A New York Times and USA Today bestseller From New York Times bestselling author of The Perfect Marriage and You Shouldn't Have Come Here comes a chilling family thriller about the (sometimes literal) skeletons in the closet. After their mother passes, three estranged siblings reunite to sort out her estate. Beth, the oldest, never left home. She stayed with her mom, caring for her until the very end. Nicole, the middle child, has been kept at arm's length due to her ongoing battle with a serious drug addiction. Michael, the youngest, lives out of state and hasn't been back to their small Wisconsin town since their father ran out on them seven years before. While going through their parents' belongings, the siblings stumble upon a collection of home videos and decide to revisit those happier memories. However, the nostalgia is cut short when one of the VHS tapes reveals a night back in 1999 that none of them have any recollection of. On screen, their father appears covered in blood. What follows is a dead body and a pact between their parents to get rid of it, before the video abruptly ends. Beth, Nicole, and Michael must now decide whether to leave the past in the past or uncover the dark secret their mother took to her grave.
What if the world's economic problems are not the result of bad policies—but of a fundamentally broken monetary system? In Bitcoin Is Venice, Allen Farrington and Sacha Meyers challenge the assumptions underpinning modern economics, finance, and fiat currency. Drawing on history, political economy, philosophy, and Bitcoin, they present a provocative vision of how sound money could transform capital formation, human cooperation, and the future of civilization itself. Far more than a book about cryptocurrency, Bitcoin Is Venice explores how societies create wealth, how institutions evolve, and why monetary systems shape everything from innovation and entrepreneurship to culture and individual freedom. Through a series of deeply researched and thought-provoking essays, Farrington and Meyers examine: • The failures and contradictions of modern economic theory • The hidden costs of fiat currency systems • The relationship between money, capital, and human progress • How Bitcoin changes incentives throughout society • The future of entrepreneurship, investment, and wealth creation • Whether a Bitcoin standard could usher in a new era of prosperity and innovation Building on ideas from economics, history, technology, and political philosophy, the authors offer a framework for understanding Bitcoin not merely as a digital asset, but as a transformative monetary technology with far-reaching implications for the modern world. Featuring a foreword by human rights advocate Alex Gladstein and praised by leading thinkers including Jeff Booth and Harris Irfan, Bitcoin Is Venice presents a compelling exploration of money, freedom, and the foundations of a flourishing society. All profits from the sale of this book are donated to the Human Rights Foundation. Whether you're an investor, entrepreneur, economist, policymaker, or simply curious about the future of money, Bitcoin Is Venice offers a challenging and insightful perspective on one of the most important innovations of the twenty-first century. Discover why Bitcoin may be about far more than finance—and what that could mean for the future of civilization.
From the author of The BFG and Matilda! Willy Wonka's famous chocolate factory is opening at last! But only five lucky children will be allowed inside. And the winners are: Augustus Gloop, an enormously fat boy whose hobby is eating; Veruca Salt, a spoiled-rotten brat whose parents are wrapped around her little finger; Violet Beauregarde, a dim-witted gum-chewer with the fastest jaws around; Mike Teavee, a toy pistol-toting gangster-in-training who is obsessed with television; and Charlie Bucket, Our Hero, a boy who is honest and kind, brave and true, and good and ready for the wildest time of his life!
Data-science investigations have brought journalism into the 21st century, and—guided by The Intercept’s infosec expert Micah Lee— this book is your blueprint for uncovering hidden secrets in hacked datasets. Unlock the internet’s treasure trove of public interest data with Hacks, Leaks, and Revelations by Micah Lee, an investigative reporter and security engineer. This hands-on guide blends real-world techniques for researching large datasets with lessons on coding, data authentication, and digital security. All of this is spiced up with gripping stories from the front lines of investigative journalism. Dive into exposed datasets from a wide array of sources: the FBI, the DHS, police intelligence agencies, extremist groups like the Oath Keepers, and even a Russian ransomware gang. Lee’s own in-depth case studies on disinformation-peddling pandemic profiteers and neo-Nazi chatrooms serve as blueprints for your research. Gain practical skills in searching massive troves of data for keywords like “antifa” and pinpointing documents with newsworthy revelations. Get a crash course in Python to automate the analysis of millions of files. You will also learn how to: * Master encrypted messaging to safely communicate with whistleblowers. * Secure datasets over encrypted channels using Signal, Tor Browser, OnionShare, and SecureDrop. * Harvest data from the BlueLeaks collection of internal memos, financial records, and more from over 200 state, local, and federal agencies. * Probe leaked email archives about offshore detention centers and the Heritage Foundation. * Analyze metadata from videos of the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, sourced from the Parler social network. We live in an age where hacking and whistleblowing can unearth secrets that alter history. Hacks, Leaks, and Revelations is your toolkit for uncovering new stories and hidden truths. Crack open your laptop, plug in a hard drive, and get ready to change history.
Join the technological revolution that's taking the financial world by storm. Mastering Bitcoin is your guide through the seemingly complex world of Bitcoin, providing the knowledge you need to participate in the internet of money. Whether you're building the next killer app, investing in a startup, or simply curious about the technology, this revised and expanded third edition provides essential detail to get you started. Bitcoin, the first successful decentralized digital currency, has already spawned a multibillion-dollar global economy open to anyone with the knowledge and passion to participate. Mastering Bitcoin provides the knowledge. You supply the passion. The third edition includes: * A broad introduction to Bitcoin and its underlying blockchain—ideal for nontechnical users, investors, and business executives * An explanation of Bitcoin's technical foundation and cryptographic currency for developers, engineers, and software and systems architects * Details of the Bitcoin decentralized network, peer-to-peer architecture, transaction lifecycle, and security principles * New developments such as Taproot, Tapscript, Schnorr signatures, and the Lightning Network * A deep dive into Bitcoin applications, including how to combine the building blocks offered by this platform into powerful new tools * User stories, analogies, examples, and code snippets illustrating key technical concepts
With half a million copies in print, How to Read a Book is the best and most successful guide to reading comprehension for the general reader, completely rewritten and updated with new material. A CNN Book of the Week: “Explains not just why we should read books, but how we should read them. It's masterfully done.” –Farheed Zakaria Originally published in 1940, this book is a rare phenomenon, a living classic that introduces and elucidates the various levels of reading and how to achieve them—from elementary reading, through systematic skimming and inspectional reading, to speed reading. Readers will learn when and how to “judge a book by its cover,” and also how to X-ray it, read critically, and extract the author’s message from the text. Also included is instruction in the different techniques that work best for reading particular genres, such as practical books, imaginative literature, plays, poetry, history, science and mathematics, philosophy and social science works. Finally, the authors offer a recommended reading list and supply reading tests you can use measure your own progress in reading skills, comprehension, and speed.
In the post-meltdown world, it is irresponsible, ineffective, and ultimately useless to have a serious economic debate without considering and challenging the role of the Federal Reserve. Most people think of the Fed as an indispensable institution without which the country's economy could not properly function. But in End the Fed, Ron Paul draws on American history, economics, and fascinating stories from his own long political life to argue that the Fed is both corrupt and unconstitutional. It is inflating currency today at nearly a Weimar or Zimbabwe level, a practice that threatens to put us into an inflationary depression where $100 bills are worthless. What most people don't realize is that the Fed -- created by the Morgans and Rockefellers at a private club off the coast of Georgia -- is actually working against their own personal interests. Congressman Paul's urgent appeal to all citizens and officials tells us where we went wrong and what we need to do fix America's economic policy for future generations.
El afamado escritor, politólogo, y conferencista Agustín Laje presenta La batalla cultural: Reflexiones críticas para una Nueva Derecha – un manifiesto que informará, animará y facultará a los “guerrilleros culturales” para no bajar los brazos en la batalla que sigue perjudicando a nuestras familias y a la sociedad en general. En el mundo contemporáneo, la sociedad y la cultura cambian a gran velocidad. La voluntad de dirigir esos cambios está en la base de las batallas culturales que hoy se viven en todas partes. Bien investigado y argumentado inteligentemente, este libro define el concepto de batalla cultural y muestra hasta qué punto la cultura ha llegado a ser el botín principal del poder, cómo se han desarrollado estas batallas desde los tiempos modernos hasta la actual posmodernidad y cómo enfrentarlas. En este libro, Agustín Laje: * Explica qué es la batalla cultural, cómo darla, y cuales son su características * Analiza cómo la nueva izquierda entendió este fenómeno, frente a una derecha que menospreció el poder de la cultura * Examina cómo entendió este fenómeno la nueva izquierda, frente a una derecha que menospreció el poder de la cultura * Pretende brindar las herramientas necesarias para el nacimiento de una nueva derecha Este libro está dirigido a: * Las familias que son el principal blanco de ataque en este momento, que se sienten fragmentadas, amedrentadas y que quieren hacer algo más para convertirse en agentes de batalla cultural * A los Jóvenes que cursan sus estudios y que entienden que en sus universidades cada vez hay menos educación y más adoctrinamiento * A todo aquel que se preocupa por los asuntos políticos y mundiales de gran magnitud que crean conflictos en la sociedad “La lucha política y la lucha cultural son las dos caras de una misma moneda. Si no hay política sin hegemonía, entonces tampoco hay política sin batalla cultural”, dice Laje. “La batalla cultural terminará mostrándose como la madre de todas las batallas.” The Culture Battle Famed writer, political scientist, and lecturer Agustín Laje presents The Culture Battle: Critical Reflections for a New Right – a manifesto that will inform, encourage and empower the “cultural guerrillas” not to give up in the battle that continues to harm our families and society in general. In the contemporary world, society and culture are changing at great speed. The will to lead these changes is at the basis of the cultural battles that are being fought everywhere today. Well researched and intelligently argued, this book defines the concept of cultural battle and shows to what extent culture has become the main spoils of power, how these battles have developed from modern times to today's postmodernity and how to face them. In this book, Agustín Laje: * Explains what the culture battle is, how to wage it, and what its characteristics are * Analyzes how the new left understood this phenomenon, in the face of a right wing that underestimated the power of culture * Examines how the new left understood this phenomenon, in the face of a right wing that underestimated the power of culture * Aims to provide the necessary tools for the birth of a new right wing
Over and over, U.S. government officials and their mainstream media allies called Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine an “unprovoked attack.” The slogan became so overused that people began to ask the obvious question: Why do they protest so much? In Provoked: How Washington Started the New Cold War with Russia and the Catastrophe in Ukraine, Scott Horton explains how since the end of the last Cold War and the fall of the Soviet Union, successive U.S. administrations pressed their advantage against the new Russian Federation to the point that it finally blew up into a full-scale war between Russia and Ukraine. From NATO expansion into Eastern Europe, to “shock therapy” economic policy, the Balkan and Chechen wars, color-coded revolutions, new missile defense systems, assassinations, Russiagate and ultimately the brutal conflict in Ukraine, Provoked shows what really happened and why it did not have to be this way.
The eagerly awaited English edition of "Bought Journalists" was suppressed for three years under the title "Journalists for Hire" -- and still got 24 five-star-only Amazon reviews from would-be readers. 18 months on the bestseller list in Germany. Now it's finally here! Ever get the feeling the media tries to manipulate or lie to you? You have plenty of company! And you are right -- the facts are in. A world-class media insider has blown the whistle on what really goes on inside the media industry. Author Udo Ulfkotte was a respected journalist for 17 years with Germany's newspaper of record, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. He begins this explosive exposé by first owning up to his own career, where he had to sell out to have the job. He then reveals the deceptive tricks and secret networks of power within the media. How perks are used to bribe journalists and opinion makers to twist their reporting. How the tone of corruption is set from the top -- play along or quit. How the long arm of the NATO press office enrolls the media to get Europe to support more foreign wars. Ulfkotte names hundreds of names and gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the organizations that influence the German media with one-sided propaganda, such as The Atlantic Bridge, Trilateral Commission, German Marshall Fund, CFR, and Aspen Institute. He unmasks the intelligence agencies behind these lobbies groups and the propaganda techniques they use, such as US Embassy grants for projects to influence European public opinion. When the CIA holds the hand that holds the pen Would you be surprised to learn that spies sit and write articles in newspaper editorial offices? Which are then published on op-ed pages under the names of well-known journalists? Or which journalists receive bribes for their reporting? Have you heard how prestigious "journalism prizes" are a reward system for cooperation? Much as "Heroes of Labor" were honored for writing the best communist propaganda in the former East bloc. Seen from the inside, the difference between journalist and propagandist isn't as far as you might like. The elite owners of the media feel it's their right to think for us, and to mold public opinion to their agendas. Their Freedom of the Press is Freedom to Censor the news. Our nation depends on the media to understand our world, just as each one of us depends on our eyes and ears. The media are our senses. When they hide the truth, or lie to us, they put us all in danger. A million people died in Iraq, Libya and Syria because the press didn't just report the news, didn't just lie about the news, but they invented and sold the events that served as pretexts for wars. The author spent years in the Middle East, surviving an attack with chemical weapons supplied by US and German firms. This book is a veteran's guide to the media spider's web. It shows how the system works, sharpens your common sense skepticism, and increases your immunity to the controlled media's attempts to do our thinking for us. You will gain a whole new perspective on media reports. A good idea of how much you can believe the news on TV or the radio: almost nothing. Ulfkotte dissects the German media establishment, which media outlets are owned by political parties, the journalists that are under their influence, and what keeps them there. You will see how whole countries are manipulated – and who is pulling the strings and why. Here is the bad news about the news: our idea of a free press with a broad spectrum of opinion is pure fantasy. Very often, what is called the "news" is simply brainwashing.
Earth in 2064 is politically corrupt and in economic decline. The Long Depression has dragged on for 56 years, and the Bureau of Sustainable Research is hard at work making sure that no new technologies disrupt the planned economy. Ten years ago a band of malcontents, dreamers, and libertarian radicals bolted privately-developed anti-gravity drives onto rusty sea-going cargo ships, loaded them to the gills with 20th-century tunnel-boring machines and earthmoving equipment, and set sail - for the Moon.There, they built their retreat. A lunar underground border-town, fit to rival Ayn Rand's 'Galt's Gulch', with American capitalists, Mexican hydroponic farmers, and Vietnamese space-suit mechanics - this is the city of Aristillus.There's a problem, though: the economic decline of Earth under a command-and-control economy is causing trouble for the political powers-that-be in Washington DC and elsewhere. To shore up their positions they need slap down the lunar expats and seize the gold they've been mining. The conflicts start small, but rapidly escalate.There are zero-gravity gun fights in rusted ocean going ships flying through space, containers full of bulldozers hurtling through the vacuum, nuclear explosions, armies of tele-operated combat UAVs, guerrilla fighting in urban environments, and an astoundingly visual climax.The Powers of the Earth is the first book in The Aristillus series - a pair of science fiction novels about anarchocapitalism, economics, open source software, corporate finance, social media, antigravity, lunar colonization, genetically modified dogs, strong AI…and really, really big guns.
Entrepreneurship has been expunged from contemporary mainstream economics despite being an important driver and cause of economic development and growth. However, whereas Evolutionary Economics recognizes value-creative entrepreneurship, its role and impact tend to still be understated and the vast implications not fully understood. This Element attempts to remedy this by theorizing on how entrepreneurship impacts and drives market economies, the implications for economic change and renewal, and how the pursuit of new value creation determines the evolution of an economy. We find that allowing for entrepreneurial new value creation – innovative entrepreneurship – produces a different and more dynamic understanding of the market as a process, the role of knowledge and uncertainty, economic evolution and progress, as well as has important implications for political economy.