Christopher J Ferguson

Commemorating 30 years of space shuttle exploration, this beautifully crafted photography book, now in a revised format, curates the finest NASA space shuttle images into one inspirational collection. Arranged in thematic chapters ranging from launch pad through launch sequence, to the missions themselves and the dramatic conclusion of the return flight and landing, this is a fascinating photographic history of the world’s first reusable space craft. Space Shuttle: A Photographic Journey pays tribute to the five pioneering orbiters built by NASA: Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour. It was developed by author Luke Wesley Price through exhaustive study of the NASA archives and painstaking post-production processing of images to enhance their visual impact, all guided by correspondence with inspirational shuttle pilots such as the late Bruce McCandless. The book tells the story of the space shuttle through extraordinary moments in a selection of NASA’s 135 shuttle missions. Beautifully reproduced photographs capture the drama and danger of the hazardous launch sequences and vividly depict the techniques and challenges of mission tasks including space walks, in-flight maintenance work and docking with the International Space Station. The book also collates the details of every space shuttle mission flown, including launch dates and lists of crew, alongside a gallery of the 135 exquisitely designed mission patches.

Orphaned by war yet blessed by the gods, the slave-girl Tisiphone is chosen to become an assassin for the Greek Empire of the North. Fighting her way up from the slave pits, Tisiphone is given to the scarred warrior, Chloe, to train. The seasoned warrior prepares Tisiphone the only way Chloe knows: with the lash, with blood, with fear that must be conquered. For if Tisiphone is to stand with her sister Furies against the barbarian horde that threatens the Empire, she must be made to be like bronze: razor-sharp and unbending. But Tisiphone's heart will not be turned to ice. Tisiphone tempers war with love; for her sister Furies, for a man, perhaps even for undeserving Chloe herself.

What Happens To Our Minds During Pandemics, Natural Disasters, Terrorist Attacks, and Other Extreme Calamities?Whether natural or man-made, local or global, disasters impact our thinking and behavior on both a personal and societal level. Even rather ordinary crises in our personal lives like the loss of a job or the end of a relationship trigger overwhelming feelings. At the societal level, group anxieties coupled with the moral pressure to conform can send us all down the path to ruin. Why does this happen and, through understanding human psychology, how can we prevent this in the future?In this highly original and engagingly written book, Author Christopher J. Ferguson examines how pandemics, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, and other events of mass hysteria impact our psychology and prevent us from adequately responding to, preventing, or learning from those calamities.From the rush to hoard toilet paper during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, to the disconnect between procedure and practice surrounding massive wildfires, to debates about the science behind climate catastrophes, and shifts after traumatic events like 9/11 and the murder of George Floyd, The Psychology of Catastrophe uses in-depth case studies to reveal how moments of societal upheaval affect the psychology of citizens.Though we have often failed to predict, respond to, and learn from catastrophes, we have nonetheless made remarkable progress. Ferguson concludes by offering strategies to help us make better choices during crises in our own lives and providing solutions for how we as a society can better navigate misfortune in the future.

Commemorating 30 years of space shuttle exploration, this beautifully crafted photography book, now in a revised format, curates the finest NASA space shuttle images into one inspirational collection. Arranged in thematic chapters ranging from launch pad through launch sequence, to the missions themselves and the dramatic conclusion of the return flight and landing, this is a fascinating photographic history of the world’s first reusable space craft. Space Shuttle: A Photographic Journey pays tribute to the five pioneering orbiters built by NASA: Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour. It was developed by author Luke Wesley Price through exhaustive study of the NASA archives and painstaking post-production processing of images to enhance their visual impact, all guided by correspondence with inspirational shuttle pilots such as the late Bruce McCandless. The book tells the story of the space shuttle through extraordinary moments in a selection of NASA’s 135 shuttle missions. Beautifully reproduced photographs capture the drama and danger of the hazardous launch sequences and vividly depict the techniques and challenges of mission tasks including space walks, in-flight maintenance work and docking with the International Space Station. The book also collates the details of every space shuttle mission flown, including launch dates and lists of crew, alongside a gallery of the 135 exquisitely designed mission patches.

In family rooms across America, millions of children and teenagers are playing video games, such as Call of Duty, Halo, and Grand Theft Auto, roaming violent virtual worlds--with virtual guns in their hands. In what sometimes seems like an increasingly violent world, it's only natural to worry about the effects of all this pixelated gore. But is that concern misplaced? Authors and psychologists Patrick M. Markey and Christopher J. Ferguson say it is. The media and politicians have been sounding the alarm for years, and with every fresh tragedy involving a young perpetrator comes another flurry of articles about the dangers of violent media. The problem is this: Their fear isn't supported by the evidence. In fact, unlike the video game--trained murder machines depicted in the press, school shooters are actually less likely to be interested in violent games than their peers. In reality, most well-adjusted children and teenagers play violent video games, all without ever exhibiting violent behavior in real life. What's more, spikes in sales of violent games actually correspond to decreased rates of violent crime. If that surprises you, you're not alone--the national dialogue on games and violence has been hopelessly biased. But that's beginning to change. Scholars are finding that not only are violent games not one of society's great evils, they may even be a force for good. In Moral Combat, Markey and Ferguson explore how video games--even the bloodiest--can have a positive impact on everything from social skills to stress, and may even make us more morally sensitive. Tracing the rise of violent games from arcades to online deathmatches, they have spent years on the front lines of the video game debate and now offer a comprehensive overview of the scientific research on gaming. With humor, complete honesty, and extensive research, they separate the myth from the medium. Moral Combat is an irreverent and informative guide to the worries--and wonders--of our violent virtual world.

A campus shooting. A gang assault. A school bus ambush. With each successive event, fingers are pointed at the usual suspects: violent films, bloody video games, explicit web sites. But to what extent can—or should—the media be implicated in youth crime? And are today's sophisticated young people really that susceptible to their influence?Adolescents, Crime, and the Media critically examines perceptions of these phenomena through the lens of the ongoing relationship between generations of adults and youth. A wealth of research findings transcends the standard nature/nurture debate, analyzing media effects on young people's behavior, brain development in adolescence, ways adults can be misled about youth’s participation in criminal acts, and how science can be manipulated by prevailing attitudes toward youth. The author strikes a necessary balance between the viewpoints of media providers and those seeking to restrict media or young people's access to them. And the book brings scientific and intellectual rigor to culturally and politically charged issues as it covers:Violence in the media.Media portrayals of crime and youth.Research on violent television programs, video games, and other media as causes of crime.Effects of pornography on behavior.Public policy, censorship, and First Amendment issues.Adolescents, Crime, and the Media is an essential resource for researchers, graduate students, professionals, and clinicians across such interrelated disciplines as developmental psychology, sociology, educational policy, criminology/criminal justice, child and school psychology, and media law.

As a young woman in Florence, Diana Savrano's life is a privileged one of elegant balls, handsome suitors and frivolity. But the sudden death of her mother leaves her adrift and abandoned. As she sobs over her mother's casket, another member of the procession reveals the awful truth. Before her last days, Diana's mother had joined a Luciferian cult. Despite knowing little beyond her pampered world, Diana determines to unmask those responsible for her mother's death. But someone does not want such secrets revealed, and they are willing to send assassins to keep her silent. Paranoia and loneliness set in as even her closest friends reveal hidden agendas. Worst of all, the further she follows the intertwined threads, the closer they appear to lead to her own father.

A campus shooting. A gang assault. A school bus ambush. With each successive event, fingers are pointed at the usual suspects: violent films, bloody video games, explicit web sites. But to what extent can—or should—the media be implicated in youth crime? And are today's sophisticated young people really that susceptible to their influence?Adolescents, Crime, and the Media critically examines perceptions of these phenomena through the lens of the ongoing relationship between generations of adults and youth. A wealth of research findings transcends the standard nature/nurture debate, analyzing media effects on young people's behavior, brain development in adolescence, ways adults can be misled about youth’s participation in criminal acts, and how science can be manipulated by prevailing attitudes toward youth. The author strikes a necessary balance between the viewpoints of media providers and those seeking to restrict media or young people's access to them. And the book brings scientific and intellectual rigor to culturally and politically charged issues as it covers:Violence in the media.Media portrayals of crime and youth.Research on violent television programs, video games, and other media as causes of crime.Effects of pornography on behavior.Public policy, censorship, and First Amendment issues.Adolescents, Crime, and the Media is an essential resource for researchers, graduate students, professionals, and clinicians across such interrelated disciplines as developmental psychology, sociology, educational policy, criminology/criminal justice, child and school psychology, and media law.