Rick Behringer is an outside contractor working for the Central Intelligence Agency. He owns a small company that, in the light of day, provides communications security for government offices, including the CIA. In the shadows, though, Rick's a spy. He runs overseas agents for the CIA and, through his firm, buys foreign military technology that the Agency wants to inspect but can't be seen purchasing. The divorced father of two little girls, Rick carries on a cold war with his ex, Liz, and a hot romance with his sexy girlfriend, Frannie. He still broods over the mysterious death of his father, a high-level CIA officer during the Vietnam War, who committed suicide when Rick was thirteen. Through contacts in what he calls the "Black World," Rick hears of a mysterious Pakistani Islamist, a rogue nuclear physicist, who is trying to acquire highly-enriched uranium in order to construct "an Islamic bomb" - a scheme that is all too credible. In tracking him down, Rick encounters a host of characters, some willing to help, many more willing to take his life. And in the explosive conclusion, he struggles in a deadly game of wits with Russian gangsters and the terrorist who is plotting nuclear mass murder in America. In The Contractor, Colin MacKinnon shows once again his rare ability to turn real-world facts into riveting spy fiction. The Contractor could happen...could be happening now.

"The Contractor Fight" is what HGTV host and best-selling author Tom Reber calls the battle between your ears. We all have stories and experiences that have formed us into who we are. We are what we think, and the battleground is our mind. The Fight is not with the people you think are "cheap customers." It's not with the unlicensed competitors or the "illegals," as many contractors think. The Fight is with yourself. Sadly, most of the struggles contractors have are self-imposed. It's friendly fire. The negative ways we think about ourselves and our worth... friendly fire. The growing debt, working too much, small bank account... friendly fire. Winning the Fight is a choice. You're noble and full of integrity. You bend over backward to serve your family and clients. You have taken it on the chin more times than you can count. Now, it's time to get yours. Earn what you're worth. Create a business that serves you and energizes you, instead of one that beats you down. Choose to own your crap and get better today.

Addresses the daily challenges faced by contractors who use the NEC3 ECC with clear, practical and useable advice on how to solve them Written in plain English for contractors and their staff, this book explains how the NEC3 contract works and provides answers to common questions. It presents complicated concepts in a simple, straightforward and understandable way, focusing mainly on day-to-day use. Steven Evans, an expert with thirty years of experience in construction, considers all the provisions of the contract and explains the procedures, obligations, and liabilities contained within it. NEC3 ECC is a process-based contract based on project management best practices. The basic philosophy behind it differs radically from the more adversarial approaches embodied by traditional contracts. While the NEC3 ECC may appear quite simple on the surface, it is often misunderstood and mismanaged by its day-to-day users. Despite the clear and urgent need for expert guides for those who use the NEC3 ECC, or who are considering adopting this increasingly popular contract, available books on the subject are highly technical and written for lawyers and professional consultants—until now. Written specifically for contractors using the NEC3 ECC contract, this book is aimed specifically at a level consistent with the knowledge and experiences of contractors and their staff. A practical guide to the procedures in the NEC3 Engineering and Construction Contracts Written specifically for those using and administering the contracts—not for lawyers or professional consultants Considers all the provisions of the contract and explains the procedures, obligations and liabilities Covers all NEC3 ECC versions and variations created by the Main and Secondary Options Provides clear, concise, practical, and straightforward explanations of the NEC3 ECC form used by commercial and operational staff of main contractors The Contractor's NEC3 EEC Handbook is a vital working resource for main contractors and their employees, including quantity surveyors, commercial managers, contracts managers, project managers, site managers, and estimators.

Its easy to look at a house and put an offer on it. But its harder to make an informed decision based on the potential costs of repairs and renovations that a home needs. All pre-owned homes need repairs, remodeling, and general upgrades. A leaking roof, bad plumbing, or electrical problems can cost tens of thousands of dollars to fix. Without a guidebook telling you how to spot and estimate the cost of repairs, you dont have the information you need to make good decisions. Written by a general contractor with more than thirty-five years of experience and a former building supply professional, this guidebook provides a roadmap on how to make smart decisions. Checklists, charts, and inspection tips make it easy to find hidden defects so you have all the information you need before buying. You dont need special training or extensive knowledge of construction and building codes to buy the right home; you just need to empower yourself with the detailed information and data in The Home Contractors Home Purchase Guide.

Ray is a contractor who takes it upon himself to protect a single mother. Doing this he ends up falling in love with a broken woman and her son. Charlie's past keeps putting her into horrible situations that hold Ray to her side. Could it be that Ray is just the person to help bring her to a peaceful life?

This guide will help the contractor’s staff overcome some of the difficulties encountered on a typical international contract using FIDIC forms. The majority of FIDIC-based contracts use the Red Book (Conditions of Contract for Construction), so this book concentrates on the use of those particular forms. Supplementary comments are included in Appendix C for the Yellow Book (Plant & Design-Build) recommended for use where the contractor has a design responsibility. The Contractor is represented on site by the Contractor’s Representative who carries the overall responsibility for all the Contractor’s on-site activities. In order to provide guidance to the Contractor’s Representative and his staff, this book is divided into five sections: A summarized general review of the Red Book from the Contractor’s perspective. A review of the activities and duties of the Contractor’s Representative in the same clause sequencing as they appear in the Red Book. A summary of these activities and duties but arranged in order of their likely time sequence on site. This has the added intention of providing the Contractor’s Representative with a means of ensuring that documents are not only properly provided to the Employer and Engineer, but most importantly that they are provided within the time limits specified in the Contract. A selection of model letters is provided which make reference to the various clauses of the contract requiring the Contractor to make submissions to the Employer or Engineer. Various appendices. The guide is not intended to be a review of the legal aspects of FIDIC- based contracts; legal advice should be obtained as and when necessary, particularly if the Contractor has little or no knowledge of the local law. Armed on site with a copy of The Contractor and the FIDIC Contract, the Contractor’s Representative will be more able to avoid contractual problems rather than spend considerable time and energy resolving those problems once they have arisen.