In FRACKING DINOSAURS ancient aquatic carnivores that have lived quietly for eons at the bottom of Cayuga Lake in upstate New York are driven to the surface when fracking fluid pollutes their pristine environment. As university paleontologists discover ancient fossils in the strata around the lake, camp counselors discover the fossils are alive and hungry. Gas and salt executives put profit before safety as they compete for the the resources under Cayuga Lake. This competition causes fracking generated earthquakes that rip open the salt mine under the lake flooding it and generating waves that devastate the people living around the lake.

This book provides a systematic scientific approach to the understanding of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) as a hydrocarbon extraction technology and its impact on the environment. The book addresses research from the past decade to assess how fracking can affect air, water, landscapes and ecosystems, and presents the subject in the context of the history of fracking and shale gas development in the United States, describing what is known and not known about environmental impacts, and the broader implications of fossil energy use, climate change, and technology development. In 9 chapters, the author lays out how and why hydraulic fracturing was developed, what driving forces existed at the beginning of the so-called "shale revolution", how success was achieved, and when and why public acceptance of the technology changed. The intended audience is scientific people who are concerned about fracking, but perhaps do not know all that much about it. It is also intended for lay people who would be interested in understanding the technical details of the process and what effects it might or might not be having on the environment. The book is written at a level that is both understandable and technically correct. A further goal is to give some useful insights even to experienced petroleum geologists and engineers who have been doing fracking for many years.

The Story by Nathaniel FarcasA young man comes home, but home is not what he thought it was... and I guess it is a supernatural tale.A Royal Pain in the Ear by Lauren LangRoyal earaches are no laughing matter for a court jester.Uprooted by Jon Fain A Hollywood location manager goes to a place he thought he' d never see again — his hometown — to deal with unpleasant memories and the complex needs of his estranged family.Open House by Elizabeth S. DevecchiA young realtor is assigned her first open house, a step toward independence and escape from an abusive husband. The mysterious inhabitants of the little fixer-upper have different plans for her.The Kipling Lamp by Eric D. LehmanA young man buys a magical lamp that belonged to Rudyard Kipling in order to become a famous writer, but it does not go as smoothly as he hopes.Copper by Brittany BellA lonely girl befriends her elderly neighbor one summer after her parents cut ties with her best friend' s family for undisclosed reasons.All For You, Sara Sue by Ken GoldmanMeet Darcy and Elliot, a childless couple who desperately want a baby of their own but find they are unable to conceive. Together they discover a most unusual way to make that birth happen — and Sara Sue is born! But at what cost..?Basement Bob by Brittany BellAn eleven-year-old girl undergoes a formative experience while trying to impress an older boy by spying on the town' s enigmatic recluse, akin to Boo Radley.The Weeping Scimitar by Vincent Czyz“ The Weeping Scimitar,” set in the hinterlands of an unnamed Eastern European country in the 19th century, is the tale of a judgment, a blood debt, and a small band of brigands bent on escaping a gulag. The Geisha in the Attic by Dalton MireA ” Southern Belle” is exiled by missionaries to a House of Geisha in 1860s Japan, and her letters inspire a woman in the 21st Century.Statute of Limitations by Gary ZenkerThe long arm of the law has an even longer reach than one might guess.People on the Roads and in the Gardens by Mykyta RyzhykhA story about war, people, roads, cities.The Fisherman by Kim RansleyWhat if the sea is your only friend?Ricochet by Mark WilliamsTeenage banjo prodigy, Harlan Dillbeck, goes to Bardstown, Kentucky, where, after giving up his dreams of banjo stardom, he becomes a master bourbon taster. Years later, with help from his former banjo-playing nemesis, Sam Boone, Harlan hopes to rescue his son from a nine-fingered hitman, Duke Earl.The Memory Bench by Beck ErixsonCraving a memory' s soul makes hot chocolate bittersweet. Begin Again by Ibtisam ShahbazThis story captures the tale of two lovers as melodies echoing in different corners of the world, whose soundwaves have collided at last.Respite by Jennifer CinguinaThe Audition by Brittany BellA talented musician confronts guilt over his younger sister' s death while auditioning for Julliard.Never Enough by Caroline Shannon DavenportAbundant Accumulations and Acquirements. A game? A need?Schmeared Reputation by Gary ZenkerLife dishes out a serving of the darker side of people, with a side of irony.The Results by Joseph A. SchillerOur future no longer holds any secrets from us. We may wish it did.As My Father Was Dying by Caroline Shannon DavenportBeing pulled away but painfully, slowly, slowly, being pulled toward... Last Kiss by Gary ZenkerIf you know the secret being hidden, is it still a secret?Art Project by John TavaresMonster by Jerry PurdonA man is disappointed in his quest to assert his authority and making others disappointed. As his plans unravel, with his main target' s death, he sets is

In the tradition of James Clavell, Rafe--Lincoln's Samurai Agent is a swashbuckling tale of a young man and woman who shoot and slash their way through a samurai dominated society on a mission for Abraham Lincoln. Rafe fights swords with pistols while a young woman learns to survive in a different culture. Rafe--Lincoln's Samurai Agent is historical fiction with page turning action. While fighting a war at home, Lincoln demonstrated the depth of his leadership by building a transcontinental railroad and expanding foreign trade to help finance the Civil War. When the Tokugawa government wanted a geologist to inspect their mines, Abe responded by sending Raphael Pumpelly to Japan. Rafe was inspired by this story. During the 1860's, the United States and Japan were thrown into violent civil wars. Rafe and Carolyn leave one country at war only to be caught in the middle of another society exploding in violence. Documented in this story is the first attack by the United States on the Japanese homeland. In 1863, the U.S.S. Wyoming defeated Japanese gunboats and fired on forts in the Shimonoseki Straits.

Forensic geology is the application of geology to aid the investigation of crime. A Guide to Forensic Geology was written by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS), Initiative on Forensic Geology (IFG), which was established to promote and develop forensic geology around the world. This book presents the first practical guide for forensic geologists in search and geological trace evidence analysis. Guidance is provided on using geological methods during search operations. This developed following international case work experiences and research over the last 25 years for homicide graves, burials associated with serious and organised crime and counter terrorism. With expertise gained in over 300 serious crime investigations, the guidance also considers geological trace evidence, including the examination of crime scenes, geological evidence recovery and analysis from exhibits and the reporting of results. The book also considers the judicial system, reporting and requirements for presenting evidence in court. Included are emerging applications of geology to police and law enforcement: illegal and illicit mining, conflict minerals, substitution, adulteration, fraud and fakery.

“Takes readers on illuminating scientific adventure, beginning sixty-six million years ago, that connects dinosaurs, comets, DNA, and the future of the planet.” —Huffington Post In this brilliant exploration of our cosmic environment, the renowned particle physicist and New York Times–bestselling author of Warped Passages and Knocking on Heaven’s Door uses her research into dark matter to illuminate the startling connections between the furthest reaches of space and life here on Earth. Sixty-six million years ago, an object the size of a city descended from space to crash into Earth, creating a devastating cataclysm that killed off the dinosaurs, along with three-quarters of the other species on the planet. What was its origin? In Dark Matter and the Dinosaurs, Lisa Randall proposes it was a comet that was dislodged from its orbit as the Solar System passed through a disk of dark matter embedded in the Milky Way. In a sense, it might have been dark matter that killed the dinosaurs. Working through the background and consequences of this proposal, Randall shares with us the latest findings—established and speculative—regarding the nature and role of dark matter and the origin of the Universe, our galaxy, our Solar System, and life, along with the process by which scientists explore new concepts. In Dark Matter and the Dinosaurs, Randall tells a breathtaking story that weaves together the cosmos’ history and our own, illuminating the deep relationships that are critical to our world and the astonishing beauty inherent in the most familiar things. “Randall has woven a beautiful account of how life on Earth is intimately connected to the cosmos.” —The Daily Telegraph (UK)

The Britannica Book of the Year 2012 provides a valuable viewpoint of the people and events that shaped the year and serves as a great reference source for the latest news on the ever changing populations, governments, and economies throughout the world. It is an accurate and comprehensive reference that you will reach for again and again.