The Magic Christian

The name Christian Dior has been synonymous with fashion and glamour for over 50 years. From the moment Christian Dior and Marcel Boussac decided to found the couture house of Dior, the clothing that they have produced has been regarded as stylish and elegant.

Using in-depth examples of "magical" practice such as exorcisms, love rites, alchemy and the transformation of humans into divine beings, this lively volume demonstrates that the word "magic" was used widely in late antique texts as part of polemics against enemies and sometimes merely as a term for other people's rituals. Professor Janowitz shows that "magical" activities were integral to late antique religious practice, and that they must be understood from the perspective of those who employed them.

We all love the fairy tales we grew up on, creating a world in which good always wins over evil, where those whose hearts are true and who do the right thing come out on top. But grown-up competition for success is rough, even cutthroat, and we've often heard that nice guys finish last.

The story of this previously unreleased performance by pianists Tommy Flanagan and Jaki Byard at San Francisco's famous Keystone Korner begins with its unusual distributing label, Resonance Records. The original brainchild of studio owner George Kalbin, the label exists as part of the larger endeavor, the non-profit Rising Jazz Stars Foundation, dedicated to the discovery and cultivation of the next generation of jazz stars. This aspect of the RJSF produced recordings by "newer" artists: Andreas Oberg's My Favorite Guitars (2008), Christian Howes' Heartfelt (2008).

The Power of Optimism is an extraordinary collection of condensed classics that can be your guide to living a more fulfilling and happier life.