Action thriller starring Steven Seagal. After serving a 15-year sentence for a crime that he did not commit, Shane Daniels (Seagal) is released from jail with a formal pardon from the State of Arizona. But within hours of claiming his freedom, he becomes witness to a botched illegal diamond deal in which members of both the Mexican Mafia and the State Troopers are killed, leaving behind them a terrified girl and a bag of money. Shane must now fight his way through a corrupt town and get the girl to safety in the only way he knows how...

Triple bill of police thrillers. 'Big Bang' (2011) stars Antonio Banderas as a Los Angeles private detective handed an unusual assignment. When Ned Cruz (Banderas) is approached by a Russian boxer (Robert Maillet) to find his missing girlfriend (Sienna Guillory) and the $30 million worth of diamonds in her possession, it is clear that this will not be an everyday job. Can Cruz make sense of the bizarre circumstances and track down the missing girl? 'Bad Cop' (2010) is an action thriller set in post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans. Johnny Strong stars as Sean Riley, a beleaguered police detective struggling to cope with the recent death of his young son and the subsequent breakdown of his marriage. After a call goes horribly wrong, Riley looks set to lose his job - unless he can solve a series of brutal murders that have sent the city spiralling into gang warfare. In 'Operation Endgame' (2010) a top-secret facility underneath Washington D.C. finds two competing teams of assassins - code-named according to a deck of Tarot cards - at work. When a new employee known only as The Fool (Joe Anderson) arrives for his first day of work, he is alarmed to find his new boss murdered and the entire building rigged with explosives. The Fool must race against the clock to identify the killer and make his escape. Zach Galifianakis, Brandon T. Jackson and Maggie Q co-star.

Hike and Backpack in Nature's Stunning Beauty With the most rock arches east of the Mississippi, the Red River Gorge stands alone for scenery. Get the definitive guide to this famous region-including the Red River Gorge Geological Area, Natural Bridge State Resort Park, and Clifty Wilderness. This updated, full-color edition showcases 28 of the best hikes in the area, from the kid-friendly Original Trail to the challenging Rough Trail. With the expert guidance of Sean Patrick Hill, you'll discover the Gorge's hidden treasures: lush forests, secluded waterfalls, brilliant wildflowers, natural arches, and more. The book includes 28 routes that lead readers along carefully maintained trails GPS-based trail maps and elevation profiles Detailed directions to trailheads Ratings for key elements to help readers decide which hikes to choose Route details and full-color photography Recommendations for combining routes into longer adventures Whether you're hitting the Gorge for a short hike or a full weekend, Hiking Kentucky's Red River Gorge is your guide to experiencing the famed natural wonder on foot.

This book discusses a number of important themes in comparative law: legal metaphors and methodology, the movements of legal ideas and institutions and the mixity they produce, and marriage, an area of law in which culture - or clashes of legal and public cultures - may be particularly evident. In a mix of methodological and empirical investigations divided by these themes, the work offers expanded analyses and a unique cross-section of materials that is on the cutting edge of comparative law scholarship. It presents an innovative approach to legal pluralism, the study of mixed jurisdictions, and language and the law, with the use of metaphors not as an illustration but as a core element of comparative methodology.

While Irish historical writing has long been in thrall to the perceived sectarian character of the legal system, this collection is the first to concentrate attention on the actual relationship that existed between the Irish population and the state under which they lived from the War of the Two Kings (1689-1691) to the Great Famine (1845-1849). Particular attention is paid to an understanding of the legal character of the state and the reach of the rule of law, with contributors addressing such themes as: how law was made and put into effect; how ordinary people experienced the law and social regulations; how Catholics related to the legal institutions of the Protestant confessional state; and how popular notions of legitimacy were developed. These themes contribute to a wider understanding of the nature of the state in the long eighteenth century and will therefore help to situate the study of Irish society into the mainstream of English and European social history.

This book focuses on structural characterisation techniques for porous materials. Covering a range of techniques, including gas sorption, mercury porosimetry, thermoporometry, NMR and imaging methods, this practical guide presents the basic theory behind each characterisation technique, and discusses the practicalities of the experimental and data analysis approaches needed for complex industrial samples. The book shows readers how to approach characterising a particular sort of material for the first time and then how to develop a strategy for more in-depth analysis. It also demonstrates how to determine the best techniques for solving particular problems, and describes methods of obtaining the required information, as well as the limitations of various methods. It particularly highlights a scientific approach involving parameter validation and simple acquisition. Featuring examples taken from case studies of real-world industrial materials, this book is intended for industrial practitioners and researchers. It provides a manual of potential techniques and answers questions concerning porous materials that arise in areas such as the catalyst industry, the oil and gas sector, batteries, fuel cells, tissue engineering scaffolds and drug delivery devices.

The emergence of coal-based fuel economy over the course of the nineteenth century was one of the most significant features of America's Industrial Revolution, but the transition from wood to mineral energy sources was a gradual one that transpired over a number of decades. The documents in these volumes recreate the institutional history of the American coal industry in the nineteenth century - providing a first-hand perspective on the developments in regard to political economy, business structure and competition, the rise of formal trade unions, and the creation of a national coal trade. Although the collection strives to be wide-ranging in region and theme, the Pennsylvania anthracite coal trade forms the thematic backbone as it became the most important American mineral resource to see successful development throughout the nineteenth century. Consequently it saw unprecedented levels of intervention by the federal government. The texts for this collection were selected for their accessibility to modern readers as well as their relationship to a series of common themes across the nineteenth century American coal industry - with headnotes and annotations provided to explain their context and the reasons for their inclusion. The second volume, following on from the first, traces the continuation of the anthracite boom and also introduces new concerns for the coal industry. Overall the period from 1835-1875 saw the American coal trade expand from a hit-or-miss business dominated by risk-taking proprietary firms to a well-funded industry that employed the resources of state governments, large mining corporations and powerful railroads in order to keep a steady stream of mineral fuel flowing to the growing industrial and commercial heating markets of the United States. The transformation generated many conflicts - which are illustrated by the documents in this volume.

The emergence of coal-based fuel economy over the course of the nineteenth century was one of the most significant features of America's Industrial Revolution, but the transition from wood to mineral energy sources was a gradual one that transpired over a number of decades. The documents in these volumes recreate the institutional history of the American coal industry in the nineteenth century - providing a first-hand perspective on the developments in regard to political economy, business structure and competition, the rise of formal trade unions, and the creation of a national coal trade. Although the collection strives to be wide-ranging in region and theme, the Pennsylvania anthracite coal trade forms the thematic backbone as it became the most important American mineral resource to see successful development throughout the nineteenth century. Consequently it saw unprecedented levels of intervention by the federal government. The texts for this collection were selected for their accessibility to modern readers as well as their relationship to a series of common themes across the nineteenth century American coal industry - with headnotes and annotations provided to explain their context and the reasons for their inclusion. In this first volume, covering the period 1790-1835, the selected documents seek to reconcile the optimism surrounding the early American coal industry with the difficulties in actually realising its growth. It presents voices that capture the optimism and frustration of the Rhode Island and Virginia colliers, before focusing on the rise of Pennsylvania's anthracite region - tracing the false-starts and ideological hostility that accompanied the early coal trade.

The field of comparative politics traditionally has been divided into two camps: on the one hand, quantitatively driven work on a broad scale; on the other, more qualitative area studies. This edited collection promotes a new approach to comparative politics that transcends the debate about the future of the discipline. The contributors' essays are innovative in their interweaving of case studies of the political situations in particular regions with the project of political theorizing. The chapters take as their points of departure such diverse topics as the liberal tradition in United States politics, the impact of drug-related violence on democratic stability in Colombia, and the relationship between poverty reduction and support for democracy in Mali, thereby resoundingly demonstrating the broad relevance of the volume's unifying theme: theoretically informed comparative analysis. Students of politics, from advanced undergraduates to practicing scholars, will find this volume useful in assessing, analyzing, and uniting the fields of comparative politics and political theory.

This work applies Jacques Derrida's framework of "spectropolitics" to (post)coloniality in order to investigate the emergence of indigenous peoples' movements, advances a poststructural approach to the analysis of liberal politics based upon the historical sociology of Michel Foucault, and critically engages the literatures on ethnic politics, critical legal studies, and multicultural democracy. In addition, two historical case dossiers (the Mabo v. Queensland decision and its aftermath in Australia; and the diverse legal strategies of First Nations activism in Canada following the Delgamuukw v. B.C. decision) focus on the "strategic space" in which new indigenous political identities are produced and performed.

Hike and Backpack in Nature's Stunning Beauty With the most rock arches east of the Mississippi, the Red River Gorge stands alone for scenery. Get the definitive guide to this famous region-including the Red River Gorge Geological Area, Natural Bridge State Resort Park, and Clifty Wilderness. This updated, full-color edition showcases 28 of the best hikes in the area, from the kid-friendly Original Trail to the challenging Rough Trail. With the expert guidance of Sean Patrick Hill, you'll discover the Gorge's hidden treasures: lush forests, secluded waterfalls, brilliant wildflowers, natural arches, and more. The book includes 28 routes that lead readers along carefully maintained trails GPS-based trail maps and elevation profiles Detailed directions to trailheads Ratings for key elements to help readers decide which hikes to choose Route details and full-color photography Recommendations for combining routes into longer adventures Whether you're hitting the Gorge for a short hike or a full weekend, Hiking Kentucky's Red River Gorge is your guide to experiencing the famed natural wonder on foot.

Debates surrounding the concept of law are not new. For a wide variety of reasons and in a wide variety of ways, the meaning of 'law' has long been an important part of Western thought, both within legal scholarship and beyond. The contributors to Concepts of Law are international experts from the fields of comparative law, legal philosophy, and the social sciences. Combining theoretical analyses with case studies, they explore various legal concepts and contexts from diverse national and disciplinary perspectives. Legal and normative pluralism is a theme throughout. Some chapters discuss the development of state law and legal systems. Others wrestle with law's rhetoric and the potential utility of alternative vocabularies, e.g., 'governance' and 'governmentality'. Others reveal the rich polyjurality of the present, from the local to the global. The result is a rich picture of both present scholarship on laws and norms and the state of contemporary legal complexity, each crossing traditional boundaries.

Debates surrounding the concept of law are not new. For a wide variety of reasons and in a wide variety of ways, the meaning of 'law' has long been an important part of Western thought, both within legal scholarship and beyond. The contributors to Concepts of Law are international experts from the fields of comparative law, legal philosophy, and the social sciences. Combining theoretical analyses with case studies, they explore various legal concepts and contexts from diverse national and disciplinary perspectives. Legal and normative pluralism is a theme throughout. Some chapters discuss the development of state law and legal systems. Others wrestle with law's rhetoric and the potential utility of alternative vocabularies, e.g., 'governance' and 'governmentality'. Others reveal the rich polyjurality of the present, from the local to the global. The result is a rich picture of both present scholarship on laws and norms and the state of contemporary legal complexity, each crossing traditional boundaries.

The emergence of coal-based fuel economy over the course of the nineteenth century was one of the most significant features of America's Industrial Revolution, but the transition from wood to mineral energy sources was a gradual one that transpired over a number of decades. The documents in these volumes recreate the institutional history of the American coal industry in the nineteenth century - providing a first-hand perspective on the developments in regard to political economy, business structure and competition, the rise of formal trade unions, and the creation of a national coal trade. Although the collection strives to be wide-ranging in region and theme, the Pennsylvania anthracite coal trade forms the thematic backbone as it became the most important American mineral resource to see successful development throughout the nineteenth century. Consequently it saw unprecedented levels of intervention by the federal government. The texts for this collection were selected for their accessibility to modern readers as well as their relationship to a series of common themes across the nineteenth century American coal industry - with headnotes and annotations provided to explain their context and the reasons for their inclusion.

The emergence of coal-based fuel economy over the course of the nineteenth century was one of the most significant contributions the America's Industrial Revolution, but the transition from wood to mineral energy sources was a gradual one that transpired over a number of decades. The documents in these volumes recreate the institutional history of the American coal industry in the nineteenth century; in doing so they provide a first-hand perspective on the developments in regard to political economy, business structure and competition, the rise of formal trade unions, and the creation of a national coal trade. Although the collection strives to be wide-ranging in region and theme, the Pennsylvania anthracite coal trade forms the thematic backbone as it became the most important American mineral resource to see successful development throughout the nineteenth century and consequently saw unprecedented levels of intervention by the federal government. The texts for this collection were selected for their accessibility to modern readers as well as their relationship to a series of common themes across the nineteenth century American coal industry - with headnotes and annotations provided to explain their context and the reasons for their inclusion. The third volume in this set traces the three decades following the American Civil War, during which time the use of coal for manufacturing, locomotives and domestic heating helped build a dynamic industrial economy in the United States. Mineral fuel growth powered the growth of the nation and by 1885 coal became the single most important source of American energy. Coal mining spread to nearly every corner of the nation in the half-century following the civil war. By the time of the Great Anthracite Strike in 1902, the American coal industry was a truly national phenomenon. The rise of large and well-funded mining and railroad corporations, the national unions, and the inroads by state governments into mine safety all suggest a significant reshaping had occurred.

Darren Aronofsky directs this elegaic time-travelling odyssey, in which Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz star in a series of storylines about a man's struggle to save the woman he loves. In one storyline, 16th-century Spanish conquistador Tomas Creo (Jackman) sets out to find the fabled Tree of Life in order to save his queen, Isabel (Weisz) from the Inquisition. In a modern-day storyline, Jackman is Tommy, a scientist desperately searching for the medical breakthrough that will save the life of his cancer-stricken wife, Izzie (Weisz). In a future timeline, Tom (Jackman) is a 26th-century astronaut travelling through deep space - and finally beginning to grasp the mysteries of life that have consumed him for so long.

This work applies Jacques Derrida's framework of "spectropolitics" to (post)coloniality in order to investigate the emergence of indigenous peoples' movements, advances a poststructural approach to the analysis of liberal politics based upon the historical sociology of Michel Foucault, and critically engages the literatures on ethnic politics, critical legal studies, and multicultural democracy. In addition, two historical case dossiers (the Mabo v. Queensland decision and its aftermath in Australia; and the diverse legal strategies of First Nations activism in Canada following the Delgamuukw v. B.C. decision) focus on the "strategic space" in which new indigenous political identities are produced and performed.

This book discusses a number of important themes in comparative law: legal metaphors and methodology, the movements of legal ideas and institutions and the mixity they produce, and marriage, an area of law in which culture - or clashes of legal and public cultures - may be particularly evident. In a mix of methodological and empirical investigations divided by these themes, the work offers expanded analyses and a unique cross-section of materials that is on the cutting edge of comparative law scholarship. It presents an innovative approach to legal pluralism, the study of mixed jurisdictions, and language and the law, with the use of metaphors not as an illustration but as a core element of comparative methodology.

This book focuses on structural characterisation techniques for porous materials. Covering a range of techniques, including gas sorption, mercury porosimetry, thermoporometry, NMR and imaging methods, this practical guide presents the basic theory behind each characterisation technique, and discusses the practicalities of the experimental and data analysis approaches needed for complex industrial samples. The book shows readers how to approach characterising a particular sort of material for the first time and then how to develop a strategy for more in-depth analysis. It also demonstrates how to determine the best techniques for solving particular problems, and describes methods of obtaining the required information, as well as the limitations of various methods. It particularly highlights a scientific approach involving parameter validation and simple acquisition. Featuring examples taken from case studies of real-world industrial materials, this book is intended for industrial practitioners and researchers. It provides a manual of potential techniques and answers questions concerning porous materials that arise in areas such as the catalyst industry, the oil and gas sector, batteries, fuel cells, tissue engineering scaffolds and drug delivery devices.

Updated Edition, October 2007

"A gripping story. . . . Griffin richly documents the Black Mafia's organization, outreach and over-the-top badness."--"Philadelphia Inquirer"

"Griffin's reporting on the Black Mafia and its interaction with law enforcement, the Nation of Islam and the Italian mob is fascinating."--"Philadelphia Weekly"

"A confident chronicle of Philly's Black Mafia, the decades-long collaboration among drug dealers, Muslim clerics and local politicians."--"Philadelphia Magazine"

"A richly detailed narrative of the murderous history of the city's first African-American crime syndicate."--"Philadelphia Daily News"

"A great, sprawling epic."--Duane Swierczynski, editor-in-chief, "Philadelphia City Paper"

"If you're a crime buff, a history lover, or if you just want something fascinating to read, it's a book you can't refuse."--Terri Schlichenmeyer, syndicated reviewer and host of www.BookWormSez.com

"I couldn't put this book down."--Keith Murphy, award-winning broadcaster and host of "The Urban Journal" on XM Radio's The Power

"Sean Patrick Griffin has given us a really extensive look into the Black Mafia . . . and has produced one of best pieces of research on the underworld . . . that I have ever seen."--Elmer Smith, "The Exchange," 1340AM WHAT

"The book is incredible . . . amazing stuff."--Dom Giordano, radio host, 1210AM WPHT

"Sean Patrick Griffin, in surreal detail, lays out the twist and turns, the political and religious associations . . . a guaranteed chilling read."--"The Melting Pot"

"Searing, unrelenting and ruthlessly precise, a nose-in-the-bloodstains account of the violence that splattered black Philadelphia in the late 60s and early 70s."--Henry Schipper, producer of "Philly Black Mafia" in the "American Gangster" TV series

The Black Mafia is one of the bloodiest crime syndicates in modern US history. From its roots in Philadelphia's ghettos in the 1960's, it grew from a rabble of street toughs to a disciplined, ruthless organization based on fear and intimidation. Known in its "legitimate" guise as Black Brothers Inc, it held regular meetings, appointed investigators, treasurers and enforcers, and controlled drug dealing, loan-sharking, numbers rackets, armed robbery and extortion.

Its ferocious crew of gunmen was led by Sam Christian, the most feared man on Philly's streets. They developed close ties with the influential Nation of Islam and soon were executing rivals, extorting bookies connected to the city's powerful Cosa Nostra crew, and cowing local gangs. Police say the Black Mafia was responsible for over forty killings, the most chilling being the massacre of two adults and five children in a feud between rival religious factions. Despite the arrests that followed, they continued their rampage, exploiting their ties to prominent lawyers and civil rights leaders. Convictions and sentences eventually shattered their strength--only for the crack-dealing Junior Black Mafia to emerge in their wake.

Author Sean Griffin, a former Philadelphia police officer turned university professor, conducted scores of interviews and gained access to informant logs, witness statements, wiretaps and secret FBI files to make "Black Brothers Inc." the most detailed account ever of an African American organized crime mob, and a landmark investigation into the modern urban underworld.