What is it like to work inside a casino on the floor at one of the table games? Here is a brief view to give the run of the mill person a small glimpse of what really goes on at the table games from a floor person perspective. Greed, lust, deception, and personal hygiene (or not) play a major role when you throw the glitz and glamour of the gambling scene. When is enough, enough; what does money (around you all the time) lead the everyday person to do or not to do? How does the casino life effect someone who comes from a rural country family life setting? Well, venture inside and see what and how life can change in a blink of an eye and how it can change a persons personality not to mention the outcome of their life. Everything in life is said to be a crap shoot, well the dice aren’t always going to be on the up and up

Like his more famous contemporary Upton Sinclair, American author BENJAMIN FRANKLIN NORRIS, JR. (1870-1902) also highlighted the corruption and greed of corporate monopolies in the late 19th and early 20th centuries... themes that continue to make his work riveting reading more than a century later. The Pit, first published in 1903, is a fictional narrative of the dealing in the Chicago wheat pit, focusing on speculator Curtis Jadwin, who is so addicted to his own greed that it becomes his downfall. The second part of Norris's projected "Trilogy of the Epic of the Wheat," *The Pit is preceded by 1901's The Octopus, also available from Cosimo. (Norris died before he could write the third volume, The Wolf.)

Dealing in a casino presents challenges and rewards not seen in many workplaces. With hundreds of thousands of dollars at stake every minute, table games pits are high-stress workplaces. Managing a workforce of dealers and attending to the needs of players brings stresses of its own. In 2015, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas's Center for Gaming Research received a grant from the UNLV University Libraries Advisory Board that enabled it to undertake an oral history project intended to capture the stories of table games managers, including both those currently working in the field and those who have retired. Drawn from these interviews, Tales from the Pit provides an overview of how the interviewees felt about a variety of topics, ranging from their experiences breaking in as new dealers to their transitions to management and the changes the industry has seen over their careers. The current and former managers speak candidly about the owners, bosses, dealers, and players who made each day challenging. This book illuminates the past several decades of casino history through the words of those who lived and made it.

This unique combination of cookbook, memoir, and travelogue features 100 recipes, photographs, and behind-the-scenes stories from legendary pitmaster Mike Mills. In Peace, Love, & Barbecue, Mike Mills, the unrivalled king of barbecue, shares his passion for America's favorite cuisine—its intense smoky flavors, its lore and traditions, and its wild cast of characters. Through conversational anecdotes and black-and-white photographs, readers meet a diverse circle of colleagues and friends and join Mills in a behind-the-scenes tour of the barbecue contest circuit, with stops at some of the best “shrines, shacks, joints, and right-respectable restaurants.” Also included are prizewinning recipes that have earned Mills his fame and fortune as a barbecue maestro. These 100 recipes will enable anyone with a grill to achieve champion barbecue flavor right in their own backyard. The selection features Mills own secret concoctions and treasured family recipes as well as choice contributions from his pitmaster friends, and it covers all manner of barbecued meat and fish, sauces and dry rubs, as well as the sides, soups, and down-home sweets that complete any great barbecue feast. With its folksy, fun tone and its unique insider’s take on a hugely popular—and deeply American—subject, Peace, Love, & BBQ is perfect for barbecue lovers, food mavens, and cooks of all stripes.

The debut title in the Anthony Bourdain Books line, The Prophets of Smoked Meat by “Barbecue Snob” Daniel Vaughn, author of the enormously popular blog Full Custom Gospel BBQ, is a rollicking journey through the heart of Texas Barbecue. From brisket to ribs, beef to pork, mesquite to oak, this fully illustrated, comprehensive guide to Texas barbecue includes pit masters’ recipes, tales of the road—from country meat markets to roadside stands, sumptuous photography, and a panoramic look at the Lone Star State, where smoked meat is sacred.

In Barbecue Joints, travel the highways and byways with a true barbecue aficionado, David Gelin, and share the scrumptious odors of hickory pits and the tangy sauces and rubs that make barbecue the signature dish of the South. Look closely and you will recognize a South where barbecue is a kind of national dish and the people who cook and serve it are, well, national heroes. This book is not just about the joints, but even more so about the good folks who are the heart and soul of them. Barbecue Joints is more than a heartfelt tale of the colorful characters that run them-it also serves as a travel guide as well as a how-to on barbecue, filled with recipes as well as instruction on building a BBQ pit of your very own!

In a culture of comic book heroes, it's gratifying to be reminded that there are real heroes out there. Every day the staff of emergency rooms throughout the world are saving lives - 24/7/365. Dr. Patrick Crocker provides us an intimate glimpse into the growing mind of an emergency physician, from residency to retirement.Told in a unique first-person stream of consciousness style, you are right in the middle of the action, looking over the doctor's shoulder while he works. In this compilation of notable, frightening, funny, sad, and poignant cases, you'll see Dr. Crocker's struggles to Do No Harm in the most challenging of situations. Through these stories, you'll see him find the delicate balance between help and harm, empathy and self-preservation.

Presents stories, recipes, and photographs of barbecue cooking in the South, recording the pitmasters and legendary joints that make this food culture famous.

South of the border, a spectacular range of ancient volcanoes rises from the desert floor just a few miles from the Sea of Cortez. Virtually untraveled, the Sierra Pinacate in northwestern Mexico beckons adventurers and scientists. Here, in words and pictures, is a remarkable introduction to this place of almost surreal beauty. Sometimes veiled in clouds or dust storms, the Pinacate have long been shrouded in mystery as well. From prehistoric times until today, people of Sonora have told tales of giants, men and animals, bottomless pits, endless tunnels, hostile Indians, smoking caverns, and ever-present dangers found in the Pinacate. This book takes readers deep into the heart of this fascinating area. Julian Hayden, who worked and traveled in the Pinacate for four decades, introduces the natural history, archaeology, geology, and human history of the area. Spectacular color photographs by Jack Dykinga capture the magic and the isolation of this stunning region. Hayden's text is presented in both English and Spanish. The Mexican government has already declared the Pinacate an officially protected biosphere reserve; still pending is its inclusion in the Man and the Biosphere program of the United Nations. More than a natural history, The Sierra Pinacate is an elegant appreciation of a place of wonder.

Arthur Morrison's 'Ultimate Collection' comprises 80+ captivating mysteries, detective stories, and supernatural tales, showcasing his mastery of the crime genre. Known for his vivid descriptions and attention to detail, Morrison's writing style immerses readers in the gritty underbelly of Victorian and Edwardian London. His stories often explore themes of morality, justice, and the supernatural, leaving readers on the edge of their seats. Arthur Morrison, a British author and journalist, drew inspiration from his experiences in the impoverished East End of London, where he observed the struggles of the working class. This firsthand exposure to societal issues greatly influenced his storytelling, giving his works a sense of authenticity and depth. Morrison's commitment to portraying the harsh realities of urban life sets him apart as a prominent figure in early detective fiction. Enthusiasts of classic detective fiction and supernatural tales will find Arthur Morrison's 'Ultimate Collection' a gripping and immersive read. With its diverse range of stories and engaging narrative style, this compilation offers a captivating glimpse into the darker side of Victorian and Edwardian London, making it a must-read for fans of the genre.