In recent years heritage professionals have been engaged in animated debate about appropriate climatic conditions for collections held in museums, galleries, and historic buildings. The emotive issues include inflexible standards, unsuitable modern architecture, unreasonable loan conditions, predicted climate change, and rising energy costs.

Now a stirring movie from Paramount Pictures-starring Kate Mara (House of Cards and Fantastic Four) and David Oyelowo (Selma)-this inspirational, news-making life story of the young female hostage who in 2005 single-handedly talked the infamous Atlanta courthouse killer, Brian Nichols, into surrendering peacefully by gaining his confidence through her prayers and personal faith and by reading passages to him from the Christian blockbuster A Purpose Driven Life. In March 2005, Ashley Smith made headlines around the globe when she miraculously talked her way out of the hands of alleged courthouse killer Brian Nichols after he took her hostage for seven hours in her suburban Atlanta apartment. In this moving, inspirational account, Ashley shares the details of her traumatic ordeal and expands on how her faith and the bestselling book The Purpose-Driven Life helped her survive and bring the killer's murderous rampage to a peaceful end. Like her captor, Smith too has faced darkness and despair. Seeking a new life, she moved to Atlanta, got a job, enrolled in a medical assistant training program, and was beginning to find her way to becoming the kind of mom she wanted her little girl to have. Then Brian Nichols took her hostage. Just hours earlier, he'd allegedly shot to death a judge, a court reporter, a deputy, and a federal agent and escaped in a stolen vehicle. Now she found herself face-to-face with Nichols, a desperate, heavily armed man with nothing left to lose. Juxtaposing the minute-by-minute tale of her experience with the tragedies and triumphs of her own life, Captive is a riveting story that will leave no reader untouched.

'Risk Assessment for Object Conservation' reflects Dr Jonathan Ashley-Smith's personal interests and views in areas including materials science, the ethics of restoration, the costs of conservation and the philosophy of museums. This valuable book explains the mechanisms of deterioration of museum artifacts, quantifying the probability that damage will occur and estimating the rate of progress when it does. The principles outlined and the information provided will form a foundation for cost-benefit analysis of conservation proposals. Dr Ashley-Smith also gives comprehensive explanations of scientific of mathematical material to take into consideration the readers who have no background in these areas, alongside a basic introduction. The structure of the book provides a logical progression through tools, concepts information and examples. This is a must-have purchase for all conservators, curators and administrators of historic artifacts at both student and professional level.

Feeling overwhelmed at social events or struggling with overthinking and making conversation? You're not alone. How to Be Less Socially Anxious offers practical advice to help you navigate these challenges.

Written in clear, accessible language, this book provides actionable solutions and tools that you can apply in everyday social situations. Whether you're looking to build confidence, improve your communication skills, or simply feel more comfortable around others, this guide supports you every step of the way.

How to Be Less Socially Anxious features:

• A PRACTICAL ROAD MAP: Step-by-step guidance for anyone who finds social interactions challenging
• EASY-TO-UNDERSTAND SOLUTIONS: Skills and tools that address real-life issues and common social scenarios in key areas of life--work and school, dating and romance, friendships and acquaintances, and community
• AN ESSENTIAL PRIMER: Insights into the roots of social anxiety and how to manage it effectively

'Risk Assessment for Object Conservation' reflects Dr Jonathan Ashley-Smith's personal interests and views in areas including materials science, the ethics of restoration, the costs of conservation and the philosophy of museums. This valuable book explains the mechanisms of deterioration of museum artifacts, quantifying the probability that damage will occur and estimating the rate of progress when it does. The principles outlined and the information provided will form a foundation for cost-benefit analysis of conservation proposals. Dr Ashley-Smith also gives comprehensive explanations of scientific of mathematical material to take into consideration the readers who have no background in these areas, alongside a basic introduction. The structure of the book provides a logical progression through tools, concepts information and examples. This is a must-have purchase for all conservators, curators and administrators of historic artifacts at both student and professional level.

With an Introduction and Notes by Karl Ashley Smith, University of St Andrews. Illustrations by Hablot K. Browne (Phiz). Mr Dombey is a man obsessed with his firm. His son is groomed from birth to take his place within it, despite his visionary eccentricity and declining health. But Dombey also has a daughter, whose unfailing love for her father goes unreturned. 'Girls' said Mr Dombey, 'have nothing to do with Dombey and Son'. When Walter Gay, a young clerk in her father's office, rescues her from a bewildering experience in the streets of London, his unforgettable friends believe he is well on his way to receiving her hand in marriage and inheriting the company. It is to be a very different type of story. Dombey and Son moved grown men to tears (Thackeray despaired of 'writing against such power as this'), but its rich, comic characters and their joyful explosions of language draw laughter with equally unerring magic.

Ashley's Own Eats and Treats is an up an coming Catering company. My name is Ashley Smith and I love cooking. In order to show a little piece of what I love through words, I got a few of my favorite recipes that I use for events and catering and created a book. I have also highlighted my precious family within the book so that readers can get a glimpse of my life. I hope that each reader will be touched by this introductory book to my catering business. I am truly excited and thankful to God for the things to come.