About The Author
About Author
Ewen C. D. Todd is an experienced researcher in food safety and public health. However, he has recently ventured into the world of fiction writing with his debut novel "How the Dustman Lost His Job." With an impressive 55 years of experience in the scientific field, Todd brings his expertise in understanding the criticality of securing the food chain from farm to fork to ensure the safety of the food we consume. He is the President of Ewen Todd Consulting LLC and also holds the position of Visiting Lecturer in the Large Animal Clinical Sciences Department at Michigan State University (MSU). Todd's career includes directing the Food Safety Policy Center and the National Food Safety and Toxicology Center, both at MSU, encompassing research in microbiology, toxicology, epidemiology, risk assessment, social science, and policy within the realm of food safety.
Before joining MSU as a Professor, he was a senior research scientist in Health Canada, Ottawa, making substantial contributions in areas such as methods development for pathogens in foods, foodborne disease investigation and reporting, seafood toxin-induced illnesses, and risk assessment of foodborne pathogens. Todd has collaborated with many other scientists in a variety of countries with numerous publications in scientific journals, editorial contributions, and talks at international meetings, all of which attest to his commitment to advancing the field of food safety. He has been particularly active in the International Association for Food Protection, chairing the Committee on Control of Foodborne Illness for over 20 years, is a Certified Food Scientist in the Institute of Food Technologists, and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, all of which testifies to his commitment to promoting food safety worldwide. In addition to his professional accomplishments, Todd's background also includes conducting Bible studies and involvement in Presbyterian churches across Scotland, Canada, and Michigan have influenced his latest work. With a Ph.D. from the University of Glasgow, Todd's unique blend of experiences promises a captivating narrative that intertwines his passion for literature with his extensive scientific knowledge.
How the Dustman Lost His Job
The story is told during the Exile period from 605 BCE to 587 BCE when many inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem were taken away to Babylon in at least three deportations under the rule of Nebuchadnezzar II. The Neo-Babylonian Empire emerged in 626 BCE with Nabopolassar as the King of Babylon; he was succeeded in 605 BCE by his famous son, Nebuchadnezzar II, whose 43-year reign made his kingdom the most powerful in the Fertile Crescent. The only significant ruler who came after his death was Nabonidus in 556 BCE, along with his son Belshazzar, who acted as a regent in Nabonidus’ absence. They ruled until Babylon fell to the Achaemenid Empire under Cyrus the Great in 539 BCE, and an edict by him shortly after allowed those Jews who wished to return to their ancestral land would be allowed to do so. The grandfather in the story, having memories of the pre-destruction Temple in Jerusalem, was among those transported to Babylon during one of the deportations, likely one in 586 BCE. By this time, the previously exiled Jews had already begun to codify their scriptures, with the Torah assuming a central role in establishing Jewish worship and way of life within Babylonia. The returning Exiles and their successive generations always considered Babylon as the epitome of sinfulness. Yet, was it that bad for those who remained and adapted, but did not lose their faith? Many centuries later, legal academies in Babylonia became the Jewish authoritative centers of the Jewish world. The grandfather tries to remember some of the old stories to share with his rebellious granddaughter who seems to prefer the more exciting life in the great city of Babylon. They dialog and spar during their discussions of how sin came into the world, and why they should follow the Jewish law more than adapt to the Babylonian lifestyle.
After the fall, they shrink a bit, age, and although clothed and have a home of sorts, they are not satisfied with their existence and wish with all their hearts to be back in that pleasant land. The story is told during the Exile period from 605 BCE to 587 BCE when many inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem were taken away to Babylon in at least three deportations under the rule of Nebuchadnezzar II. The Neo-Babylonian Empire emerged in 626 BCE with Nabopolassar as the King of Babylon; he was succeeded in 605 BCE by his famous son, Nebuchadnezzar II, whose 43-year reign made his kingdom the most powerful in the Fertile Crescent. The only significant ruler who came after his death was Nabonidus in 556 BCE, along with his son Belshazzar, who acted as a regent in Nabonidus’ absence. They ruled until Babylon fell to the Achaemenid Empire under Cyrus the Great in 539 BCE, and an edict by him shortly after allowed those Jews who wished to return to their ancestral land would be allowed to do so. The grandfather, having memories of the pre-destruction Temple in Jerusalem, was among those transported to Babylon during one of the deportations, likely one in 586 BCE. By this time, the previously exiled Jews had already begun to codify their scriptures, with the Torah assuming a central role in establishing Jewish worship and way of life within Babylonia.
