Treasures of Knowledge

In dozens of countries and in hundreds of varieties, the venerable craft of white work has become a byword for the ultimate form of needlework elegance. Its 3,000-year history encompasses every conceivable form of garment and decorative linen, from peasant blouses to papal vestments and the bridal gowns of queens; it appears in many guises as the favored embroidery of needleworkers from Denmark to South Africa, from England to the Philippines.

Astronomer Dr. Carl Sagan is host and narrator of this 13-hour series that originally aired on Public Broadcasting Stations in the United States. Dr. Sagan describes the universe in a way that appeals to a mass audience, by using Earth as a reference point, by speaking in terms intelligible to non-scientific people, by relating the exploration of space to that of the Earth by pioneers of old, and by citing such Earth legends as the Library of Alexandria as metaphors for space-related future events. Among Dr. Sagan's favorite topics are the origins of life, the search for life on Mars, the infernal composition of the atmosphere of Venus and a warning about a similar effect taking place on Earth due to global pollution and the "greenhouse effect", the lives of stars, interstellar travel and the effects of attaining the speed of light, the danger of mankind technologically self-destructing, and the search, using radio technology, for intelligent life in deep space.

This volume studies information as an economic resource in the Roman World. Information asymmetry is a distinguishing phenomenon of any human relationship. From an economic perspective, private or hidden information, opposed to publicly observable information, generates advantages and inequalities; at the same time, it is a source of profit, legal and illegal, and of transaction costs.

The King of the Ballroom’s third compilation is a poignant collection of the music that influenced both his dance career and memorable life moments and most notably includes the track ‘Pick Yourself Up’ by Len’s dear friend and Strictly Come dancing colleague, the late British showbiz legend Sir Bruce Forsyth. This celebration of the best of British musical talent and timeless classics also features the likes of musical legends; Dame Shirley Bassey, Queen, Dusty Springfield, Elton John, Tom Jones, Acker Bilk, Anthony Newley and many more. Len Goodman said: “I am so pleased to be able to celebrate in music what the UK has given to the world. What better way to pay tribute to my friend Sir Bruce Forsyth whose charisma and talent was the leading light in British talent and has the power to live on and be remembered forever.”