Wages Of Crime: Black Markets, Illegal Finance, And The Underworld Economy

Book Description

"Never in history has there been a black market tamed from the supply side. From Prohibition to prostitution, from gambling to recreational drugs, the story is the same. Supply-side controls act to encourage production and increase profits. At best a few intermediaries get knocked out of business. But as long as demand persists, the market is served more or less as before. In the meantime, failure to `win the war' [against crime] becomes a pretext for increasing police budgets, expanding law enforcement powers, and pouring more money into the voracious maw of the prison-industrial complex."—from the Introduction

R. T. Naylor specializes in the study of smuggling, black markets, and international financial crime. Wages of Crime takes the reader into the shadowy underworld of modern criminal business—arms trafficking, gold smuggling, money laundering, and terrorist financing. Naylor dissects the schemes by which illegal entrepreneurs disguise their acts, manage their take, and eventually enjoy the loot. The author asserts that much of what police, press, politicians, and the public understand about international crime is based on myth and misrepresentation.

Wages of Crime also outlines Naylor's claim that some of the most popular modern law-enforcement fads are inefficient or useless and can do massive damage in eroding civil liberties. In the wake of recent tragedies, Naylor's criticisms of contemporary anticrime policies and the confounding of criminal and national security issues have a sharper resonance.

Customer Reviews:

cornell press.......2007-06-10

Multi faceted and objective look at the underworld economy.
Many statitistics and and overwhelming amount of detailed historical
information. Some sources not sited in what could appear to be
biased editorializations, but these observations are few and far in
between. All in all a great overview.

Political diatribe masquerading as scholarly work.......2006-07-31

When I picked up Wages of Crime, I was hoping to find an objective presentation and debate on the the value of anti-money laundering policies and law enforcement trends. Instead, Naylor, without providing any evidence, reaches conclusions that suit only his own political agenda, which he pretty much makes clear throughout the book. His tone is wholly one sided and dismissive. It's perhaps a good thing that the author reverts to childlike plays on names and other amateurish techniques to support his arguments, for by doing so, he allows the reader to easily dismiss most of what he has to say. Examples of name calling include this sentence: "Hence, advised by neo-con artists crafting its foreign policy...". Neo-con artists. How clever. Or in this passage where he describes the many wonderful things he thinks Hizbullah has done, he includes: "rebuilding houses gratuitously destroyed by Israeli bombs and shells". This book is anything but a serious, unbiased study of the issues.

If you do a Google on Naylor, the first link brings you to an interview where Naylor gets right down to business in the very first question. His answer tells you all you need to know about what you might read from Wages of Crime: "Al Queda itself does not exist, except in the fevered imaginations of neo-cons and Likudniks, some of whom, I suspect, also know it is a myth, but find it extremely useful as a bogeyman to spook the public and the politicians to acquiesce in otherwise unacceptable policy initiatives at home and abroad."

A Marxist perspective on Black Market issues.......2006-06-29

This book on the black market makes a case for going back to views popular in the 1960s. In the 1960s, the black market was populated with cold-war spies and gun running free-booters. Since then, the popular press has painted the black market as a drug running paradise. Naylor tries to convince us this image is a lie. The real black market criminals are capitalist executives in the military-industrial complex. Defined in this manner, 'Wages of Crime' becomes a traditional left wing vehicle for brow beating those unwilling to genuflect before Marxist-Leninist dogma. This critique is not limited to attacks on the US political establishment. At one point Naylor laments that Gorbachev's generation 'forgot its ideological roots'. On another page, Naylor describes the proletarian interests in South East Asia.

The reader won't find the standard pulp crime stories here, which is a blessing. Unfortunately, the book relies on rhetorical flourish rather than statistics. Thus, it simply substitutes one stereotype with a second.

The text was pulled from independent articles, so the flow is sometimes uneven. For example, a chapter seeking to debunk the political might of heroin/cocaine dealers tries to convince the reader that drugs are of marginal economic importance. He complains that the published estimates of drug dealer wealth are too high by perhaps a factor of 100. In another chapter, rich drug dealers engage in crimes with military-industrial complex.

recomended.......2006-02-17

I really think this book gives a great inside in to the economics of ilegal activities.

A better understanding of Black Markets than regulators have.......2006-01-11

R.T. Naylor has a better understanding of illicit markets, than most regulators have. He has obviously done extensive research, on the mechanics of money laundering for example, and knows the legitimate banking system, as well as the underground financial system. I suspect his thesis that organized crime is a myth, may be quite controversial. Nonetheless, he backs up his statements with convincing arguments. The only reason, I did not rate this book 5 stars, is that he slips in his political viewpoints, that are decidedly left of center. As an example, when speaking of Republican congressman Henry Hyde's attempt to reform how banks report questionable transactions to the government, he states, "And for a time, Representative Hyde shifted his energies to more pressing matters, leading the abortive move to impeach Bill Clinton-not because Clinton had gutted the social welfare system, capitulated to the medical establishment on health care, or committed mass murder in Iraq but because of his idiosyncratic taste in custom flavored cigars". (pp.277)These types of gratuitous statements, while rare in this book, take away some of the force of the dilemma most Western countries face in dealing with an underground economy. Still, this is an excellent book, that reads like a college textbook, with priceless insights on offshore banking, money laundering, the underworld gold economy, crime control, and other topics. I strongly suggest this book, as a social commentary of the black market and undergorund economy.

Book Description

Recipient of the 1995 Best Book Award from the Organizational Communication division of the Speech Communication Association "I have just finished reading Organizational Communication. This is a magnificent piece of work bringing together current and past scholarship to form a persuasive argument for awareness. I will bring this work to the attention of a graduate class I'm teaching on organizational change and team building. . . . Above all, I recommend it to instructors of organizational communication." --William Gorden, Kent State University The lines between our personal and professional lives are blurred--naturally, one affects the other. Organizational Communication is the first book on the subject to take into account the personal context we bring into an organization. In addition to the connections between home life, social life, and professional activities, author Cynthia Stohl asserts that we must pay close attention to the linkages that individuals develop and maintain within their organizational contexts. Each chapter illustrates the ways in which today's changing social patterns, the increasing diversity of the workforce, the introduction of new communication technologies, and the challenges of global integration and competition create organizational and interpersonal networks that are intricately interwoven and complex. By reframing the network metaphor, the author challenges us to examine the ways in which organizational communication is always embedded in, and influenced by, overlapping systems of relationships. Organizational Communication is the ideal text for courses in organizational communication that focus on the organization as an integrated aspect of our lives, our culture, and our global society.

Amazon.com

"Look to the ant, thou sluggard, consider her ways and be wise," says the proverb. Bert Hölldobler and E.O. Wilson have joined together to tell how they took this advice and to share the fruits of their wisdom. As Nature said, they "have done for ants what Levi's did for denim." Not just a good-parts version of their magisterial, Pulitzer-winning The Ants, Journey is also a double autobiography--the history of how early enthusiasm developed into an enormously fruitful scientific collaboration. "We, having entered our bug period as children, were blessed by never being required to abandon it," the authors write. Their devotion to their chosen field shines through.

Journey to the Ants gives an outstanding overview of the enormous variety and fascination of myrmecology, from the primitive bulldog ants of Australia to the complexities of weaver ant societies, slave-making ants and agriculture, army ants, and the social parasites concealed within anthills. There is an appendix with practical instructions for collecting individual ants or whole colonies, dead or alive. Hölldobler and Wilson clearly want other children to follow in their footsteps, growing from simple bug love to insights into evolution and society. --Mary Ellen Curtin

Book Description

Richly illustrated and delightfully written, Journey to the Ants combines autobiography and scientific lore to convey the excitement and pleasure the study of ants can offer. Bert Hölldobler and E. O. Wilson interweave their personal adventures with the social lives of ants, building, from the first minute observations of childhood, a remarkable account of these abundant insects' evolutionary achievement.

Customer Reviews:

amazing.......2007-08-03

There is few to say that has not been said. It is very well written and the information is mind-boggling.

Wonderful!.......2007-07-09

I loved this book. After reading it I spent the next night telling my wife all I'd managed to remember.

Networks to Socialism, Love and Learn from the Ants.......2007-06-29

As many have said in the reviews and hard to top, this is a book that the whole family can enjoy as it includes instructions at the end on starting an Ant farm. I would however advise just one point for the kids and that is if the smaller kids are reading it by themselves and that is just tell them to skip over the big technical words and they will get just as much a kick out of it as I did. They can learn the technical words as they progress. But WOW ! , what a great book and the vast implications to so many areas from human society to our entire planet as a whole.

I was mostly interested in myrmecology to learn more about network systems and their benefits and implications, but got way more. The more I read of Edward O. Wilson, the more eager and the more desire I have to read further. My only regret is that it took this long to come across both his and others work.

Of note and besides the many enlightening aspects in the book, my favorite insigt is in the first few pages, as paraphrased, "It would appear that socialism really works under some circumstances; Karl Marx just had the wrong species." If that quote interests you, then the rest of the book will too.

Fantastic and fun book for everyone from the myrmecologist to the layman..........2007-05-25

This book is very informative and extremely entertaining, offering a review of the history and landmark findings of myrmecology by two of the field's greatest minds. While it is not nearly as exhaustive as the authors' great tome The Ants, Journey to the Ants carries a momentum that The Ants at times can lack due to its nature as a technical monograph. Part gripping narrative and part academic text, it offers something for anyone with a healthy interest in biology.

Must Read!!! Family Book........2007-02-03

I have the author's award winning, "The Ants" and it is truly the landmark book on all things Ants. But it is big and difficult for a non-scientist to read through. I recommend it, nonetheless. This book, however, is a wonderful distillation of the key points from the bigger book. It was specificilly written to engage a non-expert on the wonderful and amazing creatures called Ants. They succeed admirably in their attempt to impart good science and information about ants, but they succeed even better in their attempt to write an engaging, thrilling, intellectually stimulating book. Everyone who has the slightest appreciation of nature and love of learning will like this book. Adults can read it straight through, younger readers can sample at will, and younger children will love the pictures and short "readings to". This is one of the best non-technical science books I've read.

Journey to the Ants: A Story of Scientific Exploration.: An article from: American Scientist

Average customer rating:

Journey to the Ants: A Story of Scientific Exploration.: An article from: American Scientist
C. Ronald Carroll
Manufacturer: Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

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Journey to the Ants: a Story of Scientific Exploration

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Journey to the Ants: a Story of Scientific Exploration
Bert Holldobler
Manufacturer: Belknap Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000JVCH5G

Book Description

This definitive guide to hiking in Vermont has been completely revised and updated and includes six new hikes. In addition to covering the Green Mountains it now includes 6 more new hikes ranging throughout the state.

From gentle nature trails to rugged peak climbs, from remote fishing holes to historic ghost towns, from rushing waterfalls to rare peregrine falcon habitat, the Green Mountain State has much to offer hikers. This completely revised and updated sixth edition leads hikers up classic peaks like Camel's Hump, Mount Mansfield, and Mount Ascutney, as well as revealing many more lesser-known gems.

The hikes range in length from a half-mile stroll to a 22-mile backpacking trip. Each hike description includes a topographic map, mile-by-mile directions, and information on distance, difficulty, terrain, and hiking time. An overview chart makes it easy to pick a hike for every ability. And each hike description is enlivened by knowledgeable commentary on the area's geology, history, flora, and wildlife. 50 black & white photographs, 51 maps, index.

Customer Reviews:

decent "starter" trail guide for VT.......2007-08-19

I purchased this book when I first moved to Vermont to help me find my way around the trails here. It provides a decent cross-section of hikes, "rambles", and overnights throughout the state and across the entire spectrum of difficulties (from "easy (even with kids)" to "oh goodness, that was rough").

If you are just starting out with outdoors activities, this is a good place to start because you are almost certain to find something near to you that is within your comfort zone (as far as challenge goes). However, if you are a more experienced hiker, you will outgrow this book too quickly. (And if that is the case, I would suggest the Green Mountain Club's "Day Hiker's Guide" instead.)

Beautiful guide with essential information.......2003-09-19

Living in California, I don't get a chance to hike in Vermont as often as I would like. But when I do, I always take this lightweight guide along in my car and in the pack. The best part about the guide is that hikes are described in detail and directions to each trailhead are given in exhaustive detail. This is especially important for out-of-towners who aren't familiar with the back country roads. The authors have hiked each of the trails and they offer pithy comments on trail conditions, the possibility of seeing wildlife and other pertinent information.

There is a separate section on the magnificent Long Trail, the 260 mile hike which runs from the Massachusetts border to he Canadian border. My one slight criticism is the photos, which could be of better quality, but the text, route descriptions and ancillary material are of high quality.

Good not Great.......2002-08-29

This book does provide good trail descriptions for a reasonable number of hikes in Vermont. I've hiked about a dozen of the trails listed in here, of those 10 there were:

2 in which the directions to the trailhead listed the wrong forest service road to take.

3 in which I saw other trails at junctions that weren't mentioned in this book leading to nearby attractions (without giving full descriptions it would be nice to mention alternatives for longer hikes available).

1 in which the directions led to a difficult hike, but it turned out talking to people at the top that a much easier hike was available to reach the same destination from the same trailhead.

Having said that, this book does give the visitor an easy way to plan some hikes in Vermont. The Falcon guide looks to be similar, so it might be useful to read both before planning your hikes.

Before you buy this book..........2001-06-11

I liked this book - easy to read and informative. The only problem was it didn't have very specific information on things like shelters, camping, etc. - it's more of a day-hike book. I phoned the Green Mountain Club (the authors) to get more info, and it turns out that they have written a book of their own called "The Long Trail Guide")that is much more comprehensive and they recommend it more than this one. I would check that book out before you get this one. But if you just want a good book for day hikes, I like this one fine.

Comprehensive hiking book for the right price.......2000-09-17

The fifth edition of this book, written by two members of the Green Mountain Club, covers hikes everywhere in the State. To no one's surprise, the majority are located along the Appalachian trail and the area with the least hikes covered is in the Northeast Kingdom.

The authors offer a very good "At A Glance" section in the beginning with hike name, location, and so forth-- many of the things also covered in the individual hikes, but what stands out in this secion is whether or not each hike has a view, good for kids, nearby camping, good for winter, and my personal fav, notes that state whether the hike is good for x-c skiing, snowshoeing, waterfalls, historical interest, etc. The book also contains a "hiker's" guide to trail map symbols, safety, what the pack and more.

There are no surprises in the write-up for each hike. The authors have not left anything out: distance, hiking time, vertical rise, difficulty rating, pictures and topographical maps.

You won't find a better book about hiking in Vermont for this reasonable price.

Book Description

Proof that learning grammar doesn't have to be boring. This easy-to-understand and humorous guide is for students in their second year of Greek study.

Customer Reviews:

Thank you Dr. Black.......2007-10-07

I had Dave Black for elementary Greek and used his "Learn to Read New Testament Greek." I took another professor for intermediate Greek, and we used Dan Wallace's book. I bought this anyway, and couldn't be more grateful. The material is much the same, but the explanations are much more comprehensible. Black can cover in 3-4 pages what Wallace would in 20-30, and you actually understand what you are dealing with. Furthermore, Black doesn't beat you in the head with over the top technicalities. Bottom line, while there may be other grammars which are helpful, this is the book that opened my understanding of intermediate Greek and enabled me to succeed in the class.

Better than Metzger?.......2006-06-28

I used Metzger for years as I tried time after time to learn the necessary vocublary...It's too bad Metzger doesn't do a complete update of his work. So we are left with this attempt. On the positive side: This is a newer work. Verbs have principle parts. Layout of the book is better, it is possible to "mask" part (English) and just see the Greek word: Has a good and simpler section on the Third Declension...I can't tell if the binding is good or not. It is extreemly flexible, very thin type of glue and the "jacket" allows the book to be nicely opened up for easy, flat reading, but long term will it hold up? I don't know. This is a fault of Metzger's book, it falls apart...
For the negatives: The largest part of the book is listings of words used 10 times or less for each NT book, if you have the excellent "A Reader's Greek New Testament" then this large part of the book is useless. The section on prepostions is cute, but not complete, showing houses with arrows going every-which-way. This is not the fault of the authors, but the breathing marks are printed soooo small that the first thing I do is break out the magnifing glass and remark them. Also the verbs are defined like infinities, for example "eurisko"="to find".

The First Step into Intermediate Greek.......2005-03-18

Once a student finishes the first year of Biblical Greek, there are three "intermediate" grammars that should be read: Dan Wallace's "Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics", Dana and Mantey, and this book by David Alan Black.

Without any question, you should read Black's book first.

First of all, "It's Still Greek to Me" is just plain fun to read (which is not something that can be said of very many grammar books!). Yet, all the wit and excellent writing are not merely to entertain - but reveal Prof. Black as a genuine master teacher who makes NT Greek grammar not only clear but memorable.

For students who are just finishing their first year of Greek, this book should be started as soon as you turn in your last paper for the semester - and definitely before you begin your second year of Greek or your first NT exegesis course.

If your school uses Dan Wallace's highly regarded "Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics" for intermediate Greek, you would still be VERY wise to read Black first. Much of the value of Wallace's work is the enormous number of actual texts that he interacts with. Unfortunately, this can cause students to miss the forest for the trees. By reading Black first, you will better be able to appreciate both the forest and the trees.

NT Professors are strongly encouraged to add "It's Still Greek to Me" to their "highly recommended" and "required" reading lists that they provide to their students.

Highly recommended.

Very good 2nd year book.......2002-01-19

Black helps make the nuances of syntax easier to understand with this concise book. Chapters are well ordered and written in such a way that makes it clear to the reader with some Greek background the true meaning of Greek texts. This book even helped me with English grammar. Well worth the buy.

Good 2nd year text for NT Greek.......2000-11-27

Great for an intermediate text book on NT Greek.

David Black has a relaxed style and uses some terrible puns, all of which goes to making a complex subject easier to learn.

He covers topics in sufficient depth - and avoids getting bogged down in detail. Every category is backed up with examples from the Greek NT, which is very useful.

I found the chapters on infinitives and participles and clauses especially helpful and worthwhile.

Customer Reviews:

another amazing edition.......2006-03-01

This is yet another in a line of truly amazing comics for adults from DC.

One of the Top 5 Comic Books of 2004.......2004-12-02

This is "Hollywood Blockbuster" done right. The A-Team with a Three Kings edge, Andy Diggle writes intelligent action entertainment better than anyone, and his cynical take on world affairs gives this series a realistic, sharp edge that's missing from most other stories in this genre. The characters may be a bit generic, but like a B-movie with A-list actors, Diggle's scripting lifts each of them above their stereoypical cores. And Jock? His jagged, bombastic artwork evokes the hyperactivity of a Jerry Bruckheimer movie. The Losers is my high-octane, not-feeling-the-least-bit-guilty pleasure every month and this collection of issues 7-12 is the perfect way to get a healthy dose of one of the best ongoing series in comics today.

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