December Book of the Month: "The Christmas Mice" by John White

"Isn't that strange? It took some babies to teach grown-ups to be nice to each other. Do you suppose that has anything to do with Christmas?" - The Christmas Mice

Our festive Book of the Month for December is The Christmas Mice by John White and illustrated by Dorothy L. Hall.

The Christmas Mice, a tale for children, is a heartwarming story of love and acceptance. It tells of two mice, Roger and Emily, who are outcasts from their community because they are different. One is green, the other is red-the colors of Christmas.

Encouraged by the birth of his children and the beauty of a Christmas tree, Roger teaches the rest of the meadowmice an important lesson about love and brotherhood. As the two main characters gain acceptance and understanding from the other mice, the importance of peace and oneness of all life is sensitively communicated. Especially relevant this year due to the presidential election and tumult time of hate crimes, violence, and abuse towards others who are different, this book would make the perfect bedtime story or gift.

The Christmas Mice is a touching tale with a powerful message that will delight young readers of all ages. The book is available in paperback at Amazon, and in paperback at Barnes & Noble. It is also available for your Kindle.


About the Author
John White is an internationally-known author in the fields of consciousness research and higher human development. His writing has appeared in magazines and newspapers around the world, including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Reader's Digest, Omni, Esquire and Woman's Day, and his books have been translated into ten languages. He holds a bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College and a master of arts degree in teaching from Yale University. He has served on the governing and consulting boards of various academic and research organizations. He has also lectured at various colleges and universities throughout the U.S. and Canada, and has made numerous radio and television appearances.

About the Illustrator
Dorothy L. Hall is an illustrator, art teacher, and cartoonist. She worked as a visual journalist for 20 years and taught Newspaper Design and Magazine Editing and Production at Southern Conn. State University. During the 70’s she was a muralist for the Peabody Museum in New Haven, Connecticut, and has had seven one-woman shows of her paintings.

The Electoral College, Alexander Hamilton and the Federalist Papers

Alexander Hamilton in the Uniform of
the New York Artillery by Alonzo Chappel
(Wikimedia) 

As many of you are preparing for Christmas and the holidays, political events, just like life, continue. Last Monday, the Electoral College voted to confirm President-Elect Donald Trump to become the 45th U.S. President. This should not have been a surprise as the Electoral College is ruled by mostly formal rules. Still, in recent weeks a forceful debate about the Electoral College was raging in the media, especially due to the fact that Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton won the popular vote in no uncertain numbers.

CNN columnist, Scott Piro, a few days before the Electoral College vote took place, made a case for abolishing the Electoral College in his article, "It's time for the Electoral College to fall on its sword".

After stating that "The Electoral College has contradicted the popular vote in two of the last five presidential elections, electing a Republican president in both those splits", Piro says: "This archaic safeguard (i.e. the Electoral College) from our Founding Fathers, created to stop an unfit leader from becoming president but having the modern effect of blocking the will of the people, will have proved its harmfulness to everyone. The flipping of the presidency from Trump to Clinton would be collateral damage or a big fat bonus, depending on which side of the aisle you sit."

Let's now go to the background of this socalled "archaic safeguard", to The Federalist Papers, a collection of 85 essays written in 1787 by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, together using the pseudonym Publius, to promote the ratification of the United States Constitution.

Alexander Hamilton, one of the Founding Fathers, who reportedly wrote the 68th essays of The Federalist Papers, titled "The Mode of Electing the President", said the following:

Bookstore Spotlight: Rock Island Books

This December, we are proud to shine the spotlight on one of our favorite bookstores, Rock Island Books. Rock Island Books is an online store offering religious media (including books), and offer a wide array of our religious classics. Check out the books below and be sure to visit Rock Island Books when you purchase your next spiritual read - whether it's to inspire during the holidays or for the upcoming new year! 

The Witness of the Stars by E.W. Bullinger 

In a work of profound interest to students of Christianity and astrology alike, E.W. Bullinger uses astronomy, celestial charts, and quotations from the Bible to make his case for the existence of God's Word within the movements and configurations of the stars themselves. Beginning with proof in Psalm 19 that "the Creator both numbered as well as named the stars of heaven," Bullinger interprets each of the Twelve Signs of the Zodiac as they relate to biblical prophecy, arriving at some interesting-and controversial-conclusions.

Purchase at Rock Island Books




Number in Scripture by E.W. Bullinger

Six hundred and sixty six is "the number of a name." When the name of Antichrist is known its gematria will doubtless be found to be the number 666. 22.95 22.95 22.95 This may be the most famous number in the Bible, but it is by no means the only number to be found therein. Number in Scripture provides a complete and exhaustive synopsis of the spiritual significance of every number found in the Bible. This classic reference book on biblical numerology is one of the most famous and helpful reference books on numerology ever written.

Purchase at Rock Island Books

The Coming Prince by Sir Robert Anderson 

He was one of the most popular lay preachers and Christian apologists of his day: Sir Robert Anderson devoutly believed that the Bible was the inerrant word of God, and in this popular 1881 book-a companion to his Daniel in the Critics' Den-he mounts a defense of the prophetic Old Testament Book of Daniel, an early example of apocalyptic philosophy in Christianity. Students of the Bible will appreciate this historically valuable attempt to set straight the many controversies surrounding Daniel regarding its authorship and even the date of its writing. 

Purchase at Rock Island Books

The Second Coming of Christ by Clarence Larkin

What will become of those who are left behind? This is a sad question, but it is eagerly asked by many.... It may readily be supposed that the taking away of loved ones at the Rapture will cause many of those left behind to seek the Lord, but as the Holy Spirit goes back with the Church, and for the time being ceases His Office Work of Regeneration, who is to convert those who are left? -from The Second Coming of Christ The Reverend Clarence Larkin was one of the most widely influential thinkers on end-times prophecies of the early twentieth century, and his writings remain vital to appreciating the apocalyptic Christian thought that today enjoys widespread popularity. This 1918 work outlines exactly what the Bible predicts for the end of mankind's reign on Earth, and the return of the Christian savior, with a special emphasis on who is to be saved, and why.

Purchase at Rock Island Books

December Series of the Month: The Complete Works of Charles Dickens

"I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach!" - A Christmas Carol

With Christmas right around the corner, it's inevitable that Scrooge and Oliver Twist will be popping up on everyone's television. However, Charles Dickens' fascinating works are truest in their original form--books. This month, Cosimo is excited to present The Complete Works of Charles Dickens as our December Series of the Month.

Charles Dickens is iconic, legendary, and masterfully clever. In these thirty beautiful volumes, which include each and every work written by Charles Dickens, readers can immerse themselves in the mind of one of history's most celebrated literary geniuses. He is entirely responsible for the popular image of Victorian London that still lingers today, and his many celebrated characters are mentioned time and time again. But it was his stirring portraits and his fervent cries for social, moral, and legal justice for the working poor in the grim early decades of the Industrial Revolution that powerfully impacted social concerns well into the 20th century.

This essential collector's set will excite librarians, professors, students of literature, and the passionate reader. Cosimo offers this series by individual volume at leading online bookstores or as a full 30-volume set in hardcover or paperback. If you are interested in purchasing the full set, please contact us.

The paperback retail list price for this series is: $389.70 but now our price is: $311.99 (you save $77.71 or a 20 percent discount) and free shipping.

The hardcover retail list price for this series is: $899.70, but now our price is: $719.99 (you save $179.71 or a 20 percent discount) and free shipping.

"Studies in Tape Reading" Still Relevant in Today's Market

"One cannot become a Tape Reader by giving the ticker absent treatment; nor by running into his broker's office after lunch, or seeing "how the market closed" from his evening newspaper.... He should spend twenty-seven hours a week at the ticker, and many more hours away from it studying his mistakes and finding the "why" of his losses." - from Studies in Tape Reading

This fabulous classic was recently referenced and quoted Wyckoff on a well-known trading blog, thedangerpoint.com, saying "to understand the present, we need to understand the past: especially with stock market activity."

A 1910 classic of technical stock-market analysis, this is considered the most important work of one of the great market watchers of the early 20th century. It covers: stop orders and trading rules, volumes and their significance, market technique, "dull markets" and their opportunities, and much more. Nearly a century later, this primer on the basic laws of the market is still an invaluable resource for the broker or serious individual trader. 

About the Author

Richard D. Wyckoff (aka Rollo Tape) was publisher of Ticker Magazine, later known as The Magazine of Wall Street.

December Classic of the Month: George Washington's Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior

In the spirit of the upcoming holiday season, and in light of extreme differences that have arisen in the American public over the recent presidential election, we at Cosimo hope the American people will take our December Classic of the Month to heart.

The history of George Washington’s Rules of Civility &Decent Behavior is a bit unusual and unclear; scholars seem to agree that Washington’s 110 rules are the result of a penmanship exercise, in which a teenage Washington copied a set of maxims originally compiled by French Jesuits in the 1590s. Somehow the translated text found its way to Virginia, and somehow it was assigned to a young Washington as an educational exercise. The result is a collection of maxims (with either Washington’s or his instructors’ additions) that dictate the behavior of a young man in civil society.

Washington’s Rules of Civility were part of his personal papers, purchased by Congress and now housed in the Library of Congress. Many historians consider this document a sort of “foundational  document” that details the tenets which later governed Washington's behavior as an adult. Indeed, Washington was known for his kindness and deportment, though it is mere speculation that the Rules contained in this penmanship exercise are the root of Washington's civility.

Statesman or no, George Washington's Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior is a fascinating and informative historical text detailing the rules of behavior for a bygone era—many  of which are still pertinent today. Rules dictates the behavior of one in company, emphasizing kindness, conscience, and cleanliness. While today’s reader may not need reminding to keep their feet away from “the fire, especially if there be meat before it,” many of the Rules hold true today. 

The Library of Congress' webpage features digital scans of Washington's notebook, available here. For more on the fascinating debate concerning the origin of the maxims Washington copied, check out the University of Virginia's page "The Papers of George Washington."

George Washington’s Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior is now available digitally, in paperback, and in beautiful hardcover.

About the Author 
George Washington (1732-1799) was an excruciatingly correct child with a passion for propriety. At the age of 14, he copied out 110 rules for elegant deportment from a work created by Jesuits in the 16th century as a guide for young gentlemen of quality, and through these rules, which he took greatly to heart, we can see the beginning of the man Washington would become taking shape.

   

December eBook Presents for the Reader in Your Life

Keep the following popular Cosimo eBooks in mind this December when picking out presents for your loved ones!

The Christmas Mice by John White

The Christmas Mice, a tale for children, is a heartwarming story of love and acceptance. It tells of two mice, Roger and Emily, who are outcasts from their community because they are different. One is green, the other is red-the colors of Christmas. Encouraged by the birth of his children and the beauty of a Christmas tree, Roger teaches the rest of the meadowmice an important lesson about love and brotherhood. As the two main characters gain acceptance and understanding from the other mice, the importance of peace and oneness of all life is sensitively communicated.
Purchase at Kobo.com

Crash at Corona: The U.S. Military Retrieval and Cover-Up of a UFO by Don Berliner and Stanton T. Friedman 

Aviation /science writer Don Berliner and nuclear physicist Stanton Friedman, the original civilian investigator of the so-called Roswell incident, have delved into the controversy to find the truth. They sifted through once-classified government documents, interviewed military and civilian witnesses, pieced together evidence, considered alternative theories, and concluded that a UFO crashed near Corona -- and the U.S. government knew it and covered it up.

Purchase at Kobo.com

Everything You Want to Know About TM, Including How to Do It by John White 

Wildly popular in the 1970s and 80s, Transcendental Meditation (TM) continues to be one of the most accessible forms of Eastern spiritual practice in the West. But does it live up to its hype? In this objective exploration of TM, consciousness researcher John White looks at what's billed as "a simple, natural, and effortless mental technique, practiced twenty minutes a day" and takes on its critics as well as its cheerleaders.

Purchase at Kobo.com

Left at East Gate: A First-Hand Account of the Rendlesham Forest UFO Incident, Its Cover-up, and Investigation by Larry Warren and Peter Robbins

In December 1980, Larry Warren was a member of the Air Force security police stationed at RAF Bentwaters, a NATO base in Great Britain. On the night of the 28th he was on guard duty when he was taken by truck to join other Air Force personnel to investigate a disturbance in a Rendlesham Forest about five miles away, which turned out to be a landed UFO. This was the third night of UFO activity in the area and by far the most profound.

Purchase at Kobo.com

The Joy of Ritual: Spiritual Recipies to Celebrate Milestones, Ease Transitions, and Make Every Day Sacred by Barbara Biziou

Ritual is a universal language that gives substance and meaning to our lives. People are eager to honor the significant moments in their lives and Barbara Biziou, one of America's foremost ritual experts, teaches us how to restore ritual to its rightful place as food for the soul through practical, easy-to-use ritual recipes that are inspiring and fun.

Purchase at Kobo.com

 Trauma Room One: The JFK Medical Coverup Exposed by Charles A. Crenshaw

The doctors who tried to save President John F. Kennedy at Parkland Hospital in November of 1963 agreed-either out of respect or fear-not to publish what they had seen, heard, and felt. Then in 1990, one of the Dallas surgeons who worked on JFK in Trauma Room One, Dr. Charles Crenshaw, decided after much deliberation that the American people ought to know the truth.

Purchase at Kobo.com

The Supermarket Sorceress: Spells, Charms, and Enchantments Using Everyday Ingredients to Make Your Wishes Come True by Lexa Rosean

Do you have a problem that needs fixing? A wish that needs granting? A desire for love, a need for protection, or maybe just great parking? Look no further than the local grocery store! Experienced psychic, witch, and high priestess Lexa Rosean offers spells for every occasion in this amusing, magically effective, and easy-to-follow guide.

Purchase at Kobo.com

Happy shopping!

December Quote of the Month - There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as..... - Charles Dickens

Dicken's Dream by Robert William Buss/Wikimedia

Recently I was talking to a friend, who mentioned that while he had been on hold calling a company, their telephone greeting was offering  information about the company's services. I was intrigued by the idea. It made me think about Cosimo's telephone greeting - although I thought it would take too long to explain our activities, an inspirational message might be appealing. We decided to select a monthly quote from one of our authors, and include it in our voicemail and present it on our blog.

As we're heading towards the holiday season, our quote for this month is by a great author, Charles Dickens, and comes from a truly classic book, A Christmas Carol. The quote is very appropriate as we are approaching the holiday season and something we all need during these dark winterdays:

"There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor."
- Charles Dickens, 1843


Cosimo presents as part of its 30 volume set, The Complete Works of Charles Dickens, a volume with "A Christmas Carol and Other Christmas Books" both in hard cover and paperback.