Long before the space race captured the world?s attention, K. E. Tsiolkovskii first conceived of multi-stage rockets that would later be adapted as the basis of both the U.S. and Soviet rocket programs.?Often called the grandfather of Russian rocketry, this provincial scientist was even sanctioned by Stalin to give a speech from Red Square on May Day 1935, lauding the Soviet technological future while also dreaming and expounding on his own visions of conquering the cosmos. Later, the Khrushchev regime used him as a "poster boy" for Soviet excellence during its Cold War competition with the United States. Ironically, some revisionists have since pointed to such blatant promotion by the Communist Party in an attempt to downplay Tsiolkovskii?s scientific contributions.?James T. Andrews explores the complexities of this man to show that Tsiolkovskii was much more than either a rocket inventor or a propaganda tool. He was a science popularizer, novelist, technical inventor, and visionary, whose science fiction writings included futuristic drawings of space stations long before they appeared on any engineer?s drawing board.Mining a myriad of Russian archives, Andrews produces not only a biographical account but also a study of Soviet technological propaganda, local science education, public culture in the 1920s and 1930s, and the cultural ramifications of space flight.

The launch of the Sputnik satellite in October 1957 changed the course of human history. In the span of a few years, Soviets sent the first animal into space, the first man, and the first woman. These events were a direct challenge to the United States and the capitalist model that claimed ownership of scientific aspiration and achievement. The success of the space program captured the hopes and dreams of nearly every Soviet citizen and became a critical cultural vehicle in the country's emergence from Stalinism and the devastation of World War II. It also proved to be an invaluable tool in a worldwide propaganda campaign for socialism, a political system that could now seemingly accomplish anything it set its mind to. Into the Cosmos shows us the fascinating interplay of Soviet politics, science, and culture during the Khrushchev era, and how the space program became a binding force between these elements. The chapters examine the ill-fitted use of cosmonauts as propaganda props, the manipulation of gender politics after Valentina Tereshkova's flight, and the use of public interest in cosmology as a tool for promoting atheism. Other chapters explore the dichotomy of promoting the space program while maintaining extreme secrecy over its operations, space animals as media darlings, the history of Russian space culture, and the popularity of space-themed memorabilia that celebrated Soviet achievement and planted the seeds of consumerism.

An awe-inspiring, unforgettable journey of scientific exploration from Brian Cox and Jeff Forshaw, the international bestselling authors of Why Does E=MC2? and The Quantum Universe, with 55 black-&-white and 45 full-color pages featuring photographs, diagrams, maps, tables, and graphs. We dare to imagine a time before the Big Bang, when the entire universe was compressed into a space smaller than an atom. And now, as Brian Cox and Jeff Forshaw show, we can do more than imagine: we can understand. Universal takes us on an epic journey of scientific exploration. It reveals how we can all come to grips with some of the most fundamental questions about our Earth, Sun, and solar system--and the star-filled galaxies beyond. How big is our solar system? How quickly is space expanding? How big is the universe? What is it made of? Some of these questions can be answered on the basis of observations you can make in your own backyard. Other answers draw on the astonishing information now being gathered by teams of astronomers operating at the frontiers of the known universe. At the heart of all this lies the scientific method. Science reveals a deeper beauty and connects us to each other, to our world, and to our universe. Science reaches out into the unknown. As Universal demonstrates, if we dare to imagine, we can do the same.

Animal Crossing: New Leaf sees you crowned mayor as a result of a bit of an accident. When you arrive, Isabelle the town clerk will reveal that you’ve been given the post and from there you can do whatever you please! Use your powers as the mayor to shape the town however you wish, whether this means building bridges, creating public works projects or laying down laws (or ordinances as they are known). With all this freedom, you could soon have the home and town of your dreams! Inside this guide: - How to get the most out of those vital first few days in town. - The easiest ways to stuff your coffers with loads of money. - Detailed information on every shop in Main Street. - Exact dates for every Special Event in the entire game! - Complete your encyclopaedia with every Bug and Fish in the game! - Where to find every special visitor and what they can offer you. - A full furniture list so you can find exactly what you need to build the perfect home. - Beautiful screenshots and exclusive HD 3DS tutorial videos with audio commentary! Version 1.1: - Comprehensive list of furniture, wallpapers and carpets. - Comprehensive list of clothes and accessories. - Special event pages for the snowman season and Weeding Day. - List of all the decorative public work projects and who requests them.

A sweeping, multifaceted tale of a young Native American pulled between the cherished traditions of a heritage on the brink of extinction and an encroaching white culture, Gardens in the Dunes is the powerful story of one woman’s quest to reconcile two worlds that are diametrically opposed. At the center of this struggle is Indigo, who is ripped from her tribe, the Sand Lizard people, by white soldiers who destroy her home and family. Placed in a government school to learn the ways of a white child, Indigo is rescued by the kind-hearted Hattie and her worldly husband, Edward, who undertake to transform this complex, spirited girl into a “proper” young lady. Bit by bit, and through a wondrous journey that spans the European continent, traipses through the jungles of Brazil, and returns to the rich desert of Southwest America, Indigo bridges the gap between the two forces in her life and teaches her adoptive parents as much as, if not more than, she learns from them.

Exploring the macrocosm from colossal galactic superclusters to quiet backwater planets, Matt Tweed offers a primer on the cosmos for anyone fascinated by the heavens. Taking a guided tour through the universe, we ride past quasars, jets, and galaxies to land on a curious world and examine an array of ideas about space and time. Tweed traces the evolution of stars and formation of planets, describing our "light bubble" and why we can't see any farther than we do. For a concise and accessible description of extra-solar planetary systems, black holes, pulsars, nebulae, great walls, dark matter, red shifts, and much more, The Compact Cosmos is an indispensable guide. Data tables, lists of cosmological constants, and distances from Earth to other bodies in space form a useful appendix.

DIVWritten by one of the region’s most highly respected gardening experts, Michigan Getting Started Garden Guide is a plant recommendation guidebook geared exclusively toward gardeners located in the Wolverine State. Author Melinda Myers shares her extensive gardening knowledge, highlighting her top picks for plants that will thrive in (or in spite of) Michigan’s tough winters and other unique growing conditions, guaranteeing success for the Michigan gardener and home landscaper./divDIV/divDIVFrom soil and water to fertilization and pest management, Michigan Getting Started Garden Guide addresses all the gardening topics of concern to Michigan gardeners. Featured plant categories discuss annuals, bulbs, ferns and groundcovers, ornamental grasses, perennials, roses, shrubs, trees, turfgrasses, and vines. Each plant is showcased with detailed photography; specific advice on how, when, and where to plant; growing tips, such as watering requirements; and descriptions of routine care. Alongside these “nitty-gritty” aspects of planting and growing, Myers shares her inspiration for garden design, the various ways you can beautifully incorporate plants into your landscape, and her favorite cultivars and species. With proven, practical instructions presented through gorgeous imagery and adapted specially for the Michigan climate, Michigan Getting Started Garden Guide is your ticket to successful planting in the Great Lake State./div

DIVWritten by one of the region’s most highly respected gardening experts, Minnesota & Wisconsin Getting Started Garden Guide is a plant recommendation guidebook geared exclusively toward gardeners located in these states. Author Melinda Myers shares her extensive gardening knowledge, highlighting her top picks for plants that will thrive in (or in spite of) the area’s tough winters and other unique growing conditions, guaranteeing success for the gardener and home landscaper in Minnesota or Wisconsin./divDIV/divDIVFrom soil and water to fertilization and pest management, Minnesota & Wisconsin Getting Started Garden Guide addresses all the gardening topics of concern to Minnesota and Wisconsin gardeners. Featured plant categories discuss annuals, bulbs, ferns and groundcovers, ornamental grasses, perennials, roses, shrubs, trees, turfgrasses, and vines. Each plant is showcased with detailed photography; specific advice on how, when, and where to plant; growing tips, such as watering requirements; and descriptions of routine care. Alongside these “nitty-gritty” aspects of planting and growing, Myers shares her inspiration for garden design, the various ways you can beautifully incorporate plants into your landscape, and her favorite cultivars and species. With proven, practical instructions presented through gorgeous imagery and adapted specially for the Minnesota and Wisconsin climate, Minnesota & Wisconsin Getting Started Garden Guide is your ticket to successful planting—whether you’re in the Badger State or the Land of 10,000 Lakes./div