The 2007-08 financial crisis surprised many economists and the public. But how did the crisis come about, why was it so deep, and why has the clean-up been so slow and painful? Many accounts of the crisis focus on renegade activity in marginal financial sectors. Shadow Networks challenges this pervading view and sets out to demonstrate that, far from a dissident branch, the shadow finance that initiated the crisis is tightly networked with, and highly profitable for, bank-based finance. The collapse was not an accident, but baked into the system of finance from the start. Shadow Networks traces the complex web of power that caused crisis and gives vivid descriptions of the actors in the quarter century leading up to 2007 to explain how the now decade-long crisis took shape. Shadow Networks: Financial Disorder and the System that Caused Crisis is a probing examination of the roles of the powerful elite. It traces the networks and institutions that support a finance-focused, market centered model of economy and society from their ascendancy to their surprising resilience in the face of manifest failures.

Why do humans who seem to be exemplars of virtue also have the capacity to act in atrocious ways? What are the roots of tendencies for sin and evil? A popular assumption is that it is our animalistic natures that are responsible for human immorality and sin, while our moral nature curtails and contains such tendencies through human powers of freedom and higher reason. This book challenges such assumptions as being far too simplistic. Through a careful engagement with evolutionary and psychological literature, Celia Deane-Drummond argues that tendencies towards vice are, more often than not, distortions of the very virtues that are capable of making us good. After beginning with Augustine's classic theory of original sin, the book probes the philosophical implications of sin's origins in dialogue with the philosophy of Paul Ricoeur. Different vices are treated in both individual and collective settings in keeping with a multispecies approach. Areas covered include selfishness, pride, violence, anger, injustice, greed, envy, gluttony, deception, lying, lust, despair, anxiety, and sloth. The work of Thomas Aquinas helps to illuminate and clarify much of this discussion on vice, including those vices which are more distinctive for human persons in community with other beings. Such an approach amounts to a search for the shadow side of human nature, shadow sophia. Facing that shadow is part of a fuller understanding of what makes us human and thus this book is a contribution to both theological anthropology and theological ethics.

Gradido - Natural Economy of Life is a monetary and economic model patterned on nature. It provides a basic income for every person, an ample national budget for every country and an additional Equalisation and Environment Fund for decontaminating the environment. The self-regulating system keeps the money supply, and hence prices, stable. The gentle equalisation of the hitherto poor countries and the industrialised nations promotes peace. Learn about the encouraging results of economic bionics research! Nature is brilliant. When we act in harmony with nature we will experience worldwide prosperity and peace. This is the core message of this consistently positive instruction manual for the future. Information at: http: //gradido.net/Book

Almost weekly we hear about corporate and government leaders breaching ethical and moral standards. Indeed, in recent years, corporate corruption and the misrepresentation of the truth has, at times, appeared overwhelming. At the very least, corporate and government scandals suggest that we have a crisis in leadership. This research investigated what some leaders in the corporate arena, who self-identify as having a strong spiritual foundation, had to say about the impact of their foundation on how they approached leadership, in general, and ethical issues, in particular. The research questions that guided this study were: (1) how did self-identified spiritual corporate leaders describe their spirituality? (2) what spiritual practices did they use to develop their spirituality? and (3) what leaders, who claim to have a rich spiritual life, say about the impact of spirituality on their ethical leadership practice? The results of this research mirrored that of Mitroff and Denton (1999). All of the individuals who participated in this research study explained that their spirituality was an important part of their leadership practice. Also the framework of spirituality in their leadership practice provided guidance in making moral and ethical decisions. What is interesting is that the results were the same in spite of different religious affiliations, and included those who did not identify with an organized religion. These findings suggest that it is imperative for MBA programs to address ethical issues from a spiritual perspective while steering clear of sectarian commitments.

Greed's a Funny Thing By: Judith Kimmel Barnes A cure for cancer has been sought for thousands of years. History shows treatments were used as far back as ancient Egypt and ancient Greece. With all the searching and money put into a cure for cancer, it is amazing that man has never conquered the dread disease. But what if someone had found something that would actually cure, even just one type of cancer? Think of the money spent on research, medical, pharmaceutical and surgical treatments, caring for the victims, etc. Would the possibility of an impact on the economy make someone greedy enough to try to maintain the status quo? In Greed’s a Funny Thing, Julie and her husband stumble across a journal detailing a possible treatment for cancer and are immediately thrust into a whirlwind of intrigue and danger.

She, who was born before her marriage, turned into a complete slut with the contempt and curses of the entire world. That damn stinky man ate her whole body, yet did not show himself. That night, she could still vaguely remember how he robbed and occupied her, how his neck interweaved with her hot body and his tempting breathing.

Locke embraces the magical legacy he wields, but it didn’t help him save the girl he loved. Now he’ll have to use everything he’s learned since the Seer’s death to safeguard Keleigh and find a magical object hidden and only whispered about for centuries. By the light of the next blue moon, the ShiningOnes plan to infiltrate this realm and retrieve the mighty relic. The Elders are prepared to sacrifice anyone to acquire it. The Sisters will manipulate anyone to safeguard it. While every other witch in the Order whispers and warns about the artifact’s power, Locke and Keleigh follow clues from her mother’s message, hoping to retrieve it. But if Locke and Keleigh don’t locate the relic first, the battle brewing between sacred knowledge and modern communication will destroy everything—even their love. When fairy tales hold ancient secrets, many may have to be revealed because something greedy this way comes.

The End is coming. Literally. Rachel is thrown into the future, and Hope comes with her. But Alina and Cooper are torn apart. They must find their way back together. For some things cannot stay apart. Destiny won’t allow it. … Atlantis Bound follows a professor and a pickpocket fighting through time for love. If you crave your fantasy with sprawling action, high stakes, and epic destinies, grab Atlantis Bound Episode Four today and soar free with an Odette C. Bell series.