Powerful forces work against efforts to control the flow of illegal narcotics into the United States from the Third World. The potential for conflict and recrimination is built into the situation. The main consumer countries are poor and predominantly agricultural. Cocaine traffic in the Western Hemisphere is a particularly serious example of how this conflict of interests plays out. Producing countries and consuming countries each blame the other, and depending on which side they are on, advocate either demand-side or supply-side solutions-controlling the demand of users in the United States for cocaine versus controlling the demand of users in the United States for cocaine versus controlling the supply from South America. U.S. concerns are fairly unambiguous. Cocaine imports have increased five to tenfold since 1977 and abuse of cocaine and its derivative “crack” has become a serious social problem in the United States. The position of producing countries is also clear-cut. Political elites in Third World countries view antidrug crusades with hostility because they impose significant new burdens and create formidable new challenges. The White Labyrinth explains why it is so difficult to take effective action against the cocaine problem. It looks closely at problems faced by producing countries: the economic and political pressures that make it so difficult to address the problem from a supply-side perspective. It analyzes the devastating pressure tactics of “coca lobbies” and cocaine trafficking syndicates. It explores the complex relationships between the cocaine industry and leftist revolutionary movements. It examines the negative consequences of actions taken by the United States. The White Labyrinth is an in-depth examination of a problem that is of paramount public concern. It will be of interest to all those concerned with the development of effective policies, from parents to public officials.

Written for a variety of readers -- whether interested citizens, students, or practicing health professionals -- the book provides a systematic understanding of how health care is provided in the United States. It is a readable, candid and thoughtful dissection of the problems confronted by both individuals and institutions within the health sector. Focus is on a detailed analysis of external environmental issues, financial as well as regulatory, affecting providers, as well as on the structural shifts in health care delivery, with both intended and unintended consequences.

This monograph attempts to go beyond Nietzsche's flamboyant but ambiguous words of praise for violence and oppression, in search of the subtler teachings. It then assesses the ethical and political implications of his doctrine of earthly revitalization, and its affirmative power.

The official novel of Naughty Dog’s award-winning videogame franchise! In the ancient world there was a myth about a king, a treasure, and a hellish labyrinth. Now the doors to that hell are open once again. Nathan Drake, treasure hunter and risk taker, has been called to New York City by the man who taught him everything about the “antiquities acquisition business.” Victor Sullivan needs Drake’s help. Sully’s old friend, a world-famous archaeologist, has just been found murdered in Manhattan. Dodging assassins, Drake, Sully, and the dead man’s daughter, Jada Hzujak, race from New York to underground excavations in Egypt and Greece. Their goal: to unravel an ancient myth of alchemy, look for three long-lost labyrinths, and find the astonishing discovery that got Jada’s father killed. It appears that a fourth labyrinth was built in another land and another culture—and within it lies a key to unmatched wealth and power. An army of terrifying lost warriors guards this underground maze. So does a monster. And what lies beyond—if Drake can live long enough to reach it—is both a treasure and a poison, a paradise and a hell. Welcome to The Fourth Labyrinth.

An insightful and haunting new collection from Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Charles Simic Irreverent and sly, observant and keenly imagined, Come Closer and Listen is the latest work from one of our most beloved poets. With his trademark sense of humor, open-hearted empathy, and perceptive vision, Charles Simic roots his poetry in the ordinary world while still taking in the wide sweep of the human experience. From poems pithy, wry, and cutting—“Time—that murderer/that no has caught yet”—to his layered reflections on everything from love to grief to the wonders of nature, from the story of St. Sebastian to that of a couple weeding side by side, Simic’s work continues to reveal to us an unmistakable voice in modern poetry. An innovator in form and a chronicler of both our interior lives and the people we are in the world, Simic remains one of our most important and lasting voices on the page.

Labyrinth: The Ultimate Visual History is the definitive thirtieth-anniversary exploration of the beloved Jim Henson classic, featuring rare artwork, interviews, and on-set photos. Journey back to Jim Henson's Labyrinth in this visually stunning celebration of the enchanting fantasy classic. Three decades after its release, Labyrinth, starring David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly, continues to enthrall audiences with its winning mixture of fairy-tale magic, fantastical creatures, and unforgettable music. Filled with a wealth of rare and unseen behind-the-scenes imagery, this book explores the creation of the film as seen through the eyes of the artists, costume designers, and creature creators who gave Labyrinth its distinctive look. Featuring in-depth commentary from the talented crew and cast—including exclusive new interviews with Jennifer Connelly, Brian Henson, Brian Froud, and George Lucas—this deluxe book brings together a wealth of rare sketches, concept art, and candid set photography to form and incredible treasure trove for Labyrinth fans. With stunning visuals and unparalleled insight into the creation of a true modern classic, Labyrinth: The Ultimate Visual History is the perfect companion piece to one of the best-loved fantasy films of all time.

Zamonia’s greatest writer investigates a mystery in a shadowy book metropolis in this epic adventure by the author of The Alchemaster’s Apprentice. It has been more than two hundred years since Bookholm was destroyed by a devastating fire, as told in Moers’s The City of Dreaming Books. Hildegunst von Mythenmetz, hailed as Zamonia’s greatest writer, is on vacation in Lindworm Castle when a disturbing message reaches him, and he must return to Bookholm to investigate a mystery. The magnificently rebuilt city has once again become a metropolis of storytelling and the book trade. Mythenmetz encounters old friends and new denizens of the city—and the shadowy “Invisible Theater.” Astonishingly inventive, amusing, and engrossing, this is a captivating story from the wild imagination of Walter Moers. Praise for The Labyrinth of Dreaming Books “What matters are his engaging descriptions, zany scenarios and the weird critters that inhabit Zamonia, some of whom bear an uncanny resemblance to Barney the dinosaur . . . A beguiling, bookish entertainment that ends on a cliffhanger promising—well, the prospect of many sequels to come.” —Kirkus Reviews “Moers's Munchhausen-esque yarn is enhanced by his equally wild illustrations. . . . Fans will enjoy journeying through Optimus's battle with darkness.” —Publishers Weekly