Celebrate the holiday season with The Reversible Santa Claus by Meredith Nicholson, a charming and whimsical tale brought to life by the narration of Brian Mark Mitchell. This delightful story follows a mischievous twist on the classic Santa Claus legend, blending humor, adventure, and holiday spirit. Whether sneaking into or out of a cozy, snow-covered home or facing comedic mix-ups, this Santa’s escapades will leave listeners of all ages grinning from ear to ear.Filled w...

This innovative collaborative work—the first to focus on Buddhist tourism—explores how Buddhists, government organizations, business corporations, and individuals in Asia participate in re-imaginings of Buddhism through tourism. Contributors from religious studies, anthropology, and art history examine sacred places and religious monuments as they have been shaped and reshaped by socioeconomic and cultural trends in the region.Following an introduction that offers the first theoret...

Award winning author Jamie Lisa Forbes brings us the story of Rowen Hart, the pampered only son of a prominent family in the small community of White Rock, North Carolina. It's the 1950's and Rowen is following the life path his parents have planned for him when his world is upturned by his father's suicide. Now he finds himself as the sole support for his mother and dependent on his pitiless uncle, who had been his father's business partner.Ill prepared to take over as head of the ...

Enter the terrifying world of history’s most infamous pirate in Sea Horror – Blackbeard by Arthur M. Harris. This vivid, pulse-pounding account captures the monstrous legend of Edward Thatch—better known as Blackbeard—whose reign of terror on the high seas still haunts maritime lore. Harris recounts Blackbeard’s savage exploits, from his gruesome appearance with burning fuses in his beard to his violent battles and twisted alliances. Set against the backdrop of the Carolina coast ...

Spirituality, religious belief and inclusive faith communities are important for mental well being but mental health practitioners have few guidelines for acknowledging these issues when working with service users.Spirituality, Values and Mental Health gathers together personal and professional contributions from mental health professionals, carers and mental health service users and survivors. It addresses the stigma that can surround both mental health and spirituality and explor...

This collection contributes to the theoretical literature on social reproduction—defined by Marx as the necessary labor to arrive the next day at the factory gate—and extended by feminist geographers and others into complex understandings of the relationship between paid labor and the unpaid work of daily life. The volume explores new terrain in social reproduction with a focus on the challenges posed by evolving theories of embodiment and identity, nonhuman materialities, and diverse econ...

Step into the shadowy realm of lost Atlantis in Dragon Moon, a gripping fantasy novelette by Henry Kuttner. When Elak, a reluctant heir to the throne of Cyrena, learns that the King of Kiriath has fallen under the control of the malevolent sorcerer Karkora—the Pallid One—he must embrace his destiny to stop an ancient evil from consuming the realm. Armed with a mystical talisman and guided by allies like the wise Aynger and the enigmatic sea-witch Mayana, Elak battles monstrous for...

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic brought the world to its knees. When we weren’t sheltering in place, we were advised to wear masks, wash our hands, and practice social distancing. We watched in horror as medical personnel worked around the clock to care for the sick and dying. Businesses were shuttered, travel stopped, workers were furloughed, and markets dropped. And people continued to die.Amid all this uncertainty, writers and artists from around the world continued to create com...

Explore Twisted, the Python-based event-driven networking engine, and review several of its most popular application projects. It is written by community leaders who have contributed to many of the projects covered, and share their hard-won insights and experience.Expert Twisted starts with an introduction to event-driven programming, explaining it in the context of what makes Twisted unique. It shows how Twisted's design emphasizes testability as a solution to common chal...

Humanity is deeply committed to living along the world’s shores, but a catastrophic storm like Sandy—which took hundreds of lives and caused many billions of dollars in damages—shines a bright light at how costly and vulnerable life on a shoreline can be. Taking Chances offers a wide-ranging exploration of the diverse challenges of Sandy and asks if this massive event will really change how coastal living and development is managed.Bringing together leading researchers—inc...