John Gordon Knihy

Longlisted for the Highland Book Prize 2019The rocks of northern Scotland tell of turbulent events involving continental collisions that unleashed cataclysmic forces, creating a chain of mountains, the remnants of which we see today on both sides of the Atlantic. Geologists from Victorian times onwards have studied the area, and some of the most important geological phenomena have been established and described from the rocks that built these stunning landscapes.In this book, Alan McKirdy makes sense of the many and varied episodes that shaped the familiar landscape we see today. He highlights a number of fascinating geological features, including the Old Red Sandstones of Cromarty and the Black Isle, which carry the secrets of life during ‘the Age of Fishes’, and the thin sliver of fossil-bearing strata which hugs the coast from Golspie to beyond Helmsdale that dates back to Jurassic times and which records the time when dinosaurs roamed the Earth.

Explore the world of phrenology with this fascinating illustrated poem by Lord Jeffrey and J. Gordon. Featuring detailed descriptions of the latest phrenological research, as well as stunning artwork and rich historical accounts, this book is an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to understand how the mind works and how we can harness its power to achieve our goals and live more fulfilling lives.

Time marches on, bulldozing obstacles, ignoring impediments and complications. It takes time to realize that there is no time like the present and longer, perhaps, to realize that there is no better present than the gift of time. This is another volume of musings, thoughts, opinions, and silly comments accumulated over time--time appreciating life and loving the blessing of that appreciation.

The U.S. armed forces must be prepared to deploy to a wide range of locations and confront adversaries that span the threat spectrum from poorly armed bands to peer-level foes. In future operations, the United States is also likely to face a range of anti-access and area denial threats that require a joint or combined response. Anti-access challenges prevent or degrade a force⁰́₉s ability to enter an operational area and can be geographic, military, or diplomatic. Area denial challenges are threats to forces within the operational area. As they relate to U.S. ground forces, these latter threats are characterized by the opponent⁰́₉s ability to obstruct the actions of U.S. forces once they have deployed. This report reviews selected findings from a study of Army and joint anti-access and area denial challenges. It also proposes a joint approach to countering these threats in future operations. There are important interdependencies and synergies between the services in terms of their ability to overcome these types of challenges. For example, some threats to the Army⁰́₉s ability to deploy to an operational area must be addressed primarily by the other services. Likewise, the Army could provide considerable assistance to the Air Force and Navy in suppressing or destroying air defenses that challenge joint air operations. For this reason, the services will need to work together to develop operational concepts and systems that will be effective in countering emerging and growing threats in future operations

Leo often felt that he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. On June 4, 1994, he was in a white Ford Bronco on Highway 405 outside of Los Angeles. Every law enforcement officer within one hundred miles was looking for a white Bronco and a fugitive named O. J. Simpson. And so Leo did what any Vietnam veteran suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder would do: he ditched the beer, threw the joint out the window, and panicked. He steered off the freeway and into the unsuspecting life of an angel. The ride that had started in a Los Angeles suburb tripped through Southeast Asia, New England, the Florida Keys, New York City, and Palm Springs and finally ran out of steam in Hawaii, and along the way, Leo found his life and his love.

The day began as most of the other days had begun. Beth's husband snuggled close. He smelled of after-shave and toast. He kissed her and their baby boy good-bye as he headed out the door for the train station and work in New York City. Etienne's fiancée kissed him good-bye, too, told him the coffee was started and that she just had to run downtown and would be back in an hour or two. And then, two airplanes slammed into the World Trade Center Towers and killed almost three thousand people. And just like that, Beth and Etienne had lost the most special person in their lives; lives that would never be the same. As they each struggle with denial and grief, drowning in pain and fear, lashing out at those trying to help pick up the pieces, grace sneaks up on them. Their healing begins cautiously with the help of two very different souls; two survivors of a different sort both named Maggie.

This is a meditative collection of thoughts, quotes, musings, devotionals, opinions, editorials, ticklers, and wincers. My inspiration is a playful, and devoted yellow lab named Gus. My canvas is the pre-dawn light which unfolds before me each new day. My gratitude is unbounded.

There comes a time in each man's life when he will stand before another, and give an accounting. It is a moment of inventory, reconciliation and reflection, an opportunity to acknowledge, and perhaps a time to ask for forgiveness. That time has come for Monroe. His hard life stares back at him in an unflinching mirror of pain, despair, success, failure, and fl ashes of unbridled joy. He confesses with candid detail a journey of confusion, fear, and unanticipated courage. from the counter-culture commune of California to the war-torn peril and horror of third world conflict, Monroe strives to recall the passages of a lost soul, a warrior, a lover, a devoted father, and a loyal friend. He is a young man frightened by love, and challenged with heartbreak and loneliness on his cross-country quest to discover himself. He is a grown man torn by the moral dilemmas presented between impulse and action, between fierceness and gentle peace. He is the intuitive combatant struggling to balance patriotism and duty, arrogance and humility. Overwhelmed with a sense of liberation, he presents himself to the deity he thinks he knows, to receive the judgment he fears to accept.