Discover new and old friends as you take a tour around the North Pole, meet the special Scout Elves, and learn about the Christmas magic they create!A beloved part of family traditions across the world, Elf on the Shelf is among the top three most-recognized holiday character in the US, along with Rudolph and Santa Claus himself. With almost 25 million sales around the world, a float in the Macy’s Day Parade, and the fourth-bestselling holiday title, Elf on the She...

A journal of the art of mindful living in the Plum Village tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh.The Mindfulness Bell would like to honor Thầy’s transformation by offering this curated collection of highlights from the week of memorial ceremonies; teachings from Thích Nhất Hạnh on death, impermanence, and interbeing; and reflections and recollections of Thầy from elder monastics, lay Dharma teachers, and friends.Whats inside?-Letter from the Editor By Brother...

Despite Marco Island's common distinction as the largest of Florida's Ten Thousand Islands, there are only 12 square miles of land upon which to wander - making the enormity of its history all the more remarkable. Marco Island projects prominently from Florida's mainland at the peninsula's southwestern fringe, where the waters of the Everglades and the Gulf of Mexico commingle. Its tropical climate, verdant landscape, unique topography, and abundant wildlife sustained prehistoric Native Am...

A journal of the art of mindful living in the Plum Village tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh - Issue 90This issue features teachings from Thich Nhat Hanh, Dr Larry Ward, and Sister Boi Nghiem:Thich Nhat Hanh on the intimate connection between suffering and happinessDr Larry Ward on caring for our traumatic experiencesBrother Peace on losing both his parents to depression and suicideDharma teacher Valerie Brown on inspiring hop...

Copper Thoughts exposes the creativity and genius of a young girl learning to live with Bipolar Disorder. Known as the Copper Bell Poet, her poetry explores the light and dark nature of humankind, both within herself and in the world around her. The poems were written between the ages of ten and twelve. It is hard to gauge what is more inspiring, that someone so young could articulate such big thoughts, or that someone struggling to find balance could write so poignantly about the human co...

"Antigone" is a Greek tragedy written by Sophocles in the 5th century BCE. The play is part of a trilogy, but only "Antigone," the third installment, has survived. The narrative revolves around Antigone, the daughter of Oedipus, who defies the king's decree and buries her brother Polynices, in defiance of the law. The king, Creon, orders that Polynices' body should remain unburied as punishment for his rebellion against the city.Antigone's act of burial is not only an expression of...

Candide, written by Voltaire, is a satirical novella that follows the adventures of its optimistic protagonist, Candide, as he traverses a world filled with hardship and turmoil. Through a series of misfortunes and unlikely events, Candide encounters war, natural disasters, and human cruelty, all of which challenge his unwavering belief in the philosophy of optimism, espoused by his mentor, Pangloss. Despite the relentless adversity, Candide's journey is a critique of the naive optimism th...

"Electra," one of the enduring tragedies of ancient Greek literature attributed to playwrights like Sophocles and Euripides, explores themes of revenge, justice, and familial duty. The play revolves around the eponymous Electra, daughter of King Agamemnon and Queen Clytemnestra, who seeks vengeance for her father's murder at the hands of her mother and her lover, Aegisthus. Consumed by grief and a thirst for retribution, Electra becomes a tragic figure trapped in a cycle of violence, torn ...

In the ancient world of Greece, amidst the lyrical splendor of poetry, one name shines with a brilliance that transcends time: Sappho. Revered as one of the greatest poets of antiquity, Sappho's work speaks to the depths of human emotion with a clarity and intensity that remains unparalleled. Through her verses, she immortalizes the joys and sorrows of love, the beauty of nature, and the complexities of the human experience, captivating readers across centuries with her exquisite imagery a...

"An Essay on Crime and Punishments" is a seminal work by Cesare Beccaria, first published in 1764. This Enlightenment-era treatise is pivotal in the field of criminology and penology, advocating for the rationalization and humanitarian reform of criminal justice systems. Beccaria, influenced by the Enlightenment ideals of reason and human dignity, critiques the arbitrary and often brutal nature of contemporary punishments. He argues that the purpose of punishment should not be retribution ...

"Electra," one of the enduring tragedies of ancient Greek literature attributed to playwrights like Sophocles and Euripides, explores themes of revenge, justice, and familial duty. The play revolves around the eponymous Electra, daughter of King Agamemnon and Queen Clytemnestra, who seeks vengeance for her father's murder at the hands of her mother and her lover, Aegisthus. Consumed by grief and a thirst for retribution, Electra becomes a tragic figure trapped in a cycle of violence, torn ...

A brief biographical sketch of Franklin's life, followed by a collection (published in 1899) of 670 aphorisms, apothegms, or proverbs - short, pithy, instructive sayings - that were scattered throughout the pages of his Poor Richard's Almanack over its 25 years of once-a-year publication (1732-1758). Many of these sayings are familiar to all . . . "a penny saved is a penny earned" . . . "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush" . . . but there are many more for you to laugh at, ponder ...