Cary Clack has captured the hearts and minds of Texans since the mid-1990s, gaining a national reputation as an incisive and sensitive journalist and developing a significant following as a columnist. Originally from San Antonio, he worked with the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta (writing CNN commentaries for Coretta Scott King) to hone his communication skills and broaden his social sensibilities. Returning to his hometown, he quickly became known as a writer who profiled everyday heroes and captured stories unique to the Texas experience, adding a critical local perspective to national news. His columns are infused with a sense of humility and a keen examination of the humanness in others. Following sixteen years as a journalist, Clack pursued interests in politics, social policy, and service, including work with the mayor of San Antonio, U.S. congressman Joaquin Castro, and others. More Finish Lines to Cross is a collection of Clack’s best short- and long-form columns since his return to the San Antonio Express-News in 2019. It includes more than eighty pieces about the issues of the day, from Donald Trump, Joe Biden, and the war in Ukraine to the impact of COVID, the death of George Floyd, and the mass shooting of schoolchildren in Uvalde, Texas. Along the way we meet the people who influenced Clack, which in turn reminds us to reflect on how we become the people we are and what inspires us to be better members of our communities.

Why so many of America's public university students are not graduating—and what to do about it The United States has long been a model for accessible, affordable education, as exemplified by the country's public universities. And yet less than 60 percent of the students entering American universities today are graduating. Why is this happening, and what can be done? Crossing the Finish Line provides the most detailed exploration ever of college completion at America's public universities. This groundbreaking book sheds light on such serious issues as dropout rates linked to race, gender, and socioeconomic status. Probing graduation rates at twenty-one flagship public universities and four statewide systems of public higher education, the authors focus on the progress of students in the entering class of 1999—from entry to graduation, transfer, or withdrawal. They examine the effects of parental education, family income, race and gender, high school grades, test scores, financial aid, and characteristics of universities attended (especially their selectivity). The conclusions are compelling: minority students and students from poor families have markedly lower graduation rates—and take longer to earn degrees—even when other variables are taken into account. Noting the strong performance of transfer students and the effects of financial constraints on student retention, the authors call for improved transfer and financial aid policies, and suggest ways of improving the sorting processes that match students to institutions. An outstanding combination of evidence and analysis, Crossing the Finish Line should be read by everyone who cares about the nation's higher education system.

You have a lot to offer family, friends, business colleagues, bosses and clients, but sometimes it seems they just don't appreciate what you've done or what you can do for them. In Prism of Value, Liz Wainger will help you reframe the way you communicate to make your messages clear and help others see the value you can bring into their lives. Through personal stories and real-world examples of both good and bad communication styles, she will help you see how the message you think you're sending is not necessarily the message that's being received. Prism of Value takes you step-by-step through the process of discovering your value and building a strong message to convey that value to others. You will learn about the power of clarity, how to choose words that communicate value, what makes a good message "bite," how to find your own "shtick," and ways to weave a powerful story to deposit in your personal story bank. This book will show you ways to grab the attention of those around you and ways to work successfully with those drawn into your orbit. Learn how to battle the "word mongers," those who seek to demonstrate their power by pulling out their red pen and then slow your progress. You'll see how to keep your ego in check, prevent "communication crashes," and take the extra step that will set you apart from the pack. Whether you're trying to improve communications with your spouse or kids, apply for a new job, sign that big client, or get the promotion you deserve, you'll find tips for success in Prism of Value.

Crossing the Finish Line is a message of motivation and personal development. It is a comparison of a marathon with life. Even if you don’t run or practice any sport, you can benefit from this message to have a new start. Life is hard, and setbacks can take away the joy of life. The message of this book can help you to find balance in body, mind and spirit. Activities like running can oxygenate your brain, make your heart strong and teach you to be patient and disciplined. Good nutrition can keep your cells healthy and your body strong so you can accomplish your purpose. When you find your purpose in life, you can stablish relations with like-minded people that can bring good energy to your live, you can impact people around you and you can be the best version of your-self. Faith in God can make your spirit flourish and show you the way to complete the race of your life, to cross the finish line.

In the 1880s photographers and sports enthusiasts confidently declared the end of dead heats in sporting competition. Reflecting a broader social belief in technology, proponents of the camera stressed that the device could provide definitive proof of who won and who lost. Yet despite this remedy for the inadequate human eye, competitive races between horses, boats, and bicycles ended too close to call a sole champion. More than a century later, when cameras can subdivide the second into ten-thousandths and beyond, athletes continue to cross the finish line in ties. In this fascinating journey through the history of the photo-finish in sports, Jonathan Finn shows how innovation was animated by a drive for ever more precise tools and a quest for perfect measurement. As he traces the technological developments inspired by this crusade - from the evolution of the still camera to movie cameras, ultimately leading to complex contemporary photo-finish systems - Finn uncovers the social implications of adopting and contesting the photograph as evidence in sport. At every turn empirical obsession intersects with the unpredictability of sports, creating a paradox wherein the precision offered by photo-finish technology far exceeds the realities of human performance and its measurement. Separating athletes by the hundredth, thousandth, or ten-thousandth of a second is often a fiction that comes with significant material and cultural implications. A lively biography of a critical technology, Beyond the Finish Line illuminates the cultural role of the photo-finish in win-at-all-costs culture and warn that in our pursuit for precision we may threaten the human element of sport that galvanizes mere spectators into fans.

Every Christian knows that life can be tough at the best of times! Just as the running of a race takes extreme effort-so it is that the Christian life is often a struggle-but one well worth the effort. The reality of life's journey can present major challenges! Like a runner, we need proper training and encouragement to make it to the finish line. Dr. Don Wilton uses the Book of Hebrews, while drawing on his personal journey, as a training manual for the race God has called us to run. As we maneuver the course and cross the finish line, we show others that living the Christian life really does make a difference.

"Maybe you are one of those people that have been led down a trail of bad luck. You are frustrated but realize that it won't help to continue to feel that way. isn't it time that you start reaching the finish line? In 'Reaching the finish line,' you will learn how to: land a great career without a HS diploma; land a great career without a college degree; graduate with a bachelor's degree in 1 year; change careers without going back to school; work from home for the rest of your life, and much more."--Back cove