Books with author Jan Smith

Most bridge books teach you the rules. They don't teach you to think. This book teaches you to analyze the bid process, understand the meaning of the leading the first card and communication with your partner. There is no substitute for thinking. Bridge video games are built on implementing these rules and most of the times you win the computer. Why you win the computers? Because it programmed to play according to the rules. An example of a bad rule is the “third-hand-play high” rule. In my book, there are many examples that if you implement that rule automatically, you lose. There is no substitute for thinking, and my book guides you how to do so.

Bridge language is different has used to be in the past. A New convention is developed all the time to help partnership to describe their hands in better accuracy and enriches the bridge language.This book presents the Transfer Convention.The method of transfer presented in this book for the first time the method as a whole from the first declaration of the respondent with the best final contract to be reached.The “Transfer” bid is responding to 1-NT or 2-NT partner’s bid.The transfer bid is the respondent’s request.It is the first bid after partner opened the NT bid.You will find in this book many examples fully explained. As well as personal practice with your partner and you will be able to assess your level of control over the method and improve it all the time.

Jordan is a young girl who’s not had an easy life so far. Every night she’s haunted by nightmares; everyday by half-forgotten memories. So what’s a girl to do when she finds out that the secrets of her past may be the only way to save the future?Sweet Melody- Jordan has finally made it to her senior year in high school. If she’s a few years early, then hey, all the better. She thought bullies were going to be her main problem again this year but when two new students show up she quickly learns they will be harder to handle than the bullies. With her school life turning upside down the only peace Jordan is able to find is at home.…That is until the unthinkable happens. When even that fragile peace is threatened, Jordan finds herself in a race against time to figure out what exactly is going on and whom she can trust. With danger lurking behind every corner, can she even figure out how to trust again in time?

No one likes homework. But tricking your future self into doing all your homework for you isn't foolproof. In The Homework That Time Forgot, a young alien named Glort uses his genius to make a science fair project that steals homework from his future self--and causes a paradox! With a second, angry Glort in his universe--a Glort who takes revenge by stealing the project--can he still beat his rival at the science fair, thwart the bully who wants to take credit for his work, and send that angry Glort home? Ages 9-12Also by J. Smith:Ahoy! Monster Ahead

THIS IS A STORY about the the Ayore Village in Paraguay, where Colandra, a ten-year-old mute resides. Pastor Youngblood, the American missionary, has returned to the field, along with his staff. They minister to the Ayore people and teach them the Word of God. This book reveals God's work in Colandra’s life. Salvation and faith are the focus of this story.

In 1999, I decided to something special for our annual Christmas card since it would be the last one for the 20th Century for us. This poem and art, which I created, became that year's Christmas card. I will be donating ALL proceeds from the sale of this book to Roswell Park Women's and Children's Hospital in Buffalo, New York, and hopefully will be ordering a case of hardcover versions, once it is up on Amazon for sale in both formats, to donate to the gift shop at that hospital for sale there. I hope you will like this book, and I have set it as available for sharing if you would like to do so. Thank you for buying this book, and yes, there is something to love about every season. Sometimes you just have to think a bit harder to find it. May all your wishes for someone you love come true.

The first ever, first-person story of America's private, paramilitary contractors at work around the world-from a man who performed these missions himself and has decades of stories to tell. This is a fascinating tale-and potentially the first-to describe the work of American contractors, men who run highly dangerous missions deep inside foreign countries on the brink of war. It will lift the veil and detail the ultimate danger and risk of paramilitary operations (both officially government-sanctioned and not) and show us in very intimate terms exactly what private soldiers do when the government can't act or take public responsibility. GRAY WORK combines covert military intelligence with boots-on-the-ground realism, following Jamie Smith through his CIA training and work as a spy in the State Department, to his co-founding of Blackwater following 9/11, to his decision to leave that company. As the founder and director of Blackwater Security, Smith's initial vision has undeniably shaped and transformed a decade of war. He argues that this gray area-and its warriors who occupy the controversial space between public and private-has become an indispensable element of the modern battlefield.

Help your child review concepts learned in school with this comprehensive workbook! This comprehensive workbook helps your child review and reinforce concepts learned in school with minimal preparation and materials. Includes sections on: - Language arts - Math - Social Studies - Science - Critical thinking - And more! With over 600 pages of educational activities, this beneficial primer promises hours of learning fun for ages 5-7.

Fourteen-year-old Darius is a dreamer. Not the I-want-to-be-a-fireman-when-I-grow-up dreamer, but the I-have-visions-right-in-the-middle-of-class dreamer. The ridicule from his classmates brings him to his breaking point. However, cruel teasing is the least of Darius’ worries.The Dark Witch Kensa has plans that threaten the peace of Alden. A plot including the capture of the Forest Orb, one of the Orbs of Power which were hidden from mankind –and for good reason. The sole possessor of the Orb has complete control over all creatures. With the power, Kensa plans on retrieving the remaining six Orbs to rule the world.However, the only one who can uncover the Orbs location is a seer. Kensa learns she can become one by kidnapping and draining a seer’s power. But after seven seers, she comes up short. When Kensa senses Darius, she marvels at the immense power he holds and won’t stop until she has him. By draining Darius, she will have enough power to recover the Orbs.Darius must not only find a way to control his new power, but also escape the Dark witch and her minions or she will destroy him and take over all of Alden.