At a glance, it bears few similarities to any place we know and inhabit. But upon closer examination, the differences between this complex virtual reality and our own might not be as vast as we think. In “How You Play the Game,” author and philosopher Charlie Huenemann looks philosophically at the game of Minecraft (“What is the point of this game? How does one win? Well, this depends on what you want to do”) and grapples with the ethical conundrums, existential crises and moral responsibilities of the virtual realm. From the Overworld to the Ender Dragon, Huenemann offers an entertaining, insightful and often hilarious examination of Minecraft and the strange worlds—both virtual and not—surrounding it.Charlie Huenemann is a Professor of Philosophy at Utah State University. He writes for 3quarksdaily, and has published several books on the history of philosophy.Cover design by Adil Dara.

    A gamer and a bit of a nerd, Sean's philosophy in life has been to keep his head down and get his work done: He doesn't have the time or money for anything more after his father died in an industrial accident when Sean was eight. But when a failed kidnapping attempt leaves him with a gaping hole in his memory, his oldest friend dead, and his mother missing, Sean suddenly finds his whole world turned upside down as he's thrust into the hidden world of magic and the supernatural. Apparently he's now wanted, dead or alive, by all of the magical societies, though he has no idea why. About the only thing going for him is what his friend did for him just before he died and the cute track star who lives in the room next to his, who has suddenly taken a very personal interest in his problems. Perfect Strangers, book 2:During his junior year in college, Sean finds himself suddenly dropped into the middle of a world that he didn't even know existed. A secret world of magic and magic users, lycanthropes, goblins, and all the other things that go bump in the night. To make matters even more difficult, the very same magic users who had Sean's father killed now believe that Sean will somehow inherit his father's work when he turns 21, which is just a few days away. Needless to say most of the magic users' councils seem to be in two camps: The first camp wants him dead. The second camp wants him captured and will probably kill him after they've learned his secrets. The only solution Sean sees to any of this is to finish his father's work, the very thing that got his father killed. But in order to do that, Sean must first find out just what his father was working on! He's also going to need to learn magic himself, find a safe place to stay, raise some money, and gain a lot of allies. Fortunately for Sean he's got two good women at his side: Roxy, a cheetah lycanthrope with a lot of experience in fighting; and Jolene, a tantric witch with more than a few connections in the supernatural black market. WARNING: The Valens Legacy contains explicit sexuality, nudity, violence, bad language, attempted murder, actual murder, self-defense, proactive self-defense, destruction of private property, vandalism, breaking and entering, tantric magic, polyamory, mayhem, gratuitous sex and violence, littering, breaking speed limits, a used car dealer, one Plymouth hemi, and some poor guy who just wants to earn a paycheck as a cashier.

    It ended in murder.In present day, Adam Tate is in a rush to build his wife’s dream home. She’s ill, and he lives with the looming fear that her days are numbered in months rather than years. As he digs the foundation for their new home, he makes a chilling discovery-long-buried skeletons. On impulse, he hides the grave and pushes it from his mind.When Adam and his wife Holly move into their new home six months later, it becomes clear that Adam has awoken something that will not be silenced.Step into a story of betrayal, murder, and voices from beyond the grave.

    But to do it well, you need familiarity with a wide array of equipment and techniques. This book covers them all. It delivers practical (and occasionally passionate) advice on everything from studio acoustics to jitter, miking drum sets to producing surround sound. The authors take you inside the modern studio, from its physical layout to the recording process and participants roles. After a surprisingly useful primer on sound and hearing, they turn to equipment: mikes, digital audio (and when to use analog tape instead); MIDI, amps, consoles, speakers, and more. You ll find in-depth, practical guidance on synchronization, noise reduction, mastering, manufacturing CDs -- really, just about any facet of recording you re interested in. Bill Camarda, from the July 2005 href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/newslet... Only

     If you've made the promise to cut back or have rules regarding when or how much you're going to drink, then this book will address why those seemingly clear lines in the sand are always crossed. Alcohol is SH!T will provide you with the foundation to move forward in life without alcohol through: Showing the reader how alcohol is the most addictive and dangerous drug on the planet Debunking myths surrounding alcohol such as alcohol doesn't relax you but slows down faculties in the brain and body Demonstrating how to formally say goodbye to alcohol, so both the conscious and unconscious mind are on the same page Shining the light on the primordial addiction: thinking Empowering the reader with the understanding that quitting drinking isn't a sacrifice, but the OPPORTUNITY of a lifetime Informing readers that an alcohol-free life isn't a "no" to alcohol, but a "yes" to a better life and this path can be a lot of fun Educating readers on where and how to start recovering the person you were always meant to be With lightheartedness, clarity, and no BS, Alcohol is SH!T will allow the reader to remove the fog created by alcohol and provide them with the tools necessary to quit drinking. Follow the advice in this book, and your new life awaits — one filled with inner peace, self-compassion, and an abundance of joy. Within the first couple of pages, the reader will begin to feel a weight lifting, and for probably the first time, will know what role alcohol is playing in their lives. What's stopping you from stepping into your new life? Scroll to the top and click the "buy now" button.

     This book contains an introduction to quantum mechanics, with complete instructions and videos showing you how to program a real quantum computer, provided by IBM.

    From using microphones to deciding on EQ settings, choosing outboard gear to understanding how, when and why to process your signal, the seemingly never-ending choices can be very confusing. Professional Audio's bestselling author Bobby Owsinski (The Mixing Engineer's Handbook, The Mastering Engineer's Handbook) takes you into the tracking process for all manner of instruments and vocals-- providing you with the knowledge and skill to make sense of the many choices you have in any given project. From acoustic to electronic instruments, mic placement to EQ settings, everything you need to know to capture professionally recorded audio tracks is in this guide.

    George Martin reveals the technical and musical challenges of working with The Beatles, while Phil Ramone, producer for such artists as Billy Joel, discusses studio wall treatments. Offering real-world advice on everything from mics to mixing to coaching a nervous singer, producers interviewed include Arif Mardin (Aretha Franklin), Brian Wilson (The Beach Boys), Alan Parsons (Pink Floyd) and more.

    Overpaid. Ungrateful. Removed from reality. These words are often used to describe modern day footballers. None of them apply to Jon Parkin. The South Yorkshire boy has seen and done it all in a footballing life that peaked with promotion to the Premier League and plummeted to the National League North, taking in spells with no fewer than 14 different clubs. His story is one of a natural goalscorer whose talent is always in demand. His unconventional frame and liking for a lager or ten meant pre-season was always a struggle. His straight-talking style and knack of finding himself in trouble resulted in countless bust-ups with managers. But when patience, cash or contracts ran out, there was always another club ready to take a chance on him. Along the way there have been battles with booze, betting and depression. Marital breakdown and brushes with the law didn’t help, while thousands of motorway miles were covered in a bid to stay in touch with his Barnsley roots and his beloved son. There’s also been plenty of mischief. One holidaymaker in Magaluf won’t easily forget what she found in Parkin’s bath while there’s a golf towel in a hospital car park that nobody would want to find. FEED THE BEAST will feed your curiosity about the real life of a footballer.

    But fighting for justice is always worth it. Continue the exciting adventure and magical intrigue of The Unstoppable Liv Beaufont with books 5 - 8 in this Urban Fantasy series today! The Loyal Friend: The truth would change everything. But no one knows it. Except for Liv Beaufont and those who have been hiding it for centuries. Fueled to uncover the facts and restore the House of Seven to what it’s supposed to be, Liv starts searching for resources. However, the Council has different plans for her. They put her on a case that is sure to keep her busy…if not get her killed. Werewolves are real. And they have their own secrets. Liv ventures to the village where werewolves originated and learns who she can trust and who needs to be taken out. But doing so won’t be easy. And just when Liv thinks she’s finally conquered evil, an old nemesis comes back to haunt her. The Stubborn Advocate: Some people won’t rest until they get to the bottom of things. That’s Liv Beaufont. And some want to kill her for her persistence. To try and keep Liv from finding out the truth, Adler brings back an ancient evil that the Warriors exterminated long ago. Now, alone, Liv will have to battle monsters so dark, they frighten even the strongest magical creatures. But she can’t be deterred from her quest for the truth. While trying to take down evil beasts, Liv also works to uncover why mortals can’t see magic. Her journey takes her to the last place she wants to go: where her parents died. What she finds, changes everything. The Unrelenting Fighter: When saving the world is your job, it’s impossible to get a day off. Liv Beaufont wouldn’t want one anyway. It’s a good thing because being Father Time’s only employee is demanding. Liv can hardly believe she has to carry a chicken around while fighting villains. However, the chicken is supremely important. She just doesn’t know how. Or what the bird wants to eat… And then there’s Sophia’s dragon egg. Whoever stole it is going to pay big time when Liv gets ahold of them. In the meantime, Subner helps Liv to track down the elf who made Inexorabilis. Unlocking the memories Liv’s mother sealed into the sword is crucial. What she finds is supposed to change everything. Mortals have never been more at risk. Adler Sinclair wants them gone, once and for all. However, there’s a long list of things Liv Beaufont won’t allow to happen. First, mortals can’t die. Secondly, the brainwashing has to stop. And thirdly, the person who killed her family is going to pay. Badly. The stakes have never been higher.

     What would you do if you were invited to study at the Magical Arts Academy? Enroll, of course! Join Isadora and her crew of magical misfits. Embark on a wild adventure today! Omnibus 3 includes books 9-13 of the Magical Arts Academy: Castle's Curse Spirited Escape Dragon's Fury Magic Ignites Powers Unleashed

    An ex-cop with nothing left to lose. After losing his job and family, Flint Reed finds himself in the middle of a terrorist attack. With nothing but his wits and experience as a former Union police officer, he must do everything he can to stay alive. As he soon discovers, however, there are also hostages, and no one is coming to save them. All hope falls to Flint. But as he fights to navigate the building, the real answers begin to unravel. What are the terrorists really after, and why are they so intent on getting into the vault? Experience the beginning of the Resonant Son series.

    Her job isn’t easy, but it has always been black and white—criminals versus victims. Now she is the victim, and the very system she’s fought to uphold is suddenly corrupt, the lines between good and bad are blurred and her world has turned upside down. She’s always known that world existed—a world of power so immense that a single phone call can result in people disappearing or political offices being vacated, a world where doctors are available at a moment’s notice. She’s never been part of that world—never wanted to be. The body count is rising, and unless she finds proof beyond a reasonable doubt against a corrupt former federal judge, and a notorious criminal defense attorney, it will continue to rise.

    After all of the drama that ensued when she discovered that Aric McHale—her former boss, lover, and father to her son—was married, Chyanne has found a man to call her own. She has it made in the shade . . . or so she thinks. Stephanie, Aric’s ex-wife, may have been found guilty of attempted murder, but she hasn’t been sentenced yet. She is still free to walk to the streets. Gabriel, Aric’s best friend, is trying to deal with the fallout from Stephanie’s conviction. He has to face issues surrounding his mother and father’s secret relationship, as well as keep a secret from Aric that could ruin their friendship. Aric thought he didn’t want to be with Chyanne, until he saw how happy she was with Jamie. Now he’s rethinking his decision to leave her alone. When it comes to Chyanne, what Aric wants is what Aric gets. Jamie has some skeletons of his own that are about to fall out of the closet. With all of the lies that will be exposed, Jamie and Chyanne’s seemingly perfect relationship just might come unraveled.