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Between 1958 and 1962, China descended into hell. Mao Zedong threw his country into a frenzy with the Great Leap Forward, an attempt to catch up and overtake Britain in less than 15 years. The experiment ended in the greatest catastrophe the country had ever known, destroying tens of millions of lives. Access to Communist Party archives has long been denied to all but the most loyal historians, but now a new law has opened up thousands of central and provincial documents that fundamentally change the way one can study the Maoist era. Frank Dikotter's astonishing, riveting and magnificently detailed book chronicles an era in Chinese history much speculated about but never before fully documented. Dikotter shows that instead of lifting the country among the world's superpowers and proving the power of communism, as Mao imagined, in reality the Great Leap Forward was a giant - and disastrous - step in the opposite direction. He demonstrates, as nobody has before, that under this initiative the country became the site not only of one of the most deadly mass killings of human history (at least 45 million people were worked, starved or beaten to death) but also the greatest demolition of real estate - and catastrophe for the natural environment - in human history, as up to a third of all housing was turned to rubble and the land savaged in the maniacal pursuit of steel and other industrial accomplishments. Piecing together both the vicious machinations in the corridors of power and the everyday experiences of ordinary people, Dikotter at last gives voice to the dead and disenfranchised. Exhaustively researched and brilliantly written, this magisterial, groundbreaking account definitively recasts the history of the People's Republic of China.

There are shelves of memoirs about overcoming the death of a parent, childhood abuse, rape, drug addiction, miscarriage, alcoholism, hustling, gangbanging, near-death injuries, drug dealing, prostitution, or homelessness. Cupcake Brown survived all these things before she’d even turned twenty. And that’s when things got interesting…. You have in your hands the strange, heart-wrenching, and exhilarating tale of a woman named Cupcake. It begins as the story of a girl orphaned twice over, once by the death of her mother and then again by a child welfare system that separated her from her stepfather and put her into the hands of an epically sadistic foster parent. But there comes a point in her preteen years—maybe it’s the night she first tries to run away and is exposed to drugs, alcohol, and sex all at once—when Cupcake’s story shifts from a tear-jerking tragedy to a dark comic blues opera. As Cupcake’s troubles grow, so do her voice and spirit. Her gut-punch sense of humor and eye for the absurd, along with her outsized will, carry her through a fateful series of events that could easily have left her dead. Young Cupcake learned to survive by turning tricks, downing hard liquor, partying like a rock star, and ingesting every drug she could find while hitchhiking up and down the California coast. She stumbled into gangbanging, drug dealing, hustling, prostitution, theft, and, eventually, the best scam of all: a series of 9-to-5 jobs. But Cupcake’s unlikely tour through the cubicle world was paralleled by a quickening descent into the nightmare of crack cocaine use, till she eventually found herself living behind a Dumpster. Astonishingly, she turned it around. With the help of a cobbled together family of eccentric fellow addicts and “angels”—a series of friends and strangers who came to her aid at pivotalmoments—she slowly transformed her life from the inside out. A Piece of Cake is unlike any memoir you’ll ever read. Moving and almost transgressive in its frankness, it is a relentlessly gripping tale of a resilient spirit who took on the worst of contem-porary urban life and survived it with a furious wit and unyielding determination. Cupcake Brown is a dynamic and utterly original storyteller who will guide you on the most satisfying, startlingly funny, and genuinely affecting tour through hell you’ll ever take. When it came time for me to talk, I wasn’t sure which parts of my past to tell, which to keep secret, and which to pretend never happened. Uncle Jr. had already seen the welts on my back, so he wasn’t too surprised when I told them about some of the physical abuse I endured at Diane’s. Everyone else hit the roof, except Daddy. He got really quiet and started balling and unballing his fists. I continued my update. Experience had taught me that adults have trouble accepting the idea of children having sex. I decided that from then on, that part of my life never happened. I picked up the story by telling them about Fly, the Gangstas, and getting shot. I was dying for a cigarette. So it seemed a good time to announce that I smoked cigarettes—and weed. After a moment Sam looked at me, smiled, and handed me one of her Marlboros. I preferred menthols, but beggars can’t be choosers. I kicked back, took a long drag, and closed my eyes. Daddy and Jr. were silent. They seemed a bit shocked and unsure about how to respond. “Well, Cup,” Jr. said, “it’s a little too late to be trying to raise you now. But those cigarettes will kill you. And weed will only lead you to stronger drugs.” He didn’t know how right he was. But for me, it was too late to be worrying about stronger drugs—the only worrying I did was whether I could find a connection to get some. So I just smiled, nodded, and took another hit off my cigarette. The eerie quiet returned. —from A Piece of Cake Also available as a Random House AudioBook and eBook.

Bitcoin is one of the most transformative technologies in history, but at the same time it's dismissed as useless or only seen as a speculative vehicle. Why Cryptocurrencies? will dispel that myth by exploring real use-cases and show how cryptocurrencies are uniquely positioned to revolutionize the way we use money today. Can you afford to miss out? What makes this book special? * Gives you the important conceptual ideas. It's all too easy to get bogged down with technical details; the high-level concepts are what's truly important. * Easy to read. The book is beginner-friendly and doesn't require any prior knowledge. * Focused on utility. The focus is on concrete use-cases, instead of the more seductive speculative approach. * It's bigger than Bitcoin. There are many more cryptocurrencies other than Bitcoin. The focus is on the general cryptocurrency concept and it's potential, instead of on a single implementation. * Visits a wide variety of topics. This isn't only about cryptocurrencies. It's also about money, censorship, our financial system, and the dark secrets that Chelsea Manning and Edward Snowden revealed. * The order doesn't matter. Chapters are self-contained, so you can jump around and read the sections you're interested in.

As technology surges forward, our world teeters on the precipice of a significant shift in global finance. The imminent threat? Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), which are government-controlled digital currencies that provide authorities with unparalleled power to surveil, control, and manipulate the financial existence of billions. In "The Final Countdown: Crypto, Gold, Silver, and the People's Last Stand Against Tyranny by Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs)," author and 2024 Presidential Candidate, Aaron Day, embarks on an urgent exploration of a global tyrannical crisis in the making. This is not merely a book; it's a compelling call to action and a survival guide for the digital age." The Final Countdown" navigates this chilling landscape, paralleling dystopian visions of a world dominated by CBDCs with disturbing realities in today's societies. Through a series of riveting examples and eye-opening revelations, it unveils the ominous truth about fiat currency, mass surveillance, population control, and the erosion of personal freedom in our ever-digitizing world. Yet, this book is not all about doom and gloom. It also illuminates the path to resistance, highlighting the critical role of decentralized cryptocurrencies, gold, and silver as potential lifelines in the battle against CBDC tyranny. It champions the cause of financial freedom and individual autonomy, empowering readers with the knowledge and tools they need to reclaim control over their financial future. From tech enthusiasts to financial market players, to the average citizen concerned about their financial freedom and privacy, "The Final Countdown" is a critical read. It acts as a clarion call for awareness, resistance, and action in the face of a global shift that will fundamentally redefine our society and individual freedom. With practical guides on acquiring and safeguarding self-custody crypto, gold, and silver, this book offers a comprehensive strategy to withstand the potential onslaught of CBDC tyranny. Don't miss out on this essential guide to understanding and surviving the emerging era of digital control.

Gold Medal Winner, Living Now Book Awards 2024 Best Books of 2024, Kirkus Reviews Winner, Independent Press Awards 2024 Honorable Mention, Royal Dragonfly Book Awards 2024 (Religion/Spirituality) Winner, PenCraft Book Awards 2024 (Fiction: Intrigue) Best AI Books of 2024, The Information Winner, American Book Fest (Nonfiction: Cross-Genre) Winner, 2025 American Legacy Book Award (Nonfiction: Cross-Genre) Bostrom’s last book, Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies (OUP, 2014), sparked a global conversation on AI that continues and widens to this day. That book, which despite its academic style became a New York Times bestseller, focused on what would happen if AI goes wrong. But what if AI goes right? Suppose we succeed in developing superintelligence safely and that we make good use of the almost magical powers this unlocks. We would then achieve full unemployment. More than that, we would transition into a “post-instrumental condition," in which human effort is not needed for any practical purpose. This would be a condition of material abundance. Human nature itself would become fully malleable. In such a solved world, what would be the point of human existence? What could give meaning to our lives? Which old values will we have to sacrifice, and which new values will we be able to realize to wonderful degrees? Deep Utopia—a work that is again years ahead of its time—takes the readers on a journey into some of the most profound questions that arise as we dissolve the limits of our current mode of being. It is a lush, playful, difficult, and human text that interleaves fiction stories and philosophical lectures that show us a glimpse of a different kind of existence–one that might be ours in the not-so-distant future.

In the vast, boundless expanse of Plurality, each life is a unique and precious existence...Regardless of how perilous external circumstances may be...(l)et us take positive action to allow the seeds of shared goodness to break through the earth and blossom into flower of empathy, joy and harmony. — His Holiness the Dalai Lama XIV of Tibet In a technologically advanced, politically challenging, and rapidly evolving 21st century, what does a free and open future look like? Glen, Audrey and their coauthors offer a compelling view of a way forward. — Vitalik Buterin, Founder of Ethereum Democracy has been a confrontation between opposing values. In Taiwan, however, it has become a conversation among a diversity of values. Audrey Tang has shown us how to create a "digital democracy" that transcends the constraints of ideology - that is the major contribution of this book. — Tsai Ing-wen, President of the ROC (Taiwan) They offer us a portal into a future where technology supports democracy, pluralism, and broad human flourishing. We know this future is possible because Tang has been building it in Taiwan. The conceptual foundations laid here usher in a much-needed paradigm change for modern life. — Danielle S. Allen, political philosopher, James Bryant Conant University Professor at Harvard, MacArthur Fellow, and author of Our Declaration and Cuz Plurality reads like optimistic sci-fi, already happening in real life! Can democracies around the world follow in Taiwan’s footsteps to upgrade free society for the digital age? Fingers crossed for a happy ending. — Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emmy-winning artist and founder of HITRECORD Digital technology threatens to tear free and open societies apart through polarization, inequality, and loneliness. But in the decade since the weekslong occupation of their parliament, a diverse island of resilience has shown another way is possible. Taiwan achieved inclusive, technology-fueled growth, overcame the pandemic without lockdowns and the infodemic without takedowns, entrusted its people to tackle shared challenges like environmental protection while capitalizing on a culture of innovation to “hack the government.” Here, the architects of Taiwan’s internationally acclaimed digital democracy share the secret of their success. Plurality (symbolized ⿻) harnesses digital tools not to replace humans or trust, but to channel the potential energy in social diversity that can erupt in conflict instead for progress, growth and beauty. From intimate digitally empowered telepathy to global trade running on social networks rather than money, ⿻ offers tools to radically enrich relationships while leaving no one behind. ⿻ thus promises to transform every sector from healthcare to media, as illustrated by the way it has been written: as a chorus of open, self-governing collaboration of voices from around the globe. Their work in public on this openly available text shows — as well as tells — how everyone from a devout African farmer to a Hollywood celebrity can help build a more dynamic, harmonious and inclusive world. E. Glen Weyl is Founder of RadicalxChange, Microsoft Research's Plural Technology Collaboratory, & Plurality Institute & co-author of Radical Markets. Audrey Tang is the inaugural Minister of Digital Affairs in Taiwan & the inaugural ⚧️ minister in the 🌐. A global ⿻ community of dozens collaborated to create this first-ever open-source self-governed book harnessing tools described within. You are invited to join us at https://www.plurality.net

- Product 1: Overdrive Pedal f Electric Guitar - Product 2: 99.95% oxygen-free copper to resist corrosion - Product 2: Dual shielding and dual conductors provide durability and reliably clear tone - Product 2: Braided exterior jacket for flexible, tangle-resistant performance - Product 2: Roadworthy construction

Style: Standard    Pattern Name: Pedal+ Instrument Cable

- [Sounds fuller and richer] This external laptop microphone is a welcome improvement in the virtual meeting environment, providing increased clarity and greater noise reduction. You can easy to be heard and understood, and will be more relaxed and comfortable during conferences. - [Plug & play] Recognized both in pc and laptop immediately, this computer conference mic works well for Zoom, WebEx, Teams, Discord and making videos. The stand up mic doesn't take up much space for work from home situations, and is convenient for traveling. (Incompatible with Xbox.) - [Easy control & adjustment] The knob on the front of the desk mic comes in handy to increase / reduce sound. You can also turn it all the way down to mute the mic. With the help of the included pivot mount, you can quickly adjust the angle and position of the mic for zoom meetings or chatting. - [Multipurpose] The directional condenser mic is sensitive that it picks up your faintest whisper. For online meeting and web calls you can leave the pc mic closer to your monitor and still facing you. For recorded talks and lectures you can pull it to the front edge of your desk and it's not in the camera's view at all. - [You will get] The package comes with a computer microphone with pivot mount, 6ft non-detachable usb cable, a tripod stand and user’s manual. The silver microphone has a clean look and will match with your laptop and other setup in the home office very well. (Note: If your laptop only has USB C port, you will need a genuine lightning adapter for connection.)

Color: Silver

- Dual AD circuitry with 32-bit float recording technology, up to 192kHz sample rate - Clip-free recording without the need to set gain - High-quality mic preamps for clean, low noise recordings - 2x XLR/TRS combo inputs / Headphone output / 2x TRS outputs - Compatible with Windows, Mac, and iOS devices

- [Pickup system]: AODSK electric guitar features 5 types of pickup switches and 2 types of tone and volume controls to choose from. It is suitable for both beginners and professionals, accommodating a wide variety of musical styles - [Full Size Electric Guitar kit]: Your electric guitar set comes ready to play right out of the box.No need to buy any additional accessories, this full set comes with an amplifier and guitar cable, high-quality guitar bag, electronic tuner, 6 spare strings, guitar picks, whammy bar, capo, cleaning cloth, and guitar strap - [Electric Guitar Amplifier]: The beginners set includes a 5W amplifier with built-in dual speakers, headphone jack, and AUX input for playing music on your phone or MP3 player. The amplifier also features charging and Bluetooth capabilities for convenient use when you're out and about. It also has gain and reverb functions - [Quality Materials]: Custom-designed and handcrafted laurel fingerboard and birch neck. It translates vibrations into the rich, classic tones in the guitar through 3 pickups. The design of the C -type neck is more comfortable. The tremolo bridge system allows you to bend the pitch while playing, and the detachable tremolo arm produces a tremolo effect. Overall dimensions: 46.45*14.96*3.14 inches - [Holiday Gift]: Musical instruments and music-related gifts can not only meet the needs of music lovers,but also add a special atmosphere to the festival.Therefore,this product is a good choice for Christmas gifts,birthday gifts,and New Year gifts

Color: White-HSS

- [Pure & Natural] The USB cardioid mic captures the clear and crisp sound in front of the mic capsule and reduces unwanted background noise. Using this directional condenser mic in a quiet environment will bring you the ideal recording effect and has an accurate reproduction of your voice. - [All Metal Construction] Made out of solid, quality materials, the microphone for computer recording is built to last. It also finished in a very nice matte blue coating which gives a real premium look and feel to the K669L. The 6ft permanently attached USB cable is long enough to connect the usb audio mic to your pc. - [Easy to Setup] To attach the tripod, it's just connecting and twisting. The laptop mic for recording lets you adjust and pivot the mic in relation to the sound source, which optimizes your sound quality. Good for starting out a podcast, vlogging recording vocals singing or instrument. - [Plug & Play] No need any sound card or driver using this external mic. Compatible with PS4, Mac or Windows. Just plug it in, select it as the input mic of your application, that’s it. You can adjust the mic gain on the front to get good clarify of your voice. Improves audio recording on YouTube or recording software Audacity. (Incompatible with Xbox. ) - [You Will Get] The package comes with a desktop microphone with 6ft usb cable, pivot mount, tripod stand and user’s manual. This microphone for youtuber doesn’t need the 48v phantom power, but if your laptop only has USB C port, you will need a genuine lightning adapter for connection.

Color: Blue

- Includes 3 individually wrapped sets. - Ernie Ball Slinkys are played by legends around the world including Slash, Jimmy Page, Metallica, Eric Clapton, and more. - Beefy Slinky’s 11-54 gauge is optimal for detuning. - For decades, Slinkys have provided players with exceptional tone and consistency across the entire fretboard. - Crafted in the USA with the freshest and finest materials.

Color: Beefy (11-54)    Style: 3-Pack