Examines the lure of mountains in German literature, philosophy, film, music, and culture from the Middle Ages to the twenty-first century. Mountains have always stirred the human imagination, playing a crucial role in the cultural evolution of peoples around the globe and becoming infused with meaning in the process. Beyond their geographical-geological significance, mountains affect the topography of the mind, whether as objects of peril or attraction, of spiritual enlightenment or existential fulfillment, of philosophical contemplation or aesthetic inspiration. This volume challenges the oversimplified assumption that human interaction with mountains is a distinctly modern development, one that began with the empowerment of the individual in the wake of Enlightenment rationalism and Romantic subjectivity. These essays by European and North American scholars examine the lure of mountains in German literature, philosophy, film, music, and culture from the Middle Ages to the present, with a focus on the interaction between humans and the alpineenvironment. The contributors consider mountains not as mere symbolic tropes or literary metaphors, but as constituting a tangible reality that informs the experiences and ideas of writers, naturalists, philosophers, filmmakers, and composers. Overall, this volume seeks to provide multiple answers to questions regarding the cultural significance of mountains as well as the physical practice of climbing them. Contributors: Peter Arnds, Olaf Berwald, Albrecht Classen, Roger Cook, Scott Denham, Sean Franzel, Christof Hamann, Harald Höbusch, Dan Hooley, Peter Höyng, Sean Ireton, Oliver Lubrich, Anthony Ozturk, Caroline Schaumann, Heather I. Sullivan, Johannes Türk, Sabine Wilke, Wilfried Wilms. SEAN IRETON is Associate Professor of German at the University of Missouri. CAROLINE SCHAUMANN is Professor of German Studies at Emory University.

Low latitude observations of VLF/LF pulse reflections from the lower ionosphere obtained at nine locations to the east and west of a transmitter in southeastern Brazil are described. The data provide a variety of information on the reflection properties of the ionosphere below about 90 km altitude. Aspects of the data are presented in quasi-dimensional formats useful for identifying ionosphere structure and variability, and detailed analyses of portions of the data provided, which characterize the effective heights of the reflection coefficients of the ionosphere at noon and midnight, over a frequency range from 15 to 65 kHz. Electron density models of the ionosphere, derived from VLF/LF reflection data are also discussed. Keywords: VLF propagation; LF Propagation; Ionosphere reflectivity d region.

Written by an avid mountaineer, the poems in Reflections on Mountaineering reveal human reactions to fear and awe, and explore the role of luck, fate, and chance. The poems also deal with the human perception of reality and its underlying nature in the context of the meaning of life itself. Narrative in form, many stories in this eloquent collection are drawn from the author’s life, and some are reflections on the experiences of fellow climbers in general.

Encounter the varied aspects of mountaineering and, more importantly, the feelings evoked by striving for success in both the preparation required for mountaineering, and in the attainment of its goals.

Everything you think, say, and do impact on your life. You therefore have the power to make your life what you want it to be. Reflective Empowerment provides a simple, but powerful, program to design the life you want. It is a one-year program that builds one brick of empowerment, on another brick of empowerment, until your full brilliance of empowerment is unleashed. Reflective Empowerment shows you: How to move from apathy to empowerment Secrets and benefits of reflection Importance and benefits of action The practice of examining your life Where to put emphasis in your strategic thinking The route to your empowerment is mapped out in Reflective Empowerment, and gives the background to show the connectedness to 7 critical steps of empowerment: Self-awareness Vision of your purpose Clarify and detail your goals Embrace persistence Upgrade your skills Take others to new heights Review your results and target your better performance Reflective Empowerment offers a sustained, easy, approach to taking control of your life, and doing the things that are necessary to empower you to be the best that you can be. By actively following the simple daily guidelines, as outlined in Reflective Empowerment, you design your own success, and take responsibility for your own empowerment. Moreover, your empowerment blossoms fully when you support others to be their best, as well as enhance the environment.

“...This collection of poems perfectly encapsulates Goldman’s obvious deep awe and reverence of the mountains...one truly feels present with Mr. Goldman, as he climbs both the physical and emotional mountains in front of him... ...The moral questions and dilemmas Goldman grapples with within his journey are applicable to both climbers and non-climbers alike, making this collection a worthwhile read to all.” ~ Theresa Kadair, Portland Book Review “No reader will look at the mountainous scenery or photography of mountain subjects in quite the same way after reading these poems.” ~ Joan Kirschner, IndieReader. “Goldman does a truly wonderful job of presenting these eye-opening, awe-inspiring peaks and mountains in a completely new way with wonderful use of vocabulary.” ~ Alex Telander, San Francisco Book Review “Alan Goldman reaches new heights with the second, revised, and expanded edition...with new poems and old to deliver a powerful collection of verses to inspire the imagination.” ~ Maileen Hamto, Seattle Book Review “A truly thoughtful and beautifully written collection of poetry which captures both the author’s vivid imagery and the beauty of nature all at once” ~ Anthony Avina, Pacific Book Review