In 1992 NASA planet watchers discovered alien life in a nearby galaxy. Immediately they conducted a secret experiment called Operation EMU. Francine Dean, aspiring B-movie actress, saw it as a way to avoid tax evasion charges, and maybe a career boost. Legendary schlock director Enoch Jeffries signed on to avoid felony charges from his guerilla-style film shoots. And astronauts Nimrod T. Ashby, Erasmus J.T. Clark and T.W. Tongue faced the opportunity of a lifetime. At Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, the three astronauts underwent intense training, were sedated in a spacecraft and -- after eight months in space -- woke on an alien planet complete with cave people, woolly mammoths and a mind-boggling prehistoric society. Or, did they? Editorial Reviews Sharp, fierce, and funny, Operation EMU is a wicked satire about the space program, low-budget filmmaking, and why Americans love to be told what to believe. Brandon Barker's first novel doesn't stop surprising or delighting. Imagine NASA run by pro wrestling's Vince McMahon -- or better yet, start reading this book. -- Douglas E. Winter, author of Run (Knopf). I loved Operation EMU -- very, very funny and wicked at the same time, with nice digs at popular/unpopular culture. I think it could be, aside from the delightful novel it already is, a very amusing movie. -- Judy Bachrach, author of Tina and Harry Come to America: Tina Brown, Harry Evans, and the Uses of Power (Free Press). Operation EMU is original, fresh, smart, funny, touching, and compulsively readable. Brandon Barker's take on man's first contact with life on another planet -- one suspiciously like our own in the age of the cave men -- could be a collaborationbetween Calvin Trillin and Philip K. Dick; but in the end, this fascinating novel is all Barker, a major new talent with a unique voice and a shrewd and compassionate eye on the human condition. -- Steven Spruill, author of Before I Wake (St. Martin's Press), Painkiller (St. Martin's Press) and Sleeper (Berkley).

This book provides a comprehensive overview of various aspects of high-speed railways, such as infrastructure, communication signals, traction power supply, trainsets, and transportation organization. It delves into the basic concepts, fundamental theories, and the latest technological achievements in these areas, equipping readers with a strong foundation in the subject matter. The content is organized into eight chapters: Introduction, High-Speed Railway Lines and Infrastructure, Power Supply Systems, High-Speed Railway Trainsets, Signal and Communication Systems, Transportation Organization, Passenger Services, and Maglev Railways. Each chapter explores different facets of high-speed railway systems, focusing on the unique characteristics, design principles, and operational methodologies that set them apart from traditional railway systems. The book also highlights recent breakthroughs and innovations in the field, giving readers a glimpse of the future potential of high-speed railways. The book is tailored to meet the needs of undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in railway transportation, railway engineering, locomotive vehicles, electrical traction, signal communication, and related fields. It offers a systematic and in-depth understanding of high-speed railway systems, enabling students to grasp the subject matter and apply their knowledge to real-world situations. It can also be a training material for railway professionals looking to expand their knowledge and skills in high-speed railway systems. Furthermore, the book can be a useful reference for postgraduate students engaged in research in relevant fields. It offers a wealth of information and insights, assisting researchers in understanding the intricacies of high-speed railway systems, and exploring new avenues for innovation and improvement.

Economic and monetary union in the European Union represents a massive change for Europe and for the world. The Road to Maastricht identifies why the agreement was possible and how the agreement was made. The book examines the motives that inspired European political leaders, the strategies that they pursued, and the institutions that were used to achieve monetary union. Drawing on a wide range of sources and unprecedented research and interviews, the book combines careful political analysis with new information about the way in which European Monetary Union was negotiated. It delves into the complex forces at work in Europe, including the cross-national political interactions, to produce an authoritative account of the boldest and riskiest venture in the history of European integration.

Using both academic and practitioner research, this is the most detailed book available that provides an account of open market operations, including discussions of central bank operations in Europe, North America, Australia and Japan.

This Selected Issues paper and Statistical Appendix analyzes Germany’s past fiscal policy behavior and assesses the likely adjustments that would be necessary to bring future fiscal policy behavior in line with European Monetary Union and the Stability and Growth Pact requirements. Using estimated fiscal policy reaction functions that take account Germany’s decentralized fiscal decision-making structure, the statistical results suggest that discretionary fiscal policy at the general government level has maintained a procyclical stance since the end of the 1970s. The paper also examines disaggregated labor market developments in Germany.

This book reflects on experiences in other countries and makes recommendations for improving the capability and capacity of institutions and organizations, in order to achieve sustainable development of the Chinese high-speed railway (HSR) system.

The European Union provides a comprehensive introduction to the economics and policies of the EU.