An all-true accidental spiritual adventure, "Roll Around Heaven" is filled with polished prose and travel-writer Maxwell's eye-opening and often humorous experiences. Her work will resonate with seekers and cynics, nature lovers and travel enthusiasts alike.

A comprehensive anthology bringing together more than one thousand of the best American and English song lyrics of the twentieth century; an extraordinary celebration of a unique art form and an indispensable reference work and history that celebrates one of the twentieth century’s most enduring and cherished legacies. Reading Lyrics begins with the first masters of the colloquial phrase, including George M. Cohan (“Give My Regards to Broadway”), P. G. Wodehouse (“Till the Clouds Roll By”), and Irving Berlin, whose versatility and career span the period from “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” to “Annie Get Your Gun” and beyond. The Broadway musical emerges as a distinct dramatic form in the 1920s and 1930s, its evolution propelled by a trio of lyricists—Cole Porter, Ira Gershwin, and Lorenz Hart—whose explorations of the psychological and emotional nuances of falling in and out of love have lost none of their wit and sophistication. Their songs, including “Night and Day,” “The Man I Love,” and “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered,” have become standards performed and recorded by generation after generation of singers. The lure of Broadway and Hollywood and the performing genius of such artists as Al Jolson, Fred Astaire, Ethel Waters, Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, and Ethel Merman inspired a remarkable array of talented writers, including Dorothy Fields (“A Fine Romance,” “I Can’t Give You Anything but Love”), Frank Loesser (“Guys and Dolls”), Oscar Hammerstein II (from the groundbreaking “Show Boat” of 1927 through his extraordinary collaboration with Richard Rodgers), Johnny Mercer, Yip Harburg, Andy Razaf, Noël Coward, and Stephen Sondheim. Reading Lyrics also celebrates the work of dozens of superb craftsmen whose songs remain known, but who today are themselves less known—writers like Haven Gillespie (whose “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” may be the most widely recorded song of its era); Herman Hupfeld (not only the composer/lyricist of “As Time Goes By” but also of “Are You Makin’ Any Money?” and “When Yuba Plays the Rumba on the Tuba”); the great light versifier Ogden Nash (“Speak Low,” “I’m a Stranger Here Myself,” and, yes, “The Sea-Gull and the Ea-Gull”); Don Raye (“Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” “Mister Five by Five,” and, of course, “Milkman, Keep Those Bottles Quiet”); Bobby Troup (“Route 66”); Billy Strayhorn (not only for the omnipresent “Lush Life” but for “Something to Live For” and “A Lonely Coed”); Peggy Lee (not only a superb singer but also an original and appealing lyricist); and the unique Dave Frishberg (“I’m Hip,” “Peel Me a Grape,” “Van Lingo Mungo”). The lyricists are presented chronologically, each introduced by a succinct biography and the incisive commentary of Robert Gottlieb and Robert Kimball.

Rooted in the creative success of over 30 years of supermarket tabloid publishing, the Weekly World News has been the world's only reliable news source since 1979. The online hub www.weeklyworldnews.com is a leading entertainment news site.

The poetry and prose collected in Plainwater are a testament to the extraordinary imagination of Anne Carson, a writer described by Michael Ondaatje as "the most exciting poet writing in English today." Succinct and astonishingly beautiful, these pieces stretch the boundaries of language and literary form, while juxtaposing classical and modern traditions. Carson envisions a present-day interview with a seventh-century BC poet, and offers miniature lectures on topics as varied as orchids and Ovid. She imagines the muse of a fifteenth-century painter attending a phenomenology conference in Italy. She constructs verbal photographs of a series of mysterious towns, and takes us on a pilgrimage in pursuit of the elusive and intimate anthropology of water. Blending the rhythm and vivid metaphor of poetry with the discursive nature of the essay, the writings in Plainwater dazzle us with their invention and enlighten us with their erudition.

Experience the romance and adventure of the open road as one bicyclist travels the full length of U.S. Route 62, from Niagara Falls, New York, to El Paso, Texas. This story is filled with the author's humorous experiences, wry observations and fascinating encounters with people who live along this byway, which slices diagonally across America's heartland. Available 06/2001

Here's a practical collection of thoughtful material to help you celebrate several special occasions during the fall and winter months: Rally Day, Reformation Sunday, All Saints' Day, Thanksgiving, Advent, and Youth Sunday. Included are: - "The Saga Of Bobby Wildgoose," a service and sermon specifically tailored for the fall kick-off of Sunday school and commissioning of new Sunday school teachers. The message relates the inspirational story of the beginnings of the Sunday school movement, illustrating the difference that one person can make in the lives of young people. - "Facing The 21st Century With A 16th Century Faith," a message and service for Reformation Sunday that examines what motivated Martin Luther in his disagreements with the established church and suggests that Luther's ideas about the authority of the Bible, the priesthood of all believers, and justification by faith alone remain the durable bedrock of our Christian faith today. - "Running With The Cloud," a stirring All Saints' Day sermon and service reminding us that we who are living are only a small segment of the church universal, and noting that we can draw great strength from the lives of the "saints" who have gone before us. - "A Solid Place To Stand," a Thanksgiving message and service that explores how the Bible's promise of God's presence with us gives us a firm foundation to base our lives on. - "The Measure Of A Man," "A Heart Prepared," "Night Watch," and "Tidings," a set of four first-person monologue sermons for Advent that tell the old, old story with a twist. We see the birth of the Christ Child unfold through the eyes of Joseph, the innkeeper's wife, a shepherd, and an angel. Key Advent themes such as watching, preparation, and righteous action are raised as each character struggles to make sense of extraordinary events. - A Youth Sunday worship service with a charming children's story honoring the presence and participation of the church's young people. The service celebrates their fresh vision and courage in risking, praying, and creating the future. Stan Purdum is the pastor of Centenary United Methodist Church in Waynesburg, Ohio. He is also the editor of the preaching journal Emphasis, and has written extensively for both the religious and secular press. Purdum is the author of Roll Around Heaven All Day and Playing In Traffic, both accounts of his long-distance bicycle journeys, as well as New Mercies I See (CSS), a collection of parish stories revealing God's grace. Pamela J. Abbey is a United Methodist minister whose early working years were spent in professional theater. She is currently the pastor of Concord United Methodist Church in Concord, California, and has previously served three other congregations in northern California. Abbey holds degrees in theater from the University of Indianapolis (BA) and the University of Minnesota (MA) as well as an MDiv degree from Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California. Elaine M. Ward is a storyteller/writer/preacher who served for nearly twenty years as Minister of Children at University Park United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas. She is a graduate of Capital University, Union Theological Seminary (New York City) and Lancaster Theological Seminary, where she was writer-in-residence for seven years. Now a resident of Austin, Texas, Ward is the author of Asking For Wonder, And The Sea Lay Down, Alleluia and Story Time At The Altar (CSS), as well as Love In A Lunchbox: Poems And Parables For Children's Worship (Abingdon).

“Don Easterling is a great coach, but he is also an outstanding speaker for any occasion - if you haven’t heard him you should - he is terrific!” - Jim Valvano “Don Easterling is not only one of the greatest swim coaches ever, he is one of the finest storytellers and writers I have ever known. He is a national treasure, a man of superb wit, spirit and charm. He is motivator par excellence, my mentor and dearest friend who has enriched my life and that of so many others. These stories are a must read for all who treasure the values and lessons of life that we all cherish.” - Mark Bernardino, Head Swim Coach University of Virginia “As his athlete, fellow coach and friend, I have been clearly inspired by Coach Easterling’s passion for story telling and his gift of finding the words to motivate us all.” - Beth Harrell, Head Swimming Coach North Florida University “I remember vividly receiving my first Christmas Story in 1990. It came none too soon. Christmas training of my freshman year in college was tough and a heart warming, inspirational and entertaining story was certainly welcomed. Your Christmas stories have delighted for decades. In the busy world we live in: They remind us that reflection inspires & heals; They teach us to find joy in the little things; They truly remind us how to get in the Christmas spirit. The art of story telling is one of many arts that you have mastered. Nothing gets us in the spirit like your stories. They are timeless and will be enjoyed by many for generations to come.”- David Fox, Goldman Sachs, Olympic Gold Medalist “As Coach Don tells his story you follow along with your own story because he has taken you back to a time forgotten until the echoes come flooding back. When the story is read and I have a couple of laughs and wipe away the tears, I carefully fold the story back up and place it safely back in its’ envelope and I take a moment to say, “Thanks Coach”.” - Doug Russell, 2-time Olympic Gold Medalist

The beating heart of the sun is the very pulse of life on earth. And from the ancients who plotted its path at Stonehenge to the modern scientists who unraveled the nuclear fusion reaction that turns mass into energy, humankind has sought to solve its mysteries. In this lively biography of the sun, Bob Berman ranges from its stellar birth to its spectacular future death with a focus on the wondrous and enthralling, and on the heartbreaking sacrifice, laughable errors, egotistical battles, and brilliant inspirations of the people who have tried to understand its power. What, exactly, are the ghostly streaks of light astronauts see-but can't photograph-when they're in space? And why is it impossible for two people to see the exact same rainbow? Why are scientists beginning to think that the sun is safer than sunscreen? And how does the fluctuation of sunspots-and its heartbeat-affect everything from satellite communications to wheat production across the globe? Peppered with mind-blowing facts and memorable anecdotes about spectral curiosities-the recently-discovered "second sun" that lurks beneath the solar surface, the eerie majesty of a total solar eclipse-The Sun's Heartbeat offers a robust and entertaining narrative of how the Sun has shaped humanity and our understanding of the universe around us.

Everything you need to know to put your drawings and paintings into perspective! If the concept of perspective makes you think of confusing angles, fancy measuring gadgets and complicated theories, get ready for a very pleasant surprise. In this comprehensive guide, Phil Metzger demystifies perspective, presenting it simply as a matter of mimicking the way we see--like the way a distant mountain appears blue, or a road seems to narrow in the distance. The Art of Perspective offers simple but powerful techniques for achieving a convincing illusion of depth and distance, whether it's a few inches in a still life or miles in a landscape. • Start simple, with atmospheric perspective and intuitive techniques, and gradually progress to linear perspective and more complex challenges such as stairways, curves and reflections. • Use the engaging, step-by-step demonstrations and exercises to try out each essential concept for yourself, making lessons clearer and more memorable. • Learn theories that apply to all mediums, with specific advice for achieving effects using acrylic, oil, watercolor and pencil. • Get the inside scoop on professional tricks and shortcuts that make perspective easier than ever! Forget everything you think you know (or don't know) about perspective. This book builds an easy-to-follow, ground-up understanding of how to turn a flat painting or drawing surface into a living, breathing, dimensional scene that lures viewers in. No matter how you look at it, it's the ultimate guide to perspective for artists of every medium and skill level.

“If McBride is trying to prove—that if you change one life, you change the world—she succeeds magnificently.”—Booklist From the author of the acclaimed novel We Are Called to Rise comes a “jewel of a novel” (BookPage) about four vivid and complicated women in Las Vegas whose lives become connected by secrets, courage, tragedies, and small acts of kindness. Fun-loving and rebellious, twenty-one-year-old June Stein abandons the safe world of her New Jersey childhood for edgy 1950s Las Vegas. For the next 60 years, June will dare to live boldly. She will upend conventions, risk her heart and her life, rear a child, lose a child, love more than one man, and stand up for more than one woman. June’s story will intertwine with those of three unlikely strangers: a one-time mail order bride from the Philippines, a high school music teacher, and a young mother from Mexico working as a hotel maid. Knit together around June’s explosive secret, they forge a future that none of them foresee. This jubilant, compassionate novel explores the unexpected ways that life connects us, changes us, and even perfects us. A powerful story of lust and of hope, of redemption and of compassion, In the Midnight Room is a smart, sagacious novel about womanhood, family bonds, and how we live in America now.