"In this study, Peter Altmann addresses the difficult question of why the Hebrew Bible prohibits consumption of certain birds by placing these birds within the overall appearance of birds in the archaeology, texts, and iconography of the Ancient Near East and within the Bible itself." --

"In this elegant narrative, celebrated naturalist Ted Floyd guides you through a year of becoming a better birder. Choosing 200 top avian species to teach key lessons, Floyd introduces a new, holistic approach to bird watching and shows how to use the tools of the 21st century to appreciate the natural world we inhabit together whether city, country or suburbs." -- From book jacket.

Voted America's Best-Loved Novel in PBS's The Great American Read Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning masterwork of honor and injustice in the deep South—and the heroism of one man in the face of blind and violent hatred One of the most cherished stories of all time, To Kill a Mockingbird has been translated into more than forty languages, sold more than forty million copies worldwide, served as the basis for an enormously popular motion picture, and was voted one of the best novels of the twentieth century by librarians across the country. A gripping, heart-wrenching, and wholly remarkable tale of coming-of-age in a South poisoned by virulent prejudice, it views a world of great beauty and savage inequities through the eyes of a young girl, as her father—a crusading local lawyer—risks everything to defend a black man unjustly accused of a terrible crime.

With the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in 2018, regulated sports betting has exploded in the United States, with more than half the states adopting legalized sports betting and many more poised for business. As a result, career opportunities with sportsbook operators and venues; sport leagues, teams, and sponsors; and gaming regulatory agencies abound for today’s students. The arrival of The Business of Sports Betting introduces the first dedicated text—written by a team of academic faculty and internationally recognized experts in the field—covering every aspect of the sports betting industry. It begins with a historical overview of sports betting and key legislation that has led to legalized betting today. Included are the various types of wagers available to bettors, the sports in which betting can take place, and the industry’s major stakeholders. Next, readers will examine the multiple layers of sports betting regulations in the United States and the interplay between federal laws, state authorization, and tribal governance. Regulatory frameworks in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada are covered, as well as compliance focal points addressing anti–money laundering regulations, placement of wagers, and the Bank Secrecy Act. The book then warns of the negative aspects of the business, such as illegal sports betting, gambling scandals, and match fixing; the risks associated with illegal betting; and harm from problem gambling. To combat these risks, guidelines are presented for protecting against illegal gambling, minimizing potential harms, and ensuring integrity in sports betting. Next, students learn the how-tos of establishing, operating, and marketing a sportsbook. Traditional brick-and-mortar sportsbooks are discussed in detail, including the many facility management considerations that come with operating and maintaining a physical venue. Students also learn about the various mobile sportsbooks available today (including websites, kiosks, and phone apps), how they operate, and their connection to and interaction with physical sportsbooks. In addition, the authors present marketing and advertising strategies for acquiring customers and forging relationships with teams, leagues, and sportsbooks. Special attention is given to the American Gaming Association’s Responsible Marketing Code for Sports Wagering and its compliance considerations for sportsbook operators. Sports wagering is a data-driven business, and students will see how data are generated and transmitted to sportsbook operators. Managing and protecting that data is paramount to competitive advantage, and students will learn about intellectual property protections granted to sportsbook operators. Additionally, the book discusses the proliferation and potential positive and negative impacts of gamification and virtual currencies in sports betting. Chapters are punctuated with supplemental sidebars and case studies providing real-life examples of the positive and negative impacts of sports betting. The Business of Sports Betting offers a comprehensive introduction to the nuances of the sports betting industry, including the key players, regulatory environment, marketing and technology drivers, and business operations of a sportsbook.

In ‘He is a Glutton and a Drunkard’: Deviant Consumption in the Hebrew Bible Rebekah Welton uses interdisciplinary approaches to explore the social and ritual roles of food and alcohol in Late Bronze Age to Persian-period Syro-Palestine (1550 BCE–400 BCE). This contextual backdrop throws into relief episodes of consumption deemed to be excessive or deviant by biblical writers. Welton emphasises the social networks of the household in which food was entangled, arguing that household animals and ritual foodstuffs were social agents, challenging traditional understandings of sacrifice. For the first time, the accusation of being a ‘glutton and a drunkard’ (Deut 21:18-21) is convincingly re-interpreted in its alimentary and socio-ritual contexts.

Whether we live in cities, in the suburbs, or in the country, birds are ubiquitous features of daily life, so much so that we often take them for granted. But even the casual observer is aware that birds don’t fill our skies in the number they once did. That awareness has spawned conservation action that has led to notable successes, including the recovery of some of the nation’s most emblematic species, such as the Bald Eagle, Brown Pelican, Whooping Crane, and Peregrine Falcon. Despite this, a third of all American bird species are in trouble—in many cases, they’re in imminent danger of extinction. The most authoritative account ever published of the threats these species face, The American Bird Conservancy Guide to Bird Conservation will be the definitive book on the subject. The Guide presents for the first time anywhere a classification system and threat analysis for bird habitats in the United States, the most thorough and scientifically credible assessment of threats to birds published to date, as well as a new list of birds of conservation concern. Filled with beautiful color illustrations and original range maps, the Guide is a timely, important, and inspiring reference for birders and anyone else interested in conserving North America’s avian fauna. But this book is far more than another shout of crisis. The Guide also lays out a concrete and achievable plan of long-term action to safeguard our country’s rich bird life. Ultimately, it is an argument for hope. Whether you spend your early weekend mornings crouched in silence with binoculars in hand, hoping to check another species off your list, or you’ve never given much thought to bird conservation, you’ll appreciate the visual power and intellectual scope of these pages.