The title of this book, An Invincible Summer, is taken from the essay "Return to Tipasa" by Albert Camus. At the age of forty, Camus returned to the... rain-drenched Algiers, "the city of summer," in order to experience again the beauty of his homeland. He had returned, however, during the month of December when the city was besieged with rain. But a reprieve from the rain came and Camus was able to visit Tipasa where he saw again the mountain Chenoua that bordered the Bay of Tipasa and the ruins of Tipasa, which were located a few feet from the sea. There amidst the ruins of Tipasa, Camus re-discovered his harbor, and in the middle of winter, he "discovered that there was in [him] an invincible summer." Camus’s sojourn to Tipasa is analogous to the reprieve of Sisyphus from his rock. Encapsulated in the notion of Sisyphus as mythic hero is the existentialist ethic of the exigency of grace in the face of futile suffering. Because of his defiance of the gods, Sisyphus was condemned for perpetuity to roll a boulder up a steep hill, only to have it roll down again once he had reached the top. Camus, however, imagines Sisyphus happy during his descent. To be sure, it was "that breathing space" during his descent that produced the consciousness that is revealed in the sentence: "There is no sun without shadow." The female Diasporan authors surveyed in this book–Mariama Bâ, Simone Schwarz-Bart, Buchi Emecheta, Beryl Gilroy, Zora Neale Hurston, Paule Marshall, Toni Morrison, and Alice Walker–are linked both by their collective use of the trope abandonment in their literature, which is symbolic of the Diasporic condition of Blacks, and by their existentialist depiction of characters who, in contrast with the bad faith of others before the void, are endowed with that "special grace" in the face of futile suffering.

Stopping was never part of the plan . . . She was a successful ad sales rep in Manhattan. He was a homeless, eleven-year-old panhandler on the street.... He asked for spare change; she kept walking. But then something stopped her in her tracks, and she went back. And she continued to go back, again and again. They met up nearly every week for years and built an unexpected, life-changing friendship that has today spanned almost three decades. Whatever made me notice him on that street corner so many years ago is clearly something that cannot be extinguished, no matter how relentless the forces aligned against it. Some may call it spirit. Some may call it heart. It drew me to him, as if we were bound by some invisible, unbreakable thread. And whatever it is, it binds us still.

This book introduces the geometry of 3-D vision, that is, the reconstruction of 3-D models of objects from a collection of 2-D images. It details the... classic theory of two view geometry and shows that a more proper tool for studying the geometry of multiple views is the so-called rank consideration of the multiple view matrix. It also develops practical reconstruction algorithms and discusses possible extensions of the theory.

This is a description of the underlying principles of algebraic geometry, some of its important developments in the twentieth century, and some of the... problems that occupy its practitioners today. It is intended for the working or the aspiring mathematician who is unfamiliar with algebraic geometry but wishes to gain an appreciation of its foundations and its goals with a minimum of prerequisites. Few algebraic prerequisites are presumed beyond a basic course in linear algebra.

Essential for all biology and biomathematics courses, this textbook provides students with a fresh perspective of quantitative techniques in biology in... a field where virtually any advance in the life sciences requires a sophisticated mathematical approach. An Invitation to Biomathematics, expertly written by a team of experienced educators, offers students a solid understanding of solving biological problems with mathematical applications. This text succeeds in enabling students to truly experience advancements made in biology through mathematical models by containing computer-based hands-on laboratory projects with emphasis on model development, model validation, and model refinement.The supplementary work, Laboratory Manual of Biomathematics is available separately ISBN 0123740223, or as a set ISBN: 0123740290) * Provides a complete guide for development of quantification skills crucial for applying mathematical methods to biological problems* Includes well-known examples from across disciplines in the life sciences including modern biomedical research* Explains how to use data sets or dynamical processes to build mathematical models* Offers extensive illustrative materials* Written in clear and easy-to-follow language without assuming a background in math or biology* A laboratory manual is available for hands-on, computer-assisted projects based on material covered in the text

This revision of Schneider and Gersting's bestselling text now offers a more flexible approach to the CS0 course. The text still features a solid... introduction to programming concepts, but the language-specific material has been moved online and expanded. In addition to modules for C++ and Java, optional modules for C#, Python, and Ada are now available. The text also includes new chapters on Security and Entertainment, expanded coverage of wireless networks, and updated feature boxes.

This new edition of Invitation to Computer Science follows the breadth-first guidelines recommended by CC2001 to teach computer science topics from the... ground up. The authors begin by showing that computer science is the study of algorithms, the central theme of the book, then move up the next five levels of the hierarchy: hardware, virtual machine, software, applications, and ethics. Utilizing rich pedagogy and a consistently engaging writing style, Schneider and Gersting provide students with a solid grounding in theoretical concepts, as well as important applications of computing and information technology. A laboratory manual and accompanying software is available as an optional bundle with this text.

This book is a clear and self-contained introduction to discrete mathematics. Aimed mainly at undergraduate and early graduate students of mathematics... and computer science. It is written with the goal of stimulating interest in mathematics and an active, problem-solving approach to the presented material. The reader is led to an understanding of the basic principles and methods of actually doing mathematics (and having fun at that). Being more narrowly focused than many discrete mathematics textbooks and treating selected topics in an unusual depth and from several points of view, the book reflects the conviction of the authors, active and internationally renowned mathematicians, that the most important gain from studying mathematics is the cultivation of clear and logical thinking and habits useful for attacking new problems. More than 400 enclosed exercises with a wide range of difficulty, many of them accompanied by hints for solution, support this approach to teaching. The readers will appreciate the lively and informal style of the text accompanied by more than 200 drawings and diagrams. Specialists in various parts of science with a basic mathematical education wishing to apply discrete mathematics in their field can use the book as a useful source, and even experts in combinatorics may occasionally learn from pointers to research literature or from presentations of recent results. Invitation to Discrete Mathematics should make a delightful reading both for beginners and for mathematical professionals.The main topics include: elementary counting problems, asymptotic estimates, partially ordered sets, basic graph theory and graph algorithms, finite projective planes, elementary probability and the probabilistic method, generating functions, Ramsey's theorem, and combinatorial applications of linear algebra. General mathematical notions going beyond the high-school level are thoroughly explained in the introductory chapter. An appendix summarizes the undergraduate algebra needed in some of the more advanced sections of the book.

Brief, inviting, and provocative, this book is a perfect introduction to the burgeoning field of environmental ethics. It animates the basic questions,... tells compelling stories, and offers a range of philosophical responses as complementary--not antagonistic--exploratory strategies vital to this growing topic. The book is built around five individually authored chapters, each a representative contribution by a major author in the field. Each chapter covers a central topic in environmental ethics in a somewhat different style. An epilogue offers both a bibliographical guide to these topics and many related issues and a practical guide to environmental action. An Invitation to Environmental Philosophy is an ideal text for courses in environmental ethics and environmental philosophy and an intriguing and rich supplement to a general ethics course, as well as a bridge into the academic literature in environmental philosophy.

The highly praised Fourth Edition of An Invitation to Environmental Sociology brings out the sociology of environmental possibility, inviting students... to delve into this rapidly changing field. Written in a lively, engaging style, Bell covers the broad range of topics in environmental sociology with a personal passion rarely seen in sociology textbooks. With extensively updated material on the environmental situation, this edition challenges readers with the complexity of environmental puzzles.

Feminist ethics illustrates how power, in the guise of gender, affects various moral practices and moral theorizing; it also assesses those practices... and theories for their legitimacy. An Invitation to Feminist Ethics introduces students to the body of work in feminist ethics, clarifies the need for this approach to ethics, and explores three social practices--health care, violence, and globalization--within which the need for a feminist ethics is most urgent.

Current, comprehensive, and personal, Dianne Hales's AN INVITATION TO HEALTH: BUILD YOUR FUTURE integrates a comprehensive presentation of health... concepts with a wealth of practical ways to apply them to your life--body, mind, and spirit. With the complete textbook program, you have an outstanding set of tools to help you understand the positive benefits of good health behaviors and master the steps that empower you to accomplish that change in your own life. Each chapter includes content and applications such as "Health in Action," "Your Strategies for Change," "Your Strategies for Prevention," and "Making Change Happen" sections, all of which help you on your way to setting and attaining your goals for a healthier lifestyle. Because personal choice is an important component of changing for lifelong healthy living, the text also includes "How Do You Compare" a new feature designed to let you compare your behavior patterns to those of other college students. Along the way, AN INVITATION TO HEALTH: BUILD YOUR FUTURE provides relevant examples, colorful photos, figures, and new research and statistics, as well as art, tables, and references that reflect the most current thinking on every topic. Through CengageNOW, CourseMate, and WebTutor, the text also includes a wealth of powerful learning tools to help you maximize your study efforts.

Current, comprehensive, and personal, Dianne Hales?s AN INVITATION TO HEALTH, 2009-2010 Edition, integrates a comprehensive presentation of health... concepts with a wealth of practical ways to apply them to your life--body, mind, and spirit. With the text and its accompanying resources, you have an outstanding set of tools to help you understand the positive benefits of good health behaviors and master the steps that empower you to accomplish that change in your own life. Each chapter includes content and applications such as "Learn It/Live It," "Goal Setting," "Your Strategies for Change," "Your Strategies for Prevention," and "Your Life Change Coach" sections, all of which help you on your way to setting and attaining your goals for a healthier lifestyle. Because personal choice is an important component of changing for lifelong healthy living, the text also includes "Reality Check" and "Point/CounterPoint," two new features designed to sharpen your critical thinking and analytical skills--the keys to making informed choices for positive change. Along the way, AN INVITATION TO HEALTH, 2009-2010 Edition, provides relevant examples, colorful photos, figures, and new research and statistics, as well as "Student Snapshots," art, tables, and references that reflect the most current thinking on every topic. Through CengageNOW?, the text also includes a wealth of powerful learning tools to help you maximize your study efforts.

Current, comprehensive, and personal, Dianne Hales's AN INVITATION TO HEALTH CHOOSING TO CHANGE integrates a comprehensive presentation of health... concepts with a wealth of practical ways to apply them to your life--body, mind, and spirit. With the complete texbook program, you have an outstanding set of tools to help you understand the positive benefits of good health behaviors and master the steps that empower you to accomplish that change in your own life. Each chapter includes content and applications such as "Learn It/Live It," "Goal Setting," "Your Strategies for Change," "Your Strategies for Prevention," and "Your Life Change Coach" sections, all of which help you on your way to setting and attaining your goals for a healthier lifestyle. Because personal choice is an important component of changing for lifelong healthy living, the text also includes "Reality Check" and "Point/CounterPoint," two new features designed to sharpen your critical thinking and analytical skills--the keys to making informed choices for positive change. Along the way, AN INVITATION TO HEALTH, 2009-2010 Edition, provides relevant examples, colorful photos, figures, and new research and statistics, as well as "Student Snapshots," art, tables, and references that reflect the most current thinking on every topic. Through CengageNOW, the text also includes a wealth of powerful learning tools to help you maximize your study efforts.