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  Archaic Humans: The History of...

  Editors Charles River

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  The evolutionary path from the original primates to modern man is a long one and has taken many twists and turns, but naturally, as the fossil record grows, scientists gain a more complete understanding of our own mental and physical history in terms of genetics and anatomy. However, the correct order and relationships of the various specimen types are difficult to pin down. Many representative samples have been found in such minute amounts as to not preclude anomalies. They have been discovered in various stages of wear. Modern features did not occur simultaneously or uniformly, taking millions of years to become manifest in later types. Up to the present day’s Homo sapiens, examples of the main types have been hybrids of older and more modern features. 
  	One of the earliest species of the genus Homo to be discovered is Homo habilis, which basically means “handy man.” The name comes from the belief at the time of its discovery that this species was the first to start using stone tools. The first fossils to be uncovered in Olduvai Gorge were from the same stratigraphic layer as simple stone tools. Fossils of the crania and postcranial skeleton for this species have been found in both eastern and southern Africa and date to around 2.5–1.6 million years ago.  
  	Features of Homo erectus suggest an evolution toward modern humans, and the features which separate Homo erectus from the other Homo species are found in the skull. The size of the brain was approximately 900 cc, making it larger than the brain size of Homo habilis. Homo erectus would not have the largest brain capacity of the Homo genus during its existence, with the emergence of Homo heidelbergensis approximately 800,000 years ago. The larger brain size may not matter much when the size of the brain is considered with the size of the body, which also increased. 

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  Unfinished Business - The...

  Henry McLeish, James Mitchell

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  We want to move beyond politics in which each party seeks to outmanoeuvre others and score a decisive victory. This leads to political stalemate. We want to reflect on the successes and failures of devolution and offer a series of proposals for reform that could be embraced by a broad swathe of opinion.
  What were the hopes and aspirations of devolution?
  To what extent has devolution been successful?
  What are the challenges and opportunities ahead?
  How can we meet the challenges and best take advantage of opportunities?
  Where is Scotland heading on its unfinished journey?
  How will changes in the rest of the UK impact on this journey?
  In  1999, legislation was passed to create the Scottish Parliament and the Consultative Steering Group (CSG) issued its report on the Scottish Parliament's guiding principles. Four key principles were set out in the CSG report reflecting the hopes and aspirations of campaigners for a Scottish Parliament: sharing power between the people, legislators and government; greater accountability from government to Parliament to the people; facilitating accessibility, openness and responsiveness; and promoting equality. These principles remain as relevant today as they were at the Parliament's establishment though much has changed in the intervening quarter century.
  In this book, former First Minister Henry McLeish, Minister responsible for devolution and chair of the CSG, and Professor James Mitchell of Edinburgh University consider the journey Scotland has been on – the challenges, obstacles and opportunities in seeking to achieve these hopes and expectations.

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  Finding Endurance - Shackleton...

  Darrel Bristow-Bovey

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  'Engaging, absorbing and crammed with marvellous stories, Finding Endurance is a tale about exploring the cold, told with much warmth.' MICK HERRON
  
  'Beautiful, thrilling, heroic and kind, a ripping yarn' CLAIRE ROBERTSON, AUTHOR OF THE SPIRAL HOUSE
  
  'Tender, heartfelt and lyrical' PETINA GAPPAH, AUTHOR OF OUT OF DARKNESS, SHINING LIGHT
  
  'An exhilarating read' HENRIETTA ROSE-INNES, AUTHOR OF GREEN LION
  
  Since the discovery of the wreck of Ernest Shackleton's ship Endurance on the bed of the Antarctic ocean, the world has been enthralled anew by one of the greatest stories of all time.
  
  Acclaimed South African writer Darrel Bristow-Bovey, himself a Shackleton aficionado, revisits this dramatic event, which managed to sweep the tide of anger and rancour off the timelines and front pages of the world.
  
  He asks how so many ordinary people, who don't know a nunatak from a barquentine, were so moved at the finding of a small wooden ship once sailed by a half-forgotten Irishman? In re-examining the story and its players, he presents new details and a new understanding of the courage and hardship of the Endurance voyage, and reminds us of how extraordinary humans can be. Not all is lost, and what has been lost can be regained: the ocean has given us something back.
  
  What's more, we are reminded that miracles still happen: human miracles, performed by flawed people in helpless situations.

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  The Capital Dilemma - Balancing...

  Arlo Holders

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  The free market and capitalism have long been foundational principles of economic systems around the world. At their core, they represent the idea that economic decisions, such as production, investment, and distribution, should be guided by the forces of supply and demand with minimal government intervention. In a truly free market, goods and services are exchanged in a competitive environment where prices are determined by the collective actions of consumers and producers rather than by central planning or state control. 
  Capitalism, as an economic system, emerged during the early stages of the Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries. Its roots trace back even further to mercantilist policies that prioritized trade and accumulation of wealth through colonial ventures. Over time, capitalism has evolved from simple trade systems to complex global markets, driven by the desire for profit and the expansion of economic activities. The central tenet of capitalism is the pursuit of self-interest, where individuals or organizations are motivated to create wealth by competing in open markets. 
  This system offers several advantages, such as fostering innovation, encouraging efficiency, and enabling individuals to accumulate wealth. By allowing businesses and entrepreneurs to operate freely, capitalism encourages the creation of new products, services, and technologies, which in turn leads to economic growth and increased standards of living. Moreover, the competitive nature of free markets ensures that resources are allocated efficiently, as businesses strive to meet consumer demands at the lowest cost.

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  Lead Like a Teacher - How to...

  Miriam Plotinsky

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  For the sake of students, close the empathy gap between the classroom and the front office. 
   
   
   
  Far too often, teachers and administrators are adversaries within a school or district and display a mutual distrust and disrespect for each other's perspectives. Yet when this dissonance can be overcome, the result is a more-harmonious school environment that promotes student achievement. 
   
   
   
  In Lead Like a Teacher, instructional specialist Miriam Plotinsky urges secondary school administrators to lead more effectively by actively listening to teachers and welcoming their expertise. Each chapter examines one of nine key aspects of leadership and offers specific, creative solutions to the complex challenge of empowering change. 
   
   
   
  Moving from a micro to a macro focus as the book progresses—from classroom instruction to schoolwide initiatives—Plotinsky provides administrators with the tools to build and maintain collaborative leadership structures. This thoughtful approach to secondary leadership provides an actionable plan to dismantle some of the biggest barriers to achieving school excellence.

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  The State and Revolution

  Vladimir Lenin

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  The State and Revolution (1917), by Vladimir Lenin, describes the role of the State in society, the necessity of proletarian revolution, and the theoretic inadequacies of social democracy in achieving revolution to establish the dictatorship of the proletariat.
  Lenin began the composition of an early draft of State and Revolution while in exile in Switzerland in 1916, under the title "Marxism on the State".
  "Soviets", legislative bodies of workers and peasants were the de facto governments of Petrograd and many smaller cities. The Russian public was deeply upset with the continuation of Russia's involvement in World War One and the continued economic difficulties that it brought on. On November 7th The Congress of Soviets officially elected a coalition of Bolsheviks, Socialist Revolutionaries and Mensheviks to govern. Through the Red Guards, paramilitary organizations of revolutionary workers, sailors and soldiers; the Soviet government was able to storm The Winter Palace and officially abolishing the Provisional government. The revolution was not uniformly accepted among all Russians, resistance and disruption would occur routinely leading up to The Russian Civil War. A particular issue that Lenin covers in The State and Revolution was the right of nations to secession (The right to self determination); during the composition of this book The Mensheviks of Georgia declared independence soon after The Revolution forming The Democratic Republic of Georgia.
  Among other famous Marxists there were also: Georgi Plekhanov, Joseph Stalin, Leon Trotsky, Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, Ernst Bloch, Pyotr Kropotkin, Jean-Paul Charles Aymard Sartre, Wilhelm Reich, Perry Anderson.

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