Going deep into the origins, traditions, and evolution of Christmas, this book provides a captivating look at how this winter celebration has transformed through the ages.Beginning with the ancient pagan festivals that marked the winter solstice, such as Yule and Saturnalia, how early Christian traditions gradually merged with these customs, giving birth to what we now recognize as Christmas, insightful examination of how the story of Jesus’ birth became central to the holiday and ...

"Izaldin" (Approx. 320 pages)From the alleys of Jerusalem to the forests of Brazil, "Izaldin" unfolds as a gripping tale of intrigue and violence weaving together themes of family legacy, revenge and redemption, and drawing its characters into a treacherous landscape where the past and present, the real and the unreal, collide.Hibah, a mystic with the ability to see beyond the veil, inadvertently connects the unborn son of Catherine, a young woman, and her ...

Learning objectives, case studies, updated codes and standards, information about emergency response, and school fire safety planning are all included in this essential book for safety professionals, both present and future. It also outlines the essential components of an effective fire safety management program, explains the types and functions of fire control equipment, discusses the identification and control of hazardous materials, identifies safety organizations and resources for fire...

Proven strategies for harnessing the power of social media to drive social changeMany books teach the mechanics of using Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to compete in business. But no book addresses how to harness the incredible power of social media to make a difference. The Dragonfly Effect shows you how to tap social media and consumer psychological insights to achieve a single, concrete goal. Named for the only insect that is able to move in any directi...

Trying to figure out why you're stuck at this stage of your trade business journey? Your business model is wrong. That's the problem. Working harder has got you to this point. Now, it's time to work smarter.Start Up. Scale Up. Sell Up. is for trade business owners who want to make more money and fast-track financial freedom. Life is short. Don't waste time reinventing the wheel. This book has all the answers.Andy and Angela Smith, fellow trade business owners and co-founder...

Lots of books teach the mechanics of using Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Some explain how to use these and other tools to compete in business. But no book addresses one of the biggest desires among 18-34 year olds: how to harness the incredible power of the new social media to make a difference, to do something that really matters. The goal of this book is simple: to help you achieve a singular goal by harnessing social media. To create political change, the way the Obama campaign did. T...

Two thousand years ago on Calvary, a different story begins...

This is a work of fiction.Any names, characters, events or locations depicted are the product of the imagination.Any resemblance to actual persons (living or dead) is entirely coincidental.It's also a kind of history play.I'll admit that there are plenty of gaps, but that's OK.You can fill them in.Let's begin.Award-winning theatre-maker Andy Smith presents a new piece of theatre telling a story from the north. The story of a life. The...

Thinking of trading for a living? Then you must know the trader's maxim: "Cut your losses and let your profits run."Simple advice, so why do around 80% of retail traders do just the opposite?Perhaps because, while it may be true that trading is simple and *anyone* can do it, human nature shows us that not anyone can do it *well*.Losing money hurts and, in the market, everybody loses sometimes. Even experienced traders. The thing is, over time, they tend to lose less...

Someone once said that all men are created equal. That someone never wandered the streets of São Paulo at night, and they sure as hell never met Leighton and his friends.Based on interviews with educators, psychologists and the kids themselves, Tup tells the tragicomic tale of Leighton, a dysfunctional twelve-year-old from a dysfunctional family doing whatever it takes to survive on the margins of a dysfunctional society that just doesn't care.After a failed reintegration w...

"We need to use our imagination. We need to imagine that change might be possible. That change is possible, however hard or impossible it might seem.”In a blend of English, Farsi and fully integrated BSL, three performers tell a story from three perspectives. It is the story of an international meeting. A meeting at which something happened, and in that moment everything changed.Exploring equality and inviting action, Summit delves into ideas of language, ...

Varietals of Capitalism shows that politics is an omnipresent part of the economics of wine and of economic activity in general. Based on a four-year research project encompassing fieldwork in France, Spain, Italy, and Romania, Xabier Itçaina, Antoine Roger, and Andy Smith examine the causes and effects of a radical reform adopted at the EU level in 2008. Regulatory change politically transformed the rationale of EU support to the wine industry, f...