Masterful Mingling
Masterful Mingling

Author: Peter Valenzuela

Publisher: Peter Valenzuela

Published: 2024-02-18

Total Pages: 227

ISBN-13:

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Did you know red lipstick made its mark during World War II as a sign of defiance? Or that the solution to one of the oldest riddles in history, found inscribed on an ancient Sumerian tablet, is still debated by scholars today? "Masterful Mingling" is brimming with fascinating trivia, weaving together the worlds of history, science, and culture to enrich your conversations and ignite your curiosity. In an era dominated by digital communication, this book offers a refreshing return to genuine human connections through facts, riddles, brain teasers, and trivia spanning cultures, history, and science. Divided into four parts, "Masterful Mingling" begins by dissecting the nuances of small talk, providing readers with practical strategies for initiating, maintaining, and gracefully exiting conversations. It dives into the etiquette of dialogue across different social situations, emphasizing cultural sensitivity and how to navigate through awkward moments. The heart of the book includes trivia and anecdotes, which serve as powerful tools for bridging cultural divides and sparking lively discussions. From the mysteries of history to the wonders of the natural world, readers are equipped with fascinating tidbits to captivate any audience. In its final sections, the book uses riddles and brain teasers not just as entertainment but as a means to foster collaborative thinking, problem-solving, and a deeper connection among people of all ages. "Masterful Mingling" is more than a guide; it's an invitation to rediscover the joy of conversation, harness the power of shared knowledge, and create lasting bonds. Perfect for anyone looking to enhance their conversational skills and enrich their social interactions.

The Knife Thrower
The Knife Thrower

Author: Steven Millhauser

Publisher: Vintage

Published: 2010-09-01

Total Pages: 241

ISBN-13: 0307763870

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From the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Martin Dressler—a collection of stories in the tradition of Nabokov, Calvino, and Borges that explores the magnificent obsessions of the unfettered imagination, as well as the darker, subterranean currents that fuel them. • "Tantalizing new stories.... Millhauser's ingenuity is delicious." —A. S. Byatt, The Washington Post Book World With the panache of an old-fashioned magician, Steven Millhauser conducts his readers from the dark corners beneath the sunlit world to a balloonist's tour of the heavens. He transforms department stores and amusement parks into alternate universes of infinite plentitude and menace. He unveils the secrets of a maker of automatons and a coven of teenage girls. And on every page of The Knife Thrower and Other Stories, Millhauser confirms his stature as a narrative enchanter.

Up Tunket Road
Up Tunket Road

Author: Philip Ackerman-Leist

Publisher: Chelsea Green Publishing

Published: 2010-05-14

Total Pages: 314

ISBN-13: 1603582797

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Ever since Thoreau's Walden, the image of the American homesteader has been of someone getting away from civilization, of forging an independent life in the country. Yet if this were ever true, what is the nature and reality of homesteading in the media-saturated, hyper-connected 21st century? For seven years Philip Ackerman-Leist and his wife, Erin, lived without electricity or running water in an old cabin in the beautiful but remote hills of western New England. Slowly forging their own farm and homestead, they took inspiration from their experiences among the mountain farmers of the Tirolean Alps and were guided by their Vermont neighbors, who taught them about what it truly means to live sustainably in the postmodern homestead--not only to survive, but to thrive in a fragmented landscape and a fractured economy. Up Tunket Road is the inspiring true story of a young couple who embraced the joys of simple living while also acknowledging its frustrations and complexities. Ackerman-Leist writes with humor about the inevitable foibles of setting up life off the grid--from hauling frozen laundry uphill to getting locked in the henhouse by their ox. But he also weaves an instructive narrative that contemplates the future of simple living. His is not a how-to guide, but something much richer and more important--a tale of discovery that will resonate with readers who yearn for a better, more meaningful life, whether they live in the city, country, or somewhere in between.

Chamber Music
Chamber Music

Author: James M. Keller

Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA

Published: 2011

Total Pages: 518

ISBN-13: 0195382536

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Oxford's highly successful listener's guides--The Symphony, The Concerto, and Choral Masterworks--have been widely praised for their blend of captivating biography, crystal clear musical analysis, and delightful humor. Now James Keller follows these greatly admired volumes with Chamber Music. Approaching the tradition of chamber music with knowledge and passion, Keller here serves as the often-opinionated but always genial guide to 192 essential works by 56 composers, providing illuminating essays on what makes each piece distinctive and admirable. Keller spans the history of this intimate genre of music, from key works of the Baroque through the emotionally stirring "golden age" of the Classical and Romantic composers, to modern masterpieces rich in political, psychological, and sometimes comical overtones. For each piece, from Bach through to contemporary figures like George Crumb and Steve Reich, the author includes an astute musical analysis that casual music lovers can easily appreciate yet that more experienced listeners will find enriching. Keller shares the colorful, often surprising stories behind the compositions while revealing the delights of an art form once described by Goethe as the musical equivalent of "thoughtful people conversing."

Dangerous Betrayal
Dangerous Betrayal

Author: Bill Blowers

Publisher: Morgan James Publishing

Published: 2015-07-07

Total Pages: 318

ISBN-13: 1630475750

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Ingeniously blending fact and thrilling speculative fiction, this award-winning novel unveils a conspiratorial sabotage behind the Titanic disaster. How was it that the unsinkable Titanic, carrying 1320 passengers and a crew of 892, sank in freezing waters—especially when the technology of luxury liner was such that she could have easily avoided the impact with the iceberg? Was it a fated and bizarre accident? Or was it the result of a sinister plot to undermine the success of White Star Lines’ feature attraction on her maiden voyage? At the heart of the mystery: the most brilliant inventor of the era—Nikola Tesla—and a plot to hold the Titanic hostage that went catastrophically wrong. For more than a century, the secret lay hidden in the bowels of the Titanic at the bottom of the North Atlantic. Now, in this bracing and plausible novel of conspiracy and revenge, set in a gilded age of ruthless power barons, geniuses, and madmen, does the truth finally surface.

Morrison's Sound-it-out Speller
Morrison's Sound-it-out Speller

Author: Penelope Kister McRann

Publisher: Pilot Light Books

Published: 2000

Total Pages: 1094

ISBN-13: 9780967806808

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Guide to finding words when you do not know how to spell them. Users simply look up the word by its pronunciation (without the vowels).

Mingling With Murder
Mingling With Murder

Author: Leslie Langtry

Publisher: Gemma Halliday Publishing

Published: 2024-10-15

Total Pages: 138

ISBN-13:

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From USA Today bestselling author Leslie Langtry comes a mingle turned murder... Welcome to Mingle, Iowa—We’re Putting Our Past Behind Us! Merry Wrath, ex-CIA agent turned Girl Scout leader, is accompanying thirteen year olds Mayor Ava, Betty, Lauren, and Inez from her troop to the regional conference for small town mayors. Mingle, Iowa, the home of the Mayor Mingle conference, is famous for a major scandal in the 1980s that no one seems to remember, even though the current mayor does everything in his power to keep them from forgetting! Have dinner at the Nothing to See Here Restaurant! Relax at the It Didn’t Quite Happen That Way Bar! Merry is excited that her husband and detective, Rex, is getting an award for having a 100% murder solve rate! But she's concerned that Ava's presenting The Most Murdery Town—How To Utilize Your Town’s Biggest Assets! Not to be outdone, Ava's right hand henchgirl, Betty, is presenting on How to Bend City Hall to Your Will & Everything I Learned From Huey Long. Merry’s hoping she can sit in on the sessions to jump in when things most likely go awry (as they often do). We hope you survive—er, enjoy your stay! Unfortunately, things go very awry when one of the mayors is murdered. But who did it? Was it the mayor from the town famous for its termite infestation? Could it be the snooty mayor who descended from her town’s founders? Or the mayor who always dresses like an ear of corn? How about the mayor from the lobster capital of Iowa? Or the mayor who is an actual pig? It doesn’t help that the victim's dying wish was for Rex to solve this case before the conference ends despite it being out of his jurisdiction! Can Merry and Rex solve this crime in time—or is Mingle destined to have the stain of a new scandal on their Welcome To billboard? What critics are saying about Leslie Langtry's books: "I laughed so hard I cried on multiple occasions! Girl Scouts, the CIA, and the Yakuza... what could possibly go wrong?" ~ Fresh Fiction "Darkly funny and wildly over the top, this mystery answers the burning question, 'Do assassin skills and Girl Scout merit badges mix…?'" ~ RT BOOKreviews "Mixing a deadly sense of humor and plenty of sexy sizzle, Leslie Langtry creates a brilliantly original, laughter-rich mix of contemporary romance and suspense." ~ Chicago Tribune "Langtry gets the fun started from page one." ~ Publisher's Weekly