Having lost a wager on a rugby match, Gareth Lynn is obliged to tell his English friend, Matt Allcott, a tale in the tradition of an ancient Bard. Using the Welsh legend of Ceridwen, Gwion Bach, and the Cauldron of Inspiration as a framework, the wily Gareth unfolds an epic saga set in late 6th century Europe. The grisly murder of a senior Arian Christian clergyman fuels suspicion and mistrust amongst the disparate factions inhabiting the beleaguered City of Rome. As more deaths follow, a seething undercurrent of political and religious machinations spreads across the former western Roman Provinces, ensnaring pious Catholics, outraged Arians, incensed Langobards, determined Goths, ambitious Franks, arrogant Byzantines, desperate Britanni, bemused Avars, inscrutable Hebrews, stoic Angles and irascible Saxons. As the first major instalment of the tale ends, the Englishman and his wife Sarah, are left with a distinct impression that there is far more to their affable friend than meets the eye.

Become an extraordinary results-producing champion for humanity and yourself! In life there are two types of people. The first are those who are nice, good-hearted, and compassionate but can’t make much happen. The other kind can make everything happen—they’re the creators, the go-getters, and the aggressive producers in society—however, they’re often self-centered, greedy, and unethical. Wouldn’t it be great if you could make things happen in a really big way but not lose your integrity? The Compassionate Samurai will show you the way to produce extraordinary results in a dog-eat-dog world and still maintain the highest levels of ethics.You’ll learn:• How to always be satisfied and motivated regardless of your circumstances• Why all people have freedom but very few have liberty• What competing commitments are and how they prevent you from having what you want in life• The secret to operating optimally in an untrustworthy environment• How to make the shift from scarcity to abundance even if you’re knee deep in debt . . .and much, much more!

A continuation of the Advanced Ventilator Management program, these cutting-edge programs combine tutorial and simulation-style questions on advanced respiratory therapy topics. Answers with rationales are included. Self-assessment tests provide randomly generated questions so users can test what they've learned. Also included is a glossary of hyperlinked terms and a bibliography with current references and suggested readings.

The history of women in the opera is a grand story. Women were singers and patrons, of course, but from opera's beginnings in Renaissance Italy, they were also opera composers and librettists. At first it was exclusively for the nobility. In the 19th century, with the emergence of the middle class and the rise of nationalism, there were more public theaters and opera seemed to be everywhere. This meant more opportunities for composers, though men predominated. This book focuses on the women, from the 16th century to today, who had successful careers in opera, many of them well known in their time.

RUGBY FOOTBALL. Rugby, as with most other team sports, is a game of technical finesse, tactical boldness, and refined and complex physical development. "Periodization in Rugby" addresses one of the most crucial elements of the sport - physical conditioning.Utilizing the revolutionary training techniques developed by Tudor Bompa - the father of modern sports periodization - this superb volume presents readers with proven training principles, an overview of the fundamentals of rugby, and an explanation of the physiological demands of the sport and how they impact on training. It also features short term and annual training plans, with numerous drills and exercises to improve the skills of all players, as well as expert tips on recovery and nutrition.

PJ Harvey’s performances are premised on the core contention that she is somehow causing ‘trouble’. Just how this trouble can be theorised within the context of the music video and what it means for a development of the ways we might conceptualise ‘disruption’ and think about music video lies at the heart of this book. It is the first academic book to present analysis of Harvey’s music videos and opens up fresh avenues into exploring what is at stake in the video work of one of Britain’s premier singer-songwriters.

To be a complete rugby player, you must master both the physical and mental skills of the game. You must be prepared, committed and determined to succeed. You must be focused—Focused for Rugby. Authors Dr. Adam Nicholls and Jon Callard, former England International player and professional coach, pool their years of experience and offer a mental training programme designed to maximise performance on the rugby field. You’ll learn instantly applicable strategies for coping with stress, building confidence, managing emotions, and leading a team. You’ll even go inside the zone so you can be at your best in even the most pressure-filled situations. Focused for Rugby is more than a psychology text; it is a training programme that will sharpen mental skills and unleash your full potential. Expert advice and step-by-step techniques will transfer directly to your game. Focused for Rugby is your complete guide to becoming a complete player.