Bøger af Jeff Thomas

The War of 1910, and the government scandals it exposed, shattered American confidence and trust in their government. Neither of the main political parties possessed the means to rebuild the Republic.Robert Wilson Davies III, the most prominent member of a new political theory, dubbed "Rationalism" by its adherents, stepped into this vacuum. He promised to restore American society and lead it into a new and prosperous future filled with powerful technology.But Rationalism harbored a dark secret: more than anything, Davies would stop at nothing to grasp control of the United States. If necessary, he would launch a war to seize the White House.

After President Davies postpones the 1916 election, his opponents become increasingly aware that he will settle for nothing less than complete control of the country. Joseph Franz, a longtime associate and fellow believer in "Rationalism," Davies's political philosophy, organizes a private police force to impose their will. Egged on by his wife, Davies will stop at nothing.Dr. Jonathon Thayer, a historian recording the events of the war, finds that he, like many Americans, must put down his pen and take up a gun in defense of freedom. There are no battle lines; the country is splitting; neighbor against neighbor, friend versus friend, families torn apart.The future of freedom is at stake.

Alaska, 1910; remote, vast, empty. Known to contain fur, fish and timber, many believe it holds gold and other precious minerals. Still owned by Russia after the United States Congress refuses to buy it, Alaska remains a tantalizing fruit for an ambitious country.America, now reunited after the Confederate victory in the Civil War believes that ownership of Alaska is its natural right. "Manifest Destiny" and the Monroe Doctrine say so. With victory in the Spanish-American War, the United States is gaining overseas possession. America's new navy just sailed around the world, displaying the nation's military might.Japan, after sixty years of modernization, is also ready to take its place among the great powers of the world. Victories over China and Russia cement her status. Japan negotiates a purchase of Alaska. Japan too, has a large navy.Tension rises, America sends a note of protest, interpreted as racist condescension in Japan. Battleships from the Atlantic fleet follow the note, ready to protect American interests in the Pacific. War looms, any spark could ignite a fire that will consume two nations.

Kisa and Sonya have grown up in an enchanted but troubled world. The enchantment comes from music and Kisa's penchant for listening to the dead. The trouble comes from those who want to steal their music, use them sexually, or involve them in espionage. Mom wants her daughters to pursue careers as virtuosi. Kisa and Sonya see themselves as composers, although Kisa also wants to be as heroic as her mom. During her study abroad semester in Russia, Kisa takes up with Ilya, who has been assigned to monitor American students. She hides her romance despite her difficulty coping with her boyfriend's attempts to use her in his dirty work. She doesn't realize she has brought her mother to the attention of the Russian internal security apparatus. Playing with the Dead is a seriocomic coming-of-age story about two sisters and their tangled love for a mysterious yet overwhelming mother whose Jewish ancestry is only one of her many secrets. Life in a practice room has not prepared Kisa to deal with her sister's death or her mother's world of violence, betrayal and intrigue.

Boston, 1774, the British Colonies suffer under the yoke of George III's rule. Patriots prepare to fight for their liberty. In an act of protest they have thrown a shipload of tea into the harbor. Benjamin Bradford Allen, son of a wealthy Boston shipper is a skilled sailor. He is also fully occupied with drinking and spending his father's money. Pressed into service aboard a British warship, he is unable to find anyone, including his father, who will pay the bribe needed to free him. Months later, as open warfare erupts at Lexington and Concord; Allen jumps ship and throws in his lot with a rag-tag collection of fellow sailors. This odd lot sets out on a sea venture - to serve as privateers in the patriot cause. They seek fame, money, adventure, and for Benjamin Bradford Allen, a chance to find honor and self-respect.

"Behind you stand the ghosts of three hundred farm animals killed for every year you have lived. Given the numbers involved, the most significant action you can take to mitigate suffering is to work to improve farm animal welfare. But this book is not about death and suffering. This book is about life and hope. In less than a decade, farm animal compassion has moved from a niche cause into the pantheon of established social movements. America is undergoing an unheralded ethical revolution involving the industrial treatment of farm animals. As the movement's workforce has quintupled, the funding dedicated to farm animal welfare has increased geometrically. For the first time in history, many Americans are answering the moral question of what to do with their time on Earth by dedicating their lives to helping farm animals. A constellation of activists, capitalists, farmers, lawyers, philanthropists, politicians, professors, scientists, and writers are using different tactics with the same motives and goals to address what they see as the world's most pressing and tractable problem. Collective actions previously impossible have become self-reinforcing as millions of Americans are speaking loudly and clearly about their priorities with their careers, investments, purchases, and votes. This book tells the stories of this revolution from midwestern slaughterhouses to the halls of Capitol Hill to Ivy League universities and Silicon Valley laboratories. What was one the province of itinerant activists has opened so it is now possible for you-yes, you-to dedicate your life's work to helping end the world's largest source of suffering. This book is a roadmap for people who want to learn how to use their career, freedom, and resources to end factory farming in America"--

For four hundred years, Virginia's politicians have preached a "Virginia Way" of honor, gentility and democracy. In reality, this ideology bred a corrupt political class, a runaway electricity company, a university that reflected the values of donors and a school system that suffered from cronyism. This Virginia Way prevented rather than promoted the success of its stated democratic ideals. Readers from the right, left and middle will learn much about how their government operates and understand Virginia in a whole new way. Author Jeff Thomas explodes the myth of the Virginia Way with an insightful portrait of the people, politics and power that run the Commonwealth.

"The modern political landscape of Virginia bears little resemblance to the past. The commonwealth is a nationally influential swing state alongside stalwarts like Florida or Ohio. But with increased power comes greater scrutiny--and corruption. Governor Bob McDonnell received a jail sentence on federal corruption charges, later vacated by the U.S. Supreme Court. Corporate influence on the state legislature and other leaders resulted in numerous ethics violations. Scandal erupted at the prestigious University of Virginia when the school ousted its president amid political drama and intrigue. Author Jeff Thomas reveals the intersection of money, power and politics and the corrosive effect on government in a new era."--Page [4] of cover.