Virtual Culture

" The Spirit of man is Nomad, his blood Bedouin.....and so I came to live my life, not by conscious plan, but as someone following the flight of a Bird." " Only in the Desert, The Bedouin Declared, Could a man a Man find Freedom. " Wilfred Thesiger "Arabian Sands." " To live in the Dress of The Arabs, Quitted Me of My English Self, and Let me Look at The West ..... With Different Eyes." T. E. Lawrence "The Seven Pillars Of Wisdom." The Sultanate of Oman is a land of oases,deserts, rolling sands, shifting dunes and mountains upon which ancient cities have been carved from stone. A land that ...

"Ivan Ertlov's first mystery thriller is dark, bloody and unique. Especially the private detective is completely different from what you might expect and has a crude sense of humour. I rate it 5 out of 5 possible stars!" - The Librarian and her Books "Above all, it is an exciting, gripping near-future thriller with a cleverly placed supernatural touch. A brisk read even for those who have nothing to do with games, an explicit recommendation for readers of mystery, action thrillers and revenge thrillers." - Phantastic Reading "Step down, Jack Reacher, here comes Pete O'Brannon!" - VLP ...

In this book fourteen leading scholars and intellectual-activists provide a collective treatment of the theme of colonialism in the Malay Archipelago from the as yet little explored perspective of civilisational encounters. The centuries-long Western colonial presence in the Archipelago had generated both peaceful and violent encounters that were to prove consequential on the civilisational history of the region. The book’s chapters attempt to present new insights into the nature and multidimensional character of these civilisational encounters and their significance for the life and ...

★ ENJOY YOUR MOMENTS OF FIKA WITH THESE 35 DELICIOUS AND SIMPLE RECIPES FROM SWEDEN ★ "Moments of Fika" beckons you into the heart of Sweden's cherished tradition of Fika, where the scent of freshly brewed coffee intertwines with the tantalizing smells of delectable pastries and savory treats. This collection of recipes and insights captures the essence of a cultural phenomenon deeply embedded in Swedish daily life—the art of Fika. Chapter by chapter, the book weaves a narrative that transcends recipes, diving into the cultural intricacies of Fika. Classic cookies, tempting treats, ...

With her delightfully evocative prose, Xu Xiaobin presents us with a collection of stories crawling with fraught power dynamics, strange events, and unsettling images. Not only does she write about women, but the worlds around them, the fears that dog them, and the histories that haunt them. Xu's entangled plots sneak up on the reader and make a lasting impression, from the blind singing sensation with a calculating mother, to the scornful aunt of an aging Miss Asia winner, to the young woman who becomes consumed by filth in the dilapidated house of her in-laws. Each of these mournful ...

Experiencing France is the result of numerous trips to this fascinating country in search of art, culture, breathtaking landscapes, culinary delights, eco-beaches and more. Included are over 120 photos, 95% of them by the author himself, that will help appreciate to the full what's being described. The book isn't meant to cover every inch of France but does take in the best of what the country offers: Paris, Provence, Loire Castles, Alsace-Lorraine, Bordeaux among them. There's also a chapter on learning French which is not as hard as it seems, there are some 4,000 words French and English ...

From a very young age Majorie Caillot has had to figure life out. Her tenacity in the face of obstacles is inspiring. Her story sheds a light on Haitian experience and being an immigrant.

The culture wars are at the heart of American politics, and they are tearing the country apart. Wokeness is at the center of this debate. This book delves into how social justice fanaticism, or Wokeness, festers in universities and then spreads throughout society. It covers topics like diversity training, microaggressions, control of language, affirmative action, obsessions around race and gender, campus uprisings, and the chilling effect these ideas have on freedom of speech. The Left has used the term "cultural hegemony" to describe how the Right has control over America's institutions, ...

Ash shook off the images swarming his head and tried to focus on her again; it wasn’t hard. She was so beautiful, those plump lips naturally lined by a darker stain of pink as they blossomed into a cherry in the center, those wide eyes so rich and opaque he could stare into them for hours and never separate pupil from iris. The lashes kissing the delicate smattering of freckles on her mahogany cheek—“I can’t begin to tell you how much your friendship means to me,” Ash said, still drinking in her face. She was so close. It would take nothing to just come a little closer, just there...

MM (LGBT) Erotic Romance and part of a three book series. What if myth and reality were so intertwined that they became the same? In the unseen corners of our world, away from human eyes, Eldric battles with his celestial lineage that alienates him from both domains. As a Nephilim, offspring of both divine and earthly origins, he holds abilities that could either protect humanity or lead to its demise. Torn by his mixed heritage and pursued by those who fear his immense power, Eldric finds refuge in the expanses of the hidden realms. But can one ever truly escape their fate? When Jamie, an ...

They fell in love. Then everything went spectacularly wrong. Juliet Capulet is a razor-witted Insta-poet with a verified checkmark and a million reasons not to fall in love. Romeo Montague is a black-clad podcaster with a tragic backstory, a poetry addiction, and a flair for overreaction. Their families are sworn enemies in a war fought with lawsuits, skincare lines, and social media subtweets. When they meet at a masked influencer party neither was supposed to attend, sparks fly, masks fall, and a secret wedding follows—because what’s Gen Z romance without at least one felony? But in a...

Who would want to kill Corvis’s hunky hero husband? March, 2100. A double wedding celebrates the heroes' love and their victory. Invisibly attached to a drone flying above the wedding cake, a gift explodes, thrusting a knife into Corvis's new husband's heart in front of 10,000 guests. Before this, crime was invisible on Enceladus. Who killed Billy, and why? And why do it so publicly? The Chief of Police needs Corvis’s problem-solving skills to help crack the murder mystery as disappearances, abductions and assassinations continue. Corvis is paired with handsome Bert, the new cop and ...

The African future is bright and promising, a beacon of hope and inspiration for the world. With a unified vision and collective determination, the African continent stands at the cusp of a new era defined by continental unity, an empowered and competent African Union (AU) central governance, well-developed infrastructure, a first-class education system, and security and respect from the global community. In this future, continental unity is not just a concept but a lived reality. African nations, once fragmented by colonial borders, now embrace their shared history, culture, and destiny. ...

Christian growth in Japan has been slow. This book fills a cultural gap, bridging the messages of Jesus and Paul to our gospel mission in Japan. It is a collection of insights from Japanese literature, the arts, and religion. No other work to date has attempted to include this much information in one book, focusing on Japanese opinions, research and theology. Not only those working in Japan, struggling with language, culture and frustrating questions will benefit from the insights presented here, but also missiologists, theologians and students of cross-cultural evangelism. They will find ...

A career firefighter with a personal commitment that: everyone gets home safe! 26-year firefighter, Michael C. Ede, a career firefighter with a personal commitment that “everyone gets home safe,” shares true stories of emergency calls, working relationships, and life inside and outside of the firehouse in the financially and morally crumbling city of East Cleveland, Ohio. This book offers readers a unique opportunity to enjoy a completely transparent, start-to-finish 26-year career highlights of a firefighter in a busy urban department. Readers will benefit from an honest appraisal of ...

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to interview a famous person -- a famous dead person? Putting logistical hurdles aside, what might you ask a notable figure from history? Would the person answer your queries? Would they be offended or flattered? This entertaining and provocative present-day compilation takes a leap into the past. Five questions are posed to each personage. Whether shamefully or heroically, all the interviewees made an imprint on the faded pages of history, some more notably than others. The five questions vary from subject to subject. The answers seek to capture...

“Mark writes about place with such care and consideration – there's a richness and beauty to his descriptions, such that his setting becomes a key character…” – Kind words from an editor at one of the world’s biggest publishing houses. The life- and death-cycles of an idyllic Balinese village have been going on, almost undisturbed, for generations – but when the bodies of two foreigners are discovered life for the entire village is altered forever. Driftwood Chandeliers is set in a traditional village in rural Bali, where Brazilian surfer Natalia de Souza has been hired to ...

What would happen if your mind were like crystal clear and whoever was nearby could see all your thoughts? Martin has discovered a new form of communication between human beings called Universal Language with which people's minds can be seen by whoever is close to less than a meter away. This new communication system can bring extraordinary benefits for humanity, but also catastrophic damages if used erroneously. That is the dilemma that is given throughout this science fiction novel, whose end can be more than predictable, understandable.

This comprehensive exploration of idioms examines how these colorful expressions reflect cultural values across different societies. Consider the Vietnamese saying "The monkey knows which tree to climb," reflecting how wisdom involves knowing whom to approach for help, or the Turkish adage "A dog with money is called Mr. Dog," highlighting how wealth can change social dynamics. The text delves into several key categories including life wisdom, relationships, work, emotions, travel, and cultural identity. Take the Ethiopian proverb "Destiny hides in the roots, not in the branches," ...

Failing UP was recognized as one of only 2% of books reviewed to earn a Kirkus STAR—the most prestigious designation in the book industry in awarding books of exceptional merit. When people first meet Barbara Hong, they often conclude that her life must have always been enriched. They assume she had loving, successful parents and all the support she needed to reach her goals. Nothing could be further from the truth. Hong’s path to an Ivy League university and beyond started in a filthy tenement in Singapore where she lived with an abusive father and an illiterate mother. Even as a child...