Descending the Spiral Staircase is a vision I encountered during a dream. This is how a simple construction task turns into a murder investigation, stolen bank money, buried storage shed, hidden tunnel, reconstruction of an unused area to a very usable space. John and Marie are the homeowners, one more vision which changes the lives of many people. Open house grand event, brings concern to the family’s safety, nosey neighbor, leak to the press about the bank reward, all of this puts many agencies on full alert. The remodeling magazine wants to film the entire event; police and FBI scan guest photos, looking for unwanted guests. This is not your typical construction project, many twists and turns to the finale. You will tear up and laugh as the characters evolve. This book is inspired through visions and past experiences in the landscape business. I hope you enjoy reading.

“A great travel writer and more importantly a great traveler.” —Sydney Morning Herald When A. J. Mackinnon quits his job in Australia, he knows only that he longs to travel to the well at the world’s end, a mysterious pool on a remote Scottish island whose waters, legend has it, hold the secret to eternal youth. Determined not to fly—he claims it would feel as though he were cheating—he sets out with a backpack, some fireworks, and a map of the world and trusts that chance will take care of the rest. Traveling by land and sea, train, truck, horse, and yacht, Mackinnon travels across the world, getting caught up in a series of hilarious, sometimes surreal, adventures. He survives a near-fatal bus crash in Australia, accidentally marries a Laotian princess, is attacked by a Komodo dragon, and does time in a sketchy Chinese jail, among many other mishaps and misadventures along the way. Each new continent and each new mode of transport brings the possibility of a near-miss or happy accident, all on the quest for eternal youth. This is the astonishing true story of a remarkable voyage.

"This carefully revised 21st Century Edition (re)considers, in the context of today's field: questions such as 'should actors act from the inside or the outside?' and 'should the actor live the role or present the role?'; contemporary research into communication theory, cybernetics, and cognitive science; brilliantly illuminating and witty exercises for solo study and classroom use, and a through-line of useful references to classic plays; and penetrating observations about the actor's art by more than 75 distinguished professional actors and directors."--Publisher's description.

The ONE handbook thousands of fire officers and firefighters look to for safe, fireground-tested strategies and tactics. With his fifth edition, Chief John Norman offers lessons learned during his extensive and time-honored career. Chief Norman imparts wisdom and experience by offering advice informed by actual outcomes from the fireground. This guide continues to be invaluable for firefighters aspiring to the officer level and those seeking to promote safety and effectiveness in their organization and the communities they serve by improving their own skills. NEW TO THIS EDITION This fifth edition conveys valuable information gained over the past several years from scientific research relating to the tactics that we use to the changes that have taken place within our communities. Failure to recognize change and adapt to it places a fire department at a great disadvantage and can cost lives and property. The community changes that most directly affect the fire service today include faster, hotter, and more toxic fires and significantly reduced staffing in many fire departments. These are inescapable facts. Our challenge is to use the knowledge that is at our disposal to select the right tools, technologies, and tactics to safely and successfully adapt to and overcome these challenges. Chief John Norman has updated his best-selling book for fire officers and firefighters to include: A new chapter on fires in cellars and basements, which have taken on a deadlier aspect in recent years. How to safely deal with cumulative changes in the modern fire environment. The role of fire departments in terrorism and homeland security about specific threats from response to active shooters and sieges to bio-weapons. Divided into two parts—General Firefighting Tactics and Specific Fire Situations—Fire Officer’s Handbook of Tactics, 5th edition, begins with establishing ground rules for structural firefighting and then moves to specific situations of fires and emergencies in the most common structures and occupancies. The many photos, illustrations, and anecdotes provide readers with a greater understanding of the concepts and lessons in the text. As new technologies are introduced into the modern fire service, the basic strategies of firefighting—protecting life, confining the fire, and extinguishing the fire—do not change. What changes are the tactics.

The Korellian Odyssey - Benediction completes the story of Korel, a young boy growing into manhood who abandons his soul mate, Arinnea to the violent intentions and intrigue of the royal court. Korel wanders the wastes until he crosses the Eastern Sea and finds evidence that Arinnea is still alive. Benediction picks up with Korel returning from the sea to explore the gifts of mortality and the balance between life and death as he seeks out the secrets of two declining civilizations founded by the Stewards, a race of people gifted with immortality and charged as caretakers of the world. Korel finds technological and natural horrors that force him to develop his own blossoming gifts. Eventually he finds his way back to his home city and the royal court of Westoreth. Korel discovers Arinnea has died and challenges the king and court in a ritual contest that results in a purging of the throne. He then must decide if and how his relationship with the deceased Arinnea can continue.

The 20th century was a revolutionary period in art history. In the span of a few short years, Modernism exploded into being, disrupting centuries of classical figurative tradition to create something entirely new. This astoundingly thorough survey of art's modern era showcases all of the key artistic movements of the 20th century, from Fauvism to Pop Art, featuring illustrative examples of some of the most renowned works of the era along with illuminating companion essays by expert critics and art historians. A vivid window into the collective psyche of the modern world's great artists, Art of the 20th Century is a must-have for any fan of contemporary art.

In 18th century England, life is tough for the Auldfield farming family but they are proud, hard-working people. Nance’s sorrow at her sister’s death is eased a little by falling in love but this only begins a sequence of devastating events that seem to lead to one place - the gallows! Unknown to her, she is guided by her sister’s loving spirit, finding new life and love herself in the afterlife and trying desperately to avert the consequences of Nance’s recklessness. The author’s debut novel, based on a Suffolk legend, is a brilliant, historically accurate description of Georgian times including genuine dialect. But, far more than this, it is a truly exciting adventure story that also inspires us with beautiful, erudite writing to consider the possibility of an afterlife where our spiritual efforts on Earth are rewarded.

The next moment he was upon him, his eyes blazing, his mouth open to reveal his fangs. Osokin began to pray, not that he would live but that he would truly die . . . Turkmenistan 1881: the fortress city of Geok Tepe has fallen to the Russians. Beneath its citadel sits a prisoner. He hasn’t moved from his chair for two years. Neither has he felt the sun on his face for more than fifty . . . although for that he is grateful. Into this subterranean gaol marches a Russian officer. He has come for the captive. Not to release him, but to return him to St Petersburg – to deliver him into the hands of an old, old enemy who would visit damnation upon the ruling family of Russia: the great vampire Zmyeevich. But there is another who has escaped Geok Tepe and followed the prisoner. He is not concerned with the fate of the tsar, or Zmyeevich or the officer. All he desires is revenge. And other forces have a part to play. A group of revolutionaries has vowed to bring the dictatorship of Tsar Aleksandr to an end, and with it the entire Romanov dynasty. They call themselves The People’s Will . . .