Five feature-length action adventures based on the Marvel comic.

In 'X-Men' (2000), mutants Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and Magneto (Ian McKellen) are former friends, but look set to become mortal enemies when fascist US senator Robert Frank Kelly calls for the registration of all humans with abnormal powers. While telepath Xavier, who runs an altruistic academy for superhuman 'X-Men', wishes to enlighten non-mutants and break down the prejudices which divide them, Magneto believes that the only solution is for the mutants to take over. Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) - an aggressive loner with an admantium skeleton and the ability to heal his body of any wound - and teenager Rogue (Anna Paquin), who can absorb the life force of others simply by touching them, are selected by Xavier to join his academy, but it isn't long before Magneto's followers are attempting to capture them so that they can assist in his plan for world domination.

In the sequel, 'X-Men 2' (2003), Xavier, Wolverine and the X-Men find themselves in the firing line after a failed assassination attempt on the president points the finger at the school. It was in fact the mysterious teleporter Nightwalker (Alan Cumming) who ordered it, and, in an attempt to clear their names, the X-Men are led into a trap set by the evil William Stryker (Brian Cox), a mysterious scientist apparently working for the government. As it soon becomes evident that Stryker's agenda is to destroy all mutants, the X-Men need to call in the help of many of their old friends and foes, including Magneto, if they are to stop him.

In the third film, 'X-Men: The Last Stand' (2006), the mutants are given the option of giving up their powers and becoming human after a private laboratory supported by the government finds a way to use the DNA of a powerful boy to correct the mutants. However, Magneto opposes and decides to join a force to fight against the government and kill the mutant boy. Meanwhile, Jean Grey (Famke Janssen) resurrects, uncontrolled by Xavier, and with the personality of the powerful Dark Phoenix. She destroys Cyclops (James Marsden) and Xavier and allies herself to the evil forces of Magneto, making them almost invincible.

The fourth film in the franchise, 'X-Men: Origins - Wolverine' (2009) is a prequel to the other three films. Hugh Jackman reprises his role as Wolverine, who, some 20 years before the action of the original movie, is seeking revenge on his half-brother Victor Creed (Liev Schreiber) for the death of his girlfriend, and eventually signs up to the ominous Weapon X programme.

Finally, 'X-Men: First Class' (2011) charts the beginning of the saga, following Professor X (James McAvoy) and Magneto (Michael Fassbender) through their formative years in the 1960s as they come to terms with their newfound superpowers. Initially close friends who work together to fight against evil, the two men are driven apart by a conflict of opinion that ultimately leads to the eternal war between Magneto's Brotherhood and Professor X's X-Men.

#1 New York Times Bestseller! Get thousands of facts at your fingertips with this essential resource: sports, pop culture, science and technology, U.S. history and government, world geography, business, and so much more. The World Almanac® is America’s bestselling reference book of all time, with more than 83 million copies sold. For more than 150 years, this compendium of information has been the authoritative source for school, library, business, and home. The 2024 edition of The World Almanac reviews the biggest events of 2023 and will be your go-to source for questions on any topic in the upcoming year. Praised as a “treasure trove of political, economic, scientific and educational statistics and information� by The Wall Street Journal, The World Almanac and Book of Facts will answer all of your trivia needs effortlessly. Features include: Special Feature: Coronavirus Status Report: A special section provides up-to-the-minute information about the world’s largest public health crisis in at least a century. Statistical data and graphics across dozens of chapters show how the pandemic continues to affect the economy, work, family life, education, and culture. 2023—Top 10 News Topics: The editors of The World Almanac list the top stories that held the world's attention in 2023. 2023—Year in Sports: Hundreds of pages of trivia and statistics that are essential for any sports fan, featuring complete coverage of the 2022 FIFA Men's World Cup, 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, and 2023 World Series. 2023—Year in Pictures: Striking full-color images from around the world in 2023, covering news, entertainment, science, and sports. 2023—Offbeat News Stories: The World Almanac editors found some of the strangest news stories of the year. World Almanac Editors' Picks: Time Capsule: The World Almanac lists the items that most came to symbolize the year 2023. The World at a Glance: This annual feature of The World Almanac provides a quick look at the surprising stats and curious facts that define the changing world.  

Virgula is an award-winning collection by acclaimed Dutch poet Sasja Janssen, and her second collection to be published in English. Taking as its title the latin word for ’comma’, the poems in Virgula reveal the stories hidden in the spaces in-between: the unending and the unresolved; memories that refuse to be contained. In Janssen’s poetry, the comma becomes much more than a punctuation mark, and is invoked as a muse and companion; she calls on her in every poem, as if she were a goddess, a friend or lover, someone who offers space when the emptiness becomes too heavy. In Janssen’s poetry, painful stories often unfold, events that never came to pass, but which leave traces and scars. Virgula strikes a balance between mystery and razor-sharp intent, through constant shifts and contrasts in perspective. The comma stops the stillness, and allows thoughts and language to move forward. Virgula was awarded the Awater Poetry Prize and was nominated for the Ida Gerhardt Poetry Prize and the Herman de Coninck Prize and De Grote Poëzieprijs (Grand Poetry Prize) for best poetry collection of the year.

The fifth instalment of Prototype's annual anthology: a space for new work, open to all and free from formal guidelines or restrictions. Poetry, prose, visual work and experiments in between. With contributions by Alex Aspden, Ed Atkins & Steven Zultanski, Mau Baiocco, Claire Carroll, Hal Coase, James M. Creed, Iulia David, Nia Davies, Fiona Glen, Olivia Heal, Emma Hellyer, Hannah Hutchings-Georgiou, Rowe Irvin, Sasja Janssen (trans. Michele Hutchison), Bhanu Kapil, Sharon Kivland, Jeff Ko, Prerana Kumar, Grace Connolly Linden, Dasha Loyko, Nasim Luczaj, Ian Macartney, So Mayer, Catrin Morgan, Ghazal Mosadeq, Kashif Sharma-Patel, Helen Quah, Dipanjali Roy, Leonie Rushforth, Stanley Schtinter, Lutz Seiler (trans. Stefan Tobler), Madeleine Stack, Malin Stahl, Corin Sworn, Olly Todd, Yasmin Vardi, Kate Wakeling, Nathan Walker, Ahren Warner, Stephen Watts & Rojbin Arjen Yigit

A double bill of fast-paced action thrillers. In 'Taken' (2008), Liam Neeson stars as Bryan Mills, a former CIA secret agent living in the US, who is obliged to resurrect the skills he learned in his old job after his estranged 17-year-old daughter Kim (Maggie Grace) is kidnapped by sex slave traffickers while travelling with a friend in Europe. In the sequel 'Taken 2' (2012), Murad (Rade Serbedzija), the father of a kidnapper killed by Mills (Neeson) in the first film, makes a bid for retribution by taking Mills and his wife (Famke Janssen) hostage in Istanbul. Now their daughter, Kim (Grace), must swing into action and act swiftly to save her parents.

#1 New York Times Bestseller! Get thousands of facts at your fingertips with this essential resource: sports, pop culture, science and technology, U.S. history and government, world geography, business, and so much more. The World Almanac® is America’s bestselling reference book of all time, with more than 83 million copies sold. For more than 150 years, this compendium of information has been the authoritative source for school, library, business, and home. The 2024 edition of The World Almanac reviews the biggest events of 2023 and will be your go-to source for questions on any topic in the upcoming year. Praised as a “treasure trove of political, economic, scientific and educational statistics and information� by The Wall Street Journal, The World Almanac and Book of Facts will answer all of your trivia needs effortlessly. Features include: Special Feature: Coronavirus Status Report: A special section provides up-to-the-minute information about the world’s largest public health crisis in at least a century. Statistical data and graphics across dozens of chapters show how the pandemic continues to affect the economy, work, family life, education, and culture. 2023—Top 10 News Topics: The editors of The World Almanac list the top stories that held the world's attention in 2023. 2023—Year in Sports: Hundreds of pages of trivia and statistics that are essential for any sports fan, featuring complete coverage of the 2022 FIFA Men's World Cup, 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, and 2023 World Series. 2023—Year in Pictures: Striking full-color images from around the world in 2023, covering news, entertainment, science, and sports. 2023—Offbeat News Stories: The World Almanac editors found some of the strangest news stories of the year. World Almanac Editors' Picks: Time Capsule: The World Almanac lists the items that most came to symbolize the year 2023. The World at a Glance: This annual feature of The World Almanac provides a quick look at the surprising stats and curious facts that define the changing world.  

The marriage between flowers and fashion has never been more pronounced than when seen in the work of Yves Saint Laurent. This retrospective examines Yves Saint Laurent’s use of flowers from their symbolism to their fruition on the runway.

Flowers in every form inspired fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent, serving as a leitmotif in his work. His passion for plants manifested itself in countless patterns and techniques, and he adorned women in floral appliqués, prints, and embroideries. From a thousand and one rose buds to sprigs of lily of the valley, from an avalanche of bougainvillea to delicate poppy touches, and from sheaves of wheat to majestic lilies, nature was an essential part of his visual palette.

Through the discerning eyes of Olivier Saillard, this veritable garden of Yves Saint Laurent’s designs―culled from a broad range of styles―metamorphoses into a bouquet of flowering silhouettes. Under the direction of Elsa Janssen and Alexis Sornin, essays from Emanuele Coccia, Marc Jeanson, and Serena Bucalo Mussely explore, respectively, the symbolism of flowers, characteristics of his recurring prints, and the designer’s signature use of flora in accessories.

A bold and fashionable look at the iconic golds of Yves Saint Laurent—in jewelry, couture, and accessories—from the 1960s to the 2000s“I love gold, it’s a magical color; when reflecting a woman, it’s the color of the sun.�As the official catalogue of the Gold, les ors d’Yves Saint Laurent exhibition in Paris, this stunning book presents the couture, jewelry, and accessories inspired by the golds of Yves Saint Laurent from the 1960s to the 2000s. This eye-catching metallic has been featured heavily throughout the entirety of the designer’s work: from the very first buttons adorning his pea coats to dresses that appear entirely fashioned from gold, no collection escaped the couturier’s “golden� touch. This heavily illustrated and photographed book presents Saint Laurent’s exquisite designs as we follow the thread of gold throughout his collections, offering special insight into the work and intricate techniques used to make the brocades, laces, lamés, leathers, and embroideries of YSL shine. Drawing on a large number of archival documents, interviews, and other resources such as films and shows, Yves Saint Laurent: Gold will show how the cultural, artistic, and social contexts of the time, especially the emancipation of women, resulted in these timeless designs. From the jeweled dress designed for his Autumn/Winter 1966 collection and photographed by David Bailey, to the sequined dresses worn by Zizi Jeanmaire and Catherine Deneuve, Gold sparkles as it conjures up the true treasures of Saint Laurent’s legacy and spirit.

Action thriller sequel to 'Taken' (2008) and 'Taken 2' (2012) starring Liam Neeson and Famke Janssen. When former CIA agent Brian Mills (Neeson) discovers his wife Lenny (Janssen)'s dead body in their bedroom, he quickly realises that he is being framed for her murder and goes on the run. As he works to clear his name and battles against relentless police inspector Franck Dotzler (Forest Whitaker) he must fight to protect the one last thing he has left in the world: his daughter. The cast also includes Dougray Scott, Maggie Grace and Jon Gries.

Double bill of action films telling the story of the X-Men character Wolverine. In 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine' (2009), Hugh Jackman stars as the clawed mutant Wolverine formerly known as James Logan. The film, set in the years leading up to the action of 2003's 'X-Men', follows the young Logan from the first awakenings of his mutant powers in childhood up to his rebirth as Wolverine, and recounts his tumultuous relationship with his ferocious half-brother Victor Creed, aka Sabretooth (Liev Schreiber), and the events that led him to sign up to the ominous Weapon X programme. In 'The Wolverine' (2013), at a time following the events of 'X-Men 3' (2006), Logan finds himself vulnerable, alone and at his lowest point, after losing his intimate connections with the outside world. Drawn to modern-day Japan by the gratitude of a wealthy industrialist from his past who secretly covets his healing powers, Logan soon finds himself up against the deadly charms of a femme fatale known as 'The Viper' (Svetlana Khodchenkova), whilst having to confront samurai steel and lethal ninjas as his destiny draws him towards a winner-takes-all battle with his ultimate foe The Silver Samurai (Will Yun Lee).

These are the stories you haven't heard on the news. These are the people you will never forget. In the midst of never-ending debates, protests, riots, suicide bombings, and broken peace initiatives, one man came to make a difference. Previously known for his determination to deliver Bibles behind the Iron Curtain, Brother Andrew has spent the last thirty years on a very different quest. Traveling to Lebanon, the West Bank, Gaza, and Israel, Brother Andrew has sought out church leaders and urged them not to flee the violence but to stay and strengthen their congregations to become a force for change. His mission: to bring hope to the believers caught in the crossfire of the most volatile region on earth. "This is a book that invites applause and criticism. It will edify and offend, fostering healthy and much-needed discussion and debate in the Western Church."-Randy Alcorn, author, Safely Home "This man's courage is not just a case of bravado on steroids."-Charisma magazine Brother Andrew began taking Bibles to Christians behind closed borders in 1955. That work has since developed into Open Doors International. He is the author and coauthor of numerous books, including God's Smuggler and The Narrow Road. Al Janssen has cowritten or authored more than twenty-five books. He is chairman of the board for Open Doors (USA) and is director of communications for Open Doors International.

The third film in the popular 'X-Men' film franchise. When a private laboratory supported by the government finds the cure for the mutants, using the DNA of a powerful boy, the mutants have the option of giving up their powers and becoming human. However, Magneto (Ian McKellen) opposes and decides to join a force to fight against the government and kill the mutant boy. Meanwhile, Jean Grey (Famke Janssen) resurrects uncontrolled by Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and with the personality of the powerful Dark Phoenix. She destroys Cyclops (James Marsden) and Xavier, and allies to the evil forces of Magneto, making them almost invincible.

Pierce Brosnan makes his 007 debut, replacing Timothy Dalton as Britain's most celebrated secret agent. On his first post-Cold War mission, Bond is sent to blow up a Soviet chemical weapons factory with agent 006 (Sean Bean). Nine years later, Bond becomes involved in the break-up of the Soviet Union, and soon finds himself involved with a blitzkrieg of stolen helicopters, beautiful female assassins, Russian Mafiosi and the race for a vital piece of weaponry - the credit-card sized 'GoldenEye'.

The quality of ecosystems is affected by the actions of different stakeholders who use them in a variety of ways. In order to understand this complex relationship between humans and nature, it is vital to understand the complexity of the interacting agents. The authors in this book attempt to do this by applying multi-agent systems to the problems of ecosystem management. The multi-agent approach to ecosystem management is a relatively new and rapidly developing field which takes a formal computational approach towards the interaction of humans with their environment. The authors highlight some of the promising new methodologies which are emerging in the field from disciplines such as computer science and computational social science. They move on to address a number of important topics including diffusion processes, common-pool resources, land use change and the participatory use of models, in an attempt to solve contemporary management issues. They clearly demonstrate the potential utility of multi-agent systems in the context of theoretical problems and practical case studies. This book provides a state-of-the-art review of the theory and application of multi-agent systems for ecosystem management. It will prove indispensable for ecological economists, natural resource and social scientists, and policymakers. It will also appeal to students and scholars who are interested in modelling the human dimensions of global environmental change.

Create beautiful paper models of 20 orchid species! Display native orchids with these realistic paper replicas that you simply pop-out and glue together--no scissors required! These paper sculptures were produced under the direction of scientists at the North American Orchid Conservation Center, which is located at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center's United States Botanic Garden. This kit features: A full-color book presenting fascinating information about the orchid species. Precut pieces for 20 beautiful 3D paper orchids Detailed assembly instructions for each model, which are ranked by difficulty A display base for each model The accompanying book explains the efforts that are underway to conserve threatened and endangered native North American species. The project introductions show photos of the finished models as well as stunning photos of each model's living counterpart. The amazing collection of orchids in this kit includes: The Showy Lady's Slipper Orchid: the tallest US-native orchid, which is threatened in part due to its 15-year maturation period The Water Spider Orchid: North America's only aquatic orchid, which exudes a chemical deterrent to protect its tender roots from predation The Dragon's Mouth Orchid: attracts pollinating bumblebees through strong ultraviolet inflorescence The Cigar Orchid, also know as "the Bee Swarm Orchid": has become endangered through over-collecting The Striped Coralroot Orchid: doesn't manufacture food through photosynthesis, but rather survives through a parasitic relationship with a fungus The Rattlesnake Plantain Orchid: an evergreen species with patterned leaves that resemble snake skin, and a flower spike that looks like a rattlesnake's rattle

Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton star in this action comedy inspired by the Grimm Brothers fairytale. The film is set 15 years after the young Hansel and Gretel were abandoned by their parents in the forest and taken prisoner in a gingerbread house by a child-eating witch. The siblings managed to escape, and in the intervening years have taken advantage of their subsequent immunity to bad spells and curses to set themselves up as expert bounty hunters, becoming world-famous for their skill in tracking down and killing evil-doers around the globe. The film follows the brother and sister on their latest assignment - a campaign against evil sorceress Muriel (Famke Janssen) - which they begin to realise may be their golden opportunity for revenge of a more personal nature.

This book helps power industry executives to systematically navigate the complex technological and organizational changes necessary to recreate power grids. This is especially pertinent in the current environment characterized by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity conditions. Across the globe, the electric power sector is facing many forces of change as it transitions from a fossil-based system to cleaner sustainable resources. Leaders in the power sector face unprecedented challenges in responding to these changes while continuing to provide safe, reliable, clean, and affordable electricity. Recognizing that historical and existing ways will not work, Jagoron Mukherjee and Marco C. Janssen present a new paradigm for industry leaders to tackle some of the key questions to determine the best path forward: What will the business be like in the future? What technologies will likely prevail? How should my company respond to constant change? How expensive will the transition be? Will the customer expectations be met? How fast do we need to change? Drawing on well-known management principles, the book helps industry leaders to provide a methodology to tackle these questions and sharpen their decisions as they embrace innovation, new customer expectations and digitization in their efforts to steer the energy transition. Taking a holistic problem-solving approach, which addresses the power company as a whole, Recreating the Power Grid will be a valuable resource for all professionals working in this quickly evolving field.

Bryan Singer directs and co-writes this big screen adaptation of the long-running Marvel comic strip. Mutants Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and Magneto (Ian McKellen) are former friends, but look set to become mortal enemies when fascistic US senator Robert Frank Kelly calls for the registration of all humans with abnormal powers. While telepath Xavier, who runs an altruistic academy for superhuman 'X-Men', wishes to enlighten non-mutants and break down the prejudices which divide them, Magneto believes that the only solution is for the mutants to take over. Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) - an aggressive loner with an admantium skeleton and the ability to heal his body of any wound - and teenager Rogue (Anna Paquin), who can absorb the life force of others simply by touching them, are selected by Xavier to join his academy, but it isn't long before Magneto's followers are attempting to capture them so that they can assist in his plan for world domination.

When Frank Walsh, a hunter and collector of rare and exotic animals, bags a priceless white jaguar for a zoo, he figures it'll be smooth sailing to a big payday. But the ship bearing Frank's precious cargo has two predators caged in its hold: the cat, as well as a dangerous assassin being extradited to the U.S.

After the assassin breaks free - and then frees the jaguar - Frank feverishly stalks the ship's cramped corridors in hot pursuit of his prey, right up until the thrilling, unpredictable climax.

Box set containing all three films from the hugely popular 'X-Men' film franchise based on the long-running Marvel comic strip. In 'X-Men' (2000), mutants Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and Magneto (Ian McKellen) are former friends, but look set to become mortal enemies when fascistic US senator Robert Frank Kelly (Bruce Davison) calls for the registration of all humans with abnormal powers. While telepath Xavier, who runs an altruistic academy for superhuman 'X-Men', wishes to enlighten non-mutants and break down the prejudices which divide them, Magneto believes that the only solution is for the mutants to take over. Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) - an aggressive loner with an admantium skeleton and the ability to heal his body of any wound - and teenager Rogue (Anna Paquin), who can absorb the life force of others simply by touching them, are selected by Xavier to join his academy, but it isn't long before Magneto's followers are attempting to capture them so that they can assist in his plan for world domination. In 'X-Men 2' (2003), Professor Charles Xavier, Wolverine, and the Academy for Gifted Youngsters, aka the X-Men, find themselves in the firing line after a failed assasination attempt on the President points the finger at the school. It was in fact the mysterious teleporter Nightwalker (Alan Cumming) who ordered it, and, in an attempt to clear their names, the X-Men are led into a trap set by the evil William Stryker (Brian Cox) - a mysterious scientist apparently working for the government. As it soon becomes evident that Stryker's agenda is to destroy all mutants, the X-Men need to call in the help of many of their old friends and foe, including Magneto (McKellen), if they are to stop him. In 'X-Men 3: The Last Stand' (2006), when a private laboratory supported by the government finds the cure for the mutants, using the DNA of a powerful boy, the mutants have the option of giving up their powers and becoming human. However, Magneto (McKellen) opposes and decides to join a force to fight against the government and kill the mutant boy. Meanwhile, Jean Grey (Famke Janssen) resurrects uncontrolled by Xavier and with the personality of the powerful Dark Phoenix. She destroys Cyclops (James Marsden) and Xavier, and allies to the evil forces of Magneto, making them almost invincible.

This book aims to redress the balance in the field of Contemporary Philosophy, considered predominantly male, by highlighting the philosophical achievements of various female figures during the period 1870-1970. Contemporary Philosophy is generally presented by its historians as a field founded entirely by men, with no prominent female contributors. Historical investigation of the development of contemporary analytic philosophy, for example, usually centres around Frege, Russell, and Wittgenstein, with occasional ventures into Moore or the Vienna Circle. Such accounts leave out vast swathes of the historical record (from early 19th century to 20th century), in particular the women, including Christine Ladd-Franklin, Sophie Bryant, E.E.C. Jones, Susan Stebbing, Dorothy Wrinch, Alice Ambrose, Margaret MacDonald, Martha Kneale, Ruth Barcan Marcus and Ayda Ignez Arruda publishing on themes central to analytic philosophy– logic, language, realism, and relations. It is noteworthy that this pattern in historiography is not unique to one strand of philosophy or one part of the world but re-appears again and again. In the continental tradition, the development of Schopenhauer's philosophy leaves out significant contributions of women such as Olga Plümacher. The chapters in this book examine central themes from the perspective of female philosophers to provide a fuller picture of Philosophy of this period. This volume will be a great resource for academics, researchers, and advanced students of Philosophy and Women’s Studies and for everyone interested in the contribution of women philosophers. It was originally published in the British Journal for the History of Philosophy.

This book mostly contains contributions by the invited lecturers at the 7th International Conference on Non-Destructive Testing and Micro-Analysis for the Diagnostics and Conservation of the Cultural and Environmental Heritage. The contributors have all been chosen for their individual reputations and the quality of their research, but also because they represent a field deemed highly important. Hence, this book give balanced coverage of the areas that are most relevant in non-destructive testing and micro-analysis in the realm of cultural heritage.

The analysis methods provide the clinical composition of cultural artifacts to elucidate their provenance, the rate of alteration as a result of exposure to the environment and the effectiveness of conservation and restoration strategies. The techniques are partially or fully non-destructive, are portable, or allow study of different parts of a heterogeneous work of art.

Dutch sportswriter, Nando Boers, and Pedro Horrillo, a Spanish cyclist riding for the Dutch Rabobank team, conceived the idea at the end of 2008 to correspond regularly via email throughout the coming season. They would exchange thoughts about the racing, the results and events in the cycling world. The correspondence, starting early in 2009 begins in that fashion - two friends swapping stories and experiences. Then in May everything changes, utterly: Horrillo crashes, horrifically, in the Giro d'Italia, tumbling 80 metres down a cliff face. Miraculously, after days in a coma, he survives but he will never race again. The correspondence is eventually resumed, and continues in fits and start over the next three years. Boers, infinitely patient and encouraging, is able to cope with long periods of silence from his friend. He understands the psychological healing will take longer than the physical. Then in 2012, Horrillo is able to confront his demons, returning to the scene of his crash where 'my first life ended and my second life began' and describing it in one beautiful, final letter. 'Amigo, here is the story of my pilgrimage to Italy.When you've read this, hopefully you'll understand that I feel free and relieved. ' The book includes 12 pages of black and white photographs by Timm Kolln.