Other books that might interest you

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  The London DMS

  Matthew Wharmby

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  Vilified as the great failure of all London Transport bus classes, the DMS family of Daimler Fleetline was more like an unlucky victim of straitened times. Desperate to match staff shortages with falling demand for its services during the late 1960s, London Transport was just one organization to see nationwide possibilities and savings in legislation that was about to permit double-deck one-man-operation and partially fund purpose-built vehicles. However, prohibited by circumstances from developing its own rear-engined Routemaster (FRM) concept, LT instituted comparative trials between contemporary Leyland Atlanteans and Daimler Fleetlines.The latter came out on top, and massive orders followed. The first DMSs entering service on 2 January 1971.In service, however, problems quickly manifested. Sophisticated safety features served only to burn out gearboxes and gulp fuel. The passengers, meanwhile, did not appreciate being funnelled through the DMS's recalcitrant automatic fare-collection machinery only to have to stand for lack of seating. Boarding speeds thus slowed to a crawl, to the extent that the savings made by laying off conductors had to be negated by adding more DMSs to converted routes!Second thoughts caused the ongoing order to be amended to include crew-operated Fleetlines (DMs), noise concerns prompted the development of the B20 quiet bus variety, and brave attempts were made to fit the buses into the time-honored system of overhauling at Aldenham Works, but finally the problems proved too much. After enormous expenditure, the first DMSs began to be withdrawn before the final RTs came out of service, and between 1979 and 1983 all but the B20s were sold  as is widely known, the DMSs proved perfectly adequate with provincial operators once their London features had been removed.OPO was to become fashionable again in the 1980s as the politicians turned on London Transport itself, breaking it into pieces in order to sell it off. Not only did the B20 DMSs survive to something approaching a normal lifespan, but the new cheap operators awakening with the onset of tendering made use of the type to undercut LT, and it was not until 1993 that the last DMS operated.

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  Simply Descartes

  Kurt Smith

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  René Descartes was born in La Haye en Touraine, France, on March 31, 1596. He attended a Jesuit college and studied law for two years, but he soon gave up formal academics to immerse himself in “the great book of the world.” In 1618, he joined the army, where he became interested in military engineering and expanded his knowledge of physics and mathematics. Then, one night in 1619, he experienced what he described as divine visions, which inspired him to create a new mathematics-based philosophy. He spent the next 30 years writing a series of works that radically transformed mathematics and philosophy and, by the time of his death in 1650, he was recognized as one of Europe’s greatest philosophers and scientists.  
  In Simply Descartes, Professor Kurt Smith offers the general reader an opportunity to get better acquainted with the philosophy of the man who, as much as any individual, helped shape our contemporary way of thinking. Written in simple, nonacademic language and based on the best recent scholarship, Simply Descartes is the ideal introduction to Descartes’ life and work—from the famous Cogito (“I think, therefore I am”) to the development of analytic geometry, to the nature of God.  
  Not to mention which, if you’ve ever wondered whether all living things are nothing more than fancy machines, or whether life is really a Matrix-like dream, you’ll be amazed to discover that a 17th-century philosopher was asking (and answering) the same things!

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  Homelessness is a Housing...

  Gregg Colburn, Clayton Page Aldern

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  In Homelessness Is a Housing Problem, Gregg Colburn and Clayton Page Aldern seek to explain the substantial regional variation in rates of homelessness in cities across the United States. In a departure from many analytical approaches, Colburn and Aldern shift their focus from the individual experiencing homelessness to the metropolitan area. Using accessible statistical analysis, they test a range of conventional beliefs about what drives the prevalence of homelessness in a given city—including mental illness, drug use, poverty, weather, generosity of public assistance, and low-income mobility—and find that none explain the regional variation observed across the country. Instead, housing market conditions, such as the cost and availability of rental housing, offer a far more convincing account. With rigor and clarity, Homelessness Is a Housing Problem explores United States cities' diverse experiences with housing precarity and offers policy solutions for unique regional contexts.

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  Acid Revival - The Psychedelic...

  Danielle Giffort

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  Psychedelic drugs are making a comeback. In the mid-twentieth century, scientists actively studied the potential of drugs like LSD and psilocybin for treating mental health problems. After a decades-long hiatus, researchers are once again testing how effective these drugs are in relieving symptoms for a wide variety of psychiatric conditions, from depression and obsessive–compulsive disorder to posttraumatic stress disorder and substance addiction. In Acid Revival, Danielle Giffort examines how this new generation of researchers and their allies are working to rehabilitate psychedelic drugs and to usher in a new era of psychedelic medicine.As this team of researchers and mental health professionals revive the field of psychedelic science, they are haunted by the past and by one person in particular: psychedelic evangelist Timothy Leary. Drawing on extensive archival research and interviews with people working on scientific psychedelia, Giffort shows how today's researchers tell stories about Leary as an "impure" scientist and perform his antithesis to address a series of lingering dilemmas that threaten to rupture their budding legitimacy. Acid Revival presents new information about the so-called psychedelic renaissance and highlights the cultural work involved with the reassembly of dormant areas of medical science.

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  Internet of Things for Beginners...

  James Ferry

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  "Internet of Things for Beginners: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding, Building, and Leveraging Connected Devices and Systems" is your essential starting point for delving into the fascinating world of IoT. Designed for those new to the field, this book provides a thorough introduction to the concepts, technologies, and applications that drive the Internet of Things. 
  From smart homes to industrial automation, IoT is transforming how we live and work. This comprehensive guide walks you through the foundational knowledge needed to grasp this complex landscape, offering step-by-step instructions and practical examples to help you start building your own IoT projects. 
  Key topics covered include:Understanding the basics of IoT: definitions, components, and architectureExploring key technologies such as sensors, microcontrollers, and communication protocolsBuilding your first IoT project: a hands-on guide to creating a simple connected deviceIntegrating IoT devices with cloud services for data storage and analysisEnsuring security and privacy in IoT implementationsLeveraging IoT for smart home applications, wearable technology, and industrial solutionsNavigating the future of IoT: emerging trends and potential impacts on society 
  With clear explanations and practical insights, "Internet of Things for Beginners" demystifies the complexities of IoT, making it accessible to anyone with an interest in technology. Whether you're a student, hobbyist, or professional looking to expand your skillset, this book provides the knowledge and tools you need to start harnessing the power of connected devices and systems. 
  Dive into the exciting world of IoT and discover how you can create innovative solutions that improve efficiency, enhance convenience, and drive new opportunities in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. 
   

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  The Tiny House Movement - Living...

  Jay Shafer

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  Shafer shares virtues of the tiny house and why the movement is getting so much attention. Living simply, meaningfully, and efficiently are among the many advantages. The movement is inspiring a sense of community that urban sprawl has left behind. Innovation in technology, changing economic conditions, and environmental concerns are propelling the movement forward.

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