The HICP is a consumer price index which was designed to provide measures of inflation in EU member states calculated using similar methods and thus comparable one with another. The HICP now tracks the inflation rates covering over 500 million Europeans, including the UK, and is also produced by other countries such as the USA. John Astin was the EU statistician in charge of the initial development of this important index and he has the best knowledge of how it was developed in the 1990s. This book is a history of the main development period of the HICP, up to the year 2002 when Astin left the European Commission. It will be of interest to a wide range of readers, not only in the UK but globally. Types of readers are likely to include: economists, economic statisticians, national statistics offices, universities, libraries, government finance/economic ministries, international organizations such as UN, ILO, OECD, EU, Eurostat, ECB, and central banks, as well as individuals who are interested in the construction of consumer price indices. This book begins by explaining the background to the HICP project, both from an economic and a political viewpoint, and describes the specific needs for harmonized price indices resulting from the Maastricht treaty of 1992. It analyses the process of establishing the necessary procedures for taking this urgent work forward and gives details of the technical issues involved, and the critical issue of drafting legal acts which would be necessary to ensure full compliance with the new rules. It includes analysis of products, price collection issues, quality adjustment, timing, and a host of other issues, and discusses the arguments which had to be resolved, as well as some human aspects of the process too. It also looks at the funding aspects, the recruitment of specialist consultants, the legal processes and the organization of meetings, both in Luxembourg and in other countries.

All 120 episodes from the 1960s live action series following the DC Comics superhero. Vigilante Batman (Adam West) and his sidekick Robin (Burt Ward) fight crime in Gotham City and attempt to bring down villains such as the Riddler (Frank Gorshin/John Astin), the Penguin (Burgess Meredith), the Joker (Cesar Romero) and Catwoman (Julie Newmar/Eartha Kitt). In the third series the dynamic duo are joined by Batgirl (Yvonne Craig), who helps them in their ongoing battle against crime.

Both Gremlins adventures are collected on this double bill. In the first film an eccentric inventor brings an unusual Christmas gift home for his son Billy (Zach Galligan): a cute, real life teddy bear called Mogwai, obtained from a Chinese trinket store. Upon purchase, the shopowner offers two strict warnings: don't let Mogwai come into contact with water; and don't feed him after midnight. Inevitably, both these stipulations are ignored, and the cuddly creature begins to spawn some distinctly unruly offspring. In the sequel, Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates and Gizmo return (the loveable Mogwai who spawns nasty Gremlins when wet), but this time Gizmo is in danger of dissection by a fiendish doctor (Christopher Lee). On his escape, he gets a dousing and before long the uncontrollable Gremlins (this time in mutated form) are back and wreaking havoc.

Collection of four comedies following the Griswold family's vacations. In 'National Lampoon's Vacation' (1983), the West Coast Wally World theme park is the Griswold's holiday destination, and they intend to drive there cross-country all the way from their Chicago home. Father Clark (Chevy Chase) has planned the trip down to its last detail, but the trouble begins as soon as they hit the road. In 'National Lampoon's European Vacation' (1985), the family win a holiday to Europe. Contrary to their expectations, however, it is not a luxurious, all-expenses-paid kind of trip, but rather a cut-price, economy deal which takes them to some of the Old World's seedier locations. Of course, it's not long before they are caught up in all manner of misadventures. In 'National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation' (1989), the Griswolds decide to spend the Christmas season at home. Needless to say, it is not as quiet as they had planned. Finally, in 'Vegas Vacation' (1997), the clan head for the gleaming lights of Las Vegas. Unfortunately, Clark is soon transformed into a compulsive gambler, daughter Audrey (Marisol Nichols) becomes an exotic dancer and son Rusty (Ethan Embry) begins posing as a suave high roller.

The HICP is a consumer price index which was designed to provide measures of inflation in EU member states calculated using similar methods and thus comparable one with another. The HICP now tracks the inflation rates covering over 500 million Europeans, including the UK, and is also produced by other countries such as the USA. John Astin was the EU statistician in charge of the initial development of this important index and he has the best knowledge of how it was developed in the 1990s. This book is a history of the main development period of the HICP, up to the year 2002 when Astin left the European Commission. It will be of interest to a wide range of readers, not only in the UK but globally. Types of readers are likely to include: economists, economic statisticians, national statistics offices, universities, libraries, government finance/economic ministries, international organizations such as UN, ILO, OECD, EU, Eurostat, ECB, and central banks, as well as individuals who are interested in the construction of consumer price indices. This book begins by explaining the background to the HICP project, both from an economic and a political viewpoint, and describes the specific needs for harmonized price indices resulting from the Maastricht treaty of 1992. It analyses the process of establishing the necessary procedures for taking this urgent work forward and gives details of the technical issues involved, and the critical issue of drafting legal acts which would be necessary to ensure full compliance with the new rules. It includes analysis of products, price collection issues, quality adjustment, timing, and a host of other issues, and discusses the arguments which had to be resolved, as well as some human aspects of the process too. It also looks at the funding aspects, the recruitment of specialist consultants, the legal processes and the organization of meetings, both in Luxembourg and in other countries.

All 64 episodes of the original 1960s series featuring the ghoulish goings-on of the Addams Family. Episodes are: 'The Addams Family Goes to School', 'Morticia and the Psychiatrist', 'Fester's Punctured Romance', 'Gomez, the Politician', 'The Addams Family Tree', 'Morticia Joins the Ladies League', 'Halloween With the Addams Family', 'Green-Eyed Gomez', 'The New Neighbours Meet the Addams Family', 'Wednesday Leaves Home', 'The Addams Family Meet the V.I.P.'s', 'Morticia, the Matchmaker', 'Lurch Learns to Dance', 'Art and the Addams Family', 'The Addams Family Meets a Beatnik', 'The Addams Family Meets the Undercover Man', 'Mother Lurch Visits the Addams Family', 'Uncle Fester's Illness', 'The Addams Family Splurges', 'Cousin Itt Visits the Addams Family', 'The Addams Family in Court', 'Amnesia in the Addams Family', 'Thing Is Missing', 'Crisis in the Addams Family', 'Lurch and His Harpsichord', 'Morticia, the Breadwinner', 'The Addams Family and the Spacemen', 'My Son, the Chimp', 'Morticia's Favourite Charity', 'Progress and the Addams Family', 'Uncle Fester's Toupee', 'Cousin Itt and the Vocational Counselor', 'Lurch, the Teenage Idol', 'The Winning of Morticia Addams', 'My Fair Cousin Itt', 'Morticia's Romance (Part 1)', 'Morticia's Romance (Part 2)', 'Morticia Meets Royalty', 'Gomez, the People's Choice', 'Cousin Itt's Problem', 'Halloween - Addams Style', 'Morticia, the Writer', 'Morticia, the Sculptress', 'Gomez, the Reluctant Lover', 'Feud in the Addams Family', 'Gomez, the Cat Burglar', 'Portrait of Gomez', 'Morticia's Dilemma', 'Christmas With the Addams Family', 'Uncle Fester, Tycoon', 'Morticia and Gomez vs Fester and Grandmama', 'Fester Goes On a Diet', 'The Great Treasure Hunt', 'Ophelia Finds Romance', 'Pugsley's Allowance', 'Happy Birthday, Grandma Frump', 'Morticia, the Decorator', 'Ophelia Visits Morticia', 'Addams Cum Laude', 'Cat Addams', 'Lurch's Little Helper', 'The Addams Policy', 'Lurch's Grand Romance' and 'Ophelia's Career'.

All 17 episodes from the first season of the spine-tingling 1970s series hosted by master of suspense Rod Serling. The episodes are: 'The Cemetery', 'Eyes', 'The Escape Route', 'The Dead Man', 'The Housekeeper', 'Room With a View', 'The Little Black Bag', 'The Nature of the Enemy', 'The House', 'Certain Shadows On the Wall', 'Make Me Laugh', 'Clean Kills and Other Trophies', 'Pamela's Voice', 'Lone Survivor', 'The Doll', 'The Last Laurel' and 'They're Tearing Down Tim Riley's Bar'.