Gustav Peter Larson Mouse, called Gus by his mama and three little brothers, is a delightfully innocent character who forgets his mama''s warnings. Readers can easily identify with Gus, the five and one quarter inch high little hero, who is full of the wonder of the world around him, not to mention his uncanny ability to get into trouble. Gus remembers his mama''s warnings too late it seems and we find Gus out in the middle of a Wisconsin Lake in an abandoned rowboat. At first he seems unaware of the danger as he plays pirate. That is until he looks up to see the largest, biggest boat in the world headed right toward him. Gus cannot swim, a fact he realizes all to late. In fact, all he can do is to stare in terror as the big ship comes toward his little rowboat, sounding her whistle as a warning. The reader shivers along with little Gus as he whispers his prayer, closes his eyes, and holds on tight. Along with Gus, the reader begins to realize that it''s a pretty good idea to listen to their parent''s advice.

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I had the career of a lifetime. I was a teacher. I began my teaching career believing that one person could make a difference, and throughout the years, I never lost sight of that conviction. Teaching connected me to my students in ways quite humorous, as well as heart breaking. I hope the reader laughs a lot and cries only a little, while walking in my footsteps as an educator. Laugh with me as you read about Fred, the crusty cockroach we set free to find his wife and eighty-seven children. In addition, there is always my favorite story about the scary monster under the bed holding a student's homework hostage. I fed a rooster and his hens bread crumbs for breakfast each morning, until they tried to follow me, in single file, into the school board building one day. Some difficult students in summer school mistakenly believed my black patent leather belt to be a black belt in Karate. Who was I to tell them differently? Coming right on top of the laughs were the times I went home to cry. I remember the student, new to our school, who went home one evening and hung himself, his cries for help coming too late. I remember with equal sadness, the foster child we sponsored in Kenya who died because help did not reach him in time. Closer to home was the overage student who was shot and killed while he participated in a home invasion, just days after he finished summer school. Outside factors reached inside our classroom as well, reeking havoc with the emotions of both the children and me. The disastrous space shuttle, with the teacher on board, happened before our very eyes; while the greatest tragedy of all was the destruction of the twin towers on 9/11. These stories and many more comprise my educational career, and although there was no easy button, I would do it all over again. I was a teacher.

This collection of short expository, critical and speculative texts offers a field guide to the cultural, political, social and aesthetic impact of software. Experts from a range of disciplines each take a key topic in software and the understanding of software, such as algorithms and logical structures.

"Highly informative and remarkably entertaining." —Elle From forest trails in Korea, to islands in Finland, to eucalyptus groves in California, Florence Williams investigates the science behind nature’s positive effects on the brain. Delving into brand-new research, she uncovers the powers of the natural world to improve health, promote reflection and innovation, and strengthen our relationships. As our modern lives shift dramatically indoors, these ideas—and the answers they yield—are more urgent than ever.