Book 1 of the Chances Trilogy: In a world haunted by the weight of missed opportunities, a secretive society promises a second chance at life. "The Missed Chance," the captivating first installment of the Chances Trilogy, explores the lives of individuals who have witnessed miraculous turnarounds, only to be confronted with a profound choice that could alter their destinies forever. Amidst a backdrop of personal struggles and setbacks, our diverse group of protagonists, each carrying the burden of a missed chance, stumbles upon the enigmatic secret society. Led by a charismatic figure known only as "The Guardian," this clandestine group offers a tantalizing proposition: a chance to rewrite their narratives and embark on a path untarnished by past mistakes. "The Missed Chance" sets the stage for a riveting trilogy, exploring themes of sacrifice, trust, and the complex nature of second chances. With its gripping narrative, unforgettable characters, and a web of secrets waiting to be unraveled, this book captivates readers, leaving them eagerly anticipating the subsequent installments of the Chances Trilogy. Prepare to embark on a journey where the past collides with the present, where trust is tested, and where the line between redemption and damnation blurs. The Missed Chance is a spellbinding tale that challenges our perceptions of fate, offering a glimpse into a world where the opportunity to rewrite one's story comes at an extraordinary price.

Culled from the pages of the Star Wars Adventure Journal, one of the most popular Star Wars magazines in the field today, comes this exciting new short-story collection. Here are stories from such award-winning and New York Times bestselling authors as Timothy Zahn, Michael A. Stackpole and Kathy Tyers as well as exciting newcomers, including Erin Endom, Laurie Burns, and Patricia A. Jackson. From the desperate flight of a civilian mail courier carrying vital Rebel intelligence through an Imperial blockade, to a suicidal commando raid on an impregnable Imperial prison, to a Corellian smuggler mysteriously hired by an actor turned Jedi Knight turned Imperial assassin for one final transformation, these tales capture all the high adventure, imaginative genius, and nonstop action that are the hallmarks of the Star Wars saga. What's more, the centerpiece of this magnificent collection is the short novel Side Trip, the first-ever collaboration between Timothy Zahn and Michael A. Stackpole, in which a freighter smuggling arms for the Rebels is commandeered by an Imperial Star Destroyer led by a mysterious helmeted figure who claims to be the notorious bounty hunter Jodo Kast. It is all part of a devious plan that includes Hal and Corran Horn, who are working undercover to nail the infamous Corellian warlord Zekka Thyne. But one slip-up can get them all killed. Collected for the first time, Star Wars(r): Tales from the Empire is one book no fan will want to be without. (r), TM and (c) 1997 Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. Used under authorization.

When Emma Sky volunteered to help rebuild Iraq after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein in 2003, she had little idea what she was getting in to. Her assignment was only supposed to last three months. She went on to serve there longer than any other senior military or diplomatic figure, giving her an unrivaled perspective of the entire conflict. As the representative of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Kirkuk in 2003 and then the political advisor to US General Odierno from 2007-2010, Sky was valued for her knowledge of the region and her outspoken voice. She became a tireless witness to American efforts to transform a country traumatized by decades of war, sanctions, and brutal dictatorship; to insurgencies and civil war; to the planning and implementation of the surge and the subsequent drawdown of US troops; to the corrupt political elites who used sectarianism to mobilize support; and to the takeover of a third of the country by the Islamic State. With sharp detail and tremendous empathy, Sky provides unique insights into the US military as well as the complexities, diversity, and evolution of Iraqi society. The Unraveling is an intimate insider's portrait of how and why the Iraq adventure failed and contains a unique analysis of the course of the war. Highlighting how nothing that happened in Iraq after 2003 was inevitable, Sky exposes the failures of the policies of both Republicans and Democrats, and the lessons that must be learned about the limitations of power.

Most people have encountered opportunities that have slipped by them and have become missed. These missed opportunities actually have a lot of potential, and if seized, can be used for a number of important purposes.We all have opportunities that we can use to the best of our advantage, but how do we claim them for our benefit? How do we overcome these obstacles?The author has comprised 12 main opportunities of life that almost all man-kind has missed at least once in their lifetime. Using real-life examples and practical principles, the author shows how you can use and overcome the missed opportunities of life and get back on track.Make the most of every opportunity, and overcome the missed opportunities of life to your advantage!

A young boy comes up with an idea and he keeps it safe until one day he realizes the amazing power it can have.

Mohamoud's work considers the underlying causes for the breakdown of the state across both time and space. Time is considered across the triple history - the pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial processes. Space is used in the sense of taking the whole of Somalia as a unit of analysis. This approach enables the discovery of different structural crises over a period of time and examines these cumulative effects on the current upheavals in Somalia. Among the approaches, State Collapse and Post-Conflict Development in Africa covers the constraints in the harsh material environment; the subsistence pastoral mode of existence; the colonial intervention and the subsequent division of the land into five parts; Cold War geopolitics; decades of armed struggles; and the post-colonial crisis of governance. Dr. Abdulla (Awil) Mohamoud runs SAHAN, an academic research and consultancy agency, which conducts policy oriented research and fact finding missions abroad, mainly in Africa, undertakes evaluation and monitoring activities, provides training and offers advisory services on integration and multi-cultural issues. He holds an MA degree from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and earned his PhD at the University of Amsterdam. Mohamoud has served regularly as an election observer in UN, EU, Council of Europe and OSCE missions to conflict and war-torn societies (to East-Timor, Kosovo, Nigeria, Serbia, and Zimbabwe).

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 21st International Conference on DNA Computing and Molecular Programming, DNA 21, held in Boston and Cambridge, MA, USA, in August 2015. The 13 full papers presented were carefully selected from 63 submissions. The papers address all current issues related to biomolecular computing, such as: algorithms and models for computation on biomolecular systems; computational processes in vitro and in vivo; molecular switches, gates, devices, and circuits; molecular folding and self-assembly of nanostructures; analysis and theoretical models of laboratory techniques; molecular motors and molecular robotics; studies of fault-tolerance and error correction; software tools for analysis, simulation, and design; synthetic biology and in vitro evolution; applications in engineering, physics, chemistry, biology, and medicine.