Nowhere on an academic schedule will you find the course Choices 101. Thus, we struggle to make the correct choices to advance our lives in a desired direction. Changing your life direction is not an epiphany but an ongoing process that begins with the selection of particular paths on a daily basis. These paths and their obstacles are illustrated in enlightening vignettes as author Sherry D. Ransom introduces the art of making choices and changing your life at any given moment, as well as the three paths of opportunity that await you each day: The Checkered Path-You choose not to choose. This choice seems relatively low risk but it is fraught with surprises. Your only goal is to survive another day. The Yellow Path-You choose to continue the low-risk yesterday. Whether you lived yesterday in a state of happiness or depression, you choose to live today in the same manner to avoid surprises. Any fulfillment is fleeting because there is no real pattern or goal. The Green Path-Living life with purpose. You make choices with an eye toward a goal and you have weighed the risks. This path leads to mounting satisfaction. Ransom also shares her own inspirational story of growing up without direction and, through determination, finding the path to personal fulfillment. Three Paths, Three Choices will challenge your old patterns of thinking and help you to face your own negativity and unleash the personal power that is yours for the taking.

The Three Paths to Perfection is about: You. Your relationship with yourself. Your interaction with others, and how they relate to you. It speaks of enjoying your life, taking care of yourself first, how to find your life’s purpose, and other topics you may encounter while living and experiencing life. It can be used to enhance your current spiritual practice, be a resource on your path to perfection, or any other way you care to employ it to make your life better.

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 7th Annual Symposium on Combinatorial Pattern Matching, CPM '96, held in Laguna Beach, California, USA, in June 1996. The 26 revised full papers included were selected from a total of 48 submissions; also included are two invited papers. Combinatorial pattern matching has become a full-fledged area of algorithmics with important applications in recent years. The book addresses all relevant aspects of combinatorial pattern matching and its importance in information retrieval, pattern recognition, compiling, data compression, program analysis, and molecular biology and thus describes the state of the art in the area.

Olivia Geroux knew her king was reluctant to marry her, whatever the negotiations had arranged. But she never expected to find handsome, arrogant King Rowan obsessed with his stepsister instead. And before she can determine what course to take, she overhears her greatest ally plotting to murder the princess. Olivia must act quickly—and live with whatever chaos results. As the assassin hunts his prey, a magic mirror appears to show Olivia the three paths that open before her . . . ~ If she hesitates only a moment, the princess will die—and she will become queen. ~ If she calls for help, she will gain great power—but she must also thrust away her own happiness. ~ If she runs to stop the murder herself, she will know love and contentment—but her whole country will suffer. As she lives out each path, her wits and courage will be tested as she fights to protect her people, her friends, and her heart. And deciding which to follow will be far from easy . . . A CHOICE OF CROWNS New York Times bestselling author Barb Hendee reveals a world of ruthless desire, courtly intrigue, and compassion as one woman shapes the fate of a nation . . .

Friends in School: Patterns of Selection and Influence in Secondary Schools is a collection of research and commentaries that focuses on the connections between the social organization of schools and classrooms, the social processes of peer association, friendship selection, as well as the social development of students. The papers center around the topic on simultaneous influence of developmental and environmental factors on adolescent friendships. One paper examines the various theories of adolescent friendships: that differences exist between theories applied to, and theories generated from the experiences of different age groups. Another paper discusses the patterns of selection of friends and the characteristics of selected friends in high- and low-participatory schools. One paper explains the components of a contact theory and of cooperative learning methods in terms of their impact on intergroup relations. Another paper reviews sex differences in forming and maintaining friendships based on earlier studies made on the subject. The paper focuses on environmental and developmental points on how sex differences and school organization can interact on the student's adjustment to transition or growth. One paper notes that peer and friendship groups can be positive forces in the classroom to advance the goals of the teachers, students, and school, but the decision should depend on the teacher's knowledge of organizational structure, group processes, and on the desired outcome of the educational activity. The collection is suitable for teachers, child educators, school counselors, school administrators, psychologists and sociologists.

From a Harvard- and Yale-trained neuropsychologist, a science-backed five-step program to boost memory and dramatically decrease the risk of Alzheimer’s. American adults fear Alzheimer’s more than any other disease—including cancer—and because many don’t realize there is no genetic cause for 99 percent of Alzheimer’s cases, they don’t take the necessary steps to change lifestyle factors shown to significantly protect against the disease. In this book, board-certified neuropsychologist Dr. Michelle Braun inspires you to make lasting improvements by explaining the truth about brain health and providing expert guidance through the maze of conflicting media advice on supplements, brain games, nutrition, and exercise. Braun interviews eight leading brain health experts, combining their insights with cutting-edge research to offer proven strategies to implement the five steps of the High-Octane Brain. Interactive exercises help you develop a personalized program for optimal brain health. Dr. Braun also provides a tracking system with a visual depiction of progress, and shows the High-Octane Brain plan in action through the lives of clients. Packed with valuable tips you can implement immediately to minimize common “brain blips,” exercises to boost your memory within minutes, and inspiring insights from nine High-Octane Brain role models ages 44 to 103, this groundbreaking book helps put the future of your brain in your control. “Thorough, backed up by the best available research, and accessible.” —Barry Gordon, M.D., Ph.D., Director, Cognitive Neurology/Neuropsychology Division, Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions and University

Ever since raiders from the north began attacking villages, Lady Nicole Montagna has known that defending her people would come at a cost. The betrothal of her sister Chloe to a neighboring lord seems the perfect solution, forging a powerful alliance. But shortly before the wedding, Nicole is shocked to discover that her sister is with child—and not by her husband-to-be. Now she must make a choice. She has just hours to decide . . . ~Should she tell her soldier brother—who will take swift, ruthless action to ensure the family’s safety? ~Should she hold her tongue, let her sister deceive her husband into believing the child is his—and then hope Chloe can get away with the lie? ~Should she tell her family, hoping they will know the right thing to do? With the help of a magic mirror, Nicole lives out each path, fighting to protect herself and those she loves with the weapons she has: wits, herbs, and fortitude. But no matter her cleverness, neither she nor her family can escape unscathed—for there are repercussions she could never have foreseen, involving her own heart . . .