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  The Song Dynasty - Economic and...

  Jun Liu

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  The Song Dynasty (960–1279) emerged from the remnants of the fragmented Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, establishing a centralized government that would shape China for centuries. Unlike previous dynasties that relied heavily on military conquest, the Song prioritized administration, economic growth, and cultural development, laying the foundation for one of the most prosperous eras in Chinese history. 
  The dynasty is traditionally divided into two periods: the Northern Song (960–1127) and the Southern Song (1127–1279). The Northern Song was founded by Emperor Taizu, who implemented policies to weaken the power of military governors and strengthen civilian rule. This shift reduced the influence of warlords, allowing for a stable bureaucratic system. However, external threats, particularly from the Khitan Liao and later the Jurchen Jin, forced the court to focus on diplomacy and financial strategies rather than military expansion. Eventually, the Jin conquest of the north in 1127 led to the retreat of the Song court to the south, marking the beginning of the Southern Song period. Despite losing control over key northern territories, the Southern Song maintained a flourishing economy, driven by trade, technological advancements, and agricultural productivity. 
  The Song Dynasty’s political structure was characterized by a well-organized bureaucracy based on merit rather than aristocratic privilege. The expansion of the civil service examination system ensured that government officials were selected through rigorous academic testing rather than birthright. This system, rooted in Confucian ideals, emphasized knowledge of classical texts and governance principles, creating a scholar-official class that played a crucial role in state affairs. While this meritocratic system promoted stability, it also created a conservative bureaucracy resistant to radical reforms.

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  Die Hard - The Ultimate Trivia...

  Film Trivia Metaverse

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  DIE HARD 
  THE ULTIMATE TRIVIA COLLECTION 
    
  FROM THE MOVIE DIRECTED BY JOHN MCTIERNAN 
    
  CREATED BY FILM TRIVIA METAVERSE 
    
  ABOUT THE FILM 
  "Die Hard" is a 1988 action thriller directed by John McTiernan, centered on New York cop John McClane, who is visiting his estranged wife in Los Angeles. While attending her company’s Christmas party at the Nakatomi Plaza, the building is seized by a group of terrorists led by Hans Gruber. McClane becomes the only hope for the hostages as he uses his wit and resourcefulness to fight back against the heavily armed group. The film explores themes of heroism, isolation, and resilience, with a mix of suspense, action, and moments of dark humor, making it a hallmark of the action genre. 
    
  TRIVIA SAMPLES: 
    
  “The fictional Nakatomi Plaza, used as the setting for the film, actually serves as the headquarters for 20th Century Fox. The company charged itself rent for using the still-under-construction building.” 
    
  “Bruce Willis's costume department had 17 undershirts on hand, each in varying stages of wear and tear, to match the degradation of his shirt during the film.” 
    
  “Bruce Willis was paid an unprecedented $5 million for the role, a figure that was approved by Fox President Rupert Murdoch.” 
    
  “In 2007, Bruce Willis donated the iconic undershirt worn by John McClane to the Smithsonian Museum.” 
    
  “The scene where Bruce Willis meets Alan Rickman was not rehearsed to increase the sense of spontaneity between the two actors.” 
   

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  Toledo's Historic Farmers' Market

  Trini L. Wenninger

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  With savory fruits, crisp vegetables, fresh herbs and more, the Toledo Farmers� Market attests to the rich and bountiful goodness available in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. Join historian Trini L. Wenninger as she guides you through the market�s history, from its humble origins in the 1830s through its survival during rough times in the Glass City. Select the ripest tomatoes from Konstantinos�s stall, crunch into one of the seventy different varieties of apples from Witt�s Orchards or savor honey from Wines Bee Yard�s apiaries. This collection is complete with selection tips, cooking and baking advice and mouth-watering recipes inspired by the market that will bring the taste of Toledo to your table.

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  Ashes to Admin - Tales from the...

  Evie King

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  ‘I’ve a body out the back for you...’  
   
  Imagine having that sentence said to you. And then imagine it actually being pertinent. Welcome to Evie King’s world. 
   
  What happens if you die without family or money? The answer to this very three-in-the-morning question is that Evie, or someone like her, will step in and arrange your funeral. 
   
  Evie is a local council worker charged with carrying out Section 46 funerals under the Public Health Act. Or to put it in less cold, legislative language; funerals for those with nobody around, willing or able to bury or cremate them. 
   
  Ashes to Admin lifts the coffin lid on some moving and unexpected personal life stories. Sometimes tragic, as with the case of an unidentified woman found on a beach buried without even a name, but often uplifting and occasionally hilarious. 
   
  Ultimately, Evie discovers that her job is more about life than it is about death, funerals being for the living and death being merely a trigger to rediscover a life and celebrate it against the odds. 
   
  This audiobook also includes the special bonus content: ‘A Blustery Conversation with Evie King & Stewart Lee.’

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  Flavour with Benefits: France

  Cathy Connally, Charley Best

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  Flavour with Benefits: France will inspire you to plan the trip of your dreams and indulge in flavours that deliver a pleasant surprise. Would you love to escape on a romantic journey? Your ticket is between the covers of the stunning Flavour with Benefits: France. Now more than ever, we yearn to travel again. The descriptions of the French countryside will inspire you to book your next trip. Co-author Cathy Connally narrates this heartwarming book. Hear stories about intrepid women while traveling on a whimsical circuitous trip through France. Learn about a five-year-old girl and how an artichoke was prescribed for an ailment rather than a pill. Hear about courageous men and women who sacrificed so their families could be safe. Be impressed with the women who built the champagne industry in France but could not vote. Learn about healthier takes on iconic French foods while hearing about flavours and benefits of each recipe. Visit the gastronomic capital of France, Lyon and the women who invented this cuisine and achieved three Michelin stars. Vicariously sail the sea near Cassis and visit Provence and Marseille, the second largest city. Wander the ancient streets of Arles and get lost in its meandering alleyways. Visit castles and take in expansive views. Co-authors, Cathy Connally and Charley Best, are obsessed with developing new approaches to iconic flavours served with a side-dish of travel. Flavour with Benefits: France is the first book in the series. www.flavourwithbenefits.com Instagram @flavourwithbenefitsFlavour with Benefits: France is a finalist in the 2021 Foreword Indies Book Awards in Travel. https://www.forewordreviews.com/awards/books/flavour-with-benefits-france/

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  Pardon My French - Food faux pas...

  Rachael Mogan McIntosh

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  At the school gate, when she accidentally kissed one new friend on the nose and called another a 'beautiful man-horse', Rachael realised that small-town France could hardly be more different to beach-side Australia. The smell of cigarettes replaced the tang of bone-broth and sprouted sourdough, the neighbours sometimes came to blows and under no circumstances would anyone 
  wear active wear in public. Ever. 
   
  Muddling through every interaction in terrible French pushed Rachael's family to their limits. Some days, everybody cried and ate their feelings with almond croissants. But the town of Sommières embraced these ragtag Australians, and the family fell in love with their temporary hometown and its outrageous gossip, cobblestoned beauty and kind, eccentric inhabitants.  
   
  Pardon My French is a candid, hilarious love letter to family life and France with three valuable lessons for overcoming adversity: make home a beautiful nest, lean into the tough lessons and look for the comedy in everything. 
   
  'Uproarious and deliciously wise… A pure delight.' TORI HASCHKA, A Recipe for Family

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