A mysterious painting holds the clues to a cache of priceless relics in this treasure hunt of “deepening suspense” à la The Da Vinci Code (Library Journal). In financial trouble, Isobel Sadler considers selling a painting that’s been in her family for generations. She can’t imagine it’s worth much . . . until someone tries to steal it. Mystified, Isobel turns to art dealer Michael Whiting for advice. He identifies the painting as a sixteenth-century treasure map pointing the way to a series of lost religious artifacts hidden by monks when Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries. If he and Isobel can decipher the clues in the painting, Michael reasons, her money troubles will disappear. But if they can’t decode the painting quickly, Michael and Isobel could be history themselves. As they struggle to translate the arcane instructions—laced with references to everything from the Bible to Botticelli—they are stalked by a rival who will stop at nothing to get his hands on the treasure. Peter Watson’s stylish art-world thriller seamlessly mixes action with “sustained literariness, refinement, and polish” (Library Journal).

An inherited painting is the key to a cache of priceless relics in this novel of romantic suspense by the author of Conspiracy and Crusade. An art dealer and the woman he loves find themselves involved in a dangerous race against time to discover the whereabouts of the treasure.

In this detailed yet readable legal analysis, the authors thoroughly evaluate the connections between intellectual property and the sports and entertainment industries, covering everything from copyrights and patents to trademarked logos and marketing strategies. This complete survey of intellectual property law in the sports and entertainment industries evaluates the key connections between these arenas and provides an overview of trademark law for sports. The authors clearly explain the rights of publicity and privacy for entertainers and athletes, the ethical considerations involved in obtaining and using intellectual property, and how licensing agreements relate to intellectual property law. The detailed, up-to-date legal analyses are written by practitioners in the field for those without legal expertise, yet still contain useful information to the legal community. The book covers all forms of intellectual property, including copyright, patents, trademarks, trade dress, trade secrets, and the right of publicity. It will also discuss marketing, broadcasting, films and books, sports equipment, international considerations and trade issues, and intellectual property in cyberspace.

You are paying much more in tax than you think you are What Everyone Needs to Know About Tax takes an entertaining and informative look at the UK tax system in all its glory to show you just how much you pay, how the money is collected and how it affects ordinary people every day. Giving context to recent controversies including the Panama Papers, tax avoidance by multinationals, Brexit and more, this book provides a straightforward explanation of tax and the policy behind it for non-specialists — no accounting or legal knowledge is required. The system's underlying logic is illustrated through three 'golden rules' that explain many of the UK tax regime's oddities, and the discussion focuses on the way things are rather than utopian ideas about how they might be. Case studies show how the VAT on a plumber's bill all adds up; why fraudsters made a movie to throw HMRC off their scent; how a wealthy couple can pay so little tax on a six-figure income; and the way tracing the money you paid for your iPad sheds light why the EU is demanding Apple pay billions extra in tax. Ever the political battlefield, tax is too important for you to rely on media hype for information. It affects everyone, every day, and it pays for voters and taxpayers to know more. This book leaves aside technical detail and the arcana of the tax code to give you a real-world look at how tax works. Learn about the many ways that the tax system separates us from our money Discover how Brexit could change the way we pay taxes Understand how changing tax policy affects people's everyday lives See through the rhetoric surrounding controversies in the media With tax, we have to admit that there are no easy answers. No one enjoys paying them, but without them, the Government would shut down. Seeing through politicians' cant and superficial press coverage is critical for your ability to make the decisions that benefit you; What Everyone Needs to Know About Tax gives you the background and foundational knowledge you need to be a well-informed taxpayer.

A METAPHYSICAL PICARESQUE ADVENTURE INTO THE GEOMANTIC MYSTERIES OF THE EARTH WITH ANGELIC ACCOMPANIMENT In 2095, three Light grid engineers undertake a world restoration tour of the esoteric energy body of the planet to fine-tune an upgrade that started in 2020. Their “fixer-upper” itinerary takes them to England, Montenegro, South Africa, Ethiopia, Colombia, Armenia, Pakistan, South Korea, Finland—14 stops in all. The Earth has been birthing a landscape of Light and Truth out of itself since 2020, but it needs some professional tweaking and housecleaning to complete its transformation. Some “parties” vigorously oppose this upgrade and have to be dealt with; others heartily support it. It’s been like that since the beginning of the Earth. Lars Jaanusson, a Boston book editor, narrates the fieldwork in a manner that is both whimsical and serious. “The tour was an immersion in mythopoesis. You find you’re living and working inside the world’s myths when you do this work. Much is at stake, but you have to stay light-hearted on the job,” he says. Lars and his two companions, Beatrice Goldoni from Italy and Bogdan Hazurov from Bulgaria, enjoy the technical assistance of two angelic orders. The Ofanim, jokey and amiable while brandishing huge swords of Light, and the Serafim, doing business as the fierce Valkyries of legend who take no prisoners among the enemies of the Earth. The planet’s upgrade, just finishing up in 2095, was scheduled at its inception, in fact, as early as its design phase. Many of its problems and enemies go back to that beginning too. Not everyone was in favor of a world with this much Light and Truth and so elegant a geometric design or “grid” in Light. That’s why much of the narrative recounts what it took to pull out the deep, resistant, dark-minded roots that have disturbed the Earth and humans for millennia. It’s an altogether different take on the Apocalypse.

This book is based on the premise that humankind is, first and foremost, the outcome of the process of biological evolution. Recognition of this is fundamental to our understanding of who we are and how we behave. All living things have evolved the physical and mental attributes that promote their prospects for survival; they are good at doing the things that enable them to pass on their genes to succeeding generations, and we are no exception. Of course, through the development of culture, we have gained some freedom from our biological origins. Nevertheless, evolution has constructed the foundation upon which culture is built. The first part of the book, Ourselves Interacting with the World, presents an overview of the main capabilities that evolution has endowed us with and that enable us to interact with the environment in advantageous ways. This includes our senses, which act as windows on the world and also, of great importance, our emotions and ability to remember. Our ability to think is perhaps the crowning achievement of our evolutionary journey, and, of course, we must be able to act in a timely and effective manner. The second part of the book, Living Together, traces the history of how we became social creatures. To be truly human, we had to be capable of sharing and cooperation. We also needed to be able to control our aggressiveness and talent for deception. We settled down, making the transition from hunter-gatherers to urban dwellers, and agreed upon values and norms of behavior that enhanced our ability to get along. Ultimately, we came to see good and bad as a morality of right and wrong, further augmenting group cohesiveness. In the final part of the book, Challenges and Opportunities, attention turns to a consideration of the constraints and possibilities that must be considered in looking to the future. These realities can be seen to play out in four social arenas: the pursuit of fairness, the seeking of justice, the interplay of political beliefs and good government, and ultimately, a united society that is, at the same time, a true community. Our quest for these things will be greatly aided by a deep knowledge and appreciation of our evolutionary past and the indelible imprint it has left upon us. It may even lead us to that most elusive of all things, happiness.

The world is noisy and disorientating. Our hearts need beauty and truth. Heather Holdsworth experienced the death of her father followed shortly by the death of her mother. A few years later she battled a sickness that left her without the strength to stand, walk, or even speak. She opened the book of Psalms. She began writing. And from her writing emerged drawings that brought solace and joy to her soul. Through the medium of art and words, artist and Bible teacher Heather Holdsworth shares an illustrated journey into the Psalms. Landscape of Hope takes passages that have become familiar—perhaps too familiar—and reveals their soul-strengthening, heart-restoring power. Through artwork and commentary, readers find themselves deeply engaging with the Bible and the triune God. Heather invites us to come alongside her in discovering the artistry, symmetry, and wonder of this ancient text. Readers experience the presence of Jesus Christ as they engage with the truth of life’s fragility and find hope in a renewed vision of God.