Henhouse explores the breakdown of a family against the background of civil war, as those on the sidelines of a conflict feel its effects. At its heart it poses a simple question: how can we live together?The play draws on Kaite's experiences in frontline towns during the war in former Yugoslavia, but this could be Chechnya, Palestine or ‘the next big thing'. Our awareness of wars is dominated by news of the soldiers and their loved ones, but it is civilians who bear the brunt of modern warfare.What happens to those just trying to live their lives, how do they hold onto normality?
Like a newly discovered treasure map offering a path to buried riches, Foxes in the Henhouse is a hard-hitting political blueprint for how the Democrats can win again in the South and rural America. The authors document the Republicans' rise in the South and Midwest, expose the hypocrisy that marked their ascent, and offer a take-no-prisoners plan to kick them out. The authors know of what they speak. "Rural strategists" Steve Jarding and Dave "Mudcat" Saunders are famous for securing Democratic victories in places they shouldn't have -- most notably in Mark Warner's successful run for governor of Virginia, a campaign that wasn't afraid to use bluegrass concerts and NASCAR to get the message out. When George W. Bush swept the South clean in 2004, it was the final insult to Jarding and Saunders, two self-proclaimed "bubbas" on a mission to convince their fellow southerners and rural Americans that the GOP's claim of representing "values," patriotism, the sportsmen, and fiscal conservatism is a disastrous farce. In addition to exposing the lies behind the gradual Republican invasion of the hinterland that began in the 1960s, they offer some surprisingly simple strategies for Democrats to capture each of these issues. Among other things, Jarding and Saunders urge Democrats to • Quit turning their noses up at the culture of rural America and talk to people where they live • Learn how to count when going after votes • Show some passion and retaliate when Republicans assassinate their characters Packed with meticulous and shocking research findings; blunt, laugh-out-loud language; and merciless assaults on George W. Bush, Tom DeLay, Bill O'Reilly, and plenty of other right-wing charlatans, Foxes in the Henhouse is a must-read and will be one of the most talked-about books of the year and for election cycles to come.
Author Carol Dean relates an adventure that she experienced while growing up on her family's chicken farm in central Maine. The Henhouse is the charming, instructive tale of a young girl who one day begs her father to let her help him care for the chickens. Once inside the big henhouse, though, young Carol is assaulted by sights, sounds, and smells — and agressive roosters — she had only guessed about before.
Widowed Maggie Rifkin returns to Dooleysburg, Pennsylvania, with her 14-year-old son and her New York attitude, navely imagining she can leave her past behind. After sudden tragedy strikes, the thread of destruction might well unravel all the way back to Maggie's childhood secret.
Since the death of her mother, Hannah's family life has been somewhat chaotic. Her father is absorbed by running their dilapidated farm, and the four children are increasingly left to their own devices. These include "farming" each room of the house, looking after an enormous pet sheep called Jasper, and writing and directing plays in a disused hen house. But when the farm is threatened with demolition, Hannah determines to save it and realise her dreams at the same time... Shortlisted for the Waterstones Prize, this is a brilliant story of eccentric family life where the children's imaginations run as free as the farmyard animals. From the award-winning author of Evie's Ghost, Anna at War, The Farm Beneath the Water and the Jasmine Green series for younger readers, this is perfect for fans of Iva Ibbotson and Philippa Pearce.
The time for celebrations is over... Jude Gray’s farm is going from strength to strength, and even though her grumpy neighbour has concerns about the new campsite in the lower field, she is undeterred. When a hen party arrives for a weekend away, she does her best to cater for their celebrations. But with a sheep needing urgent care – an accidental mishap or something more nefarious? – she finds herself consulting the group, which coincidentally contains four vets. When one of the hens goes missing, it becomes clear there are more sinister forces at play, and someone is targeting her farm. With the help of close friend Detective Inspector Binnie Khatri, Jude once again dons her amateur sleuthing hat. They uncover a web of deceit, affairs and rivalries, but will they find the perpetrator before events turn murderous? A brand-new instalment in the thrilling Malvern Farm Mystery series, perfect for fans of Frances Evesham, Merryn Allingham and Faith Martin Praise for Kate Wells: 'A complex and intriguing murder mystery set in beautiful British countryside where the farm animals are as demanding as the local residents. Kept me guessing all the way to the end.' T A Williams 'An original setting and clever plot. Had me hooked from page one.' E.V. Hunter 'A tantalising corkscrew of a plot ... featuring a plucky quartet of very different women working together to uncover the truth about a series of dreadful crimes...' Debbie Young 'I loved this rollercoaster of a book! It was stylish, pacy and gripping, with engaging characters. I rooted for Jude the sleuth from the first page. It's a hugely supenseful story, compelling, well-crafted and cleverly calculated.' Judy Leigh 'A cryptically clever cosy mystery that will transport you to the beautiful Malvern Hills. I couldn’t put it down!' Jessica Bull 'A fabulous cosy murder mystery with plenty of likeable (or are they?) characters, baby lambs, drinks at the local & beautiful countryside. Plus plenty of twists & turns to keep you guessing. Highly recommended!' Cate Green 'A hugely enjoyable and clever murder mystery.' C L Miller '...like a lovely visit to the countryside, a tense murder mystery, and a visit with people I’d want to be friends with all rolled into one.’ Kristen Perrin
An activist and a philosopher discuss how privatization harms society and how we can challenge it. Privatization has been on the right-wing agenda for years. Health care, schools, Social Security, public lands, the military, prisons—all are considered fair game. Through stories, analysis, impassioned argument—even song lyrics—Si Kahn and Elizabeth Minnich show that corporations are, by their very nature, unable to fulfill effectively what have traditionally been the responsibilities of the government. They make a powerful case that the market is not the measure of all things, and that a vital public sector is an indispensable component of a healthy democracy. “If you care about your children’s education, the quality of the air you breathe and the water you drink, affordable health care or Social Security, you need to read The Fox in the Henhouse.... Kahn and Minnich have given us a blueprint of how to organize now and protect our country and our future.” —Jan Schakowsky, U.S. House of Representatives “The Fox in the Henhouse...provides analytic tools for challenging corporate America’s sale of democracy, honors legacies of resistance, and moves us to a vision of hope and action challenging the privatization of our lives and dreams.” —Chandra Talpade Mohanty, educator and author of Feminism Without Borders “Inspiring to read, this book will be of great value to organizers, activists, and citizens of conscience.... Nothing less than our democracy is at stake when extremists want to roll back our hard-earned rights. [This book] offers a spirited blueprint for all citizens who care about renewing America’s best and most generous traditions.” —Katrina vanden Heuvel, editor, The Nation
Read a transcript of Amy Goodman's interview with Si and Elizabeth on Democracy Now! A legendary activist and a distinguished public philosopher address a timely but complex issue in a way that is accessible and compelling Evaluates privatization not just economically, but in social, political, and human terms Offers principles and practices for creating alternatives to privatization and strengthening the public sector Privatization has been on the right-wing agenda for years, but now it has the power of the Bush administration behind it. Health care, schools, Social Security, public lands, the military, prisons - all are considered fair game. But does privatization really serve the public good? Or is it a payoff to powerful corporations intent on replacing the government with a private profit culture, in which there is no meaningful public accountability and the bottom line rules all? In this powerful book, legendary activist Si Kahn and public philosopher Elizabeth Minnich argue that privatization is a threat whose seriousness few appreciate. Kahn and Minnich expose the damage privatization has done in several specific areas of society, as well as to society as a whole. They argue that corporations are, by their very nature, unable to effectively fulfill what have traditionally been the responsibilities of government. Some things that are worth doing simply cant, indeed shouldnt, be done purely for profit. Unless there is a balance between the public and private sectors, vulnerable populations will be chronically underserved and critical public functions will be under-funded to the point of virtual elimination. Privatization is usually dealt with in dry economic terms, but Kahn and Minnich take an unusual and lively approach to the issue. Combining stories, analysis, impassioned argument, and even song lyrics, they discuss how the concept of privatization has evolved and look at the different forces that work for and against it, emphasizing the extreme anti-government ideology motivating many privatization advocates. And they outline principles and practices for combating privatization and its proponents. The Fox in the Henhouse makes a powerful case that the market is not the measure of all things, and that a vital public sector is an indispensable component of a healthy democracy.
In Disney's Chicken Little, our hero is on a mission to live down that unfortunate "acorn incident." You know the one when he shouted, "The sky is falling!" causing mass chaos in the town of Oakey Oaks and earning him the title of town fool. All Chicken Little wants to do now is wipe the embarrassing incident from the town's memory, and move on with his life. But just as things are starting to go his way, a real piece of the sky lands on Chicken Little's head. This time the sky really is falling! But with his history of hysteria, who's going to believe him? Only his band of misfit friends, Ugly Duckling, Runt of the Litter, and Fish Out of Water are there for him.
