The Wild Duck Chase takes readers into the peculiar world of competitive duck painting as it played out during the 2010 Federal Duck Stamp Contest-the only juried art competition run by the U.S. government. Since 1934, the duck stamp, which is bought annually by hunters to certify their hunting license, has generated more than $750 million, and 98 cents of each collected dollar has been used to help purchase or lease 5.3 million acres of waterfowl habitat in the U.S.-the core of the National Wildlife Refuge System. As Martin J. Smith chronicles in his revealing narrative, within the microcosm of the duck stamp contest are intense ideological and cultural clashes between the mostly rural hunters who buy the stamps and the mostly suburban and urban birders and conservationists who decry the hunting of waterfowl. At issue is preserving the habitat of ducks and other waterfowl for all to enjoy: If the number of hunters continues to decrease-and unless nature lovers support the duck stamp program-this landmark conservation effort faces possible extinction. The competition also fuels dynamic tensions between competitors and judges, and among the invariably ambitious, sometimes obsessive, and often eccentric artists-including Minnesota's three fabled Hautman brothers, the "New York Yankees" of competitive duck painting. Martin Smith takes readers down an arcane and uniquely American rabbit hole into a wonderland of talent, ego, art, controversy, scandal, big money, and migratory waterfowl.

An irreverent tour of twentieth-century events, inventions, and individuals that affected modern American culture notes the influences of Betty Ford, super-absorbent disposable diapers, permanent-press clothing, TV dinners, black-velvet paintings, and more. Reprint. 25,000 first printing.

Product Description: In this important new text, Martin Smith reassesses traditional debates about power and offers a synthesis of a broad range of more recent work in terms of its relevance for understanding the key dimensions of state power. He considers the implications of globalization.

In a fascinating cultural history, two veteran journalists explore twenty dramatic failures, goofs, miscues, and complications that have shaped modern-day America, from technological disasters to sports promotions run amok, and reveals the important life lessons we can learn from such calamities. Reprint. 15,000 first printing.

In a fascinating cultural history, two veteran journalists explore twenty dramatic failures, goofs, miscues, and complications that have shaped modern-day America, from technological disasters to sports promotions run amok, and reveals the important life lessons we can learn from such calamities. 25,000 first printing.

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Eight years after being convicted of a vicious attack that left a young policewoman near death, unable to remember her past, a psychopath known as the Scarecrow is freed on DNA evidence, and the victim, Teresa Harnett, begins to be harassed by threatening phone calls and turns to psychologist Jim Christensen to help her remember the truth. Original.

Product Description: Tony Blair's post-election promise was that Labour was "elected as New Labour and would govern as New Labour". Written by leading experts, this work examines the extent of New Labour's distinctiveness and asks to what extent its policies, style and organization differ from those of both the previous Conservative administration and from "Old" Labour governments...read more (view table of contents, read Amazon.com's description)

Product Description: Burma remains a land in deep crisis. The popular uprising of 1988 swept away 26 years of military rule under General Ne Win in name only. The National League for Democracy of Aung San Suu Kyi won a landslide victory in the 1990 election...read more (view table of contents, read Amazon.com's description)

Product Description: The study of central government has been dominated by the recurring questions of Prime Ministerial versus Cabinet government and civil service versus ministerial power. Using the idea of 'power dependence' this book challenges these simplicities to provide a definitive assessment of - and introduction to - power and policy at the core of British political life...read more

Product Description: Quangos are now a permanent layer of governance in Britain. This collection challenges the stale debate which portrays quangos as inherently undemocratic. Whilst accepting that problems exist this book accepts that quangos are here to stay...read more (view table of contents, read Amazon.com's description)

Psychologist Jim Christensen discovers a secret about his most famous patient, the matriarch of a powerful political family, that could destroy his own life, in a sequel to the author's critically acclaimed debut thriller, Time Release. Original.

Busy single father and psychologist Jim Christensen reluctantly takes on the case of the Pittsburgh painkiller poisonings, finding his only link to the killer is a troubled young boy. Original.

Product Description: Contemporary British Conservatism brings together a set of specially-commissioned chapters by leading authorities to provide a broad-ranging assessment of Conservative politics, policy and ideology today. A central concern throughout is to assess the impact of Thatcherism on the party and the extent to which there has been a return to more traditional Conservatism under John Major...read more

Product Description: Pressure, Power and Policy provides an accessible and comprehensive introduction to new developments in pressure group theory.Traditionally, analysis of pressure groups has been dominated by pluralism, corporatism and Marxism. Martin Smith suggests that, while these approaches provide useful insights into state-group relations, they also have major limitations...read more

Product Description: Book by Smith, Martin J.