Stardust Dads

The e-mail Danny and Allison read on their new computer in 1996 looks no different from the millions of others received by Web users around the world, with one glaring exception--it was sent by their dads who died during the 1970s. While residing in the afterworld at an amenity-laden paradise called Midway Manor, guitar-strumming Mickey Parks and piano-playing Lloyd Wallace monitor and manipulate the lives of their adult children on earth from the mid-'70s through the 1990s. Tampering with the facility's sophisticated computer, the dads thrust Mickey's daughter Allison and Lloyd's son Danny into a passionate but sometimes stormy relationship-a relationship steeped in Danny's heavy drinking and entangled in the often-zany world of men's adventure magazine publishing. After carefully implementing a plan to send their son and daughter a gift of knowledge that could enrich their lives forever, the dads' brief contact is cut short. They are banished to another destination in the afterworld, but not before they impart indisputable proof of life after death--and unwittingly put Danny's and Allison's earthbound lives on the line.

Georgia on My Mind, Rockin' Chair, Skylark, Lazybones, and of course the incomparable Star Dust--who else could have composed these classic American songs but Hoagy Carmichael? He remains, for millions, the voice of heartland America, eternal counterpoint to the urban sensibility of Cole Porter and George Gershwin. Now, trumpeter and historian Richard M. Sudhalter has penned the first book-length biography of the man Alec Wilder hailed as "the most talented, inventive, sophisticated and jazz-oriented of all the great songwriters--the greatest of the great craftsmen." Stardust Melody follows Carmichael from his roaring-twenties Indiana youth to bandstands and recording studios across the nation, playing piano and singing alongside jazz greats Jack Teagarden, Benny Goodman, Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, and close friends Bix Beiderbecke and Louis Armstrong. It illuminates his peak Hollywood years, starring in such films as To Have and Have Not and The Best Years of Our Lives, and on radio, records and TV. With compassionate insight Sudhalter depicts Hoagy's triumphs and tragedies, and his mounting despair as rock-and-roll drowns out and lays waste to the last days of a brilliant career. With an insider's clarity Sudhalter explores the songs themselves, still fresh and appealing while reminding us of our innocent American yesterdays. Drawing on Carmichael's private papers and on interviews with family, friends and colleagues, he reveals that "The Old Music Master" was almost as gifted a wordsmith as a shaper of melodies. In all, Stardust Melody offers a richly textured portrait of one of our greatest musical figures, an inspiring American icon.

Dad said everything is magic ... and science is just figuring out how magic works. For Carina Sugden, nothing is more special than a moon tree – a tree grown from the seeds taken on the Apollo 14 mission into space. Her father taught her everything she knows about them. But he passed away before they found one together. When Mum relocates the family to the Otway Ranges, Carina becomes determined to find a moon tree on her own. Like a scientist, she carefully searches the forest behind her new house. But after a mysterious encounter with a black cockatoo, Carina realises there's magic in this forest. And if magic exists, anything is possible, like seeing her dad one last time...

It is inevitable that humankind will become extinct. Nowadays, the advance of technology has overtaken the human capacity to control the possible consequences of any kind of progress. Extinction is always multifactorial. Double-faced Janus Meerkater, a reborn Neanderthal and leading nanotechnologist, has created EMULATOR, an unexcelled thinking machine and technological singularity. Thus Murphy’s law and the Dürrenmatt principle are put in motion. Leo Lobeck the Trojan, Jason Stardust and Xixi Bruneau are fighting the technocalypse. Brain emulation in combination with wormhole physics could create an escape route for mankind. That way reality is broken and reveals itself as an illusion in the empirical dimensions of human experience. The world events turn out to be pure satire. In the end all human minds will be uploaded to EMULATOR and Friedrich Nietzsche, the great but unfortunately insane philosopher, will be God. “Perhaps we are all part of an experiment. Maybe to be human is just a test of what animate creatures would do given by nature limited intelligence and maximum ignorance.”

Eula’s stardust—spirit—has been waiting for her father to return to their old farmhouse so she can learn why he didn’t rescue her, her brother, and their mother. Dying of cancer, her father Duane, finally returns. He wants to pass away with his guilt and remorse of not being able to rescue his family and, more importantly, his secret shame over the way he dealt with his mixed race relationship. Retha, a nurse specializing in end of life care, works to help him overcome his regrets. In the process, each realize their secrets and their families are intertwined. In this touching and deeply layered story of race, prejudice and love, an Eastern white pine tree—named Memory—presides over the front yard and proves to be a generational refuge.

In most heroic tales, a helpless young lady waits around for a prince to rescue her. But the spunky girls in this entertaining series are much too busy saving the day to await Prince Charming. These adaptations and original stories from around the world inspire readers to become a new kind of heroine. This bundle includes Girls to the Rescue Books #1-7. In most heroic tales, a helpless young lady waits around for a prince to rescue her. But the spunky girls in this entertaining series are much too busy saving the day to await Prince Charming. These adaptations and original stories from around the world inspire readers to become a new kind of heroine. This bundle includes Girls to the Rescue Books #1-7. The books included in the bundle contain a total of 65 short stories.

The Child Who Accidentally Adopted A Unicorn A Short Summary of this story: Emily was a young girl who loved animals and lived in a society that encouraged magic and wonder. When she was out exploring the town, she came across a beautiful horse named Stardust. They got along right away, and then they went on many trips together, which only made their friendship better. As news of the unicorn spread, people started to take different views. Others liked Emily's strange relationship with the unicorn, but Mr. Grumbleton, the mayor of the town, saw Stardust as nothing more than a show that he could use to make money. Mr. Grumbleton came up with a sneaky plan where he pretended to be friends with Emily and said that Stardust earned a big palace in a place no one knew about. Emily was able to see through his lie because she was able to trust her gut. She also said that what made Stardust happy wasn't their money or fame, but their true friendship with each other. Emily didn't back down, and with the help of the other locals, she was able to stop Mr. Grumbleton's plans for Stardust. Greed and dishonesty were defeated because the people were able to work together and always love each other. The community grew and thrived because it was a place of magic that honored the strange things that happened every day. Stardust became a sign of hope and wonder that could inspire anyone who came in touch with it. Emily grew up to be a wise and skilled leader who supported others to be themselves and shared her own. Stardust was a much-loved travel partner who brought happiness everywhere they went. As word got around about the settlement, more and more people came to find refuge in the village's beauty. The town became a shining example of sincerity and kindness, as well as a place to recognize and honor people who do extraordinary things. As the story ends, the world will remember Emily, Stardust, and the win over Mr. Grumbleton's lie. The village is still a place where people dream, where the unique are honored, and where love and unity are the most important feelings. The story is a timely reminder of the power of love, the strength of resilience, and the idea that everyone has the power to do amazing things within themselves. It inspires us to accept the magic that is uniquely ours and to rekindle the flame of wonder that burns deep in our souls. We do this because we know that real connections and the pursuit of the extraordinary can change the direction of our lives in a big way, even when things are hard. The Story Starts: Once upon a time, a young girl named Emily lived in a nice town with green hills all around it. She was a young woman who was interested and kind. Emily's excitement was like an ember that burned brightly inside her, and it shone through like a flaming ember. From a young age, she was very interested in learning about the mysteries of nature and had a strong desire to do so. It was almost as if she could talk to the animals and understand what they were saying, even if they didn't speak. Emily listened carefully, tuned in to the quiet music of nature, whether it was the rustle of leaves or the song of birds. Emily's exciting adventure was just getting started as she went deeper into the woods and through the fields. The tall trees, with their branches reaching out like greeting arms, told old tales. She would move through the emerald-colored maze, keeping her eyes steady and focused as she looked around. As Emily explored this wild and beautiful place, she felt a strong link to the animals who lived there. Animals would come out of hiding when they smelled her kind soul. They were pulled by some unknown force. She would smile as she watched the beautiful dance of butterfly wings. The bright colors on the wings of the butterflies matched the happiness she felt in her heart. She would catch a glimpse of a group of deer off in the distance, their thin bodies blending in perfectly with the light coming down through the tree cover above them. Emily's love for animals was endless, and it was much more than just liking how cute they were. She was just as interested in animals that some people might think are weird or even dangerous. She was amazed by how skillfully and accurately a spider wove its web, and she thought the decorations on the web were beautiful. Snakes had a special appeal for her, with their slithering bodies and beautiful wriggling. Their mysterious presence captured her mind and held a special place in her heart. Emily's senses became more alert as she explored the area, so she could pick up on even the smallest signs of life as she went deeper into the woods. She could tell the difference between the tiny tracks a mouse left behind in the woods and the food scraps a fox left behind after eating. No matter how big or small the touch was, it made her feel awe and wonder. Emily liked to go out into the wide fields, lay down on the tall grass, and look up at the big sky. She was amazed by the way birds' wings carried them through the air. Emily was moved by how free they were, so she imagined herself flying with them and feeling the thrill of flight. Her adventures didn't stop when the sun set; they went on all night. Emily would sneak out of the house late at night and walk around on her tiptoes, the soft light of the moon showing where she went. She met creatures that only came out at night, and she was fascinated by the world they lived in. Emily was stunned and amazed by the nighttime symphony going on all around her as a sad owl hoot broke the quiet. Emily's love for animals went beyond just watching them. She was a friend to all living things and cared for them. She was good at treating hurt birds and bringing them back to full health with just a touch. When scared animals came to her for help, she was a comforting presence. She would calm their fears with a soothing voice and a loving hug. Emily found peace and happiness by being in the arms of mother nature. Her spirit could fly, and the woods and fields she came to think of as her home were a great place for her love of animals to grow. Her special connection with nature was a blessing and a good reminder that all living things are linked and tied together by the threads of life that run through them. Emily was having fun by the sparkling stream when the sun's rays began to caress her red cheeks and dance across her face. She was surrounded by nature's symphony, with birds singing beautiful songs to everyone and everything in the world. It was the kind of day where lots of things could happen and there were surprises. But as Emily's happy laughter filled the room, she saw a sparkle that made her want to find out where it was coming from. She got a warm feeling in the middle of her chest as an interest started to grow in her. As she moved smoothly toward the tempting light, she disappeared into a tangle of lush, green plants. Emily went into the thicket, and as she moved through its green trees, it seemed to say something. Her heartbeat faster because she was excited about the possibility of finding something truly amazing. The sound of leaves rustling under her feet and the feeling of twigs brushing against her skin led her in a strange way toward something she didn't quite understand. Emily then came out of the woods and into a small area with wide-open eyes. It seemed like everyone on the planet was holding their breath. In front of her stood a figure that looked like it came straight out of a fairy tale. It was so beautiful and magical. It was a unicorn, a legendary and magical creature that couldn't be put into any one realm just by being there. Its skin was so bright and shiny that it looked like newly dusted snow. Its beautiful neck was surrounded by a flowing mane that was as golden as the sun's rays. On the top of its head was a single horn that shone with all the colors of the rainbow. Emily couldn't believe what she was seeing. She stood there in shock and awe, her heart racing with a mix of fear and joy. She couldn't believe what she was seeing with her own eyes. It seemed like fate had led her to this wonderful meeting with a great character at this exact moment. Emily was looked at by the unicorn, who seemed to look at her with a caring and wise look. In that split second, they made a connection that went beyond both the extraordinary and the everyday parts of their own lives. Emily could feel that the unicorn was good at heart and that its soul was pure and wild. Emily took a step forward slowly and put out her hand. Her touch was soft and light, like the wing of a butterfly. When the unicorn saw that she was telling the truth, it bowed its regal head and let her rub its soft nose. Emily was so happy it was like she had just found a long-lost friend she didn't know she had. She didn't know what she was doing. Emily's fingers touched the soft snout of the beautiful unicorn as she reached out with her hand, trembling with both fear and excitement. At that exact moment, it seemed like time stopped. It was as if the whole world was holding its breath, waiting to see how the little boy and the legendary beast would interact. The unicorn's wise-looking eyes were quickly drawn to Emily's good intentions. It had been to places that humans couldn't understand and met a lot of different beings, but no one else's touch was as soft and real as Emily's. At that very moment, an invisible link was made, and the threads of both of their souls were knit together. As Emily's fingers touched the unicorn's nose, a wave of indescribable happiness ran through her body. Emily couldn't even start to say how she felt. It was as if she had just woken up from a dream to find a long-lost friend standing in front of her. Uncertainty and suspicion started to fade away, and in their place came a strong feeling of being at home. Emily was happy, so the unicorn nuzzled her hand and let out a scent that smelled like moonlit nights and flower-filled fields. At that moment, Emily felt a deep sense of peace, as if she was meant to meet this beautiful creature and that the fact that they had crossed paths was a sign from God. Their connection went beyond the physical world and into the core of each of their beings. It brought them together in ways that are hard to explain. Even though the unicorn was a magical creature that couldn't be tamed, it saw in Emily a similar spirit, a guiding light of pure love and kindness. And while she was with the unicorn, Emily found a source of power and motivation within herself that she had never found before. From that day on, Emily and the unicorn were inseparable. They ran into the world with their hearts joined and their spirits high. Every new thing they did together, like laughing under the stars or talking about secrets while the leaves rustled, made their bond stronger. Emily, who used to be a child with big dreams, felt comfortable and understood when she was with her new partner. As she basked in the unicorn's magic, she found a source of courage that helped her overcome the hurdles in her way. They got through life's hard times together, their souls intertwining like the delicate tendrils of ivy as they went. Emily's relationship with the unicorn gave them insight into the lives of the people they met on their journey. The locals, who were at first hesitant and uncertain, saw how love and trust can change things. They were amazed by Emily's bright smile, which lit up her whole face, and by the look of wonder that flashed across her eyes. The locals were able to let go of their doubts and open up to the magic that had been sleeping in their hearts because Emily was kind and patient with them. They learned that everyone has the ability to love, care, and accept others without limits. This was a lesson that was taught to them by the special relationship between a child and a unicorn.