Laura La Bella – författare

Using explanatory text, photos, and graphics, this book makes it easier for readers to understand the complicated and often controversial topic of globalization by discussing the different types of globalization, how and why it occurs, its effect on people, and what it means in the Internet Age.

Annually inundated with commercials, news segments, and online articles during tax season, students might be wondering about the intricacies of the American tax system. Designed to prepare readers for the working world, this book will inform them about taxes, including the different types of taxes, why they are needed, their history, where the tax money goes, and how the digital revolution has affected taxes.

All the world knows what happened on September 11, 2001. And the Paris attacks of 2015 are just the latest in a string of terrorist attacks today. Bombings, hijackings, and mass shootings produce widespread fear and gain worldwide attention. Psychology students will gain insight into what motivates the terrorists behind these acts. Modern threats from cyberterrorism are also included in this title, which features psychological profiles, motivation, and often the ultimate capture of the terrorists. Readers will learn how killers are diagnosed and classified, and whether it is possible to treat or cure them.

Carrie Underwood is living proof of the talent-spotting and star-making abilities of the American Idol competition. Growing up in rural Oklahoma, Underwood sang in the church and competed in beauty contests, but nothing could have prepared her for the success she would earn following her triumph during the fourth season of Idol. After winning that season''s competition, Underwood went on to sign a recording contract, win two Grammy Awards, and become a multi-platinum recording artist. Her story of humble beginnings followed by spectacular success is told here in enthralling detail.

Angelina Jolie first became interested in humanitarian causes in 2000, when she was filming Lara Croft: Tomb Raider in Cambodia. Since then, she has devoted much of her time and income to humanitarian causes, concentrating especially on refugee work in international trouble spots. This biography traces Jolie''s path to becoming a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). It offers a wealth of information on Jolie''s humanitarian causes and her dedication to this work, which takes her all over the world.

Imagine what it would be like if going to work meant getting a midnight distress call, climbing into scuba gear, and jumping out of a helicopter into dark, hurricane-tossed ocean waters. This is what search-and-rescue swimmers do routinely for the Coast Guard, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force. replete with a rich history of this most extreme of extreme careers and gripping accounts of recent dramatic rescues, this book lays out in vivid detail exactly what it takes to become a member of these elite aquatic search-and-rescue teams.

Witnessing first-hand the horrors of the World Trade Center attacks, Gerard Way decided to form a band as a song writing outlet for his upset and anxiety. With a new sense of urgency, Way and his fellow band mates wished to seize life while they had the chance. Their resulting debut album was recorded only three months after the 9-11 attacks. Three albums later and with several major tours behind them, My Chemical Romance finds itself weighing its next move and preparing to enter the recording studio again. This book captures the band in all its nervous energy and creative ferment.

The United States is the largest producer of food in the world. Agriculture is one of America''s largest industries with more than 20 million people working in agriculture-related jobs. Our country produces so much food that we export more than 60 billion dollars-worth of agricultural products each year. Keeping this vast supply of food safe is very important. Food safety is about making sure that foods stay fresh while traveling from farms to supermarkets and, ultimately, to your kitchen table. It''s about making sure foods are labeled so consumers know what ingredients are in products. Safe growing, manufacturing, preparing, and shipping practices ensure that foods are produced in clean environments, that foods don''t contain additives that could cause illness, that they aren''t tampered with at any point in the process, and that even the packaging the food comes in is safe. This is an enormous job, and this is the story of how it gets done or not, and who is responsible for it. This book will help your readers gain a thorough understanding of our food supply.

Known for his trademark celebratory backflips off of his car following victories, Carl Edwards is one of NASCAR''s biggest and most irrepressible personalities, and also one of its winningest drivers. Racing in all three of NASCAR''s race series, Edwards has racked up more than 30 wins and more than 160 Top 10 finishes in only six years of racing. He won two Rookie of the Year honors: in 2003 in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck series and in 2005 in the NASCAR Busch series. In 2007, Edwards was named the NASCAR Busch series champion. Not yet 30 years old, Edwards should have a long and successful future ahead of him in racing. His life story is far from written, but what an adventure it has already been.

In many ways, Kanye West breaks the mold of the hip-hop superstar. Initially a much sought-after producer of other artists’ albums (Jay-Z, Janet Jackson, Alicia Keys, Mobb Deep, Cam’ron, John Legend), West had great difficulty getting a record contract for his own work. His father was a Black Panther-turned photojournalist and born again Christian counselor, and his mother was a university English professor. West was thought to lack the “street cred” necessary to be a serious and popular rapper. Yet once given his chance, West electrified the world of hip-hop, releasing two albums in two years, both of which went triple platinum. His third album won four Grammy Awards in 2008 and sampled songs by artists far outside the hip-hop universe, such as Steely Dan and Laura Nyro. Viewing his role as an educator, West claims to rap about historical subjects in a way that gets his young listeners interested in learning more. Yet he also courts controversy, such as his live, on-air criticism of President Bush during a Hurricane Katrina telethon and his criticism of rap lyrics’ often homophobic bent. Outspoken, egotistical, unconventional, inventive, and ingenious, Kanye West is one of the hip-hop world’s most fascinating and unpredictable artists.

A healthy blood pressure is one of the most important preventive medical practices and this book teaches readers how to get into the habit of keeping their blood pressure in check. Fact-filled and interesting sidebars support the text.

Taxation is a complex and intimidating system, but one that we all need to understand. This book explains in plain-language how taxation works, its different forms, and the ongoing debate about the fairest system.

Here is a lively examination of a small state that is nevertheless chock full of history, culture, geographical variety, natural beauty, urban life and industry, and bucolic charm. Connecticut has a wide array of landscapes while also being home to several major cities and within commuting distance of both New York and Boston. An important agricultural state, it is also home to heavy industry, high tech, and one of the world''s premier institutions of higher learning; Yale University. It was also an important player in the colonial era and during the Revolution. For a small state, Connecticut is a force to be reckoned with, and this book presents its fascinating story.

With the economic problems that we are experiencing today, this book is a voice of reason in a world that is saturated with media alarmism. This book puts the current financial problems in perspective with comparisons to past crises and hard-numbered analyses of just how devastating, or not, the current economic conditions are.

The Web development field has grown quickly. It encompasses any number of activities that involve the Internet. Activities include Web server configuration, designing and building websites, implementing effective e-commerce applications for buying and selling merchandise online, creating content for websites, and figuring out how utilities can make a site more interactive and dynamic. Every website, no matter how simple or complex, has at least one person behind the scenes making sure the site is functioning properly. This book is an ideal guide to the Web development field and the numerous and wide-ranging career possibilities within it. It is full of insider information regarding recommended educational paths and course work, job descriptions, job responsibilities and opportunities, major employers, interview and career advancement strategies, and future industry trends and developments.

This book introduces readers to the fascinating, bustling, wheeling-dealing world of commodities trading, revealing the amazing journey that ends with juice in our glass, bread on our tables, and gas in our tanks, and money in the pockets of savvy traders. A history of commodity trading relates the enthralling story of the rise of the Chicago stockyards, the city''s earliest commodity markets, and the global spread of such increasingly high-tech trading centers. The mechanisms of the markets and time-honored trading strategies are also outlined. The book includes "Myths and Facts" and "10 Great Questions to Ask a Financial Adviser" sections.

In the popular mind, the Great Recession was caused by misguided investment banking practices, a burst real estate bubble, and plummeting housing values. All of this is accurate, yet it fails to highlight another underlying, insidious cause of the economic collapse; consumer credit and debt. In the years running up to the recession, consumers were encouraged by the government to spend their money for the good of the economy. The value of saving was de-emphasized, as credit card companies and banks made access to credit easier and easier. As a result, people who were not truly able to afford big purchases were nevertheless taking out loans and wracking up huge credit card bills to buy cars, boats, homes, and even second homes. Eventually, the bills came due, and Americans were suddenly in massive debt, owing huge sums of money on devalued properties, defaulting on loans, losing their credit ratings, having their homes foreclosed on and their possessions repossessed. Readers will review the nightmare scenario that resulted in the Great Recession and prolonged the agony of it. Most importantly, the mechanisms of consumer credit and debt, its pitfalls, and smart ways to manage credit and debt effectively in order to make it work for you, not against you are explained. Readers are encouraged to participate in discussion and learn how they can avoid debt with 10 Great Questions to Ask an Economics or Finance Teacher and Myths and Facts sections.

Sports fitness and medicine professionals play a crucial role in the lives and careers of athletes. This book is an indispensable, resource-rich, comprehensive guide to the field of sports medicine, including information on education requirements, internships, training, career advancement, work environments, duties and responsibilities, and detailed job descriptions. Special resource sections include a comprehensive list of college and university programs and professional development programs relating to the field; At-a-Glance capsule summaries of what is needed in terms of academics and experience to get started in the field, the various possible career paths within the field, and the various duties, responsibilities, and tasks associated with each major job in the field; and Bureau of Labor Statistics information on the field, including nature of the work, work environment, training, qualifications, advancement, and job outlook.

Internships and volunteer positions offer young people a unique opportunity not only to test their interest in, and aptitude for, certain career paths but to also begin the process of career building in their desired fields. In a time of economic hardship and a tight job market, having the kind of hands-on experience provided by internships and volunteer work can be the decisive factor in an employer''s decision to hire one candidate among many other applicants. This book surveys all of the many internship and volunteer opportunities available for those who like to build things—including shipbuilding and instrument-making to cabinetry and furniture-making, to civil engineering and architecture. In addition to discussing how to land, keep, and leverage an internship or volunteer position, the book also details the educational and training paths that should be pursued to optimize chances of success in the various professional fields.

With the passage of Title IX legislation in the 1970s, women and girls have encountered fewer barriers to their participation in sports at all levels, be it community, high school, college, or professional. Some women have successfully lobbied to play traditionally male sports such as football, ice hockey, and boxing. Women athletes still face discrimination and double-standards, and their teams and programs suffer from underfunding and lack of exposure. Women athletes also face unique challenges, such as rigid gender expectations, eating disorders, and body image problems. Readers are offered a thorough and ultimately inspiring survey of the complex history of female athletes, and the hopeful but by no means assured future of women''s participation in sports. Readers may be inspired to participate in the ongoing fight for women''s full access and right to participation in sports at every level.

With the proliferation of smartphones and tablets, apps have taken the world by storm and captured the collective imagination. They range in nature from delightfully frivolous and whimsical to sturdily practical and utilitarian, simple and straightforward to dazzlingly elaborate. In an incredibly brief period of time, they have become fundamental to the smooth and pleasurable functioning of most people''s daily lives. App designers are the new rock stars of the programming world. Any teen seeking to learn what apps are, how they work, and how they can be designed, programmed, tested, and sold to the highest bidder will find all these questions answered in these pages. This hands-on, how-to resource packed with practical insider information is sure to help launch many of the next great apps soon to be downloaded to mobile devices. Its emphasis on career-building, science, and digital literacy content fully satisfies Reading Anchor Standard 10 of the Common Core Curriculum.

Without curiosity, the world does not move forward. Curiosity is what drives ingenuity and innovation. Curiosity is a habit of mind and an approach to life that can be practiced, nurtured, and sustained. The benefits of curiosity, especially among teens, are many and great, including greater engagement in school; better study habits, grades, and test scores; a richer range of extracurricular activities; a more well-rounded intellect and outlook; and, ultimately, greater success in and satisfaction with life. Readers learn how to cultivate a spirit of curiosity and how to apply it, all the while reaping the benefits of active engagement with people, places, and ideas. Not only will readers find inspiration but also opportunities to read and analyze text in a way that conforms closely to Common Core standards for informational texts, including summarizing; identifying main ideas and their supporting details; analyzing the structure, development, and effectiveness of an argument; and identifying an author''s point of view and purpose.

Crisis managers and hostage negotiators manage dangerous situations that can mean the difference between life or death. This career guide provides all the information necessary for young people to determine if they have the physical, emotional, and psychological skills necessary to be an effective crisis manager or hostage negotiator. It also includes clear and concise tips for the best programs to enter, the courses to take, the entry-level jobs to pursue, and the networking opportunities to seize. The career preparedness and work readiness content meshes perfectly with the relevant Common Core standards for these areas.

Philip Pullman is an award-winning author perhaps best known for his epic trilogy, His Dark Materials, one of the few fantasy classics to feature a strong female central protagonist. Pullman is a creator of new worlds and the captain of adventures, spinning intricate and fantastical yarns. His life story is every bit as fascinating as the tales he has created from life, transforming them with storytelling magic into classics of fantasy literature. This is the life story of a master storyteller, and readers will receive a privileged glimpse into the mind and working methods of a creative genius. This supports Common Core standards for the reading of biographies.

The history of the Songhay Empire involves many fascinating stories--the interaction of Islam with older paganistic folk religions, the mingling of many different peoples and tribes of west Sudan, royal intrigue that pitted father against sons and brother against brother, epic battles fought in the punishing desert heat, and a ruinous civil war that left the once mighty empire vulnerable to foreign invasion and domination. This is full-bodied, red-blooded history, and it is brought to vivid life in this account, replete with a treasury of primary source material and full-color images. This text supports Common Core''s mandate regarding analyzing the relationship between primary and secondary sources, citing evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources, and determining the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source.

The Holocaust is an atrocity of such overwhelming magnitude and depravity that it must never be forgotten yet can scarcely be comprehended. The sheer horror of it can often make it seem unreal to contemporary eyes. The primary-source images, firsthand accounts, meticulous timeline, and transcripts of speeches and testimony associated with the Nuremberg Trials and the Nazi crimes they prosecuted are found here, grounding the horror in undeniable, irrefutable reality. Taken together, they help ensure for a new generation that the Holocaust will never be forgotten, never be denied, and never be repeated.

The push is on for students to embrace STEM disciplines, first in school and then in the workplace. This series highlights the career possibilities within each subject area under the STEM umbrella. The focus of this book lands squarely on career fields such as computing, engineering technology, medicine, environmental sustainability, packaging science, and automotive service. Jobs that make use of advanced technologies in the course of the workday, such as nursing and land surveying, are included as well. Completing the coverage are chapters on landing a first tech job and advancing one''s career.