Malcolm Smith

Feng Shui Gourmet gives the reader a different perspective to the kitchen and cooking in it. In the Chinese culture, and according to the theories of Feng Shui, the kitchen is much more than a space to prepare meals. The kitchen is considered one of the areas that can improve the family's health and wealth. Feng Shui masters often stress the importance of having a well-designed kitchen where the oven, hob and washbasin have specific positions. The concept of Yin and Yang and the five elements are the fundamental theory of Feng Shui and occupies the heart of Chinese philosophy. It is believed to be the essence of nature, where everything is in a perpetual state of change. All the recipes have been tried and prepared in several home kitchens to make sure that they can be done at home. Elemental qualities are also included in this book to give readers a better understanding of the relation between Feng Shui and food.

Life with Birds uncovers the fascinating story of our interdependence with birds. The author weaves an amazing web of inter-relationships, from the Parsi funeral in Mumbai where birds of prey eat the dead; to collecting eider down from nests in Iceland and standing on the once body-strewn battlefield of Agincourt where birds won the day for the English army. From the earliest days of human existence we have exploited birds; for food, for their feathers, to satisfy our blood lust, to entertain us with their beauty, to inspire our art, our advertising, classical music, popular songs and much more. Cage birds are kept for their beauty and song but this book also investigates the repugnant illegal rare bird trade, and the organised crime it has spawned involving around 1.5 million birds a year. Criminals will go to unbelievable lengths when smuggling rare birds for sale and the 1.5m birds in this annual trade threaten the survival of several exotic species. Since time immemorial birds have exploited us too. Birds can use our homes to make theirs and can ruin farmers' crops in minutes. Some of the most impressive birds have set up home on high-rise buildings, exploiting the city slicker pigeons that live off discarded fast food and much else. Life with Birds contains intriguing examples of the huge range of interactions between birds and people. How undercover law enforcement in the US is tackling a cruel and bloodthirsty 'sport'; how birds are being used to smuggle drugs into a prison and across borders; controversial practices such as bird sacrifice in religious ceremonies; and how some Kenyan tribesmen are guided by a bird to find a food they both value. Many myths, magic and religious practices involving birds are exposed such as whether they can predict deadly mining disasters; whether they have killed anyone; and whether the eerie night-time calls in the precipitous mountains of Madeira are the souls of shepherds who have fallen to their deaths. If you have ever wondered what a nest made solely of bird saliva, considered a delicacy in some countries, tastes like or whether you knew Chairman Mao's 'kill a sparrow' campaign in the 1950s resulted in many millions of Chinese dying of starvation, Life with Birds will provide enlightenment as well as a hugely enjoyable read.

"The most amazing news to be announced to the human race is that God, in His uncondional love for us, has called us to particpate in the most intimate relationship and unbreakable bond known among men...." -- Malcolm Smith Sealed by the Blood of Jesus When you receive Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, you receive the power of His blood that seals your redemption from sin and entitles you to eternal life. And if that was the only thing salvation in Christ brought you, it would be the greatest gift of all. But there is much more to this agreement with Almighty God. This agreement is a sacred covenant between you and the Father God that entails more than most believers have ever imagined. It's time to discover the depth and power of God's eternal oath with you. This secret strength hidden within the heart of the Christian life reveals the profound depth of God's unconditional love and is bound by the blood covenant. Those who realize and embrace this strength live in a realm of faith and victory that others only dream of. Throughout these pages, you will journey through the Scriptures to unearth this reality that contains the basis of all God's wondrous miracles and mighty works--a place of marvelous blessings and promises. Discover the power of the blood covenant that not only seals your eternal destiny, but can open up a new world of faith and adventure like you've never known

Management accountancy has a dynamic role to play in the competitive strategy of modern global businesses. This book sets out key strategic principles and then assesses how management accountancy can affect and direct these strategies. Engaging case studies reveal how theories and concepts translate into real business practice. Throughout, the book emphasizes: - how accounting initiatives can trigger assessment and improvement of performance management - the importance of managerial decision making to good business practice - how today's management accountancy measures against current research Written for advanced undergraduate, postgraduate and MBA students taking courses on management accounting and performance measurement and management, the book will be also of interest to management and business consultants, professional accountants and accounting academics.

1940 was the most significant year in European history this century. For Britain it was 'the finest hour', the beginning of the People's War. Britain and 1940 explores what the year meant for the people of Britain then and now. Covering the pre-history of 1940 in Britain, Malcolm Smith explores the great fear that a second world war would perhaps mean the end of British civilization and charts the development of the myths of Dunkirk, the Battle of Britain and the Blitz, and the great influence they have had on our national consciousness and on attitudes to the outside world. The book presents students of British history with a panorama of the influences that have constructed national consciousness around a crucial moment in British history.