From teacups, riding boots, golf balls, and underwater sculpture to the villas of Palladio and the fish-feeding pavilion of the Peking Winter Palace, the author ranges over the less-familiar byways of designing excellence.At one time, writes Rasmussen, "the entire community tool part in forming the dwellings and implements they used. The individual was in fruitful contact with these things; the anonymous houses were built with a natural feeling for place, materials and use and the result was a remarkably suitable comeliness. Today, in our highly civilized society, the houses which ordinary people are doomed to live in and gaze upon are on the whole without quality. We cannot, however, go back to the old method of personally supervised handicrafts. We must strive to advance by arousing interest in and understanding of the work the architect does. The basis of competent professionalism is a sympathetic and knowledgeable group of amateurs, of non-professional art lovers."

    This revised fourth edition reflects the most recent changes in residential frame construction. It contains more details for engineered wood products, fasteners, and seismic hold-down requirements, as well as the latest IRC code updates. It is well annotated and covers foundations, floors, walls, stairs, and roofs. Because examples are taken from actual job sites by a trusted expert, this book is an invaluable visual aid that can help builders and homeowners alike to tackle a wide range of framing projects.

    Architecture, Jeremy Till argues with conviction in this engaging, sometimes pugnacious book, cannot help itself; it is dependent for its very existence on things outside itself. Despite the claims of autonomy, purity, and control that architects like to make about their practice, architecture is buffeted by uncertainty and contingency. Circumstances invariably intervene to upset the architect's best-laid plans--at every stage in the process, from design through construction to occupancy. Architects, however, tend to deny this, fearing contingency and preferring to pursue perfection. With Architecture Depends, architect and critic Jeremy Till offers a proposal for rescuing architects from themselves: a way to bridge the gap between what architecture actually is and what architects want it to be. Mixing anecdote, design, social theory, and personal experience, Till's writing is always accessible, moving freely between high and low registers, much like his suggestions for architecture itself.

    One of those soldiers was my son, who never made it back. Now, I'm here to ask you, was it worth it? ​​​​​​​ The gathering was supposed to have been a perfunctory media exercise on retiring Senator Jackson Ridge's last day in office. When a grieving mother slips in and poses that simple question though, everything - from Ridge's own legacy to American interests in Afghanistan - all get called into question. Racing against a ticking clock and powerful figures that would prefer to keep things happening across the globe a secret, Ridge must call on every last favor he has accumulated over the course of his time in office in search of answers. Answers that ultimately have him looking at more than just the life of a fallen soldier when trying to decide if, in fact, it was all worth it... From bestselling author Dustin Stevens comes a new standalone work, a gripping political thriller with equal parts suspense and mystery!

    Nevermind the fact that she is married to Evan. Everyone but her can see that Evan doesn’t have it all, even Serenity. Will Destiny see Evan’s true colors before it’s too late? Will Adonis finally get his Destiny? Ahmad has been feeling Krissy for some time now but he was too much of a ladies' man. Now ready to settle down with that one, will Krissy finally give in to what her heart wants? Is Krissy just another notch on his belt or is he seriously ready to become a one woman man? Rashard and Brooklyn are ready to say “I do” but will a secret break them apart before they make it past the honeymoon phase? Are they strong enough to overcome the obstacles that are thrown their way? In this fast-paced sequel, secrets will tear apart relationships, death will bring some close and new relationships are tested but will these couples survive it? Or will it all fall?

    While Midas and Cassidy enjoy a small getaway, Sierra and Joshua take the lead on this ghost hunt. A skeletal apparition terrorizes anyone who invades its territory. A black mist tries to smother a terrified client. Phantom mirrors break at Brady Hall and an otherworldly, palpable and paralyzing fear plagues the team. Will they be able to suppress their fear and help the volunteers of this historic Mobile, Alabama landmark? Or will this mean the doors close at Brady Hall forever? If you enjoy southern gothic stories with a modern twist and immersive ghost hunting, you'll love this episode of M.L. Bullock's Gulf Coast Paranormal. Grab a flashlight and your copy of The Spirits of Brady Hall now! Visit M.L. Bullock's website at www.mlbullock.com. Join her Facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/AuthorMLBullock

    B2B marketers are undervalued and under appreciated in many companies. Social media and online marketing provide the right mix of rich data and reduction in marketing expenses to help transform a marketer into a superstar. The B2B Social Media Book provides B2B marketers with actionable advice on leveraging blogging, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and more, combined with key strategic imperatives that serve as the backbone of effective B2B social media strategies.This book serves as the definitive reference for B2B marketers looking to master social media and take their career to the next level.Describes a methodology for generating leads using social media Details how to create content offers that increase conversion rates and drive leads from social media Offers practical advice for incorporating mobile strategies into the marketing mix Provides a step-by-step process for measuring the return on investment of B2B social media strategies The B2B Social Media Book will help readers establish a strong social media marketing strategy to generate more leads, become a marketing superstar in the eye of company leaders, and most importantly, contribute to business growth.

    During her stay there, she has made millions supplying the prison, and has half the staff on her payroll.With Messiah's release on his mind, Rasheed is the crack king of the tri state area. Nothing moves without his stamp of approval. With Ock as his right hand, they're dominating the game right now. His twin daughters are now three years old, and the spitting image of Messiah. They're the apple to his eye, all he is missing is his Queen to complete their Cocaine kingdom.While Messiah's incarceration, Jaylah took time off to be a wife and raise her son. Now with Messiah coming home, Ock notices she's cleaning her guns, ready for war. Will he be happy getting the Bonnie to his Clyde back?Eli is now married with a daughter by Tyesha. He's making money, but can't help but to keep falling short to the drug empire Rasheed has built. Knowing Messiah's release date is coming soon, he's strapped up to make sure his wife and daughter are protected. He wants to get Messiah before she gets him.... Will he?Messiah comes home and realizes that the Rasheed she left three years ago, isn't the same Rasheed. He's changed and so has she. Not willing to let Messiah get back to the streets, they fight constantly. Messiah struggles with being a wife, a mother and trap queen. Can she be all three?Courage comes to New York to find out about this cocaine princess. He's captivated by her, and wants to make her, his. Will Messiah's heart allow her to fall for someone else?LJ is happy that his sister is coming home,so he can end Juan's life. With his fiancé, Bronx by his side, they're ready to get at him. While in Miami, Bronx meets ,Karter. She's the daughter to the world's biggest distributor, Frank.Bronx may have stumbled onto a gold mine. However, will Messiah take another Cocaine Princess supplying her?The Cocaine Empire is finally complete and it's time for the Trap Queens and Crack Kings to protect it.

    On an unexpected night she meets Zacari Roberts and there is an instant love connection between the two. The whirlwind romance between the two is almost perfect, but everybody isn't happy about their newfound love. Find out what happens when the people you trust and love the most turn on you because of their own selfish reasons. Will Skye continue to be blind or will she find out that she really "Can't Trust Her?"

    Softcover Book

    Combining psychological support with a project management approach that breaks tasks into small, manageable chunks, experienced dissertation coach Alison Miller shows you how to overcome negativity and succeed in completing your dissertation beyond your own expectations.

    Ambushed and left for dead, he has even more cause to be grateful when the bridge-builder saves his life. Shay’s savior turns out to be a mysterious young woman with extraordinary skills. More importantly, she’s a strong ally when he and a few other men are forced to defend themselves and their ranches against a power hungry rich man. Marvin Hammel seems determined to own everything in their small valley, his intention to gobble up not only their homes and their livelihoods, but the water that flows through the land. January Schutt just wants to be left alone to hide her scars. She’s rebuilt the bridge that crosses the river onto her property, and lives like a hermit in a rundown old barn. All that changes when she takes in a wounded Shay Billings. Now she’s placed in the middle of a war over water rights. But has she picked the winning side?

    In "Caterpillars in Their Usual Hurry", an alcoholic businessman whose girlfriend has walked out on him decides to make more money, only to discover that his future and past can’t coexist. "The Window at the End of the Street" is the story of Anita, a recently widowed woman, whose return to her parents’ home becomes the cause of both her mother’s death and Anita’s incurable attraction to her neighbour. "Nude Man at the Window" is the second-person narrative of an egoist millionaire who is accused of murdering a prostitute after she claims to have fallen in love with him. "Why I Don’t Lock up My Wife Anymore" is about a man who accidentally discovers his wife in bed with a total stranger and decides to do the unthinkable. "Unloved in Nude Town" is about three friends, one of whom falls in love with a stranger named Mona and pays a price he could never have imagined. With its delicate wit and a strong sense of place, "Long Way from Home" is the story of a gigolo who falls in love for the first time. A second-person narrative, "All You Need Is One Good Shot", is the story of a young police officer who is kidnapped by his wife, who he thinks still loves him.

    She's now in a different country with a different identity. She accepts this new life gracefully and begins a new chapter. She gets married and has two children. Life, however, has something else in store for her. It breaks her apart. Again. This time the pain is unbearable. But the hope that she will reunite with her children and be whole again keeps her alive. And she doesn't let the bitterness cloud her days, becoming a beacon of hope and courage for all. From the bestselling author of Calling Sehmat comes another hitherto untold story of strength, sacrifice and resilience. A must read.