This thoughtful book argues that skepticism -- the view that reliable knowledge is beyond our grasp -- is unavoidable unless knowledge is thought of not as merely an intellectual matter but as crucial to practical activity and emotional life. Author Anthony Rudd ties this idea to the work of Wittgenstein and Heidegger, exploring important similarities between the former's reminders of the "expressive" character of human experience and the latter's account of ways to experience the physical world "expressively."

The explosive growth of consumer credit, as well as the shift from cash to "plastic" in societies throughout the world signals a transformation in social relations, which is the focus of this book. For student readers who know the world of credit cards all too well, this is a great way to interest and educate them on the power of thinking sociologically.

Pack includes 2 books and one CD.

Auditions are underway for the 4 th Anniversary of North Pole Musical, and everyone is in a panic! The dancing Reindeer are "hoofin' it," but don't know what to do with Rudolph and his 4 left hooves. The elves are tired of always getting the short end of the stick, and are singin' the blues. The snowmen are "chillin'" but worried about the funky hot lights, and the toys are trying to do the entire Nutcracker Suite in 3 minutes! The annual Christmas show keeps getting bigger and bigger each year. But, wait a minute! Is bigger really better? See how Santa finds a way to remind everyone of the true meaning of the season. This sensational 35-minute holiday revue features seven original songs in a variety of musical styles, choreography and helpful production guide, and a script with 26 speaking parts and adaptable cast list for groups of varying sizes, and teaching objectives linked to the National Standards for each song. The expanded Performance Kit/CD provides 2 Singer books, along with the Teacher Edition and a P/A CD. Available separately: Teacher Edition, Singer Edition 5-Pak, Preview CD (with vocals), Preview Pak (1 singer book, 1 Preview CD), Performance/Accompaniment CD, Performance Kit/CD (Teacher, 2 singer books, P/A CD). Duration: ca. 35 minutes. Suggested for grades 4-8.

The story of the men who build the transcontinental railroad in the 1860's.

Indonesian Ferry Sinks. Peruvian Bus Plunges Off Cliff. African Train Attacked by Mobs. Whenever he picked up the newspaper, Carl Hoffman noticed those short news bulletins, which seemed about as far from the idea of tourism, travel as the pursuit of pleasure, as it was possible to get. So off he went, spending six months circumnavigating the globe on the world's worst conveyances: the statistically most dangerous airlines, the most crowded and dangerous ferries, the slowest buses, and the most rickety trains. The Lunatic Express takes us into the heart of the world, to some its most teeming cities and remotest places: from Havana to Bogotá on the perilous Cuban Airways. Lima to the Amazon on crowded night buses where the road is a washed-out track. Across Indonesia and Bangladesh by overcrowded ferries that kill 1,000 passengers a year. On commuter trains in Mumbai so crowded that dozens perish daily, across Afghanistan as the Taliban closes in, and, scariest of all, Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., by Greyhound. The Lunatic Express is the story of traveling with seatmates and deckmates who have left home without American Express cards on conveyances that don't take Visa, and seldom take you anywhere you'd want to go. But it's also the story of traveling as it used to be—a sometimes harrowing trial, of finding adventure in a modern, rapidly urbanizing world and the generosity of poor strangers, from ear cleaners to urban bus drivers to itinerant roughnecks, who make up most of the world's population. More than just an adventure story, The Lunatic Express is a funny, harrowing and insightful look at the world as it is, a planet full of hundreds of millions of people, mostly poor, on the move and seeking their fortunes.