Triple bill of Disney comedies following the adventures of Jim Henson's Muppets. In 'The Muppets' (2011), tycoon Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) plans to uproot the Muppet Theater to drill for oil prompting Walter (voice of Peter Linz) to team up with his brother, Gary (Jason Segel), and Gary's girlfriend, Mary (Amy Adams), to raise the ten million dollars required to save the vaudeville house. To get the money they hope to hold the Greatest Muppet Telethon Ever but they must help Kermit the Frog (voice of Steve Whitmire), who is now living alone in Hollywood, to bring all the Muppets back together for the first time since they parted company years previously. The film received an Academy Award for Best Original Song for 'Man Or Muppet'. In 'Muppet Treasure Island' (1996), based on Robert Louis Stevenson's classic tale, the Muppets take to the high seas. Jim Hawkins (Kevin Bishop) and his friends, Gonzo (voice of Dave Goelz) and Rizzo (voice of Whitmire), head out in search of hidden treasure after they are given a map of a secret island by dying seaman Billy Bones (Billy Connolly). The trio hire a ship captained by Abraham Smollett (Kermit the Frog - voice of Whitmire) but it soon becomes apparent there are mutinous pirates on board, led by one-legged cook Long John Silver (Tim Curry). In 'The Muppets' Wizard of Oz' (2005), a contemporary version of the classic novel by L. Frank Baum, Dorothy Gale (Ashanti) is a teenager with dreams of showbiz that seem far from coming true in the Kansas trailer park where she lives. When she's transported to the magical land of Oz, she and her sidekick, Toto (Pepe the King Prawn - voice of Bill Barretta), join forces with the Scarecrow (Kermit the Frog - voice of Whitmire), the Tin Thing (Gonzo - voice of Goelz) and the Lion (Fozzie Bear - voice of Erik Jacobson) to fight the Wicked Witch of the West (Miss Piggy - voice of Jacobson) and find the wizard who might make her a star.

Comic fantasy adventure for the family. When the Pearson family goes to stay in a holiday house in rural Maine, the children discover to their surprise that the house is already occupied - by an alien. Before they know it they are under attack from an army of knee-high alien invaders with world-destroying ambitions. Can they save their parents and the rest of the world from annihilation before bedtime?

Animated adventure spin-off of the 2010 hit film 'How to Train Your Dragon'. While the town of Berk is getting ready for its annual winter holiday known as Snoggletog, Hiccup (voiced by Jay Baruchel) discovers an island of dragons and sets out to explore.

This book explains the foundation of approximate Bayesian computation (ABC), an approach to Bayesian inference that does not require the specification of a likelihood function. As a result, ABC can be used to estimate posterior distributions of parameters for simulation-based models. Simulation-based models are now very popular in cognitive science, as are Bayesian methods for performing parameter inference. As such, the recent developments of likelihood-free techniques are an important advancement for the field. Chapters discuss the philosophy of Bayesian inference as well as provide several algorithms for performing ABC. Chapters also apply some of the algorithms in a tutorial fashion, with one specific application to the Minerva 2 model. In addition, the book discusses several applications of ABC methodology to recent problems in cognitive science. Likelihood-Free Methods for Cognitive Science will be of interest to researchers and graduate students working in experimental, applied, and cognitive science.

Boxset of seven films featuring the characters created by Jim Henson. 'Muppets Most Wanted' (2014) is a musical comedy sequel starring Tina Fey, Ricky Gervais and Ty Burrell. While on a European tour Kermit the Frog (voiced by Steve Whitmire) is mistaken for a Russian jewel thief called Constantine (voiced by Matt Vogel), to whom he bears a striking resemblance, and is thrown in jail by prison officer Nadya (Fey). Seeing an opportunity for a new life Constantine poses as Kermit and joins the rest of the Muppets on their tour. 'The Muppets' (2011) stars Jason Segel as the human brother of Muppet Walter (voiced by Peter Linz) who Walter approaches for help in raising ten million dollars to save the vaudeville house where the Muppets used to perform. Amy Adams also stars. In 'The Muppets Movie' (1979) Kermit (voiced by Jim Henson) leaves behind his swamp and heads for the big lights of Hollywood to fulfil his dream of becoming a star. Along the way he becomes involved with the dazzling Miss Piggy (voiced by Franz Oz), the charming Fozzie Bear (also voiced by Franz Oz) and Gonzo the Great (voiced by Dave Goelz), encountering such celebrities as Orson Welles, Steve Martin and Bob Hope. In 'The Great Muppet Caper' (1981) the Muppets travel to London to investigate the disappearance of Lady Holiday's jewels, Miss Piggy (voiced by Frank Oz) is framed for the theft. 'The Muppet Christmas Carol' (1992) is the Muppet's version of Charles Dickens' immortal festive tale about a bitter old man who is shown the error of his ways. 'Muppet Treasure Island' (1996) sees the Muppets go on an adventure on the high seas in their version of the famous pirate adventure. Tim Curry stars as Long John Silver alongside Gonzo (voiced by Dave Goelz), Kermit (voiced by Steve Whitmire) and Miss Piggy (voiced by Frank Oz). 'The Muppet's Wizard of Oz' (2005) is a contemporary version of the classic movie based on the novel by L. Frank Baum. Dorothy Gale (Ashanti) is a teenager with dreams of showbiz that seem far from coming true in the Kansas trailer park where she lives. When she's transported to the magical land of Oz, she and her sidekick, Toto (voiced by Bill Barretta), join forces with the Scarecrow (Kermit the Frog - voiced by Steve Whitmire), the Tin Thing (Gonzo - voiced by Dave Goelz) and the Lion (Fozzie Bear - voiced by Erik Jacobson) to fight the Wicked Witch of the West (Miss Piggy - voiced by Erik Jacobson) and find the wizard who can make her a star.

Steiner has been able to clarify the historical reality behind the Rosicrucian story, with all its aura of glamour and fantasy. That effected, he points to the enormity of its vision for the future evolution of ideas...' - Dr Andrew Welburn (from the Introduction) In the immediate aftermath of the 'Mystery-act' of the Christmas Foundation Conference, Rudolf Steiner chose to speak on the subject of 'Rosicrucianism and Modern Initiation Mystery Centres of the Middle Ages'. Clearly connected to the events that had just taken place in Dornach - in which he not only refounded the Anthroposophical Society but took a formal position within it - Steiner begins by exploring the intellectual life of the Middle Ages and the role that Mystery culture played within it. He throws new light on the foundations of Rosicrucianism, its principles of initiation and its inherent impulse for freedom. Steiner also discusses the secret teachings of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and the dawn of the age of the Archangel Michael. In the second series of lectures, entitled 'The Easter Festival and the History of the Mysteries' (April 1924), Steiner describes how festivals grew out of the Mysteries themselves. He speaks of Mysteries connected to Spring and Autumn, Adonis and Ephesus, and the significance of Sun and Moon. Throughout the volume he discusses the roles of Alexander the Great and Aristotle in world history and the significance of Aristotle's 'Categories'. Published for the first time as a single volume, the freshly revised text is complemented with an extensive introduction by Dr Andrew Welburn, detailed notes and appendices by Professor Frederick Amrine and an index. (Ten lectures, Jan. and April 1924, GA 233a)

In this landmark series of lectures, Rudolf Steiner challenges the notion that human consciousness has in essence remained the same throughout history. On the contrary, we can only see the past in its true light when we study the differences in human souls during the various historical eras. Consciousness, he says, evolves constantly and we can only comprehend the present by understanding its origin in the past. Delivered in the evenings during the course of the 'mystery act' of the Christmas Foundation Meeting - when Rudolf Steiner not only re-founded the Anthroposophical Society but for the first time took a formal role within it - these lectures study world history in parallel with the ancient mysteries of initiation, showing how they are intimately linked. Steiner describes consciousness in the ancient East and follows the initiation principle from Babylonia to Greece, up to its influences in present-day spiritual life. He also discusses Gilgamesh and Eabani, the mysteries of Ephesus and Hibernia, and the occult relationship between the destruction by fire of the Temple of Artemis and the burning of the first Goetheanum in Dornach, Switzerland. Published for the first time with colour plates of Steiner's blackboard drawings, the freshly-revised text is complemented with an introduction, notes and appendices by Professor Frederick Amrine and an index.

Analysis and Design of Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning Systems, Second Edition, provides a thorough and modern overview of HVAC for commercial and industrial buildings, emphasizing energy efficiency. This text combines coverage of heating and air conditioning systems design with detailed information on the latest controls technologies. It also addresses the art of HVAC design along with carefully explained scientific and technical content, reflecting the extensive experience of the authors. Modern HVAC topics are addressed, including sustainability, IAQ, water treatment and risk management, vibration and noise mitigation, and maintainability from a practical point of view.

This study breaks new ground in investigating candidate behavior in American electoral campaigns. It centers on a question of equal importance to citizens and scholars: how can we produce better political campaigns? First, Simon develops the idea of dialogue as a standard for evaluating political campaigns. Second, he reveals that candidates' self-interest in winning leads to avoiding dialogue or substantive campaign discourse. Third, the text demonstrates the beneficial effects produced by the little dialogue that actually occurs and finally, pinpoints the forces responsible for these rare occurrences.

This study breaks new ground in investigating candidate behavior in American electoral campaigns. It centers on a question of equal importance to citizens and scholars: how can we produce better political campaigns? First, Simon develops the idea of dialogue as a standard for evaluating political campaigns. Second, he reveals that candidates' self-interest in winning leads to avoiding dialogue or substantive campaign discourse. Third, the text demonstrates the beneficial effects produced by the little dialogue that actually occurs and finally, pinpoints the forces responsible for these rare occurrences.

The NES Omnibus: The Nintendo Entertainment System and Its Games, Vol. 1 (A-L), covers the first half of the NES library in exhaustive and engaging detail. More than 350 games are featured, including such iconic titles asCastlevania, Donkey Kong, Double Dragon, Duck Hunt, Final Fantasy, and The Legend of Zelda. Each game, whether obscure or mainstream, is given the spotlight. In addition to thorough gameplay descriptions, the book includes reviews, memories, historical data, quotes from vintage magazines, and, best of all, nostalgic stories about many of the games from programmers, authors, YouTube celebs, and other industry insiders. The book also features more than 2,000 full-color images, including box art, screenshots, and vintage ads.

This book explains the foundation of approximate Bayesian computation (ABC), an approach to Bayesian inference that does not require the specification of a likelihood function. As a result, ABC can be used to estimate posterior distributions of parameters for simulation-based models. Simulation-based models are now very popular in cognitive science, as are Bayesian methods for performing parameter inference. As such, the recent developments of likelihood-free techniques are an important advancement for the field. Chapters discuss the philosophy of Bayesian inference as well as provide several algorithms for performing ABC. Chapters also apply some of the algorithms in a tutorial fashion, with one specific application to the Minerva 2 model. In addition, the book discusses several applications of ABC methodology to recent problems in cognitive science. Likelihood-Free Methods for Cognitive Science will be of interest to researchers and graduate students working in experimental, applied, and cognitive science.

In 2003-2004 the flora and vegetation of Timber Island, the largest undeveloped island in Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire, was studied. Utilizing both a vegetation analysis and floristic survey the island was found to have 190 vascular plant species. Abundance and frequency data were recorded from 106 plots and examined using a two-way indicator species analysis program (TWINSPAN). The result was the identification of six cover types, and two additional cover types were recognized through qualitative field observation. The flora of Timber Island was further analyzed in relation to three other known island floras in Lake Winnipesaukee: Rattlesnake Island, Bear Island, and Three Mile Island. Two indices of similarity, Sorensen's Index and the Simple Matching Index, were utilized to compare the floras. Similarities to Timber Island, based on Sorensen's Index were 49.7% for Bear Island, 51.2% for Rattlesnake Island, and 51.8% for Three Mile Island. Results from the Simple Matching Index showed higher levels of similarity: Rattlesnake Island 58.3%, Bear Island 63.4%, and Three Mile Island 53.9%. In addition to the vascular flora, ground cover, soil type, and bryophophyte diversity were studied. Fifteen new records of bryophytes for Belknap County were recorded. Further discussed are the topics of turnover rates, rare plant preservation under pressure from elevated deer populations, and insularity of freshwater islands. This work brings up conservation questions and in a time of accelerated climate change this serves as a solid base-line floristic record of the environment of Timber Island, and the greater Lake Winnipesaukee region. Finally the reader is invited to query different methods of conversation and to consider freshwater lakes and their islands within, as perhaps more dynamic to the local ecology than may have otherwise been assumed. Full flora, photographs, and an extensive list insular botanical works are included.