Find out what happens when fed-up citizens turn an engineer loose on the political swampThe beginning of this century marked the "Lost Decade" for Michigan. More than a half million people fled the state, decreasing her Electoral College votes from eighteen to sixteen.Career politicians in both parties are clenching their gator-like jaws tighter and tighter on hard-working Michiganders. Instead of serving the common interests of the people who elected them, the politics-as-usual crowd is beholden to special interests that generously support their pursuit of power.That's what drove a successful aerospace engineer and small-business owner to get out of his comfort zone, run for office, and restore the voice of the people. Echoing the president's battle cry, Colbeck's strategy is to drain the swamp and rid Michigan of her entrenched "alligators."Michigan is on the verge of making a dramatic comeback. Colbeck's strategy for returning the power to "We the People" is well on its way! In Wrestling Alligators, you will learn¿How government really works.¿How good people are seduced by the political swamp.¿What happens when one attempts to drain the swamp.¿How we can restore our faith in government.

We hear people say we should love God with all our hearts, souls, and minds, but what does that mean? Or more importantly, what could it look like to fall in love with God? “Chad, jump on the gator’s back!” In a split second, a decision had to be made. Did Chad love his future brother-in-law enough to help him control a powerful seven-and-a-half-foot alligator? Ultimately, there was a subconscious devotion that affected his decision. We all face decisions every day. Some of them are small, but others are potentially life-altering. What you decide to do in those split seconds comes down to this: We all have beliefs about life and love, about what is most important, and we all act on those beliefs. In this book, Chad Young addresses what many Christians are missing: being in love with God. The lack of genuine faith and love in the church is the main reason why 59% of college students who grew up with a Christian background are leaving the Christian faith. Chad uses his own faith journey and humorous stories to call you to a deeper, legitimate love for God.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • PULITZER PRIZE FINALIST • The bravely imagined, wildly acclaimed debut novel from the author of Vampires in the Lemon Grove—about a thirteen year old girl who sets out on a mission through magical swamps to save her family. "Ms. Russell is one in a million.... A suspensfuly, deeply haunted book." —The New York Times Thirteen-year-old Ava Bigtree has lived her entire life at Swamplandia!, her family’s island home and gator-wrestling theme park in the Florida Everglades. But when illness fells Ava’s mother, the park’s indomitable headliner, the family is plunged into chaos; her father withdraws, her sister falls in love with a spooky character known as the Dredgeman, and her brilliant big brother, Kiwi, defects to a rival park called The World of Darkness. As Ava embarks on her mission to save them all, we are drawn into a lush debut that takes us to the shimmering edge of reality.

A humorous guide to the care and feeding of alligators and the fine art of wrestling them.

Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a cold-blooded, creepy-crawly alligator? Learn all about this incredible reptile in this upper-elementary title. This title offers an in-depth look at alligators, including their physical characteristics, behavior, survival, techniques, life cycle, habitat and range, and threats to the animal. Aligned to Common Core standards and correlated to state standards. Core Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

People have long been fascinated by the American alligator. Ever since humans arrived on the continent more than 15,000 years ago, the American alligator has been both feared and revered, celebrated and scorned, and often hunted for food and hide. Once tourism began to take hold in the South as a real industry, especially in Florida, the alligator took on iconic and even mythical status. “One of the most picturesque features of Florida has always been that uncouth and fierce-looking reptile called the alligator,” wrote Nevin O. Winter in 1918. “Everybody who comes down here to the peninsula has an ambition to see one in the wild.” Seminole Indians wrestled alligators for show. Alligator souvenirs and mascots often took what people feared—a sharp-toothed predator—and made it into something cute and cuddly. Alligator-themed songs were recorded and released, including “See You Later Alligator” by Bill Haley and His Comets. Hollywood into created alligator-themed movies such as Alligator People. Alligators were also reportedly kept in the White House under two presidencies. And perhaps the most unusual alligator story was one that helped to nab Ma Barker and her son Fred when they were hiding out along Florida’s Lake Weir. America’s Alligator examines the colorful and sometimes conflicted relationship our species has had with Alligator mississippiensis. Doug Alderson explores the country’s rich alligator mythology and how it inspired various forms of art, stories, photography, tourism and even humor.

This collection of essays examines how sport has contributed to shaping and expressing Native American identity-from the attempt of the old Indian Schools to "Americanize" Native Americans through sport to the "Indian mascot" controversy and what it says about the broader publ...