Seven lifelong friends and racing fans from their student days at the University of Wisconsin strike it lucky at Saratoga Race Track when they combine to win a plus million dollar Pick Six. They subsequently use some of those profits to buy race horses, one of which, The Badger Express, turns out to be a sensational runner, stallion, and money maker. Seven years later, the men become targets of a professional assassin, an ex-Navy SEAL and Iraq private security guard named Orth. They begin dying, one by one. Jack Doyle returns to the race track, volunteering to aid FBI agents in a search for criminals fixing races. Doyle then becomes involved in protecting Rene Rison, the favored daughter of the Significant Seven's leader Arnie Rison. Jack Doyle, as always irreverent, observant, opinionated, sometimes mistaken but always persistent, eventually manages to find answers to the questions of who is fixing the races and who is having members of the Significant Seven killed off.

The story behind The Magnificent Seven could have been a movie in itself. It had everything--actors' strike, writers' strike, Mexican government interference and a row between the screenwriters that left one removing his name from the credits, all under the lingering gloom of post-McCarthy era Hollywood. A flop on release, it later became a box office hit. This book tells the behind-the-scenes story: how Yul Brynner became the biggest independent producer in Hollywood; why John Sturges was not the first choice after Brynner surrendered the director's chair; why Sturges quit; the truth about the Mirisch Company (producers); the details of the film's botched release and unlikely redemption; the creation of Elmer Bernstein's classic score; and how internecine fighting prevented the making of the television series in 1963. Myths about Steve McQueen, his feud with Brynner and the scene-stealing antics of the cast are debunked. A close examination of the various screenplay drafts and the writers' source material--Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai--shows who wrote what. Extensive analysis of Sturges' directorial work is provided.

Released in late 1960, The Magnificent Seven was a Western reimagining of the 1954 Japanese film Seven Samurai. Despite such stars as Steve McQueen, Yul Brynner, and Charles Bronson, the film was not terribly successful when it premiered. However, in the years since, the film has become recognized as a classic of the genre. And though the movie received only one Academy Award nomination, that honor was bestowed on Elmer Bernstein’s rousing score. Beyond the scope of the film, the score has permeated American culture: the music has been used in countless commercials and referenced on television shows like Cheers and The Simpsons. But what makes this score so memorable? In Elmer Bernstein’s The Magnificent Seven: A Film Score Guide, Mariana Whitmer examines the creation and development of one of the most iconic soundtracks in the history of cinema. Whitmer explores the significance of the familiar score through a variety of lenses, first delving into the background of Elmer Bernstein and his emergence as one of the key composers of the Silver Age of film music. The author then traces Bernstein’s early musical endeavors and considers why he was attracted to “Americana” music, which particularly influenced his scoring of The Magnificent Seven. The book also summarizes Bernstein’s early Western scores, noting that although they are clearly in the mainstream of the genre’s musical style, they are also enhanced by Bernstein’s own distinctive touches. Providing unique insights into the creation of this iconic score—which was deemed one of the ten greatest film scores of all time by the American Film Institute—this book explains what makes this music so enduring. Elmer Bernstein’s The Magnificent Seven: A Film Score Guide will be of interest to cinema and music scholars in general, as well as to fans of film music and the work of one of Hollywood’s finest composers.

No parent or educator can afford to ignore this groundbreaking work! Bestselling authors H. Stephen Glenn and Jane Nelsen have helped hundreds of thousands of parents raise capable, independent children with Raising Self-Reliant Children in a Self-Indulgent World. On its tenth anniversary, this parenting classic returns with fresh, up-to-date information to offer you inspiring and workable ideas for developing a trusting relationship with children, as well as the skills to implement the necessary discipline to help your child become a responsible adult. Those who think in terms of leniency versus strictness will be surprised. This book goes beyond these issues to teach children to be responsible and self-reliant—not through outer-directed concerns, such as fear and intimidation, but through inner-directed behavior, such as feeling accountable for one's commitments. Inside, you'll discover how to instill character-building values and traits in your child that last a lifetime. "During these turbulent days when families are in disarray and children are getting the short end of the stick, this book can be very helpful to parents who are struggling to bring up self-reliant children. Even after raising five of my own and becoming a grandfather for the seventh time, I got some new ideas out of it!"—Art Linkletter "An inspiring, workable formula for developing closeness, trust, dignity, and respect . . . a real gem."—Becky Ridgeway, School Social Worker

A Guided Tour through the Untamed Territories of Magic Book 1 of the Great Wizards of History Trilogy The history of wizardry comes alive with dozens of unique portraits capturing the most remarkable and infamous practitioners of magic and alchemy. Combining up-to-date historical scholarship and his own keen interpretations of primary texts, Guy Ogilvy develops a fascinating saga of magical thought and practice. The story begins with the prehistoric culture of the Lion Man and moves on to Orpheus and the great figures of myth. Discover the unparalleled influence of Pythagoras and the pre-Socratics as they experience the mysterious glories of Apollo's touch. Behold the leading alchemists of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance as they carry forth the surviving wisdom of the ancients, working their unique magic even as powerful social and political forces align against them. Magic is a vital element of history. The Great Wizards of Antiquity weaves together the loose threads of magic to form a comprehensive tapestry, challenging the ideas brought forth by peddlers of the mundane and returning a sense of enchantment to its rightful place in the human spirit. In this book, you will discover the beliefs and teachings of sorcerers, healers, philosophers, alchemists, and mythological figures, including: The Lion Man Animal magic & the modern mind Orpheus Incantations & the magic of music Dionysus Wild rites & the gift of wine Pythagoras Metempsychosis & the wisdom of the cave dwellers Pherekydes Open secrets & the immortality of souls The Pythia The oracle at Delphi & ecstatic prophecy Epimenides Sacred caves & the unknown gods Abaris The golden arrow & the Hyperborean Apollo Zalmoxis Thrace & the Celtic connection Hermotimus Astral travel & the preeminence of psyche Aristeas The form of a raven & the wonders of Apollo Parmenides The man who knows & the nightmare ride to hell Empedocles Bronze sandals & the four elements Zosimos Transmutation & inner purification J?bir ibn ?ayy?n Islamic alchemy & the theory of balance Jan Baptista Van Helmont The stranger & the projecting powder The Comte de Saint-Germain Universal medicine & the elixir of life Paracelsus Legendary cures & the open book of nature James Price The Royal Society & the Philosopher's Stone

The Acclaimed Bestseller That Can Improve Your Classroom Experience Forever! Over the years, millions of parents have come to trust the classic Positive Discipline series for its consistent, commmonsense approach to child rearing. Hundreds of schools also use these amazingly effective strategies for restoring order and civility to today's turbulent classrooms. Now you too can use this philosophy as a foundation for fostering cooperation, problem-solving skills, and mutual respect in children. Imagine, instead of controlling behavior, you can be teaching; instead of confronting apathy, you will enjoy motivated, eager students! Inside, you'll discover how to: ·Create a classroom climate that enhances academic learning ·Use encouragement rather than praise and rewards ·Instill valuable social skills and positive behavior through the use of class meetings ·Understand the motivation behind students' behavior instead of looking for causes ·And much more! Over 1 million Positive Discipline books sold!

Take back the classroom and make a positive difference in your students' lives. Many teachers today are facing problems and discipline issues they never dreamed of when they decided to become teachers. Combine violence, behavioral disorders, and downright defiant attitudes from students with the age-old problems of bullying, poor attendance, and more, and the mix is positively lethal. However, there are effective, positive strategies for restoring order and turning the teacher-student relationship into one of mutual respect. Applicable to all grade levels, this comprehensive A to Z guide addresses modern-day problems and practical solutions for establishing an effective learning environment. Inside, you'll discover: • The 17 fundamental tools of positive discipline • Real-life stories of proven positive discipline strategies • Suggestions for establishing and maintaining respectful, nurturing relationships with students • And much more! "Overcome obstacles and get back to why you became a teacher in the first place: to empower students with confidence, self-respect, and resourcefulness." —Bill Scott, principal, Birney Elementary School, Murietta, Georgia "An inspiring, information-packed book. All teachers—from those just beginning to those with many years of experience—will find the tools of positive discipline easy to use." —Phillip Harris, Ed.D., director, Center for Professional Development and Services, Phi Delta Kappa International

For adults who experienced the death of a parent during their childhood or teen years, this is a much-needed guide to understanding the long term impact of this loss.

The Acclaimed Bestseller That Can Improve Your Classroom Experience Forever! Over the years millions of parents and teachers have used the amazingly effective strategies of Positive Discipline to restore order and civility to their classrooms and homes. And in today's classroom, where teachers must compete with digital distractions for their students' attention while trying to satisfy increasingly demanding academic standards, it is more important than ever that educators be able to combat apathy, instill vital problem-solving skills, and create a climate that maximizes learning. Now you too can use the time tested Positive Discipline strategies as a foundation for fostering cooperation, problem-solving skills, and mutual respect in children. This new edition of Positive Discipline in the Classroom is updated with essential tools for the modern teacher. Imagine, instead of controlling behavior, you can be teaching; instead of confronting apathy, you will enjoy motivated, eager students! Inside, you'll learn how to: ·Create a classroom climate that enhances academic learning ·Use encouragement rather than praise and rewards ·Instill valuable social skills and positive behavior through the use of class meetings -Learn why involving students in solving problems is much more effective than punishment ·Understand the motivation behind students' behavior instead of looking for causes ·And much more! “A must for every educator. The jargon-free concepts and strategies are easy to follow and have changed my life as a principal, as well as the lives of my teachers and students.” – Bill Scott, Principal of Birney Elementary, Marietta, Georgia “This book should be standard operating procedure. I highly recommend it to anyone who seeks to teach young people!” – Robert W. Reasoner, president of the International Council for Self-Esteem “Transforms the way teachers view themselves and their students. The activities in this book show how learning shifts from head to heart, where positive change can really take route.” – Dina Emser, M.A., former elementary school principal and education consultant