Kirjahaku

The winds of change were everywhere and like much of youth in the 60's and 70's, Mark and Sara became swept up in the counterculture as they attended a large university in the Midwest. It was a turbulent time as people throughout the country questioned the institutions and traditions around them. Some also pushed the boundaries of thought, experience, and consciousness. Mark and Sara would not only explore their separate identities within this context, but ultimately find each other while absorbed in the pursuit.With greater immersion in the counterculture, however, came a need to navigate between this foreign new world and one embodied by old friends, family, and significant others-people who could never fully understand the changes that were being wrought. For Mark and Sara, this meant being pulled in opposing directions, maintaining some ties, obstructing others, and trying to remain true to themselves.Bright Colors is a novel which addresses the conflicts and choices which were confronted by many of the people who lived in those times. The story is told against the backdrop of civil rights struggles, war, political scandal, and the richness of the culture. It looks at this period with fresh honesty, offering an unflinching depiction of how this era was lived amid the sex, drugs, rock 'n' roll, and social change. Yet, the primary focus is on the humanity of the central characters-their strengths & quirks, warmth, humor, and the way they meet the challenges of life. These aren't the cartoonish stereotypes one often sees in a countercultural treatment, but people with real depth and substance. Written by an author who knows the terrain well, Bright Colors has much to say about young relationships, the nature of people, and the lessons of an incredible moment in America. Whether readers want to revisit old times or get a unique and enlightening glimpse of a multifaceted era, this book will provide many hours of thought and entertainment.NOTE: This book contains passages of frank sexuality which are reflective of a young relationship. Those who are easily offended by such detailed material, need to take heed. In all cases, this content is used to support a realistic story and not for gratuitous purposes.

Whether it's a politician wallowing in piety to cast a spell upon the voters, or self-righteous clergy demanding that law conform with tribal edicts from long ago, there is an unrelenting effort to infuse our public institutions with spiritual thinking and goals. Proponents apparently forget that the leap of religious faith springs from doubt, not certainty, while condemning those who cannot overcome their skepticism about spirituality. Too few of the faithful seem to question how religious ideation originated and evolved from the primordial state of humanity-or how acceptance of hundreds (and perhaps thousands) of gods, diminished to belief in a few. History and social sciences suggest that these gods were created by humankind out of fear, anxiety, and superstition Still, sanctimonious individuals continue to point fingers at non-believers and secularists as though logical doubts about spiritual forces, somehow suggests questionable judgment or character.In this third edition of No Santa, No Tooth Fairy, No God-The Need To Challenge Faith In America, Michael Spry not only explores pitfalls in religious thinking, but also the place of non-believers in U.S. culture and law. Ultimately, the author puts forth the proposition that as long as the religious community continues to demand a blurring of the line between church and state, and until sufficient respect is directed toward those who do not believe in gods, non-theistic individuals must step up to challenge the reasoning behind religious faith. Using innovative techniques which can help faithful or faithless readers to see issues with fresh eyes, Spry writes about his subject in a way which is thought-provoking and engaging. The importance of activism and bold countercultural approaches, can be seen with far greater clarity within this carefully-crafted book.

In this book, Michael Spry brings together a confluence of two projects. Ten chapters and all of the appendices have been lifted from his monumental book, Reframing Thermoelectric Fundamentals For Greater Understanding. Also, ten new chapters have been created to expand awareness of electrical phenomena and thermoelectric (TE) system design principles. Together, they form a comprehensive guide which weds theoretical and practical concepts. In over three decades of work within the field, Michael Spry has strived to bring wider comprehension of thermoelectric fundamentals and applications. Toward that end, he developed computer models which rely upon the temperature dependency of bulk material properties to explore balanced operation in TE elements. Through this innovative work, the author breaks down the Seebeck, Peltier, & Thomson Effects, along with thermal conduction, and electrical resistivity. In the process, he explores how steady-state operation can evolve within TE power generation, cooling, and heating. With the addition of practical guidance on the design of TE systems, the author has compiled a far-reaching treatment of thermoelectricity. With meticulous study, readers can gain a very thorough grasp of critical concepts.