Michael Parker – författare

No matter what your speaking challenge is, this inspirational, cleverly illustrated book will ensure you perform with passion, power and persuasion; at your very best.Whether you are chasing a job, planning a pitch, giving a speech at a wedding, presenting to one or one thousand people, you’ll discover how to:-Use the rule of three to win any audience over-Prepare so you can be yourself – but better-Embrace the unknown and conquer any fearCapturing a life time’s work in the art of persuasive communication, this powerful book reveals the principles, tools and tricks to help you become a courageous, memorable, stand-out speaker.

Any device or system with imaging functionality requires a digital video processing solution as part of its embedded system design. Engineers need a practical guide to technology basics and design fundamentals that enables them to deliver the video component of complex projects.

This book introduces core video processing concepts and standards, and delivers practical how-to guidance for engineers embarking on digital video processing designs using FPGAs. It covers the basic topics of video processing in a pictorial, intuitive manner with minimal use of mathematics. Key outcomes and benefits of this book for users include: understanding the concepts and challenges of modern video systems; architect video systems at a system level; reference design examples to implement your own high definition video processing chain; understand implementation trade-offs in video system designs.

Video processing is a must-have skill for engineers working on products and solutions for rapidly growing markets such as video surveillance, video conferencing, medical imaging, military imaging, digital broadcast equipment, displays and countless consumer electronics applications This book is for engineers who need to develop video systems in their designs but who do not have video processing experience. It introduces the fundamental video processing concepts and skills in enough detail to get the job done, supported by reference designs, step-by-step FPGA- examples, core standards and systems architecture maps Written by lead engineers at Altera Corp, a top-three global developer of digital video chip (FPGA) technology

Any device or system with imaging functionality requires a digital video processing solution as part of its embedded system design. Engineers need a practical guide to technology basics and design fundamentals that enables them to deliver the video component of complex projects.This book introduces core video processing concepts and standards, and delivers practical how-to guidance for engineers embarking on digital video processing designs using FPGAs. It covers the basic topics of video processing in a pictorial, intuitive manner with minimal use of mathematics. Key outcomes and benefits of this book for users include: understanding the concepts and challenges of modern video systems; architect video systems at a system level; reference design examples to implement your own high definition video processing chain; understand implementation trade-offs in video system designs.- Video processing is a must-have skill for engineers working on products and solutions for rapidly growing markets such as video surveillance, video conferencing, medical imaging, military imaging, digital broadcast equipment, displays and countless consumer electronics applications- This book is for engineers who need to develop video systems in their designs but who do not have video processing experience. It introduces the fundamental video processing concepts and skills in enough detail to get the job done, supported by reference designs, step-by-step FPGA- examples, core standards and systems architecture maps- Written by lead engineers at Altera Corp, a top-three global developer of digital video chip (FPGA) technology

Digital Signal Processing 101: Everything You Need to Know to Get Started provides a basic tutorial on digital signal processing (DSP). Beginning with discussions of numerical representation and complex numbers and exponentials, it goes on to explain difficult concepts such as sampling, aliasing, imaginary numbers, and frequency response. It does so using easy-to-understand examples with minimum mathematics. In addition, there is an overview of the DSP functions and implementation used in several DSP-intensive fields or applications, from error correction to CDMA mobile communication to airborne radar systems.

This book has been updated to include the latest developments in Digital Signal Processing, and has eight new chapters on:

Automotive Radar Signal Processing Space-Time Adaptive Processing Radar Field Orientated Motor Control Matrix Inversion algorithms GPUs for computing Machine Learning Entropy and Predictive Coding Video compression Features eight new chapters on Automotive Radar Signal Processing, Space-Time Adaptive Processing Radar, Field Orientated Motor Control, Matrix Inversion algorithms, GPUs for computing, Machine Learning, Entropy and Predictive Coding, and Video compression Provides clear examples and a non-mathematical approach to get you up to speed quickly Includes an overview of the DSP functions and implementation used in typical DSP-intensive applications, including error correction, CDMA mobile communication, and radar systems

Digital Signal Processing 101: Everything You Need to Know to Get Started provides a basic tutorial on digital signal processing (DSP). Beginning with discussions of numerical representation and complex numbers and exponentials, it goes on to explain difficult concepts such as sampling, aliasing, imaginary numbers, and frequency response. It does so using easy-to-understand examples with minimum mathematics. In addition, there is an overview of the DSP functions and implementation used in several DSP-intensive fields or applications, from error correction to CDMA mobile communication to airborne radar systems.This book has been updated to include the latest developments in Digital Signal Processing, and has eight new chapters on:- Automotive Radar Signal Processing- Space-Time Adaptive Processing Radar- Field Orientated Motor Control- Matrix Inversion algorithms- GPUs for computing- Machine Learning- Entropy and Predictive Coding- Video compression- Features eight new chapters on Automotive Radar Signal Processing, Space-Time Adaptive Processing Radar, Field Orientated Motor Control, Matrix Inversion algorithms, GPUs for computing, Machine Learning, Entropy and Predictive Coding, and Video compression- Provides clear examples and a non-mathematical approach to get you up to speed quickly- Includes an overview of the DSP functions and implementation used in typical DSP-intensive applications, including error correction, CDMA mobile communication, and radar systems

This collection of essays reflects the intensified debate world-wide in literary theories, especially since 1968, and the growth of post-colonial literatures in English, which together have prompted significant re-readings of cultural histories in Africa, India, the Caribbean, as well as in America and Europe. Post-Colonial Literatures scrutinises the work of four writers: Achebe, Ngugi, Desai and Walcott, and their attempts to find new languages and new narratives to engage with the complex histories of their 'homelands'.

The concept of community is increasingly the focus of political argument in Britain, the United States and elsewhere around the world. The sense people have of belonging to coummunities provides a powerful motivation which continues to affecct the political and social face of the world. Recently, debate about the relationship between individuals and their communities has become central to the making of both, American and European social policy. In the United Kingdom this is especially apparent in the area of health care, where ideas of community have informed recent legislation concerning community care, community health trusts and the Children Act among others.This volume explores the focus of interest in community and the emerging theoretical oppostion between communitarianism and liberalism, as well as the practical, theoretical and ethical issues relating to community in the health care professions, including a discussion of the health service as Civil Association, an analysis of liberal and communitarian views on the allocaiton of health care resources, an exploration of the use of genetic information and an examination of health care decision making for incapacitated elderly patients.

Puritan politician, lawyer, and lay theologian John Winthrop fled England in 1630 when it looked like Charles I had successfully blocked all hopes of passing Puritan-inspired reforms in Parliament. Leading a migration, he came to New England in the hopes of creating an ideal Puritan community and eventually became the governor of Massachusetts. Winthrop is remembered for his role in the Puritan migration to the colonies and for delivering what is probably the most famous lay sermon in American history, "A Model of Christian Charity." In it he proclaimed that New England would be "a city upon a hill"--an example for future colonies. In John Winthrop: Founding the City upon a Hill, Michael Parker examines the political and religious history of this iconic figure. In this short biography, bolstered by letters, sermons, and maps, John Winthrop introduces students to the colonial world, the Pequot Wars, and the history of American Exceptionalism.

Case Analysis in Clinical Ethics is an eclectic review from a team of leading ethicists covering the main methods for analysing ethical problems in modern medicine. Anneke Lucassen, a clinician, begins by presenting an ethically challenging genetics case drawn from her clinical experience. It is then analysed from different theoretical points of view. Each ethicist takes a particular approach, illustrating it in action and giving the reader a basic grounding in its central elements. Each chapter can be read on its own, but comparison between them gives the reader a sense of how far methodology in medical ethics matters, and how different theoretical starting points can lead to different practical conclusions. At the end, Anneke Lucassen gives a clinician's response to the various ethical methods described. Practising clinical ethicists and students on upper level undergraduate and Master's degree courses in medical ethics and applied philosophy will find this invaluable.

Masters in Pieces introduces students to the ideas and people surrounding a selection of the most significant English literature of the past thousand years. Taking a contemporary critical literacy approach to major literary works, students completing units in this text will be prepared for their senior years and beyond. Masters in Pieces encourages students to think about literary texts critically, in relation to popular culture while also discussing the existence and formation of the English literary canon. The textbook has been created for students to respond to the texts in a variety of ways, from essay-writing and role-plays to creative writing and mock trials. A multilevel approach to key language and literacy skills caters to the different learning abilities in the classroom and assists teachers in matching tasks to the skill of their students.

Terri and Brian Cody are hoping to sell their "One Star Hotel" in the Florida Keys to the only man who has expressed any interest in buying it a Mr. Sam Lewis from New York. They are not expecting him for a couple of weeks and are rather caught off-guard when they receive a phone call informing them that he flew into Miami today is driving down and will be arriving this afternoon. Unfortunately they have so few guests they are afraid that Mr. Lewis will see at once that the hotel is a bad investment. You can see where this is leading...it is a farce after all...So in order to bolster Mr. Lewis's interest Terri and Brian devise a plan to make the hotel appear busier and more prosperous than it actually is. Their staff will masquerade as paying guests thereby giving Mr. Lewis the impression that the hotel is overflowing with loyal customers and vacationers. Their plan has one hitch their entire staff consists of a maintenance man named Hopkins and a sexy housemaid named Maureen. They plan to tell Mr. Lewis that Mrs. Cody is shopping in Miami while she plays the role of a wealthy Palm Beach socialite Mrs. Winthrop-Smythe. Hopkins is to become the Reverend Hopkins and Maureen is to combine the duties of receptionist maid and room service. The plot becomes more complicated when the one paying guest they do have Major Ponsenby wants to help out. Suddenly an Arab sheik Abdul El Hajj who bears an uncanny resemblance to the Major checks into the hotel stating he is a potential buyer. Their scatterbrained maid Maureen is totally inept at the job she's been asked to do and can't seem to remain completely clothed for more than five minutes at a time. It turns out Hopkins has a propensity to drink and has bottles of booze hidden all over the hotel. And finally the one other guest they have checking in later today is Hayley Harrington a predatory nymphomaniac affectionately known as "The Barracuda."Into this "Hotbed" of intrigue arrives... Samuel Lewis and his wife (or is she?) Ashley. He is an extremely moral and upstanding businessman and expects nothing less from those around him. She is an extremely attractive woman and is only interested in getting Mr. Lewis into bed. Brian spends the rest of the play trying very hard to please Mr. Lewis keep the Major/Abdul under control and stay out of the way of "The Barracuda."How do the Major Hopkins and Mr. Lewis end up in the same bed? Why is Ashley always losing her clothes? Where do The Barracuda and Abdul fit into all this? Who really is Abdul El Hajj? When does the real Mrs. Lewis arrive? What more could possibly happen?Much to the horror and chagrin of Mr. Lewis the real Mrs. Lewis who can best be described as "a humorless old battle-axe" does show up. In order to hide his relationship with Ashley from her he bribes Brian with an offer to purchase the hotel for more than he was asking only to get another offer from Abdul. But the final twist is yet to come - a show stopping coup-de-theatre which leaves the audience knowing they've been "had " but not knowing how it was done.""A hilarious comedy that will leave Fawlty Towers looking like a tragedy Hotbed Hotel is one of Michael Parker's finest pieces of work." - Act One Cardiff Wales"Hotbed Hotel promises life laughter and sophisticated fun." - The Deerfield Beach Observer Florida"Hotbed Hotel has the fundamental ingredients of good entertainment that provide frankly unanticipated comedic results. This play will not disappoint you. In fact it will leave you feeling entertained amused and happy you made the trip." - The Peak Vancouver Canada

Characters: 3 male 5 femaleComedyInterior The Ashley Maureen Cosmetics Company has been sold and two of its vice presidents David McGrachen and John Baker have planned a weekend off before the new C.E.O. arrives on Monday. With their wives safely off on a shopping spree in New York City they check into The Oakfield Golf and Country Club intending to "golf their brains out." They unexpectedly encounter their new boss Ms. Hutchison and she insists on meeting the wives

Full Length, Comedy Characters: 3 male, 4 female Huge oil reserves have been discovered in the Chagos Islands. O.P.E.C. is pressuring the Chagosians to join the cartel. A C.I.A. agent and an under Secretary of State, whose life appears to be run by her libido, are sent to a C.I.A. safe house in the mountains of Virginia to begin negotiations for the U.S. to place the Chagos Islands under their protection. Unfortunately, no one knows who the islands' representative really is. We are left to wonder how the C.I.A. agent ever got the job. He gets caught in all his own booby traps, he electrocutes himself, he sets fire to himself, he gets a bucket stuck on his head, and finally locks himself in his own handcuffs! Add to the inevitable chaos, a stranded televangelist, his innocent secretary (or is she?), an ex-marine caretaker, who isn't what he seems to be, and a mysterious, glamorous neighbor, and you have a complex, laugh out loud farce, that can be played on any stage.

2m, 4f / Farce Mrs. Stancliffe's Rose Cottage Bed & Breakfast has been successful for many years. Her Guests (nearly all women) return year after year. Her next door neighbor, the elderly, silver-tongued, Bud "Bud the Stud" Davis believes they come to spend time with him in romantic liaisons. The prim and proper Mrs. Stancliffe steadfastly denies this, but really doesn't do anything to prevent it. She reluctantly accepts the fact that "Bud the Stud" is, in fact, good for business. Her other neighbor and would-be suitor Henry Mitchell is a retired chemist who has developed a blue pill called "Venusia," after Venus the goddess of love, to increase the libido of menopausal women. The pill has not been tested. Add to the guest list three older women: Victoria Ambrose, a romance novelist whose personal life seems to be lacking in romance; Hillary Hudson a friend of Henry's who has agreed to test the Venusia: and Charmaine Beauregard, a "Southern Belle" whose libido does not need to be increased! Bud gets his hands on some of the Venusia pills and the fun begins, as attempts to entertain all three women!The women mix up Bud's Viagra pills with the Venusia, and we soon discover that it has a strange effect on men: it gives them all the symptoms of menopausal women, complete with hot flashes, mood swings, weeping and irritability! When the mayham settles down, all the women find their lives moving in new and surprising directions.

Hormone? Harry Douglas from The Sensuous Senator is back to his old shenanigans again but this time as the American Ambassador to Great Britain. He tells his wife Lois that he has arranged a golf outing in Scotland for the weekend. Lois in turn tells Harry that she too will be gone for the weekend at a spa and that their daughter Debbie will be gone visiting a girlfriend. Each then tells Perkins their newly hired butler in their country home of their plans. He stoically watches as each of them leave for the weekend.

Characters: 3-7 male, 3-7 female Farce Interior The Cider Mill Inn is an old, rustic and somewhat run down country inn owned and operated by an endearing elderly couple, Michael and Susan Edwards. At first they appear to be bordering on senility. We quickly learn however that they are very clever con artists, preying on their unsuspecting guests, by advertising huge discounts to various tradesmen. Using an elaborate check-in form with duplicate copies, guests are, in fact, signing a work contract, requiring them to perform various tasks and improvements at the inn. Over the course of three weekends, plumbers, tile layers, carpenters and electricians are recruited to do work they never expected. This unique play offers theatres the opportunity for the other twelve characters (Besides Susan and Michael) to be played by either two males and two females, or twelve different actors, or any number in between. The characters vary from the world's most boring man, (his wife says he's had charisma bypass surgery), to a young couple on their honeymoon.Audiences will fall in love with each of these distinctive characters, but especially the loving relationship between the two main characters, Michael and Susan, so touching that this play might be called a love story, if it wasn't first and foremost a farce. So, what is Susan's secret? On this subject the authors remain silent, preferring instead to let the audience decide on the truth, which of course, in a Parker play, is only revealed in the last few seconds of the show.

The late Mr. Hammond spent twenty years printing $20 bills on a printing press he built in the basement of Monet Manor. After his death ten years ago his faithful retainer George and his daughter Annie continued the family business for Mr. Hammond's widow who recently passed away. Contrary to her promise to leave the manor and all her assets to George and Annie she has bequeathed the manor to a stranger Mr. Bud Davis who is emphatic about turning it into a retirement home for ladies. Determ

Joan Scheller lives with the great love of her life Sandy. In an effort to hide their relationship from her overbearing sister-in-law the former movie star Olivia St. Claire she introduces him as her psychiatrist. One little white lie leads to another. Before long Vinny the Enforcer a quintessential Italian mobster masquerades as her security guard while her son Chris is forced to wear a dress and become her daughter Christina. Further complications occur when her new neighbor Racha

The Lovers' Landing Beach Hotel a popular wedding destination has acquired a certain mystique as the home of 'Sandy Toes & Salty Kisses'. Recently inheriting the hotel from her late father Audrina Brown quickly discovers that her Uncle Bubba the hotel manager is running a variety of 'extra-curricular activities' (all illegal) on the property. It's a mystery - It's a love story - It's a new farce by the authors of Sex Please We're Sixty.

This is a distinctive book that examines the diversity and energy of writing in a period marked by the unparalleled global prominence of Irish culture.This collection provides a wide-ranging survey of fiction, poetry and drama over the last two decades, considering both well-established figures and also emerging writers who have received relatively little critical attention. Contributors explore the central developments within Irish culture and society that have transformed the writing and reading of identity, sexuality, history and gender. The book examines the impact of Mary Robinson’s Presidency; growing cultural confidence ‘back home’; legislative reform on sexual and moral issues; the uneven effects generated by the resurgence of the Irish economy (the ‘Celtic Tiger’ myth); Ireland’s increasingly prominent role in Europe; and changing reputation.In its breadth and critical currency, this book will be of particular interest to academics and students working in the fields of literature, drama and cultural studies.An electronic edition of this book is freely available under a Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND) licence.

William Trevor: Revaluations offers a comprehensive examination of the oeuvre of one of the most accomplished and celebrated practitioners writing in the English language: the author of fifteen novels, three novellas and eleven volumes of short stories, as well as plays, radio and TV adaptations and film screenplays.Drawing on the talents of a team of distinguished international scholars, this volume shines a critical light on Trevor’s core concerns with individuality and the family, and cultural and national identity, extending significantly the scope of current scholarship. Essays scrutinise the author’s prolonged concern with domestic, communal and national violence, his interrogation of patterns of inheritance and ideological heritage, and the impact of the past on choices his characters make. William Trevor: Revaluations is a groundbreaking collection of essays, and will also be seen as a definitive introduction to the work of a major contemporary novelist and short-story writer.

Master the essentials for winning soccer from one of the game's most successful coaches. In Premier Soccer, Michael Parker, the wins leader among active NCAA Division I men's soccer coaches, teaches every key technique and tactic, with accompanying drills and special tips for executing them when the match is on the line. Premier Soccer tackles the skills and traits necessary for each position on the field, both offensively and defensively, as well as systems, set plays, restarts, and practice drills. With an emphasis on player development, on-field awareness, conditioning, and team play, Parker reveals his proven approach to team and player success.Whether you are a player or coach, this is your guide to consistent and winning play at every level of competition.