The Magical Wonky Universe


Book Description

The Universe can be a curious place, often confounding to ordinary minds. But not to Silicent Fogg’s brilliant mathematical brain. As a magical mathematician, he thrives on the Universe’s befuddlements, claiming he can calculate everything out with his own special brand of magical math. So when Mr. P wakes convinced the whole Universe is out of whack, Silicent jumps at the chance to take the case and raise money to buy his granddaughter a new dress. Now he just needs to factor every possible outcome in a lopsided battle where success is, at best, improbable. Cue a silly vengeance scheme, the Universe’s most ruthless assassins, giant killer butterflies, a train heist, a rabbit costume, and a storyline too absurd to be anything but real. Well, real in the sense that it’s likely implausible, if you catch my drift.




Magic Universe


Book Description

This is a marvellously engaging tour covering the whole of modern science, from transgenic crops to quantum tangles. Written by one of the most experienced and well-known names in science writing, it is also assuredly reliable science. Although arranged for convenience and quick reference as a collection of topics in alphabetical order, it is very different from any conventional encyclopedia. Each topic tells a story, making the book eminently browsable. Packed with information, yet carrying its immense learning lightly, this is a book that would appeal to anyone with the slightest interest in how the world works.




The Routledge Companion to Radio and Podcast Studies


Book Description

This comprehensive companion is a much-needed reference source for the expanding field of radio, audio, and podcast study, taking readers through a diverse range of essays examining the core questions and key debates surrounding radio practices, technologies, industries, policies, resources, histories, and relationships with audiences. Drawing together original essays from well-established and emerging scholars to conceptualize this multidisciplinary field, this book’s global perspective acknowledges radio’s enduring affinity with the local, historical relationship to the national, and its unpredictably transnational reach. In its capacious understanding of what constitutes radio, this collection also recognizes the latent time-and-space shifting possibilities of radio broadcasting, and of the myriad ways for audio to come to us 'live.' Chapters on terrestrial radio mingle with studies of podcasts and streaming audio, emphasizing continuities and innovations in form and content, delivery and reception, production cultures and aesthetics, reminding us that neither 'radio' nor 'podcasting' should be approached as static objects of analysis but rather as mutually constituting cultural forms. This cutting-edge and vibrant companion provides a rich resource for scholars and students of history, art theory, industry studies, journalism, media and communication, cultural studies, feminist analysis, and postcolonial studies. Chapter 42 of this book is freely available as a downloadable Open Access PDF at http://www.taylorfrancis.com under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC-BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license.




Podcasting as an Intimate Medium


Book Description

This book delves into the notion of intimacy as a defining feature of podcasting, examining the concept of intimacy itself and how the public sphere explores the relationships created and maintained through podcasts. The book situates textual analysis of specific American podcasts within podcast criticism, monetization, and production advice. Through analysis of these sources' self-descriptions, the text builds a podcasting-specific framework for intimacy and uses that framework to interpret how podcasting imagines the connections it forms within communities. Instead of intimacy being inherent, the book argues that podcasting constructs intimacy and uses it to define the quality of its own mediation. This book will be of interest to scholars and students of New and Digital Media, Media Studies, Communication Studies, Journalism, Literature, Cultural Studies, and American Studies. The Open Access version of this book, available at www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under a CreativeCommons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license.




A Twisted Ballot


Book Description

Murder is on the Ballot Election day in St. Maurice is heating up, and not just because of the political debates. Murder has made its way onto the ballot, and it's up to Twizzle Twist to untangle a web of deceit and corruption before it's too late! Star Sinclair, the power-hungry incumbent, is determined to maintain her iron grip on the town council and seal the destruction of the town's beloved pier. Twizzle and her eccentric friends are fighting tooth and nail to secure a council seat and put an end to Star's nefarious plans. But when a body turns up at the polling station, election day takes a sinister turn. As Twizzle juggles the dual responsibilities of solving a murder and safeguarding the ballot box, she finds herself confronted by Star's slippery lawyer and a cunning design consultant With legal shenanigans piling up and the truth buried under a mountain of deception, Twizzle must wade through the muck to uncover the facts. Saving the pier, ensuring a fair election, and keeping her friends out of jail prove to be herculean tasks, but Twizzle isn't one to back down from a challenge. Can Twizzle untwist the tangled conspiracy of ballots and murder? Standing up to Star Sinclair is no easy feat, but with her unique blend of tenacity, wit, and a little bit of pixie magic, Twizzle might just have what it takes to turn the tables on her formidable adversary. Unravel the mystery, root for the underdog, and join Twizzle on her quest to restore justice and democracy in the charming coastal town of St. Maurice. Don't miss out on this enchanting cozy mystery filled with twists, turns, and a dash of magical mayhem! If you support cozy mystery, magical crime-solving adventures, quirky lovable characters, and political intrigue with a twist of humor, then this book should get your vote! Get ready to cast your vote for the latest spellbinding installment in the Pixie Twist series!




Sword and Shield RPG


Book Description

This role playing game takes the players in to the exciting dystopian comic book world of "Sword and shield: It's about time". The players create the characters that will help either save the world or dominate it as a villain.




The Invisible Universe


Book Description

From the discovery of entirely new kinds of galaxies to a window into cosmic ‘prehistory’, Bothwell shows us the Universe as we’ve never seen it before – literally. Since the dawn of our species, people all over the world have gazed in awe at the night sky. But for all the beauty and wonder of the stars, when we look with just our eyes we are seeing and appreciating only a tiny fraction of the Universe. What does the cosmos have in store for us beyond the phenomena we can see, from black holes to supernovas? How different does the invisible Universe look from the home we thought we knew? Dr Matt Bothwell takes us on a journey through the full spectrum of light and beyond, revealing what we have learned about the mysteries of the Universe. This book is a guide to the ninety-nine per cent of cosmic reality we can’t see – the Universe that is hidden, right in front of our eyes. It is also the endpoint of a scientific detective story thousands of years in the telling. It is a tour through our Invisible Universe.




Beyond Believing: Be-Living in a Wonderful World Gone Wonky


Book Description

In a world gone wonky, people are looking for a system of belief that can offer them hope. This book offers the reader more than just believing in “something.” It is about BE-Living through cultivating a deeper awareness of the presence of God in one’s everyday life.




Sticks & Stones (Upside-Down Magic #2)


Book Description

The Upside-Down Magic kids are back in another topsy-turvy adventure in the next installment of this New York Times bestselling series, now a Disney Channel Original Movie! Strange things are happening at Dunwiddle Magic School -- and the Upside-Down Magic class is getting blamed! Yes, Marigold did shrink Lacey Clench to the size of a gerbil. But that was an accident. And, yes, most people weren't prepared for Nory to transform into a squippy (that's half squid, half puppy) -- but it's not like Nory meant to mix up paws and tentacles. And while Bax does have the unfortunate magical condition of turning into a stone, he swears he has nothing to do with the rocky magic that's been happening in Dunwiddle's halls. When things get messy, it's easy to point your finger at the kids with the messiest magic. But the Upside-Down Magic students aren't going to let themselves get in trouble. Instead, they're going to find out what's really going on -- and get their school back on track before something really wacky happens.




Modern Magic


Book Description

In this enchanted sibling to the cult classic Modern Tarot, literary and tarot icon Michelle Tea returns to her magical roots, offering stories, little-known history, traditions, rituals, and spells for any witch seeking a deeper spiritual practice. A self-described DIY witch and professional tarot reader, literary and feminist icon Michelle Tea provides a fascinating magical history and spiritual traditions from around the world, giving us the tools, spells, and rituals to navigate our stressed-out, consumer-driven lives. Witty, down-to-earth, and wise, she bewitches us with tales of how she crafted her own magical practice and came into her own. She also shares enchanting stories from her earliest witchy days as a goth teen in Massachusetts as well as insights from her adult practice. Modern Magic gives us the tools to tap into a stronger, distinctive magic that lies within us, one that incorporates queer, feminist, anti-racist, intersectional values. These include: Love Magic for the 21st century Hexes for when you really need them (and an exploration of magical ethics) Sleep Magic, from dream interpretation traditions to prophetic dreams Thoughts on why magic practice is spiritual practice Michelle shares her truth and observations about the world around us as well as her vision for what it could be. For novice and seasoned witches alike, Modern Magic is the essential guide for defining and deepening a practice that aligns with our individual political and spiritual values.