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  Tainos and Caribs The: The...

  Editors Charles River

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  On October 12, 1492, one of the most important “first contacts” of the modern era was made when three ships of Spanish origin approached the island archipelago now known as the Bahamas, cautiously dropping anchor as the captain of the fleet gazed across to what he assumed was the coast of India. According to the popular version of the story, amazed at the sight of ships and men of such unfamiliar appearance, the native people of the island plunged into the clear waters of the western Atlantic, expertly swimming or aboard dugout canoes, and came out to greet the strangers. 
  	In all probability, the meeting was much more cautious and incremental, but the idea that these innocent people, raised in a tropical Eden, might embrace with such open enthusiasm their own destruction is picturesque, and no doubt appeals to contemporary perceptions. By whatever means one might choose to view it, this meeting of cultures certainly did mark the beginning of a bold new chapter in the history of Europe, and the beginning of the end of an ancient race of native people occupying a vast new continent.  
  	The entries into Christopher Columbus’ log as he recorded his first encounters with the indigenous people of the “Indies” are very telling. The island people arrived alongside his ships, offering humble gifts that Columbus described as “parrots and balls of cotton and spears and many other things, which they exchanged for the glass beads and hawks' bells.” These were the Taínos people, or the “Arawaks” as they would come to be known, and Columbus described them as “well built…with good bodies and handsome features.”  
  	This description, while deceptively simple, had a chilling implication, because Columbus was not taking note of these facts out of idle interest but in terms of how best to exploit them. As the natives offered up gifts aand by implication the freedom of their islands, Columbus remarked simply on their primitive appearance.

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  Hacking College - Why the Major...

  Ned Scott Laff, Scott Carlson

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  College is a high-stakes game, according to authors Ned Scott Laff and Scott Carlson, but students can learn how to win it. Hacking College offers college advisors, faculty, and staff in student and academic affairs a groundbreaking guide to rethinking higher education so that students can succeed in an increasingly complex world. Drawing from extensive research and real student experiences, this essential book exposes the hidden challenges and bureaucratic traps that undermine student success, from convoluted transfer processes to a single-minded emphasis on majors. 
   
   
   
  Each chapter provides strategies to help advisors lead students to tailor their education to their aspirations. Through vivid case studies, Laff and Carlson advocate for a proactive approach to education—encouraging students to "hack" their college experience by crafting a personalized field of study. This method challenges the traditional focus on declaring a major and empowers students to link their personal interests with academic pursuits so that their education aligns with future career and life goals. Enriched with insights on how to find underutilized institutional resources and foster meaningful mentor relationships, Hacking College encourages students, educators, and institutions to transform passive educational experiences into dynamic journeys of discovery and self-fulfillment.

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  Tsar Nicholas II - Biography of...

  Kelly Mass

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  Nicholas II, or Nikolai II Alexandrovich Romanov (18 May [O.S. 6 May] 1868 – 17 July 1918), was the last Emperor of Russia, reigning from 1 November 1894 to 15 March 1917. Revered as Saint Nicholas the Passion-Bearer in the Russian Orthodox Church, he also held the titles of King of Congress Poland and Grand Duke of Finland. His reign marked the end of the Romanov dynasty's 304-year rule over Russia. Though Nicholas supported economic and political reforms proposed by his prime ministers, Sergei Witte and Pyotr Stolypin, his adherence to authoritarianism and reluctance to empower the Duma stymied significant progress. His reign was further undermined by aristocratic resistance and military defeats during the Russo-Japanese War and World War I, which eroded public confidence in his leadership. 
  Internationally, Nicholas sought to bolster Russia's position through alliances and diplomatic agreements. He signed the Anglo-Russian Convention of 1907, aiming to counter German influence in the Middle East and end the longstanding Great Game rivalry with Britain. Earlier, he had initiated the Hague Convention of 1899, a pioneering but ultimately unsuccessful effort to promote disarmament and peaceful conflict resolution. These measures were part of his broader vision to solidify the Franco-Russian Alliance and strengthen Russia's global standing. 
  Domestically, however, Nicholas' reign was plagued by crises and controversies. He faced widespread criticism for his government's repressive policies, particularly during moments of significant unrest. The Khodynka Tragedy, a catastrophic stampede at his coronation celebrations, set a grim tone for his rule. His apparent complicity in anti-Jewish pogroms, the violent crackdown on Bloody Sunday in 1905, and the brutal suppression of the Russian Revolution that same year further tarnished his reputation.

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  Song of Solomon - The World...

  Various Authors

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  The Song of Songs, also called the Canticle of Canticles or the Song of Solomon, is an erotic poem that is one of the megillot (scrolls) found in the last section of the Tanakh, known as the Ketuvim (or "Writings"). It is unique within the Hebrew Bible: it shows no interest in Law or Covenant or the God of Israel, nor does it teach or explore wisdom like Proverbs or Ecclesiastes (although it does have some affinities to wisdom literature, as the ascription to the 10th century BCE King of Israel Solomon indicates); instead, it celebrates sexual love, giving "the voices of two lovers, praising each other, yearning for each other, proffering invitations to enjoy".

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  Breaking Free: A Step-by-Step...

  JOSEPH ALLEN

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  Are you tired of feeling held back by social anxiety? Do you dream of confidently navigating social situations, building meaningful connections, and living authentically? Breaking Free: A Step-by-Step Guide to Overcoming Social Anxiety is your comprehensive roadmap to conquering fear and embracing a more fulfilling life. 
  This audiobook takes you on a journey through understanding the root causes of social anxiety, mastering practical tools like cognitive reframing and gradual exposure, and building the confidence to thrive in any social setting. From managing workplace interactions to excelling in public speaking, dating, and beyond, you’ll learn actionable strategies to transform your social life. 
  With a focus on self-compassion, mindfulness, and long-term growth, this guide empowers you to let go of perfectionism, embrace vulnerability, and connect deeply with others. Whether you’re struggling with shyness, fear of judgment, or self-doubt, this audiobook offers the tools and inspiration you need to break free from anxiety and live a fearless, authentic life

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  People Power Change - Organizing...

  Marshall Ganz

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  At a moment in which our everyday practice of democracy has atrophied, and political, economic, and technological forces have weakened our capacity for collective action, People, Power, Change is a once-in-a-generation book for anyone who wants to create real and lasting change. 
   
  Marshall Ganz is one of the world’s leading authorities on democratic leadership, organizing, and action and this book is the culmination of his decades of teaching, research, and practice. In People, Power, Change Ganz offers students, educators, and organizers access to the craft he has learned, adapted, and shared over the last half-century of creating effective collective action. It is not a blueprint, but a road map.  
   
  Ganz explores the values, ideas, and craft core to the practice of organizing and offers an actionable framework for how to actually do it. He focuses the book on the creation and substance of relationships, the fuel of values and narrative, the resources and power of strategy, the necessity of structure, and the accountability of action. Across these five organizing practices, Ganz weaves in his personal experiences from a lifetime of organizing in iconic social movements and campaigns to illustrate how collective action actually works and to build the practices and skills that must be developed to do it with intention and with success. 
   
  “If there was ever a moment when this message needed to be heard, this is it! Read it, and then get to work!”—Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org and Third Act 
   
  This audiobook contains a supplemental PDF.

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