Dictionaries & References

The home of trusted Arabic dictionaries for everyday language learning.

Since the 1976 publication of his first version of The American Ephemeris, 1931-1980, Neil F. Michelsen's ground-breaking series of ephemerides have consistently set standards for accuracy in astrology, becoming indispensable to astrologers worldwide at every level from student to professional. The tradition continues with this Revised & Expanded Third Edition of The American Ephemeris for the 21st Century, 2000-2050 at Noon. Revisions and additions are programmed by Rique Pottenger, who became head programmer for ACS Publications after Michelsen's passing. Additions and improvements include new Jet Propulsion Laboratory data and programming refinements that enable finding double ingresses in a single day plus more accurate station times. A new formula increases the accuracy of the Galactic Center. Phenomena in the Astro Data section are now sorted by time as well as by date, and R appears with Planetary Ingress Data if a planet is retrograde when it ingresses. The most notably obvious additions in this new edition include the dwarf planet Ceres in daily longitude listings between Mars and Jupiter, and monthly positions are given for Eris, Chiron, Pallas, Juno and Vesta.

The Bhagavad-Gita, interpreted by Annie Wood Besant, presents a profound and enlightening perspective on this timeless Hindu scripture. In her interpretation of The Bhagavad-Gita, Annie Wood Besant offers a unique and deeply insightful exploration of one of Hinduism's most revered texts. Her work illuminates the Gita's profound philosophical and spiritual teachings, making them accessible to a broader audience. Besant begins by setting the stage for the Gita's dialogue, providing context within the epic Mahabharata, where this sacred conversation takes place. Her analysis delves into the conversation between Prince Arjuna and Lord Krishna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, unraveling its symbolic and metaphysical layers. Besant's interpretation brings forth the Gita's themes of duty, righteousness, and the nature of reality, which are as relevant today as they were millennia ago. Central to Besant's commentary is the concept of dharma (righteous duty) and how it applies to the spiritual and everyday lives of individuals. She elucidates Krishna's teachings on various paths to spiritual liberation - including devotion, knowledge, and selfless action - highlighting their universal relevance. Her insights provide readers with a deeper understanding of the Gita's guidance on living a balanced, ethical, and spiritually enriched life. Besant also delves into the Gita's teachings on the nature of the self, the universe, and the divine. Her interpretation is not just scholarly but also deeply spiritual, reflecting her own Theosophical views. She presents the Gita as a guide for spiritual evolution, emphasizing its significance in the journey towards self-realization and unity with the divine. The Bhagavad-Gita by Annie Wood Besant is more than just a translation; it is a profound interpretation that offers a deeper understanding of this sacred text. It is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in Hindu philosophy, spiritual growth, or the study of religious texts. Besant's work invites readers into the heart of the Gita's timeless wisdom, revealing its enduring power to inspire and transform.

Star Wars is one of the most important cultural phenomena of the Western world. The tale of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and the fall and redemption of Anakin Skywalker has become modern myth, an epic tragedy of the corruption of a young man in love into darkness, the rise of evil, and the power of good triumphing in the end.But it didn't start out that way.In this thorough account of one of cinema's most lasting works, Michael Kaminski presents the true history of how Star Wars was written, from its beginnings as a science fiction fairy tale to its development over three decades into the epic we now know, chronicling the methods, techniques, thought processes, and struggles of its creator. For this unauthorized account, he has pored through over four hundred sources, from interviews to original scripts, to track how the most powerful modern epic in the world was created, expanded, and finalized into the tale an entire generation has grown up with.

Michelle Obama has quickly become one of the most influential and respected women in America. This book is a collection of her most personal and inspirational speeches, given over the course of a year and a half, on the Obama's historic journey to the White House. In her own words, Michelle Obama talks about her beliefs, her upbringing, and her values.

Among the most important contributions the National Park Service has made since its founding in 1916 has been the development of extraordinary museum technology and administration---national in scope and international in influence. This manual, a distillation of what many persons have learned about the day-to-day operations of museums, is meant to provide curatorial standards and serve as a reference for museum workers everywhere. This book was written by Ralph H. Lewis, an outstanding museum administrator and curator with many years of experience in the National Park Service. It is an outgrowth of an earlier (1941) volume entitled Field Manual for Museums by Ned J. Burns, a work that went out of print during World War II and is, even to this day, in demand by curators and museum managers. In this present manual, Mr. Lewis carries on a tradition of excellence in museum practice that can be traced back to the mid-1930's when Carl P. Russell set the basic pattern for museum work in the national parks. In those early years most park museums could not afford or were too small to engage a full time professional museum staff. Dr. Russell set up centralized laboratories staffed by curators and preparators and provided the parks with exhibition and preservation expertise from this pool. The ordinary maintenance and operation of the museums were left to the superintendents who managed the parks, and to the archeologists, historians and naturalists who interpreted them.

"This is an extremely valuable guide to the genera of fishes in the Amazon. Contributors include every prominent ichthyologist working on Amazonian fishes today, making this an essential guide to the field."--Luiz A. Rocha, California Academy of Sciences"Field Guide to the Fishes of the Amazon, Orinoco, and Guianas is an outstanding contribution to the field of neotropical ichthyology. There are no similar books on the market."--Jansen Zuanon, National Institute for Amazonian Research

This bestselling and authoritative dictionary covers all aspects of economics including theory, policy, and applied micro and macroeconomics on a global scale. An essential book for professional economists as well as for students and teachers of economics, business, and finance.

Cable Left, Cable Right, by expert knitter Judith Durant, eliminates the mystery with detailed, in-depth instructions for creating 94 different styles of cable, from perfectly plain to fantastically fancy. Close-up photos and clear instructions teach you the techniques you need so you can make your cables truly one-of-a-kind.

The legendary heroes of our mythic past are only as great and memorable as the monsters they confronted and vanquished. This, the latest encyclopaedic work by mythologist Theresa Bane contains more than twenty-two hundred entries of animal companions, creatures, and monsters which have fought by man's side, consumed his crops, and ravished the countryside.

Choosing your guitar, learning to play, chords, styles, and a fascinating history, with 1500 photographs.

An authoritative historical guide to the world of military, antique and law-enforcement firearms, photographed throughout.

Now expanded and updated, this authorized compendium to Kurt Vonnegut’s novels, stories, essays, and plays is the most comprehensive and definitive edition to date.Over the course of five decades, Kurt Vonnegut created a complex and interconnected web of characters, settings, and concepts. The Vonnegut Encyclopedia is an exhaustive guide to this beloved author’s world, organized in a handy A-to-Z format. The first edition of this book covered Vonnegut’s work through 1991. This new and updated edition encompasses his writing through his death in 2007. Marc Leeds, co-founder and founding president of the Kurt Vonnegut Society and a longtime personal friend of the author’s, has devoted more than twenty-five years of his life to cataloging the Vonnegut cosmos—from the birthplace of Kilgore Trout (Vonnegut’s sci-fi writing alter ego) to the municipal landmarks of Midland City (the midwestern metropolis that is the setting for Vonnegut’s 1973 masterpiece Breakfast of Champions). The Vonnegut Encyclopedia identifies every major and minor Vonnegut character from Celia Aamons to Zog, as well as recurring images and relevant themes from all of Vonnegut’s works, including lesser-known gems like his revisionist libretto for Stravinsky’s opera L’Histoire du soldat and his 1980 children’s book Sun Moon Star. Leeds provides expert notes explaining the significance of many items, but relies primarily on extended quotations from Vonnegut himself. A work of impressive scholarship in an eminently browsable package, this encyclopedia reveals countless connections readers may never have thought of on their own. A rarity among authors of serious fiction, Kurt Vonnegut has always inspired something like obsession in his most dedicated fans. The Vonnegut Encyclopedia is an invaluable resource for readers wishing to revisit his fictional universe—and those about to explore it for the first time.Praise for The Vonnegut Encyclopedia“An essential collection for fans of the singular satirist.”—San Francisco Chronicle   “Indispensable.”—Publishers Weekly“If you’re somebody who has read one Kurt Vonnegut book then there’s a chance you’ve read them all. For the devout reader of Vonnegut there’s a voracious sense of completism. And, Marc Leeds and his new [The Vonnegut] Encyclopedia are here to guide you through it all. Just don’t blame him if you become unstuck in time while you’re reading.”—Inverse“Vonnegut enthusiasts will be delighted with Leeds’s exhaustive, almost obsessive, treatment of the characters, places, events, and tantalizingly mysterious references for which Vonnegut’s five-decade writing career is celebrated. . . . A wonderful and beautifully designed reference source.”—Booklist (starred review)“Leeds’s scholarship and genuine love for his subject matter render this encyclopedia a treasure trove for Vonnegut readers.”—The Nameless Zine

In over 1,000 entries, this acclaimed Companion covers all aspects of the Western fairy tale tradition, from medieval to modern. It provides an authoritative reference source for this complex and captivating genre, exploring the tales themselves, the writers who wrote and reworked them, the artists who illustrated them, and much more.

Writer, broadcaster, and wit Gyles Brandreth has completely revised Ned Sherrin's classic collection of wisecracks, one-liners, and anecdotes. Add sparkle to your speeches and presentations, or just enjoy a good laugh in company with Oscar Wilde, Mark Twain, Joan Rivers, Kathy Lette, Frankie Boyle, and friends.

From the Emmy-nominated host and executive producer of Top Chef, an A-to-Z compendium of spices, herbs, salts, peppers, and blends?everything you need to know about the flavors of the worldThe author of award-winning cookbooks and a New York Times bestselling memoir, Padma Lakshmi brings together the world's spices and herbs in this vibrant, comprehensive alphabetical guide inspired by her life traveling across the globe. Illustrated with rich color photographs, this definitive culinary reference book includes complete descriptions, histories, and cooking suggestions for ingredients from basic herbs to the most exotic seeds and chiles. And no other market epitomizes Padma's love for spices and global cuisine than where she spent her childhood?lingering in the aisles of the iconic gourmet food store Kalustyan's in New York City.Perfect for the holiday season and essential to any well-stocked kitchen, The Encyclopedia of Spices and Herbs is an invaluable resource as well as a stunning and adventurous tour of some of the most wondrous and majestic flavors on earth.

Over 7,100 entries cover all aspects of business and management including marketing, accounting, organizational behaviour, business strategy, finance, law, and technology. Fully revised and updated, this new edition remains an essential book for business students, teachers, professionals, and anyone needing a guide to business terminology.

Modern living isn't easy. It often seems to require some know-how our parents didn't pass on, or a special tool. Happily, Kaufmann Mercantile has both, and in this comprehensive field guide, they share their expertise on a huge range of topics, from frying an egg, tying a tie, or brewing coffee to things the inner utilitarian in all of us aspires to do, like splitting wood, building a fire, growing our own food, or making our own soap. Fifty how-tos are organized into five sections: Kitchen, Outdoors, Home, Garden, and Grooming. Written in clear detail and extensively illustrated, The Kaufmann Mercantile Guide teaches us what we ought to know how to do, as well as what we'd like to. Supplemental sidebars feature the best tool for the job, whether a dibber for planting, the best rawhideand- ash snowshoes, or flammable smoking bags for making authentic BBQ. This book is a must-have reference tool for living well in the twenty-first century.

Volcanoes are unquestionably one of the most spectacular and awe-inspiring features of the physical world. Our paradoxical fascination with them stems from their majestic beauty and powerful, if sometimes deadly, destructiveness. Notwithstanding the tremendous advances in volcanology since ancient times, some of the mystery surrounding volcanic eruptions remains today. The Encyclopedia of Volcanoes summarizes our present knowledge of volcanoes. Through its thematic organization around the melting of the earth, it provides a comprehensive source of information on the multidisciplinary influences of volcanic eruptions--both the destructive as well as the beneficial aspects. The majority of the chapters focus on the geoscience-related aspects of volcanism (radioactive heat source, melting rock, ascent of magma, surface phenomena associated with exiting magma, extraterrestrial volcanism, etc.). In addition, complementary chapters discuss the multidisciplinary aspects of volcanism, including the history of volcanology, geothermal energy resources, interaction with the oceans and atmosphere, health aspects of volcanism, mitigation of volcanic disasters, post-eruption ecology, and the impact of eruptions on organismal biodiversity, among others.