Did you know that a hoard of gold is probably buried somewhere under Bristol? Did you know that a statue in Bristol actually depicts the moment a king is about to die? Based on the popular Twitter feed from acclaimed author Charlie Revelle-Smith, Weird Bristol is an adventure through the dark, mysterious and secret history of an ancient city. From plagues, wars, ghosts and pirates to inventors, fraudsters, suffragettes and radicals. Only one thing is certain, you'll never look at Bristol in quite the same way again...
Presents thirteen twisted versions of such familiar fairy tales as Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, Hansel and Gretel, and The Three Billy Goats Gruff.
Bristol's history is packed with peculiar customs and curious characters. This book explains why the vicar in one church goes on an annual trek to peer down a manhole; why captains of industry sing an eighteen-verse song in memory of Queen Elizabeth I; and how the Flower of Bristol got its name. You will meet some unusual contraptions, like the bed with in-built exercise equipment, or the thrashing machine for naughty boys. You will also discover why a public clock still runs to Bristol time. This compendium of the weird and wonderful will surprise even those Bristolians who thought they really knew their city.
Have you ever wondered if God has a destiny for you? He does. For the longest time, Elizabeth Bristol ran from God--until, out of desperation, she caved. She found out she not only needed God but wanted Him. In what came as a total shock, she found peace, purpose, and incredible healing. She can't not share because in this crazy world, who couldn't use a little more of all that? There are stories in this book she wasn't going to tell. Why did she? She had to share her indiscretions in order for people to see the power of redemption. But the coolest thing about this book isn't the miraculous story God made out of Elizabeth's life; it's that He wants to do the same for everyone else. When you walk in your destiny, nothing can stop you from influencing your world. How do you do that? Let this book show you. "Elizabeth Bristol uses candor, humor, and a conversational-style to tell her unconventional story: she was a young party girl addicted to travel, always seeking something bigger than herself until she realized the hole inside of her was God-sized. That's when the self-proclaimed agnostic's real struggles began." -- Holly Lorincz, bestselling author of Crown Heights "This entertaining pilgrimage is full of quirky stories. It's deeply personal, but resonates with familiar spiritual wonderings we can all identify with. The 'aha' moments are simple yet profound, dished out appropriately in a way that makes me shake my head and smile." -- Chip MacGregor, MacGregor Literary, Inc. ELIZABETH B. BRISTOL received a counseling degree from Mars Hill Graduate School in Seattle, then studied at Jerusalem University College. As a missionary, she served with Living Bread International Church in Jericho and with Iris Ministries in Mozambique. She's driven across the United States forty-eight times to work as a camp counselor, a keynote speaker, and to throw on a hoop skirt and dance the Virginia Reel at a Civil War reenactment. Today she lives on the Oregon Coast with her dog, Malachi. You can connect with her at www.elizabethbbristol.com.
"It may seem like clambakes, the Red Sox, and the Patriots define New England, but boy did the Pilgrims land in one very strange spot! These six states are filled with odd curiosities and bizarre legends, such as the elusive Vermont hum, the hibernating hill folk, hillside whale tales, and the Holy Land (yes, you read that right). Tongue-in-cheek and filled with dry wit, this is a journey you'll not soon forget."--P. [4] of cover.
In the first book of his JAG in Space series, New York Times bestselling author Jack Campbell combines lived experience with spaceborne adventure in a U.S. Navy courtroom drama about honor, duty, and the sins that follow humanity even to the stars... When Ensign Paul Sinclair comes aboard the USS Michaelson for his very first tour, he’s surprised to be named ship’s legal officer. Four weeks of training isn’t much to help him advise on legal issues involving a crew of 200. But serving on a spacegoing warship requires he learn fast, even surrounded by strangers and juggling expectations from an absentee superior, daunting commanders, and a reckless captain. When the Michaelson comes into catastrophic contact with another vessel, Paul must answer his captain on what the law permits in the dark of space, even if it leads to trouble. But when a court-martial convenes shortly afterward, only he can decide if justice demands he risk his career, too...
First in a "superior military SF" (Booklist) series that follows a young officer who must fight to see justice done. Fresh from the Academy, Ensign Paul Sinclair has been assigned to the warship USS Michaelson, whose mission is to stop any foreign vessels from violating U.S. sovereign space. When Captain Peter Wakeman mistakenly destroys a civilian science ship perceived as hostile, Sinclair must testify against Wakeman at a court-martial hearing. But Sinclair believes that the severity of the charges against the captain are unjust--and becomes a witness for the defense...
Dr. Lose is the first woman equine veterinarian in the United States. She paved the way for all woman veterinary surgeons caring for large animals. Dr. Lose was asked to be the veterinary surgeon for the Fairmount Park Guard, which was later merged to become the Philadelphia Police Mounted Patrol (PPMP). Her tenure with the police was from 1961-1980 The second chapter describes how Dr. Lose became the veterinarian for the PPMP. Two chapters are devoted to the police inspector at that time and to Mayor Frank Rizzo. One chapter describes a brief history of the FPG/PPMP. The remainder of the chapters are stories about individual horses and their police officer partners. The stories are inspiring, sad, humorous, and encouraging.
The Quaker State, the Keystone State, the Coal State-Pennsylvania is called all of these. But we like to call it the Weird State, because there's enough strange stuff going on here to fill an encyclopedia or, better yet, a book appropriately called Weird Pennsylvania. And who better to chronicle this state's roadside oddities, ancient mysteries, ghosts, and bizarre beats than Matt Lake, who, just like Benjamin Franklin, isn't from our state at all but sure has it in his bones. From the time he first arrived here last century, Matt has traveled thousands of miles, searching out Pennsylvania's best kept secrets and oddest legends. Scuttling about by every means available-except maybe the horse-drawn vehicles favored by some of our more famous citizens-and with notebook and camera in hand, Matt has gamely entered haunted houses, trekked lesser-traveled roads, discreetly photographed shoe-shaped houses, and made his way warily through abandoned mental institutions. Sheer force of will stopped him from buying a heart-shaped bathtub at the Mount Airy Lodge auction, but he did explore the wreck of the place so that we, admirers of the weird, could see the sad demise of another bit of Pennsylvania strangeness. So turn the pages and see the Statue of Liberty in the Dauphin Narrows, the dead and buried Corvette near Irwin, the tiny town of Midgetville, the Ape Boy of Chester, and Resurrection Mary in Schnecksville. Traipse through ghostly Eastern State Penitentiary, listen to the Screaming Lady in Fort Mifflin, and sympathize with Mrs. Snell, who was rained on by mud, lots of mud. Swim with the Monster of Lake Erie, bravely wander down Devil's Road, chat with the Green Man of Pittsburgh, and, if you dare, sit beneath Skull Tree. It's all here, it's all for you, it's all...very weird. A brand-new entry in the best-selling Weird U. S. series, Weird Pennsylvania is packed with all the info about the Quaker State that your history teacher never taught you. So travel down our state's highways and byways with Matt by your side. It's a great adventure. And we promise: It's a journey you'll never forget. Book jacket.
