Maya & Mark


Book Description

The first in a set of four, this is the short version of the beginning-of-life-together story of a contemporary meant-to-be couple, excluding most of convention and prejudice, including most of diversity and uniqueness. To be extended by Maya & Mark Mark & Maya Maya's diary [parts] & Mark & Maya Maya & Mark Maya's workbook [parts] and complemented by Mark & Maya Making a short story long , the long version of the same story, including most of convention and prejudice, excluding most of diversity and uniqueness. Almost exclusively dialogue, not necessarily quick reading. Note: English is not the author's native language, the book was not edited (other than by author).




Mark of the Jaguar


Book Description

Love the book. . . Am still dreaming of jaguars! If I were going to have a life-work, Id want it to be this one. You did good, my friend. Kerry Blair, author of COUNTING BLESSINGS, ANGELS BENDING NEAR THE EARTH, CLOSING IN and many other great books. MARK OF THE JAGUAR is a landmark novel, a Book of Mormon adventure AFTER 421 A.D. and before Columbus! The only Book of Mormon fiction regarding the time after the end of the Book of Mormon and before the arrival of Columbus. Based on real archaeological finds in Mesoamerica, the land of the Maya, this tale follows a young man as he is trained as a shaman, healer, scribe and stonecutter, as he accepts the challenge given by his old mentor from his death bed. Yax Kan will do what is needed to find the truth about Kukulkan, the white and bearded god represented by the feathered serpent. Who is he? Is he worthy of worship - even to the point of human sacrifice? Come join Yax Kan in some life-changing experiences that will thrill and delight!




Reading the Maya Glyphs (Second Edition)


Book Description

The breaking of the Maya code has completely changed our knowledge of this ancient civilization, and has revealed the Maya people's long and vivid history. Decipherment of Maya hieroglyphic writing has progressed to the point where most Maya written texts—whether inscribed on monuments, written in the codices, or painted or incised on ceramics—can now be read with confidence. In this practical guide, first published in 2001, Michael D. Coe, the noted Mayanist, and Mark Van Stone, an accomplished calligrapher, have made the difficult, often mysterious script accessible to the nonspecialist. They decipher real Maya texts, and the transcriptions include a picture of the glyph, the pronunciation, the Maya words in Roman type, and the translation into English. For the second edition, the authors have taken the latest research and breakthroughs into account, adding glyphs, updating captions, and reinterpreting or expanding upon earlier decipherments. After an introductory discussion of Maya culture and history and the nature of the Maya script, the authors introduce the glyphs in a series of chapters that elaborate on topics such as the intricate calendar, warfare, royal lives and rituals, politics, dynastic names, ceramics, relationships, and the supernatural world. The book includes illustrations of historic texts, a syllabary, a lexicon, and translation exercises.




MEL Scripting for Maya Animators


Book Description

Trying to learn Maya programming from the documentation can be daunting whether or not you are a programmer. The first edition of MEL Scripting for Maya Animators earned the reputation as the best introductory book on MEL, Maya's scripting language. Now fully revised and updated, the second edition also includes new features, such as a discussion of global procedures, new chapters on fixing programming bottlenecks, advanced user interface techniques, and optimizing character rigs. New chapters on utility nodes and Maya's Web Panel feature provide new ideas on how to use MEL in applications. This new edition has kept the popular style of the first edition that offered very clear explanations of programming concepts to those without programming experience. A generous collection of code examples and Maya scene files is included on the companion Web site. This is a book for animators, artists, game developers, visual effects developers, and technical directors who want to learn the fundamentals of Maya, how to automate tasks, personalize user interfaces, build custom tools, and solve problems with MEL. - Fully updated with several new chapters - Profusely illustrated and includes a companion Web site with numerous code examples and scene files - The authors bring their extensive experience in professional production studios to provide expert guidance




Developmentally Appropriate Play


Book Description

Help children participate in purposeful play to promote the development of a number of important skills.




Witches & Shamans (From Voodoo to Wicca)


Book Description

Witchcraft...Magic...and an undeniable link in history and modern spiritual practices. Humans are innately curious and yearn to unravel the mysteries of the universe that reason alone cannot explain. Whether Voodoo, Candomblé, Hoodoo, Neo-Paganism, or Wicca, each has played a significant role in various cultures, helping humans comprehend life, love, pain, and spirituality. A blend of different beliefs, witchcraft was heavily influenced by cultural and social factors that either encouraged or discouraged its practices—sometimes witches are good, sometimes bad, sometimes both... their intentions remain shrouded in mystery. If you desire to learn more about them, and the history of spiritual practices on the American continent from past to present, THIS is the book for you! From reviews and descriptions of mystical rituals without judgment to a fascinating play-by-play of how we got to where we are today, this book has it all! Inside Witches & Shamans (from Voodoo to Wicca): Uncover the enchanting origins of religious practices like Voodoo, Santeria, Wicca, and more! Unearth the true nature of magic and rituals within each unique spiritual practice. Discover how the arrival of European and African slaves shaped pre-colonial spirituality. Explore the profound impact of North and South American history on beliefs surrounding magic and witchcraft. And much, much more! Enrich your spiritual knowledge with a global view of how cultures connect to deeper and genuine expressions of mystical practices. Grab a copy of Witches & Shamans (from Voodoo to Wicca) and embark on a spellbinding journey—today!




Dragonfly


Book Description

Maya couldn’t quite put into words the feelings she was experiencing as she and her father walked along the tree edge looking for berries and nutrients from the plants. Was it the fact that she had missed the soft, moist earth beneath her feet? She considered that the Universe was guiding her towards a renewed way of living. Twenty-seven-year-old Maya has been released from prison for the third time since she was seventeen, and this time she knows things have got to change. From her family cabin in the woods of Northern Ontario, she starts to process and heal from past wounds. For the first time in her life, she becomes aware of the systemic injustices that lead to the criminalization and imprisonment of Indigenous women like herself, and to know that she is not alone is at once comforting and deeply troubling. She is introduced to community members who assist her on her healing journey; she takes an interest in her cousin’s legal woes, but in the wake of so much trauma, Maya becomes fearful. Curious rustlings play at the edges of her consciousness, and she can’t shake the feeling that she is being watched, that helping other women may come at a price. An ode to the natural world, a heartbreaking coming-of-age story, and a profound meditation on trauma, ancestral wisdom, familial bonds, and empowerment in the face of adversity, Dragonfly reminds us of all the lessons nature and history can teach us. Most importantly, Vermette assures us that on the other side of tremendous suffering, there is always a renewed way of living.




Barefoot in the Parking Lot


Book Description

When the hotshot CEO of a famed AI company and tech powerhouse is found dead, detectives Angela White and Paul Conley are called in to investigate. The deeper they wade into the evidence, the longer the suspect list grows. They soon come face-to-face with the dark and sordid world that lies just under Silicon Valley’s polished and pristine exterior. From jealous ex-lovers to rival tech giants, Jay has created powerful enemies, all of whom would be happy to see him dead--and all of whom have solid alibis. White and Conley hit dead end after dead end. And when blackmail schemes and copycat murders come into play, finding the killer becomes increasingly more urgent. Can they catch a break, or will a murderer go free in Silicon Valley? "Barefoot in the Parking Lot is a suspenseful mystery with a cast of characters readers will love to hate. It’s well-paced, emotive, and at times even funny. The sharp dialogue and short chapters make this book as easy-to-read as it is enthralling." - Robyn-Lee Samuels, Independent Book Review




The Detective Conley Collection


Book Description

One novel, three short stories — all featuring the inimitable Detective Paul Conley. Barefoot in the Parking Lot - a novel Trying to find his footing in California, Detective Conley joins forces with Detective Angela White to investigate the murder of a hotshot tech CEO. The hunt leads them into the dark and sordid world that lies just under Silicon Valley’s polished and pristine exterior. They hit dead end after dead end, and when blackmail schemes and copycat murders come into play, finding the killer becomes increasingly more urgent. Can they catch a break, or will a murderer go free? The Stick - a short story A simple night of pleasure, and the nightmare that followed. Back on duty in Wichita, Detective Conley is called in to investigate a fatal stabbing. It appears to be the work of a professional. The woman who was with the victim is in shock and doesn’t remember much. Conley believes her at first, but soon has doubts as the investigation progresses. Things get complicated when a mystery man enters the picture. Is he the one responsible for the murder? Or is the woman not as innocent as she seems? Join Paul on this quest as he unravels the intricate web of lies and deceit. The Conversation - a short story When a young woman is shot dead, Detective Conley is back doing what he does best - figuring out whodunit. Is it the grieving boyfriend? Or is it the couple whose love seems too perfect? Dodging sweet temptations while inching closer to the killer, he faces his toughest challenge yet - how to avoid becoming the next victim! The Fling - a short story Some mistakes are deadly. When Kevin Barlowe checks in at the Rustic Inn, he's looking forward to a peaceful week of edits on his latest novel. But a wrong turn on the path to temptation lands him in trouble. A young woman is found murdered on the premises, and he's the prime suspect. But is he the only one who wanted her dead? Detective Conley investigates in this twisty tale.




The Pleiadian Agenda


Book Description

Noted astrologer and spiritual teacher Barbara Hand Clow channels the voice of Satya, a Pleiadian goddess. Satya describes the huge cosmic drama taking place simultaneously in nine dimensions, with Earth as the chosen theater. The Pleiadians are a group of enlightened beings who believe that the end of the Mayan Calendar will signal a critical leap in human evolution; the Pleiadians will be there to guide us for that leap. This shift is the coming Age of Light, and the entry of our solar system into the Photon Band and the Age of Aquarius.