Millions of years ago, the North American continent was dragged over the world's largest continental hotspot, a huge column of hot and molten rock rising from the Earth's interior that traced a 50-mile wide, 500-mile-long path northeastward across Idaho. Generating cataclysmic volcanic eruptions and large earthquakes, the hotspot helped lift the Yellowstone Plateau to more than 7,000 feet and pushed the northern Rockies to new heights, forming unusually large glaciers to carve the landscape. It also created the jewel of the U.S. national park system: Yellowstone. Meanwhile, forces stretching...

Philosophers, social scientists, and laymen have used two perspectives in analyzing social action. One sees man's action as the result of causal forces, and the other sees action as purposive and goal directed. Mathematical treatment of social action has shown this same dichotomy. Some models of behavior describe a causal process, in which there is no place for intention or purpose. Most stochastic models of behavior, whether individual or group, are like this. Another body of work, however, employs purpose, anticipation of some future state, and action designed to maximize the proximity to...

Have you ever attended a seminar where the facilitator paces back and forth to a preset rhythm of words, poignant breaks, and crescendos all while referring to a pile of well-rehearsed notes? If so, "As Long as I'm Sitting Here" will teach you how to have fun as you navigate your way through any seminar.

Robert B. Smith will have you laughing out loud as he cleverly summarizes a day in the life of a seminar attendee. You will learn how to overcome boredom as the speaker rambles on about his life story, attempts to use humor to teach valuable workplace lessons, and encourages participants...

As Orfin and Borthid navigate the terrain of the planet Galcon, they discover their identities as Miriam and Paul. They confront their personal demons and emerge whole through the efforts of the shared consciousness.

This little book is a think-piece for adult readers who grew up with (or have been captured by) the fantasy worlds of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and J.K. Rowling. Smith points out general themes in the works of these three authors and matches them to the ancient motifs of the biblical writings, resulting in a discussion about the way in which people look at time, place, and the meaning of being human.