Mark Wilson

Mark Wilson presents a highly original and broad-ranging investigation of the way we get to grips with the world conceptually, and the way that philosophical problems commonly arise from this. Words such as colour, shape, solidity exemplify the commonplace conceptual tools we employ to describe and order the world around us. But the world's goods are complex in their behaviors and we often overlook the subtle adjustments that our evaluative terms undergo as their usage becomes gradually adapted to different forms of supportive circumstance. Wilson not only explains how these surprising strategies of hidden management operate, but also tells the astonishing story of how faulty schemes and great metaphysical systems sometimes spring from a simple failure to recognize the innocent wanderings to which our descriptive words are heir. Wilson combines traditional philosophical concerns about human conceptual thinking with illuminating data derived from a large variety of fields including physics and applied mathematics, cognitive psychology, and linguistics. Wandering Significance offers abundant new insights and perspectives for philosophers of language, mind, and science, and will also reward the interest of psychologists, linguists, and anyone curious about the mysterious ways in which useful language obtains its practical applicability.

An Essay on Conceptual Behaviour

Wandering Significance: An Essay on Conceptual Behaviour

A twisted novella from the author of Bobby's Boy and Naebody's Hero. It's not easy being Head Boy. Follow Davie Diller for seven days as he navigates his way through his turbulent life. A scheming bastard in and out of school, Diller screws, drinks, snorts, cons and kills his way through the Lanarkshire underworld and attempts to survive the attention of his local drug-lord, Hondo, who's less than impressed by Diller's growing debt and status; He's also having a busy week at school. A brutal and wickedly funny novella inspired by The Prodigy's 'Smack my Bitch Up' music video. Contains strong language and graphic violence throughout.

Head Boy

Edinburgh, 1645: The bubonic plague rages. In a desperate attempt to quarantine the infected, the city leaders seal the residents of Mary King's Close in their underground homes. 2015: Mary King's Close is reopened, unleashing a mutated plague upon the city residents. The UK government seals the entire city. Declaring it a dead zone they seal the survivors inside alongside the infected. dEaDINBURGH is declared a no man's land, its residents left for dead and to the dead. 2050: Joseph MacLeod, born onto the cobbles of the Royal Mile and stolen from the clutches of the infected is determined to escape the quarantined city. Under the guidance of former-marine Padre Jock, he leaves the confines of the city centre and hones his archery and free-running skills. Alys Shephard, born into an all-women farming community believes a cure lies in the south of the quarantined zone. The finest combatant in the dead city, Alys burns with anger. The anger of an abandoned child. Something much worse than the infected waits for them in the south, in the form of a religious cult led by a madman named Somna who collects gruesome trophies and worships the dead body of a former celebrity. Added to this, the enigmatic Bracha, a supreme survivalist and sadistic former-Royal with his own agenda stalks the teenagers.

Deadinburgh

Mark Wilson presents a series of explorations of our strategies for understanding the world. "Physics avoidance" refers to the fact that we frequently cannot reason about nature in the straightforward manner we anticipate, but must seek alternative policies that allow us to address the questions we want answered in a tractable way. Within both science and everyday life, we find ourselves relying upon thought processes that reach useful answers in opaque and roundabout manners. Conceptual innovators are often puzzled by the techniques they develop, when they stumble across reasoning patterns that are easy to implement but difficult to justify. But simple techniques frequently rest upon complex foundations--a young magician learns how to execute a card-guessing trick without understanding how its progressive steps squeeze in on a proper answer. As we collectively improve our inferential skills in this gradually evolving manner, we often wander into unfamiliar explanatory landscapes in which simple words encode physical information in complex and unanticipated ways. Like our juvenile conjurer, we fail to recognize the true strategic rationales underlying our achievements and may turn instead to preposterous rationalizations for our policies. We have learned how to reach better conclusions in a more fruitful way, but we remain baffled by our own successes. At its best, philosophical reflection illuminates the natural developmental processes that generate these confusions and explicates their complexities. But current thinking within philosophy of science and language works to opposite effect by relying upon simplistic conceptions of "cause," "law of nature," "possibility," and "reference" that ignore the strategic complexities in which these concepts become entangled within real life usage. To avoid these distortions, better descriptive tools are required in philosophy. The nine new essays within this volume illustrate this need for finer discriminations through a range of revealing cases, of both historical and contemporary significance.

And Other Essays in Conceptual Strategy

Physics Avoidance

Venture into the Alaskan arctic and the summer realm of the snowy owls to find out: are these predator birds in trouble? Discover the diverse species necessary to owl survival, how climate change is affecting the landscape of their nesting site of past millennia, and what it takes to do field research in this action-packed addition to the award-winning Scientists in the Field series.

The Snowy Owl Scientist

C. Peter Wagner

Stephen Peters

The top 50% of the world's least evangelized cities are located in a window that extends from West Africa across Asia, between 10 degrees north to 40 degrees north of the equator.

Praying Through the 100 Gateway Cities of the 10/40 Window

A fifteen-year-old Australian farm boy lies about his age to enlist to war and is caught up in the horrors of World War I in Egypt and on the Western Front, where 5,500 Australian troops were lost in two days at Fromelles alone. This boy s story in this unique, stirring picture book is based on true stories of the twenty-three teenage soldiers one only fourteen who fought with the Australian army in World War I, as recorded at the Australian War Memorial (their names among a list of 60,000 Australian soldiers killed in that war). The author s grandfather was a boy soldier who, unlike the hero of the book, did survive to return home. Told in the boy s own simple language and with extracts from his letters home, the story is extremely moving and evocative of the real tragedy of that worst of all wars. More information and teachers' guide available at www.mymotherseyes.com.au

The Story of an Australian Boy Soldier

My Mother's Eyes

This book is a biography of Fei-Fei Li, one of the most influential and inspiring figures in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and computer vision. It tells the story of her remarkable journey from China to America, from physics to computer science, from academia to industry, and from research to impact. It also provides an informative and comprehensive overview of AI, its history, current state, and future directions, as well as its opportunities, challenges, and implications for humanity. The book is organized into seven chapters, each focusing on a different aspect or stage of Fei-Fei Li's life and career. The first chapter tells the story of her immigration from China to America when she was 15 years old. The second chapter describes her doctoral research at Caltech, where she developed ImageNet, a large-scale dataset of images that revolutionized the field of computer vision and deep learning. The third chapter covers her academic career at Stanford University, where she became a professor and the director of the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Lab. The fourth chapter recounts her sabbatical from Stanford in 2017-2018, when she joined Google Cloud as the chief scientist of AI and machine learning. The fifth chapter explores her current role as the co-director of the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI), which she co-founded in 2019. The sixth chapter reflects on her contributions and influence in the field of AI, as well as her personal and professional growth. The seventh chapter speculates on the future directions and challenges of AI, presenting her views and opinions on these topics. The book is written for anyone interested in learning more about Fei-Fei Li or AI in general. Whether you are a student, a teacher, a researcher, a practitioner, or a curious citizen, you will find something valuable and inspiring in this book. You will gain insights and perspectives from one of the most influential and inspiring figures in the fields of AI, machine learning, and computer vision. You will also discover the potential and impact of AI for various domains and sectors, such as healthcare, education, entertainment, security, and the environment. The book is not only a biography of Fei-Fei Li, but also a history of AI, a reflection of society, and a call for action. It invites you to think critically and creatively about AI and to engage with it in a human-centered way. It also encourages you to pursue your passions and interests in AI or any other field. It also inspires you to make positive changes in yourself and the world. If you are looking for a book that will enlighten you about Fei-Fei Li's life and work, as well as AI's past, present, and future, this book is for you.

A Human-Centered Visionary for Artificial Intelligence

Fei-Fei Li

This book is an intimate biography that delves into the life of Crystal Hefner, from her early days in Arizona to her time as a Playboy Playmate and beyond. It explores her complex relationship with Hugh Hefner, their public life, private struggles, and Crystal's journey following Hugh's passing. The book offers a candid look at her personal growth, her health battles, and her steps toward forging a new identity in the aftermath of loss. It's a tale of resilience, transformation, and the pursuit of independence and happiness. This biography is a testament to Crystal's strength and her evolution from a figure in the shadow of an icon to a woman standing firmly in her light.

The Life Of Crystal Hefner

Crystal Hefner

Richard Godwin

Les Edgerton

Gerard Brennan

Martin Stanley

Keith Nixon

Allen Miles

Gareth Spark

Ryan Bracha

Paul Brazill

Craig Furchtenicht

Darren Sant

Everybody's here for a reason...At St. David's asylum for the criminally insane there are twelve residents. They call us that. Not inmates. We all have a favourite colour. A favouritemember of staff. A favourite method of receiving torture for the purposes of science.We all have our reasons for being here.Our stories. Our tales.Why don't you come and hear them?Twelve Mad Men is a groundbreaking literary collaboration. A novel which has a series of stories woven into the narrative, and featuring the finest independent authors from across the globe.The number one best selling author of Strangers Are Just Friends You Haven't Killed Yet and Paul Carter is a Dead Man, Ryan Bracha, voices the narrator as he embarks upon his first shift as a night guard at St. David's, and as he meets the residents there, it soon becomes apparent that there's something very wrong in the water...The phenomenally talented writers involved in this innovative and ambitious project are:Paul D Brazill (Guns of Brixton, A Case of Noir)Gerard Brennan (Fireproof, Wee Rockets)Les Edgerton (The Bitch, The Rapist)Craig Furchtenicht (Dimebag Bandits, Night Speed Zero)Richard Godwin (Mr Glamour, Apostle Rising)Allen Miles (18 Days, This is How You Disappear)Keith Nixon (The Fix, The Eagle's Shadow)Darren Sant (Tales From The Longcroft, The Bank Manager and The Bum)Gareth Spark (Black Rain, Shotgun Honey)Martin Stanley (The Gamblers, The Hunters)Mark Wilson (dEaDINBURGH, Head Boy)And narrated by Ryan Bracha (Paul Carter is a Dead Man, Strangers are Just Friends You Haven't Killed Yet)

12 Mad Men

THE LAST TREE is a story about a beautiful old eucalyptus tree that grew tall and strong over many years. It was the centre of life in the forest and provided food and shelter for many forest dwellers. But what happens when the tree is threatened as the surrounding forest slowly disappears? THE LAST TREE is a companion volume to PRAYER FOR THE ANIMAL, the first picture book Mark Wilson both wrote and illustrated for Lothian.

The Last Tree

Even if you're a total beginner, learn how to make money with Bitcoin... Elon Musk, Tesla, and other well-known companies just invested over $3 billion in Bitcoin, and there's a good reason for that. (Yes, billion with a B; you read that right.) Many people continue to think it's a scam, a bubble, or that the government will make it illegal. They are completely mistaken. Over the past ten years, Bitcoin has decisively outperformed a number of tried and true tangible assets including gold, stocks, and even real estate. But is it too late to make a Bitcoin investment? A single Bitcoin might cost $100,000 by the end of this year, and over $1 million over the next five years, according to experts.

Why New Wealth Is Being Created Even Today Thanks to Bitcoin and Other Cryptocurrencies and How It's Happening

BITCOIN FOR BEGINNERS

Stefano Di Vita

Planning and Managing Smaller Events: Downsizing the Urban Spectacle explores the role of smaller scale events in contributing to the renewal and development of urban societies. This book adopts a case study approach to examine a diverse range of events taking place in towns and cities in Europe, Asia and North America. This volume begins by defining and classifying these kinds of events and then verifying if and how they can provide opportunities for cities and towns without the disadvantages of world-famous large events. It concludes by discussing the growing regional scale of urban phenomena and their transition in post-metropolitan spaces. Planning and Managing Smaller Events: Downsizing the Urban Spectacle will be of interest to government officials and policy makers involved in economic development, urban planning, parks, arts/culture as well as students and researchers interested in urbanism, event management, tourism and recreation.

Downsizing the Urban Spectacle

Planning and Managing Smaller Events

This is the first major study to focus solely on the victor sayings and should prove invaluable to scholars and students of Revelation and apocalyptic literature. It demonstrates that the motif of victory is Revelation's macrodynamic theme. Chiasmus is proposed as the book's macrostructure, based in part on the chiastic nature of the promises to the victors, with the later fulfillment of these promises in the book. The proposed forms for the seven letters--forms such as edicts, oracles, and epistles--are examined, and it is concluded that they are a mixtum compositum best called prophetic letters. The sociological significance of victory is explored within the Greco-Roman world. The text of the promises and their co-texts (as reflected intertextually in traditions of biblical literature) receive thorough examination. The eschatological fulfillment of the victor sayings is surveyed in Revelation's later chapters, especially in chapters 21-22, where the new Jerusalem is depicted. The study concludes with an investigation of the ways that the promises were appropriated for the time and the text world of Revelation.

The Victor Sayings in the Book of Revelation

The role and development of the Roman dictatorship over three centuries

The Evolution of the Roman Dictatorship

Dictator

Paul de Boeck

This edited volume gives a new and integrated introduction to item response models (predominantly used in measurement applications in psychology, education, and other social science areas) from the viewpoint of the statistical theory of generalized linear and nonlinear mixed models. It also includes a chapter on the statistical background and one on useful software.

A Generalized Linear and Nonlinear Approach

Explanatory Item Response Models

The PGA European Tour Guide to Better Golf

From Hedwig, the Snowy Owl of Harry Potter fame, to Winnie-the-Pooh’s beloved friend Owl, this wide-eyed bird of the night has found its way into young hearts and imaginations everywhere. Owling invites young readers into the world of real-life owls, to learn about their fascinating behaviors and abilities. Wildlife photojournalist and nature educator Mark Wilson presents a one-of-a-kind look into the mysterious lives of these distinctive birds. Dramatic images of the 19 owl species of North America nesting, flying, hunting, and catching prey are accompanied by information about the birds’ silent flight, remarkable eyes and ears, haunting calls, and fascinating night life. Kids will learn how to spot owls; identify their calls, plumage, and pellets; and even carry on a hooting conversation with a nearby owl.

Enter the World of the Mysterious Birds of the Night

Owling

Growing up on a farm in country Victoria, all Rachel wants is to help people. When war comes, she travels to distant Europe and the Middle East, working tirelessly to care for wounded and sick soldiers from the battlefields of Gallipoli and the Western Front.Inspired by the life of Rachel Pratt, a World War I Australian army nurse who was awarded the Military Medal for bravery, this is an incredible story of bravery and sacrifice.

The Story of an Australian WWI Nurse

Rachel's War

A story of the First Fleet, from the acclaimed author of My Mother's Eyes and Angel Of Kokoda. Beth is a child convict, caught stealing on the streets of London and sent to Australia on the First Fleet. Through Beth's story, we discover the unbearable hardships those first convicts suffered, not only on the long journey to Sydney Cove but also in the two years of near-famine following their arrival. The story also explores the new arrivals' relationship with the Indigenous population, and the devastation that the Europeans brought with them. But through Beth's experiences we also see the sense of hope that many in the new colony held for the future, and how they survived - and in some cases thrived. This moving story, illustrated with Mark Wilson's beautifully crafted and evocative artwork, was inspired by the experiences of Elizabeth Hayward, the youngest female convict with the First Fleet, and the journals of naval officer William Bradley and Arthur Bowes Smyth, the surgeon and artist from the First Fleet vessel 'Lady Penrhyn'.

Mark Wilson

About

Books

Join the club