A collection of children's animated adventures from the Blue Sky studios. In 'Epic' (2013), Mary Katherine (voice of Amanda Seyfried) lives in a cabin in the woods with her eccentric father, Professor Bomba (Jason Sudeikis), who studies the local fauna. One day, when he doesn't return from a hike in the forest, she sets out to find him, inadvertently stumbling across some strange glowing leaves. Clutching one, Mary Katherine is shrunken down to the forest floor, where, after meeting up with a group of warriors known as the Leafmen, she finds herself helping her new friends in their war to save their world from the clutches of the evil Boggans. In 'Horton Hears a Who!' (2008), a jungle elephant named Horton (Jim Carrey) discovers a race of tiny beings living in a solitary dandelion. Recognising the dangers they face, the friendly pachyderm resolves to keep his microscopic pals safe. However, as Horton is the only one who hears the inhabitants of 'Whoville', his other animal pals are convinced he's gone crazy and resolve to do something about it. Horton and his miniscule friends must struggle against these impossible odds to prevent disaster. In 'Ice Age' (2002), a group of three animals embark upon an epic journey at the dawn of the great ice age. Sid the sloth (John Leguizamo), Manfred the woolly mammoth (Ray Romano), and Diego the sabre-toothed tiger (Denis Leary) team up to help return a human baby to its father, and must risk life and limb as they traverse boiling lava pits and travel through dangerous ice caves to complete their mission. In 'Ice Age 2: The Meltdown' (2006), Manny is ready to start a family, but nobody has seen another mammoth for a long time; in fact, Manny thinks he may be the last one. That is until he miraculously finds Ellie (Queen Latifah), the only female mammoth left in the world. The only problem is, they can't stand each other... In 'Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs' (2009), Scrat the squirrel (Chris Wedge) is still trying to get his paws on that ever-elusive nut, Manny and Ellie anxiously await the birth of their mini-mammoth, and Diego wonders if he's growing too laid-back living the life of a pampered house cat. Meanwhile, Sid the sloth gets into trouble when he creates his own makeshift family by hijacking some unusually large eggs, and inadvertently discovers a mysterious underground world where dinosaurs still roam. In 'Ice Age 4: Continental Drift' (2012), when the entire continent is set adrift following a global cataclysm, Manny, Diego and Sid find themselves separated from the rest of the herd. Commandeering a nearby iceberg as a makeshift boat, they take to the high seas. Fearsome sea creatures and battlethirsty pirates are among the challenges faced by the intrepid trio as they ride the waves of the world in search of their family. In 'Rio' (2011), Blu (Jesse Eisenberg) is a rare macaw living in a bookshop in small-town Minnesota. Believing himself to be the last of his kind, he is thrilled to hear that a female macaw of the same species has been spotted in South America. Blu must now overcome his social ineptitude and fear of flying and set out for Rio de Janeiro to track down the feisty and independent Jewel (Anne Hathaway) and try to win her heart. Finally, in 'Robots' (2005), Rodney Copperbottom (Ewan McGregor) is a small town robot who has a gift for inventing things and a hope of moving beyond his quaint surroundings. Dreaming of doing something better than working alongside his dad in a restaurant, Rodney, armed with his unique talent for inventing, embarks on a journey to Robot City to meet his idol, the majestic inventor Bigweld (Mel Brooks).

At the dawn of the great ice age, a group of three animals embark upon an epic journey. Sid the sloth, Manfred the mammal, and Diego the sabre-toothed tiger team up to help return a human baby to its father, and must risk life and limb as they traverse boiling lava pits and travel through dangerous ice caves to complete their mission. Along the way they also meet Scrat, a squirrel-rat determined to plant an acorn in a glacier. Features the voices of John Leguizamo, Denis Leary and Jack Black.

Broadband technology is changing our lives, our economy, and our culture. By making it possible to access, use, and share information, news, and entertainment with ever increasing speed, broadband knits geographically-distant individuals and businesses more closely together, increases our productivity, and enriches our quality of life. In so doing, it fuels economic growth and job creation that, in turn, provide unparalleled new opportunities for our nation's citizens. The procompetition telecommunications policies underpinning the administration's broadband strategy is examined in this book. Among other things, it stabilised the market for planning and investment, provided needed spectrum resources to expand existing services and support new innovations, and spurred the development and deployment of technologies and infrastructure necessary to deliver them. The same technology that enables governments, banks, corporations and other institutions to manage affairs of state and international finance and trade now makes critical contributions to health care, education, public safety, and the productivity of individuals and small businesses, as well as a host of other activities. The swift growth in broadband technologies and services that has occurred over the last several years are also discussed in this book.

Ice Age
Twenty thousand years ago, at the dawn of the Ice Age, three completely mismatched creatures have been brought together by a twist of fate. Sid, a fast-talking and comical sloth, Manfred, a moody woolly mammoth, and Diego, a sinister saber-toothed tiger reluctantly team up to help return a human baby to his father. Before their incredible journey ends, this unlikely trio will confront boiling lava pits, escape treacherous ice tunnels and meet a prehistoric squirrel-rat named Scrat who is frantically trying to bury his beloved acorn.

Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
The action heats up - and so does the temperature - for Manny, Sid, Diego and Scrat. Trying to escape the valley to avoid a flood of trouble, the comical creatures embark on a hilarious journey across the thawing landscape and meet Ellie, a female woolly mammoth who melts Manny's heart.

Ice Age 3: Dawn Of The Dinosaurs
Just when you thought they couldn't get any cooler...your favorite prehistoric pals from back in an all-new, ginormous animated adventure for ALL ages. This time around, Manny and the herd discover a lost world of ferociously funny dinosaurs, including a cranky T-Rex who's got a score to settle with Sid. Meanwhile, Scrat goes nuts over the beautiful Scratte, but is she trying to win his heart or steal his acorn?

Ice Age 4: Continental Drift
When the entire continent is set adrift following a global cataclysm, Manny, Diego and Sid find themselves separated from the rest of the herd. Commandeering a nearby iceberg as a makeshift boat, they take to the high seas. Fearsome sea creatures and battlethirsty pirates are among the challenges faced by the intrepid trio as they ride the waves of the world in search of their family.

Rio
Set in the magnificent city of Rio de Janeiro and the lush rainforest of Brazil, this comedy-adventure centers on Blu, a rare macaw who thinks he is the last of his kind. When Blu discovers there's another — and that she's a she — he leaves the comforts of his cage in small town Minnesota and heads to Rio. But it's far from love at first sight between the domesticated and flight-challenged Blu and the fiercely independent, high-flying female, Jewel. Unexpectedly thrown together, they embark on an adventure of a lifetime, where they learn about friendship, love, courage, and being open to life's many wonders. Voiced by Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway, George Lopez and more!

Robots
Rodney, a inventor robot, has longed to meet his childhood hero, the famed Big Weld. But when he finally gets the chance to meet him, all is not what he was expecting - Big Weld turns out to be a real nasty character set to yield the world to his evil plans. It is now up to Rodney to thwart the evil Big Welds attempt at world domination. Featuring the voices of Ewan McGregor, Halle Berry, Mel Brooks, Greg Kinnear, Drew Carey, Jim Broadbent, Amanda Bynes and Robin Williams and wonderful imaginative animation.

Horton Hears A Who
One of Dr. Seuss' most beloved stories roaring to life as never before in this enormous animated adventure that proves "a person's a person no matter how small." A playful pachyderm named Horton becomes a reluctant hero when he discovers the microscopic city of Who-ville on a floating speck of dust and embarks on a hilarious adventure to save the town from the dangers of the jungle. Featuring a who's who of superstar voice talent, including Jim Carrey, Steve Carell and Carol Burnett, this heartwarming hit comedy delivers loads of laughs and tons of fun for the whole family!

Epic
Epic tells the story of an ongoing battle between the forces of good, who keep the natural world alive, and the forces of evil, who wish to destroy it. When a teenage girl finds herself magically transported into this secret universe, she teams up with an elite band of warriors and a crew of comical, larger-than-life figures, to save their world... and ours. Featuring the voices of Colin Farrell, Beyonce Knowles, Amanda Seyfried and Christoph Waltz.

Ever been racially slurred in the sack? Ever been subjected to strangers yelling at you at 3am about the most intimate details of your life? Ever been to New York? Six characters from wildly different backgrounds make love, war and hysteria late one night in the cultural, sexual and generational smorgasbord that is Manhattan. Things You Shouldn't Say Past Midnight is Peter Ackerman's debut play, and ran off-Broadway for six months. Peter has since written The Um, which also ran off-Broadway, and a radio play, I'd Rather Eat Pants. He is co-author of the animated movie, Ice Age, and is currently writing Jumanji 2 for Sony. Things You Shouldn't Say Past Midnight opens at the Soho Theatre, London in November 2002.

A young boy finds his calling as the chef of a fancy restaurant in this read-aloud picture book. Comfort food indeed! Eating outrageously fine cuisine is the sole activity that stops this young lad from screaming incessantly. But one fateful night, when his parents accidentally burn dinner, the boy's temper flares and he begins to yell. Tired of all the noise, Mom and Dad relinquish all cooking responsibilities, leaving it all up to him. E voila! The boy so enjoys cooking that he sings instead of screams, and finds that he is so talented that his parents open a restaurant with the boy as head chef. But life in the kitchen of an acclaimed and busy restaurant is not easy, so when the boy begins to make mistakes, will his penchant for earsplitting noise ruin everything? Witty text and clever illustrations combine to create a silly yet serious picture book for readers of all ages which teaches kids that you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar, especially when you're singing. The New York Times wrote, "Ackerman and Dalton (The Lonely Phone Booth) have cooked up something witty and, as an example of the parental art of redirecting, perhaps inadvertently wise."

Nonviolent action, well planned and implemented, is shown in this lucid, timely, and compelling work to effect dramatic outcomes against opponents utilizing violence. Ackerman and Kruegler recognize that not all nonviolent efforts meet with success, and they are careful to stress that a nonviolent approach involves great risks as well as opportunities. It is the effectiveness of the strategies employed which will determine whether or not those using nonviolent means can prevail against opponents who rely on violence in pursuit of objectives. Twelve strategic principles are established in this book which serve as a conceptual foundation to enhance the prospects of success in nonviolent campaigns. The authors also develop six twentieth-century examples of nonviolent action from the early Russian Revolution of 1904-1906 through the Solidarity movement in 1980-1981. Each campaign narrative constitutes a fascinating reading experience and illustrates common themes, strategies, and important aspects of behavior on the part of major participants in nonviolent encounters. This is a singularly important book. It offers more than a mere plea for nonviolence. Ackerman and Kruegler introduce their work by noting the surprising extent to which nonviolent sanctions are currently employed to pressure adversaries in the international political arena. They go onto provide hard lessons based on important, and often painful, historical efforts; principles to govern the choice and implementation of strategies when nonviolent action is the determined response; and insightful analysis to guide assessment and policy. A work which will focus analysis, inform decision-making, stimulate policy consideration, andinvigorate research, this volume will well serve professionals and students in international relations and numerous related fields.

Nonviolent action, well planned and implemented, is shown in this lucid, timely, and compelling work to effect dramatic outcomes against opponents utilizing violence. Ackerman and Kruegler recognize that not all nonviolent efforts meet with success and they are careful to stress that a nonviolent approach involves great risks as well as opportunities. It is the effectiveness of the strategies employed which will determine whether those using nonviolent means can prevail against opponents who rely on violence in pursuit of objectives. Twelve principles of strategic nonviolence are established in this book--they serve as a conceptual foundation and enhance the prospects of success in nonviolent campaigns of resistance. The authors also develop six twentieth century examples of nonviolent action from the early Russian Revolution of 1904-1906 through the Solidarity movement in 1980-1981. Each campaign narrative constitutes a fascinating reading experience and illustrates common themes, strategies, and important aspects of behavior on the part of major participants in nonviolent encounters. This is a singularly important book. It offers more than a mere plea for nonviolence. Ackerman and Kruegler provide hard lessons based on important, and often painful, historical efforts: principles to govern the choice and implementation of strategies when nonviolence is the determined response; and insightful analysis to guide assessment and policy. Finally, the authors consider the evolving international situation and relate current themes and policies to the potential inherent in astute and deliberate programs of nonviolence. A work which will focus analysis, impact decision-making, stimulate policyconsideration, and invigorate research, this volume will well serve professionals and students in international relations and numerous related fields.

A sad, forgotten phone booth in New York City becomes a hero in this story of community and caring for others. "A story celebrating the fabric of a neighborhood."-New York Times Book Review The Phone Booth on the corner of West End Avenue and 100th Street was one of the last remaining phone booths in New York City. Everyone used it-from ballerinas and birthday clowns, to cellists and even secret agents. Kept clean and polished, the Phone Booth was proud and happy until, the day a businessman strode by and shouted into a shiny silver object, "I'll be there in ten minutes." Soon everyone was talking into these shiny silver things, and the Phone Booth stood alone and empty, unused and dejected. How the Phone Booth saved the day and united the neighborhood to rally around its revival is the heart of this touching story. The Lonely Phone Booth has a lot to say about the enduring power of the faithful things in our lives. For children, it's a wonderful way to talk about their own communities.

Oh, no! Pablo has homework due but the computer conked out! It's grandma's old typewriter to the rescue in this read-aloud picture book. Pablo Pressman has homework to do, and Pablo will do almost anything to avoid doing his homework. But when his computer breaks down, he is desperate. His mother takes him up to the attic to discover her mother's old typewriter. "A what-writer?" asks Pablo, mystified. When his mother shows him how to strike the keys just so, and the words start to appear on paper, Pablo is delighted. And imagine his triumph when he presents his homework at school, amazing his teacher and all his friends with the story of the mechanical marvel that saved the day. Kirkus said, "A lovely, full-circle kind of story, related in bouncy writing characterized by gently percussive onomatopoeia, with expressive, appropriately retro illustrations...it's heartening to see via the illustrations that the story involves a multiracial family." A unique read-aloud about old tech but, more poignantly, about family.

What should and should not be said between lovers has always been in question; when things should or should not be said adds to the dilemma. Three sets of bed partners are saying things that perhaps they shouldnt be saying at three oclock in the morning. They include Ben, a Jewish grad student, and his gentile girlfriend Nancy; Grace, Nancys sexually adventurous best friend, and Gene, a straight-laced, upwardly mobile Italian hit man; and Genes brother Mark, who is Graces therapist, and Marks much older Jewish lover Mr. Abramson. The hilarious dialogue just gets better and better, as the lines fly by like rapid-fire artillery. New York Daily News