41 Great eBooks ! ! ! (eBook Compilation) ! ! !

1. Egyptian Secrets: or White and Black Art for Man and Beast - Albertus Magnus

The Book of Nature and the Hidden Secrets and Mysteries of Life Unveiled; Being the Forbidden Knowledge of Ancient Philosophers by that celebrated Student, Philosopher, Chemist, Naturalist, Psychomist, Astrologer, Alchemist, Metallurgist, Sorcerer, Explanator of the Mysteries of Wizards and Witchcraft; together with recondite Views of numerous Arts and Science-Obscure, Plain, Practical, etc. This book reveals magical formulas for health, protection, power, victory, medicines, etc.

2. Drug Abuse Handbook Second Edition - by Steven B. Karch MD FFFLM 2006

Following the well-received first edition, Drug Abuse Handbook, Second Edition is a thorough compendium of the knowledge of the pharmacological, medical, and legal aspects of drugs. The book examines criminalistics, pathology, pharmacokinetics, neurochemistry, treatment, as well as drugs and drug testing in the workplace and in sports, and the ethical, legal, and practical issues involved. Dr. Karch gathers contributions from 80 leading experts in their respective fields to update and revise this second edition with more than 40 percent new material. New topics include genetic testing in drug death investigation, the neurochemistry of nicotine and designer amphetamines, genetic doping in sports, and the implications of the Daubert ruling on the admissibility of scientific evidence in federal court. Packed with the latest information in an easily accessible format, the book includes tables of all Scheduled Drugs, methods of Drug Quantitative Analysis, and a glossary of forensic toxicology terms. Vivid pictures and diagrams illustrate the pathological effects of drugs and the chemical make-up and breakdown of abused drugs. It includes more than 6000 references to the best sources in medicine, pharmacology, and the law. This book addresses specific problems in drug testing, drug-related medical emergencies, and the physical, neurochemical, and sociological phenomenon of addiction. With unparalleled detail and the highest level of authoritative information, The Drug Abuse Handbook, Second Edition is the definitive resource for drug related issues.

3. What's What This Week in Havana - Weekly Edition of the "Times of Cuba" August-September 1930

A guide for the U.S. tourist arriving in Havana in 1930, courtesy of the Vaccaro Shipping Line. Includes a detailed street map of Havana, advice on hotels, thieves, speakeasys, street cars, shopping, etc, and even advice on how to use Cuban wax matches so that you don't burn a hole in your suit!

"No passports for American citizens... It is easy to enter and leave Cuba as American born citizens do not require passports when returning to the United States." !!

"As to liquor... Alcoholic liquor, if found, will be seized and destroyed at the American port of entry, a fine of $5 being levied on each container. Key West bootleggers, who get about double Havana prices, thrive thereby. Small bottles may be carried in the pockets or by the ladies. Undie aprons with pockets for bottles are sold in Havana. Ask the hotel information man.

4. Rome and Her Enemies: An Empire Created and Destroyed by War - Jane Penrose 2005

Spanning over a thousand years and an immense geographical area, the Roman Empire was the greatest in world history. At its most powerful, the Empire cast a shadow across the known world, and its legacy continues to influence politics, art and culture around the world today. Rome’s power was won on the battlefield, and the greatness of the Empire is reflected in the warlike reputations of the enemies it subdued. Hannibal, the Carthaginians, Mithridates, the Gauls, the Sassanid Persians and the infamous Goths are amongst the forces that battled the might of Rome. Rome and Her Enemies juxtaposes the society and military structure of each of these peoples with those of the contemporary Roman army. Using previously published Osprey material, this book is divided into four chronological sections focusing on major wars and battles, is lavishly illustrated throughout, and colour photographs, artwork and maps support the text to provide a comprehensive introduction to the rise and fall of an empire created and destroyed by war. Introduction by Tom Holland, bestselling author of ‘Persian Fire’ and ‘Rubicon’.

5. Brainwashing: The Science of Thought Control

The term 'brainwashing' was first recorded in 1950, but it is an expression of a much older concept: the forcible and full-scale alteration of a person's beliefs. Over the past 50 years the term has crept into popular culture, served as a topic for jokes, frightened the public in media headlines, and slandered innumerable people and institutions. It has also been the subject of learned discussion from many angles: history, sociology, psychology, psychotherapy, and marketing. Despite this variety, to date there has been one angle missing: any serious reference to real brains. Descriptions of how opinions can be changed, whether by persuasion, deceit, or force, have been almost entirely psychological.network.

6. CIA Improvised Sabatoge Devices 1977

Now available, much of the improvisation know-how never before printed. This information has remained in the minds or files of individuals. Chapters on detonators, steel cutting techniques, counter force charges, ambush charges, dust and vapor explosions, and more. 81/2"x11", illus., 75pp.

7. The Modern Survival Retreat - Ragnar Benson 1998

Modern retreaters have a new enemy to fear - our own government. In this companion to the classic book The Survival Retreat, Ragnar answers such vital questions as how to identify exactly who threatens your freedom, when to occupy your retreat and how to fight the government when it goes hard-core against you.

8. The Black Book Companion: State-of-the-art Improvised 1990

CIA and Special Forces used the original Black Books as manuals of mayhem and sabotage. This is a further study into the dark art of improvised explosives and munitions. Learn how the guerrilla warfare specialist makes dynamite, RDX, canister grenades, antipersonnel mines and more. For information purposes only.

9. Religion a Human Capacity: A Festschrift in Honor of E. Thomas Lawson - Timothy Light, Brian C. Wilson 2004

Prepared in honor of E. Thomas Lawson, the essays in Religion as a Human Capacity represent diverse points of view in the study of religion today. Part I, "Theoretical Studies," offers a broad range of cognitivist theoretical explorations, while Part II, "Studies in Religious Behavior," presents cutting-edge applications of cognitive and other contemporary theories to religious data. This volume celebrates Lawson’s critical contributions to cognitive studies of religion and the degree to which his ultimate goal of scholarship as a search for truth is matched by those who have been his colleagues and been influenced by him. Religion as a Human Capacity will be of interest to all those concerned with theory and method in the academic study of religion

10. Interesting Facts - 2006

A Classic collection of over 300 Did-you-knows. Fascinating & Mind bogglingg!
1. Adolf Hitler was Time's Man of the Year for 1938.
2. A violin actually contains 70 separate pieces of
wood.
3. It took approximately 2.5 million blocks to build the
Pyramid of Giza, which is one of the Great Pyramids.

11. The Oxford Dictionary of Allusions - by Andrew Delahunty, Sheila Dignen, Penny Stock 2005

The Oxford Dictionary of Allusions provides concise guidance to thousands of references to literature, mythology and the Bible. If you've ever been puzzled by one, it's a good book to have. The allusions are mostly grouped by theme, while a few key subjects are given extended treatment in their own special entries--Adam and Eve, Hercules and The Trojan War, for example. In most cases, the explanation of an allusion's meaning is accompanied by at least one example of its use. In addition, there's a note of guidance at the head of each theme, and there are plenty of cross-references linking related topics. The entry on Heathcliff, for example, is included under the theme "Beauty: male beauty" and declares: "Heathcliff is the passionate gypsy hero of Emily Bronte's romantic novel Wuthering Heights (1847). He has long, dark hair and a rugged, wild attractiveness." Two examples follow.

This book will be particularly useful to students, teachers and others whose work requires them to understand references to literature, mythology and the Bible. It is also fascinating to delve into for anyone whose reading brings them across such references. It makes a fit companion to Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable and The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, complementing the areas of illumination offered by those two volumes. --David Pickering --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Allusions form a colourful extension to the English language, drawing on our collective knowledge of literature, mythology, and the Bible to give us a literary shorthand for describing people, places, and events. So a miser is a Scrooge, a strong man is a Samson or a Hercules, a beautiful woman is a Venus or a modern-day Helen of Troy - we can suffer like Sisyphus, fail like Canute, or linger like the smile of the Cheshire Cat. This absorbing reference work explains the meanings of allusions in modern English, from Abaddon to Zorro, Tartarus to Tarzan, and Rubens to Rambo. Fascinating to browse through, the book is based on an extensive reading programme that has identified the most commonly-used allusions. Quotations are included in most entries to illustrate usage, from a range of authors and sources, from Thomas Hardy to Ben Elton, Charles Dickens to Bridget Jones's Diary. For this new second edition the most up-to-date allusions from Gollum to Kofi Annan have been added, and a handy A-Z order has been adopted for extra ease of reference.

12. An Essay on the Influence of Tobacco upon Life and Health - by Reuben Dimond Mussey 2006

First published in 1836, this book was decades ahead of its time in pointing out the health hazards of smoking. A fascinating historical document filled wtih discoveries.

13. Legends of the Egyptian Gods: Hieroglyphic Texts and Translations - E.A. Wallis Budge 1994

Great Egyptologist’s selection of nine of the most interesting and important Egyptian legends in hieroglyphic texts with literal translations on facing pages. Included are The Legend of the Creation, The Legend of the Destruction of Mankind, The Legend of Ra and the Snake-Bite, The Legend of Isis and Osiris and five more, enhanced with 19 illustrations from Egyptian art.

14. FLYING SERPENTS AND DRAGONS - By R. A. Boulay 1990

The literature and mythology of ancient cultures is filled with accounts of dragons,
flying serpents, and other winged lizards. Who, then, were these flying, fire-breathing
creatures that seem to have coexisted with early Man, sometimes as his benefactor but
many more times as his tormentor?
Perhaps they were just fabulous creatures, the product of Man's fertile imagination. On
the other hand, it is possible they were the manifestation of something else - of
traumatic events so disturbing and deeply rooted in his past, that knowledge of their
true nature has been subconsciously suppressed and remembered only in allegorical
terms.
Quite a few civilizations of this world trace their ancestry to such dragon-like lizards or
flying serpents. In most cases, they are credited with bringing the benefits of
civilization to Mankind. And quite often they are described as his actual creator.
Ancient man portrayed these creatures as superior beings or gods, who could
effortlessly move about the skies in their "fiery chariots" or "boats of heaven." They
usually lived in a "heavenly abode" and often descended to interfere in the affairs of
Man.he earliest and the most important of cultures, that of Mesopotamia, was probably
founded by these serpent-like gods. The colonization of this planet by these creatures is described in one of the most dramatic and significant of ancient documents. It is the so-
called Sumerian King-List.
Dated to the Third Millennium BC, this document provides the succession of the Kings
of Sumer and their successors, the length of their reigns since, what was to the
Sumerians, the beginning of time when their ancestors came here and "descended" to
Earth to establish a number of cities on the alluvial plain of Mesopotamia. Calling
themselves Anunnaki, these Proto-Sumerians are credited with the establishment of
Western, if not World, civilization.
Surprisingly enough, there is considerable data on these early civilizations - the
Sumerian, later to be replaced by the Akkadian and the Babylonian cultures. From the
numerous cuneiform tablets, monuments, and artifacts that have been unearthed in
recent times, it is possible to reconstruct the events which transpired in the early days of
Mankind.
There is also a mass of evidence, which was originally derived from the same source,
but was given a religious interpretation by being transmitted through priestly channels.
It was from this vast reservoir of ancient sources that the stories of the Old Testament
were derived.

15. LUzac's Semitic text and Translation Series Volume xv

VOL;T : TH E LAUGHABLE STORIES COLLECTED BY BAR-HEBR^:US .
Syriac Text and Translation, with Notes, Introduction, etc.
By E. A. Wallis Budge. 21s. net.
VOL. I I : TH E LETTERS AND INSCRIPTIONS OF HAMMURABI ,
KING OF BABYLON, ABOUT B C. 2200; to which is added
a series of letters of other kings of the First Dynasty of
Babylon. Vol. I : Introduction and Babylonian Texts.
By L. W. King. 21s. net.
VOL. Il l : TH E LETTERS AND INSCRIPTIONS OF HAMMURABI ,
KING OF BABYLON, ABOUT B.C. 2200; to which is added
a series of letters of other kings of the First Dynasty of
Babylon. Vol. I I : Babylonian Texts, continued. By
L. W. King. 18s. net.
VOL. IV: TH E HISTORY OF THE VIRGIN MARY, AND THE
HISTORY OF THE LIKENESS OF CHRIST. Vol. I : Syriac
Texts. By E. A. Wallis Budge. 12^. 6d. net.
VOL. V : TH E HISTORY OF THE VIRGIN MARY, AND THE
HISTORY OF THE LIKENESS OF CHRIST. Vol. II : English
Translations. By E. A. Wallis Budge. 10s. 6d. net.
VOL. VI : TH E REPORTS OF THE MAGICIANS AND ASTROLOGERS
OF NINEVEH AND BABYLON. Vol. I : Cuneiform Texts. By
R. C. Thompson. 12s. 6d. net.
VOL. VII : TH E REPORTS OF THE MAGICIANS AND ASTROLOGERS
OF NINEVEH AND BABYLON. Vol. II : English Translation
and Transliteration. By R. C. Thompson. 12s. 6d. net.
VOL. VIII : TH E LETTERS AND INSCRIPTIONS OF HAMMURABI ,
KING OF BABYLON, ABOUT B.C. 2200 ; to which is added
a series of letters of other kings of the First Dynasty of
Babylon. Vol. Ill : English Translations, with Translitera-
tions, Commentary, Vocabularies, Introduction, etc. By
L. W. King. iSs. net.
VOL. IX: THE HISTORIES OF RABBAN HORMIZD THE PERSIAN
AND RABBAN BAR-'IDTA. Vol. I : Syriac Texts. By E. A.
Wallis Budge. 12^. 6d. net.
VOL. X: THE; HISTORIES OF RABBAN HORMIZD THE PERSIAN
AND RABBAN BAR-TDTA. Vol. II : English Translations.
By E. A. Wallis Budge, 12s. 6d. net.
VOL. XI : TH E HISTORIES OF RABBAN HORMIZD THE PERSIAN
AND RABBAN BAR-'IDTA. Vol. Ill : English Translation
of the Metrical Life of Rabban Hormizd by Sergius of
Adhorbaijan. By E. A. Wallis Budge, IOS. 6d. net.
VOL. XII : TH E SEVEN TABLETS OF CREATION. Vol. I : English
Translations, Transliterations, Glossary, Introduction, etc.
By L. W. King. I8J . net.
VOL. XIII : TH E SEVEN TABLETS OF CREATION. Vol. I I :
Supplementary [Babylonian and Assyrian] Texts. By L. W.
King. 15.?. net.
VOL. XIV: TH E DEVILS AND EVIL SPIRITS OF BABYLONIA,
transliterated and translated, with Introduction. Vol. I.
By R. C. Thompson. 15s. net.
VOL. XV : TH E DEVILS AND EVIL SPIRITS OF BABYLONIA,
transliterated and translated, with Vocabulary, Indexes,
and an Introduction. Vol. II . By R. C. Thompson.
VOL. XVI : TH E HISTORY OF BARALAM AND YEWASEF. The
Ethiopic Version, translated from the Arabic by Enbakom,
for the Ethiopian king Galawdewas, A.D. 1553. Vol. I,
Part 1 : the Ethiopic Text. By E. A. Wallis Budge. (In
the Press.)
VOL. XVII : TH E HISTORY OF BARALAM AND YEWASEF. The
Ethiopic Version, translated from the Arabic by Enbakom,
for the Ethiopian king Galawdewas, A.D. 1553. Vol. I,
Part 2 : the Ethiopic Text, continued. By E. A. Wallis
Budge. (In the Press.)
VOL. XVIII : THE.HISTORY OF BARALAM AND YEWASEF. The
Ethiopic Version, translated from the Arabic by Enbakom,
for the Ethiopic king Galawdewas, A.D. 1553. Vol. II :
English Translation, Introduction, etc. By E. A. Wallis
Budge. (In the Press.)
VOL. XIX: A CONTRIBUTION TO BABYLONIAN HISTORY, being
a series of Babylonian Historical Texts with English Trans-
lations. By L. W. King. (In the Press.)

16. OXFORD EDITIONS OF CUNEIFORM TEXTS - The Weld-Blundell Collection, vol.II. - S. LANGDON,Professor of Assyriology 1923

Historical Inscriptions, Containing Principally the
Chronological Prism, W-B. 444

The fortunate discovery of the entire chronological tables of early Sumerian and Bbylonian
history provides ample reason for a separate volume of the Weld-Blundell Series, and thle imme-
diate publication of this instructive inscription is imperative. It constitutes the most important
historical document of its kind ever recovered among cuneiform records. The Collection of the
Ashmolean Museum contains other historical records which I expected to include in this volume,
notably the building inscriptions of Kish, excavated during the first year's work of the Oxford
and Field Museum Expedition. MR. WELD-BLUNDELL who supports this expedition on behalf
of The University of Oxford rightly expressed the desire to have his dynastic prism prepared
for publication before the writer leaves Oxford to take charge of the excavations at Oheimorrl (Kish)
the coming winter. This circumstance necessitates the omission of a considerable nulmber of
historical texts, which must be left over for a future volume. I wish also that many of the far
reaching problems raised by the new dynastic prism might have received more mature discussion.
The most vital problem, concerning which I am at present unable to decide, namely the
date of the first Babylonian dynasty, demands at least special notice some-where in this
book. The reader is earnestly requested to remember that the dates given for the entire chrono-
logy of ancient Sumer and Accad necessarily rest upon the point from which the calculations
begin, namely the year of the foundation of the first dynasty by Sumu-abu. In this book I have
accepted the year 2225 for the beginning of the reign of Sumu-abu and 2357 for the beginning
of the Isin dynasty. This date was taken from the astronomical calculations of FATHER KnUGrVlRn, S. J.,
in his astonishingly brilliant interpretation of the tablet of observations of the morning and
evening appearances and disappearances of the planet Venus for the 21 years of the reign of
Ammizaduga, tenth king of the first dynasty . The tablet actually preserves observations for 21
years of the reign of Ammizaduga. Now in this text after the observation, " In Adar (12 t
" f
month)
Venus disappeared in the east on the 2 5th day, [two months and 16 days she delayed in heaven
and in the month Sivan, on the eleventh day, she was seen in the west], 2 the tablet has the
year date for the eighth year of Ammizaduga. Therefore, KUGLER was able to assign each
of the observations above and below this date to the year of Ammizaduga in which it occurred.
One of these observations namely that of the sixth year offered the best data for an astronomical
calculation..Here (in lines 14-15 of VIRQLLEAUD, Ishtar, XII) the tablet has, In the month
Arahsamnu (8th month) on the 28th day Venus disappeared in the west, three days she delayed
in heaven and rose in the east on the first of Kislev. n KUGLER'S fine astronomical training
shewed him at once that this observation would enable him to determine the years of th'i period

17. A HEBREW DELUGE STORY IN CUNEIFORM AND OTHER EPIC FRAGMENTS IN THE PIERPONT MORGAN LIBRARY - ALBERT T. CLAY 1922

The title of this little monograph tells its own story, namely,
that an ancient Hebrew deluge tradition written in cuneiform is
here presented. It is not a recent discovery, nor is it the first time
that it has appeared in print. It was first published a number of
years ago, but owing to a faulty copy of the text originally pre-
sented, its importance has never been understood.
This story of the deluge which had found its way into Babylonia,
where it was made to conform largely to the Akkadian dialect,
fully betrays its origin; it came from the same source whence the
Hebrew traditions came, namely from the people who lived in
Amurru (Syria and Mesopotamia), called the Amorites. As was
the case in pre-Mosaic days, and to a large extent in early
Israel, when henotheism prevailed, "God" is the foremost deity.
We learn from this tradition, and also from its redaction written
centuries later, that a long famine preceded the deluge, which is
not referred to in the Old Testament, that the famine had been sent
because men had multiplied, and also because of their clamor,
reminding us of the causes given for the deluge in the Old
Testament.
The great importance of this inscription, which was copied
about the time of Abraham from an older tablet, together with
other facts here presented, is that it will require that the prevail-
ing view be abandoned that the Hebrew traditions were borrowed
from Babylonia. This involves many scholarly works written in
recent decades upon the early history of Israel. It has been
generally held that these stories are of Babylonian origin; that
Canaan was a domain of Babylonian culture in the time of Moses;
and that Israel had assimilated this foreign culture as well as its
religion, "feathers and all." Not only is the Israelitish cult held
to be dependent upon the Babylonian, but also many of the chief
characters are said to have descended from Babylonian mythology.
In Germany where these views developed, some scholars have
gone to great extremes; only a change of names had taken place,
and Marduk or Bel was transformed into Christ. In America
a more moderate position has generally been accepted, in which
the extreme views were toned down, and the Pan-Babylonian
theory made more palatable. Nevertheless, it is generally held
that these traditions had been brought from Babylonia in the time
of Abraham, or in the Amarna Period, or at the time of the exile;
and that many of the characters had their origin in myth.
Twelve years ago the writer took issue with this general posi-
tion, holding that the traditions of the Hebrews were indigenous
in the land of the Amorites; and that contrary to the prevailing
view, this land was not dependent for its population upon Arabs
who migrated from Arabia a little before and after the time of
Abraham, but upon an indigenous people, the antiquity of whose
culture is as high as that known in Egypt or Babylonia; and also
that the Semites who moved into the lower Euphrates valley
mainly came from this quarter, and brought with them their
culture. He has also consistently maintained that such familiar
Biblical characters as the patriarchs and others, instead of being
the creations of fiction writers, were historical personages.
While the new point of view was accepted by many scholars,
and the tremendous flow of Pan-Babylonian literature was
suddenly and very materially reduced in volume, only a few of
those who had written upon the subject acknowledged the gains
that had been made, and reversed their positions. Even some
scholars in their efforts to nullify the advances, instead of facing
the real issue in their reviews, dwelt upon and held up as proof
of the writer's thesis some extraneous suggestions which had been
intended for consideration in filling in the background of the two
or more millenniums of Amorite history prior to Abraham.
The writer's thesis in brief is, that the Arabian origin of the
Semites living in ancient Syria and Babylonia, including the
Hebrews, is baseless; but that the antiquity of the Amorite civili-
zation is very great; and also the assertion that the culture and
religion of Israel were borrowed from Babylonia is without any
foundation; for they were indigenous; and that the Semites who
migrated to Babylonia with their culture were mainly from
Amurru. In the judgment of the writer the material presented
in this little monograph, as well as in his recently published Empire
of the Amorites, will require a very extensive readjustment of many views bearing upon the subject, as well as the abandonment
of many others. Moreover, it also has bearings of a far-reaching
character on many other Old Testament problems.
Amurru, called "the land of the Amorites," it might be added,
is a geographical term which was used in ancient times for the
great stretch of territory between Babylonia and the Mediter-
ranean. By reason of its products and its position this land had
been attractive to other peoples ever since one strove to obtain
what the other possessed, resulting in almost innumerable invasions
and conflicts taking place in this land. Within the historical period
we know that the Babylonians, Egyptians, Hittites, Assyrians,
Persians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Turks, and other peoples con-
trolled this territory. It should be added that this country in turn
also prevailed at times over other lands, notably Babylonia and
Egypt. In these pages we have evidence that one of its rulers
conquered Babylonia as early as 4000 B.C.

18. RECORDS FROM ERECH TIME OF NABONIDUS (555-538 B.C.) BABYLONIAN TEXTS, VOL. VI 1920

Two hundred and forty-six texts of the Yale Babylonian Collection, dated in the
reign of Nabonidus (555-538 B. C.), are published in this volume. Nearly all that
are fully dated mention Erech or its environs as the provenance of the documents.
Only a few are dated at Babylon, Borsippa and Larsa. It is evident that, as a whole,
they are a part of the temple archives of Erech, the personal names in the texts being
additional proof of this.
With few exceptions they are in a fine state of preservation, though varying
much in size and color. Seal impressions are rare (See Nos. 33, 154, 239, and 241),
and there is only one instance of an Aramaic Endorsement, No. 164. The volume of
business that was transacted in the ordinary routine of temple life is indicated by
numerous promissory notes, receipts for money and agricultural products, rentals of
sheep and cattle, leases of land, provisions for bailment, financial inventories, legal
decisions, etc.
An interesting feature of these records is the fact that certain kinds of documents
predominate in the first part of the reign of Nabonidus, and other kinds in the second
part. Thus in the first seven years there are numerous tablets recording obligations
to pay tax to Sum-ukin, the son of Bel-zer, who was in charge of the tax receipts of the
temple. Such records are absent in the remaining years of the reign. All the leases
of land, with one exception, are found in the first four years. In the latter part of
the reign bailments and similar documents predominate. This seems to indicate
that tablets in the temple archives were systematically arranged primarily according
to subject matter. Naturally, if we had access to all the legal documents of the reign
of Nabonidus belonging to Erech, we would find tax notes, leases, bailments, etc.,
evenly distributed through all the years. But a few hundred tablets from a section
of the archives would present the above phenomenon if they were arranged in the
order suggested.
A chronological study of the scribes who wrote these documents suggests that a
certain number of new scribes took up the work each year. Those years credited
with a large number of tablets from which to gather data present from four to eight
new scribes not appearing in any preceding year. In the other years the new scribes
range from one to three. It seems, then, that there was a yearly induction of scribes
into office. Nddinu, the son of Bel-ahe-iqi§a, son of Egibi, was an unusually expert
scribe, as his exact and beautiful writing proves. We are not surprised, therefore, to
find that he has by far the largest number of tablets to his credit and that they range
from the third to the seventeenth year of the reign of Nabonidus. This is all the
more noticeable because few of the more than three score scribes of these texts have a
larger range than one year.
Nos. 71, 72, 103, 131, 150, 155, 225, 232, and 233 show that Belshazzar, the son of
Nabonidus, had much to do with the administration of affairs at Erech. There is
evidence that he took an interest in the use of the religious paraphernalia of the
temple and that he paid a tithe of the sheep which were in charge of his shepherd.
Some of the sheep belonging to the temple were under his jurisdiction, as their disposal
depended upon "the command of the son of the king," or "the order of Belshazzar,
the son of the king." No. 150 is especially interesting in that it contains the record
of a carefully drawn-up lease of land granted by Belshazzar. The rent to be paid was
5,000 measures of barley and 3,000 bundles of straw. Nos. 225 and 232 show that
Belshazzar was placed on an equality with Nabonidus in oaths at Erech. See Exposi-
tory Times, Vol. XXVI, 297-299, for a similar text. In spite of the exalted position
of Belshazzar he was still subject to the commands of his father, as is indicated by
No.103:3.

19. The Lost Continent Rediscovered A Speculation on the Location of Atlantis, its Empire, And its Submergence - Gerry Forster

Being a keen partcipant in the search for the true whereabouts of the legendary
lost realm of Atlantis, I have endeavoured to read up just about everything discoverable
that might conceivably help in the location of its anciently-vanished site. Thanks to a
great amount of carefully-considered reasoning , deduction plus a modicum of good old–
fashioned common sense, I have finally come to the conclusion that it was exactly where
Plato claimed it to be – just beyond the Straits of Gibraltar – the Pillars of Hercules.

Many historians and scholars have attempted over the past two millennia to make
Plato out as some kind of high-flown liar, and that his famous “Dialogues” of Critias and
Timaeus, were nothing but fables. Additionally, they have claimed that the “alleged”
teachings of Solon, his maternal ancestor (who had it all directly from Sonchis, the highly
learned chief of the Egyptian scholar-priests of the goddess Neith at Sais) were nothing
more than the fictitious inventions of his fertile imagination.

But why would Plato want to lie about such a thing - that was there for any sea
captain to prove or disprove with his own eyes? The Phoenicians had already plyed the
seas for over 600 years prior to the days of Plato, and had travelled far and wide beyond
the Pillars of Hercules down the Ivory Coast of west Africa, in search of ivory and other
precious cargoes and even as far north as the Southern tip of Britain to fill their holds with
valuble tin and lead.
Surely they would know if there was, or had been, a continent-sized landmass
almost as large as Libya and/or Asia Minor? And they most probably did, too, at least by
repute, even though it might well have vanished long before their time. Atlantis (or
Poseidonis) enjoyed a great reputation as a trading-nation with a veritable navy of both
merchant and fighting ships. So it would be likely that Atlantean sailors would have been
known in almost every ancient port in the eastern Atlantic region.
But what could he possibly expect to gain from such foolishness? What could
possibly be in it for him? It sounds to me suspiciously like the same sort of disbelief with
which Herodotus was also regarded when he reported all the interesting “Inside Info” he
had learned from the priestly sages of Egypt, in the 5th
century BC, as well as from his
own “eye-witness” accounts of the many wonders he saw there as he was conducted on a
tour of that country. Herodotus has also been branded a liar by many modern scholars,
and yet in his own day, he was very highly regarded by his contemporaries as a reputable
philosopher and a meticulous historian, just as had Plato 300 years before! I just can’t
buy this ridiculous “conspiracy of discredit” which was levelled by later mediaeval
academics at both Plato and Herodotus. This same omniscient attitude persists even to
this day in our so-called modern philosophical and intellectual society, who, despite a far
better understanding and comprehension of Ancient Greek, still follow blindly in the steps
of their counterparts of the Early and Middle Ages, accepting their ignorant commentaries
as gospel truth. (Probably because they were some four to eight hundred years closer to
the time of these famous sages).

20. ANCIENT TECHNOLOGY and THE PROGRESSIVIST FALLACY

There has long been the misconception that the history of
science is a story of continuous upward advancement. This
belief has been fostered by evolution with its teaching that man
over the ages has developed from a primitive state to modern
technology. Modern improvements in technology make the
illusion of ever-lasting progress easy to believe.
This illusion has been termed the "progressivist
fallacy" and it has been uniformly refuted by serious historians
of science. Cultures and civilizations rise and fall, and their
science rises and falls with them. "[C]ivilizations come into
existence, rise and flourish, and go out of existence by a slow
process which covers decades or even centuries ..." (Quigley,
1961, p. 127).
Even in ancient times there were highs and lows in
scientific achievement, for as Murray (2003, p. 16) notes, "...
[T]he world's leading technological, artistic, and economic
societies in [800 BC] were not nearly as advanced as Egypt had
been 1,500 years earlier."
Since the Reformation of the 1600s, the rise of the West to
global scientific dominance has produced to several centuries
of continuous technological advancement. One factor leading
to the acceptance of evolution in the 1800s was the mistaken
belief that this long technological advancement was somehow
due to an inborn tendency of man to evolve. Koestler (1959,
p. 79) has warned that we should not continue to make the
same error in judgment:
"During the past few centuries, from about A.D. 1600
onwards, the progress of science has been continuous and
without a break; so we are tempted to extend the curve back
into the past and to fall into the mistaken belief that the
advance of knowledge has always been a continuous,
cumulative process along a road which steadily mounts from
the beginnings of civilization to our present dizzy height. This,
of course, is not the case."
Since there is no inborn human tendency to advance,
there is really no reason to believe that scientific and
technological progress with continue indefinitely. Bailey
(1994, pp. 372-373) observes:
"We have been brought up to believe in the [myth] of
steady and inevitable progress from the squalor and brutality of
primitive life to the enlightenment and comfort of the modern
academic world. ... The fact that we see ourselves as living at
a peak of technical achievement in no way guarantees that
the advance will continue."

21. The Map Of America - Lamaan Ball 2005

There are great maps of importance here from years 1515

22. Ten Questions Science Can't Answer (Yet!) A Guide to Science's Greatest Mysteries - Michael Hanlon

From the author of the bestselling The Science of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy comes another incredible trip to an even more mysterious terrain. Michael Hanlon identifies ten scientific questions that we simply can't seem to answer and explains why these compelling mysteries will remain unsolved for years to comeHow did life begin? Why are there two sexes? Where did language originate? In Hanlon's characteristically witty style, he ponders the ways these questions have persisted in frustrating the best minds and asks what might be needed to get to the bottom of it all. From politics to lack of technology, each question has its own set of circumstances holding it back. By exploring these unanswerable questions, Hanlon exposes some of science's greatest failings and missteps--and charts a hopeful direction for getting science back on the road to discovery.

23. The Jungle Effect: A Doctor Discovers the Healthiest Diets from Around the World -Why They Work and How to Bring Them Home - Daphne Miller M.D 2008

Pizza, pasta, hamburgers, sushi, tacos, and french fries . . . whether our ancestors were born in Madrid, Malaysia, or Mexico, chances are our daily food choices come from all around the globe. Unfortunately, we have taken some of the worst aspects of our varied ancestral menus to turn healthy cuisine into not-so-healthy junk food. Where did we go wrong?

Why is it that non-Western immigrants are so much more susceptible to diabetes and other diet-related chronic diseases than white Americans? How is it possible that relatively poor native populations in Mexico and Africa have such low levels of the chronic diseases that plague the United States? What is the secret behind the extremely low rate of clinical depression in Iceland—a country where dreary weather is the norm? The Jungle Effect has the life-changing answers to these important questions, and many more.

Dr. Daphne Miller undertook a worldwide quest to find diets that are both delicious and healthy. Written in a style reminiscent of Michael Pollan and Barbara Kingsolver, this book is filled with inspiring stories from Dr. Miller's patients, quirky travel adventures, interviews with world-renowned food experts, delicious (yet authentic) indigenous recipes, and valuable diet secrets that will stick with you for a lifetime.

Whether it's the heart-healthy Cretan diet, with its reliance on olive oil and fresh vegetables; the antidepression Icelandic diet and its extremely high levels of Omega 3s; the age-defying Okinawa diet and its emphasis on vegetables and fish; or the other diets explored herein, everyone who reads this book will come away with the secrets of a longer, healthier life and the recipes necessary to put those secrets into effect.

24. A Dictionary of Symbols - J.E Sirlot

At every stage of civilization, people have relied on symbolic expression, and advances in science and technology have only increased our dependence on symbols. An essential part of the ancient arts of the Orient and Western medieval traditions, symbolism underwent a twentieth-century revival with the study of the unconscious. Indeed, symbolic language is considered a science, and this informative volume offers an indispensable tool in the study of symbology.

Its alphabetical entries--drawn from a diverse range of sources, including all of the major world religions, astrology, alchemy, numerology, heraldry, and prehistoric art--clarify the essential and unvarying meanings of each symbol. Whether used as a reference or browsed for pleasure, this informative volume offers a valuable key to elucidating the symbolic worlds encountered in both the arts and the history of ideas. 32 b/w illustrations.

25. Persephone's Quest Entheogens and the Origins of Religion 1992

This fascinating book discusses the role played by psychoactive mushrooms in the religious rituals of ancient Greece, Eurasia, and Mesoamerica. R. Gordon Wasson, an internationally known ethnomycologist who was one of the first to investigate how these mushrooms were venerated and used by different native peoples, here joins with three other scholars to discuss his discoveries about these fungi, which he has called entheogens, or 'god generated within.

26. Report on the World Space Week 2006: Space for Saving Lives By United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs 2007

This report provides background information on World Space Week, details of the programmes implemented during the 2006 celebration and suggestions for future celebrations of what has become the largest annual public space event worldwide. Held from 4 to 10 October annually, World Space Week was declared in 1999 by the United Nations General Assembly in response to a key recommendation of the Third United Nations
Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III). The objective of World Space Week is to increase awareness among decision-makers and the public of the benefits of the peaceful uses of space.
Since its declaration, World Space Week has grown to include celebrations in some 40 to 50 nations. This year’s report includes information on celebrations of World Space Week held by participating organizations such as government agencies, companies, schools, museums, planetariums and other institutions. A total of 42 nations reported participation. A global network of 58 national coordinators supports participants and promotes the celebration. World Space Week attracts global attention to space through synchronized outreach and education activities,. Through media coverage and attendance, World Space Week activities efficiently inform the public about the benefits of space while inspiring students to excel.
The theme of World Space Week 2006 was “Space for Saving Lives.” Events focused on the many ways in which space can help protect and save human life. The theme for World Space Week 2007, the fiftieth anniversary of the Space Age, will be “50 Years in Space.” By synchronizing as many events as possible during World Space Week, the global space community draws greater public attention to space than can be achieved through events held over the course of the year. Organizations around the world are therefore invited to hold space-related outreach and educational programmes from 4 to 10 October annually in order to publicize and report on such programmes and, where possible, to provide voluntary support for the coordination of World Space Week activities. This call to action is especially important in preparation for the fiftieth anniversary of the beginning of the Space Age in 2007.

27. They Know Us Better Than We Know Ourselves: The History and Politics of Alien Abduction - Bridget Brown 2007

Since its emergence in the 1960s, belief in alien abduction has saturated popular culture, with the ubiquitous image of the almond-eyed alien appearing on everything from bumper stickers to bars of soap. Drawing on interviews with alleged abductees from the New York area, Bridget Brown suggests a new way for people to think about the alien phenomenon, one that is concerned not with establishing whether aliens actually exist, but with understanding what belief in aliens in America may tell us about our changing understanding of ourselves and our place in the world.

They Know Us Better Than We Know Ourselves looks at how the belief in abduction by extraterrestrials is constituted by and through popular discourse and the images provided by print, film, and television. Brown contends that the abduction phenomenon is symptomatic of a period during which people have come to feel increasingly divested of the ability to know what is real or true about themselves and the world in which they live. The alien abduction phenomenon helps us think about how people who feel left out create their own stories and fashion truths that square with their own experience of the world.

28. Dictionary of Mythology: An a-Z of Themes, Legends, and Heroes - J.A. Coleman 2007

Synopsis
This book includes myths, heroes, places and legends from all five continents, and from the different cultures and peoples found there. It has appeal to all general knowledge and crossword enthusiasts, and those who enjoy complete reference libraries. It can be read for enjoyment as well as extensively for reference. It is a serious player in its field, both by its content and extent.

Review
A magnificent tome of reference., 21 Jan 2009 By P. J. Breach "Pippo La Breche" (Fareham, Hampshire)

A weighty & wonderfully comprehensive dictionary that no-one with an interest in myth should be without.
Power to J A Coleman; he's done his homework.
Worth every penny.

29. Dictionary of Gods and Goddesses (2nd Edition) - Michael Jordan 2005

Although Greek and Roman gods and goddesses have been well covered in reference books, few resources try to encompass a complete worldview. Basing his compilation on standard religious reference books, including specialized titles for lesser-known sects, the author of this volume lists more than 2,500 deities from Sumerian, Egyptian, Australian Aboriginal, Akkadian-Babylonian, Hindu, Hittite-Hurrian, Greek, Hebrew, Mayan, Celtic, and Buddhist religions, among others. He focuses on names that readers would be likely to encounter in iconographic and mythological texts. The second edition corrects the underrepresentation of Pacific Islander cultures of the first edition (Encyclopedia of the Gods, 1993) and expands the bibliography to include new religious reference titles. Cross-references have been increased, and a comprehensive index facilitates research access.

30. Kerouac, the Word and the Way: Prose Artist as Spiritual Quester - Ben Giamo 2000

Jack Kerouac, a "ragged priest of the word" according to Ben Giamo, embarked on a spiritual quest "for the ultimate meaning of existence and suffering, and the celebration of joy in the meantime." For Kerouac, the quest was a sustained and creative experiment in literary form. Intuitive and innovative, Kerouac created prose styles that reflected his search for personal meaning and spiritual intensity.

31. Secrets of Cold War Technology: Project HAARP and Beyond - Gerry Vassilatos 2000

n Secrets of Cold War Technology, Gerry Vassilatos reveals that "Death Ray" technology has been secretly researched and developed since the turn of the century. Included are chapters on H. C. Vion, the developer of auroral energy receivers; Dr. Selim Lemstrom's pre-Tesla experiments; the early beam weapons of Grindell-Mathews; John Hettenger and his early beam power systems; Ulivi Turpain and others.

Learn about Project Argus, Project Teak and Project Orange; EMP experiments back in the '60s; why the Air Force directed the construction of a huge ionospheric "backscatter" telemetry system across the Pacific just after World War II; why Raytheon has collected every patent relevant to HAARP over the past few years; and much more pertinent information on hidden Cold War technology.

32. Philip's Astronomy Encyclopedia 2002

The new Philip's Astronomy Encyclopedia is one of the most comprehensive, authoritative and accessible books on astronomy. In more than 3000 alphabetically organized articles and over 500 photographs and diagrams, it covers everything and everyone from the Anglo-Australian Observatory to Fritz Zwicky. Its 464 pages include a host of major articles on subjects such as our Galaxy, the Sun and planets, optical and radio telescopes, stars, black holes, astrophysics, observatories, astronomical photography, space programmes, the constellations and famous astronomers. Supporting these articles are shorter entries on planetary features and satellites, asteroids, observational techniques, comets, satellite launchers, meteros, and subjects as diverse as life in the Universe and the structure of meteorites. Scores of tables list the brightest stars in the major constellations, annual meteor showers, major variable stars, dwarf stars, energy production processes in the Sun, and other relevant data. Philip's Astronomy Encyclopedia is written by more than 100 leading astronomers from the world's universities and observatories, each an expert in a specialized field of knowledge. They have produced an up-to-date and reliable popular reference work for 2001 and beyond.

33. CCD Astrophotography High Quality Imaging from the Suburbs - Adam Stuart 2006

In this book, US amateur Adam Stuart struts his stuff by turning his personal experiences … into a full-length book. What I especially liked is that the author goes to great lengths to show what a variety of instruments can do … . Stuart does a really nice job presenting astrophotography … I for one found many of his tips and suggestions to be invaluable. The best feature of this book is … high-quality colour images … . the author must truly be congratulated!" (Neil English, Astronomy Now, March, 2007)

"Adam Stuart’s book is a practical, enthusiastic, hands-on tale of the numerous challenges he faced and overcame during the construction of a home observatory under the light-polluted skies of southern Florida." (David Malin, Australian Physics, Vol. 43 (5), 2006)

Not all amateur astronomers who live in a suburban location realize just how very effective a ‘chilled-chip’ astronomical CCD-camera and software can be at cutting through seemingly impenetrable light-pollution. CCD Astrophotography from the Suburbs details one man’s approach to the problem of getting high-quality astronomical images under light-polluted conditions. Adam Stuart has written this reference book for all amateur astronomers who are interested in CCD imaging, especially those who have to work under suburban conditions. The book outlines the materials and (commercially-available) equipment used for high-quality imaging. The many wonderful images Dr. Stuart has produced allow the reader to see the product of – initially – a fellow beginner’s efforts. The glorious images found in numerous books, and especially those seen in Sky and Telescope magazine – might seem out of reach. But this is not really the case. Respectable images are attainable with modest equipment. This book outlines a complete and thoroughly tested working program for every beginner to achieve high-quality digital imaging.

34. Digital Astrophotography: The State of the Art - David Ratledge 2005

This colourful book is yet another addition to the forty-strong library of ‘Patrick Moore’s Practical Astronomy Series’ produced by Springer. … it is a very interesting book and the colour illustrations are excellent and beautifully reproduced. Undoubtedly it will inspire many beginners to find out much more information about astronomical imaging." (Martin Mobberley, Astronomy Now, February, 2006)

"This compendium by S&T contributing editor David Ratledge offers a mother lode of practical information for imaging neophytes, but expert sky shooters can pick up a lot of useful tips as well. Its 11 chapters are lavishly illustrated, often in color, and they cover a wide range of techniques … . Ratledge’s ambitious goal of covering ‘the state of art’ is laudable … ." (Edwin Aguirre, Sky & Telescope, March, 2008)

The CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) has revolutionised optical astronomy during the past 20 years, and specialised astronomical CCD cameras are now even more affordable, colour is standard, and they provide spectacular results.

The Art and Science of CCD Astronomy 2e provides some examples of the best images, and gives readers hints and tips about how to get the best out of this extraordinary technology.

Experts in CCD astronomy from North America and Europe have contributed to this book, illustrating their help and advice with many beautiful colour images ? the book is in full colour throughout. Techniques range from using simple webcams to highly technical aspects such as supernovae patrolling. Computer processing, stacking and image-enhancement are detailed, along with many hints and tips from the experts.

35. Philip's Atlas of the Universe - Sir Patrick Moore 2007

There are many atlases showing features on the surface of the earth, but this book is the only one (in late 1998, at least) to cover the whole universe. Patrick Moore, who has hosted BBC Radio's popular The Sky at Night program for more than 40 years, gives straightforward, though not simplistic, explanations of astronomical objects of every order of magnitude. He includes charts of every mapped body in the solar system (except Earth), as well as maps and guides to every constellation.

Throughout this encyclopedic work, Moore emphasizes information likely to be useful to amateur astronomers. He provides better coverage of comets and variable stars than do most general works, for instance, because these are areas where amateurs can make important observations. Although he includes a number of gorgeously colored pictures from the Hubble space telescope and other top-flight observatories, Moore retains a focus on what you yourself might be able to see. An excellent single-volume reference, Atlas of the Universe is also a good starting point for your own exploration of the heavens.

36. A Dictionary of Literary Symbols 2nd Edition - Michael Ferber 2007

This is the first dictionary of symbols to be based on literature, rather than 'universal' psychological archetypes or myths. It explains and illustrates the literary symbols that we all frequently encounter (such as swan, rose, moon, gold), and gives hundreds of cross-references and quotations. The dictionary concentrates on English literature, but its entries range widely from the Bible and classical authors to the twentieth century, taking in American and European literatures. For this new edition, Michael Ferber has included over twenty completely new entries (including bear, holly, sunflower and tower), and has added to many of the existing entries. Enlarged and enriched from the first edition, its informed style and rich references make this book an essential tool not only for literary and classical scholars, but for all students of literature.

37. Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs - by Philip J. Currie & Kevin Padian 1997

Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs emphasizes discoveries published in the scientific literature since 1990. In this context, the paucity of maps and illustrations seems a less serious omission. Written by well-known paleontologists and organized alphabetically by subject, the signed articles cover kinds of dinosaurs, biology, geology, research, and museums where dinosaurs are on display, including a worldwide list of museums and sites. There is some overlap with The Dinosauria in dinosaur descriptions, but this encyclopedia offers authoritative articles on many topics not covered in that work, such as "color," "intelligence," and "ornamentation." While the language may sometimes be too technical for the general reader, Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs provides a nice link between popular and scientific dinosaur studies. The author of The Complete Dinosaur Dictionary (Carol Pub., 1995), which was aimed at young adults, Glut now offers a far more detailed and technical work oriented toward dinosaur material in museum collections. Following 74 pages of background information, the encyclopedia is devoted to an alphabetical list of dinosaur genera. Each entry tells the date of discovery, name derivation, occurrence, age, and diagnosis; gives a list of key print references; and refers to important museum specimens that have furthered the study of dinosaur paleontology. The black-and-white illustrations are mainly photos of museum specimens and reconstructions, with a deliberate avoidance of fanciful interpretation. The emphasis on museum collections makes this a unique work. Both titles are recommended for academic and larger public libraries.

38. Healthy Eating for Life 2008

Some dietary changes have a preventive effect for many types of cancer. Boosting your intake of vitamin-rich vegetables and fruits, for example, strengthens your immune system and helps knock out cancer cells. Studies of vegetarians show that death rates from cancer are only about one-half to three-quarters of those of the general population.

39. Nutrition and Arthritis - Margaret Rayman, Alison Callaghan 2006

Arthritis affects millions of people throughout the world and while its treatment is usually medical or surgical, there exists an increasingly large body of evidence concerning the positive effects of nutrition on the condition.
There are over two hundred forms of rheumatoid disease, with conditions varying in prevalence. In this important title the authors have focussed on osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the most common arthritic diseases with the largest body of dietary data. Including coverage of disease incidence and prevalence, pathology, aetiology and measures of disease assessment and dietary risk factors, Nutrition and Arthritis is a clear, concise and user-friendly book gathering the latest research to bring the reader state-of-the-art information on:
Micronutrients (e.g. vitamins C, D and selenium), food supplements and their potential to ameliorate arthritis
Polyunsaturated fatty acids, with particular attention paid to n-3 fatty acids
Glucosamine and chondroitin
The value of exclusion, vegetarian, vegan and other dietary approaches
Nutritionists and dietitians, including those working in the health services, rheumatologists, orthopaedic surgeons, general practitioners, osteopaths and commercial organisations involved in the formulation of dietary supplements will find this book an important and practical reference source. Libraries in medical schools and universities and research establishments where nutrition, dietetics and food science are studied and taught will find it a valuable addition to their shelves.

40. The Extreme Searcher's Internet Handbook: A Guide for the Serious Searcher

An essential guide for anyone who conducts research on the Internet—including librarians, teachers, students, business professionals, and writers—this fully revised handbook details what users must know to take full advantage of Internet search tools and resources. From emerging search tools Ask.com and Windows Live to standbys Google and Yahoo!, the major search engines and their myriad of services are thoroughly discussed. Recent additions to the Internet realm—RSS feeds, podcasts, alert services, wikis, and blogs—are explained, as well as tried-and-true search tools, including web directories, newsgroups, and image resources. For those with little to moderate searching experience, friendly, easy-to-follow guidelines to the world of Web research are provided, while experienced searchers will discover new perspectives on content and techniques.

41. Black Holes - by Don Nardo

The remains of collapsed stars, black holes possess enormous gravities that pull in and annihilate any matter that strays too close. The latest evidence and theories for these bizarre objects are presented in this intriguing book, including how black holes were first predicted, how they form, their physical properties, and how scientists detect them. Also covered are the giant black holes now known to lurk at the centers of most galaxies and the possibility of using these objects as cosmic gateways.