Kirjahaku

A young man grows up in the 1960s with the guidance of his unusual uncle. Together they explore the wilderness of northwest Manitoba by canoe, build a cabin in northeast Minnesota and come to know each other deeply through the young man's letters as an infantryman in the Mekong Delta.

It’s never too late to brush up on your writing skills!Writing is a daily part of adult life, but many people are uncertain about basic rules and conventions. Do I need a comma before this clause? What exactly is a prepositional phrase? Is it ever necessary to use brackets? (Answer: Rarely, if ever.) With clear, no-nonsense explanations and examples, Grammar for Grown-ups makes learning the finer points of the English language easy. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know for clear and professional communication, including the mechanics of writing, the parts of speech, and proper punctuation and capitalization, as well as the most common errors—and how to avoid and fix them. Each lesson includes a practice exercise to reinforce learning.Master the basics—clear coverage of grammar rules and conventions, including the parts of speech and sentence structureFine-tune the mechanics—how to use punctuation effectively and accuratelyWrite with style—strategies to make your writing clear, compelling, consistent, and concisePractice makes perfect—exercise component for each lesson to reinforce learning

There is Japan, and then there is Japan.Follow the author from his first early morning glimpse of Mount Fuji to the deepening realisation that even our most familiar and cherished notions can prove to be insubstantial scrapsof nothingness.At times earthy, at times philosophical, 'Japan Dreams' is more than a zen-like meditation on life. It is a high-speed criss-crossing of the landscape both geographical and social, a discourseon ways of seeing, and a surprisingly personal exploration of the differences between the many worlds we inhabit.Editorial Review - Jan Dodd, author of 'Rough Guide To Japan'Mark really engages with the reader. He has the light touch of a natural story-teller and yet, at the same time, manages to introduce fairly weighty, academic subject-matter without appearing pretentious. Reading carries you along on Mark's voyage of discovery, gradually peeling back the layers of this complex, nuanced nation.Mark has a wonderful eye for character and detail. In one memorable image he describes a workman vacuuming loose pine-needles from a tree. His chance meeting with the eccentric academics makes another nicely perceived vignette. Through episodes such as these, Mark conveys a real flavour of Japan, far from the clich d tourist-brochure world of cherry-blossoms and geisha.I particularly responded to Mark's tendency to question everything. He is constantly analysing what he sees and learns in order to form his own opinions, not simply repeating accepted "truths". He gives some very perceptive insights into the nature of "reality" in Japan. He notes the very different attitude the Japanese have to replicas, such as the "ancient" Ise shrine and the value put on the faked autograph of a sumo wrestler. Equally fascinating is his perception of the emptiness, the "nothing" that lies at the core of so much in Japan, of Shinto religion and Zen Buddhism, and of the ephemeral beauty which is central to Japanese aesthetics.

There is Japan, and then there is Japan. Follow the author from his first early morning glimpse of Mount Fuji to the deepening realisation that even our most familiar and cherished notions can prove to be insubstantial scraps of nothingness. At times earthy, at times philosophical, 'Japan Dreams' is more than a zen-like meditation on life. It is a high-speed criss-crossing of the landscape both geographical and social, a discourse on ways of seeing, and a surprisingly personal exploration of the differences between the many worlds we inhabit.From the first editionA traveller comes to Japan and is slowly absorbed into a complex and increasingly unnerving interplay of reality, representation, substitution, the virtual, the artificial, the counterfeit and the unreal. In form, 'Japan Dreams' is loosely modelled on 'Pillow Book' by Sei Shonagon and 'As I crossed a bridge of dreams' by Lady Sarashina, both written c. 1000 AD. The narrative moves between travelogue, meditation, exploration of ideas, discourse on various subjects, dreams, lists, and introspection. Fact and fiction become harder to separate as the story unfolds. What starts as straightforward documentary metamorphoses into chaotic self-absorption, and the reader is left examining the very same question examined by the narrator: is this real? A deeply personal first-person account, 'Japan Dreams' touches on numerous aspects of Japanese culture: arts and heritage, attitudes to time and space, sexuality, language, technology, media, entertainment, identity and self, values, family, city and country life, and religion.

An irreverent lexicon of the seemingly infinite ways we call bullshit, written by a McSweeney's columnist and etymologist, illustrated by a New Yorker-contributing cartoonist. What's the difference between "balderdash" and "drivel"? Where did "mumbo-jumbo" come from? How should you use "meadow mayonnaise"? What's "felgercarb" and which popular TV show coined it? There are hundreds of common and rare terms for bullshit in English, including borrowings from German, turn-of-the-century sailors, The Simpsons, and beyond. Bullshit is everywhere, but not all of it is created equal. Mark Peters's Bullshit: A Lexicon is the handy guide to identifying and calling BS in all of its many forms, from "bunk" and "claptrap" to "applesauce" and "gobbledygook." Packed with historical facts, pop culture tidbits, and definitions for each term, Bullshit is perfect for humor readers, language lovers, and anyone looking to describe life's everyday annoyances.

Bride of Covid Chronicles is a daily trip through the wayward thought patterns of a 76 year old man. A word, phrase, idea, would strike me and I'd be off and running with whatever rose into my compost heap of a mind. Something like stacking bricks to lay a wall without a level. A few times the wall would end up plumb and straight, most times it would wander like a drunkard trying to find a dimly lit men's room in a low rent district bar.

Draftee (A Buffoon in Vietnam) is the true tale of a young man's days in the U.S. Army from October 1968 to September, 1970. Draftee is a story filled with dark humor, irony, life, death in combat, and the author's reflections on his role as a grunt in Vietnam. This is not a tale writ large on world affairs, instead is the story of a man caught up in forces he could not control.

Blithering commentary on pretty much anything, humorous essays, a couple of deeply philosophical thoughts and way too many psychologically disturbed musings from the failing mind of a seventy-five year old (wait a second...I was seventy-four when the rambling began. Damn, do I have to start over?).

In 1980 a young couple bought nine acres of land in northern Minnesota and built a cabin. A real cabin that is, with electricity, no plumbing, and the finest outhouse in Christendom. Over the years friends and relatives visited to share in the joy of mosquitoes and ticks. Eventually the cabin became the center for wilderness canoe fishing. A large dollop of humor and a seasoned hint of thought complete the stew of this memoir.

The global DevOps market is valued at over $8 billion. But this vital sector remains complex and intimidating for many. Unlock your full potential and uncover the key insights with Confident DevOps. DevOps is defined by the practices, methodologies and tools which are necessary for any software development endeavor to succeed. It is a unique and fascinating discipline, which requires technical expertise, managerial skills and strong communication skills. Confident DevOps guides you through the entire software development lifecycle, offering insights on key topics including system architecture and cyber security. With fascinating insights on the various career paths and opportunities, this book offers the practical skills, knowledge and confidence you need to develop your DevOps expertise and pursue a successful career. About the Confident series... From coding and data science to cloud and cyber security, the Confident books are perfect for building your technical knowledge and enhancing your professional career.

The global DevOps market is valued at over $8 billion. But this vital sector remains complex and intimidating for many. Unlock your full potential and uncover the key insights with Confident DevOps. DevOps is defined by the practices, methodologies and tools which are necessary for any software development endeavor to succeed. It is a unique and fascinating discipline, which requires technical expertise, managerial skills and strong communication skills. Confident DevOps guides you through the entire software development lifecycle, offering insights on key topics including system architecture and cyber security. With fascinating insights on the various career paths and opportunities, this book offers the practical skills, knowledge and confidence you need to develop your DevOps expertise and pursue a successful career. About the Confident series... From coding and data science to cloud and cyber security, the Confident books are perfect for building your technical knowledge and enhancing your professional career.

My aim with this book is to share my experiences of this wondrous field we call hypnosis, supported by discussions of standard theories and models. As our understanding of brain function unfolds so too will more concepts of the form and practice of hypnotism. We may even be calling it by a new name in the not-too-distant future; 'mesmerism' wasn't the first name used, and 'hypnosis' may not be the last. 'Mindfulness' is one term in vogue at the moment, as is 'guided visualization'. In addition to my journey, the book discusses and details the approaches of Elman, Spiegel, and Erickson, as the three main models of hypnosis. I titled the book the Accidental Hypnotist as my aim is to help spread the realisation that hypnosis is actually a naturally occurring phenomenon that each of us experience on a daily basis. It has been said that "You cannot not influence"; once you can accept that everything you say and do influences you and those around you it is only a small step to grasp that we each put ourselves and each other into a natural trance. When you plan a holiday, consider how a redecorated room will look, imagine excelling at a sport etc. it is your imagination that motivates you to succeed or fail; it is self-hypnosis by another name. It's your brain so it seems the study of how to get it to do what you want it to do is a useful pursuit.

Do you believe you will live for eternity? Or do you believe that life on this earth is all there is? If this life is all there is, what is the meaning of it? Are you sure you know? Many, if not most, of the people in this world never even contemplate these questions.When you do, you must realize that each of us could be wrong in our assumptions about this present life, as well as what is waiting for us after our lives have run their course Some of us seem to have everything that could make us happy--yet we struggle with heartaches that keep us from the true happiness we should have. After all, isn't that what we are all seeking: true happiness? But what if the "happiness" we are so intent on achieving is really a lie this world imposes on us? Is there anything in this world that will indeed give us true joy? Come along in this compelling read to get some answers to these questions and others you may have about what you are really seeking in this life--and in the life to come What people are saying about If You Die Today "'Jesus is not as concerned with what we do, but with what we are.' This is a precious pearl of truth that Dr. Mark Peters holds up to the light in his new book, If You Die Today Where Will You Be Tomorrow?Dr. Peters employs a format similar to his previous two books, wherein he bases each of the 11 chapters upon a singular element of the title, be it word or punctuation mark. These individual elements provide a springboard for diving deep into the different components of the title question.What especially struck me about the way Mark brought answers to the surface, was how he attached a beatitude to each one and allowed the teaching of Jesus to float it up to the top. Thus, each chapter builds upon the preceding chapter in much the same way that the beatitudes build upon each other. This really depicts the transformative progression that occurs when one is drawn to Christ by God's grace, dies to self, and is nourished by faith in Christ to produce spiritual fruit. This is the kind of fruit that is good today, will be good tomorrow, and lasts forever.Thanks again, Mark, for not only being a hearer of the word but a doer who encourages others by your candidness, transparency, and steadfast commitment to the Word of God and the love of Jesus Christ " --Mr. Bob Leffingwell"Fantastic book Best of the three that Mark has written Drives home the point that we let our busy lives keep us from spending time with our Lord and Savior. The pivotal question we all must face is in the title: If You Die Today Where Will You Be Tomorrow?" --Dr. Buddy McClung"The eternity of man is at stake, and the solution is the gospel for it is the power of God for salvation. How will we respond to a world that desperately needs to hear this message? Mark unashamedly proclaims the good news of the gospel and shares his life experiences of living this out. His stories are captivating, his exhortation for believers to deepen their faith is unfeigned, and his passion for sharing Christ is encouraging. The question of one's eternity is paramount and as I read this book it challenged me to think about how I should be sharing the gospel with the people who God has put in my life." --Mr. Jon Helander

This is a book about meaningful leadership-the kind of leadership that succeeds in running a profitable business, in improving the lives of frontline workers, and in helping the community in which you do business thrive. In other words, the kind of leadership we need now, and the kind of leadership that can only come from business leaders. Too many of our workers walk a financial tightrope, with one small setback leading to a cascading number of other problems-the kind of blow that can jeopardize attendance, productivity, and employment. Businesses pay the price, too, through absenteeism and lost productivity, distracted or unmotivated workers, and turnover. What if you could fix it? What if you could create structures for your employees-outside your own HR department-that could make the essential difference between keeping a job and losing it? In this book, Mark Peters shows you how. He describes a clear, practical, successful and repeatable path you can take to serve your company, workforce, and community, modeled on the hugely successful collaboration he founded with other business owners. This book is a blueprint any group of businesses in any community can use.

This is a book about meaningful leadership-the kind of leadership that succeeds in running a profitable business, in improving the lives of frontline workers, and in helping the community in which you do business thrive. In other words, the kind of leadership we need now, and the kind of leadership that can only come from business leaders. Too many of our workers walk a financial tightrope, with one small setback leading to a cascading number of other problems-the kind of blow that can jeopardize attendance, productivity, and employment. Businesses pay the price, too, through absenteeism and lost productivity, distracted or unmotivated workers, and turnover. What if you could fix it? What if you could create structures for your employees-outside your own HR department-that could make the essential difference between keeping a job and losing it? In this book, Mark Peters shows you how. He describes a clear, practical, successful and repeatable path you can take to serve your company, workforce, and community, modeled on the hugely successful collaboration he founded with other business owners. This book is a blueprint any group of businesses in any community can use.