Jack Williams

This book of seven short stories contains reflections that my mother, Lila Leon Kearney Williams, recorded before her death in 1976. She lived part of her life in the West Desert in the village of Callao located on the northern part of an eighty mile long valley called Snake Valley that extends from Gold Hill Utah to Baker Nevada. Some of her stories were passed down to her from aunts and uncles and some are about her life as a youth in this desert region. Other reflections are my own, extrapolated from experiences I've had myself traveling to this desert region to camp, to explore and to relive some of the heritage I claim from this area.

A graphic personal account, The Rigger exposes the extreme risks undertaken by specialist operators in order to provide and maintain first-class communications in Northern Ireland. The author, who served alongside the SAS and other covert military organisations, spares no detail in describing the dangers, tensions, dramas and humour of life at the sharp end. Climbing 400-foot masts is not for the faint-hearted at the best of times but to do so in the bandit country of South Armagh or above staunchly IRA enclaves of Belfast and Londonderry is a whole new ball-game and, for some not as lucky as Jack Williams, a fatal one.

The 16th-Century intellectual Robert Recorde is chiefly remembered for introducing the equals sign into algebra, yet the greater significance and broader scope of his work is often overlooked. This book presents an authoritative and in-depth analysis of the man, his achievements and his historical importance. This scholarly yet accessible work examines the latest evidence on all aspects of Recorde’s life, throwing new light on a character deserving of greater recognition. Topics and features: presents a concise chronology of Recorde’s life; examines his published works; describes Recorde’s professional activities in the minting of money and the mining of silver, as well as his dispute with William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke; investigates Recorde’s work as a physician, his linguistic and antiquarian interests, and his religious beliefs; discusses the influence of Recorde’s publisher, Reyner Wolfe, in his life; reviews his legacy to 17th-Century science, and to modern computer science and mathematics.

Taiwan experienced a highly successful economic transformation in the last 50 years that produced one of Asia’s genuine ‘miracles’ of modern development, in terms of improvement in per capita income and overall quality of material well being for its citizens. The process, though, involved rapid industrialization and urbanization, and breakneck mass consumption, that inevitably resulted in rapid escalation in degradation of the island’s fragile air, water, and land, and produced some of the worst environmental pollution to be found anywhere in AsiaThis book examines the causes of Taiwan's environmental predicament, engaging in Taiwan's unique geological, geographical, demographical, political, industrial, historical and economic circumstances. In addition, Jack Williams and Ch'ang-yi David Chang assess the efforts of the government, NGOs and private citizens to create a "green" environmentally sustainable island, with a high tech economy based on the silicon chip, the backbone of Taiwan’s highly successful IT industry. Finally the authors discuss what can be done to improve Taiwan's environmental future. As the first commercially available book in English on Taiwan’s environmental problems this is an invaluable read for students and scholars interested in environmental studies, sustainable development and the island of Taiwan.

Cricket and broadcasting explores how the significance of radio and television to cricket in England has grown since the beginnings of broadcasting. Since the Second World War cricket has been increasingly shaped by its relationship with broadcasting which has been a force for conservatism and change. Representations of cricket on radio and television have done much to determine levels of interest and participation in the sport. Major changes such as the growth of the limited-overs game, the expansion of international cricket, reforms to County Championship and the rise of sponsorship were dependent on support from television, and income from television has enabled county cricket to survive as the highest form of domestic cricket in England.This accessibly written book will be essential reading for scholars and students of sports history, social and cultural history, and media studies.

As the monstrous and soon to be infamous Hurricane Katrina approached New Orleans, the National Weather Service issued this dire warning: 'Devastating damage expected...A most powerful hurricane with unprecedented strength...Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks.' Few Americans would deny the eerie accuracy of that prediction or forget the destruction wrought by that vicious storm. Extreme weather like Katrina can be a matter of life and death. But even when it is pleasant - 72 degrees and sunny - weather is still central to the lives of all Americans. Indeed, it's hard to imagine a topic of greater collective interest. America has one of the most varied and dynamic weather systems in the world. Every year, the Gulf coast is battered by hurricanes, the Great Plains are ravaged by tornados, the Midwest is pummeled by blizzards, and the temperature in the Southwest reaches a sweltering 120 degrees. Whether we want to know if we should close the storm shutters or just carry an umbrella to work, we turn to forecasts. But few of us really understand the science behind them. For Weather Channel junkies, amateur meteorologists, and storm chasers alike, "The AMS Weather Book" is an invaluable tool for anyone who wants to better understand how weather works and how it affects our lives. All that will change with "The AMS Weather Book". The most comprehensive and up-to-date guide to our weather and our atmosphere, it is the ultimate resource for anyone who wants to understand how hurricanes form, why tornados twirl, or even why the sky is cerulean blue. Covering everything from daily weather patterns to air pollution and global warming, "The AMS Weather Book" will help readers make sense of news about the weather, cope with threats, and learn how integral oceanic and atmospheric science are to navigating our place in the physical world. Written by esteemed science journalist and former "USA Today" weather editor Jack Williams, "The AMS Weather Book" explores not only the science behind the weather but also the stories of people coping with severe weather and those who devote their lives to understanding the atmosphere, oceans, and climate. The book's profiles and historic discussions illustrate how meteorology and the related sciences are interwoven throughout our lives. Words alone, of course, are not adequate to explain many meteorological concepts. To illustrate complex phenomena, "The AMS Weather Book" is filled with engaging full-color graphics that explain such concepts as why winds blow in a particular direction, how Doppler weather radar works, what happens inside hurricanes, how clouds create wind and snow, and what's really affecting the Earth's climate.

Taiwan experienced a highly successful economic transformation in the last 50 years that produced one of Asia’s genuine ‘miracles’ of modern development, in terms of improvement in per capita income and overall quality of material well being for its citizens. The process, though, involved rapid industrialization and urbanization, and breakneck mass consumption, that inevitably resulted in rapid escalation in degradation of the island’s fragile air, water, and land, and produced some of the worst environmental pollution to be found anywhere in AsiaThis book examines the causes of Taiwan's environmental predicament, engaging in Taiwan's unique geological, geographical, demographical, political, industrial, historical and economic circumstances. In addition, Jack Williams and Ch'ang-yi David Chang assess the efforts of the government, NGOs and private citizens to create a "green" environmentally sustainable island, with a high tech economy based on the silicon chip, the backbone of Taiwan’s highly successful IT industry. Finally the authors discuss what can be done to improve Taiwan's environmental future. As the first commercially available book in English on Taiwan’s environmental problems this is an invaluable read for students and scholars interested in environmental studies, sustainable development and the island of Taiwan.

The Appalachian mountain chain once contained the highest and most dramatic mountains on earth. Worn down over time, these mountains still hold some of the most diverse climactic zones and singular geological formations in existence. In ""East 40 Degrees: An Interpretive Atlas"", Jack Williams examines a succession of beautiful but little-known towns along this cordillera (a term descended from the Latin chorda, meaning ""braided rope""), revealing in their layers of history and geography how both their diverse cultural and social circumstances and their geological history were instrumental in forming each town's distinctive character. Referring to the spatial orientation of the Appalachian mountain chain, the ""east 40 degrees"" of the title runs from Alabama through fifteen states to the coast of Maine. Each town, Williams examines, sits within the folds of these mountains or beside a river nourished in their moist uplands. Beginning his record with the continental collisions that shaped each town's history more than 300 million years ago, Williams allows us to ""see the tenuous web of connections between ourselves and the natural processes that shape this earth."" Featuring a wealth of beautiful and significant illustrations and maps, this unique work brings into focus the critical issues of environmental and cultural sustainability confronting us today. Elegant, poetic, and erudite, ""East 40 Degrees"" will appeal to architects and landscape architects, planners, environmental historians, ecologists, geographers, and anyone interested in the history and origins of our modern landscapes and towns. Publication of this volume was assisted by a grant from Furthermore: a program of the J. M. Kaplan Fund.

The Appalachian mountain chain once contained the highest and most dramatic mountains on earth. Worn down over time, these mountains still hold some of the most diverse climactic zones and singular geological formations in existence. In ""East 40 Degrees: An Interpretive Atlas"", Jack Williams examines a succession of beautiful but little-known towns along this cordillera (a term descended from the Latin chorda, meaning ""braided rope""), revealing in their layers of history and geography how both their diverse cultural and social circumstances and their geological history were instrumental in forming each town's distinctive character. Referring to the spatial orientation of the Appalachian mountain chain, the ""east 40 degrees"" of the title runs from Alabama through fifteen states to the coast of Maine. Each town, Williams examines, sits within the folds of these mountains or beside a river nourished in their moist uplands. Beginning his record with the continental collisions that shaped each town's history more than 300 million years ago, Williams allows us to ""see the tenuous web of connections between ourselves and the natural processes that shape this earth."" Featuring a wealth of beautiful and significant illustrations and maps, this unique work brings into focus the critical issues of environmental and cultural sustainability confronting us today. Elegant, poetic, and erudite, ""East 40 Degrees"" will appeal to architects and landscape architects, planners, environmental historians, ecologists, geographers, and anyone interested in the history and origins of our modern landscapes and towns. Publication of this volume was assisted by a grant from Furthermore: a program of the J. M. Kaplan Fund.

A thorough, innovative yet entertaining and readable analysis of sport as an expression of the values and social relations of a nation. Covering the years between the two World Wars, the central place of sport in English life is brought into sharp focus, providing insight into issues of gender, class, religion and locality, ideas of morality, continuity and change, and what it meant to be English during this pivotal time. Themes include: the nature of sport and its place in national life how sport was portrayed in the media and through the sports stars of the age tradition and change in sport and in society gaining meaning from sport: the pursuit of pleasure, a moral code, and ideas of Englishness class, social conflict and social cohesion.This original and lucid study is ideal for students of sport and social history, and anyone with an interest in the social role of sport.

Discover the Unique Characters Hidden Inside the Strange and Wonderful World of Cypress Knees Noted carvers and authors Carol Jean Boyd and Jack Williams bring you the ultimate resource for unlocking the whimsical characters and wood spirits from within one of nature's most unique woods: cypress knees. Cypress "knees" are the little stumps found in swamps of the southeastern United States that protrude from the water in varying shapes, sizes and colors, and have even been known for their excellent carving properties.

Jack Williams provides a thought-provoking examination of television's role in British popular culture.