Murder is among the most common and most terrible of crimes. Motives for murder include anger, love, greed, hatred, and myriad other emotions and reasons, some passionate, some cold-blooded and calculated. "Homicide" investigates the nature of murder throughout history and tracks the progress of law enforcement in preventing and solving killings. Although modern police rely on a wealth of sophisticated tools, such as fingerprinting, DNA analysis, and computer databases, to solve murders, these techniques were not always available to detectives. This intriguing book demonstrates how murders are investigated, using real-life cases to illustrate key points.Chapters include: Homicide: As Old as Civilization; The Statistics and the Crimes; Homicide Investigation at the Crime Scene; The Homicide Victim; and Using the Evidence to Convict a Suspect....

North Korea has been a communist dictatorship since shortly after the end of World War II. Ruled by the iron hand of Kim Il Sung, the nation struggled economically compared to South Korea, which engineered an economic miracle. Kim died in 1994, turning over the government to his son, Kim Jong Il. A pampered youth, Kim Jong Il gradually took over a variety of powerful positions in his father's government. After he became the dictator, the country suffered a series of economic disasters that brought death to thousands of people. Meanwhile, Kim Jong Il became widely known for turning North Korea into a nuclear power. During the early 21st century, President George W. Bush labeled North Korea part of the Axis of Evil. But some experts on North Korea believe that Kim is simply using the nuclear card to gain worldwide respect and economic aid from the United States. Nevertheless, Kim Jong Il remains a highly controversial leader....

Puerto Rico had been under Spanish control for hundreds of years before the Spanish-American War brought it into the control of the United States. The island transformed from an agricultural colony to a densely populated American commonwealth. In "Puerto Rico in American History", Richard Worth examines the island s history, from the early clash between Spanish colonists and the Taino people to the uncertain future of this growing nation, with some residents who want to remain an American commonwealth, those who want statehood, and those who want independence....

In his voyages to India, beginning in 1497, Vasco da Gama revolutionized the economy of Europe. As the first navigator to find a route to India around Africa's Cape of Good Hope, da Gama gave Portugal the opportunity to take control of the lucrative spice routes that had been dominated for centuries by Italian and Muslim traders. In one bold stroke, da Gama laid the foundation for the Portuguese trading empire and ensured that the world economy would never be the same again. This biography of Vasco da Gama not only presents the life of this famous Portuguese navigator but also describes his impact on world events during the 16th century....

Drafted second overall by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1999, quarterback Donovan McNabb has enjoyed a productive NFL career. In 2004, the five-time Pro Bowler led the Eagles to their first Super Bowl appearance since 1980. Despite losing to the New England Patriots, McNabb threw for 357 yards, the third-highest total in Super Bowl history. McNabb is one of only four Eagles quarterbacks to have thrown for 3,000 yards in consecutive seasons. In addition, he ranks second behind Ron Jaworski in career playoff wins by an Eagle, with eight. In 2002, McNabb was named the recipient of the Wanamaker Award, presented annually to the athlete or team that has done the most to reflect credit upon Philadelphia and their team or sport during the previous year. Off the field, McNabb's foundation raises awareness for diabetes research and prevention....