New Releases by Diane Smith

Examines Wiccan magic, rituals, traditions, and code of conduct Get the scoop on this ancient spiritual path Wondering what it takes to be a Wiccan? This plain-English guide introduces you to the vibrant world of Wicca and the practices of Witchcraft, describing its ancient origins, dispelling stereotypes, and explaining Wiccan beliefs, ethics, rituals, and holidays. You''ll see what it means to live as a contemporary Wiccan -- and how to worship alone or with a group. Discover how to * Worship alone or join a coven * Perform charms, blessings, and spells * Obtain necessary tools and supplies * Spot spiritual scams and inappropriate behavior * Explore a spiritual path guided by nature

There''s never been a better time to live and work in Rural America. Distance and isolation once defined America''s rural landscape- but not anymore. The technology revolution created a new opportunity equation for small towns and rural communities across our Nation. Now, entrepreneurs are leveraging technology, combing it with scenic beauty and small town spirit and prospering in rural locations. Join us as we explore Rural Entrepreneurship and Economic Development, Politics, Technology and Communications Infrastructure, Distance Learning, Remote Healthcare, the Arts, Energy, the Environment, Guns, and the location Lottery. Included in the book are questions for Community Leaders, Residents and Potential Residents to determine whether they are looking at a good fit and maximizing their communities opportunities for success. For anyone interested in promoting Rural America''s vitality, living there, or thinking of moving there - this book''s for you.

Since the first modern state-sponsored lottery was instituted in New Hampshire in 1964, lotteries have proliferated to 42 states and the District of Colombia. With little exception, research has shown that these lotteries are a highly regressive form of taxation. However, this body of research does not take into account a theoretical finding that the manner in which collected funds are earmarked impacts participation patterns. The goal of this dissertation is to test this finding empirically. In the first analysis, I use sales data from the Tennessee Education Lottery and scholarship data from the TEL Scholarship program to test this theory directly. I find that instant game sales are increasing in the number of scholarships awarded in a given county and that the implicit tax incidence is less regressive than in certain other states. I also find that the relationship between scholarships and sales is stronger in higher income counties. Theory does not hold for Powerball sales. This may be due to a misconception that buying into a multi-state game does not directly subsidize programs in Tennessee. In the second analysis, I focus on the Texas Lottery, which began as a revenue stream for the state''s General Fund, but eventually became a dedicated revenue stream for K-12 education. I exploit this change to test for a structural break in the demand for two lottery games. Then, I extend an existing theory of lottery demand to take this structural break into account. I find that there is a structural break at the time the earmark is implemented, and that the lottery is less regressive after the earmark.

Celebrate the spirit of Christmas in a quintessentially New England state with inspiring, funny, and heart-warming essays accompanied by stunning color photographs.

Seasons of Connecticut is a beautiful, four color celebration of the Nutmeg state by a veteran television and radio reporter who has told the stories of the people and places of Connectiut for twenty years. The sixty stories included in this book will make people feel good about living in Connecticut, and make others want to visit, revealing the beauty and the personality of the state throughout the year.

You can feel great again! "Syndrome X proactively lays out a nutritious, tasty, and simple diet plan to get us back to the basics of healthy nutrition."-Lendon H. Smith, M.D., New York Times bestselling author of Feed Your Body Right "Syndrome X is the best new book to help you understand the facts about nutrition, health, and aging. . . . It is full of new information and insights most readers have never had access to before. Everyone who values his or her health will want to read the book and then individualize the program to suit his or her needs-the authors have made this easier than ever to do."-Richard A. Kunin, M.D., author of Mega-Nutrition What is Syndrome X? It''s a resistance to insulin-the hormone needed to burn food for energy-combined with high cholesterol or triglycerides, high blood pressure, or too much body fat. Syndrome X ages you prematurely and significantly increases your risk of heart disease, hypertension, obesity, eye disease, nervous system disorders, diabetes, Alzheimer''s, cancer, and other age-related diseases. Syndrome X is the first book to tell you how to fight the epidemic disorder that is derailing the health of nearly a third of North Americans. It outlines a complete three-step program-including easy-to-follow diets, light physical activity, and readily available vitamins and nutritional supplements-that will safeguard you against developing Syndrome X or reverse it if you already have it.

California''s Wine Country, its rolling hills studded with ancient oaks and laced with vines. Tourists flock to the charming, historic towns in the "Valley of the Moon," from Kenwood in the north to Schellville in the south. The town of Sonoma may be the birthplace of the State of California. Its central plaza, designed as a parade ground by Mexican general Mariano Vallejo and still ringed by mid-19th century buildings, was the site of the 1846 Bear Flag Revolt. Since 1823, when Mission San Francisco Solano, the last link in the long chain of California missions, was established here, to the famous present-day wineries, restaurants, and shops, Sonoma Valley has been treasured by residents and visitors alike.

Diane Smith''s acclaimed novels feature strong heroines, memorable characters, surprising revelations from the natural sciences, and an original perspective on the American West. Set in 1876, right after the Battle of Little Big Horn, her new novel tells of Eleanor Peterson, a scientific illustrator in her late thirties, and her friend and mentor Augustus Starwood, an aging portrait painter with a passion for Shakespeare, who join a diverse band of adventurers heading west to Montana to work on a dinosaur fossil dig. Told through Eleanor''s remembrances years later, the story recounts the experiences of this ambitious and at times contentious field crew, as they argue over prevailing theories of evolution, contend with rival scientists, and worry about Indians moving north after their defeat of Custer. A vivid portrait of both the natural environment and the issues and ideas of the time, Smith''s novel is ultimately a story of personal discovery, revealing the redemptive power of the land and its rivers.

"It''s perfect for Mainland seniors who have always seen Hawaii as the Paradise to which they might retire. I congratulate you for writing a book that will be of so much help to future Hawaii retirees."-Wm. Carse, Professor Emeritus, University of Hawaii at Hilo "Excellent source of information very honest advice"-Bill Taylor, Hawaii Island Journal "All you need to know about retiring in isles is in this book."-Hawaii Tribune Herald The average person can retire to Hawaii. How? The answers are found within the pages of Living and Retiring in Hawaii. James R. Smith, Ph.D., and spouse Diane Smith, B.S., detail the options available to migrs, including: Whether to rent, buy or build and what to look for in a new home. Retirement communities, catered living, and assisted living. Choosing an island-Oahu, Hawaii, Maui, Kauai, Molokai or Lanai. Recreation and leisure pursuits. Living and Retiring in Hawaii focuses on the health considerations and lifestyle adjustments that predominantly concern retirees. The Smiths demonstrate how to secure a dream retirement in Hawaii by successfully forecasting cost of living expenses and planning for maximum enjoyment.

A celebration of Connecticut''s many summer delights from broadcast personality Diane Smith.

Geographically mobile populations are notoriously difficult to survey, especially in a cross-cultural context. In broad terms, it is difficult to ensure that respondents are representative of the underlying population, can be relocated, and that data obtained are relevant to them. At a practical level, the problem can be as basic as not having any well-formed notion of what defines a household. Consequently, the resulting analysis of households is at best imprecise and, at worst, conceptually confused. This article documents the lessons for the design and conduct of longitudinal data collection from three recent surveys of an exceptionally mobile population, Indigenous Australians. There appears to be a trade-off between cultural relevance, data quality, response rates and survey costs. The use of Indigenous interviewers does not, in itself, guarantee that response rates will be acceptable.

This is an easy-to-follow diet for losing weight, stabilizing blood sugar and insulin and reducing the risk of diabetes.

Diets high in grains can lead to a host of health problems such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, fatigue, and more. Going Against the Grain outlines the disadvantages and potential dangers of eating various types of grains and provides practical, realistic advice on implementing a plan to cut back or eliminate grains on a daily basis. This book also includes easy-to-follow grain-free recipes and helpful suggestions for dining out.

Explains everything you need to know to make this nutrient work for you.

Building on the tremendous interest in health, alternative medicine, and nutritional supplementation, the User''s Guide to Nutritional Supplements Series is designed to answer the consumer''s basic questions about diseases, conventional and alternative therapies, and individual dietary supplements. Written by leading experts and science writers, The User''s Guide to Nutritional Supplements Series covers a range of popular alternative medicine and health issues, including specific major diseases, alternative therapies, and vitamins, minerals, herbs, and other nutritional supplements. The User''s Guide to Vitamin E explains this remarkable vitamin''s benefits and how you can easily put it to work for you.

Celebrate the spirit of Christmas in a quintessentially New England state with inspiring, funny, and heart-warming essays accompanied by stunning color photographs.

Diane Smith''s second collection heart-warming and humorous stories from the Positively Connecticut TV series, now seen on Connecticut Public Television.