New Releases by Alena

Balance your mind and body—unlock the power of Reiki Whether you’re looking to relieve stress, practice more gratitude, or boost general well-being, the Reiki Healing Handbook can help. Reiki is a Japanese healing practice that restores the flow of energy between your body, mind, and spirit. This Reiki reference book will show you how to align your chakras (energy centers) and incorporate symbols and hand positions into a balanced routine. You’ll learn how to clear your mind and focus your energy where it’s needed so you can reduce negative thoughts and feelings, and start healing. Reiki Healing Handbook includes: The 5 precepts—Learn about the five core principles of Reiki: Just for today: do not anger, do not worry, be grateful, practice diligently, and show compassion. Guided techniques—Beautiful illustrations show you the proper way to perform the hand positions and engage different chakras. Mix and match—Find tips for adding crystals, yoga, essential oils, and other tools to your practice for stronger energy flow. Improve your energy flow and start healing with Reiki.

“Never underestimate the power of a group of women. Fierce, thoughtful and dramatic—this is a story of true courage." —Susan Wiggs, New York Times bestselling author She would stop at nothing to protect the women under her care. Inside a century-old row house in Brooklyn, renegade Sister Evelyn and her fellow nuns preside over a safe haven for the abused and abandoned. Gruff and indomitable on the surface, warm and wry underneath, little daunts Evelyn, until she receives word that Mercy House will be investigated by Bishop Hawkins, a man with whom she shares a dark history. In order to protect everything they’ve built, the nuns must conceal many of their methods, which are forbidden by the Catholic Church. Evelyn will go to great lengths to defend all that she loves. She confronts a gang member, defies the church, challenges her own beliefs, and faces her past. She is bolstered by the other nuns and the vibrant, diverse residents of the shelter—Lucia, Mei-Li, Desiree, Esther, and Katrina—whose differences are outweighed by what unites them: they’ve all been broken by men but are determined to rebuild. Amidst her fight, Evelyn discovers the extraordinary power of mercy and the grace it grants, not just to those who receive it, but to those strong enough to bestow it.

We are living in an interesting era. We evolve and the old paradigms of good leadership are failing us. It is not about leading or following anymore. It is about learning how to lead yourself. I am sending my energy out to the conscious warriors, who are making this world a better place. You can read the whole thing, open at a random occasionally or just absorb by osmosis.

By day, as Queen of the Amazons, I dominated the males around me. By night, I was inducted into the underworld of Hollywood, where I became the plaything of prominent men. I learned an age-old lesson, that men want more than to appreciate beauty, they want to possess it. And in those days, The Los Angeles Times called me "the most beautiful woman in the world." I discovered that the mavens of Hollywood are particularly hard wired to exploit young hopefuls. I was grabbed in elevators, below the table in restaurants and in dressing rooms. Beyond these violations, a world renowned director drugged me with Quaaludes and champagne, before he raped my inert body. Ravishing comprises a twenty-year period of my life in Rome, Paris, Tokyo, Acapulco, Los Angeles and both sides of the demilitarized zone in Korea. This narrative addresses the question, which has confounded the male species for centuries, "What Do Women Really Want?" The answer lies within...and within its pages.

"FREEDOM" is the selection of photos, mostly in black&white, taken thinking of the concept of freedom to shoot just for pleasure, without constraints and with a bit of transgression, just to capture all the beauty of a Woman seen as a symbol of eroticism, elegance, refinement and sensuality.

Your one-stop guide to designing, building, managing, and operating Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) applications Key FeaturesBuild IIoT applications and deploy them on Platform as a Service (PaaS)Learn data analytics techniques in IIoT using Spark and TensorFlowUnderstand and combine Predix services to accelerate your developmentBook Description The Industrial Internet refers to the integration of complex physical machines with networked sensors and software. The current growth in the number of sensors deployed in heavy machinery and industrial equipment will lead to an exponential increase in data being captured that needs to be analyzed for predictive analytics. This also opens up a new avenue for developers who want to build exciting industrial applications. Industrial Internet Application Development serves as a one-stop guide for software professionals wanting to design, build, manage, and operate IIoT applications. You will develop your first IIoT application and understand its deployment and security considerations, followed by running through the deployment of IIoT applications on the Predix platform. Once you have got to grips with what IIoT is, you will move on to exploring Edge Development along with the analytics portions of the IIoT stack. All this will help you identify key elements of the development framework, and understand their importance when considering the overall architecture and design considerations for IIoT applications. By the end of this book, you will have grasped how to deploy IIoT applications on the Predix platform, as well as incorporate best practices for making fault-tolerant and reliable IIoT systems. What you will learnConnect prototype devices to CloudStore data in IIoT applications Explore data management techniques and implementationStudy IIoT applications analytics using Spark ML and TensorFlow Deploy analytics and visualize the outcomes as AlertsUnderstand continuous deployment using Docker and Cloud FoundryMake your applications fault-tolerant and monitor them with New RelicUnderstand IIoT platform architecture and implement IIoT applications on the platformWho this book is for This book is intended for software developers, architects, product managers, and executives keen to gain insights into Industrial Internet development. A basic knowledge of any popular programming language such as Python will be helpful.

Los Angeles, California, where the weather is always nice, and the future looks bright…at least on the surface. Welcome to Silver Lake on a warm November night, where a new generation of thirtysomethings navigate filmmaking and family planning, trying to put down roots before everything melts away.

Do you ever find yourself wishing for your knight in shining armor to come along and rescue you in love, riding off into the sunset together, towards your happily, ever after? Unfortunately, too many of us have gone from one broken relationship after another, that it seems sometimes our Prince Charming is just a fairy tale. But what if dreams come true after allif we only believe! In A Date with God, author Alena Kelley Harris shares her true testimony of how God pursued her year after year, to prove His love for her. Although she was trying to give her love to people who didnt deserve itnor were they part of the destiny God had chosen for her lifeGod wanted Alena to know that He is her knight in shining armor, her Prince Charming who has come to rescue her, to heal her broken heart and restore their relationship. While it may seem like a fairy tale, God can give us our happily ever after. Just as He did this for Alena, He wants to do it for you too. So, join Alena on her Date with God, and be inspired and captivated by this true love story for Gods people.

Shining Night is book three in the Faithgirlz series Lena in the Spotlight, written by Alena Pitts, star of The War Room and tween blogger of For Girls Like You, and co-written with her mother, editor and author Wynter Pitts. In this fiction story that will appeal to young girls who have big dreams, Lena’s story continues as she must determine how to best use her fame for the greater good. Shining Night is: perfect for young fans of realistic fiction for readers ages 8-12 suited for summer reading, as a birthday or Christmas gift, or as inspirational reading In Shining Night, Lena’s overnight fame as an actress continues to pull her into the spotlight, while teaching her what it means to shine for God. Now she’s faced with her biggest challenge yet. When Lena’s favorite music artist, Mallory Winston, sends her a gift box filled with photos and memories of their time on tour together, Lena finds out that the hospital they visited is closing and many of the children and friends she met there may not receive the ongoing care they need. How will Lena and her besties help the children at the hospital face their challenges? If you enjoy Shining Night, check out the first two books in the Lena in the Spotlight series: Hello Stars Day Dreams and Movie Screens

In this exciting collection of noblebright fantasy, fresh new fantasy voices and award-winning authors explore grief and hope, sacrifice and heroism. Rediscover the best aspect of classic fantasy - the noblebright ideals that made heroes heroic, even when the world grew dark around them. Thieves, dragons, nightmares, fairy warriors, pookas, enchanted bear-men, and other magical creatures will delight you in these unique tales of possibility, courage, and hope. This anthology features stories from: Leslie J. Anderson, C.A. Barrett, Terri Bruce, Aaron DaMommio, M.C. Dwyer, Anthony Eichenlaub, Francesca Forrest, Chloe Garner, W.R. Gingell, Lora Gray, Kelly A. Harmon, Tom Howard, Rollin Jewett, Tom Jolly, Samuel Marzioli, Amanda Nargi, Aimee Ogden, Beth Powers, Darrell J. Pursiful, Charles D. Shell, April Steenburgh, Alena Sullivan, and Troy Tang. Edited by Robert McCowen and C. J. Brightley.

Because water is one of the most important life-supporting media on the planet, the quality of aquatic ecosystems is of great interest to the entire world population. One of the factors that greatly affects water quality is the condition of the underlying sediment layer. The Manual of Physico-Chemical Analysis of Aquatic Sediments addresses the best methods for quantitative determination of chemical forms of different elements and compounds, bioassessment techniques, and determination of physical properties of sediments. Essential information for surveying, research, and monitoring of sediment contamination is covered. This manual will aid sediment biologists, geochemists, limnologists, regulatory program managers, environmental chemists and toxicologists and environmental consultants in preparing plans for proper remedial action.

Her mother’s photographs turned Lacy into an icon of childhood innocence and beauty. Now, on the night of her 22nd birthday, Lacy has to navigate between image and reality, sex and friendship, self-indulgence and responsibility. This wild tragicomedy presents a portrait of a young woman held captive by her own childhood, and a vivid picture of a generation unable to grow up.

Day Dreams and Movie Screens is book two in the Faithgirlz series Lena in the Spotlight, written by Alena Pitts, star of The War Room and tween blogger of For Girls Like You, and cowritten with her mother, editor and author Wynter Pitts. In this fiction story that will appeal to young girls who have big dreams, Lena works to keep her feet on the ground as she deals with sisters, school, friends, and fame. Day Dreams and Movie Screens is: perfect for young fans of realistic fiction for readers ages 8-12 suited for summer reading, as a birthday or Christmas gift, or as inspirational reading In Day Dreams and Movie Screens, eleven-year-old Lena Daniels’ summer of Hollywood starlets and movie filming alongside her favorite singer, Mallory Winston, is over. School starts soon, and it seems as though life might just pick up where it left off. But just as she begins to wonder if her summer was all just a dream, her world is turned upside down when she finds out she''s hitting the road on a two-week bus tour to further promote the film. While traveling across the country with Mallory and her band, Lena experiences adventures and challenges she never expected, while learning to step outside of her comfort zone and follow the path God has for her life! If you enjoy Day Dreams and Movie Screens check out the first and third books in the Lena in the Spotlight series: Hello Stars Shining Night

Slime is the answer. Fluffy. Crunchy. Smooth. Sparkly. Iridescent. Irresistible. Slime has arrived, bringing with it a tangible sense of serenity. It’s a beautiful substance, enjoyed on many levels: Discover the alchemy of making your own; chill out with slime-playing videos; and get inspired by playful presentations of every iteration slime can take. Whatever your pleasure, The Zen of Slime celebrates it with stunning art, secret recipes, interviews with Instagram sensations, and branding, packaging, and photography advice. Embrace the slime. Your journey has already begun.

When traumatic historical events and transformations coincide with one''s entry into young adulthood, the personal and historical significance of life-course transitions interact and intensify. In this volume, Alena Heitlinger examines identity formation among a generation of Czech and Slovak Jews who grew up under communism, coming of age during the de-Stalinization period of 1962-1968. Heitlinger''s main focus is on the differences and similarities within and between generations, and on the changing historical and political circumstances of state socialism/communism that have shaped an individual''s consciousness and identity—as a Jew, assimilated Czech, Slovak, Czechoslovak and, where relevant, as an emigre or an immigrant. The book addresses a larger set of questions about the formation of Jewish identity in the midst of political upheavals, secularization, assimilation, and modernity: Who is a Jew? How is Jewish identity defined? How does Jewish identity change based on different historical contexts? How is Jewish identity transmitted from one generation to the next? What do the Czech and Slovak cases tell us about similar experiences in other former communist countries, or in established liberal democracies? Heitlinger explores the official and unofficial transmission of Holocaust remembering (and non-remembering), the role of Jewish youth groups, attitudes toward Israel and Zionism, and the impact of the collapse of communism. This volume is rich in both statistical and archival data and in its analysis of historical, institutional, and social factors. Heitlinger''s wide-ranging approach shows how history, generational, and individual biography intertwine in the formation of ethnic identity and its ambiguities.

When Joanne K. Rowling published her first Harry Potter novel in 1997, probably nobody expected the tremendous success her writing debut was going to bring her. The huge popularity of the seven-book series led not only to an equally successful series of film adaptations, but also to a variety of well selling merchandise. Children and adults alike are enchanted by the wizarding world that Rowling so meticulously created. However, Rowling’s story does not only serve as a source for our entertainment, she also uses her fantasy world as a metaphor for our own world, depicting rights and wrongs in many different fields. One of the main themes is even a very controversial one: discrimination. And Rowling did not just invent a world in black and white, she does not simply tell the reader that prejudice is a reprehensible trait in our society. Rather, she created a world for the readers to explore and find things out for themselves as the story continued. In this paper, the author claims that the representation of discrimination in the Harry Potter series influences the readers in a positive way and that they are likely less prejudiced against stigmatised groups after reading the books.

In recent decades curators and artists have shown a distinct interest in religion, its different traditions, manifestations in public life, gestures and images. Breaking Resemblance explores the complex relationship between contemporary art and religion by focusing on the ways artists re-work religious motifs as a means to reflect critically on our desire to believe in images, on the history of seeing them, and on their double power— iconic and political. It discusses a number of exhibitions that take religion as their central theme, and a selection of works by Bill Viola, Lawrence Malstaf, Victoria Reynolds, and Berlinde de Bruyckere—all of whom, in their respective ways and media, recycle religious motifs and iconography and whose works resonate with, or problematize the motif of, the true image.

Hello Stars is book one in the Faithgirlz series Lena in the Spotlight, written by Alena Pitts, star of The War Room and tween blogger of For Girls Like You, and cowritten with her mother, editor and author Wynter Pitts. This fiction story will appeal to young girls who have big dreams, and is a reflection of Alena’s own life experiences as she reaches for the stars and keeps faith, family, and friends in balance. Hello Stars is: perfect for young fans of realistic fiction for readers ages 8-12 suited for summer reading, as a birthday or Christmas gift, or as inspirational reading In Hello Stars, eleven-year-old Lena Daniels never thought she’d get the chance to star in a movie. Headstrong and determined, she has her life planned out to the minute. But when her best friends Savannah and Emma tell her about an audition, she knows there’s nothing else in the world she’d rather do. And now that she’s gotten her wish, Lena finds that being in the spotlight is harder than it sounds. Lena tackles tough choices, learns the value of perseverance, and keeps her hopes high. And she knows her faith and family will keep her feet on the ground and her eyes on the stars. If you enjoy Hello Stars, check out the other books in the Lena in the Spotlight series: Day Dreams and Movie Screens Shining Night

In times of global economic and political crises, the notion of solidarity is gaining new currency. This book argues that a solidarity-based perspective can help us to find new ways to address pressing problems. Exemplified by three case studies from the field of biomedicine: databases for health and disease research, personalised healthcare, and organ donation, it explores how solidarity can make a difference in how we frame problems, and in the policy solutions that we can offer.

Myofibroblasts (MFB) are found in most tissues of the body. They have the matrix-producing functions of fibroblasts and contractile properties that are known from smooth muscle cells. Fundamental work of the last decades has shed remarkable light on their origin, biological functions and role in disease. During hepatic injury, they fulfill manifold functions in connective tissue remodeling and wound healing, but overshooting activity of MFB on the other side induces fibrosis and cirrhosis. The present e-book "Liver myofibroblasts" contains 9 articles providing comprehensive information on "hot topics" of MFB. In our opening editorial we provide a short overview of the origin of MFB and their relevance in extracellular matrix formation which is the hallmark of hepatic fibrosis. Thereafter, leading experts in the field share their current perspectives on special topics of (i) MFB in development and disease, ii) their role in hepatic fibrogenesis, and (iii) promising therapies and targets that are suitable to interfere with hepatic fibrosis.

This book is about the lives of young ''ordinary'' Czech women who came of age in the aftermath of the 1989 Velvet Revolution. It is a collection of interviews with fourteen women of similar age and education, but varying work, marital and childbearing experiences. Three additional chapters outline the design of the study, the social and historical forces that have shaped these women''s lives, and the common themes emerging out of the interviews, linking them to both legacies of communism and the current postcommunist transition.

A beautiful GRAYSCALE coloring book featuring the illustrations of Alena Lazareva . This book includes 25 unique different hand drawn funny illustrations: cats, hares, elephant, giraffe, tiger, snail, cheerful pig, elephant, hamster, chicken, owl, caterpillar, fish. Please seethe back cover of the book for all images included. * 25 grayscale illustrations * Page size is 8.5x11inches. * Pages printed on one side only. * Paper non-perforated I recommend using colored pencils. Use markers just for small touch ups as well as gel pens (use sheet of card under the page you are colouring). Happy coloring!

This book focuses on the presentation and evaluation of geological maps of the Central Europe from 1750 up to 1840. Milestones in presentation of stratigraphy and tectonics and new geological models on such maps will be underlined. Map descriptions contain fundamentals editorial data as well as the map author’s affiliation and biographies. It represents for the region of the Central Europe the first work of this type. Geological maps represent geological synthesis and indicate the level of geological knowledge throughout history. They serve as guidelines for an economic utilization of mineral deposits and further geological investigation.

A Year of Painting Intuitively! Stay inspired to create art throughout every season! In Intuitive Painting Workshop, you''ll find a timely expressive exercise for each month, along with seasonal check-ins. In discovering how to paint intuitively, you will learn to surrender to your true visual voice as your personal process of making marks emerges. Using acrylic paint, ink, collage papers, stencils, watercolor, gel pens, paint markers and more, you''ll be gently guided by twelve exercises, taking cues from the process, but carrying each in your own direction. • Explore monthly exercises, each offering you a new area of growth from setting intentions, to painting wildly, to getting know your animal totems and much more. • Receive suggestions for painting with a "beginner''s mind" and a glossary of art terms will make following the step-by-step demonstrations clear and easy to understand. • Get further ideas from a monthly gallery of contributing artists who were students of this process, just like you! • Have a chance to assimilate your creative focus every few months with seasonal Check-In journaling prompts and ideas for reflection. Stay inspired month-by-month and season-to-season with Intuitive Painting Workshop!

Master''s Thesis from the year 2015 in the subject Cultural Studies - Miscellaneous, grade: 1,0, Free University of Berlin (John F. Kennedy Institute for North American Studies), course: Kulturwissenschaft, language: English, abstract: This thesis examines the relatively recent and increasingly popular phenomenon of cringe comedy. The characteristic feature of cringe comedy is the exposure of the viewer to prolonged states of social discomfort in the form of vicarious embarrassment, framed in a faux-realist aesthetic. Appearing increasingly since the turn of the millennium, cringe comedies employ the prolonged suspension of discomfort, deviating from the traditional sitcom. Since academic research on the topic has been limited, this thesis incorporates theoretical perspectives on comedy, embarrassment and shame, television and cultural history, insights from the fields of humor research, affect theory, the sociology of emotions and psychology as well as cultural and media studies. Drawing upon these sources, the author attempts to situate cringe comedy within the late capitalist comedic landscape, and analyze it as an aesthetic bound to the post-Fordist traits of hyperflexibility, hyperperformance and the increasingly blurred lines between work and play. The common experiential thread shared by cringe comedy shows is the endurance – on the part of the viewer – of a kind of voluntary shame stasis, provoked by repeated social faux pas, mixed with desperation and failure, and rarely ending in a comforting comedic resolution. These moments provide an interesting diversion from the usual hyperflexible performances of the late capitalist stage. In allowing for prolonged and awkward gaps, refusing to quickly fill them with socially scripted comfort, and delaying or altogether avoiding a return to a smooth equilibrium, cringe comedy grants us time to question the current methods of managing affective imbalance. In the words of Elspeth Probyn, the benefit of shame (as performed and triggered in these comedies) could be the introduction of “acute sensitivity“ (2) towards ourselves and others. While numerous cringe comedy shows will be referenced,the main analysis centers on the 2005/2014 HBO series The Comeback.

Essay from the year 2014 in the subject American Studies - Culture and Applied Geography, grade: 1,3, Free University of Berlin (John F. Kennedy Institue for North American Studies), course: Art and Radicalism in the United States, c. 1901-1929, language: English, abstract: Much like the polarizing discussions around finding and displaying truth in photographic meaning, social documentarian Lewis Hine’s child labor photographs have attracted their share of heterogeneous interpretations. While his original intention of pursuing social change and having his photographic work act as a “lever for social uplift” (Hine, 111) is not denied altogether, some scholars have questioned this work as actually supportive to an ideology reproducing the class system that it set out to alter.This essay looks at a multitude of perspectives on Hine’s work, specifically focusing on one representative image of his work for the National Child Labor Committee during the Progressive Era, comparing the author''s own analysis with interpretations of Alan Trachtenberg, Maren Stange and James Guimond among others to reassess questions of aesthetic and moral value in a representative photograph of the NCLC period.

Seminar paper from the year 2013 in the subject American Studies - Literature, grade: 1,0, Free University of Berlin (John F. Kennedy Institute for North American Studies), course: Cormac McCarthy in Context, language: English, abstract: This paper constitutes an inquiry into the problems of empathizing with unsympathetic characters in novels, specifically in Cormac McCarthy''s novel "Child of God". It is both textually focused and extending its reflections beyond the scope of the novel. The author questions the reasoning behind, and challenges for, an empathic reading of Cormac McCarthy''s polarizing novel "Child of God", drawing on theories of empathy from several disciplinary perspectives. Literary definitions of empathy, as well as philosophical, sociological and psychological approaches to this phenomenon will be consulted to explore what makes reader identification with a challenging protagonist like Lester Ballard in "Child of God" possible.

Newly available in paperback, this landmark volume is the definitive study of the work of visionary American artist Nancy Holt (1938–2014). Since the late 1960s, Holt’s wide-ranging production has included Land art—particularly the monumental Sun Tunnels (1973–76)—as well as significant projects in sculpture, installation, photography, film, and video. A comprehensive representation of Holt’s working process in both word and image, Alena J. Williams’s momentous publication illuminates the artist’s interest in physical space and reveals how the geographic variety and boundlessness of the American landscape afforded her numerous opportunities to develop large-scale projects beyond the confines of New York City’s gallery walls. Contributions by a distinguished group of writers—including Pamela M. Lee, Lucy R. Lippard, Ines Schaber, and Matthew Coolidge—chart Holt’s fascinating trajectory from her initial experiments with sound, light, and industrial materials to major site interventions and environmental sculpture. James Meyer’s valuable interview with Holt and Julia Alderson’s illustrated chronology expand our knowledge of this groundbreaking artist and the crucial contexts in which she worked. More than twenty original writings by the artist and a rare selection of her concrete poetry, documentary photographs, and preparatory drawings reveal Holt’s revolutionary concepts of space, time, optics, and scale.

Lviv is a city in western Ukraine and a UNESCO world heritage site. Founded in the late Middle Ages by King Danylo and named after his son Lev, Lviv has thrived as a major commercial and religious centre, attracting artists, craftsmen, and intellectuals from all over the world. The influences of this multi-ethnic tapestry – Ukrainian, Armenian, German, Jewish, Polish, Italian and Austrian – are felt in the city today in its majestic boulevards, charming squares, and vibrant café culture. This book is a result of two trips to Ukraine between 2013 and 2014. Lviv was not meant to be my final destination, but once there I could not resist the temptation to linger, to wander its winding cobblestone streets, and to reflect on what makes this place cast such a spell on its visitors. Before long I realised that although Lviv’s Art Nouveau buildings, Gothic churches, Renaissance mansions, and Baroque monuments give it a distinctive ambiance, it is the people that make this town special: laughing and praying, rushing on their daily errands, and slowing down to enjoy a drink; welcoming children into the world and seeing young men off to war – life in Lviv is intense and touching. I hereby share my humble declaration of love for Lviv, a hidden treasure in the heart of Europe.