An entertaining, often surprising look at the life of the world’s most influential fictional character. He is the embodiment of charity and generosity, a creation of mythology, a tool of clever capitalists. The very idea of him is enduring and powerful. Santa Claus was born in early-nineteenth-century America, but his family tree goes back seven hundred years to Saint Nicholas, patron saint of children. Intervening generations were shaggy and strange — whip-wielding menaces to naughty boys and girls. Yet as the raucous, outdoor, alcohol-fuelled holiday gave way to a more domestic, sentimental model, a new kind of gift-bringer was called for — a loveable elf, still judgmental but far less threatening. In this engaging social and cultural history, Gerry Bowler examines the place of Santa Claus in history, literature, advertising, and art. He traces his metamorphosis from a beardless youth into a red-suited peddler. He reveals the lesser-known aspects of the gift-bringer’s life — Santa’s involvement with social and political causes of all stripes (he enlisted on the Union side in the American Civil War), his starring role in the movies and as adman for gun-makers and insurance companies. And he demolishes the myths surrounding Santa Claus and Coca-Cola. Santa Claus: A Biography will stand as the classic work on the long-lived and multifarious Mr. Claus.
At last, a truly comprehensive look at Christmas and all of its customs with its long history around the world. The World Encyclopedia of Christmas contains articles on the history of Christmas baking, drinking, and merrymaking, and Christmas dramas, music, literature, art, and films. It includes entries on the evolution of the Christmas tree and the Christmas card, gift-giving, and decoration of church and home. There are profiles of the many gift-bringers, from Santa Claus to Babouschka, and miraculous tales of the numerous saints associated with the season. And there are histories of seasonal celebrations and folk customs around the world, from the United States to Japan, from Egypt to Iceland. Who, for example, knew the links between the Punch and Judy show and Christmas? That the medieval Paradise tree hung with tempting apples was the forerunner of the Christmas tree? About the Peerie Guizers, who terrorized the Shetland Islands, going door-to-door for Christmas charity? Or what Freudians make of our interest in Christmas stockings and Santa’s entrance through the chimney? There are detailed accounts of Wren Boys and Star Boys, mumming and wassailing, the Feast of Fools and the origins of eggnog. And of course stories of the Nativity and legends of the Magi. With beautifully illustrated accounts ranging from the pagan roots of Yuletide, through the birth of Christ, and the long and fascinating history of the festival ever since, The World Encyclopedia of Christmas, is a rich and continually surprising array of religious and secular history, trivia, literature, and art. This wonderful book deserves to find a home with every family that celebrates Christmas.
Is there a War on Christmas? This book surveys the history of the world's most popular festival and the never-ending battles it has engendered ever since its hotly-contested invention in the Roman Empire.
An entertaining, often surprising look at the life of the world’s most influential fictional character. He is the embodiment of charity and generosity, a creation of mythology, a tool of clever capitalists. The very idea of him is enduring and powerful. Santa Claus was born in early-nineteenth-century America, but his family tree goes back seven hundred years to Saint Nicholas, patron saint of children. Intervening generations were shaggy and strange — whip-wielding menaces to naughty boys and girls. Yet as the raucous, outdoor, alcohol-fuelled holiday gave way to a more domestic, sentimental model, a new kind of gift-bringer was called for — a loveable elf, still judgmental but far less threatening. In this engaging social and cultural history, Gerry Bowler examines the place of Santa Claus in history, literature, advertising, and art. He traces his metamorphosis from a beardless youth into a red-suited peddler. He reveals the lesser-known aspects of the gift-bringer’s life — Santa’s involvement with social and political causes of all stripes (he enlisted on the Union side in the American Civil War), his starring role in the movies and as adman for gun-makers and insurance companies. And he demolishes the myths surrounding Santa Claus and Coca-Cola. Santa Claus: A Biography will stand as the classic work on the long-lived and multifarious Mr. Claus.
Is there a War on Christmas? This book surveys the history of the world's most popular festival and the never-ending battles it has engendered ever since its hotly-contested invention in the Roman Empire.
At last, a truly comprehensive look at Christmas and all of its customs with its long history around the world. The World Encyclopedia of Christmas contains articles on the history of Christmas baking, drinking, and merrymaking, and Christmas dramas, music, literature, art, and films. It includes entries on the evolution of the Christmas tree and the Christmas card, gift-giving, and decoration of church and home. There are profiles of the many gift-bringers, from Santa Claus to Babouschka, and miraculous tales of the numerous saints associated with the season. And there are histories of seasonal celebrations and folk customs around the world, from the United States to Japan, from Egypt to Iceland. Who, for example, knew the links between the Punch and Judy show and Christmas? That the medieval Paradise tree hung with tempting apples was the forerunner of the Christmas tree? About the Peerie Guizers, who terrorized the Shetland Islands, going door-to-door for Christmas charity? Or what Freudians make of our interest in Christmas stockings and Santa’s entrance through the chimney? There are detailed accounts of Wren Boys and Star Boys, mumming and wassailing, the Feast of Fools and the origins of eggnog. And of course stories of the Nativity and legends of the Magi. With beautifully illustrated accounts ranging from the pagan roots of Yuletide, through the birth of Christ, and the long and fascinating history of the festival ever since, The World Encyclopedia of Christmas, is a rich and continually surprising array of religious and secular history, trivia, literature, and art. This wonderful book deserves to find a home with every family that celebrates Christmas.
SHORT STORIES Stories from Down Under and all over! Humility is not a common virtue among the rich and famous. The protagonists in these narratives come from all parts of the globe, and have experienced the dizzy heights of fame and fortune. These are people who have let vanity overcome wisdom. Tall poppies need to be cut down to size, and plotting their downfall has been my pleasure. “The Bonfire of the Vanities was hot. These yarns are hotter.” Lucifer Beelzebub
Washington State is a place of political mavericks. Split tickets are a source of pride and independent voters outnumber Democrats and Republicans. Washington was first to have a voter-approved state Equal Rights Amendment, first to elect a woman as governor, and first to elect a Chinese-American to the position. Today, Washington’s open primary election system and voter registration process demonstrate it has not drifted far from its populist roots. Governing the Evergreen State provides an absorbing look at an ever-evolving state political and judicial system and presents intriguing case studies. With chapters on interest groups, the constitution, the environment, media coverage, the court system, the legislature, political parties, changing demographics, and more, this volume updates the popular Governing Washington. Fresh discussions and analysis written by academics from universities across the state, a senator, a pollster, a newspaper reporter/blogger, a former chief justice of the state Supreme Court, and a court administrator offer a springboard for further examination and discussion.
This compelling memoir starts with a boy's journey through the early years of the 1930s: days of the rag and bone man, street lamplighters, Hercule Poirot, and in the background, Hitler. Then life gets real: at school where cane and cricket bat rule and where the mustard sandwich fills a hungry corner, and even more real with army call-up and training. Then, in 1944/45, comes the crunch of combat in Operation Overlord - a boy's growing-up time. And after all that, with his ears still ringing a bit, comes the blessed call of demob and a taste of new delights: days of farming and finding a woman daft enough to marry him before settling on a farm to start his life as a man. In this nostalgic book evoking recollections of childhood and wartime in Sussex, the memories are the author's, however the sights and events are those that will be remembered by many others, and readers will warm to the narrator, who has found the perfect balance of humour and sensitivity.
Loose Screws is a collection of sixty-nine amusing, often touching, anecdotes from the life of a Bronx boy who has lived and traveled throughout the world. The author, Gerry Tortorelli, is a retired business executive, who immigrated to Switzerland in his thirties with his young family. With stints in England and Canada and frequent visits to the family roots in Italy, his stories explore many cultures. Whether it be the story of how his sister celebrates Christmas in "The Twelve Weeks of Advent," or how German words can be misinterpreted in English in "A Good Fahrt....and a Douche," the anecdotes have a personal touch with which the reader can connect. A 22-year-old grudge is settled in the story "Toothpaste, Mayonnaise, and Big Ben" while fundraising for a new church in Canada is detailed in "A Pregnant Nun and a Chicken at Mass." Not far away from any story, is Gerry's wife (the Queen), his daughters (the Princesses), and his serf sons-in-law. Loose Screws is a unique view of a life through the eyes of the one who lived it, a kid from the Bronx.
Profound social changes have made governance and political leadership more challenging than ever. The result is that politics in the democratic world faces a crisis in the 21st century. The revised edition of this highly successful text reassesses the gap between citizen expectation and the realities of government in light of new developments.
Surveys show a lack of trust in political actors and institutions across much of the democratic world. Populist politicians and parties attempt to capitalise on this political disaffection. Commentators worry about our current 'age of anti-politics'. Focusing on the United Kingdom, using responses to public opinion surveys alongside diaries and letters collected by Mass Observation, this book takes a long view of anti-politics going back to the 1940s. This historical perspective reveals how anti-politics has grown in scope and intensity over the last half-century. Such growth is explained by citizens' changing images of 'the good politician' and changing modes of political interaction between politicians and citizens. Current efforts to reform and improve democracy will benefit greatly from the new evidence and conceptual framework set out in this important study.
Paddy Pest, the ubiquitous Aussie gumshoe, is immersed in a world full of beautiful women, conniving conspirators, and covert agents. Never without his Beretta or fold-up boomerang, Paddy is always prepared—a good thing, since he is about to take a ride on the wild side with his entourage of female associates. Stormy Weathers, Paddy’s girlfriend and wing person, is known for her flaming red hair, nice legs, and her ability to hold her own in a fight. Pest surrounds himself with girls with guns and they mean business. Ariadne Vasilis has long black hair, a brutal arm-chop, and a fierce loyalty to her country, as does the delightful French gendarme Yvette Baguette. She wouldn’t be seen dead without her Paris fashion labels. From a salacious situation in Salem to a conundrum in Kentucky! There’s murder in Melbourne and mystery in Moscow, and Paddy’s people are playing for keeps. Paddy’s People is a collection of short stories laced with treachery, mayhem, and mischievous behavior that encompass some of Paddy’s worldwide adventures and acknowledge those men and women who have been inspired by his exploits.
North America's most popular sports almanac returns with new facts, new records, and more fun than ever before. Like its hugely successful predecessors, this new volume combines essays from great sportswriters and top ESPN personalities, easily accessed facts, in-depth statistics from ESPN's Inside the Numbers team, hundreds of photographs, and thousands of charts and tables. It reviews the year's top ten highlights of each sport, reflects every notable change in the sports world over the past year, and gives a full recap of the World Series and major competitions for professional and amateur alike. With more than 950 fact-filled pages, this extraordinary fusion between two trusted sports resources is as entertaining as it is informative. It's the perfect gift for the sports fan who always knows the latest scores and can never have enough information.
As the song says: I come from a land Down-Under. However, my short stories and opinion pieces are truly international and you are sure to be enthralled as I plunder the possibilities, probabilities and potential of all things relating to politics, entertainment, sport and travel; all the issues that you care about. -Share my bizarre lifestyle and amazing world wide adventures. Nothing will prepare you for this. -Discover what my crazy friends and acquaintances are doing. With and without their pants on! -This publication is more illuminating than a Chinese Fortune Cookie. And just as witty. There were celebrity revelations in my first book that were absolutely unbelievable. This mouth-watering sequel will give you all this and more. Come with me on my journey and discover what a funny world we live in.
Forgotten Sundays is the coming-of-age story of a father-son relationship and the value of a good name, which Gerry Sandusky knows all too well. He has had to endure having an unfortunate name in sports, but to him the Sandusky name means something entirely different: honor, integrity, endurance, and suffering and sadness. Forgotten Sundays follows the life and relationship between Gerry Sandusky and his father -- former NFL tackle John Sandusky and coach for the Baltimore Colts, Philadelphia Eagles, and Miami Dolphins under the tutelage of legendary Coach Don Shula. Gerry spent his summers observing his father in NFL training camps and his Sundays with superstars, Hall of Fame players and coaches from Johnny Unitas to Dan Marino, from Don McCafferty to Tom Landry. Gerry's relationship with his father evolved through stages of worship, disillusionment, vulnerability, tragedy, and friendship. Along the way he learned about the nature of manhood from observations, clues, and interactions -- more often than not unspoken. It was when Gerry reached fatherhood himself and when John Sandusky began to tumble into the gauzy confusion of Alzheimer's disease that he began to understand his father on a much deeper level. Heartfelt, intelligent, at times humorous, at times tragic, Forgotten Sundays explores the intricacies of a father-son relationship and the nuances of how and what a son learns from a father. It plumbs the meaning of a family name, and it is an inspiration to others to embrace their own legacy and cherish their memories.
Arlington Heights, Illinois, began as a hodgepodge of mercantile and service ventures straddling the tracks of the Illinois and Wisconsin Railroad. Today the village center has become a model for explosive growth and redevelopment studied by other towns across the United States. Through the medium of historic photographs, this book captures the evolution of the people of Arlington Heights, from the mid-1800s to the present day. These pages bring to life the people, events, communities, and industries that helped to shape and transform Arlington Heights. With close to 200 vintage images, Arlington Heights, Illinois: Downtown Renaissance, includes the first known photograph of the community, the town's founder, and its first post office. There was rarely a dull moment in the development of this community's core-the center of village life. Over the years, it alternately blossomed and faded, and at the bottom of a long decline, Arlington Heights' cluster of businesses around the railroad tracks spun on its heel and reinvented itself.
The #1 bestselling sports almanac is the ultimate resource for sports professionals and fans everywhere. ESPN, the worldwide leader in sports, once again joins forces with Information Please(R) to bring enthusiasts the most authoritative sports reference book ever published. Whether they're looking for new world records, updating their trivia knowledge, or curious about the most intriguing sports stories of the past year, sports fans will welcome the latest edition of this bestselling almanac, and ESPN fans will find familiar segments from many of ESPN's outlets, including studio shows, radio, online, ESPN The Magazine, as well as: --In-depth statistics from ESPN's award-winning "Inside the Numbers" --Top Ten moments from each sport --Exclusive essays and analysis from your favorite ESPN personalities, including Chris Berman, Dan Patrick, Stuart Scott, Rich Eisen, and more --Hundreds of photographs --Thousands of graphics and tables --Fast access to all the facts: world records, champions, year-by-year, sport-by-sport --Full recap of the World Series, World Cup, and Ryder Cup --The ultimate resource for sports professionals and fans everywhere, the ESPN Information Please(R) Sports Almanac is clearly the champion in its field.
The latest edition of the smartest, most authoritative and bestselling sports almanac in America. Whether they're looking for new world records, updating their trivia knowledge, or curious about the most intriguing sports stories of the past year, sports enthusiasts of all kinds will welcome the latest edition of this incredibly popular almanac, which netted more than 100,000 in sales last year alone. ESPN fans will find many of the network's features here as well as: --In-depth statistics from ESPN's award-winning "Inside the Numbers" team. --"SportsCenter's" Top Ten highlights of each sport. --Exclusive essays and analysis from your favorite ESPN personalities, including Chris Berman, Dan Patrick, Kenny Mayne, and more. --Rule and uniform changes. --Hundreds of photographs. --Thousands of graphics and tables. --Fast access to all the facts: world records, champions, year by year, sport by sport. --Full recap of the World Series, Women's World Cup, and Ryder Cup. The ultimate resource for sports professionals and fans everywhere, the ESPN Information Please(R) Sports Almanac is clearly the winner in its field.
Democracy is in crisis. Is there still time to save it? Democracies face external threat from aggressive authoritarian states. Internally, citizens have grown increasingly distrustful of politicians and more cynical about national and global governance institutions. The time is ripe for democracy to renew itself. This text offers a state-of-the art overview of democratic innovations today, moving beyond cries of the 'death' or 'end' of democracy to instead offer a range of practical solutions for how to save it and restore faith in democratic practice. 'Old' democratic power, represented by existing structures, is being challenged. 'New' power involves collaboration and rapid feedback loops, as well as increased citizen participation. The future of democracy, the authors demonstrate, will be about findings ways of melding 'old' and 'new' power practices. Offering a broad and accessible survey of what different forms of democracy and democratic innovations look like today, and how they can develop in future, Saving Democracy shows us the potential for transformation across the entire democratic process. Avoiding a reductive focus on simply getting citizens more involved in decision-making, this book uniquely argues for the importance of refining and monitoring how democratic decisions are made and followed through.
Geopolitics and Empire examines the relations between two phenomena that are central to modern conceptions of international relations. Geopolitics is the understanding of the inter-relations between empires, states, individuals, private companies, NGOs and multilateral agencies as these are expressed and shaped spatially. This view of the world achieved notoriety as the scientific basis claimed by Nazi ideologists of global conquest. However, under this or another name, similar sets of ideas were important on both sides of the Cold War and now have a renewed resonance in debates over the New World Order of the so-called Global War on Terror. Geopolitics is a way of describing the conflicts between states as constrained by both physical and economic space. It makes such conflicts seem inevitable. The argument of the book is that this view of the world continues to appear salient because it serves to make the projection of force overseas seem an inevitable aspect of the foreign policy of states. This quasi-Darwinian view of international relations makes the pursuit of Empire appear a responsibility of larger and more powerful states. Powerful states must become Empires or submit to others seeking something similar. In its associations with Empire, the study of Geopolitics returns continually to the ideas of a British geographer who never himself used the term. Halford Mackinder is the source of many of the ideas of Geopolitics and by examining his ideas both in their original context and as they have been repeatedly rediscovered and reinvented this book contributes to current discussions of the ideology and practices of the US Empire today.
Death and Dying is an important core text for students and professionals interested in developing a holistic understanding of death and dying. Chapters are replete with case studies, activities, key point boxes, and other features that enable readers to develop a sociologically informed understanding of the broad range of complex issues that underpin death and dying. Written by two established and highly respected experts in the field, it offers a thoroughgoing account of a wide range of social aspects of death and dying, filling gaps left by the traditionally narrow focus of the existing literature. By drawing the suggested sociological perspectives and highlighting the role of social policy, the authors put forward a fresh perspective of the field of thanatology. This book is a major contribution in progressing knowledge and understanding of dying and death for students and professionals in counseling, health and human services.
Fighting chronic heart disease for twenty years, including eight months on a Heart Transplant waiting list, has tested every part of my being. Debating life, survival, the will to live, and cheating death, is a language I understand. For me to be able to share my story; look past the cover and share a journey that will open your mind to the possibilities and opportunities life has to offer with or without good health. Using my experience as tools, I can help prevent you making the same mistakes I did, and support those going through major health issues: Family and friends included.
Heroes come in all shapes and sizes, and Paddy Pest is equally comfortable being described as a garrulous gumshoe, a shameful shamus or a lecherous lounge lizard. When the Melbourne community is rocked by the news of abduction and murder, Paddy can smell the prospect of a retainer in the wind. With the aid of his stunningly sublime companion Stormy Weathers, the discount detective follows the clues and is amazed where they take him. Drug lord Kelpie Sparrow and his henchman, Skull Murphy, are involved but what of the Italian connection? Does the lovely therapist Annabella Luciano and her parish priest, the Maserati driving Fr. Lothario, have something to hide? To make sense of it all, Paddy has to head back to his former neighborhood and renew acquaintances with old friends. Death and depravity in the worlds most livable city. Melbourne needs a hero like never before.
Urban realism, snow-covered streets of New York, boxing matches, children on the banks of a river, the painters of the Ash Can School preferred realistic images. Their paintings are a true hymn to noise and sensations. This unconventional movement enabled the birth of a true national artistic identity which broke free from the establishment. The Ash Can School resolutely promoted the affirmation of the modernist current of American art. Edward Hopper, who was a student of Robert Henri, embraced the principles of this movement and brought them to another level.
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