Teddy Hit Me

An entertaining and poignant memoir of Ted Leavitt's life leading up to the discovery of his ADHD as an adult, the aftermath, and all of the changes that occur as a result of this revelation.

With Hit Me, Fred, sensational sideman Fred Wesley Jr. moves front and center to tell his life story. A legendary funk, soul, and jazz musician, Wesley is best known for his work in the late sixties and early seventies with James Brown and as the leader of Brown’s band, Fred Wesley and the JB’s. Having been the band’s music director, arranger, trombone player, and frequent composer, Wesley is one of the original architects of funk music. He describes what it was like working for the Godfather of Soul, revealing the struggle and sometimes stringent discipline behind Brown’s tight, raucous tunes. After leaving Brown and the JB’s, Wesley arranged the horn sections for Parliament, Funkadelic, and Bootsy’s Rubber Band, and led Fred Wesley and the Horny Horns. Adding his signature horn arrangements to the P-Funk mix, Wesley made funk music even funkier. Wesley’s distinctive sound reverberates through rap and hip-hop music today. In Hit Me, Fred, he recalls the many musicians whose influence he absorbed, beginning with his grandmother and father—both music teachers—and including mentors in his southern Alabama hometown and members of the Army band. In addition to the skills he developed working with James Brown, George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, and the many talented musicians in their milieu, Wesley describes the evolution of his trombone playing through stints with the Ike and Tina Turner Revue, Hank Ballard, and Count Basie’s band. He also recounts his education in the music business, particularly through his work in Los Angeles recording sessions. Wesley is a virtuoso storyteller, whether he's describing the electric rush of performances when the whole band is in the groove, the difficulties of trying to make a living as a rhythm and blues musician, or the frustrations often felt by sidemen. Hit Me, Fred is Wesley’s story of music-making in all its grit and glory.

Predator Priest By: Robert J. McAllister, M.D., Ph.D. When the small town of Springer, Montana, receives a new priest in the parish, retired psychiatrist-turned-rancher Bob Lee forges an unlikely friendship with the mysterious Father Brown. But when a young boy dies under strange circumstances, alone in the woods with the new priest, Springer is in the spotlight, and Bob Lee is go-between and confidant for the accused. Inspired by the worldwide prominence of sexual abuse of children by Catholic clergy, Predator Priest will challenge readers’ attitudes and preconceptions regarding both victimizers and victims. In 50 years of psychiatric practice, the author has treated numerous victims of abuse and interviewed and treated clergy who were abusers. Building on that unique experience, the author offers a sympathetic portrait of a predator priest, calling on church authorities to do much more to lessen the prevalence of abuse and on the rest of us to have more understanding, and more compassion.

THE STORY: In this autobiographical drama, a broken taillight leads to the brutal beating of a highly educated, middle-class black man by a policeman in suburban Virginia. The Kennedys interweave the trial of the victimized son (accused of assaulti

A compendium of inspiring articles on Kolbe Of all the books in the Marian Saints and Shrines series, this one is the most controversial and thus the most needed in order to do justice to the Saint, whom Pope John Paul II spoke of as "the Saint of our difficult century [twentieth]." Is it true, as reported in a PBS documentary, that the Saint was anti-Semitic? What is the reason behind misrepresenting this great modern day Saint? Is a famous Mariologist right in accusing the Saint of being in error by holding that Mary is the Mediatrix of all Graces? The book has over 35 chapters by over ten authors, giving an in-depth view of one of the greatest Marian Saints of all times. You will find this book helpful... - Understanding that Kolbe is not anti-semitic - Great apostolic work of this saint to honor Mary - In understanding Kolbe's Mariology that forged him to be a great saint - To learn Kolbe's example as an authentic priest and missionary - and more...

A collection of stories by Keith Gilman. “The best fiction has this feeling that someone’s just leaned close to whisper in our ear, ‘I’ve something important to tell you.’ Keith Gilman’s debut novel has and sustains that quality from the first page. You know right away that you’re in the hands of a natural and very fine storyteller. Authenticity, voice, the sense of lives beyond the page, all those things we crave as readers and for which we work so hard as writers, tossing the bones, hoping the magic will work–all are solidly, soundly in place.” —James Sallis, author of Drive. “Dark, gritty, and hauntingly lyrical, Keith Gilman writes Noir with the authenticity of a cop who has actually worked the mean streets.” —Robin Burcell, author of Face of a Killer. “…Grabbed me by the collar and wouldn’t let go. Gilman’s voice is a powerful new addition to the crime fiction community.” —Reed Farrel Coleman, Shamus, Barry and Anthony Award-winning author of the Moe Prager series.

An Irish working-class hero of Pittsburgh, Billy Conn captured hearts through his ebullient personality, stellar boxing record, and good looks. A light heavyweight boxing champion best remembered for his sensational near-defeat of heavyweight champion Joe Louis in 1941, Conn is still regarded as one of the greatest fighters of all time. Andrew O'Toole chronicles the boxing, Hollywood, and army careers of "the Pittsburgh Kid" by drawing from newspaper accounts, Billy's personal scrapbooks, and fascinating interviews with family. Presenting an intimate look at the champion's relationships with his girlfriend, manager, and rivals, O'Toole compellingly captures the personal life of a public icon and the pageantry of sports during the 1930s and '40s.

Many parents, educators, and citizens have a deepening concern about the eroding value structures of the American family and society. The resultant weak decision-making skills of our young people, even more mature people, are disturbing. Every day we are faced with numerous decisions; some are trivial while others have life-shaping rewards or consequences. Each decision we make is based on our value structures and contributes to the quality of life experienced by the individual and thus by society. Strong leaders possessing integrity and unyielding moral fiber do not just happen. In their youth they must be taught values-based analytical thinking skills and human performance skills so that they build frameworks of thinking patterns and behavior patterns upon which to base appropriate decisions. What values make up a strong values structure? There are five core or root values. All other values fit within or tie back to those core values. The five core values form a hierarchy, have an interrelationship with one another and can be taught. Read more here...