Joshua Bates is a retired banker who now teaches Economics at a small college in Colorado. A tragic death of one of his students leads to the exploration of an old mine, which is perceived to be cursed as evidenced by the near death experiences of Dr. Bates and his associates.

Here is an antidote to the stifling academic grind brought on by accountability testing. It demonstrates how mastery of skills can be a joy rather than a chore and describes in detail a highly successful program of structured skill-mastery centers that engage students independently while the teacher works closely with a small group. This system of managing the classroom helps the teacher provide materials that match the many achievement levels of children in the classroom. Typically in use for 60-90 minutes in a school day, up to four days a week, the system works well with the whole language or the guided practice approaches to reading. The program, developed by Carolyn Lawrence, is being used successfully throughout 63 elementary schools in one Florida school district. Many of the schools are nationally recognized for their achievement in test scores. The ideas in this book are simple, clear, and ready to use to bring back excitement, freedom, and smiles to children in their classroom life. Students are eager to get to the skill practice work in the mastery centers, largely because they get to use a variety of manipulative materials matched to their levels. These materials are inexpensive, readily available and described in the book. This book will be of interest to professors of education, superintendents, curriculum and instruction educators, principals, teachers, and parents.

Walter Hill directs this sports drama starring Charles Bronson. In Depression-era New Orleans, bare-knuckle boxer Chaney (Bronson) teams up with gambler-turned-promoter Speed (James Coburn) to enter a series of illegal prize fights after drifting into town. Chaney's relationship with new girlfriend Lucy (Jill Ireland) suffers under the strain of his fighting career, which is itself hampered by corruption within the sport, as he makes his way through the New Orleans fighters willing to meet him.

Triple bill of supernatural dramas adapted by the BBC. In 'The Signalman' (1976), based on the story by Charles Dickens, Denholm Elliott stars as a troubled railway signalman who has witnessed some unsettling sights and sounds along his stretch of track. A curious traveller (Bernard Lloyd) tries to make sense of these strange goings-on. In 'Stigma' (1977) Katherine Delgado (Kate Binchy) and her family move into a new home but have difficulty removing a menhir from their garden. When they disrupt the ancient site, a spectre is unleashed which leaves Katherine experiencing terrifying situations and an increasing sense of panic. In 'The Ice House' (1978) Paul (John Stride) goes to stay at a spa resort to help him get over the breakdown of his marriage. While there he meets the resort's bizarre owners, siblings Clovis (Geoffrey Burridge) and Jessica (Elizabeth Romilly), who lead him to their garden ice house and encourage him to take in the scent of their flowers. When his nights are disturbed by unexplained activity he decides to take matters into his own hands to find out the truth about the mysterious ice house.

All five films from the popular 'Die Hard' franchise starring Bruce Willis. In 'Die Hard' (1988), on Christmas Eve, New York cop John McClane (Willis) is visiting his estranged wife Holly (Bonnie Bedelia) in Los Angeles, where she works. They are attending a party at Holly's high-rise office block when terrorists, led by the suave Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman), break in, taking everyone hostage. McClane manages to evade capture, however, and sets out to rescue his wife and the other prisoners. In 'Die Hard 2 - Die Harder' (1990), John McClane is again set to meet up with Holly on Christmas Eve, this time at Dulles International Airport in Washington DC. However, when terrorists take over the airport in an attempt to rescue dictator Esperanza (Franco Nero) from his incoming flight, it is up to McClane to restore order and ensure that Holly's plane lands safely. In 'Die Hard With a Vengeance' (1995), McClane becomes involved in a twisted game of Simon Says when an evil terrorist (Jeremy Irons) sends him dashing all over the city in an effort to find a series of explosive devices. Teaming up with electrician Zeus Carver (Samuel L. Jackson), McClane soon discovers that the bombs are an elaborate ruse intended to provide cover for a billion dollar bank job. 'Die Hard 4.0' (2007) finds McClane routinely asked to bring in computer hacker Matt Farrell (Justin Long) for questioning. In transit, events overtake them as they witness a full-scale cyber attack on the country's infrastructure led by mystery man Thomas Gabriel (Timothy Olyphant), who plans to systematically shut down or destroy the nation's major networks over three days. McClane and his hacker friend have to stop the mastermind before it's too late. Finally, in 'A Good Day to Die Hard' (2013), McClane travels to Russia to help out his son Jack (Jai Courtney), who, unbeknownst to his father, is an undercover CIA operative trying to stop the theft of nuclear weapons. With the Russian mafia snapping at their heels and time running out, the pair soon discover that although their approaches may differ slightly, the end result is certainly no less explosive.

Lawrence Gordon Clark directs this triple bill of BBC adaptations of the ghost stories by M.R. James. In 'Lost Hearts' (1973) young orphan Stephen (Simon Gipps-Kent) goes to stay at the generous Mr. Abney (Joseph O'Connor)'s estate where he is haunted by two children who previously lived in the house. It turns out the children have come to warn Stephen that Abney is not all that he seems. In 'The Ash Tree' (1975) Sir Richard Fell (Edward Petherbridge) inherits his uncle's manor and grounds. He moves in and decides to cut down an ash tree that could prove harmful to the property but before he gets the chance he begins to hear strange sounds and sees supernatural figures coming from the tree... In 'The Treasure of Abbot Thomas' (1974) cynical Reverend Somerton (Michael Bryant) is completely close-minded when it comes to paranormal activity. His steadfast beliefs falter, however, when his and Lord Peter Dattering (Paul Lavers)'s search for the treasure of alchemist Abbot Thomas (John Herrington) unleashes a terrifying spectre.

Lawrence Gordon Clark directs this double bill of horror dramas adaptated by the BBC from two of M.R. James's classic ghost stories. In 'A Warning to the Curious' (1972) Mr Paxton (Peter Vaughan) travels to English seaside town Seaburg hoping to find the last of three Anglo Saxon crowns belonging to the Agers family whose last descendant has recently died. When he uncovers the crown, however, he finds himself haunted by a ghostly figure. In 'The Stalls of Barchester' (1971) Dr. Black (Clive Swift) is cataloguing the Barchester Cathedral Library when he comes across an old diary belonging to Archdeacon Haynes (Robert Hardy) who died mysteriously. Whilst reading the entries Black soon discovers that Haynes may have been cursed upon the death of his predecessor after which he was tormented by supernatural goings-on.

When best friends Sammy Squirrel and Rodney Raccoon decide to explore the world beyond Vancouver's Stanley Park, they are carried on a fantastic adventure. Swept out to sea in a little boat, the woodland creatures journey across the Pacific Ocean all the way to Japan. While their courage and ingenuity are tested at every turn, Sammy and Rodney are met by good fortune and are helped by new friends Salty Seagull, Winifred Whale and a deer called Shika. The wide-eyed travellers help resolve a crisis with the deer in Nara, Japan and by the time they return safely home, have broadened their world and gained a deeper understanding of animal and human interactions. The story of Sammy Squirrel and Rodney Raccoon, though a fictional animal adventure, addresses real-life issues about relationships between animals and people. An illustrated chapter book, and first in the Stanley Park Tales series, it promotes awareness and sensitivity to the needs of others.

On Christmas Eve, New York cop John McClane (Bruce Willis) is visiting his estranged wife Holly (Bonnie Bedelia) in Los Angeles, where she works. They are attending a party at Holly's high-rise office block when terrorists, led by the suave Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) break in, taking everyone hostage. McClane manages to evade capture, however, and sets out to rescue his wife and the other prisoners. It is not long before he is running barefoot over shattered glass (ouch!) in a sweaty vest, muttering 'Yippy kay aye' as he dispatches the baddies with bullets and a certain earthy wit.

In the year 2047, the spaceship 'Lewis and Clark' sets out to track down the missing vessel 'Event Horizon', which disappeared after its launch seven years earlier. In command is Captain Miller (Laurence Fishburne), along with 'Event Horizon' designer, Dr William Weir (Sam Neill). They are following a distress signal recently picked up from the missing craft, and when they eventually make contact the crew are besieged by nightmarish visions.

Professor Bates and company accidentally come into possession of a diary that provides the details of the robbery of a shipment of silver over one hundred and thirty years ago. To their knowledge the silver has never been found. While trying to determine if it is worth their while to see if it can be uncovered other forces become aware of the possibility and the race is on to see if the missing silver really exists and, if found, claim a finder's fee worth millions.

When he is the only survivor of a cop shooting, hard-nosed Jack Cates (Nick Nolte) springs prison inmate Reggie Hammond (Eddie Murphy) from jail for just forty-eight hours to help him catch the perpetrators. Cates knows that he can rely on Reggie's assistance, as the killers are now heading for the half million stash of dollars for which the jailbird went down in the first place. This was Murphy's big screen debut, and was followed in 1990 by the sequel 'Another 48 Hours'.

Life is too short. Let's enjoy the life we are given and give life to those that are living. That is how I have tried to live my own life, and perhaps, why I have been able to laugh through my life that was not always it should have been. Having a 'larf' is a must in life. Let's find time to laugh.

Second big screen outing for the popular cult superhero Hellboy (Ron Perlman), who originally appeared in Mike Mignola's Dark Horse comic series. In this highly acclaimed instalment, the mythical world starts an uprising against humanity in a bid to take over the Earth, and Hellboy and his team are all that stand in their way. Can the superheroic redfaced demon prevent the destruction of mankind once again? Guillermo del Toro writes and directs, and Selma Blair reprises her role as Hellboy's love interest, Liz Sherman.

The book describes, in some detail, how the life of a mentally-handicapped person is totally dependent on the support of others be they cares or family. It moves through the young man's life from birth to the present day illustrating how he may have seen his own development and progress, were he able to communicate this information. The book also describes the emotional processes at work in Andrew's development from his perceived point of view and how he has managed to cope with life's traumas, or not, as the case may be.
The book is not without humour, and several "incidents" that have occurred with him as the main focus demonstrate how his personality has grown as he has aged.
The anguish he must feel as he becomes frustrated particularly in trying to communicate his needs to others, is all too evident. But he is forever grateful for those cares and family who make his life easier and more pleasant an experience.
The final chapter describes what his feelings are as his parents age and have increasing difficulty coping with Andrew's physical and emotional needs. The spectre of living away from his parent's home is traumatic for both Andrew and his parents. And there is no avoiding the ultimate wrench that gets closer.
The book hopefully encapsulates the experiences of many families who share similar lives, and seeks to alleviate, in print, that these families are not alone.

Evil has manifested itself at Wasatch College. Fires and diabolical curses are common. Students and faculty have been injured and taken ill while the administration tries to deal with this outbreak.

Professor Bates once again finds himself in the middle of circumstances that he did not create and cannot control.

Bates is up to the challenge but he is thwarted at every turn by sinister events in the area's past. Only when the truth of the past is eventually discovered can the college be liberated from the ruinous force that has it in its grasp.

A student from Wasatch College is found very early in the morning sitting by the side of a highway in the mountains north of Wasatch, Colorado in a terror-induced trance. Further investigation by Professor Bates and his associates in Wasatch find evidence of a long hidden secret. The next few weeks in Dr. Bates' life are filled with adventure and terror at every turn, culminating in a discovery that will revise history in the Mountain West forever.

Joshua Bates is a retired banker who now teaches Economics at a small college in Colorado. A tragic death of one of his students leads to the exploration of an old mine, which is perceived to be cursed as evidenced by the near death experiences of Dr. Bates and his associates.

Professor Bates and his associates at Wasatch College in Wasatch, Colorado, are up to their necks in intrigue. It apparently involves just about everyone that he knows. Unknown as to why, he will place himself and his family in great danger unless he backs off from his involvement in affairs that he is told do not involve him. The problem...he doesn't know what he has done, nor to whom. He is in a race to find out before he and his family suffer dire consequences.