The fourteen essays in this collection were drawn from papers presented at the annual conference of the American Culture Association in April of 2006. The widely ranging topics and diverse points of view are typical of papers showcased by this organization of educators, writers, cultural critics and graduate students. These essays each consider the pedagogical parameters by which the art of the United States is defined and, as we are a nation of many voices, they further represent the multicultural identities of America and its citizens. From traditional art historical analysis to post-modernist deconstruction, the authors represented herein explore paintings, prints, sculpture, and architectural objects, in the context of history, philosophy, aesthetics, and political points of view. The writers themselves represent multidisciplinary viewpoints, from art history to literature to architecture and social work. Their papers reflect current scholarship, speaking from the most up to date of pedagogies, and in voices which are both critical and analytical. They further speak for the American Culture Association whose mission it is to explore "all manifestations of the cultures of the Americas."

In 2002, author, filmmaker, and economist Laurence Brahm, inspired by James Hilton’s novel Lost Horizon and his own quest for meaning, began his search for Shangri-la. Some say that Shangri-la can be found in sacred Tibet, or maybe in wild Qinghai; others believe it can be found in artistic Yunnan in the southwest of China. The author discovered the spiritual truth that Shangri-la is not a place; rather, it is a state of mind. As Brahm hitchhiked through western China, well off the beaten track, he recorded the interior changes and illuminations he experienced as his consciousness expanded far beyond the everyday cares of his years of urban life in Beijing. The insights of his journey and his meetings with others who searched for their own versions of Shangri-la, helped him to understand that the archetypal goal he sought was actually a state of consciousness. Shangri-la may be found in a cup of café latte or yak-butter tea—if we search carefully enough and with mindfulness and compassion. Searching for Shangri-la is the first book of the Himalayan Trilogy . The reader will discover the need for fresh economic paradigms that call for compassionate capital, the empowerment of people, and prioritization of the environment. Spirituality can be more powerful than materialism. The need for sustainability has rarely been so beautifully and eloquently defended.

Nature-Inspired Algorithms have been gaining much popularity in recent years due to the fact that many real-world optimisation problems have become increasingly large, complex and dynamic. The size and complexity of the problems nowadays require the development of methods and solutions whose efficiency is measured by their ability to find acceptable results within a reasonable amount of time, rather than an ability to guarantee the optimal solution. This volume 'Nature-Inspired Algorithms for Optimisation' is a collection of the latest state-of-the-art algorithms and important studies for tackling various kinds of optimisation problems. It comprises 18 chapters, including two introductory chapters which address the fundamental issues that have made optimisation problems difficult to solve and explain the rationale for seeking inspiration from nature. The contributions stand out through their novelty and clarity of the algorithmic descriptions and analyses, and lead the way to interesting and varied new applications.

Yo, God, Whaddup? introduces a new approach to prayer as it promotes growth on your spiritual journey. Catherine Taylor takes you by the hand and invites you to engage in a more active prayer life as she shares the process she developed to help alleviate anxiety about prayer. Yo, God, Whaddup? provides you with a variety of prayers written for both formal and informal prayer styles. Empower yourself to embark on a prayerful journey as you build your spiritual practice and strengthen your own personal relationship with God. Any time of the day or night, the guidance for just the right prayer is as close as your desk, nightstand, backpack, purse or wherever Yo, God, Whaddup? finds its home in your life.

This is an essential guide for architecture and design students struggling to put together an effective portfolio. There is too often a haphazard approach to architecture portfolio design and creation. Without a fundamental understanding of basic graphic design principles, portfolios can seem garish and disjointed, doing a disservice to the work on show and the designers’ professional potential. This concise and highly visual guide explains the fundamental principles of portfolio creation, provides dos and don’ts, common mistakes, and analysis of a diverse range of both successful and unsuccessful samples. Aspirational, innovative design work is also presented alongside detailed commentary breaking down the reasons why it works. Chapters walk through the complete process in an intuitive way, covering purpose, curation, form, layout, content and review, while providing both digital and print techniques. Following the framework laid out in this book will quickly and effectively elevate any architecture portfolio, allowing you to showcase your work in the most professional way possible.