Virtual Culture

The Pornography Wars takes political satire and social comment (with a liberal dash of humour) into a new dimension. Sex is the essence of everything. Is human history contrived by aliens? Are we in a film set for an alien pornographic soap opera? Is all human culture nothing more than an alien psych-master’s program? What happens when the aliens argue over the future of pornography on their tridee sets? What is going to happen to the future of human beings?

Everything about Kalvin King’s life is finally “hella” good. The seventeen-year-old high school Junior from Oakland has seemingly overcome the trauma of losing his mother at an early age. An unfortunate accident, plus his father’s need to relocate to South Central Los Angeles completely destabilizes Kalvin emotionally, bringing out pain he’d kept bottled up. Perhaps a fresh start in the City of Angels is exactly what Kalvin needs? Kalvin gets a rude awakening at his new school, Lincoln. Mexican American/Chicano males (homies and gangsters) mean-mug him, and call him, “m...te,”...

Talking-Stories is a snapshot of life in Hawaii in the 1960’s and 70’s captured in conversation with seven friends at The Watering Hole in a remote section of Kauai. Try to imagine yourself in a tropical paradise enjoying happy hour in a remote eatery consisting of two small rooms and a long lanai separated from the ocean by a three-foot stone wall. The wall was supposedly built eons earlier by the first settlers of the Hawaiian Islands, the menehunes. Several contemporary guests reported actually seeing these small Islanders still scurrying around the underbrush guarding both sides of ...

This is the third edition of Mind the Gap Enjoy the snarky remarks that pepper the banter in British comedies and dramas. Savor the richness of British slang and idioms Discover favorite British foods and popular meals Bone up on British Baking and home life Learn how NOT to be posh. Learn how NOT to insult your British friends. Enjoy Cockney Rhyming Slang Understand quirky sports slang and metaphors Add some regional slang from Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland Pick up some useful words and phrases for your visit to the UK.This edition of Mind the Gap… Between British & American ...

For Westerners, the two words most associated with Japan are probably “strange” and “exotic.” Turns out, you can’t marry the exotic, without accepting the strange, as well. That might have been a good thing for William to know, in advance. Throw in a couple of kids and a Canadian family filled with quirky characters, and you have the makings of epic tragedy or gut-busting comedy, depending upon your point of view. I Married Japan provides a good-natured glimpse into one Canadian-Japanese family and marriage. Get ready to learn as you laugh your way through this collection of Japan...

Are you addicted to instant gratification? From same-day delivery to fast food and endless streaming, convenience is the heartbeat of modern life—but at what cost? In The Hidden Cost of Convenience: How Instant Gratification Is Killing Our Future, J. Rogan delivers a gripping wake-up call, revealing how our obsession with speed is destroying the planet, fraying our mental health, exploiting workers, and eroding our self-discipline. Blending cutting-edge science, personal stories, and bold cultural critique, this book uncovers the hidden toll of convenience culture. You’ll discover: ...

Except for her husband-to-be and future father-in-law, Lucinda has kept her wealth a secret. But she and Lester are planning their wedding. What happens when her well-to-do family or acquaintances arrive from New York. How will they react to Caskins Bend and its simpler way of life? Will she be able to keep the secret from getting out? Will the clash of cultures be too much? One thing is certain. Hilarity. The backstory is provided under the title "Thinking Inside The Box".

What is our situation? What’s the Big Idea? Do we dare? Who is with us? What are we good at? What are we doing that’s different, and how will we take people with us? What steps must we take, and in what order? How do we get better as we go? How are things arranged? How will strategy change us? If you want to be a great athlete, train. If you want to be a great pianist, practise. If you want to be an effective strategist, hire forty­ five consultants, undertake a six-month review, and produce a two­-hundred and fifty-page document... ...or not. Strategy is becoming more complicated, ...

Conversational Greek for Travelers is not a language tutorial but an introduction to Greek for people visiting the country either for the first time or regularly. It will teach you numerous handy Greek words and phrases which will enhance your vacation, but it aims to do much more than that. The book will also tell you what to say in social situations, teach you about the culture and etiquette of Greek conversation, how to deal with emergency situations, and do so much more than simply telling you how to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’. There’s a chapter on Getting Around in Greece, ...

Twelve-year-old Priya Patel wants to disappear. Between school bullies mocking her Indian heritage and a viral meme that calls her “CurryGirl12,” Priya feels invisible, or worse, like a joke. But everything changes when she discovers her late grandmother’s magical sewing machine, which opens a portal to the Loominary, a world where enchanted fabrics stitched from Indian folklore can heal hearts and protect joy. Joined by tech genius Harper and shy artist Lila, Priya enters the Secret Seamstress Society, battling Rakshasa-like villains called Threadbreakers who unravel happiness across...

Ever wonder why we refer to three so often? The Big Three. “Third time’s a charm.” “Bad news comes in threes.” Threes represent curious patterns in many cultures. Sometimes those patterns of threes are obvious and tangible. Consider the modern traffic signal. Green, yellow and red lenses, each with a different meaning to motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians, fire in a predictable and never-changing order to signal proceed, slow down and stop when lighted in sequence. Sometimes those patterns are intangible. Such as three laws. Three rules of thumb. Three principles. Three classes...

A witch violinist, Romance bubbling in the cauldron, the return of a ghost and fairy… Throw in an overprotective daddy and freaky mobsters getting in the way. FREE on Kindle Unlimited! I’m Sophie Rowling. Violinist, witch, and wholehearted believer in Magic and Happily Ever After. A terminal case of musician’s block and lost magic used to be my biggest problems. Dante Walker. Tall, cocky, and mysterious Mr. Wrong… who turns out to be the magical cure for my musician’s block. After rescuing me from murderous kidnappers, he ends up spending the night with me, in the same bed, and…...

" The Spirit of man is Nomad, his blood Bedouin.....and so I came to live my life, not by conscious plan, but as someone following the flight of a Bird." " Only in the Desert, The Bedouin Declared, Could a man a Man find Freedom. " Wilfred Thesiger "Arabian Sands." " To live in the Dress of The Arabs, Quitted Me of My English Self, and Let me Look at The West ..... With Different Eyes." T. E. Lawrence "The Seven Pillars Of Wisdom." The Sultanate of Oman is a land of oases,deserts, rolling sands, shifting dunes and mountains upon which ancient cities have been carved from stone. A land that ...

"The Foundation of Joy: Building a Happy Family" is an insightful guide that delves into the essential elements required to cultivate lasting happiness within the family unit. This book explores the core principles of effective communication, mutual respect, and shared values, offering practical strategies to strengthen familial bonds. By focusing on emotional intelligence and empathy, the author provides readers with the tools to navigate common family challenges, such as conflict resolution and maintaining work-life balance. Through engaging anecdotes and evidence-based practices, "The ...

Unlock the extraordinary potential of kindness with "Creating a Culture of Care," a transformative journey into the profound impact of small, caring actions. This inspiring eBook delves into the power of empathy and mindful awareness, revealing how simple gestures and thoughtful interactions can create ripples of positive change. Embark on a path to cultivate a caring mindset, where empathy becomes second nature and everyday life is filled with opportunities for compassion. Learn the art of connection through acknowledgment, small acts of kindness, and genuine presence, as you reinforce ...

The world of work has undergone a significant transformation in recent years. With the increasing adoption of remote and hybrid work models, organizations must adapt their structures and strategies to optimize performance and maintain employee engagement. This e-book will guide you through the key principles of organizational design, providing valuable insights, practical tools, step-by-step guides, and real-life examples to help you create an effective and inclusive organizational structure for hybrid and fully remote teams.

Inspire: Exciting Ways of Teaching Creative Writing is an innovative anthology written by a wide spectrum of creative teachers who have a wealth of diverse experience. The focus here is on communicating how to teach creative writing in imaginative, practical and socially just ways. There is a particular emphasis upon helping people of all ages and backgrounds write stories, poems, plays and creative non-fiction, including memoir and autobiography. Here you'll learn many ways of teaching creative writing, including: • How to decolonise creative-writing workshops • How to use social media...

The Woke Movement Book 1 of The Potomac Swamp Series In The Woke Movement, TD Barnes unpacks the origins, rise, and backlash against the modern woke movement. From Critical Race Theory and gender politics to cancel culture and corporate virtue signaling, this book exposes the cultural forces reshaping American institutions and driving political division. Drawing on deep research and firsthand experience, Barnes reveals how cultural activism evolved into a political battlefield—transforming schools, corporations, the military, and media into instruments of ideological warfare. The Woke ...

Management Is NOT Manipulation: Beyond the Illusion—Authentic Leadership for Sustainable Success Introduction to a New Era of Leadership - A Bold Challenge to the Status Quo This book dismantles the myth that manipulation is a necessary tool in management. From falsifying data to office politics and unsustainable business practices, manipulative tactics erode trust, destroy organizational culture, and lead to short-lived success. Core Themes 1. The True Purpose of Management Management is not about control but about empowering people, driving innovation, and achieving collective goals. ...

Compassionate leadership emerges as a fundamental theme throughout this exploration. Leaders who embody empathy are more likely to inspire trust and loyalty among their team members. This connection fosters open communication, encourages innovation, and ultimately leads to higher levels of engagement. As managers and leaders navigate the complexities of human behavior in the workplace, the ability to connect with employees on an emotional level becomes a vital asset. This book will provide insights into how leaders can cultivate this quality and leverage it to build stronger, more cohesive ...