the heart about love and loss: 'I still find it hard to believe that Alzheimer's has happened to us,' writes one contributor, 'as if we were sent the wrong script.' The stories told here vividly reflect the tragedy of dementia, the gravity of loss, and instances of unsatisfactory diagnosis, treatment and care. But they contain hope and optimism too: clear indications that the quality of people's lives can be enhanced by sensitive support services, by improved understanding of the impact of dementia, by recognising the importance of valuing us all as human beings, and by embracing and sustaining the connections between us. This unique collection of personal accounts will be an engaging read for anyone affected by dementia in a personal or professional context, including relatives of people with dementia, social workers, medical practitioners and care staff.