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= Meitnerium = Meitnerium is a chemical element with symbol Mt and atomic number 109 . It is an extremely radioactive synthetic element ( an element not found in nature that can be created in a laboratory ) . The most stable known isotope , meitnerium @-@ 278 , has a half @-@ life of 7 @.@ 6 seconds . The GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research near Darmstadt , Germany , first created this element in 1982 . It is named for Lise Meitner . In the periodic table , meitnerium is a d @-@ block transactinide element . It is a member of the 7th period and is placed in the group 9 elements , although no chemical experiments have been carried out to confirm that it behaves as the heavier homologue to iridium in group 9 . Meitnerium is calculated to have similar properties to its lighter homologues , cobalt , rhodium , and iridium . = = History = = = = = Discovery = = = Meitnerium was first synthesized on August 29 , 1982 by a German research team led by Peter Armbruster and Gottfried Münzenberg at the Institute for Heavy Ion Research ( Gesellschaft für Schwerionenforschung ) in Darmstadt . The team bombarded a target of bismuth @-@ 209 with accelerated nuclei of iron @-@ 58 and detected a single atom of the isotope meitnerium @-@ 266 : 209 83Bi + 58 26Fe → 266 109Mt + n This work was confirmed three years later at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research at Dubna ( then in the Soviet Union ) . = = = Naming = = = Using Mendeleev 's nomenclature for unnamed and undiscovered elements , meitnerium should be known as eka @-@ iridium . In 1979 , during the Transfermium Wars ( but before the synthesis of meitnerium ) , IUPAC published recommendations according to which the element was to be called unnilennium ( with the corresponding symbol of Une ) , a systematic element name as a placeholder , until the element was discovered ( and the discovery then confirmed ) and a permanent name was decided on . Although widely used in the chemical community on all levels , from chemistry classrooms to advanced textbooks , the recommendations were mostly ignored among scientists in the field , who either called it " element 109 " , with the symbol of ( 109 ) or even simply 109 , or used the proposed name " meitnerium " . The naming of meitnerium was discussed in the element naming controversy regarding the names of elements 104 to 109 , but meitnerium was the only proposal and thus was never disputed . The name meitnerium ( Mt ) was suggested in honor of the Austrian physicist Lise Meitner , a co @-@ discoverer of protactinium ( with Otto Hahn ) , and one of the discoverers of nuclear fission . In 1994 the name was recommended by IUPAC , and was officially adopted in 1997 . It is thus the only element named specifically after a non @-@ mythological woman ( curium being named for both Pierre and Marie Curie ) . = = Isotopes = = Meitnerium has no stable or naturally @-@ occurring isotopes . Several radioactive isotopes have been synthesized in the laboratory , either by fusing two atoms or by observing the decay of heavier elements . Eight different isotopes of meitnerium have been reported with atomic masses 266 , 268 , 270 , and 274 – 278 , two of which , meitnerium @-@ 268 and meitnerium @-@ 270 , have known but unconfirmed metastable states . Most of these decay predominantly through alpha decay , although some undergo spontaneous fission . = = = Stability and half @-@ lives = = = All meitnerium isotopes are extremely unstable and radioactive ; in general , heavier isotopes are more stable than the lighter . The most stable known meitnerium isotope , 278Mt , is also the heaviest known ; it has a half @-@ life of 7 @.@ 6 seconds . A metastable nuclear isomer , 270mMt , has been reported to also have a half @-@ life of over a second . The isotopes 276Mt and 274Mt have half @-@ lives of 0 @.@ 72 and 0 @.@ 44 seconds respectively . The remaining four isotopes have half @-@ lives between 1 and 20 milliseconds . The undiscovered isotope 281Mt has been predicted to be the most stable towards beta decay ; no known meitnerium isotope has been observed to undergo beta decay . Some unknown isotopes , such as 265Mt , 272Mt , 273Mt , and 279Mt , are predicted to have half @-@ lives longer than the known isotopes . Before its discovery , 274Mt and 277Mt were predicted to have half @-@ lives of 20 seconds and 1 minute respectively , but they were later found to have half @-@ lives of only 0 @.@ 44 seconds and 5 milliseconds respectively . = = Predicted properties = = = = = Chemical = = = Meitnerium is the seventh member of the 6d series of transition metals . Since element 112 ( copernicium ) has been shown to be a transition metal , it is expected that all the elements from 104 to 112 would form a fourth transition metal series , with meitnerium as part of the platinum group metals . Calculations on its ionization potentials and atomic and ionic radii are similar to that of its lighter homologue iridium , thus implying that meitnerium 's basic properties will resemble those of the other group 9 elements , cobalt , rhodium , and iridium . Prediction of the probable chemical properties of meitnerium has not received much attention recently . Meitnerium is expected to be a noble metal . Based on the most stable oxidation states of the lighter group 9 elements , the most stable oxidation states of meitnerium are predicted to be the + 6 , + 3 , and + 1 states , with the + 3 state being the most stable in aqueous solutions . In comparison , rhodium and iridium show a maximum oxidation state of + 6 , while the most stable states are + 4 and + 3 for iridium and + 3 for rhodium . The oxidation state + 9 , represented only by iridium in [ IrO4 ] + , might be possible for its congener meitnerium in the nonafluoride ( MtF9 ) and the [ MtO4 ] + cation , although [ IrO4 ] + is expected to be more stable . The tetrahalides of meitnerium have also been predicted to have similar stabilities to those of iridium , thus also allowing a stable + 4 state . It is further expected that the maximum oxidation states of elements from bohrium ( element 107 ) to darmstadtium ( element 110 ) may be stable in the gas phase but not in aqueous solution . = = = Physical and atomic = = = Meitnerium is expected to be a solid under normal conditions and assume a face @-@ centered cubic crystal structure , similarly to its lighter congener iridium . It should be a very heavy metal with a density of around 37 @.@ 4 g / cm3 , which would be the second @-@ highest of any of the 118 known elements , second only to that predicted for its neighbor hassium ( 41 g / cm3 ) . In comparison , the densest known element that has had its density measured , osmium , has a density of only 22 @.@ 61 g / cm3 . This results from meitnerium 's high atomic weight , the lanthanide and actinide contractions , and relativistic effects , although production of enough meitnerium to measure this quantity would be impractical , and the sample would quickly decay . Meitnerium is also predicted to be paramagnetic . Theoreticians have predicted the covalent radius of meitnerium to be 6 to 10 pm larger than that of iridium . For example , the Mt – O bond distance is expected to be around 1 @.@ 9 Å . The atomic radius of meitnerium is expected to be around 128 pm . = = Experimental chemistry = = Unambiguous determination of the chemical characteristics of meitnerium has yet to have been established due to the short half @-@ lives of meitnerium isotopes and a limited number of likely volatile compounds that could be studied on a very small scale . One of the few meitnerium compounds that are likely to be sufficiently volatile is meitnerium hexafluoride ( MtF 6 ) , as its lighter homologue iridium hexafluoride ( IrF 6 ) is volatile above 60 ° C and therefore the analogous compound of meitnerium might also be sufficiently volatile ; a volatile octafluoride ( MtF 8 ) might also be possible . For chemical studies to be carried out on a transactinide , at least four atoms must be produced , the half @-@ life of the isotope used must be at least 1 second , and the rate of production must be at least one atom per week . Even though the half @-@ life of 278Mt , the most stable known meitnerium isotope , is 7 @.@ 6 seconds , long enough to perform chemical studies , another obstacle is the need to increase the rate of production of meitnerium isotopes and allow experiments to carry on for weeks or months so that statistically significant results can be obtained . Separation and detection must be carried out continuously to separate out the meitnerium isotopes and automated systems can then experiment on the gas @-@ phase and solution chemistry of meitnerium as the yields for heavier elements are predicted to be smaller than those for lighter elements ; some of the separation techniques used for bohrium and hassium could be reused . However , the experimental chemistry of meitnerium has not received as much attention as that of the heavier elements from copernicium to livermorium . The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory attempted to synthesize the isotope 271Mt in 2002 – 2003 for a possible chemical investigation of meitnerium because it was expected that it might be more stable than the isotopes around it as it has 162 neutrons , a magic number for deformed nuclei ; its half @-@ life was predicted to be a few seconds , long enough for a chemical investigation . However , no atoms of 271Mt were detected , and this isotope of meitnerium is currently unknown . An experiment determining the chemical properties of a transactinide would need to compare a compound of that transactinide with analogous compounds of some of its lighter homologues : for example , in the chemical characterization of hassium , hassium tetroxide ( HsO4 ) was compared with the analogous osmium compound , osmium tetroxide ( OsO4 ) . In a preliminary step towards determining the chemical properties of meitnerium , the GSI attempted sublimation of the rhodium compounds rhodium ( III ) oxide ( Rh2O3 ) and rhodium ( III ) chloride ( RhCl3 ) . However , macroscopic amounts of the oxide would not sublimate until 1000 ° C and the chloride would not until 780 ° C , and then only in the presence of carbon aerosol particles : these temperatures are far too high for such procedures to be used on meitnerium , as most of the current methods used for the investigation of the chemistry of superheavy elements do not work above 500 ° C.
= Pat Seerey = James Patrick Seerey ( March 17 , 1923 – April 28 , 1986 ) was an American professional baseball player . An outfielder , Seerey played in Major League Baseball ( MLB ) for seven seasons in the American League with the Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox . In 561 career games , Seerey recorded a batting average of .224 and accumulated 86 home runs and 261 runs batted in ( RBI ) . Born in Oklahoma and raised in Arkansas , Seerey played football and baseball in high school . After graduating , he joined the Cleveland Indians ' farm system in 1941 , and made his major league debut two @-@ and @-@ a @-@ half years later . He was primary a starting outfielder the next five seasons for the Indians , but led the league in strikeouts four times . He was traded partway through the 1948 season to the Chicago White Sox , and a month after being traded became one of 16 MLB players to hit four home runs in one game . The following season , he was sent to the minor leagues , and played a few seasons in the farm system for the White Sox before retiring . = = Early life and minor leagues = = Pat Seerey was born in Wilburton , Oklahoma in 1923 to James and Marie Seerey . His family moved to Little Rock , Arkansas when he was a child , and he played baseball for the Little Rock Boys ' Club at Lamar Porter Field . He attended Little Rock Catholic High School , where he played baseball and American football , serving as the team 's starting fullback . After graduating from high school in 1941 , he was signed by the Cleveland Indians . Shortly afterwards , he was classified as 4 @-@ F , meaning he would not be lost to the military during World War II . Seerey started his minor league baseball career in 1941 with the Appleton Papermakers of the Wisconsin State League . In one of his first appearances for the team , he hit for the cycle in a 15 – 4 victory against the Fond du Lac Panthers . In 104 games for Appleton that year , Seerey had a .330 batting average with 31 home runs and 117 runs batted in ; the 31 home runs were a record for the Wisconsin State League at the time . The following season , Seerey played for the Cedar Rapids Raiders of the Three @-@ I League . In 117 games for the Raiders , he had a .303 batting average and 33 home runs . In 1943 , Seerey was promoted to the Wilkes @-@ Barre Barons of the Eastern League , and played in 31 games over the first two months of the season . In early June , outfielder Hank Edwards broke his collarbone , and the Indians needed an extra outfielder on the roster ; Seerey was promoted as a result . = = Cleveland Indians = = Seerey made his debut with the Indians on June 9 , 1943 . Almost immediately after his debut , he earned the nickname of " people 's choice " in media due to both his hitting ability and his " willingness to challenge the brick walls of the stadium " . He played in 26 games for the Indians on the season , and hit .222 in 72 at @-@ bats . Entering the 1944 Cleveland Indians season , manager Lou Boudreau planned to use Seerey as the starting center fielder , as he had reported to spring training 25 pounds lighter and Boudreau felt that Seerey could improve on a weak area on the team 's roster . Seerey moved back to left field to begin the season ; in his first game there on the year , he hit a three @-@ run home run to give the Indians a 7 – 4 victory over the Detroit Tigers . A month into the season , Seerey was among the league leaders in runs batted in , which was attributed to better plate discipline , though his fielding in the outfield was still considered a liability . Partway through the season , Seerey 's playing time diminished , yet he remained the team leader in home runs for most of the season despite limited at @-@ bats . He finished the season with 15 home runs , 39 runs batted in , and a league @-@ leading 99 strikeouts in 101 games . Entering the 1945 Cleveland Indians season , Seerey was re @-@ classified as 1 @-@ A , and took a military examination during the offseason . He was not slated to join the military after the exam , and the season started with him on the roster as one of the team 's starting three outfielders , thanks in part to getting in shape after a strict diet during the offseason . He started off with hits in the first seven games of the season . A month into the season , Seerey hit his first two home runs of the season in a 7 – 3 loss to the New York Yankees . He followed that up in a mid @-@ July game against the Yankees with three home runs and eight runs batted in , becoming the fourth Indians player to hit three home runs in a game in a 16 – 4 Indians win . He spent the second half of the season in and out of the starting lineup due to his inconsistent hitting ; manager Boudreau felt that occasional rest days would increase his consistency . In a career @-@ high 126 games , Seerey hit .236 with 14 home runs and 97 strikeouts , which again led the league . After getting married in early 1946 to Jeanne Dillinger , Seerey started the 1946 Cleveland Indians season working with Boudreau to fix his hitting , as his lunge when he swung the bat was causing him to strike out too often and not hit enough home runs . The change worked , as by the start of July Seerey had a team @-@ leading 11 home runs . His second half performance included a doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox where he hit a home run in each game ; the second home run landed in the upper deck of Cleveland Municipal Stadium , a feat that at the time had only been matched by fellow Indians outfielder Jeff Heath . He finished the season with a .225 batting average , 26 home runs , 62 RBIs , and 101 strikeouts . The 26 home runs were fourth in the league , and for the third straight year Seerey led the league in strikeouts . Indians catcher Jim Hegan and Seerey spent the offseason improving their hitting , attending batting school led by Hall of Famer Rogers Hornsby ; Hornsby concentrated primarily on improving Seerey 's timing to help him to hit the ball more frequently . In spring training games , Seerey had nine home runs , and expectations were high for him ; Boudreau gave him the starting job in left field for the opener against the White Sox . Through the first month of the season , Seerey had six home runs , but his performance worsened as the season went on . At the end of June , Seerey was removed from the starting lineup and replaced by both Dale Mitchell and Hank Edwards ; he spent the rest of the season playing part @-@ time . He finished the season with a .171 batting average and 11 home runs in 82 games . After the 1947 season ended , Indians owner Bill Veeck put Seerey on a strict diet and exercise regimen for the offseason , stating that he had to lose 35 pounds if he wanted to remain on the team . By the start of spring training , he had reached his goal of 195 pounds , and felt like he had an easier time swinging the baseball bat as a result . After a good month of spring training , Boudreau named him the starter in right field for the 1948 season , saying that " he 'll be in there until he stops hitting . " Shortly afterwards , Seerey was removed from the starting lineup , and he ended up playing 10 games for the Indians before being traded . On June 2 , Seerey was traded with Al Gettel to the White Sox for Bob Kennedy due to his inconsistency as well as an overstocked group of outfielders on the roster . = = Chicago White Sox and later life = = Seerey was named the starting left fielder upon joining the White Sox , a position he held the rest of the season . Through his first 12 games , Seerey had 16 RBIs . On July 18 , Seerey made history , becoming the fifth player to hit four home runs in one game , doing so in an 11 @-@ inning , 12 – 11 win over the Philadelphia Athletics . Seerey homered in three successive innings ( fourth through sixth ) , hitting his first two off starting pitcher Carl Scheib and the third off reliever Bob Savage . His fourth home run , in the 11th off Lou Brissie , gave the White Sox the win . On that day , Seerey went 4 @-@ for @-@ 6 with seven runs batted in . In 105 games , 95 with the White Sox , Seerey had a .231 batting average , 19 home runs , 70 RBIs , and 102 strikeouts ; he led the league in strikeouts for the fourth time . The White Sox brought on new manager Jack Onslow to begin the 1949 Chicago White Sox season . He had a problem with Seerey , who arrived overweight to spring training , and did not consider him worthy of practicing with the other players until he got the weight back down . After playing in four games for the Sox , his last coming on May 7 , Seerey was sent to the Los Angeles Angels of the Pacific Coast League , ending his major league career . He played for four minor league teams in 1949 : Los Angeles , the Newark Bears , the Kansas City Blues , and the San Antonio Missions . Seerey spent 1950 with the Colorado Springs Sky Sox of the Western League . Partway through the season , he broke the league 's home run record of 30 , and went on to hit 44 for the Sky Sox over the course of the season . He then finished the season with the Memphis Chickasaws , playing 136 total games with both teams . Seerey split most of the 1951 season between Memphis and Colorado Springs . In one game with the Sky Sox in June , Seerey had two grand slams and nine RBIs in a game , both league records at the time . He ended the season with the Tampa Smokers , and had 28 home runs in 113 between the three teams . In 1952 , Seerey joined a semi @-@ professional baseball team in Guelph , Ontario . With them , he had 11 home runs and a .253 batting average , and retired at season 's end . The 11 home runs were the highest in the league that season . After retiring , Seerey became a janitor in the St. Louis public school system . He died in Jennings , Missouri on April 28 , 1986 at the age of 63 .
= Free Collars Kingdom = Free Collars Kingdom ( フリーカラーズキングダム , Furī Karāzu Kingudamu ) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Fujima Takuya . The individual chapters were serialized in Magazine Z , and compiled into three tankōbon volumes released by Kodansha from February 2003 to March 2004 . Set in Ikebukuro , Japan , the series revolves around the struggle of two stray cat groups . Cyan , a young newly abandoned cat , joins one of them , the Free Collars . Each cat has two appearances ; to humans , they appear as normal cats , but to other cats , they appear as catboys and catgirls . Each cat has their own attack , and some carry weapons . While drawing the series , Fujima changed his art style from one used previously , though he was asked to use his original styling . He also noted that the series was different from his other works , and was unsure of how the audience would respond to it . Free Collars Kingdom is licensed for English language release in the United States by Del Rey , which released the series in 2007 , and in the United Kingdom by Tanoshimi , which released it in 2008 . It was licensed for regional release by Tong Li Publishing in Taiwan , Jonesky in Hong Kong , and Star Comics in Italy . Free Collars Kingdom garnered mixed reviews from critics . The series was praised for its artwork and humor , but criticized for its plot and characters . = = Plot = = Cyan is a young Abyssinian cat who lives with a boy named Kokoro and his parents in Ikebukuro . When Kokoro becomes sick , his parents abandon Cyan , leaving him in the basement of their apartment complex . Soon he discovers a group of stray cats called the " Free Collars " , who control East Ikebukuro and believe that collars hold down cats ' " Wild Spirit " . Cyan is given the opportunity to join , provided that he removes his collar , the symbol that he is still Kokoro 's pet . Cyan declines , opting to remain in the basement and await Kokoro 's return . However , Cyan comes to realize that he must join the Free Collars if he hopes to survive and reunite with Kokoro . He removes his collar and joins them in their fight against Siam , a rival gang leader who wants control of East Ikebukuro and plans to rule the world and enslave humans . In his ensuing adventures , Cyan grows close to the Free Collars , yet still longs for Kokoro . He becomes frustrated by Siam 's continued advances on East Ikebukuro and his teammates ' unwillingness to mount an offensive attack . Convinced that Siam must be destroyed , Cyan confronts her and learns she was once a Free Collar until her brother , Puriam , was chased onto a road by humans and killed by a bus . Cyan is able to defeat her , and , reminded of Puriam , Siam silently wishes him farewell . Soon after , Cyan learns that Kokoro had recovered but is moving away . Saddened by the thought of leaving the Free Collars , he meets Kokoro at the train station and gives him his torn collar as a memento . Kokoro promises to visit Cyan , and Cyan returns to his new friends . = = = Characters = = = The Free Collars are a group a stray cats who have removed their collars and refuse to have any relationship with humans . Cyan is a young Abyssinian who joins the Free Collars after being abandoned . He tends to be childlike , which sometimes irritates other members of the group . Scottie is a Scottish Fold who spends much of her time with the Free Collars but is not a member . She was discovered by Amesho , an old American Shorthair and leader of the Free Collars , in a bookstore . Char is a Chartreux and was once part of the " Cat House Kingdom " , a household of high @-@ class cats , but left , feeling she was being used by humans . Rat is a Korat and the most talented with gadgets and technology within the group . Coon is an easily angered Maine Coon who specializes in swimming . Minky is a Tonkinese who befriends Cyan and Scottie and is named after her mink @-@ like fur . On the opposing side is Siam , a Siamese cat who controls all of West Ikebukuro and is the leader of the Siam Army . Siam 's principal henchman and general of the Siam Army is Kline , who has a distinct hatred for humans and sees them only as her potential slaves . Acting as Siam 's bodyguards are A @-@ Ko and I @-@ Ko , two Manx cats . Having been previously discriminated against for their lack of tails , A @-@ Ko and I @-@ Ko pretended to have tails , fearing rejection from Siam . = = Production = = Fujima had originally been asked to draw Free Collars Kingdom in a style he had used previously on other works . However , his drawing style evolved during the development of Free Collars Kingdom . In the first volume of Free Collars Kingdom , Fujima expressed his feelings on the series ' release , while also stating that " it went to the press before I knew it " . Fujima noted that the series was " quite a bit different " compared to previous series he had worked on , and that he " had no idea how " the audience would respond to it . He explained that " if you have fun reading it , then I 'll be happy " . In volume two , due to having left @-@ over " open pages " , Fujima used the extra pages to " describe characters " and " have fun " . = = Media = = Written and illustrated by Fujima Takuya , the individual chapters of Free Collars Kingdom were first serialized in Japan in Magazine Z from 2002 to 2004 . Those chapters were collected and published in three tankōbon volumes by Kodansha , with the first released on February 21 , 2003 and the last on March 23 , 2004 . On July 27 , 2010 , the company Ichijinsha released a reprint of the series in two collected volumes . The series is licensed for English language release in North America by Del Rey , which published the series from January 30 , 2007 to July 31 , 2007 . In the United Kingdom , it was published by Tanoshimi from February 1 , 2007 to August 2 , 2008 . It is also licensed for regional language releases in Taiwan by Tong Li Publishing , in Italy by Star Comics , and Hong Kong by Jonesky . = = = Volume list = = = = = Reception = = Free Collars Kingdom received mixed reviews from English @-@ speaking audiences . Matthew Alexander of Mania praised the artwork , noting that characters were " cute and sexy with a wide variety of clothing that does a good job expressing the character 's personality " and that , overall , the artwork was " very clean with attractive characters and well @-@ detailed backgrounds " . In his review of the second volume , Alexander wrote that " so far , the story continues to be a fun examination of what life might be like from the cat 's point of view , but I don 't know how the whole Wild Cat storyline is going to be wrapped up in only one more volume " . In his review of the third volume , Alexander felt that " the story probably received an early ending " , but concluded that " despite the series only being three volumes , it really is a worthy read and quite funny if you 've ever owned a cat " . In reviewing the second volume , Manga Life 's Dan Polley felt " Fujima [ did ] a very good job of laying down the framework and executing a plot for fun and carefree adventures . " In his review of the third volume , Polley wrote that " the art is enjoyable , but can sometimes be overloaded " and that " often there are sequences in which there is too much going on and it is hard to decipher exactly what the eyes are seeing . " However , he noted that " fans of the series will continue to enjoy the animalistic cheekiness . " Writing for School Library Journal , Benjamin Russell criticized the series for being " slow and formulaic " with " similarly formulaic " character designs that made " it seem staid " . He also stated that the " animal world " portrayed could be fun and that it was " interesting to see humanoid characters so tiny next to artifacts of human culture " , but it failed to hold the reader 's interest . Casey Brienza of Anime News Network heavily criticized the story , grading it as an " F " and calling it " a pastiche of a large number of manga and anime clichés , not because it seems like it was intended to be a pastiche , but because the manga artist [ Fujima ] flatly is unable to sustain a coherent , unified storyline that is his own , original creation . " However , Brienza did praise the artwork , grading it as an " A " and calling it rich and " beautifully drawn " . In Manga : The Complete Guide , Jason Thompson notes that the series ' " hook " is that characters are all " drawn as hot anthropomorphic cat @-@ girls and cat @-@ boys " and praises it for having a " unique twist " .
= Tim McGraw ( song ) = " Tim McGraw " is the debut single and first published song recorded by American singer @-@ songwriter Taylor Swift . The song was written by Swift and Liz Rose , and produced by Nathan Chapman . It was released on June 19 , 2006 by Big Machine Records as Swift 's debut single and the lead single from Swift 's eponymous debut album . Swift wrote " Tim McGraw " during her freshman year of high school , knowing that she and her senior boyfriend would break up at the end of the year when he left for college . The song was written about all the different things that would remind the subject of Swift and their time spent together , once he departed . " Tim McGraw " is musical interconnection of traditional and modern country music . Lyrically , the track lists items in order to associate a past relationship , one of them being country artist Tim McGraw 's music . The song was received with critical praise from music critics who complimented Swift 's vocal delivery . Some critics described it as tender , while others admired its professionalism . " Tim McGraw " performed well commercially . The track spent numbers of weeks upon both the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Country Songs in the United States . It peaked at number 40 on the former and number six on the latter . The single was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America ( RIAA ) and has sold more than one million copies since its release . The accompanying music video for " Tim McGraw " , directed by Trey Fanjoy , comprises flashbacks by Swift 's love interest , among cut scenes that feature Swift lying on a lake bed . " Tim McGraw " was promoted by Swift on a radio tour and performances in numerous venues . Swift performed it while serving as opening act for various country artists ' concert tours . She also performed it as part of her first headlining concert tour , the Fearless Tour ( 2009 – 10 ) . = = Background = = Swift and Liz Rose wrote " Tim McGraw " during Swift 's freshman year at Hendersonville High School . She conceived the idea in the midst of her mathematics class : " I was just sitting there , and I started humming this melody . " She then related the melody to a predicament she was encountering at the moment . Swift knew that she and her senior boyfriend would break up at the end of the year when he left for college . In order to cope with the complicated emotions she was experiencing , Swift wrote the song . Rose said Swift showed up at her after school job , writing songs for Sony / ATV Music , " with the idea and the melody , knowing exactly what she wanted . " She desired for the song to capture the sweetness and sadness of loving and losing someone . It was written about all the different things that would remind the subject of Swift and their time spent together , once he departed . " To her surprise , the first thing that came to mind was [ her ] love of Tim McGraw 's music . " Several personal details were listed for the song . McGraw 's mentioning was a reference to Swift 's favorite song , " Can 't Tell Me Nothin " from his 2004 album Live Like You Were Dying , rather than McGraw as a person . The writing process , as with " Our Song " , took place in approximately twenty minutes , and was executed with the use of a piano . Soon after , Scott Borchetta , CEO of Big Machine Records , signed Swift to his newly formed label . Early into the album production , in a meeting where Borchetta and Swift discussed potential songs for Swift 's debut album , she performed " Tim McGraw " for Borchetta on fluke ukulele . According to Swift , as soon as Borchetta finished listening to the song , he faced Swift and said , " That 's your first single . " She responded , " Well . That 's how that works then . " Prior to that event , Swift did not believe that the song was single material . However , she followed what label executives told her and accepted that they were correct . Swift placed " Tim McGraw " as the first track on Taylor Swift because of its importance to her . The song was eventually released as a CD single on June 19 , 2006 . In retrospect , Swift has said that the song " is reminiscent , and it is thinking about a relationship you had and then lost . I think one of the most powerful human emotions is what should have been and wasn 't ... That was a really good song to start out on , because a lot of people can relate to wanting something you can 't have . " When the song 's subject discovered it , he thought it was " cool " and kept friendship with Swift despite their breakup . = = Composition = = " Tim McGraw " is a country song with a length of three minutes and 52 seconds . The song mingles traditional and modern country music features , primarily through its usage of a twelve @-@ string guitar . It is set in common time and has a moderate tempo of 72 beats per minute . Thus , it is categorized as a ballad with a mid @-@ paced nature . It is written in the key of C major and Swift 's vocals span one octave , from F3 to G4 . Swift 's vocals are prominent in twang . " Tim McGraw " follows the chord progression C5 – Am – F – Gsus – G. The lyrics of " Tim McGraw " regard a summer romance that came to a sudden halt . The song fondly reminisces an ex @-@ boyfriend , and directs the lyrics towards him , rather than country singer Tim McGraw himself . It uses McGraw 's music as a marker in their relationship timeline : " When you think Tim McGraw / I hope you think my favorite song . " Sean Dooley of About.com stated , " Music has the power to evoke memories , and it 's an old Tim McGraw song that triggers her happy memories . " McGraw 's reference is one of the several items used for association of the failed relationship , along with other items and places , such as a little black dress . = = Critical reception = = The song was well received by critics . Rob Sheffield of Blender magazine described the track as gem that hit hard . Sean Dooley of About.com complimented Swift 's vocal delivery , describing it as " tender and emotive . " Jonathan Keefe of Slant Magazine believe " Tim McGraw " followed " time @-@ tested narrative conventions and [ ... ] massive pop hooks . " Jeff Tamarkin of Allmusic said that the song demonstrated Swift was " a talent to be reckoned with " , because of her vocal delivery that , according to him , equated that of a seasoned professional . He selected " Tim McGraw " as Taylor Swift 's main highlight for its homage to Tim McGraw , commenting , " It 's a device that 's been used countless times in as many ways [ ... ] , yet it works as a hook here and manages to come off as an original idea . " Rick Bell of Country Standard Time stated , " It 's an impressive debut that , while she pines about lost love and Tim McGraw , will likely have others singing the praises of Taylor Swift . " Roger Holland of PopMatters praised the song , commenting it was " good enough to recall some of the best country singles of recent years " , such as Rachel Proctor 's " Me and Emily " and Julie Roberts 's " Break Down Here . " He complimented Swift 's vocal abilities on the song , saying it was executed " quite perfectly " , something she was unable to carry throughout the album Taylor Swift . However , Holland was repugnant of the song 's title . In 2007 , " Tim McGraw " was listed as a " Winning Song " by Broadcast Music Incorporated ( BMI ) . = = Chart performance = = On the week ending September 23 , 2006 , " Tim McGraw " debuted at number eighty @-@ six on the Billboard Hot 100 . After seventeen weeks of ascending and descending the chart , on the week ending January 13 , 2007 , the song reached its peak at number forty on the Billboard Hot 100 , where it maintained for two consecutive weeks . On the week ending February 3 , 2007 , the song spent its last week on the Billboard Hot 100 at number forty @-@ three , after a total of twenty weeks on the chart . The single was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for the shipment of over 1 @,@ 000 @,@ 000 copies . As of November 2014 , " Tim McGraw " has sold 1 @.@ 5 million copies in the United States . Prior to charting on the United States ' main chart , " Tim McGraw " charted on Billboard Hot Country Songs . On the week ending July 1 , 2006 , " Tim McGraw " debuted at number sixty on the Billboard Hot Country Songs . After spending twenty @-@ five weeks upon Billboard Hot Country Songs , the song reached the top ten with its new peak of number ten on the week ending December 16 , 2006 . In the proceeding six weeks , the song managed remained on the top ten until finding its peak at number six on the week ending January 27 , 2007 . " Tim McGraw " spent a total of thirty @-@ five weeks upon the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart . = = Music video = = The accompanying music video for " Tim McGraw " was directed by Trey Fanjoy . In regards to the video 's concept , Swift stated , " It deals with the haunting power of music and how hearing a song years after it was first popular can have such an emotional appeal . " Clayton Collins portrayed Swift 's love interest in the music video . He was cast because of his physical resemblance to the real subject of the song , in that they were both tall with dark hair . The video begins with Swift , dressed by a white sundress , as she lies on the grass of a lake @-@ bed and holds a transistor radio . Suddenly , the setting is switched to Collins as he drives a white and orange 1970 Chevrolet CST @-@ 10 . He then turns his radio on and ceases driving , coming to a complete stop on a road . As Collins facial expressions become more serious , he flashbacks to memories with Swift . Swift and Collins are seen frolicking in a field , lying beside another on the back of Collins ' CST @-@ 10 , staring at the stars together , holding hands as they walk , and slow dancing . When the song is in its final chorus , Collins arrives at a wooden cabin in his pick @-@ up truck . He runs up the staircase to discover an enveloped letter next to the door . He then sits on the staircase , opens the envelope , and reads the letter . The video transcends towards Swift playing an acoustic guitar as she leans against the wooden cabin . Cut @-@ scenes feature Swift lying on the lake @-@ bed and performing with a guitar next to the wooden cabin . The video concludes with Swift , once again , lying on the initial setting . The video premiered on July 22 , 2006 on Great American Country . The video received a nomination for " Number One Streamed Video From a New Artist ( Rookie of the Year Award ) " at the web @-@ hosted 2006 CMT Online Awards , but lost to Lindsey Haun 's video for " Broken " . At the 2007 CMT Music Awards , the video won the CMT Music Award for " Breakthrough Video of the Year " . To date , the video has over 32 million views on YouTube . = = Live performances = = Swift spent six months of 2006 promoting " Tim McGraw " and Taylor Swift on a radio tour . She performed the song as she opened for Rascal Flatts on several dates , from October 19 to November 3 , 2006 , included on the Me and My Gang Tour ( 2006 – 07 ) . Swift performed " Tim McGraw " as the concert 's penultimate performance . She dressed in a black , knee @-@ length dress and red cowboy boots with a design of a skull and cross bones across it , playing an acoustic guitar . Swift requested for the audience to raise their cell phones in order to simulate a sky filled with stars , when the song reached the lyrics " He said the way my blue eyes shined / Put those Georgia stars to shame that night / I said that 's a lie . " She also performed the song when she served as opening act on twenty dates for George Strait 's 2007 United States tour , and selected dates for Brad Paisley 's Bonfires & Amplifiers Tour in 2007 . During mid @-@ 2007 , Swift engaged as the opening act on several dates for Tim McGraw 's and Faith Hill 's joint tour , Soul2Soul II Tour ( 2006 – 07 ) , where she again performed " Tim McGraw " . Swift performed the song while she was again opening for Rascal Flatts for their Still Feels Good Tour in 2008 . Swift 's first broadcast performance of " Tim McGraw " was on October 24 , 2006 , on Good Morning America . She continued promotion for the track at Billboard headquarters , the 2007 Academy of Country Music Awards , The Engine Room , and a concert at the Apple Store in SoHo , New York , which was recorded and released as a live extended play ( EP ) , iTunes Live from SoHo , exclusively sold through the iTunes Store . Since completing promotion for Taylor Swift and its corresponding singles , Swift has performed " Tim McGraw " at the 2009 CMA Music Festival , the 2009 V Festival , and the Australian charity concert Sydney Sound Relief . Swift performed " Tim McGraw " on all venues of her first headlining concert tour , the Fearless Tour , which extended from April 2009 to June 2010 . The performances of " Tim McGraw " set on a small platform located at the opposite end , parallel to the stage in the arena . Swift , dressed in a pastel sundress , sat on a wooden stool while performing with wooden acoustic guitar strapped to her shoulder . Swift then completed the performance standing and walking back to the main stage . As she worked her way back to the stage , she again hugged fans , squeezed their outstretched hands and scrawled quick autographs . Nicole Frehsee of Rolling Stone favored Swift 's performance of " Tim McGraw " at the August 27 , 2009 , concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City . Frehsee described the entire concert as an " elaborate spectacle that doesn 't slow down , even when the singer hauls her acoustic guitar into the audience to play a sweet , stripped down set of tunes including [ .. ] ' Tim McGraw ' . " Brandy McDonnel of The Oklahoman reported a massive sing @-@ along by the audience at the March 31 , 2010 , concert at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City . Molly Trust of Billboard attended the performance at the tour 's final concert on June 5 , 2010 , at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough , Massachusetts and conjectured that the performance 's setting was formed in order to " afford a better view to fans farther back . " = = Track listings = = US Maxi @-@ CD Single " Tim McGraw " – 3 : 54 " Tim McGraw " ( radio edit ) – 3 : 41 " Tim McGraw " ( instrumental ) – 3 : 54 " Tim McGraw " ( enhanced video ) – 4 : 02 = = Charts = = = = = Year @-@ end charts = = =
= Tuber oregonense = Tuber oregonense , commonly known as the Oregon white truffle , is a species of edible truffle in the genus Tuber . Described as new to science in 2010 , the North American species is found on the western coast of the United States , from northern California to southern British Columbia west of the Cascade Range . A mycorrhizal fungus , it grows in a symbiotic association with Douglas fir . It overlaps in distribution with the closely related T. gibbosum , but they have different growing seasons : T. oregonense typically appears from October through March , while T. gibbosum grows from January to June . The fruit bodies of the fungus are roughly spherical to irregular in shape , and resemble small potatoes up to 5 cm ( 2 in ) in diameter . Inside the truffle is the gleba , which is initially white before it becomes a marbled tan color . The large , often thick @-@ walled , and strongly ornamented spores are produced in large spherical asci . The truffle is highly prized for its taste and aroma . Some individuals have claimed success in cultivating the truffles in Christmas tree farms . = = Taxonomy and phylogeny = = The species was first officially described and named in a 2010 Mycologia article , although Tuber oregonense had been previously used provisionally ( as Tuber oregonense Trappe & Bonito ) in American field guides and other popular publications for several years . The type specimen was collected from Benton County , Oregon on 3 February , 2007 along U.S. Route 20 in Oregon . The specific epithet oregonense derives from the name Oregon and the Latin suffix -ense ( relating to ) , in reference to western Oregon being its central region of abundance . The fungus is commonly known as the Oregon white truffle . Truffle authority James Trappe initially intended to name the species as a variety of Tuber gibbosum ( i.e. , as Tuber gibbosum var. oregonense ) before molecular analysis revealed that genetic differences warranted distinction at the species level . Tuber oregonense is part of the Gibbosum clade of the genus Tuber , which contains species that have " peculiar wall thickenings on hyphal tips emerging from the peridial surface at maturity . " = = Description = = The fruit bodies of T. oregonense are hypogeous ( growing in the ground ) , typically 0 @.@ 5 – 5 cm ( 0 @.@ 2 – 2 in ) broad , although specimens up to 7 @.@ 5 cm ( 3 @.@ 0 in ) have been recorded . Smaller specimens are spherical or nearly so , and have random furrows ; larger specimens are more irregular in shape , lobed and deeply furrowed . Young fruit bodies have a white peridium , as the truffle matures it develops red to reddish @-@ brown or orangish @-@ brown patches ; with age it becomes orange @-@ brown to reddish @-@ brown overall and often develops cracks on the surface . The peridium is 0 @.@ 2 – 0 @.@ 4 mm thick , and the surface texture ranges from relatively smooth to covered with tiny " hairs " that are more dense in the furrows , and more scattered on the exposed lobes . The gleba is solid , in youth the fertile tissue is whitish and marbled with mostly narrow , white , hypha @-@ stuffed veins that emerge throughout the peridium to its surface . In maturity , the fertile tissue is light brown to brown from the color of the spores , but the marbling veins remain white . The odor and flavor of the flesh are mild in youth , but soon become strong , pungent and complex , or " truffly " . The spores are ellipsoid to somewhat spindle @-@ shaped with narrowed ends , and light brownish in color . The size of the spores varies depending upon the type of asci in which they develop : in one @-@ spored asci they measure 42 @.@ 5 – 62 @.@ 5 by 17 @.@ 5 – 30 µm ; in two @-@ spored asci they are 32 @.@ 5 – 50 by 15 – 25 µm ; in three @-@ spored asci they are 27 @.@ 5 – 45 by 15 – 25 µm ; in four @-@ spored asci they are 25 – 38 @.@ 5 by 13 – 28 µm ; in five @-@ spored asci 28 – 34 by 22 – 25 µm ( all sizes excluding surface ornamentation ) . The spore walls are 2 – 3 µm thick and are covered with a honeycomb @-@ like ( alveolate ) network . The cavities of the honeycomb typically have five or six sides , and the corners form spines that are 5 – 7 µm tall by 0 @.@ 5 µm thick . A " microreticulum " appears in some spores when the light microscope objective is focused on the optical cross section but not on the spore wall surface , or on scanning electron microscopy micrographs of the surface . Young asci range in shape from spherical to broadly ellipsoid to ovoid ( egg @-@ shaped ) or pyriform ( pear @-@ shaped ) ; sometimes the base of the ascus is narrowed like a stipe , and measures up to 15 by 7 µm . Mature asci are spherical to broadly ellipsoid or misshapen from the pressure of crowded spores within . They are hyaline ( translucent ) , thin @-@ walled , 60 – 85 by 65 – 75 µm , 1 – 4- ( occasionally 5 ) -spored , and astipitate ( without a stipe ) at maturity . The peridiopellis ( the cuticle of the peridium ) is 200 – 300 µm thick plus or minus 80 µm of tightly interwoven hyphae that are 3 – 5 ( sometimes up to 10 ) µm broad . The cells are short and have nearly hyaline walls that measure 0 @.@ 5 – 1 µm thick ; the interior veins emerge through the peridium the cells and often form a localized tissue of rounded cells up to 12 µm broad . The degree to which the surface is covered with fine " hairs " is variable ; these hairs are made of tangled hyphae and emergent thin @-@ walled hyphal tips 2 – 5 µm in diameter , some even and smooth , some with granulated surfaces and some with moniliform walls ( resembling a string of beads ) that are irregularly thickened by hyaline bands that are 0 @.@ 5 – 2 µm wide . The subpellis ( the tissue layer immediately under the pellis ) is abruptly differentiated from the pellis , 150 – 220 µm thick , and comprises interwoven , nearly hyaline , thin @-@ walled hyphae 2 – 10 µm wide with scattered cells up to 15 µm wide . The gleba is made of hyaline , thin @-@ walled , interwoven hyphae that are 2 – 7 µm broad with scattered cells that are inflated up to 15 µm . = = = Similar species = = = Tuber oregonense closely resembles Tuber gibbosum , which grows in the same habitats , but may be distinguished by the structure of its peridium , and differences in spores size and shape . Further , Tuber gibbosum grows from January to June . = = = Edibility = = = Tuber oregonense is a choice edible species . Its odor has been described as " " truffly " , a complex of garlic , spices , cheese , and " indefinable other essences " ; the fungus is prized after by commercial truffle harvesters and consumers for its intense fragrance . Because they grow in the topsoil and needles , they are considered to have a more " floral " and " herbal " flavor profile than related European truffles . Some individuals have claimed to have had success in growing the truffles in Christmas tree farms in Oregon . Techniques reportedly involve inoculating the ground under young Douglas fir trees with a slurry comprising ground @-@ up truffles mixed in water , or the feces of animals fed truffles . There is , however , no concrete evidence that these methods can be used to establish new truffle patches or to improve the productivity of existing patches . = = Ecology , habitat and distribution = = Like all Tuber species , T. oregonense is mycorrhizal . The fungus grows west of the Cascade Mountains from the southern Puget Sound region of Washington , south to southwestern Oregon at elevations from near sea level up to 425 m ( 1 @,@ 390 ft ) in pure stands of Pseudotsuga menziesii forests up to 100 years old , or Pseudotsuga mixed with Tsuga heterophylla , Picea sitchensis or Alnus species . The species has been commercially harvested in the Pacific Northwest since the 1980s. and is often found in Christmas tree plantations as young as five years . The Oregon Truffle Festival , held in Eugene yearly since 2006 to coincide with the maturing of the truffle in late January , features activities such as cultivation seminars and truffle hunting excursions . Fruit bodies are produced from September through the middle of March . The fungus is an important component of the diet of Northern flying squirrels , and comprises the majority of their diet at certain times of the year .
= Barnard 's Star = Barnard 's Star / ˈbɑːrnərd / is a very @-@ low @-@ mass red dwarf about six light @-@ years away from Earth in the constellation of Ophiuchus . It is the fourth @-@ closest known individual star to the Sun ( after the three components of the Alpha Centauri system ) and the closest star in the Northern Hemisphere . Despite its proximity , at a dim apparent magnitude of about nine , it is not visible with the unaided eye ; however , it is much brighter in the infrared than it is in visible light . The star is named after the American astronomer E. E. Barnard . He was not the first to observe the star ( it appeared on Harvard University plates in 1888 and 1890 ) , but in 1916 he measured its proper motion as 10 @.@ 3 arcseconds per year , which remains the largest proper motion of any star relative to the Solar System . Barnard 's Star is among the most studied red dwarfs because of its proximity and favorable location for observation near the celestial equator . Historically , research on Barnard 's Star has focused on measuring its stellar characteristics , its astrometry , and also refining the limits of possible extrasolar planets . Although Barnard 's Star is an ancient star , it still experiences star flare events , one being observed in 1998 . The star has also been the subject of some controversy . For a decade , from the early 1960s to the early 1970s , Peter van de Kamp claimed that there were one or more gas giants in orbit around it . Although the presence of small terrestrial planets around Barnard 's Star remains a possibility , Van de Kamp 's specific claims of large gas giants were refuted in the mid @-@ 1970s . = = Overview = = Barnard 's Star is a red dwarf of the dim spectral type M4 , and it is too faint to see without a telescope . Its apparent magnitude is 9 @.@ 5 . This compares with a magnitude of − 1 @.@ 5 for Sirius – the brightest star in the night sky – and about 6 @.@ 0 for the faintest objects visible with the naked eye ( this magnitude scale is logarithmic , so the magnitude of 9 @.@ 54 is only about 1 / 27 of the brightness of the faintest star that can be seen with the naked eye ( under good viewing conditions ) . At 7 – 12 billion years of age , Barnard 's Star is considerably older than the Sun , which is 4 @.@ 5 billion years old , and it might be among the oldest stars in the Milky Way galaxy . Barnard 's Star has lost a great deal of rotational energy , and the periodic slight changes in its brightness indicate that it rotates once in 130 days ( the Sun rotates in 25 ) . Given its age , Barnard 's Star was long assumed to be quiescent in terms of stellar activity . However , in 1998 , astronomers observed an intense stellar flare , surprisingly showing that Barnard 's Star is a flare star . Barnard 's Star has the variable star designation V2500 Ophiuchi . In 2003 , Barnard 's Star presented the first detectable change in the radial velocity of a star caused by its motion . Further variability in the radial velocity of Barnard 's Star was attributed to its stellar activity . The proper motion of Barnard 's Star corresponds to a relative lateral speed of 90 km / s . The 10 @.@ 3 seconds of arc it travels annually amount to a quarter of a degree in a human lifetime , roughly half the angular diameter of the full Moon . The radial velocity of Barnard 's Star towards the Sun is measured from its blue shift to be 110 km / s . Combined with its proper motion , this gives a true velocity relative to the Sun of 143 km / s . Barnard 's Star will make its closest approach to the Sun around AD 11 @,@ 800 , when it approaches to within about 3 @.@ 75 light @-@ years . However , at that time , Barnard 's Star will not be the nearest star , since Proxima Centauri will have moved even closer to the Sun . Barnard 's Star will still be too dim to be seen with the naked eye at the time of its closest approach , since its apparent magnitude will be about 8 @.@ 5 then . After that it will gradually recede from the Sun . Barnard 's Star has a mass of about 0 @.@ 14 solar masses ( M ☉ ) , and a radius 15 % to 20 % of that of the Sun . Thus , although Barnard 's Star has roughly 150 times the mass of Jupiter ( MJ ) , its radius is only 1 @.@ 5 to 2 @.@ 0 times larger , due to its much higher density . Its effective temperature is 3 @,@ 100 kelvins , and it has a visual luminosity of 0 @.@ 0004 solar luminosities . Barnard 's Star is so faint that if it were at the same distance from Earth as the Sun is , it would appear only 100 times brighter than a full moon , comparable to the brightness of the Sun at 80 astronomical units . Barnard 's Star 's has 10 – 32 % of the solar metallicity . Metallicity is the proportion of stellar mass made up of elements heavier than helium and helps classify stars relative to the galactic population . Barnard 's Star seems to be typical of the old , red dwarf population II stars , yet these are also generally metal @-@ poor halo stars . While sub @-@ solar , Barnard 's Star 's metallicity is higher than that of a halo star and is in keeping with the low end of the metal @-@ rich disk star range ; this , plus its high space motion , have led to the designation " intermediate population II star " , between a halo and disk star . = = Claims of a planetary system = = For a decade from 1963 to about 1973 , a substantial number of astronomers accepted a claim by Peter van de Kamp that he had detected , by using astrometry , a perturbation in the proper motion of Barnard 's Star consistent with its having one or more planets comparable in mass with Jupiter . Van de Kamp had been observing the star from 1938 , attempting , with colleagues at the Swarthmore College observatory , to find minuscule variations of one micrometre in its position on photographic plates consistent with orbital perturbations that would indicate a planetary companion ; this involved as many as ten people averaging their results in looking at plates , to avoid systemic individual errors . Van de Kamp 's initial suggestion was a planet having about 1 @.@ 6 MJ at a distance of 4 @.@ 4 AU in a slightly eccentric orbit , and these measurements were apparently refined in a 1969 paper . Later that year , Van de Kamp suggested that there were two planets of 1 @.@ 1 and 0 @.@ 8 MJ . Other astronomers subsequently repeated Van de Kamp 's measurements , and two papers in 1973 undermined the claim of a planet or planets . George Gatewood and Heinrich Eichhorn , at a different observatory and using newer plate measuring techniques , failed to verify the planetary companion . Another paper published by John L. Hershey four months earlier , also using the Swarthmore observatory , found that changes in the astrometric field of various stars correlated to the timing of adjustments and modifications that had been carried out on the refractor telescope 's objective lens ; the claimed planet was attributed to an artifact of maintenance and upgrade work . The affair has been discussed as part of a broader scientific review . Van de Kamp never acknowledged any error and published a further claim of two planets ' existence as late as 1982 ; he died in 1995 . Wulff Heintz , Van de Kamp 's successor at Swarthmore and an expert on double stars , questioned his findings and began publishing criticisms from 1976 onwards . The two men were reported to have become estranged from each other because of this . = = = Refining planetary boundaries = = = While not completely ruling out the possibility of planets , null results for planetary companions continued throughout the 1980s and 1990s , the latest based on interferometric work with the Hubble Space Telescope in 1999 . By refining the values of a star 's motion , the mass and orbital boundaries for possible planets are tightened : in this way astronomers are often able to describe what types of planets cannot orbit a given star . M dwarfs such as Barnard 's Star are more easily studied than larger stars in this regard because their lower masses render perturbations more obvious . Gatewood was thus able to show in 1995 that planets with 10 MJ ( the lower limit for brown dwarfs ) were impossible around Barnard 's Star , in a paper which helped refine the negative certainty regarding planetary objects in general . In 1999 , work with the Hubble Space Telescope further excluded planetary companions of 0 @.@ 8 MJ with an orbital period of less than 1 @,@ 000 days ( Jupiter 's orbital period is 4 @,@ 332 days ) , while Kuerster determined in 2003 that within the habitable zone around Barnard 's Star , planets are not possible with an " M sin i " value greater than 7 @.@ 5 times the mass of the Earth ( M ⊕ ) , or with a mass greater than 3 @.@ 1 times the mass of Neptune ( much lower than van de Kamp 's smallest suggested value ) . Even though this research has greatly restricted the possible properties of planets around Barnard 's Star , it has not ruled them out completely ; terrestrial planets would be difficult to detect . NASA 's Space Interferometry Mission , which was to begin searching for extrasolar Earth @-@ like planets , was reported to have chosen Barnard 's Star as an early search target . However , this mission was shut down in 2010 . ESA 's similar Darwin interferometry mission had the same goal , but was stripped of funding in 2007 . = = Exploration = = = = = Project Daedalus = = = Barnard 's Star was studied as part of Project Daedalus . Undertaken between 1973 and 1978 , the study suggested that rapid , unmanned travel to another star system was possible with existing or near @-@ future technology . Barnard 's Star was chosen as a target partly because it was believed to have planets . The theoretical model suggested that a nuclear pulse rocket employing nuclear fusion ( specifically , electron bombardment of deuterium and helium @-@ 3 ) and accelerating for four years could achieve a velocity of 12 % of the speed of light . The star could then be reached in 50 years , within a human lifetime . Along with detailed investigation of the star and any companions , the interstellar medium would be examined and baseline astrometric readings performed . The initial Project Daedalus model sparked further theoretical research . In 1980 , Robert Freitas suggested a more ambitious plan : a self @-@ replicating spacecraft intended to search for and make contact with extraterrestrial life . Built and launched in Jovian ( Jupiter 's ) orbit , it would reach Barnard 's Star in 47 years under parameters similar to those of the original Project Daedalus . Once at the star , it would begin automated self @-@ replication , constructing a factory , initially to manufacture exploratory probes and eventually to create a copy of the original spacecraft after 1 @,@ 000 years . = = 1998 flare = = In 1998 a stellar flare on Barnard 's Star was detected based on changes in the spectral emissions on July 17 , 1998 , during an unrelated search for variations in the proper motion . Four years passed before the flare was fully analyzed , at which point it was suggested that the flare 's temperature was 8000 K , more than twice the normal temperature of the star . Given the essentially random nature of flares , Diane Paulson , one of the authors of that study , noted that " the star would be fantastic for amateurs to observe " . The flare was surprising because intense stellar activity is not expected in stars of such age . Flares are not completely understood , but are believed to be caused by strong magnetic fields , which suppress plasma convection and lead to sudden outbursts : strong magnetic fields occur in rapidly rotating stars , while old stars tend to rotate slowly . For Barnard 's Star to undergo an event of such magnitude is thus presumed to be a rarity . Research on the star 's periodicity , or changes in stellar activity over a given timescale , also suggest it ought to be quiescent ; 1998 research showed weak evidence for periodic variation in the star 's brightness , noting only one possible starspot over 130 days . Stellar activity of this sort has created interest in using Barnard 's Star as a proxy to understand similar stars . It is hoped that photometric studies of its X @-@ ray and UV emissions will shed light on the large population of old M dwarfs in the galaxy . Such research has astrobiological implications : given that the habitable zones of M dwarfs are close to the star , any planets would be strongly influenced by solar flares , winds , and plasma ejection events . = = Environment = = Barnard 's Star shares much the same neighborhood as the Sun . The neighbors of Barnard 's Star are generally of red dwarf size , the smallest and most common star type . Its closest neighbor is currently the red dwarf Ross 154 , at 1 @.@ 66 parsecs ( 5 @.@ 41 light years ) distance . The Sun and Alpha Centauri are , respectively , the next closest systems . From Barnard 's Star , the Sun would appear on the diametrically opposite side of the sky at coordinates RA = 5h 57m 48.5s , Dec = − 04 ° 41 ′ 36 ″ , in the eastern part of the constellation Monoceros . The absolute magnitude of the Sun is 4 @.@ 83 , and at a distance of 1 @.@ 834 parsecs , it would be a first @-@ magnitude star , as Pollux is from the Earth .
= Battle of Dyrrhachium ( 1081 ) = The Battle of Dyrrhachium ( near present @-@ day Durrës in Albania ) took place on October 18 , 1081 between the Byzantine Empire , led by the Emperor Alexios I Komnenos ( r . 1081 – 1118 ) , and the Normans of southern Italy under Robert Guiscard , Duke of Apulia and Calabria . The battle was fought outside the city of Dyrrhachium ( also known as Durazzo ) , the Byzantine capital of Illyria , and ended in a Norman victory . Following the Norman conquest of Byzantine Italy and Saracen Sicily , the Byzantine emperor , Michael VII Doukas ( r . 1071 – 1078 ) , betrothed his son to Robert Guiscard 's daughter . When Michael was deposed , Robert took this as an excuse to invade the Byzantine Empire in 1081 . His army laid siege to Dyrrhachium , but his fleet was defeated by the Venetians . On October 18 , the Normans engaged a Byzantine army under Alexios I Komnenos outside Dyrrhachium . The battle began with the Byzantine right wing routing the Norman left wing , which broke and fled . Varangian mercenaries joined in the pursuit of the fleeing Normans , but became separated from the main force and were massacred . Norman knights in the centre attacked the Byzantine centre and routed it , causing the bulk of the Byzantine army to rout . After this victory , the Normans took Dyrrhachium in February 1082 and advanced inland , capturing most of Macedonia and Thessaly . Robert was then forced to leave Greece to deal with an attack on his ally , the Pope , by the Holy Roman Emperor , Henry IV ( r . 1084 – 1105 ) . Robert left his son Bohemond in charge of the army in Greece . Bohemond was initially successful , defeating Alexios in several battles , but was defeated by Alexios outside Larissa . Forced to retreat to Italy , Bohemond lost all the territory gained by the Normans in the campaign . The Byzantine recovery began the Komnenian restoration . = = Background = = The Normans first arrived in Southern Italy in 1015 from northern France and served local Lombard lords as mercenaries against the Byzantine Empire . As they were paid with lands , soon they were powerful enough to challenge Papal authority ; in 1054 , they defeated the Pope at the Battle of Civitate , forcing him to acknowledge their authority . In 1059 , the Pope made Robert Guiscard , of the Hauteville family , Duke of Apulia , Calabria , and Sicily . However , most of Apulia and Calabria were in Byzantine hands , and Sicily was in Saracen hands . By 1071 , Robert , together with his brother Roger , had taken over the last Byzantine stronghold in Italy , Bari . By the next year , they conquered all of Sicily , ending the Islamic Emirate of Sicily . In 1073 , the Byzantine Emperor Michael VII sent an envoy to Robert offering the hand of his son Constantine to Robert 's daughter Helena . Guiscard accepted the offer and sent his daughter to Constantinople . However , in 1078 , Michael was overthrown by Nicephorus Botaneiates , an event that destroyed any chances Helena had for the throne . This gave Robert a motive to invade the empire claiming his daughter had been mistreated ; however , his intervention was delayed by a revolt in Italy . Robert conscripted all men of a fighting age into the army , which he refitted . Meanwhile , he sent an ambassador to the Byzantine court with orders to demand proper treatment for Helena and to win over the Domestic of the Schools , Alexios . The results of these attempts remain unknown , but the ambassador fell under Alexios 's charm and as he was returning to Italy , he heard of Alexios 's successful coup against Botaneiates , by which he became Alexios I Komnenos . When the ambassador returned , he urged Robert to make peace , claiming that Alexios wanted nothing but friendship with the Normans . Robert had no intention of peace ; he sent his son Bohemond with an advance force towards Greece and Bohemond landed at Aulon , with Robert following shortly after . = = Prelude = = The Norman fleet of 150 ships including 60 horse transports set off towards the Byzantine Empire at the end of May 1081 . The army numbered 30 @,@ 000 men , backed up by 1 @,@ 300 Norman knights . The fleet sailed to Avalona in Byzantine territory ; they were joined by several ships from Ragusa , a republic in the Balkans who were enemies of the Byzantines . Robert soon left Avalona and sailed to the island of Corfu , which surrendered because of a small garrison . Having won a bridgehead and a clear path for reinforcements from Italy , he advanced on the city of Dyrrhachium , the capital and chief port of Illyria . The city was well defended on a long , narrow peninsula running parallel to the coast , but separated by marshlands . Guiscard brought his army onto the peninsula and pitched camp outside the city walls . However , as Robert 's fleet sailed to Dyrrhachium , it was hit by a storm and lost several ships . Meanwhile , when Alexios heard that the Normans were preparing to invade Byzantine territory , he sent an ambassador to the Doge of Venice , Domenico Selvo , requesting aid and offering trading rights in return . The Doge , alarmed by Norman control of the Strait of Otranto , took command of the Venetian fleet and sailed at once , surprising the Norman fleet under the command of Bohemond as night was falling . The Normans counter @-@ attacked tenaciously , but their inexperience in naval combat betrayed them . The experienced Venetian navy attacked in a close formation known as " sea harbour " and together with their use of Greek fire " bombs " , the Norman line scattered , and the Venetian fleet sailed into Dyrrhachium 's harbour . = = Siege of Dyrrhachium = = Robert was not discouraged by this naval defeat , and began his siege of Dyrrhachium . In command of the garrison at Dyrrhachium was the experienced general George Palaeologus , sent by Alexios with orders to hold out at all costs while Alexios himself mustered an army to relieve the city . Meanwhile , a Byzantine fleet arrived and – after joining with the Venetian fleet – attacked the Norman fleet , which was again routed . The garrison at Dyrrhachium managed to hold out all summer , despite Robert 's catapults , ballistae and siege tower . The garrison made continuous sallies from the city ; on one occasion , Palaeologus fought all day with an arrowhead in his skull . Another sally succeeded in destroying Robert 's siege tower . Robert 's camp was struck by disease ; according to contemporary historian Anna Comnena up to 10 @,@ 000 men died , including 500 knights . Even so , the situation of the Dyrrhachium garrison grew desperate because of the effects of Norman siege weapons . Alexios learned of this while he was in Salonica with his army so he advanced in full force against the Normans . According to Comnena , Alexios had about 20 @,@ 000 men ; historian John Haldon puts the army 's size between 18 @,@ 000 and 20 @,@ 000 men , while John Birkenmeier estimates it between 20 @,@ 000 – 25 @,@ 000 men . It consisted of Thracian and Macedonian tagmata , which numbered about 5 @,@ 000 men ; the elite excubitors and vestiaritai units , which numbered around 1 @,@ 000 men ; a force of Manichaeans which comprised 2 @,@ 800 men , Thessalian cavalry , Balkan conscripts , Armenian infantry and other light troops . As well as the native troops , the Byzantines were joined by 2 @,@ 000 Turkish and 1 @,@ 000 Frankish mercenaries , about 1 @,@ 000 Varangians and 7 @,@ 000 Turkish auxiliaries sent by the Seljuk Sultanate of Rûm . Alexios also withdrew the tagmas from Heraclea Pontica and the remaining Byzantine holdings in Asia Minor and by doing so , he effectively left them to be overrun by the Turks . = = Battle = = = = = Initial moves = = = Alexios advanced from Salonica and pitched camp on the river Charzanes near Dyrrhachium on October 15 . He held a war council there and sought advice from his senior officers ; among them was George Palaiologos , who had managed to sneak out of the city . A majority of the senior officers , including Palaiologos , urged caution , noting that time was with the Emperor . Alexios , however , favoured an immediate assault , hoping to catch Guiscard 's army from the rear , while they were still besieging the city . Alexios moved his army to the hills opposite the city , planning to attack the Normans the next day . Guiscard , however , had been informed of Alexios ' arrival by his scouts and on the night of October 17 , he moved his army from the peninsula to the mainland . Upon learning of Guiscard 's move , Alexios revised his battle plan . He split his army into three divisions , with the left wing under the command of Gregory Pakourianos , the right wing under the command of Nikephoros Melissenos , and himself in command of the centre . Guiscard formed his battle line opposite Alexios 's , with the right wing under the command of the Count of Giovinazzo , the left under Bohemond and Guiscard facing Alexios in the centre . The Varangians had been ordered to march just in front of the main line with a strong division of archers a little behind them . The archers had been commanded to move in front of the Varangians and fire a volley before retreating behind them . The archers continued this tactic until the army neared contact . As the opposing armies closed in , Guiscard sent a detachment of cavalry positioned in the centre to feint an attack on the Byzantine positions . Guiscard hoped the feint would draw up the Varangians ; however , this plan failed when the cavalry was forced back by the archers . The Norman right wing suddenly charged forward to the point where the Byzantine left and centre met , directing its attack against the Varangian left flank . The Varangians stood their ground while the Byzantine left , including some of Alexios ' elite troops , attacked the Normans . The Norman formation disintegrated and the routed Normans fled towards the beach . There , according to Comnena , they were rallied by Guiscard 's wife , Sikelgaita , described as " like another Pallas , if not a second Athena " . = = = Byzantine collapse = = = In the meantime , the Byzantine right and centre had been engaging in skirmishes with the Normans opposite them . However , with the collapse of the Norman right , the knights were in danger of being outflanked . At this point , the Varangians ( mainly Anglo @-@ Saxons who had left England after the Norman Conquest ) joined in the pursuit of the Norman right . With their massive battle axes , the Varangians attacked the Norman knights , who were driven away after their horses panicked . The Varangians soon became separated from the main force and exhausted so they were in no position to resist an assault . Guiscard sent a strong force of spearmen and crossbowmen against the Varangian flank and inflicted heavy casualties on them . The few remaining Varangians fled into the church of the Archangel Michael . The Normans immediately set the church on fire , and all Varangians perished in the blaze . Meanwhile , George Palaiologos sortied out of Dyrrhachium , but failed to save the situation . Alexios 's ally , Serbian King Constantine Bodin stayed aside with his army , intending to await the outcome of the battle . When the Byzantines were defeated and started to flee , Bodin retreated with his army . The Turks who had been lent to him by the Seljuk Sultan Suleyman I followed Constantine 's example . Deprived of his left wing ( still in pursuit of the Norman right ) , Alexios was exposed in the centre . Guiscard sent his heavy cavalry against the Byzantine centre . They first routed the Byzantine skirmishers before breaking into small detachments and smashing into various points of the Byzantine line . This charge broke the Byzantine lines and caused them to rout . The imperial camp , which had been left unguarded , fell to the Normans . Alexios and his guards resisted as long as they could before retreating . As they retreated , Alexios was separated from his guard and was attacked by Norman soldiers . While escaping , he was wounded in his forehead and lost a lot of blood , but eventually made it back to Ohrid , where he regrouped his army . = = Aftermath = = The battle was a heavy defeat for Alexios . Historian Jonathan Harris states that the defeat was " every bit as severe as that at Manzikert . " He lost about 5 @,@ 000 of his men , including most of the Varangians . Norman losses are unknown , but John Haldon claims they are substantial as both wings broke and fled . Historian Robert Holmes states : " The new knightly tactic of charging with the lance couched – tucked firmly under the arm to unite the impact of man and horse – proved a battle @-@ winner . " George Palaiologos had not been able to re @-@ enter the city after the battle and left with the main force . The defense of the citadel was left to the Venetians , while the city itself was left to the Count of the Tent ( or Byzantine provincial administrators ) mobilizing from Arbanon ( i.e. , ἐξ Ἀρβάνων ὁρμωμένω Κομισκόρτη ; the term Κομισκόρτη is short for κόμης της κόρτης meaning " Count of the Tent " ) . In February 1082 , Dyrrhachium fell after a Venetian or Amalfian citizen opened the gates to the Normans . The Norman army proceeded to take most of northern Greece without facing much resistance . While Guiscard was in Kastoria , messengers arrived from Italy , bearing news that Apulia , Calabria , and Campania were in revolt . He also learned that the Holy Roman Emperor , Henry IV , was at the gates of Rome and besieging Pope Gregory VII , a Norman ally . Alexios had negotiated with Henry and given him 360 @,@ 000 gold pieces in return for an alliance . Henry responded by invading Italy and attacking the Pope . Guiscard rushed to Italy , leaving Bohemond in command of the army in Greece . Alexios , desperate for money , ordered the confiscation of all the church 's treasure . With this money , Alexios mustered an army near Thessalonica and went to fight Bohemond . However , Bohemond defeated Alexios in two battles : one near Arta and the other near Ioannina . This left Bohemond in control of Macedonia and nearly all of Thessaly . Bohemond advanced with his army against the city of Larissa . Meanwhile , Alexios had mustered a new army and with 7 @,@ 000 Seljuk Turks sent by the Sultan , he advanced on the Normans at Larissa and defeated them . The demoralised and unpaid Norman army returned to the coast and sailed back to Italy . Meanwhile , Alexios granted the Venetians a commercial colony in Constantinople , as well as exemption from trading duties in return for their renewed aid . They responded by recapturing Dyrrhachium and Corfu and returning them to the Byzantine Empire . These victories returned the Empire to its previous status quo and marked the beginning of the Komnenian restoration . = = = Primary = = = Anna Comnena ( translated by E. R. A. Sewter ) . The Alexiad . London : Penguin Books , 1996 , ISBN 0 @-@ 14 @-@ 044215 @-@ 4 . = = = Secondary = = =
= Zyklon B = Zyklon B ( German pronunciation : [ tsykloːn ˈbeː ] ; anglicized / ˈzaɪklɒn ˈbiː / or translated Cyclone B ) was the trade name of a cyanide @-@ based pesticide invented in Germany in the early 1920s . It consisted of hydrogen cyanide ( prussic acid ) , a cautionary eye irritant , and one of several adsorbents such as diatomaceous earth . The product is infamous for its use by Nazi Germany during the Holocaust to murder a million people in gas chambers installed at Auschwitz @-@ Birkenau , Majdanek , and other extermination camps . Hydrogen cyanide , a poisonous gas that interferes with cellular respiration , was first used as a pesticide in California in the 1880s . Research at Degesch of Germany led to the development of Zyklon ( later known as Zyklon A ) , a pesticide which released hydrogen cyanide upon exposure to water and heat . It was banned after a similar product was used by Germany as a chemical weapon in World War I. In 1922 , Degesch was purchased by Degussa , where a team of chemists that included Walter Heerdt and Bruno Tesch developed a method of packaging hydrogen cyanide in sealed canisters along with a cautionary eye irritant and adsorbent stabilizers . The new product was also named Zyklon , but it became known as Zyklon B to distinguish it from the earlier version . Uses included delousing clothing and disinfecting ships , warehouses , and trains . In early 1942 , Zyklon B emerged as the preferred killing tool of Nazi Germany for use in extermination camps during the Holocaust . Around a million people were killed using this method , mostly at Auschwitz . Tesch was executed in 1946 for knowingly selling the product to the SS for use on humans . Hydrogen cyanide is now rarely used as a pesticide , but still has industrial applications . Firms in several countries continue to produce Zyklon B under alternative brand names , including Detia @-@ Degesch , the successor to Degesch , who renamed the product to Cyanosil in 1974 . = = Mechanism = = Hydrogen cyanide is a poisonous gas that interferes with cellular respiration . Cyanide prevents the cell from producing adenosine triphosphate ( ATP ) by binding to one of the proteins involved in the electron transport chain . This protein , cytochrome c oxidase , contains several subunits and has ligands containing iron groups . The cyanide component of Zyklon B can bind at one of these iron groups , heme a3 , forming a more stabilized compound through metal @-@ to @-@ ligand pi bonding . As a result of this new iron @-@ cyanide complex , the electrons that would situate themselves on the heme a3 group can no longer do so . Instead , these electrons destabilize the compound ; thus , the heme group no longer accepts them . Consequently , electron transport is halted , and cells can no longer produce the energy needed to synthesize ATP . In a human weighing 68 kilograms ( 150 lb ) , death occurs within two minutes of inhaling 70 milligrams ( 0 @.@ 0025 oz ) of hydrogen cyanide . = = History = = Hydrogen cyanide , discovered in the late 18th century , was used in the 1880s for the fumigation of citrus trees in California . Its use spread to other countries for the fumigation of silos , goods wagons , ships , and mills . Its light weight and rapid dispersal meant its application had to take place under tents or in enclosed areas . Research by Fritz Haber of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry led to the founding in 1919 of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Schädlingsbekämpfung mbH ( Degesch ) , a state @-@ controlled consortium formed to investigate military use of the chemical . Chemists at Degesch added a cautionary eye irritant to a less volatile cyanide compound which reacted with water in the presence of heat to become hydrogen cyanide . The new product was marketed as the pesticide Zyklon ( cyclone ) . As a similar formula had been used as a weapon by the Germans during World War I , Zyklon was soon banned . Deutsche Gold- und Silber @-@ Scheideanstalt ( German Gold and Silver Refinery ; Degussa ) became sole owners of Degesch in 1922 . There , beginning in 1922 , Walter Heerdt , Bruno Tesch , and others worked on packaging hydrogen cyanide in sealed canisters along with a cautionary eye irritant and adsorbent stabilizers such as diatomaceous earth . The new product was also labelled as Zyklon , but it became known as Zyklon B to distinguish it from the earlier version . Heerdt was named the inventor of Zyklon B in the Degesch patent application ( number DE 438818 ) dated 20 June 1922 . The German Patent Office awarded the patent on 27 December 1926 . = = Corporate structure and marketing = = In 1930 , Degussa ceded 42 @.@ 5 per cent ownership of Degesch to IG Farben and 15 per cent to Th . Goldschmidt AG , in exchange for the right to market pesticide products of those two companies through Degesch . Degussa retained managerial control . While Degesch owned the rights to the brand name Zyklon and the patent on the packaging system , the chemical formula was owned by Degussa . Schlempe GmbH , which was 52 per cent owned by Degussa , owned the rights to a process to extract hydrogen cyanide from waste products of sugar beet processing . This process was performed under license by two companies , Dessauer Werke and Kaliwerke Kolin , who also combined the resulting hydrogen cyanide with stabilizer from IG Farben and a cautionary agent from Schering AG to form the final product , which was packaged using equipment , labels , and canisters provided by Degesch . The finished goods were sent to Degesch , who forwarded the product to two companies that acted as distributors : Heerdt @-@ Linger GmbH ( Heli ) of Frankfurt and Tesch & Stabenow ( Testa ) of Hamburg . Their territory was split along the Elbe river , with Heli handling clients to the west and south , and Testa those to the east . Degesch owned 51 per cent of the shares of Heli , and until 1942 owned 55 per cent of Testa . Prior to World War II Degesch derived most of its Zyklon B profits from overseas sales , particularly in the United States , where it was produced under license by Roessler & Hasslacher prior to 1931 and by American Cyanamid from 1931 to 1943 . From 1929 , the United States Public Health Service used Zyklon B to disinfect freight trains and clothes of Mexican immigrants entering the United States . Uses in Germany included delousing clothing ( often using a portable sealed chamber invented by Degesch in the 1930s ) and disinfecting ships , warehouses , and trains . By 1943 , sales of Zyklon B accounted for 65 per cent of Degesch 's sales revenue and 70 per cent of its gross profits . = = Use in the Holocaust = = In early 1942 , Zyklon B emerged as the preferred killing tool of Nazi Germany for use in extermination camps during the Holocaust . The chemical claimed the lives of roughly one million people in gas chambers installed in extermination camps at Auschwitz @-@ Birkenau , Majdanek , and elsewhere . Most of the victims were Jews , and by far the majority killed using this method died at Auschwitz . Zyklon B was supplied to concentration camps at Mauthausen , Dachau , and Buchenwald by the distributor Heli , and to Auschwitz and Majdanek by Testa . Camps also occasionally bought Zyklon B directly from the manufacturers . Of the 729 metric tons of Zyklon B sold in Germany in 1942 – 44 , 56 metric tons ( about 8 per cent of domestic sales ) were sold to concentration camps . Auschwitz received 23 @.@ 8 tons , of which 6 tons were used for fumigation . The remainder was used in the gas chambers or lost to spoilage ( the product had a shelf life of only three months ) . Testa conducted fumigations for the Wehrmacht and supplied them with Zyklon B. They also offered courses to the SS in the safe handling and use of the material for fumigation purposes . In April 1941 , the German agriculture and interior ministries designated the SS as an authorized applier of the chemical , and thus they were able to use it without any further training or governmental oversight . Rudolf Höss , commandant of Auschwitz , said that the use of Zyklon @-@ B to kill prisoners came about on the initiative of one of his subordinates , SS @-@ Hauptsturmführer ( captain ) Karl Fritzsch , who used the substance to kill some Russian POWs in late August 1941 in the basement of Block 11 in the main camp . The experiment was repeated on more Russian POWs , with Höss watching , in September . Block 11 proved unsuitable for mass killings , as the basement was difficult to air out afterwards and the crematorium ( Crematorium I , which operated until July 1942 ) was some distance away . The site of the killings was moved to Crematorium I , where more than 700 victims could be killed at once . By the middle of 1942 , the operation was moved to Auschwitz II – Birkenau , a nearby satellite camp which had been under construction since October 1941 . The first gas chamber at Auschwitz II – Birkenau was the " red house " ( called Bunker 1 by SS staff ) , a brick cottage converted to a gassing facility by tearing out the inside and bricking up the windows . It was operational by March 1942 . A second brick cottage , the " white house " or Bunker 2 , was converted some weeks later . According to Höss , Bunker 1 held 800 victims and Bunker 2 held 1 @,@ 200 victims . These structures were in use for mass killings until early 1943 . At that point , the Nazis decided to greatly increase the gassing capacity of Birkenau . Crematorium II , originally designed as a mortuary , with morgues in the basement and ground @-@ level incinerators , was converted into a killing factory by installing gas @-@ tight doors , vents for the Zyklon B to be dropped into the chamber , and ventilation equipment to remove the gas afterwards . Crematorium III was built using the same design . Crematoria IV and V , designed from the start as gassing centers , were also constructed that spring . By June 1943 , all four crematoria were operational . Most of the victims were killed using these four structures . The Nazis began shipping large numbers of Jews from all over Europe to Auschwitz in the middle of 1942 . Those who were not selected for work crews were immediately gassed . The group selected to die , about three @-@ quarters of the total , included almost all children , women with small children , all the elderly , and all those who appeared on brief and superficial inspection by an SS doctor not to be completely fit . The victims were told they were to undergo delousing and a shower . They were stripped of their belongings and herded into the gas chamber . The Zyklon B was delivered by ambulance to the crematoria by a special SS bureau known as the Hygienic Institute . The actual delivery of the gas to the victims was always handled by the SS , on the order of the supervising SS doctor . After the doors were shut , SS men dumped in the Zyklon B pellets through vents in the roof or holes in the side of the chamber . The victims were dead within 20 minutes . Johann Kremer , an SS doctor who oversaw gassings , testified that the " shouting and screaming of the victims could be heard through the opening and it was clear that they fought for their lives " . Sonderkommandos ( special work crews forced to work at the gas chambers ) wearing gas masks then dragged the bodies from the chamber . The victims ' glasses , artificial limbs , jewelry , and hair were removed , and any dental work was extracted so the gold could be melted down . If the gas chamber was crowded , which they typically were , the corpses were found half @-@ squatting , their skin discolored pink with red and green spots , with some found foaming at their mouths , or bleeding from their ears . The corpses were burned in the nearby incinerators , and the ashes were buried , thrown in the river , or used as fertilizer . With the Soviet Red Army approaching through Poland , the last mass gassing at Auschwitz took place on 30 October 1944 . In November 1944 , Reichsführer @-@ SS Heinrich Himmler , head of the SS , ordered gassing operations to cease across the Reich . = = Legacy = = After World War II ended in 1945 , Bruno Tesch and Karl Weinbacher of Tesch & Stabenow were tried in a British military court and executed for knowingly providing Zyklon B to the SS for use on humans . Gerhard Peters , who served as principal operating officer of Degesch and Heli and also held posts in the Nazi government , served two years eight months in prison as an accessory before being released due to amendments to the penal code . Use of hydrogen cyanide as a pesticide or cleaner has been banned or restricted in some countries . Most hydrogen cyanide is used in industrial processes , made by companies in Germany , Japan , the Netherlands and the US . Degesch resumed production of Zyklon B after the war . The product was sold as Cyanosil in Germany and Zyklon in other countries . It was still produced as of 2000 . Degussa sold Degesch to Detia @-@ Freyberg GmbH in 1986 . The company is now called Detia @-@ Degesch . A fumigation product similar to Zyklon B is also in production by Lučební závody Draslovka of the Czech Republic , under the trade name Uragan D2 . Uragan means " hurricane " or " cyclone " in Czech . Subsequent use of the word " Zyklon " in trade names has prompted angry reactions in English @-@ speaking countries . The name " Zyklon " on portable roller coasters made since 1965 by Pinfari provoked protests among Jewish groups in the U.S. in 1993 , 1999 , and 2011 . In 2002 , British sportswear and football equipment supplier Umbro issued an apology and stopped using the name " Zyklon " , which had appeared since 1999 on the box for one of its trainers , after receiving complaints from the Simon Wiesenthal Center and the Beth Shalom Holocaust Centre . Also in 2002 , Siemens withdrew its application for an American trademark of the word " Zyklon " , which their subsidiary BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte had proposed to use for a new line of home appliances in the United States . ( The firm was already using the name in Germany for one of their vacuum cleaners . ) Protests were lodged by the Simon Wiesenthal Center after the trademark application was reported to BBC News Online by one of their readers . French company IPC 's product names used " Cyclone " for degreasers and suffix " B " for biodegradable : " Cyclone B " was renamed " Cyclone Cap Vert " ( " green cap " ) in 2013 after protests from Jewish groups . A rabbi said the name was " horrible ignorance at best , and a Guinness record in evil and cynicism if the company did know the history of the name of its product . " Holocaust deniers claim that Zyklon B gas was not used in the gas chambers , relying for evidence on the research of Fred A. Leuchter , who found low levels of Prussian blue in samples of the gas chamber walls and ceilings . Leuchter attributed its presence to general delousing of the buildings . Leuchter 's negative control , a sample of gasket material taken from a different camp building , had no cyanide residue . In 1999 , James Roth , the chemist who had analyzed Leuchter 's samples , stated that the test was flawed because the material that was sent for testing included large chunks , and the chemical would only be within 10 microns of the surface . The surface that had been exposed to the chemical was not identified , and the large size of the specimens meant that any chemical present was diluted by an undeterminable amount . In 1994 , the Institute for Forensic Research in Kraków re @-@ examined Leuchter 's claim , stating that formation of Prussian blue by exposure of bricks to cyanide is not a highly probable reaction . Using microdiffusion techniques , they tested 22 samples from the gas chambers and delousing chambers ( as positive controls ) and living quarters ( as negative controls ) . They found cyanide residue in both the delousing chambers and the gas chambers but none in the living quarters . = = = Explanatory notes = = =
= A.I. Artificial Intelligence = A.I. Artificial Intelligence , also known as A.I. , is a 2001 American science fiction drama film directed by Steven Spielberg . The screenplay by Spielberg was based on a screen story by Ian Watson and the 1969 short story Super @-@ Toys Last All Summer Long by Brian Aldiss . The film was produced by Kathleen Kennedy , Spielberg and Bonnie Curtis . It stars Haley Joel Osment , Jude Law , Frances O 'Connor , Brendan Gleeson and William Hurt . Set in a futuristic post @-@ climate change society , A.I. tells the story of David ( Osment ) , a childlike android uniquely programmed with the ability to love . Development of A.I. originally began with producer @-@ director Stanley Kubrick in the early 1970s . Kubrick hired a series of writers until the mid @-@ 1990s , including Brian Aldiss , Bob Shaw , Ian Watson , and Sara Maitland . The film languished in protracted development for years , partly because Kubrick felt computer @-@ generated imagery was not advanced enough to create the David character , whom he believed no child actor would convincingly portray . In 1995 , Kubrick handed A.I. to Spielberg , but the film did not gain momentum until Kubrick 's death in 1999 . Spielberg remained close to Watson 's film treatment for the screenplay . The film was greeted with generally positive reviews from critics , grossed approximately $ 235 million , and was nominated for two Academy Awards at the 74th Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects and Best Original Score ( by John Williams ) . The film is dedicated to Stanley Kubrick . = = Plot = = In the late 21st century , global warming has flooded the coastlines , wiping out coastal cities ( such as Amsterdam , Venice , and New York City ) and drastically reducing the human population . There is a new class of robots called Mecha , advanced humanoids capable of emulating thoughts and emotions . David ( Haley Joel Osment ) , a prototype model created by Cybertronics of New Jersey , is designed to resemble a human child and to display love for its human owners . They test their creation with one of their employees , Henry Swinton ( Sam Robards ) , and his wife Monica ( Frances O 'Connor ) . The Swintons ' son , Martin ( Jake Thomas ) , had been placed in suspended animation until a cure could be found for his rare disease . Initially frightened of David , Monica eventually warms up enough to him to activate his imprinting protocol , which irreversibly causes David to have an enduring childlike love for her . He is also befriended by Teddy ( Jack Angel ) , a robotic teddy bear , who takes it upon himself to care for David 's well @-@ being . A cure is found for Martin and he is brought home ; as he recovers , it becomes clear he does not want a sibling and soon makes moves to cause issues for David . First , he attempts to make Teddy choose whom he likes more . He then makes David promise to do something and in return Martin will tell Monica that he loves his new " brother " , making her love him more . The promise David makes is to go to Monica in the middle of the night and cut off a lock of her hair . This upsets the parents , particularly Henry , who fears that the scissors are a weapon , and warns Monica that a robot programmed to love may also be able to hate . At a pool party , one of Martin 's friends unintentionally activates David 's self @-@ protection programming by poking him with a knife . David grabs Martin , apparently for protection , but they both fall into the pool . David sinks to the bottom while still clinging to Martin . Martin is saved from drowning , but Henry mistakes David 's fear during the pool incident as hate for Martin . Henry persuades Monica to return David to Cybertronics , where he will be destroyed . However , Monica cannot bring herself to do this and , instead , tearfully abandons David in the forest ( with Teddy ) to hide as an unregistered Mecha . David is captured for an anti @-@ Mecha " Flesh Fair " , an event where obsolete and unlicensed Mecha are destroyed in front of cheering crowds . David is nearly killed , but the crowd is swayed by his fear ( since Mecha do not plea for their lives ) into believing he is human and he escapes with Gigolo Joe ( Jude Law ) , a male prostitute Mecha on the run after being framed for the murder of a client by the client 's husband . The two set out to find the Blue Fairy , who David remembers from the story The Adventures of Pinocchio . He is convinced that the Blue Fairy will transform him into a human boy , allowing Monica to love him and take him home . Joe and David make their way to Rouge City , a Las Vegas @-@ esque resort . Information from a holographic answer engine called " Dr. Know " ( Robin Williams ) eventually leads them to the top of Rockefeller Center in the flooded ruins of Manhattan . There , David meets an identical copy of himself and , believing he is not special , becomes filled with anger and destroys the copy Mecha . David then meets his human creator , Professor Allen Hobby ( William Hurt ) , who excitedly tells David that finding him was a test , which has demonstrated the reality of his love and desire . However , David learns that he is the namesake and image of Professor Hobby 's deceased son and that many copies of David , along with female versions called Arlene , are already being manufactured . Sadly realizing that he is not unique , a disheartened David attempts to commit suicide by falling from a ledge into the ocean , but Joe rescues him with their stolen amphibicopter . David tells Joe he saw the Blue Fairy underwater and wants to go down to her . At that moment , Joe is captured by the authorities with the use of an electromagnet , but he sets the amphibicopter on submerge . David and Teddy take it to the fairy , which turns out to be a statue from a submerged attraction at Coney Island . Teddy and David become trapped when the Wonder Wheel falls on their vehicle . Believing the Blue Fairy to be real , David asks to be turned into a real boy , repeating his wish without an end , until the ocean freezes in another ice age and his internal power source drains away . Two thousand years later , humans are extinct and Manhattan is buried under several hundred feet of glacial ice . The now highly advanced Mecha have evolved into an intelligent , silicon @-@ based form . On their project to study humans — believing it was the key to understanding the meaning of existence — they find David and Teddy and discover they are original Mecha who knew living humans , making the pair very special and unique . David is revived and walks to the frozen Blue Fairy statue , which cracks and collapses as he touches it . Having downloaded and comprehended his memories , the advanced Mecha use these to reconstruct the Swinton home and explain to David via an interactive image of the Blue Fairy ( Meryl Streep ) that it is impossible to make him human . However , at David 's insistence , they recreate Monica from DNA in the lock of her hair , which Teddy had saved . One of the Mecha warns David that the clone can live for only a single day and that the process cannot be repeated . The next morning , David is reunited with Monica and spends the happiest day of his life with her and Teddy . Monica tells David that she loves him and has always loved him as she drifts to sleep for the last time . David lies down next to her , closes his eyes and goes " to that place where dreams are born " . Teddy climbs onto the bed and watches as David and Monica lie peacefully together . = = Cast = = Haley Joel Osment as David , an innovative Mecha created by Cybertronics and programmed with the ability to love . He is adopted by Henry and Monica Swinton , but a sibling rivalry ensues once their son Martin comes out of suspended animation . Osment was Spielberg 's first and only choice for the role . Osment avoided blinking his eyes to perfectly portray the character , and " programmed " himself with good posture for realism . Jude Law as Gigolo Joe , a male prostitute Mecha programmed with the ability to mimic love , like David , but in a different sense . To prepare for the role , Law studied the acting of Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly . Frances O 'Connor as Monica Swinton , David 's adopted mother who reads him The Adventures of Pinocchio . She is first displeased to have David in her home but soon starts loving him . Sam Robards as Henry Swinton , an employee at Cybertronics , husband of Monica and David 's adopted father . Henry eventually sees David as dangerous to his family . Jake Thomas as Martin Swinton , Henry and Monica 's first son , who was placed in suspended animation and David 's adopted brother . When Martin comes back , he convinces David to cut off a lock of Monica 's hair . William Hurt as Professor Allen Hobby , responsible for shepherding the creation of David . He resides in New York City , which is crippled by the effects of global warming but still functioning as Cybertronics ' headquarters . David is modeled after Hobby 's own son , also named David , who died at a young age . Brendan Gleeson as Lord Johnson @-@ Johnson , the owner and master of ceremonies of the Flesh Fair . Ashley Scott as Gigolo Jane Voices Jack Angel as Teddy , David 's android teddy bear . Ben Kingsley as a Mecha specialist . He is also uncredited as the narrator . Robin Williams as Dr. Know , a holographic answer engine . ( Cameo ) Meryl Streep as The Blue Fairy . ( Cameo ) Chris Rock as a Mecha comedian destroyed at the Flesh Fair . ( Cameo ) = = Production = = = = = Development = = = Kubrick began development on an adaptation of Super @-@ Toys Last All Summer Long in the early 1970s , hiring the short story 's author , Brian Aldiss , to write a film treatment . In 1985 , Kubrick brought longtime friend Steven Spielberg on board to produce the film , along with Jan Harlan . Warner Bros. agreed to co @-@ finance A.I. and cover distribution duties . The film labored in development hell , and Aldiss was fired by Kubrick over creative differences in 1989 . Bob Shaw served as writer very briefly , leaving after six weeks because of Kubrick 's demanding work schedule , and Ian Watson was hired as the new writer in March 1990 . Aldiss later remarked , " Not only did the bastard fire me , he hired my enemy [ Watson ] instead . " Kubrick handed Watson The Adventures of Pinocchio for inspiration , calling A.I. " a picaresque robot version of Pinocchio " . Three weeks later Watson gave Kubrick his first story treatment , and concluded his work on A.I. in May 1991 with another treatment , at 90 pages . Gigolo Joe was originally conceived as a GI Mecha , but Watson suggested changing him to a male prostitute . Kubrick joked , " I guess we lost the kiddie market . " In the meantime , Kubrick dropped A.I. to work on a film adaptation of Wartime Lies , feeling computer animation was not advanced enough to create the David character . However , after the release of Spielberg 's Jurassic Park ( with its innovative use of computer @-@ generated imagery ) , it was announced in November 1993 that production would begin in 1994 . Dennis Muren and Ned Gorman , who worked on Jurassic Park , became visual effects supervisors , but Kubrick was displeased with their previsualization , and with the expense of hiring Industrial Light & Magic . = = = Pre @-@ production = = = In early 1994 , the film was in pre @-@ production with Christopher " Fangorn " Baker as concept artist , and Sara Maitland assisting on the story , which gave it " a feminist fairy @-@ tale focus " . Maitland said that Kubrick never referred to the film as A.I. , but as Pinocchio . Chris Cunningham became the new visual effects supervisor . Some of his unproduced work for A.I. can be seen on the DVD , The Work of Director Chris Cunningham . Aside from considering computer animation , Kubrick also had Joseph Mazzello do a screen test for the lead role . Cunningham helped assemble a series of " little robot @-@ type humans " for the David character . " We tried to construct a little boy with a movable rubber face to see whether we could make it look appealing , " producer Jan Harlan reflected . " But it was a total failure , it looked awful . " Hans Moravec was brought in as a technical consultant . Meanwhile , Kubrick and Harlan thought A.I. would be closer to Steven Spielberg 's sensibilities as director . Kubrick handed the position to Spielberg in 1995 , but Spielberg chose to direct other projects , and convinced Kubrick to remain as director . The film was put on hold due to Kubrick 's commitment to Eyes Wide Shut ( 1999 ) . After the filmmaker 's death in March 1999 , Harlan and Christiane Kubrick approached Spielberg to take over the director 's position . By November 1999 , Spielberg was writing the screenplay based on Watson 's 90 @-@ page story treatment . It was his first solo screenplay credit since Close Encounters of the Third Kind ( 1977 ) . Spielberg remained close to Watson 's treatment , but removed various sex scenes with Gigolo Joe . Pre @-@ production was briefly halted during February 2000 , because Spielberg pondered directing other projects , which were Harry Potter and the Philosopher 's Stone , Minority Report and Memoirs of a Geisha . The following month Spielberg announced that A.I. would be his next project , with Minority Report as a follow @-@ up . When he decided to fast track A.I. , Spielberg brought Chris Baker back as concept artist . = = = Filming = = = The original start date was July 10 , 2000 , but filming was delayed until August . Aside from a couple of weeks shooting on location in Oxbow Regional Park in Oregon , A.I. was shot entirely using sound stages at Warner Bros. Studios and the Spruce Goose Dome in Long Beach , south LA . The Swinton house was constructed on Stage 16 , while Stage 20 was used for Rouge City and other sets . Spielberg copied Kubrick 's obsessively secretive approach to filmmaking by refusing to give the complete script to cast and crew , banning press from the set , and making actors sign confidentiality agreements . Social robotics expert Cynthia Breazeal served as technical consultant during production . Haley Joel Osment and Jude Law applied prosthetic makeup daily in an attempt to look shinier and robotic . Costume designer Bob Ringwood ( Batman , Troy ) studied pedestrians on the Las Vegas Strip for his influence on the Rouge City extras . Spielberg found post @-@ production on A.I. difficult because he was simultaneously preparing to shoot Minority Report . = = Soundtrack = = The film 's soundtrack was released by Warner Sunset Records in 2001 . The original score was composed by John Williams and featured singers Lara Fabian on two songs and Josh Groban on one . The film 's score also had a limited release as an official " For your consideration Academy Promo " , as well as a complete score issue by La @-@ La Land Records in 2015 . The band Ministry appears in the film playing the song " What About Us ? " ( but the song does not appear on the official soundtrack album ) . = = Release = = = = = Marketing = = = Warner Bros. used an alternate reality game titled The Beast to promote the film . Over forty websites were created by Atomic Pictures in New York City ( kept online at Cloudmakers.org ) including the website for Cybertronics Corp. There were to be a series of video games for the Xbox video game console that followed the storyline of The Beast , but they went undeveloped . To avoid audiences mistaking A.I. for a family film , no action figures were created , although Hasbro released a talking Teddy following the film 's release in June 2001 . In November 2000 , during production , a video @-@ only webcam ( dubbed the " Bagel Cam " ) was placed in the craft services truck on the film 's set at the Queen Mary Dome in Long Beach , California . Steven Spielberg , producer Kathleen Kennedy and various other production personnel visited the camera and interacted with fans over the course of three days . A.I. had its premiere at the Venice Film Festival in 2001 . = = = Box office = = = The film opened in 3 @,@ 242 theaters in the United States on June 29 , 2001 , earning $ 29 @,@ 352 @,@ 630 during its opening weekend . A.I went on to gross $ 78 @.@ 62 million in US totals as well as $ 157 @.@ 31 million in foreign countries , coming to a worldwide total of $ 235 @.@ 93 million . = = = Critical response = = = The film received generally positive reviews . Based on 190 reviews collected by Rotten Tomatoes , 73 % of the critics gave the film positive notices with a score of 6 @.@ 6 out of 10 . The website described the critical consensus perceiving the film as " a curious , not always seamless , amalgamation of Kubrick 's chilly bleakness and Spielberg 's warm @-@ hearted optimism . [ The film ] is , in a word , fascinating . " By comparison , Metacritic collected an average score of 65 , based on 32 reviews , which is considered favorable . Producer Jan Harlan stated that Kubrick " would have applauded " the final film , while Kubrick 's widow Christiane also enjoyed A.I. Brian Aldiss admired the film as well : " I thought what an inventive , intriguing , ingenious , involving film this was . There are flaws in it and I suppose I might have a personal quibble but it 's so long since I wrote it . " Of the film 's ending , he wondered how it might have been had Kubrick directed the film : " That is one of the ' ifs ' of film history - at least the ending indicates Spielberg adding some sugar to Kubrick 's wine . The actual ending is overly sympathetic and moreover rather overtly engineered by a plot device that does not really bear credence . But it 's a brilliant piece of film and of course it 's a phenomenon because it contains the energies and talents of two brilliant filmmakers . " Richard Corliss heavily praised Spielberg 's direction , as well as the cast and visual effects . Roger Ebert awarded the film 4 out of 4 stars , saying that it was " Audacious , technically masterful , challenging , sometimes moving [ and ] ceaselessly watchable.Leonard Maltin gives the film a not @-@ so @-@ positive review in his Movie Guide , giving it two stars out of four , writing : " [ The ] intriguing story draws us in , thanks in part to Osment 's exceptional performance , but takes several wrong turns ; ultimately , it just doesn 't work . Spielberg rewrote the adaptation Stanley Kubrick commissioned of the Brian Aldiss short story ' Super Toys Last All Summer Long ' ; [ the ] result is a curious and uncomfortable hybrid of Kubrick and Spielberg sensibilities . " However , he calls John Williams ' music score " striking " . Jonathan Rosenbaum compared A.I. to Solaris ( 1972 ) , and praised both " Kubrick for proposing that Spielberg direct the project and Spielberg for doing his utmost to respect Kubrick 's intentions while making it a profoundly personal work . " Film critic Armond White , of the New York Press , praised the film noting that " each part of David ’ s journey through carnal and sexual universes into the final eschatological devastation becomes as profoundly philosophical and contemplative as anything by cinema ’ s most thoughtful , speculative artists – Borzage , Ozu , Demy , Tarkovsky . " Filmmaker Billy Wilder hailed A.I. as " the most underrated film of the past few years . " When British filmmaker Ken Russell saw the film , he wept during the ending . Mick LaSalle gave a largely negative review . " A.I. exhibits all its creators ' bad traits and none of the good . So we end up with the structureless , meandering , slow @-@ motion endlessness of Kubrick combined with the fuzzy , cuddly mindlessness of Spielberg . " Dubbing it Spielberg 's " first boring movie " , LaSalle also believed the robots at the end of the film were aliens , and compared Gigolo Joe to the " useless " Jar Jar Binks , yet praised Robin Williams for his portrayal of a futuristic Albert Einstein . Peter Travers gave a mixed review , concluding " Spielberg cannot live up to Kubrick 's darker side of the future . " But he still put the film on his top ten list that year for best movies . David Denby in The New Yorker criticized A.I. for not adhering closely to his concept of the Pinocchio character . Spielberg responded to some of the criticisms of the film , stating that many of the " so called sentimental " elements of A.I. , including the ending , were in fact Kubrick 's and the darker elements were his own . However , Sara Maitland , who worked on the project with Kubrick in the 1990s , claimed that one of the reasons Kubrick never started production on A.I. was because he had a hard time making the ending work . James Berardinelli found the film " consistently involving , with moments of near @-@ brilliance , but far from a masterpiece . In fact , as the long @-@ awaited ' collaboration ' of Kubrick and Spielberg , it ranks as something of a disappointment . " Of the film 's highly debated finale , he claimed , " There is no doubt that the concluding 30 minutes are all Spielberg ; the outstanding question is where Kubrick 's vision left off and Spielberg 's began . " Screenwriter Ian Watson has speculated , " Worldwide , A.I. was very successful ( and the 4th highest earner of the year ) but it didn 't do quite so well in America , because the film , so I 'm told , was too poetical and intellectual in general for American tastes . Plus , quite a few critics in America misunderstood the film , thinking for instance that the Giacometti @-@ style beings in the final 20 minutes were aliens ( whereas they were robots of the future who had evolved themselves from the robots in the earlier part of the film ) and also thinking that the final 20 minutes were a sentimental addition by Spielberg , whereas those scenes were exactly what I wrote for Stanley and exactly what he wanted , filmed faithfully by Spielberg . " In 2002 , Spielberg told film critic Joe Leydon that " People pretend to think they know Stanley Kubrick , and think they know me , when most of them don 't know either of us " . " And what 's really funny about that is , all the parts of A.I. that people assume were Stanley 's were mine . And all the parts of A.I. that people accuse me of sweetening and softening and sentimentalizing were all Stanley 's . The teddy bear was Stanley 's . The whole last 20 minutes of the movie was completely Stanley 's . The whole first 35 , 40 minutes of the film – all the stuff in the house – was word for word , from Stanley 's screenplay . This was Stanley 's vision . " " Eighty percent of the critics got it all mixed up . But I could see why . Because , obviously , I 've done a lot of movies where people have cried and have been sentimental . And I 've been accused of sentimentalizing hard @-@ core material . But in fact it was Stanley who did the sweetest parts of A.I. , not me . I 'm the guy who did the dark center of the movie , with the Flesh Fair and everything else . That 's why he wanted me to make the movie in the first place . He said , ' This is much closer to your sensibilities than my own . ' " Upon rewatching the film many years after its release , BBC film critic Mark Kermode apologized to Spielberg in an interview in January 2013 for " getting it wrong " on the film when he first viewed it in 2001 . He now believes the film to be Spielberg 's " enduring masterpiece " . = = = Accolades = = = Visual effects supervisors Dennis Muren , Stan Winston , Michael Lantieri and Scott Farrar were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects , while John Williams was nominated for Best Original Music Score . Steven Spielberg , Jude Law and Williams received nominations at the 59th Golden Globe Awards . The visual effects department was once again nominated at the 55th British Academy Film Awards . A.I. was successful at the Saturn Awards . Spielberg ( for his screenplay ) , the visual effects department , Williams and Haley Joel Osment ( Performance by a Younger Actor ) won in their respective categories . The film also won Best Science Fiction Film and for its DVD release . Frances O 'Connor and Spielberg ( as director ) were also nominated . American Film Institute lists AFI 's 100 Years of Film Scores – Nominated AFI 's 10 Top 10 – Nominated Science Fiction Film
= A Night to Remember ( book ) = A Night to Remember is a 1955 non @-@ fiction book by Walter Lord about the sinking of the RMS Titanic on 15 April 1912 . The book was hugely successful , and is still considered a definitive resource about the Titanic . Lord interviewed many survivors of the disaster as well as drawing on books , memoirs and articles that they had written . He authored a follow @-@ up book , The Night Lives On , in 1986 following renewed interest in the story after the wreck of Titanic was found . The film A Night to Remember , based on the book and with advice from Lord , was released in 1958 . = = Publication history = = Lord traveled on the RMS Olympic , Titanic 's sister ship , when he was a boy and the experience gave him a lifelong fascination with the lost liner . As he later put it , he spent his time on the Olympic " prowling around " and trying to imagine " such a huge thing " sinking . He started reading about and drawing Titanic at the age of ten and spent many years collecting Titanic memorabilia , causing people to " take note of this oddity . " He majored in history at Princeton University and graduated from Yale Law School before joining the New York @-@ based advertising agency J. Walter Thompson . Writing in his spare time , he interviewed 63 survivors of the disaster . A Night to Remember was only Lord 's second book but was a huge success , thanks in no small part to the aggressive advertising campaign carried out by R & W Holt following its launch in November 1955 . The book also undoubtedly benefited from the popularity of the 1953 film Titanic and other coverage of the disaster that was published around the same time . Within two months of its publication , the book had sold 60 @,@ 000 copies and remained listed as a best @-@ seller for six months . The Ladies ' Home Journal and Reader 's Digest both published condensed versions and it was selected in June 1956 by the Book of the Month Club . The first paperback edition was published by Bantam Books in October 1956 . Since then the book has never been out of print and has been translated into over a dozen languages . Its success enabled Lord to leave the world of advertising and become a full @-@ time writer . After the discovery of the wreck of the Titanic in 1985 sparked a new wave of public interest in the disaster he wrote a follow @-@ up book , The Night Lives On ( 1986 ) . Daniel Allen Butler comments that " although it was of immense interest to Titanic buffs the world over , it lacked the spark of the original , " which by 1998 had reached its fiftieth printing . = = Critical commentaries = = The book received widespread praise from contemporary critics . The New York Times called it " stunning ... one of the most exciting books of this or any other year " . The Atlantic Monthly praised the book for doing " a magnificent job of re @-@ creative chronicling , enthralling from the first word to the last . " Entertainment Weekly said that it was " seamless and skillful ... it 's clear why this is many a researcher 's Titanic bible " , while USA Today described it as " the most riveting narrative of the disaster . " The secret to Lord 's success , according to the New York Herald Tribune 's critic Stanley Walker , was that he used " a kind of literary pointillism , the arrangement of contrasting bits of fact and emotion in such a fashion that a vividly real impression of an event is conveyed to the reader . " Walker highlighted the way that Lord had avoided telling the story through the prism of social class , which had been the usual style of previous narratives , and instead successfully depicted the human element of the story by showing how those aboard reacted to the disaster whatever their class . Steven Biel , an American cultural historian , notes the novelistic way in which Lord tells the story . The book depicts events through the eyes of multiple individuals , violating simple chronology to present an overlapping series of narratives . Nathaniel Philbrick , writing in the introduction to the fiftieth anniversary edition of A Night to Remember , notes that at the time of publication it was the first significant book about Titanic for nearly forty years . He argues that the book 's hallmarks are its restraint , brevity and readability , which downplays the extravagant and mythical aspects of the disaster and instead puts in the foreground the stories of the people on the ship . The narrative builds suspense , making the reader care about the characters and revisit the disaster from their perspective . It tells the story in a highly visual and aural way , describing the sights and sounds of the night of the disaster " with the immediacy of a live broadcast or a television documentary " , as Biel puts it . A key to Lord 's method is his technique of adopting an unconventional approach to the chronology of the event , " [ taking ] an imaginative approach to time and space in which hours and minutes prove extremely malleable , the ship itself seems almost infinitely complex , and the disaster assumes order and unity from far away . " In short it is " a modernist narrative [ constructed ] around a modernist event . " Reviewers highlighted the way in which Lord depicted the human side of the Titanic story , which The New York Times called " the core of Mr. Lord 's account , and explains its fascination , a pull as powerful in its way as the last downward plunge of the ship itself . " While the " legendary acts of gallantry " stood out , the book invites readers to put themselves in the place of those aboard and implicitly asks how they would react in the same situation . As Newsweek put it , " What would it be like to be aboard a sinking ocean liner ? " The significance of Lord 's book , according to Biel , is that it " gave the disaster its fullest retelling since 1912 and made it speak to a modern mass audience and a new set of postwar concerns . In the creation of the Titanic myth there were two defining moments : 1912 , of course , and 1955 . " Lord updates the popular interpretation of the Titanic disaster by portraying it in world @-@ historical terms as the symbolic and actual end of an era , and as an event which " marked the end of a general feeling of confidence . " Uncertainty replaced orderliness , and the ship 's sinking marked the beginning of the twentieth century 's " unending sequence of disillusionment . Before the Titanic , all was quiet . Afterward , all was tumult . " Biel notes that Lord 's underlying theme is a rather nostalgic reflection of the " nobler instincts " exhibited in the disaster and their subsequent eclipse . Such ideals were attractive for a post @-@ war society that celebrated the role of the nuclear family and the traditional roles of the male breadwinner and female homemaker . Lord 's invocation of an era of confidence and certainty was also a relevant theme at the height of the Cold War . The University of California sociologist Fred Davis comments that nostalgia " thrives ... on the rude transitions wrought by such phenomena as war , depression , civil disturbance , and cataclysmic natural disasters – in short , those events that cause masses of people to feel uneasy and to wonder whether the world and their being are quite what they always took them to be . " The turmoil and uncertainty of the early Atomic Age and the onset of profound social changes made the old concepts of the nuclear family and traditional gender roles , reflected in the behaviour of Titanic 's passengers , resonate with a mid @-@ 1950s audience . The gradual nature of the disaster was also more comforting , in some respects , compared with the nature of modern technological failures such as air crashes . Time 's reviewer made this point explicitly : " This air age , when death comes too swiftly for heroism or with no survivors to record it , can still turn with wonder to an age before yesterday when a thousand deaths at sea seemed the very worst the world must suffer . " It was , as Steven Biel comments , " a quainter kind of disaster " in which the victims had time to prepare and chose how to die . = = Screen adaptations = = The book has been adapted twice for the screen . The first production was staged as a live adaptation screened on 28 March 1956 by NBC TV and sponsored by Kraft Foods as part of the Kraft Television Theatre strand . It has been described as " the biggest , most lavish , most expensive thing of its kind " attempted up to that point , with 31 sets , 107 actors , 72 speaking parts , 3 @,@ 000 gallons of water and costing $ 95 @,@ 000 ( $ 826 @,@ 860 @.@ 5 at present @-@ day prices ) . George Roy Hill directed and Claude Rains provided a narration – a practice borrowed from radio dramas which provided a template for many television dramas of the time . It took a similar approach to the book , lacking dominant characters and switching between a multiplicity of scenes . Rains ' narration was used " to bridge the almost limitless number of sequences of life aboard the doomed liner " , as a reviewer put it , and closed with his declaration that " never again has Man been so confident . An age had come to an end . " The production was a major hit , attracting 28 million viewers , and greatly boosted the book 's sales . It was rerun on kinescope on 2 May 1956 , five weeks after its first broadcast . The second adaptation was the classic 1958 British drama film A Night to Remember starring Kenneth More , which is still widely regarded as " the definitive cinematic telling of the story . " The film came about after its eventual director , Roy Ward Baker , and its producer , Belfast @-@ born William MacQuitty both acquired copies of the book – Baker from his favorite bookshop and MacQuitty from his wife – and decided to obtain the film rights . MacQuitty had actually seen Titanic being launched on 31 May 1911 and still remembered the occasion vividly . He met Lord and brought him on board the production as a consultant . The film diverges from both the book and the NBC TV adaptation in focusing on a central character , Second Officer Charles Lightoller , played by More . Its conclusion reflects Lord 's world @-@ historical theme of a " world changed for ever " with a fictional conversation between two survivors , Lightoller and Colonel Archibald Gracie , sitting on an overturned lifeboat . Lightoller declares that the disaster is " different ... Because we were so sure . Because even though it 's happened , it 's still unbelievable . I don 't think I 'll ever feel sure again . About anything . " = = Collection = = After Lord died in 2002 , he bequeathed to the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich , England his huge collection of manuscripts , original letters and Titanic memorabilia , which he had gathered during his life and used to write A Night to Remember . MacQuitty also donated items from his own collection of material related to the film . Items from the collection are on display at the museum and can be accessed by researchers .
= LeGarrette Blount = LeGarrette Montez Blount ( born December 5 , 1986 ) is an American football running back for the New England Patriots of the National Football League ( NFL ) . He won Super Bowl XLIX with the Patriots over the reigning champion Seattle Seahawks . He was signed by the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League ( NFL ) as an undrafted free agent in 2010 . He has also been a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Pittsburgh Steelers . Blount rushed for over 1 @,@ 000 yards in each of his two seasons in junior college . He then committed to the Oregon Ducks football program as a junior , for the 2008 season . That year he ran for over 1 @,@ 000 yards and scored a school record 17 touchdowns . After the opening game of the 2009 season , Blount was suspended for punching a Boise State University opponent and angrily confronting fans after the nationally televised season @-@ opening loss . Though the suspension was announced to be for the remainder of the season , due to his meeting of specific criteria set by the football staff , he was eventually reinstated after missing eight games . = = Early life and high school career = = Blount was born December 5 , 1986 , in Madison , Florida , to Gary and Barbara Blount . He has one brother and one sister . Blount is the great @-@ nephew of avant @-@ garde jazz musician Sun Ra ( born Herman Blount ) . He attended Taylor County High School in the small town of Perry , Florida , where he was a two @-@ sport star in both football and track . In high school football , he was a four @-@ year starter and three @-@ time 1 @,@ 000 @-@ yard rusher . He first reached the milestone as a sophomore and equaled the feat the following season despite playing with a thigh bruise for most of the year . He accorded second @-@ team All @-@ state player honors as a prep senior . In track & field , Blount competed in events such as the 100 @-@ meter dash ( 11 @.@ 34 s ) , the long jump ( 22 @-@ 1 or 6.75m ) and the shot put ( 53 @-@ 2 or 16.22m ) . He was also a member of the 4 × 100 m squad . = = = Recruiting = = = Considered only a two @-@ star recruit by both Rivals.com and Scout.com , Blount was not ranked among the best running back prospects in the nation in 2005 . Barely recruited out of high school , he attended camp at Auburn University but was not offered an athletic scholarship . He nonetheless intended to go to Auburn but did not qualify academically , so he headed for junior college . = = College career = = = = = East Mississippi Community College = = = While at East Mississippi Community College in Scooba , Mississippi , Blount rushed for more than 1 @,@ 000 yards in each of his two seasons , accumulating 367 carries for 2 @,@ 292 yards and 18 rushing touchdowns . Among his career highlights was a 273 @-@ yard performance with three scores in a win over Northeast Mississippi Community College during his freshman year ; he led the state of Mississippi in rushing yards with 1 @,@ 106 as early as October 2006 . Blount was rated as the No. 1 junior college prospect by The Clarion @-@ Ledger and received Junior College All @-@ American honors . By the end of his sophomore year , Blount had become one of the highest ranked junior college prospects . He was named the nation ’ s top junior college running back and the No. 12 overall prospect in the Rivals.com Junior College Top 100 . Blount was heavily recruited by several high @-@ major schools , including Florida State , Ole Miss , and West Virginia . He committed to Oregon in December 2007 . Oregon coaches said Blount reminded them of Reuben Droughns . = = = Oregon Ducks = = = Blount entered his junior year at Oregon sharing the running back role with senior Jeremiah Johnson . The two backs lived together , and the talkative Johnson advised Blount in his first Pac @-@ 10 season . For Blount , it was the first season in which he split time with another running back , and his reaction was mixed . The two backs each contributed nearly 100 yards and three touchdowns in an early 63 – 14 win over the Washington State Cougars , and both again performed well in a late season victory over the Oregon State Beavers . But Blount brought lackluster performances to games against USC and Cal . Overall , Blount rushed for 17 touchdowns , setting a single @-@ season school record , and 1 @,@ 002 yards . Blount and Johnson became only the second duo in team history to both clear 1 @,@ 000 rushing yards in the same season ; Johnson led the team with 1 @,@ 201 yards . He clashed several times during the season with veteran head coach Mike Bellotti , earning a suspension for the first quarter of a November loss to the Cal Golden Bears for " not following team rules . " After the end of the season , he missed a number of workouts . Bellotti suspended him indefinitely on February 10 for " failure to fulfill team obligations . " Blount responded fairly well to the suspension , improving his attendance in both academic and athletic pursuits . He was reinstated by newly appointed head coach Chip Kelly in March . He attended some , but not all , voluntary workouts during the off @-@ season , but was praised for an improved attitude by fellow members of the football program . He arrived at training camp in better physical shape than in 2008 . At 243 pounds ( 110 kg ) , he was somewhat above his optimal weight , but was slimming down , and aiming for a 2 @,@ 000 yard season . Blount was named to the watch lists for the Walter Camp Award and the Doak Walker Award for the 2009 season . = = = = Boise State incident = = = = The Ducks opened their 2009 season with a 19 – 8 loss to the Boise State Broncos . Blount ended the game with negative yardage ( − 8 ) . Blount had been interviewed by a Sports Illustrated reporter earlier in the summer and was asked about the excessive late hits in the 2008 game in Eugene between Oregon and Boise State . He had been quoted that because of the way Boise State beat Oregon in Eugene they " owed them an ass @-@ whoopin ' . " In the 2008 game , Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli was forced to leave the game after taking a helmet to the chin on a late hit by a Boise State defender . Oregon lost that game but the late hits were a topic of discussion as the teams prepared for the season opener against each other . Shortly after the game 's end , Boise State defensive player Byron Hout came up to Blount during the team 's handshakes and said , " How 's that for an ass @-@ whoopin ' ? " Blount punched Hout , knocking him to the ground . Blount then hit teammate Garrett Embry , who was attempting to restrain him , in the helmet . As he was escorted to the locker room , Blount confronted Boise State fans who were jeering at him after seeing the video replay . Blount says that one Boise State fan brandished a chair at him and another punched him . Two police officers and Oregon assistant coach Scott Frost restrained Blount and escorted him into the locker room . Video of the incident spread rapidly on the Internet . Blount apologized after the incident saying , " I just apologize to everybody that was watching this — ESPN , national TV — I just apologize to all of our fans , all the Boise fans . It was just something that I shouldn 't have done . I lost my head , and I shouldn 't have taken it that far . " Suspension Oregon coach Chip Kelly suspended Blount for the rest of the 2009 season . According to the Associated Press , " On Friday [ Kelly ] told a sobbing Blount of his decision : That punch would cost Blount the season , and ultimately his career with the Ducks . ' He understands that his actions are unacceptable . We will not put up with that . ' Kelly said . " Blount was not dismissed from the team , however , and would be permitted to attend practice and retain his scholarship . Chip Kelly consulted with Oregon officials in advance of Blount 's suspension . Afterward , the Pac @-@ 10 expressed support for the suspension . Kelly stated that he made his judgment based on the entire event and had not theorized how it would have changed had only certain parts of the incident occurred . Following the announcement of Blount 's punishment , a number of sports writers and analysts questioned whether or not suspension for the entire season was excessive . Wrote analyst Tom Dienhart : " But did Blount 's punishment ( banned from games the rest of the season ) fit the crime ? Blount should have been benched for three to five games , giving him a break for being in an emotional spot after being provoked by Hout . " Blount called Hout and Petersen to apologize on September 5 . Kelly participated in the calls . Hout was not suspended for his taunting , though Petersen stated that he did receive disciplinary action . Petersen accepted the apology as sincere , and expressed the wish that Blount would be able to go on playing football , and that many parties would learn from the experience . Blount was given the opportunity to continue practicing with the team but was not at the first practice due to unspecified obligations . However , Blount was on the sidelines at practice the following day and began practice with the scout team a week later . Reinstatement On October 1 , an apology letter from Blount was published in the Oregon school newspaper the Oregon Daily Emerald . Later that day , the Oregon Athletic Department released a statement indicating that a plan that could reinstate Blount to the team was under consideration . The next day , head coach Chip Kelly announced that if Blount meets certain guidelines , he could return for the November 7 game against the Stanford Cardinal . Pac @-@ 10 commissioner Larry Scott responded that the conference alone had the power to reinstate Blount and would take Oregon 's appeal under consideration if it occurred . Blount was not reinstated in time for the Stanford game , but two days after the Ducks ' loss to Stanford , the Ducks requested , and the Pac @-@ 10 approved , Blount 's reinstatement for the Ducks ' November 14 game against Arizona State . Blount released a statement thanking head coach Kelly for showing that he " cares enough to offer me this second chance " and that it was up to Blount to " prove to people that their lasting impressions of me are not what they saw in Boise . " Blount suited up for the Arizona State and Arizona games , but since his replacement , LaMichael James , was playing so well , Blount did not see any playing time in those games . In their final game of the season , the Civil War against rival Oregon State , the Ducks trailed by 9 points in the third quarter . Blount came into the game for James and several plays later , scored on a 12 @-@ yard run to bring the Ducks within 2 points . Blount ended up rushing for 51 yards in the game and the Ducks would go on to win the game 37 – 33 and earn a berth in the 2010 Rose Bowl against Ohio State . = = = College statistics = = = = = Professional career = = = = = 2010 NFL Draft = = = = = = Tennessee Titans = = = Blount was not drafted in the 2010 NFL Draft but agreed in principle to a free agent contract with the San Francisco 49ers following the draft . However , after a meeting with Tennessee Titans head coach Jeff Fisher , Blount decided to sign as an undrafted free agent with the Titans instead . In August 2010 , Blount was involved in another incident in which he threw a punch , this time with a Tennessee Titans teammate , defensive end Eric Bakhtiari , a few moments after having his own helmet ripped off in practice . The play ended with some pushing and shoving , Blount threw a right fist , contacting Bakhtiari 's facemask . Blount quickly talked to Titans Head Coach Jeff Fisher before leaving the field . " He apologized , and I said he didn 't have to apologize , " Fisher said . " It 's football . It 's training camp . " " His past is his past . Is that the first punch you 've seen in camp this year ? No . I 'm not disappointed whatsoever . I have great confidence in the young man that he learned from his mistake , and he 's very competitive . That 's why we brought him in here is to watch him run the football like that , " Fisher said . Blount survived the final roster cut and was placed on the Titans ' 53 man roster . Blount was then waived to make room for veteran linebackers Tim Shaw ( Chicago Bears ) and Patrick Bailey ( Pittsburgh Steelers ) . Titans sources indicated that Blount would be signed to the rookie practice squad , if Blount cleared waivers . Blount was waived on September 5 , 2010 . = = = Tampa Bay Buccaneers = = = On September 6 , 2010 , Blount was claimed off of waivers by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers . He played in his first regular @-@ season NFL game in a week three 38 – 13 home loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers , gaining 27 yards on six rushes and scoring one touchdown . This is around the same time that Blount was pulled over for smoking cannabis in the suburbs of Pittsburgh , just seven miles north of the city On October 31 , 2010 , Blount recorded his breakout game as a Tampa Bay Buccaneer . He accumulated 120 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns on 22 carries , and 9 receiving yards in the Buccaneers ' 38 – 35 victory at the Arizona Cardinals . Highlighting the performance was a late game 43 @-@ yard run in which Blount hurdled approaching player Kerry Rhodes . At the end of his rookie season , Blount had played in 13 games and accumulated 1 @,@ 007 rushing yards , which was the most by a rookie in the 2010 NFL season . Blount became the second undrafted running back in NFL history to accumulate 1000 yards in his rookie year ( Dominic Rhodes was the first ) . Blount started off the 2011 season with only 5 carries for 15 yards against the Detroit Lions . The next week Blount reestablished his strong running ability with 13 carries for 71 yards and two touchdowns against the Minnesota Vikings . This includes the game @-@ winning touchdown with 30 seconds left to play . In week 5 in a game with the 49ers , Blount injured his knee after accumulating only 15 yards rushing and was forced to miss weeks 6 and 7 . Blount would ultimately return for the matchup with the New Orleans Saints . On November 20 , 2011 , Blount broke free from eight Green Bay Packers tacklers and scored on a 54 @-@ yard touchdown run . = = = New England Patriots = = = On April 27 , 2013 , Blount was traded to the New England Patriots for Jeff Demps and a 7th round selection ( 229th overall ) in the 2013 NFL Draft . On December 29 , 2013 , Blount led the Patriots to a playoff bye with a win over the Buffalo Bills by rushing for 189 yards on 24 carries scoring 2 TDs and returning 2 kickoffs for 145 yards with a long of 83 yards . Blount set a franchise record for all @-@ purpose yards with 334 yards . His performance earned him NFL Ground Player of the Week honors . Blount finished the season with 772 rushing yards and a career @-@ high 7 touchdowns . = = = Pittsburgh Steelers = = = On March 28 , 2014 , Blount signed a two @-@ year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers . On August 20 , 2014 , Blount and fellow Steeler running back Le 'Veon Bell were arrested for marijuana possession . On November 17 , 2014 , Blount left the game against the Titans early . Blount was subsequently released by the Steelers as a result of his actions . Blount finished his short @-@ term Steelers tenure with 266 yards and 2 touchdowns . = = = Second stint with Patriots = = = On November 20 , 2014 , after clearing waivers , Blount signed a 2 @-@ year deal with the Patriots . Blount 's first game back with New England concluded in 78 yards on 12 carries and 2 touchdowns in a 34 @-@ 9 victory over the Detroit Lions . In his second season with Patriots , Blount rushed 60 times for 281 yards and 3 touchdowns . Although he had a relatively quiet game in the divisional round of the playoffs against the staunch Baltimore Ravens rushing defense in 2014 , Blount rebounded against the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship Game with 30 carries for 148 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns , as New England routed the Colts 45 @-@ 7 . In doing so , he became the New England Patriots franchise leader in postseason rushing touchdowns with 7 . At Super Bowl XLIX , Blount rushed 14 times for 40 yards as the Patriots defeated the Seattle Seahawks 28 @-@ 24 . On April 7 , 2015 , it was announced that Blount had been suspended for the first game of the 2015 season due to violation of the league 's substance abuse policy during his stint with the Steelers . After sitting out the first game and recording only 2 carries for 3 yards in the second , Blount scored a career high 3 rushing touchdowns on 18 carries for 78 yards against the Jaguars in week 3 . On December 15 , 2015 , it was reported that Blount was added to the Patriots ' injured / reserved list for the remainder of the season after suffering a left hip injury during the previous game against the Houston Texans . He ended the season having racked up 165 carries , 703 rushing yards , and 6 rushing touchdowns in 12 games . Blount re @-@ signed with the Patriots on a one @-@ year deal on April 12 , 2016 . = = Career statistics = = = = = Rushing = = = = = = Receiving = = =
= Pong = Pong is one of the earliest arcade video games and the very first sports arcade video game . It is a table tennis sports game featuring simple two @-@ dimensional graphics . While other arcade video games such as Computer Space came before it , Pong was one of the first video games to reach mainstream popularity . The aim is to defeat an opponent in a simulated table @-@ tennis game by earning a higher score . The game was originally manufactured by Atari , which released it in 1972 . Allan Alcorn created Pong as a training exercise assigned to him by Atari co @-@ founder Nolan Bushnell . Bushnell based the idea on an electronic ping @-@ pong game included in the Magnavox Odyssey , which later resulted in a lawsuit against Atari . Surprised by the quality of Alcorn 's work , Bushnell and Atari co @-@ founder Ted Dabney decided to manufacture the game . Pong quickly became a success and is the first commercially successful arcade video game machine , which helped to establish the video game industry along with the first home console , the Magnavox Odyssey . Soon after its release , several companies began producing games that copied Pong 's gameplay , and eventually released new types of games . As a result , Atari encouraged its staff to produce more innovative games . The company released several sequels that built upon the original 's gameplay by adding new features . During the 1975 Christmas season , Atari released a home version of Pong exclusively through Sears retail stores . It was also a commercial success and led to numerous copies . The game has been remade on numerous home and portable platforms following its release . Pong has been referenced and parodied in multiple television shows and video games , and has been a part of several video game and cultural exhibitions . = = Gameplay = = Pong is a two @-@ dimensional sports game that simulates table tennis . The player controls an in @-@ game paddle by moving it vertically across the left side of the screen , and can compete against either a computer @-@ controlled opponent or another player controlling a second paddle on the opposing side . Players use the paddles to hit a ball back and forth . The aim is for each player to reach eleven points before the opponent ; points are earned when one fails to return the ball to the other . = = Development and history = = Pong was the first game developed by Atari . After producing Computer Space , Bushnell decided to form a company to produce more games by licensing ideas to other companies . The first contract was with Bally Manufacturing Corporation for a driving game . Soon after the founding , Bushnell hired Allan Alcorn because of his experience with electrical engineering and computer science ; Bushnell and Dabney also had previously worked with him at Ampex . Prior to working at Atari , Alcorn had no experience with video games . To acclimate Alcorn to creating games , Bushnell gave him a project secretly meant to be a warm @-@ up exercise . Bushnell told Alcorn that he had a contract with General Electric for a product , and asked Alcorn to create a simple game with one moving spot , two paddles , and digits for score keeping . In 2011 , Bushnell stated that the game was inspired by previous versions of electronic tennis he had played before ; Bushnell played a version on a PDP @-@ 1 computer in 1964 while attending college . However , Alcorn has claimed it was in direct response to Bushnell 's viewing of the Magnavox Odyssey 's Tennis game . In May 1972 , Bushnell had visited the Magnavox Profit Caravan in Burlingame , California where he played the Magnavox Odyssey demonstration , specifically the table tennis game . Though he thought the game lacked quality , seeing it prompted Bushnell to assign the project to Alcorn . Alcorn first examined Bushnell 's schematics for Computer Space , but found them to be illegible . He went on to create his own designs based on his knowledge of transistor – transistor logic and Bushnell 's game . Feeling the basic game was too boring , Alcorn added features to give the game more appeal . He divided the paddle into eight segments to change the ball 's angle of return . For example , the center segments return the ball a 90 ° angle in relation to the paddle , while the outer segments return the ball at smaller angles . He also made the ball accelerate the longer it remained in play ; missing the ball reset the speed . Another feature was that the in @-@ game paddles were unable to reach the top of screen . This was caused by a simple circuit that had an inherent defect . Instead of dedicating time to fixing the defect , Alcorn decided it gave the game more difficulty and helped limit the time the game could be played ; he imagined two skilled players being able to play forever otherwise . Three months into development , Bushnell told Alcorn he wanted the game to feature realistic sound effects and a roaring crowd . Dabney wanted the game to " boo " and " hiss " when a player lost a round . Alcorn had limited space available for the necessary electronics and was unaware of how to create such sounds with digital circuits . After inspecting the sync generator , he discovered that it could generate different tones and used those for the game 's sound effects . To construct the prototype , Alcorn purchased a $ 75 Hitachi black @-@ and @-@ white television set from a local store , placed it into a 4 @-@ foot ( 1 @.@ 2 m ) wooden cabinet , and soldered the wires into boards to create the necessary circuitry . The prototype impressed Bushnell and Dabney so much that they felt it could be a profitable product and decided to test its marketability . In August 1972 , Bushnell and Alcorn installed the Pong prototype at a local bar , Andy Capp 's Tavern . They selected the bar because of their good working relation with the bar 's manager , Bill Gattis ; Atari supplied pinball machines to Gattis . Bushnell and Alcorn placed the prototype on one of the tables near the other entertainment machines : a jukebox , pinball machines , and Computer Space . The game was well received the first night and its popularity continued to grow over the next one and a half weeks . Bushnell then went on a business trip to Chicago to demonstrate Pong to executives at Bally and Midway Manufacturing ; he intended to use Pong to fulfill his contract with Bally , rather than the driving game . A few days later , the prototype began exhibiting technical issues and Gattis contacted Alcorn to fix it . Upon inspecting the machine , Alcorn discovered that the problem was the coin mechanism was overflowing with quarters . After hearing about the game 's success , Bushnell decided there would be more profit for Atari to manufacture the game rather than license it , but the interest of Bally and Midway had already been piqued . Bushnell decided to inform each of the two groups that the other was uninterested — Bushnell told the Bally executives that the Midway executives did not want it and vice versa — to preserve the relationships for future dealings . Upon hearing Bushnell 's comment , the two groups declined his offer . Bushnell had difficulty finding financial backing for Pong ; banks viewed it as a variant of pinball , which at the time the general public associated with the Mafia . Atari eventually obtained a line of credit from Wells Fargo that it used to expand its facilities to house an assembly line . The company announced Pong on 29 November 1972 . Management sought assembly workers at the local unemployment office , but was unable to keep up with demand . The first arcade cabinets produced were assembled very slowly , about ten machines a day , many of which failed quality testing . Atari eventually streamlined the process and began producing the game in greater quantities . By 1973 , they began shipping Pong to other countries with the aid of foreign partners . = = = Home version = = = After the success of Pong , Bushnell pushed his employees to create new products . In 1974 , Atari engineer Harold Lee proposed a home version of Pong that would connect to a television : Home Pong . The system began development under the codename Darlene , named after an attractive female employee at Atari . Alcorn worked with Lee to develop the designs and prototype , and based them on the same digital technology used in their arcade games . The two worked in shifts to save time and money ; Lee worked on the design 's logic during the day , while Alcorn debugged the designs in the evenings . After the designs were approved , fellow Atari engineer Bob Brown assisted Alcorn and Lee in building a prototype . The prototype consisted of a device attached to a wooden pedestal containing over a hundred wires , which would eventually be replaced with a single chip designed by Alcorn and Lee ; the chip had yet to be tested and built before the prototype was constructed . The chip was finished in the latter half of 1974 , and was , at the time , the highest @-@ performing chip used in a consumer product . Bushnell and Gene Lipkin , Atari 's vice @-@ president of sales , approached toy and electronic retailers to sell Home Pong , but were rejected . Retailers felt the product was too expensive and would not interest consumers . Atari contacted the Sears Sporting Goods department after noticing a Magnavox Odyssey advertisement in the sporting goods section of its catalog . Atari staff discussed the game with a representative , Tom Quinn , who expressed enthusiasm and offered the company an exclusive deal . Believing they could find more favorable terms elsewhere , Atari 's executives declined and continued to pursue toy retailers . In January 1975 , Atari staff set up a Home Pong booth at a toy trade fair in New York City , but was unsuccessful in soliciting orders due to the fact that they did not know that they needed a private showing . While at the show , they met Quinn again , and , a few days later , set up a meeting with him to obtain a sales order . In order to gain approval from the Sporting Goods department , Quinn suggested Atari demonstrate the game to executives in Chicago . Alcorn and Lipkin traveled to the Sears Tower and , despite a technical complication in connection with an antenna on top of the building which broadcast on the same channel as the game , obtained approval . Bushnell told Quinn he could produce 75 @,@ 000 units in time for the Christmas season ; however , Quinn requested double the amount . Though Bushnell knew Atari lacked the capacity to manufacture 150 @,@ 000 units , he agreed . Atari acquired a new factory through funding obtained by venture capitalist Don Valentine . Supervised by Jimm Tubb , the factory fulfilled the Sears order . The first units manufactured were branded with Sears ' " Tele @-@ Games " name . Atari later released a version under its own brand in 1976 . = = = Lawsuit from Magnavox = = = The success of Pong attracted the attention of Ralph Baer , the inventor of the Magnavox Odyssey , and his employer , Sanders Associates . Sanders had an agreement with Magnavox to handle the Odyssey 's sublicensing , which included dealing with infringement on its exclusive rights . However , Magnavox had not pursued legal action against Atari and numerous other companies that released Pong clones . Sanders continued to apply pressure , and in April 1974 Magnavox filed suit against Atari , Bally Midway , Allied Leisure and Chicago Dynamics . Magnavox argued that Atari had infringed on Baer 's patents and his concept of electronic ping @-@ pong based on detailed records Sanders kept of the Odyssey 's design process dating back to 1966 . Other documents included depositions from witnesses and a signed guest book that demonstrated Bushnell had played the Odyssey 's table tennis game prior to releasing Pong . In response to claims that he saw the Odyssey , Bushnell later stated that , " The fact is that I absolutely did see the Odyssey game and I didn 't think it was very clever . " After considering his options , Bushnell decided to settle with Magnavox out of court . Bushnell 's lawyer felt they could win ; however , he estimated legal costs of US $ 1 @.@ 5 million , which would have exceeded Atari 's funds . Magnavox offered Atari an agreement to become a licensee for US $ 700 @,@ 000 . Other companies producing " Pong clones " — Atari 's competitors — would have to pay royalties . In addition , Magnavox would obtain the rights to Atari products developed over the next year . Magnavox continued to pursue legal action against the other companies , and proceedings began shortly after Atari 's settlement in June 1976 . The first case took place at the district court in Chicago , with Judge John Grady presiding . To avoid Magnavox obtaining rights to its products , Atari decided to delay the release of its products for a year , and withheld information from Magnavox 's attorneys during visits to Atari facilities . = = Impact and legacy = = The Pong arcade games manufactured by Atari were a great success . The prototype was well received by Andy Capp 's Tavern patrons ; people came to the bar solely to play the game . Following its release , Pong consistently earned four times more revenue than other coin @-@ operated machines . Bushnell estimated that the game earned US $ 35 – 40 per day , which he described as nothing he 'd ever seen before in the coin @-@ operated entertainment industry at the time . The game 's earning power resulted in an increase in the number of orders Atari received . This provided Atari with a steady source of income ; the company sold the machines at three times the cost of production . By 1973 , the company had filled 2 @,@ 500 orders , and , at the end of 1974 , sold more than 8 @,@ 000 units . The arcade cabinets have since become collector 's items with the cocktail @-@ table version being the rarest . Soon after the game 's successful testing at Andy Capp 's Tavern , other companies began visiting the bar to inspect it . Similar games appeared on the market three months later , produced by companies like Ramtek and Nutting Associates . Atari could do little against the competitors as they had not initially filed for patents on the solid state technology used in the game . When the company did file for patents , complications delayed the process . As a result , the market consisted primarily of " Pong clones " ; author Steven Kent estimated that Atari had produced less than a third of the machines . Bushnell referred to the competitors as " Jackals " because he felt they had an unfair advantage . His solution to competing against them was to produce more innovative games and concepts . Home Pong was an instant success following its limited 1975 release through Sears ; around 150 @,@ 000 units were sold that holiday season . The game became Sears ' most successful product at the time , which earned Atari a Sears Quality Excellence Award . Similar to the arcade version , several companies released clones to capitalize on the home console 's success , many of which continued to produce new consoles and video games . Magnavox re @-@ released their Odyssey system with simplified hardware and new features , and would later release updated versions . Coleco entered the video game market with their Telstar console ; it features three Pong variants and was also succeeded by newer models . Nintendo released the Color TV Game 6 in 1977 , which plays six variations of electronic tennis . The next year , it was followed by an updated version , the Color TV Game 15 , which features fifteen variations . The systems were Nintendo 's entry into the home video game market and the first to produce themselves — they had previously licensed the Magnavox Odyssey . The dedicated Pong consoles and the numerous clones have since become varying levels of rare ; Atari 's Pong consoles are common , while APF Electronics ' TV Fun consoles are moderately rare . Prices among collectors , however , vary with rarity ; the Sears Tele @-@ Games versions are often cheaper than those with the Atari brand . Several publications consider Pong the game that launched the video game industry as a lucrative enterprise . Video game author David Ellis sees the game as the cornerstone of the video game industry 's success , and called the arcade game " one of the most historically significant " titles . Kent attributes the " arcade phenomenon " to Pong and Atari 's games that followed it , and considers the release of the home version the successful beginning of home video game consoles . Bill Loguidice and Matt Barton of Gamasutra referred to the game 's release as the start of a new entertainment medium , and commented that its simple , intuitive gameplay made it a success . Entertainment Weekly named Pong one of the top ten games for the Atari 2600 in 2013 . Many of the companies that produced their own versions of Pong eventually became well @-@ known within the industry . Nintendo entered the video game market with clones of Home Pong . The revenue generated from them — each system sold over a million units — helped the company survive a difficult financial time , and spurred them to pursue video games further . After seeing the success of Pong , Konami decided to break into the arcade game market and released its first title , Maze . Its moderate success drove the company to develop more titles . Pong has also been used in programming classrooms to teach the fundamentals of languages such as Java and C + + . Bushnell felt that Pong was especially significant in its role as a social lubricant , since it was multiplayer @-@ only and did not require each player to use more than one hand : " It was very common to have a girl with a quarter in hand pull a guy off a bar stool and say , ' I 'd like to play Pong and there 's nobody to play . ' It was a way you could play games , you were sitting shoulder to shoulder , you could talk , you could laugh , you could challenge each other ... As you became better friends , you could put down your beer and hug . You could put your arm around the person . You could play left @-@ handed if you so desired . In fact , there are a lot of people who have come up to me over the years and said , ' I met my wife playing Pong , ' and that 's kind of a nice thing to have achieved . " = = = Sequels and remakes = = = Bushnell felt the best way to compete against imitators was to create better products , leading Atari to produce sequels in the years followings the original 's release : Pong Doubles , Super Pong , Ultra Pong , Quadrapong , and Pin @-@ Pong . The sequels feature similar graphics , but include new gameplay elements ; for example , Pong Doubles allows four players to compete in pairs , while Quadrapong has them compete against each other in a four way field . Bushnell also conceptualized a free @-@ to @-@ play version of Pong to entertain children in a Doctor 's office . He initially titled it Snoopy Pong and fashioned the cabinet after Snoopy 's doghouse with the character on top , but retitled it to Puppy Pong and altered Snoopy to a generic dog to avoid legal action . Bushnell later used the game in his chain of Chuck E. Cheese 's restaurants . In 1976 , Atari released Breakout , a single @-@ player variation of Pong where the object of the game is to remove bricks from a wall by hitting them with a ball . Like Pong , Breakout was followed by numerous clones that copied the gameplay : Arkanoid , Alleyway , Break ' Em All . Atari remade the game on numerous platforms . In 1977 , Pong and several variants of the game were featured in Video Olympics , one of the original release titles for the Atari 2600 . Pong has also been included in several Atari compilations on platforms including the Sega Mega Drive , PlayStation Portable , Nintendo DS , and personal computer . Through an agreement with Atari , Bally Gaming and Systems developed a slot machine version of the game . The Atari developed TD Overdrive includes Pong as an extra game to be played during the loading screen . In 1999 , the game was remade for home computers and the PlayStation with 3D graphics and power @-@ ups . In 2012 , Atari celebrated the 40th anniversary of Pong by releasing Pong World . = = = In fantasy = = = Pong has appeared in several facets of popular culture . The game is prominently featured in episodes of television series : That ' 70s Show , King of the Hill , and Saturday Night Live . In 2006 , an American Express commercial featured Andy Roddick in a tennis match against the white , in @-@ game paddle . Other video games have also referenced and parodied Pong ; for example Neuromancer for the Commodore 64 and Banjo @-@ Kazooie : Nuts and Bolts for the Xbox 360 . The concert event Video Games Live has performed audio from Pong as part of a special retro " Classic Arcade Medley " . Frank Black 's song " Whatever Happened to Pong ? " on the album Teenager of the Year heavily references the game 's elements . Dutch design studio Buro Vormkrijgers created a Pong @-@ themed clock as a fun project within their offices . After the studio decided to manufacture it for retail , Atari took legal action in February 2006 . The two companies eventually reached an agreement in which Buro Vormkrijgers could produce a limited number under license . In 1999 , French artist Pierre Huyghe created an installation entitled " Atari Light " , in which two people use handheld gaming devices to play Pong on an illuminated ceiling . The work was shown at the Venice Biennale in 2001 , and the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Castilla y León in 2007 . The game was included in the London Barbican Art Gallery 's 2002 Game On exhibition meant to showcase the various aspects of video game history , development , and culture .
= Trijata = In the Hindu epic Ramayana , Trijata ( Sanskrit : त ् रिजटा , Trijaṭā ) is a rakshasi ( demoness ) who is assigned the duty of guarding the kidnapped princess and goddess Sita , the heroine of the epic . Sita , the consort of Rama ( the prince of Ayodhya and an avatar of the god Vishnu ) , has been abducted by Ravana of Lanka , a demon king whom Trijata serves . In the Ramayana , Trijata appears as a wise old rakshasi , who dreams of Ravana 's destruction and Rama 's victory . She accompanies Sita on a survey of the battlefield of the war between Rama and Ravana , and reassures Sita of Rama 's well @-@ being when Sita sees her husband unconscious and presumes him dead . In later Ramayana adaptations , Trijata becomes the daughter of Vibhishana , the brother of Ravana who sides with Rama . She plays a much greater role in later versions , especially Southeast Asian ones . Barring a few exceptions where Trijata is cast as Ravana 's agent , she is generally portrayed as a friend and loyal companion of Sita in her adversity . On numerous occasions , she offers solace to Sita and brings news from the outside world ; she also dissuades Sita from committing suicide . After Rama 's victory and Ravana 's death , Trijata is richly rewarded by Sita and Rama . While some Ramayana adaptations mention her being a devotee of Rama , Southeast Asian versions often depict her as the wife of Rama 's monkey general Hanuman , whom she bears a son . She is worshipped as a local goddess in Varanasi and Ujjain ; both in India . = = Names = = While Indian , Javanese and Balinese versions of the Ramayana call her Trijata , she is known as Punukay in the Laotian Phra Lak Phra Lam , Benyaki in the Thai Ramakien and Devi Seri Jali in the Malay Hikayat Seri Rama . = = The Ramayana = = In the original Ramayana by Valmiki , Trijata is described as an aged rakshasi ( demoness ) who is prominently featured in two incidents . The first takes place in the Sundara Kanda , the epic 's fifth book . The kidnapped princess Sita is imprisoned in the Ashoka Vatika of Lanka . The demon @-@ king of Lanka , Ravana has ordered the raskshasis who guard Sita to convince her to marry him by any means possible , since Sita adamantly refuses and is still faithful to her husband Rama . After Ravana leaves , the rakshasis start to harass Sita to compel her to change her will . The aged Trijata intervenes and narrates a prophetic dream that predicts Ravana 's doom and Rama 's victory . In her dream , Trijata sees Rama and his brother Lakshmana riding the celestial elephant Airavata toward Sita . Rama takes Sita in his lap and rises high in the sky , allowing Sita to touch the Sun and the Moon . Then the trio ride to Lanka and get into the Pushpaka Vimana ( aerial chariot of Ravana ) to fly towards the north , while Ravana , drenched in oil and with a red complexion , lies on the ground . Ravana then heads south on a donkey and falls in a pit of dung . A black woman in a red saree , drags him to the south . Other members of Ravana 's family , like his brother Kumbhakarna and son Indrajit , face similar fates . Ravana 's brother Vibishana is seen in regal white garments , riding a four tusked elephant near the Pushpaka Vimana . The city of Lanka drowns in the ocean and a monkey ( vanara ) messenger of Rama burns the city . Trijata advises the rakshasis to take refuge in Sita and apologize to her ; in turn , Sita promises that if Trijata 's dream materializes , she will protect her rakshasi guards . The second incident is found in the sixth book , Yuddha Kanda . Rama and his brother Lakshmana come with a monkey army to rescue Sita from the clutches of the demon @-@ king . On the first day of war , Ravana 's son Indrajit binds the brothers with the weapon Nagapasha ( serpent @-@ noose ) and the brothers lose consciousness . Ravana sends Sita with Trijata to see the battlefield . Thinking her husband is dead , Sita laments , but is reassured by Trijata that the brothers are still alive . Trijata expresses her love for Sita and tells her that the captive 's " moral character and gentle nature " have compelled her to love her . = = Trijata and Vibhishana = = In the Ramayana , Sita has few other rakshasi benefactors besides Trijata . When Hanuman – the monkey @-@ general of Rama who was tasked to find Sita – meets her in Lanka , she tells him that the wife of Vibhishana ( the brother of Ravana who sides with Rama in the war ) sent her daughter Kala ( in other recensions of the Ramayana , known as Nanda or Anala ) to proclaim Ravana 's intention to not surrender Sita to Rama , despite the advice of the wise minister Avindhya and Vibhisana . Another friend , Sarama , consoles Sita when Ravana shows Sita an illusory severed head of Rama . She also informs her of Rama 's well @-@ being and his entry in Lanka with his army . In some versions of the Ramayana , an interpolated canto mentions how Sarama also tells Sita of the burning of Lanka by Hanuman after his meeting with Sita . Ravana 's wife Mandodari is described to have rescued Sita in some versions , when Ravana tries to kill Sita . In later Rama @-@ centric literature , Sarama was identified as Vibishana 's wife , while Trijata was regarded as his daughter . The Tamil epic Kamba Ramayana , Govindaraja 's commentary on the Ramayana ( Bhushana ) , the Oriya Balaramadasa Ramayana , the Javanese Kakawin Ramayana and the Malay Seri Rama all accord the status of Vibhishana 's daughter to Trijata , a trend generally followed by post @-@ Ramayana literature . Though Govindaraja 's commentary on the Ramayana states that Trijata is Vibhishana 's daughter in the epic , Goldman considers this " strange " given her advanced age in the original epic . A few works relate Trijata to Vibhishana in a position other than his daughter . The Ananda Ramayana and the Marathi Bhavartha Ramayana of Eknath regard Trijata as the wife and the sister of Vibhishana ( thus sister of Ravana ) respectively . The Jain version , the Vasudevahindi of Samghadasa Gani , says Trijata is a sister of Ravana , Vibhishana , Kumbhakarna , and Shurpanakha . Jayamangala 's commentary on the Bhattikavya also describes Trijata as Ravana 's sister . = = Trijata and Sita = = In later literature , Trijata plays the roles which were attributed to Kala , Sarama , and Mandodari in the original Ramayana . She becomes a more important character in Southeast Asian versions of the Ramayana , particularly in Indonesian retellings such as the Kakawin Ramayana . In the Ramopakhyana ( the narrative of Rama in the epic Mahabharata ) , Sita informs Hanuman that Trijata brought her a message from Avindhya about the well @-@ being of Rama , and that he and Lakshamana will soon come to rescue her from Lanka . Trijata thus assumes the role assigned to Kala in the original Ramayana . The Raghuvamsa , the Setubandha , the Balaramadasa Ramayana , the Kakawin Ramayana and the Seri Rama all replace Sarama with Trijata in the episode where the truth of the illusory head of Rama is revealed to Sita . The Prasannaraghava has Trijata inform Sita about the burning of Lanka , instead of Sarama . The Balaramadasa Ramayana makes Trijata the saviour of Sita , when she stops Ravana from killing Sita in the Ashoka Vatika ; this role was originally assigned to Mandodari . Trijata again saves Sita 's life when a vengeful Ravana rushes to slay his captive after his son Indrajit is killed in the war . In the Ramayana , Suparshva – a minister of Ravana – stops him , while other adaptations attribute the act variously to Avindhya or Mandodari . Besides crediting Trijata for acts attributed to others in the original epic , later literature adds new elements which grant Trijata a bigger role . In the Ramayana , just before meeting Hanuman , the thought of suicide crosses Sita 's mind , but she never attempts it . In the Prasannaraghava , Trijata and Sita engage in a " friendly conversation " before Ravana comes to meet her . After Ravana 's departure , Sita tells Trijata of her intent to commit suicide and urges Trijata to help her create a wood pyre . Trijata , however , refuses , saying there is not enough firewood . The Kakawin Ramayana also narrates that , when Sita sees the illusory severed heads of Rama and Lakshmana , she prepares a pyre . Trijata is ready to die with Sita , but first wants to inform her father Vibhishana . She returns with the news of Rama 's well @-@ being . Later on , after seeing Rama and Lakshmana bound by Indrajit 's Nagapasha , Sita instructs Trijata to again create a pyre , but Trijata holds off until she can confirm the truth from her father , and returns with the news that Rama is alive . Many adaptations of the Ramayana narrate the friendship and companionship developed between Trijata and Sita . Trijata fulfils two important objectives : she comforts Sita and constantly updates Sita about the happenings of the war and the welfare of Rama . The Balaramadasa Ramayana describes Trijata assuaging Sita 's grief when they hear that Indrajit has wounded Rama and Lakshmana a second time . In the Balaramayana of Rajasekhara , Trijata employs two rakshasas to bring her news from the battlefield . The Ananda Ramayana narrates that , upon hearing Lakshmana 's conch sound , Sita urges Trijata to find out what has happened . Trijata learns of the death of Indrajit by Lakshmana and passes the news to Sita . The Ramcharitmanas of Tulsidas also depicts Trijata breaking the news of Indrajit 's death to Sita , upon her inquiry . In another episode in the text , the two discuss the impending duel between Rama and Ravana on the final day of war . Sita is concerned that the ten @-@ headed Ravana is invincible and will magically regrow his severed heads . Trijata reassures Sita that Rama will slay Ravana by shooting an arrow through the demon @-@ king 's heart . The text emphasizes that Trijata is a devotee of Rama , a feature also found in the Bhavartha Ramayana . The Kakawin Ramayana says that , when Sita is tormented by her 300 rakshasi guards , only Trijata comes to her rescue and offers her solace , keeping her company and playing games with her . In the Seri Rama , Trijata ( here called " Dewi Srijati " ) is in charge of Sita 's custody in Lanka . Sita tells Ravana that she will not even consider Ravana 's marriage proposal while her husband is alive , and will believe he 's dead only if she sees his head in Ravana 's hands . To trick Sita , Ravana visits her with two heads and proclaims that they belong to Rama and Lakshmana , but Trijata stops him and asks him to return the next day . She presents the heads to Sita , who decides to commit suicide , but Trijata asks her to wait until she can verify the truth . Carrying Sita 's dagger , she meets Rama and in return receives a girdle woven by Sita from Rama . She is carried back to Lanka by Hanuman . When Ravana arrives the next day , Trijana rebukes him for his deception and informs him that she had met Rama herself the previous day . An enraged Ravana tries to kill Trijata , who runs and seeks refuge in Sita , who takes all the blame . Trijata is recused of her duties and Sita is transferred to an iron castle , guarded by an army commanded by one of Ravana 's ministers . = = Trijata as Ravana 's agent = = While Trijata is generally portrayed in a positive light , the early Jain versions of the Ramayana either ignore her or demonize her as an agent of Ravana . Svayambhudeva 's Paumacriu , as well as Hemachandra 's Yogashastra and Ramayana , say that when Hanuman meets Sita and shows her Rama 's signet @-@ ring , Sita is overjoyed ; Trijata reports this to her master Ravana . Hemachandra emphasizes that Trijata 's job was to " tempt " Sita at Ravana 's behest . The Krittivasi Ramayana , possibly influenced by Jain narratives , portrays Trijata appealing to Sita to wed Ravana and rule as the queen of Lanka ; it is Sarama who functions as Sita 's friend in this version . = = After the war = = Numerous Ramayana adaptations record the gratitude of Sita and Rama who reward Trijata richly . In the Mahabharata version , Trijata is rewarded and honoured by Rama at the end of the war . The Balaramayana mentions that after the war , Trijata accompanies Sita to her kingdom Ayodhya in the Pushpaka Vimana ; Rama uses the Pushpaka Vimana to return to Ayodhya . In the Ananda Ramayana , both Trijata and Sarama journey to Ayodhya in the Pushpaka Vimana . Later , when Sita visits Lanka , she tells Sarama to treat Trijata as if she would her . The Kakawin Ramayana mentions how Trijata is honoured with rich gifts by Sita at Ayodhya as her loyal companion and solace , and the one who saved her life twice . The oldest Indian manuscript to mention Trijata 's presence in Ayodhya is the Paumacriu . Many suggest that , after Sita 's exile and the subsequent battle between Rama and his sons , Sita be reaccepted by Rama . Trijata and Lankasundari are called from Lanka to attest to Sita 's chastity and both of them suggest an ordeal to convince the world of her purity . In the Thai Ramakien , Hanuman helps Vibhishana ( here called Phipek ) kill a demon . Hanuman then marries Trijata ( Benchakai ) ; their union results in the birth of a son , Asurapada , a demon with a monkey head . In the Malay version , after the great war , Vibhishana requests that Hanuman wed his daughter Trijata ( Seri Jati ) . Hanuman agrees , on the condition that he remain with her for only a month . While Hanuman leaves for Ayodhya with Rama , Trijata gives birth to his son Hanuman Tegangga ( Asurapada ) . The Javanese Wayang golek puppet tradition also portrays Trijata as the wife of Hanuman . = = Remembrance and assessment = = Trijata is remembered as a friend and loyal companion of Sita in her time of need . Camille Bulcke , an expert on the literature of Rama , summarizes Trijata 's character : For more than twenty centuries the poets , who retold the Rāma @-@ story , have dealt lovingly on Trijatā 's friendship for Sītā . [ ... ] [ Trijatā ] conquered the heart of those poets , and through them , the heart of all those who become acquainted with the Rāma @-@ story . [ ... ] the poets of the Rāmāyana [ ... ] conferred on the humble Trijatā the boon of immortality . No dream is better known in India than the dream of Trijatā , who will live for ever in the hearts of millions as the ideal of a true friend , because she comforted Sītā in her darkest hour : A FRIEND IN NEED IS A FRIEND INDEED . A temple dedicated to Trijata ( called Tirjata in this region ) is situated near the Kashi Vishwanath Temple , the most prominent temple in Varanasi . As per local lore , Trijata wanted to accompany Sita to Ayodhya , but Sita said that she would not be allowed in Ayodhya as she was a demoness . Sita suggested her to visit Varanasi and attain moksha ( emancipation ) and blessed her to be worshipped as a goddess . Trijata enjoys daily worship as a local goddess . Flowers and green vegetables are offered to appease her . Women - who worship at her shrine for seven consecutive Wednesdays - are believed to be blessed with progeny and with the goddess ' protective glaze on their family . Many devotees flock the shrine on Kartik Poornima , the last day of the Hindu month of Kartik and its next day , the first day of Margashirsha month . It is believed that the goddess will fulfill the wishes of all who worship at her shrine , after paying obeisance at Kashi Vishwanath Temple on Kartik Poornima . On the first day of Margashirsha , worshippers who had observed a vrata ( fast ) in the previous month of Kartik conclude the vrata by bathing in the Ganges at the Dashashwamedh Ghat in the name of Trijata . Local lore holds that Rama granted a boon to Trijata : those who do not bathe in her honour after observing the vrata will lose all merit ( punya ) – gained from the fast – to her . A temple of Trijata also exists in the temple complex of Balveer Hanuman Temple , Ujjain . Special puja ( worship rituals ) is offered to the goddess for 3 days , starting from Kartik Poornima . In the Telugu Sita Puranamu , Ramaswami Chaudari portrays Trijata as the daughter of the Dravidian Vibhishana and the Aryan Gandharva Sarama . Trijata , a half @-@ Aryan , is labelled a traitor , who betrays her uncle Ravana and helps Sita . Vibhishana 's betrayal towards his brother and defection to Rama is also blamed on his Aryan wife .
= Public Relations ( Mad Men ) = " Public Relations " is the season premiere of the fourth season of the American television drama series Mad Men , and the 40th overall episode of the series . It was written by series creator and executive producer Matthew Weiner , and directed by Phil Abraham . It originally aired on AMC in the United States on July 25 , 2010 . The episode takes place in November 1964 , as the advertisement agency Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce has just started up , and Don Draper ( Jon Hamm ) is struggling with his divorce . The agency partners are concerned about the narrow breadth of their client base , which is not helped by Don coming across as less than sympathetic in an interview with a trade magazine . Peggy Olson ( Elisabeth Moss ) attempts a viral marketing stunt to bring back a disgruntled client , with unexpected repercussions . Meanwhile , Don 's ex @-@ wife Betty ( January Jones ) is struggling to fit in with her new family , and Don encounters problems in his romantic life . " Public Relations " was heavily promoted in the weeks leading up to its airing , with an endorsement by President Obama and product tie @-@ in by Mattel toys helping with publicity . Weiner expressed displeasure with what he considered a media revelation of plot details , though other journalists called his objections unwarranted . " Public Relations " was critically acclaimed by television critics , who expressed that the series returned to form . Upon airing , the episode was viewed by 2 @.@ 92 million viewers and attained a 0 @.@ 9 rating in the 18 @-@ 49 demographic , according to Nielsen ratings . = = Plot = = Don Draper ( Jon Hamm ) is being interviewed by a reporter from Advertising Age and declines to speak about his personal life . As a result , he comes across as arrogant and a cipher in the published story , a fact that senior partners Roger Sterling ( John Slattery ) and Bert Cooper ( Robert Morse ) lament . The effects of the bad publicity is brought home just after Harry Crane ( Rich Sommer ) has sold a Jai Alai special to ABC , but it must be pulled because the client , Pete Campbell 's ( Vincent Kartheiser ) college friend , Horace Cook Jr . , nicknamed " Ho Ho " , fires the agency because Draper did not mention the client in his interview . Because of the agency 's narrow client base , the loss is financially detrimental . Bert suggests Don do an interview with The Wall Street Journal to make amends , but Don demurs . Later , Peggy Olson ( Elisabeth Moss ) comes up with an idea to regain the Sugarberry Ham account . She hires two actresses to fight over a ham in a grocery store . The plan goes awry when the fight turns real and one of the women sues the other for assault , and Peggy has to ask Don for bail and hush money . Don disapproves of the stunt ( which was carried out behind his back ) , but Peggy points out that they did retain the account . Don settles in as a bachelor after last season 's divorce from his wife Betty ( January Jones ) . Roger sets him up on a date with a friend of his wife Jane . After the date , Bethany ( Anna Camp ) expresses interest in seeing Don again , but rejects his sexual advances . On Thanksgiving Day , Don spends time with a prostitute , and Betty has problems fitting in with the family of her new husband Henry ( Christopher Stanley ) . At Thanksgiving dinner with his family , Betty 's daughter Sally ( Kiernan Shipka ) makes a scene when she complains about the food . Henry 's mother later privately expresses displeasure with her son 's new wife , observing that her children are clearly scared of her . The next day , Don picks up his two oldest children for an overnight visit , and Don is disappointed he can 't see baby Gene , whom Betty sent to Carla 's . Betty curtly tells Don to have the kids back by 9 . When he returns the next evening , the house is empty and he has to wait for Betty and Henry to come back . When they return , at 10 : 30 pm , an argument ensues about the house ; Don angrily reminds them they were supposed to be out a month ago , and to either buy him out , pay him rent , or leave . A minor argument later sparks between Henry and Betty , when Henry agrees with Don 's point . Betty stubbornly reiterates that they will leave on her time , not Don 's . A different client , Jantzen swimwear , asks for help to maintain a family @-@ friendly image in a field where bikinis are becoming more common and more revealing . Don Draper tries to sell a pitch wherein the model 's breasts are covered by the slogan , " So well built , we can 't show you the second floor " . The Jantzen representatives reject the ad as overly risque , and Draper - exasperated by the clients ' refusal to acknowledge a changing culture and the realities of their business - ends up throwing the men out of the meeting room . As they leave , he finally agrees to do the interview with The Wall Street Journal . As the episode ends , Don is seen telling the journalist the swashbuckling story of how he instigated the formation of SCDP by having Lane Pryce fire them . = = Production = = " Public Relations " was heavily advertised in the weeks prior to its broadcasting . Producers of the series ' entered into a cross @-@ promotional deal with Banana Republic , and Janie Bryant , the show 's costume designer , collaborated with QVC to design a clothing line inspired by mod subculture . President Barack Obama , a fan of Mad Men , had sent series creator Matthew Weiner a letter to express his admiration . Attention was further boosted by the release of a series of Barbie dolls based on characters from the show by toy manufacturer Mattel . A week prior to the premiere of the episode , recurring cast member Crista Flanagan ( who plays Lois Sadler ) posed nude for Playboy . Screenings for the episode was shown in Los Angeles , California on July 21 , 2010 , and again five days later at Duffy Square in New York City an hour before it was televised nationwide . An estimated 10 @,@ 000 people appeared at the screening in New York City . The designs of costumes were altered , according to Bryant , to reflect the general fashion development and changes in mainstream pop culture during the 1960s . In an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle , she teased : " My characters are in an office environment in New York ; it 's very different from what was going on in London at the time . But there will be some progression in their costumes , just like in real life . The press were given advanced copies of the episode . Matthew Weiner pronounced himself shocked by what he considered spoilers in the review . Weiner criticized the episode 's review by Alessandra Stanley of the New York Times , expressing that the publication revealed too much information . He continued : " I 'm kind of powerless . It 's the bargain you make . I wanted to have press , and it was nice to get that kind of space with those pictures . The alternative is not to share these things with the press any more – but how can you expect journalists to write about the show if you don ’ t ? It was all very disappointing to me . " Public Relations " features several references to media , music , film , and other pop culture phenomena . Peggy and a coworker engage in a humorous conversation , in which they subsequently refer to " A Dear John and Marsha Letter " by Stan Freberg . The episode depicts the growing acceptance of the bikini in mainstream popular culture in the United States during the 1960s . = = Reception = = " Public Relations " first aired in the United States on July 25 , 2010 on AMC . It was watched by 2 @.@ 92 million viewers , and attained a 0 @.@ 9 rating in the 18 @-@ 49 demographic , according to Nielsen ratings . Total viewership increased 5 % from the previous season premiere , " Out of Town " , which was viewed by 2 @.@ 76 million viewers . In contrast , ratings for " Public Relations " were constant to that of " Out of Town " . Likewise , total viewership were significantly up from the previous episode , " Shut the Door . Have a Seat " , which attained 2 @.@ 32 million viewers . The episode was critically acclaimed by television critics . Alessandra Stanley of the New York Times opined , " Those cues also hold out the promise that the coming season will once again pivot the story on the workplace . It ’ s where Mad Men started and where it was best . A fresh start at the rat race is just what the series needs . " Eric Goldman of IGN gave the episode a nine out of ten , signifying an " amazing " rating . Goldman felt that it start of the season on a strong note , writing , " It 's a clever beat to start out with , leading into a strong premiere that quickly drops us into what can be described as Mad Men 2 @.@ 0 . " Praise was also directed to the musical selection of the episode , which Goldman described as excellent . In concurrence , Keith Phipps of The A.V. Club gave the episode an ' A ' grade , praising the character development of Don Draper and Peggy Olson . Expressing that she had more confidence , Phipps said of Peggy : " [ She 's ] the person who 's changed most notably over the last year . She drinks at work like the boys and [ ... ] goes into a Don @-@ like trance as she searches for inspiration . She bosses Joey around and tells him when he ’ s gone too far . And she ’ s not afraid to get creative to sell ham and wants credit for her idea , even if it encounters a minor disaster along the way . Most significantly , she ’ s standing up to Don at every turn now . He bullies her in front of her fiancé but hears about it later . And she provides a devastating mixture of admiration and chiding when she reminds Don that everyone at SCDP is there because of him and out of a desire to make him happy . " Similarly , James Poniewozik of Time praised the performance of Elisabeth Moss , exclaiming that " she has come a long way . " TV Fanatic 's Dan Forcella felt that " Public Relations " was an fantastic episode , and asserted : " All in all it was a great start to the fourth season of Mad Men . " In conclusion , Forcella gave the episode a 4 @.@ 5 out of 5 stars . The Wall Street Journal journalist Cheryl Berman opined that the episode had a " little bit of everything we love about Mad Men . " William Bradley wrote in The Huffington Post that the series got off to " a cracking start " with " Public Relations " . Similarly , Scott D. Pierce of the Deseret News found it to be " a very good episode and a very promising restart " , after what he considered a disappointing third season .
= George Lee ( journalist ) = George Lee ( born 27 September 1962 ) is an Irish economist , journalist , television and radio presenter , and former Fine Gael politician . He worked for RTÉ from 1992 to 2009 . He was appointed Economics Editor in 1996 . During his time in RTÉ News and Current Affairs he was named Irish Journalist of the Year for uncovering a major tax evasion and overcharging scandal at National Irish Bank . He has also presented many documentary programmes for RTÉ . Lee became a Teachta Dála ( TD ) for the Dublin South constituency in June 2009 , winning a by @-@ election with a 53 @.@ 4 % majority and was referred to as a " celebrity TD " . On 8 February 2010 Lee announced his resignation both from Fine Gael and from Dáil Éireann , having spent nine months in politics . His reasoning was that he had " virtually no influence or input " . He returned to RTÉ in May 2010 , and presented Mind Your Business , followed by The Business on RTÉ Radio 1 from 2010 . = = Early and personal life = = Lee 's father was a motor mechanic and his mother was a hairdresser . Lee was the seventh in a family of eight children and grew up in Templeogue , Dublin . He attended Coláiste Éanna , a Christian Brothers ' School in the Dublin suburb of Ballyroan . Lee is a graduate of University College Dublin and holds an MSc in Economics from the London School of Economics where his specialist area was labour economics and unemployment . He is married to Mary Lee ( née Kitson ) , they have two children , Alison and Harry , and lives in Cabinteely . Lee famously travelled to work in RTÉ using a Segway , once giving it a test ride live on Tubridy Tonight . = = Career = = Lee joined the civil service as an executive officer in the Central Statistics Office . Two years later he started at University College Dublin where he studied economics under academics such as Brendan Walsh and Peter Neary . Prior to his move into broadcasting , he lectured in NUI , Galway and then worked as a journalist with The Sunday Business Post . Lee was also a Senior Economist at Riada Stockbrokers . He also worked as Treasury Economist with FTI and as a research economist with the Central Bank of Ireland . From 1992 to 2009 he worked in RTÉ , the public broadcasting service of Ireland . He was appointed Economics Editor with RTÉ in 1996 . Lee was named Irish Journalist of the Year , along with Charlie Bird , in 1998 after they uncovered a major tax evasion and overcharging scandal at National Irish Bank . He has devised , researched and presented several television series , including Moneybox , More To Do , Winds of Change , and Beyond the Berlin Wall . He is thought of as an " economics guru " . He left RTÉ " in the late 1990s " to work for BCP Stockbrokers . He left the job and returned to his RTÉ post the next day . Before embarking on his political career , he filmed a four @-@ part series based on the fall of the Berlin Wall in 2008 . It was aired on RTÉ One in November 2009 . George Lee was parodied in the 1990s comedy Bull Island , where he was seen " menacingly staring down the lens of a camera " , and has also been featured on RTÉ 2fm 's Nob Nation . = = = Political career = = = On 5 May 2009 on the News at One on RTÉ Radio 1 , Lee announced that he was resigning as Economic Editor with RTÉ and announced his intention to seek the Fine Gael nomination for the Dublin South by @-@ election in 2009 . Lee took a year 's unpaid leave from RTÉ in May 2009 . On 6 May 2009 Lee was chosen as the Fine Gael candidate for the by @-@ election . He was the only candidate for the nomination . He was elected on the first count to represent Dublin South on 6 June 2009 . He received over 53 % of the 1st preference vote . In total he received 27 @,@ 768 1st preference votes . His RTÉ position was filled by Europe editor Sean Whelan , but only as correspondent . Instead , David Murphy was promoted to Business Editor . When elected , Lee was referred to as a " Celebrity TD " . In an opinion poll concerning support for possible candidates in the 2011 presidential election conducted by the Sunday Independent in October 2009 , Lee came third , receiving 12 % support , in front of former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern among other high @-@ profile politicians . Lee highlighted the failure of EMPG , the holding company for US publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt , and the potential impact on the Irish taxpayers of the loans given by Anglo Irish Bank to the investors in EMPG on 13 January 2010 . Lee saw this as another example for the urgent need of an investigation into the Irish banking crisis . = = = Resignation from politics = = = On 8 February 2010 he announced his resignation from Fine Gael and from Dáil Éireann , due to having " virtually no influence or input " into shaping Fine Gael 's economic policies at a time of economic upheaval . It emerged that on 2 February , Lee met with the Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny and told him of his intention to resign . Kenny then offered Lee the frontbench position as spokesman on economic planning . Speaking to reporters outside Leinster House soon after his announcement , Lee said it would have been dishonest of him to accept the position : " I had absolutely no input for nine months . I think I had to be honest with myself and honest with the electorate about that and not pretend . " Asked if his resignation was a vote of no confidence in Kenny , Lee said there were " certainly lots of large mutterings at the moment in relation to the leader 's position " . He said he had " minimal involvement " with Fine Gael finance spokesman Richard Bruton . " I had a maximum of two or three conversations with Richard Bruton in a total nine months period . I don ’ t know how my relationship is with [ him ] " Lee said . Kenny noted Lee had been appointed chair of the party 's committee on economic policy and also its forum . " I had anticipated a very important role for [ George Lee ] in the coming period with Fine Gael . " Kenny 's spokesman later dismissed the proposition that the resignation had implications for his leadership . He cited the public endorsement of Kenny by 20 Dáil deputies over the course of the weekend . Former Fine Gael leader Michael Noonan said he was surprised at the decision : " I thought that George Lee was fitting in well " , adding that he believed he would have been a cabinet member in a Fine Gael @-@ led government . George Lee was criticised after his resignation by Senator Eoghan Harris , who was speaking on the Lunchtime programme of Newstalk Radio . Harris suggested financial considerations and long working hours of politicians were the reasons why Lee resigned . Fine Gael TD Brian Hayes , who was Lee 's campaign manager in the Dublin South by @-@ election , said that in discussions with Lee , the latter had complained about " a major reduction in his income " since leaving RTÉ to become a Dáil backbencher . Lee denied that financial considerations had anything to do with his decision to quit politics . = = = Return to RTÉ = = = RTÉ received a letter from Lee confirming his intentions to return after his leave of absence . The Sunday Tribune said on 14 February 2010 that he would have to wait for three months before returning to RTÉ . Exactly a year after leaving RTÉ , he returned to the broadcaster on 5 May 2010 . He worked as an advisor on the RTÉ business desk . He presented Mind Your Business on RTÉ Radio 1 on Saturday Mornings as a summer replacement for The Business . When John Murray moved to present his own programme , Lee took over The Business slot on 4 September 2010 on Saturday mornings on RTÉ Radio 1 . In addition to the radio edition , Lee has presented a televised version on RTÉ One , also titled The Business .
= Why Should the Fire Die ? = Why Should The Fire Die ? is the third major album release and fifth album overall by progressive acoustic trio Nickel Creek . The album was released on Sugar Hill on August 9 , 2005 in the United States , and on August 8 in the United Kingdom . Why Should the Fire Die ? is the first Nickel Creek album to feature string bassist Mark Schatz . The album peaked at # 17 on the Billboard 200 , making it the highest charting Nickel Creek album on the chart to date . Why Should the Fire Die ? also topped both the magazine 's Top Internet Albums and Top Bluegrass Albums charts . By November 2006 , the album had sold 258 @,@ 784 copies . The album earned Nickel Creek two Grammy Award nominations : the award for Best Contemporary Folk Album , an award which they previously won for This Side , and the award for Best Country Instrumental Performance ( " Scotch & Chocolate " ) . Why Should the Fire Die ? was praised by contemporary music critics primarily for its creativity , and for its instrumental quality , with one critic complimenting the album 's " sheer musical brilliance " . = = Conception and production = = In the time that Nickel Creek spent writing songs for Why Should the Fire Die ? , numerous songs did not make the cut , and only fourteen were used in the final draft of the album . When discussing the album , Sean Watkins said that the band " did so much co @-@ writing together and filtering . I mean there ’ s like 30 songs that didn ’ t get used . " After writing the songs , Sara Watkins said in her online journal that the trio spent five days " going over the details of the arrangements on each of the seventeen songs we 're seriously considering for the record and making good demos of each of them " . The band started recording the album in November 2004 , and the album was " completed , mixed , and mastered " by April 2005 . The recording for Why Should the Fire Die ? took place at Barefoot Recording in Los Angeles , California . In an interview with Rolling Stone , Thile said : " The studio needs to be dark . I don 't want to be reminded by my surroundings that what I 'm singing about isn 't happening right then . I like to really dissolve into the story . But the Jamesons I use more for keeping my vocal cords relaxed and clear . " The release of Why Should the Fire Die ? marked the first major Nickel Creek release with Alison Krauss absent as a producer . The album 's producing duties were carried out by Tony Berg and former Smash Mouth producer Eric Valentine . Sara Watkins stated in an interview with Paste Magazine that the producer change made for a " more congruent project overall " . The band attributed much of the credit for their morphing sound to both their new producers and Krauss . The album was not recorded digitally , but in a more old @-@ fashioned way using Telefunken microphones , and the special effects in the fiddle on the track " First and Last Waltz " was reel tape delay . = = Songs = = " When in Rome " , the opening track on Why Should the Fire Die ? , was chosen as the lead , and only single . The song 's title alludes to the American proverb " When in Rome , do as the Romans do " , and Chris Thile , the song 's author , said " The idea behind the song – and I do love it ! - is if there is something better , it 's worth leaning towards just a little bit because you 'll have a great time here regardless . " Critics commented on the song favorably , with George Graham saying that " When in Rome " has " rock energy level and some sonic manipulation , with hints of old @-@ time Appalachian music in the fiddle , while the lyrics are definitely in the rock mode . " The second track , " Somebody More Like You " was written by guitarist Sean Watkins . The break @-@ up song , written from Watkins ' perspective , was described as " scathing " , and like " Aimee Mann @-@ style modern pop " , with lyrics like " I hope you meet someone your height so you can see eye to eye / With someone as small as you " . Watkins said the song wasn 't written for anyone in particular , but said " I had this clever line and decided to build a song around it . " " Jealous of the Moon " , the third track , was co @-@ written by Chris Thile and Gary Louris of Jayhawks fame . This song was released as a promotional single in the United States . The fourth track and first instrumental on Why Should the Fire Die ? , " Scotch & Chocolate " , earned Nickel Creek a Grammy Award nomination for Best Country Instrumental . However , the song lost to the trio 's former record producer Alison Krauss with her band Union Station for " Unionhouse Branch " , from the band 's twelfth album , Lonely Runs Both Ways . As with the first three songs on the album , critics responded favorably to " Scotch & Chocolate " . Rolling Stone considered the song to be " Celtic @-@ infused " , Slant Magazine named it the best song on the album , and Stylus Magazine called it a " brisk , lively instrumental " . The latter also said the song was " every bit as physically exciting as Shooter Jennings or Big and Rich . " " Can 't Complain " , a Chris Thile @-@ composed piece , was the fifth track on Why Should the Fire Die ? . According to Sean Watkins , the song was written by Thile " from the point of view of a friend " . Unlike the first four songs on the album , the song received mixed reviews . Being There called it " nothing more than a generic ballad with little merit " , and PopMatters said that it was a " one @-@ too @-@ many Thile tune about screwed @-@ up relationships " . However , some critics found it amazing ; Village Voice called the song a " lushly arpeggiated ballad " . The sixth track , a Bob Dylan cover , " Tomorrow is a Long Time " , was the only track on the album not composed at least partially by one of the members of Nickel Creek . The track had previously been covered by " Watkins Family Hour " , a duo that consists of Sara Watkins and Sean Watkins , at their home base of Largo in Los Angeles . Both the album version and the live Watkins Family Hour version feature Sara Watkins as the lead vocalist . Watkins was heavily praised for her " graceful " and " beautifully " sung rendition of the song . " Eveline " , a tribute to the James Joyce short story of the same name , was the seventh track on the album . A Thile @-@ Sean Watkins composed piece , " Eveline " has been said to feature " irregular tunings " , and vocal harmonization that is similar to that on Radiohead 's OK Computer . Allmusic cited this track as the " brooding centerpiece " of the album . The eighth song and second instrumental on Why Should the Fire Die ? , " Stumptown " , was written by Chris Thile . The song was written as a tribute to Stumptown Coffee Roasters , Chris Thile 's favorite coffee house in the world . " Stumptown " is also the album 's shortest song , at one minute and forty three seconds . " Anthony " , the ninth track , is the only song recorded by Nickel Creek that was written solely by Sara Watkins . " Anthony " , which features a ukulele melody , was described by several critics to be " old @-@ timey " . One of three Thile @-@ Watkins @-@ Watkins composed pieces on the album , " Best Of Luck " was the tenth track on Why Should the Fire Die ? . Sara Watkins had the lead vocal for " Best Of Luck " , and was complimented by critics for her " snippy " and " assertive " vocal. prefix Magazine pegged the song to be the formula that makes " this album , and trio , unstoppable " . The eleventh track , " Doubting Thomas " , was written by Chris Thile and is named after Doubting Thomas , a biblical term . All the members of Nickel Creek came from devout Christian families , and the song is about questioning faith . The third and final instrumental , " First and Last Waltz " , is Why Should the Fire Die ? ' s twelfth track . One of the three songs written by all of Nickel Creek 's members , it comes before the penultimate track , " Helena " . At Nickel Creek 's concerts , the song was played as a segue into " Helena " . The album recording of " First And Last Waltz " has been called a " chilly effects @-@ draped recital piece " , due to its use of sound effects . " Helena " , the penultimate track , was written by Chris Thile . Producer Eric Valentine provided drumming duties for this song . Thile described the track to be what he considered " the ultimate climax " of Why Should the Fire Die ? , and some contemporary critics found the song to be the highlight of the album . The final song on Why Should the Fire Die ? , the title track , is a slow waltz . PopMatters described the song as being " gorgeously sung " , but " an odd choice to conclude a record that is so often bidding for the true fun of pop music " . = = Critical reception = = For the majority , Why Should the Fire Die ? received positive reviews from United States contemporary music critics . PopMatters said that the album was " hardly the stuff of mountain music " , and Village Voice described it to be " much sleeker , sexier , and more carefully assembled than work by the competition . " A review from the Houston Chronicle also stated that Why Should the Fire Die ? is " like Wilco with country rock and Radiohead with guitar riff rock , " and that " the trio has successfully proved the vitality of creative Darwinism . " Some critics even went as far as to call the album 's musical genre " emo @-@ grass " . The album also received much critical praise for its instrumental strength , with BBC stating that " what shines through immediately is the sheer musical brilliance . " The magazine Being There said that " like any good bluegrass band , Nickel Creek proves capable of playing rousing instrumentals . " BBC also discussed the difference between the three instrumentals featured on the album , stating " " First And Last Waltz " is smooth and dreamy , " Stumptown " is a merry little jig , and " Scotch And Chocolate " is just reel @-@ y ( sic ) good . " Reviews for Why Should the Fire Die ? also included praise of the album 's vocals , particularly Sara Watkins ' " snippy " , " beautifully sung " and " assertive " vocals on various tracks , and the trio 's vocal harmonization was also complimented . = = Track listing = = " When in Rome " ( Thile ) – 4 : 14 " Somebody More Like You " ( Sean Watkins ) – 3 : 01 " Jealous of the Moon " ( Gary Louris , Thile ) – 4 : 41 " Scotch & Chocolate " ( instrumental ) ( Thile , Sara Watkins ) – 3 : 07 " Can 't Complain " ( Thile ) – 5 : 34 " Tomorrow Is a Long Time " ( Bob Dylan ) – 3 : 36 " Eveline " ( Thile , Sean Watkins ) – 3 : 11 " Stumptown " ( instrumental ) ( Thile ) – 1 : 43 " Anthony " ( Sara Watkins ) – 1 : 55 " Best of Luck " ( Thile , Sean Watkins , Sara Watkins ) – 3 : 22 " Doubting Thomas " ( Thile ) – 3 : 19 " First and Last Waltz " ( instrumental ) ( Thile , Sean Watkins , Sara Watkins ) – 1 : 53 " Helena " ( Thile ) – 4 : 45 " Why Should the Fire Die ? " ( Thile , Sean Watkins , Sara Watkins ) – 2 : 50 = = Chart performance = = = = Personnel = = = = = Nickel Creek = = = Chris Thile – mandolin , vocals , mandola , bouzouki , banjo , tenor guitar , stomping Sara Watkins – fiddle , vocals , ukulele , stomping Sean Watkins – guitars , vocals , piano , bouzouki , stomping = = = Other musicians = = = Mark Schatz – bass , stomping Eric Valentine – drums = = Credits = =
= Richard II of England = Richard II ( 6 January 1367 – c . 14 February 1400 ) , also known as Richard of Bordeaux , was King of England from 1377 until he was deposed on 30 September 1399 . Richard , a son of Edward , the Black Prince , was born in Bordeaux during the reign of his grandfather , Edward III . Richard was the younger brother of Edward of Angoulême ; upon whose death , Richard , at four years of age , became second in line to the throne after his father . Upon the death of Richard 's father prior to the death of Edward III , Richard , by primogeniture , became the heir apparent to the throne . With Edward III 's death the following year , Richard succeeded to the throne at the age of ten . During Richard 's first years as king , government was in the hands of a series of councils . Most of the aristocracy preferred this to a regency led by the king 's uncle , John of Gaunt , yet Gaunt remained highly influential . The first major challenge of the reign was the Peasants ' Revolt in 1381 . The young king played a major part in the successful suppression of this crisis . In the following years , however , the king 's dependence on a small number of courtiers caused discontent among the influential , and in 1387 control of government was taken over by a group of aristocrats known as the Lords Appellant . By 1389 Richard had regained control , and for the next eight years governed in relative harmony with his former opponents . In 1397 , Richard took his revenge on the appellants , many of whom were executed or exiled . The next two years have been described by historians as Richard 's " tyranny " . In 1399 , after John of Gaunt died , the king disinherited Gaunt 's son , Henry of Bolingbroke , who had previously been exiled . Henry invaded England in June 1399 with a small force that quickly grew in numbers . Claiming initially that his goal was only to reclaim his patrimony , it soon became clear that he intended to claim the throne for himself . Meeting little resistance , Bolingbroke deposed Richard and had himself crowned as King Henry IV . Richard died in captivity in February 1400 ; he is thought to have been starved to death , although questions remain regarding his final fate . Richard was said to have been tall , good @-@ looking and intelligent . While probably not insane , as earlier historians believed , he may have had what modern psychologists would call a " personality disorder " towards the end of his reign . Less warlike than either his father or grandfather , he sought to bring an end to the Hundred Years ' War that Edward III had started . He was a firm believer in the royal prerogative , something which led him to restrain the power of the aristocracy , and to rely on a private retinue for military protection instead ; in contrast to the fraternal , martial court of his grandfather , he cultivated a refined atmosphere at his court , in which the king was an elevated figure , with art and culture at the centre . Richard 's posthumous reputation has to a large extent been shaped by Shakespeare , whose play Richard II portrayed Richard 's misrule and his deposition by Bolingbroke as responsible for the fifteenth century Wars of the Roses . Modern historians do not accept this interpretation , while not exonerating Richard from responsibility for his own deposition . Most authorities agree that , even though his policies were not unprecedented or entirely unrealistic , the way in which he carried them out was unacceptable to the political establishment , and this led to his downfall . = = Early life = = Richard of Bordeaux was the younger son of Edward , the Black Prince , and Joan of Kent ( " The Fair Maid of Kent " ) . Edward , heir to the throne of England , had distinguished himself as a military commander in the early phases of the Hundred Years ' War , particularly in the Battle of Poitiers in 1356 . After further military adventures , however , he contracted dysentery in Spain in 1370 . He never fully recovered and had to return to England the next year . Joan of Kent had been at the centre of a marriage dispute between Thomas Holland , Earl of Kent , and William Montacute , Earl of Salisbury , from which Holland emerged victorious . Less than a year after Holland 's death in 1360 , Joan married Prince Edward . Since she was a granddaughter of King Edward I and a first cousin of King Edward III , the marriage required papal approval . Richard was born at the Archbishop 's Palace , Bordeaux , in the English principality of Aquitaine , on 6 January 1367 . According to contemporary sources , three kings – " the King of Castille , the King of Navarre and the King of Portugal " – were present at his birth . This anecdote , and the fact that his birth fell on the feast of Epiphany , was later used in the religious imagery of the Wilton Diptych , where Richard is one of three kings paying homage to the Virgin and Child . His elder brother Edward of Angoulême died in 1371 , and Richard became his father 's heir . The Black Prince finally succumbed to his long illness in 1376 . The Commons in parliament genuinely feared that Richard 's uncle , John of Gaunt , would usurp the throne . For this reason , the prince was quickly invested with the princedom of Wales and his father 's other titles . On 21 June the next year , Richard 's grandfather Edward III also died , and at the age of ten Richard was crowned king on 16 July 1377 . Again , fears of John of Gaunt 's ambitions influenced political decisions , and a regency led by the King 's uncles was avoided . Instead the king was nominally to exercise kingship with the help of a series of " continual councils " from which John of Gaunt was excluded . Gaunt , together with his younger brother Thomas of Woodstock , Earl of Buckingham , still held great informal influence over the business of government . However , the king 's councillors and friends , particularly Sir Simon de Burley and Robert de Vere , Duke of Ireland , increasingly gained control of royal affairs and earned the mistrust of the Commons to the point where the councils were discontinued in 1380 . Contributing to discontent was an increasingly heavy burden of taxation levied through three poll taxes between 1377 and 1381 that were spent on unsuccessful military expeditions on the continent . By 1381 , there was a deep @-@ felt resentment against the governing classes in the lower levels of English society . = = Peasants ' Revolt = = Whereas the poll tax of 1381 was the spark of the Peasants ' Revolt , the root of the conflict lay in tensions between peasants and landowners precipitated by the economic and demographic consequences of the Black Death and subsequent outbreaks of the plague . The rebellion started in Kent and Essex in late May , and on 12 June , bands of peasants gathered at Blackheath near London under the leaders Wat Tyler , John Ball and Jack Straw . John of Gaunt 's Savoy Palace was burnt down . The Archbishop of Canterbury Simon Sudbury , who was also Lord Chancellor , and the king 's Lord High Treasurer , Robert Hales , were both killed by the rebels , who were demanding the complete abolition of serfdom . The king , sheltered within the Tower of London with his councillors , agreed that the Crown did not have the forces to disperse the rebels and that the only feasible option was to negotiate . It is unclear how much Richard , who was still only fourteen years old , was involved in these deliberations , although historians have suggested that he was among the proponents of negotiations . The king set out by river on 13 June , but the large number of people thronging the banks at Greenwich made it impossible for him to land , forcing him to return to the Tower . The next day , Friday , 14 June , he set out by horse and met the rebels at Mile End . The king agreed to the rebels ' demands , but this move only emboldened them ; they continued their looting and killings . Richard met Wat Tyler again the next day at Smithfield and reiterated that the demands would be met , but the rebel leader was not convinced of the king 's sincerity . The king 's men grew restive , an altercation broke out , and William Walworth , the mayor of London , pulled Tyler down from his horse and killed him . The situation became tense once the rebels realised what had happened , but the king acted with calm resolve and , saying " I am your captain , follow me ! " , he led the mob away from the scene . Walworth meanwhile gathered a force to surround the peasant army , but the king granted clemency and allowed the rebels to disperse and return to their homes . The king soon revoked the charters of freedom and pardon that he had granted , and as disturbances continued in other parts of the country , he personally went into Essex to suppress the rebellion . On 28 June at Billericay , he defeated the last rebels in a small skirmish and effectively ended the Peasants ' Revolt . Despite his young age , Richard had shown great courage and determination in his handling of the rebellion . It is likely , though , that the events impressed upon him the dangers of disobedience and threats to royal authority , and helped shape the absolutist attitudes to kingship that would later prove fatal to his reign . = = Coming of age = = It is only with the Peasants ' Revolt that Richard starts to emerge clearly in the annals . One of his first significant acts after the rebellion was to marry Anne of Bohemia , daughter of the Holy Roman Emperor ( King of Bohemia Charles IV ) and his wife Elisabeth of Pomerania , on 20 January 1382 . The marriage had diplomatic significance ; in the division of Europe caused by the Great Schism , Bohemia and the Empire were seen as potential allies against France in the ongoing Hundred Years ' War . Nonetheless , the marriage was not popular in England . Despite great sums of money awarded to the Empire , the political alliance never resulted in any military victories . Furthermore , the marriage was childless . Anne died from plague in 1394 , greatly mourned by her husband . Michael de la Pole had been instrumental in the marriage negotiations ; he had the king 's confidence and gradually became more involved at court and in government as Richard came of age . De la Pole came from an upstart merchant family . When Richard made him chancellor in 1383 , and created him Earl of Suffolk two years later , this antagonised the more established nobility . Another member of the close circle around the king was Robert de Vere , Earl of Oxford , who in this period emerged as the king 's favourite . Richard 's close friendship to de Vere was also disagreeable to the political establishment . This displeasure was exacerbated by the earl 's elevation to the new title of Duke of Ireland in 1386 . The chronicler Thomas Walsingham suggested the relationship between the king and de Vere was of a homosexual nature , due to a resentment Walsingham had toward the king . Tensions came to a head over the approach to the war in France . While the court party preferred negotiations , Gaunt and Buckingham urged a large @-@ scale campaign to protect English possessions . Instead , a so @-@ called crusade led by Henry le Despenser , Bishop of Norwich , was dispatched , which failed miserably . Faced with this setback on the continent , Richard turned his attention instead towards France 's ally , Scotland . In 1385 , the king himself led a punitive expedition to the north , but the effort came to nothing , and the army had to return without ever engaging the Scots in battle . Meanwhile , only an uprising in Ghent prevented a French invasion of southern England . The relationship between Richard and his uncle John of Gaunt deteriorated further with military failure , and John of Gaunt left England to pursue his claim to the throne of Castile in 1386 amid rumours of a plot against his person . With Gaunt gone , the unofficial leadership of the growing dissent against the king and his courtiers passed to Buckingham – who had by now been created Duke of Gloucester – and Richard Fitzalan , Earl of Arundel . = = First crisis of 1386 – 88 = = The threat of a French invasion did not subside , but instead grew stronger into 1386 . At the parliament of October that year , Michael de la Pole – in his capacity of chancellor – requested taxation of an unprecedented level for the defence of the realm . Rather than consenting , the parliament responded by refusing to consider any request until the chancellor was removed . The parliament ( later known as the Wonderful Parliament ) was presumably working with the support of Gloucester and Arundel . The king famously responded that he would not dismiss as much as a scullion from his kitchen at parliament 's request . Only when threatened with deposition was Richard forced to give in and let de la Pole go . A commission was set up to review and control royal finances for a year . Richard was deeply perturbed by this affront to his royal prerogative , and from February to November 1387 went on a " gyration " ( tour ) of the country to muster support for his cause . By installing de Vere as Justice of Chester , he began the work of creating a loyal military power base in Cheshire . He also secured a legal ruling from Chief Justice Robert Tresilian that parliament 's conduct had been unlawful and treasonable . On his return to London , the king was confronted by Thomas of Woodstock ( now Duke of Gloucester ) , Arundel and Thomas de Beauchamp , Earl of Warwick , who brought an appeal of treason against de la Pole , de Vere , Tresilian , and two other loyalists : the mayor of London , Nicholas Brembre , and Alexander Neville , the Archbishop of York . Richard stalled the negotiations to gain time , as he was expecting de Vere to arrive from Cheshire with military reinforcements . The three earls then joined forces with Henry Bolingbroke , Earl of Derby ( Gaunt 's son , later King Henry IV ) , and Thomas de Mowbray , Earl of Nottingham – the group known to history as the Lords Appellant . On 20 December 1387 they intercepted de Vere at Radcot Bridge , where he and his forces were routed and he was obliged to flee the country . Richard now had no choice but to comply with the appellants ' demands ; Brembre and Tresilian were condemned and executed , while de Vere and de la Pole – who had by now also left the country – were sentenced to death in absentia at the Merciless Parliament in February 1388 . The proceedings went further , and a number of Richard 's chamber knights were also executed , among these Burley . The appellants had now succeeded completely in breaking up the circle of favourites around the king . = = A fragile peace = = Richard gradually re @-@ established royal authority in the months after the deliberations of the Merciless Parliament . The aggressive foreign policy of the Lords Appellant failed when their efforts to build a wide , anti @-@ French coalition came to nothing , and the north of England fell victim to a Scottish incursion . Richard was now over twenty @-@ one years old and could with confidence claim the right to govern in his own name . Furthermore , John of Gaunt returned to England in 1389 and settled his differences with the king , after which the old statesman acted as a moderating influence on English politics . Richard assumed full control of the government on 3 May 1389 , claiming that the difficulties of the past years had been due solely to bad councillors . He outlined a foreign policy that reversed the actions of the appellants by seeking peace and reconciliation with France and promised to lessen the burden of taxation on the people significantly . Richard ruled peacefully for the next eight years , having reconciled with his former adversaries . Still , later events would show that he had not forgotten the indignities he perceived . In particular , the execution of his former teacher Sir Simon de Burley was an insult not easily forgotten . With national stability secured , Richard began negotiating a permanent peace with France . A proposal put forward in 1393 would have greatly expanded the territory of Aquitaine possessed by the English crown . However , the plan failed because it included a requirement that the English king pay homage to the King of France – a condition that proved unacceptable to the English public . Instead , in 1396 , a truce was agreed to , which was to last twenty eight years As part of the truce , Richard agreed to marry Isabella , daughter of Charles VI of France , when she came of age . There were some misgivings about the betrothal , in particular because the princess was then only six years old , and thus would not be able to produce an heir to the throne of England for many years . Although Richard sought peace with France , he took a different approach to the situation in Ireland . The English lordships in Ireland were in danger of being overrun , and the Anglo @-@ Irish lords were pleading for the king to intervene . In the autumn of 1394 , Richard left for Ireland , where he remained until May 1395 . His army of more than 8 @,@ 000 men was the largest force brought to the island during the late Middle Ages . The invasion was a success , and a number of Irish chieftains submitted to English overlordship . It was one of the most successful achievements of Richard 's reign , and strengthened the king 's support at home , although the consolidation of the English position in Ireland proved to be short @-@ lived . = = Second crisis of 1397 – 99 = = The period that historians refer to as the " tyranny " of Richard II began towards the end of the 1390s . The king had Gloucester , Arundel and Warwick arrested in July 1397 . The timing of these arrests and Richard 's motivation are not entirely clear . Although one chronicle suggested that a plot was being planned against the king , there is no evidence that this was the case . It is more likely that Richard had simply come to feel strong enough to safely retaliate against these three men for their role in events of 1386 – 88 and eliminate them as threats to his power . Arundel was the first of the three to be brought to trial , at the parliament of September 1397 . After a heated quarrel with the king , he was condemned and executed . Gloucester was being held prisoner by the Earl of Nottingham at Calais while awaiting his trial . As the time for the trial drew near , Nottingham brought news that Gloucester was dead . It is thought likely that the king had ordered him to be killed to avoid the disgrace of executing a prince of the blood . Warwick was also condemned to death , but his life was spared and his sentence reduced to life imprisonment . Arundel 's brother Thomas Arundel , the Archbishop of Canterbury , was exiled for life . Richard then took his persecution of adversaries to the localities . While recruiting retainers for himself in various counties , he prosecuted local men who had been loyal to the appellants . The fines levied on these men brought great revenues to the crown , although contemporary chroniclers raised questions about the legality of the proceedings . These actions were made possible primarily through the collusion of John of Gaunt , but with the support of a large group of other magnates , many of whom were rewarded with new titles , who were disparagingly referred to as Richard 's " duketti " . These included the former Appellants Henry Bolingbroke , Earl of Derby , who was made Duke of Hereford , and Thomas de Mowbray , Earl of Nottingham , who was created Duke of Norfolk . Also among them were John and Thomas Holland , the king 's half @-@ brother and nephew , who were promoted from earls of Huntingdon and Kent to dukes of Exeter and Surrey respectively ; the Duke of York 's son Edward , Earl of Rutland , who received Gloucester 's French title of Duke of Aumale ; Gaunt 's son John Beaufort , Earl of Somerset , who was made Marquess of Somerset and Marquess of Dorset ; John Montacute , Earl of Salisbury ; and Lord Thomas le Despenser , who became Earl of Gloucester . With the forfeited lands of the convicted appellants , the king could reward these men with lands suited to their new ranks . A threat to Richard 's authority still existed , however , in the form of the House of Lancaster , represented by John of Gaunt and his son Henry Bolingbroke , Duke of Hereford . The house of Lancaster not only possessed greater wealth than any other family in England , they were of royal descent and , as such , likely candidates to succeed the childless Richard . Discord broke out in the inner circles of court in December 1397 , when Bolingbroke and Mowbray became embroiled in a quarrel . According to Bolingbroke , Mowbray had claimed that the two , as former Lords Appellant , were next in line for royal retribution . Mowbray vehemently denied these charges , as such a claim would have amounted to treason . A parliamentary committee decided that the two should settle the matter by battle , but at the last moment Richard exiled the two dukes instead : Mowbray for life , Bolingbroke for ten years . On 3 February 1399 , John of Gaunt died . Rather than allowing Bolingbroke to succeed , Richard extended the term of his exile to life and expropriated his properties . The king felt safe from Bolingbroke , who was residing in Paris , since the French had little interest in any challenge to Richard and his peace policy . Richard left the country in May for another expedition in Ireland . In 1398 Richard summoned a packed Parliament to Shrewsbury — known as the Parliament of Shrewsbury — which declared all the acts of the Merciless Parliament to be null and void , and announced that no restraint could legally be put on the king . It delegated all parliamentary power to a committee of twelve lords and six commoners chosen from the king 's friends , making Richard an absolute ruler unbound by the necessity of gathering a Parliament again . = = Overthrow and death = = In June 1399 , Louis , Duke of Orléans , gained control of the court of the insane Charles VI of France . The policy of rapprochement with the English crown did not suit Louis 's political ambitions , and for this reason he found it opportune to allow Henry to leave for England . With a small group of followers , Bolingbroke landed at Ravenspur in Yorkshire towards the end of June 1399 . Men from all over the country soon rallied around the duke . Meeting with Henry Percy , Earl of Northumberland , who had his own misgivings about the king , Bolingbroke insisted that his only object was to regain his own patrimony . Percy took him at his word and declined to interfere . The king had taken most of his household knights and the loyal members of his nobility with him to Ireland , so Henry experienced little resistance as he moved south . Edmund of Langley , Duke of York , who was acting as Keeper of the Realm , had little choice but to side with Bolingbroke . Meanwhile , Richard was delayed in his return from Ireland and did not land in Wales until 24 July . He made his way to Conwy , where on 12 August he met with the Earl of Northumberland for negotiations . On 19 August , Richard II surrendered to Henry at Flint Castle , promising to abdicate if his life were spared . Both men then returned to London , the indignant king riding all the way behind Henry . On arrival , he was imprisoned in the Tower of London on 1 September . Henry was by now fully determined to take the throne , but presenting a rationale for this action proved a dilemma . It was argued that Richard , through his tyranny and misgovernment , had rendered himself unworthy of being king . However , Henry was not next in line to the throne ; the heir presumptive was Edmund Mortimer , Earl of March , who was descended from Edward III 's third son , the second to survive to adulthood , Lionel of Antwerp . Bolingbroke 's father , John of Gaunt , was Edward 's fourth son , the third to survive to adulthood . The problem was solved by emphasising Henry 's descent in a direct male line , whereas March 's descent was through his grandmother . The official account of events claims that Richard voluntarily agreed to abdicate in favour of Henry on 29 September . Although this was probably not the case , the parliament that met on 30 September accepted Richard 's abdication . Henry was crowned as King Henry IV on 13 October . The exact course of Richard 's life after the deposition is unclear ; he remained in the Tower until he was taken to Pontefract Castle shortly before the end of the year . Although King Henry might have been amenable to letting him live , this all changed when it was revealed that the earls of Huntingdon , Kent and Salisbury and Lord Despenser , and possibly also the Earl of Rutland – all now demoted from the ranks they had been given by Richard – were planning to murder the new king and restore Richard in the Epiphany Rising . Although averted , the plot highlighted the danger of allowing Richard to live . He is thought to have starved to death in captivity on or around 14 February 1400 , although there is some question over the date and manner of his death . His body was taken south from Pontefract and displayed in the old St Paul 's Cathedral on 17 February before burial in Kings Langley Church on 6 March . Rumours that Richard was still alive persisted , but never gained much credence in England ; in Scotland , however , a man identified as Richard came into the hands of Regent Albany , lodged in Stirling Castle , and serving as the notional – and perhaps reluctant – figurehead of various anti @-@ Lancastrian and Lollard intrigues in England . Henry IV 's government dismissed him as an imposter and several sources from both sides of the Border suggest the man had a mental illness , one also describing him as a " beggar " by the time of his death in 1419 , but he was buried as a king in the local Dominican friary in Stirling . Meanwhile , in 1413 , Henry V – in an effort both to atone for his father 's act of murder and to silence the rumours of Richard 's survival – had decided to have the body at King 's Langley moved to its final resting place in Westminster Abbey . Here Richard himself had prepared an elaborate tomb , where the remains of his wife Anne were already entombed . = = Court culture = = In the last years of Richard 's reign , and particularly in the months after the suppression of the appellants in 1397 , the king enjoyed a virtual monopoly on power in the country , a relatively uncommon situation in medieval England . In this period a particular court culture was allowed to emerge , one that differed sharply from that of earlier times . A new form of address developed ; where the king previously had been addressed simply as " highness " , now " royal majesty " , or " high majesty " were often used . It was said that on solemn festivals Richard would sit on his throne in the royal hall for hours without speaking , and anyone on whom his eyes fell had to bow his knees to the king . The inspiration for this new sumptuousness and emphasis on dignity came from the courts on the continent , not only the French and Bohemian courts that had been the homes of Richard 's two wives , but also the court that the Black Prince had maintained while residing in Aquitaine . Richard 's approach to kingship was rooted in his strong belief in the royal prerogative , the inspiration of which can be found in his early youth , when his authority was challenged first by the Peasants ' Revolts and then by the Lords Appellant . Richard rejected the approach his grandfather , Edward III , had taken to the nobility . Edward 's court had been a martial one , based on the interdependence between the king and his most trusted noblemen as military captains . In Richard 's view , this put a dangerous amount of power in the hands of the baronage . To avoid dependence on the nobility for military recruitment , he pursued a policy of peace towards France . At the same time , he developed his own private military retinue , larger than that of any English king before him , and gave them livery badges with his White Hart , which are also worn by the angels in the Wilton Diptych ( right ) . He was then free to develop a courtly atmosphere in which the king was a distant , venerated figure , and art and culture , rather than warfare , were at the centre . = = Patronage and the arts = = As part of Richard 's programme of asserting his authority , he also tried to cultivate the royal image . Unlike any other English king before him , he had himself portrayed in panel paintings of elevated majesty , of which two survive : the over life @-@ size Westminster Abbey portrait of the king ( c . 1390 , see top of page ) , and the Wilton Diptych ( 1394 – 99 ) , a portable work probably intended to accompany Richard on his Irish campaign . It is one of the few surviving English examples of the courtly International Gothic style of painting that was developed in the courts of the Continent , especially Prague and Paris . Richard 's expenditure on jewellery , rich textiles and metalwork was far higher than on paintings , but as with his illuminated manuscripts , there are hardly any surviving works that can be connected with him , except for a crown , " one of the finest achievements of the Gothic goldsmith " , that probably belonged to Anne . Among Richard 's grandest projects in the field of architecture was Westminster Hall , which was extensively rebuilt during his reign , perhaps spurred on by the completion in 1391 of John of Gaunt 's magnificent hall at Kenilworth Castle . Fifteen life @-@ size statues of kings were placed in niches on the walls , and the hammer @-@ beam roof by the royal carpenter Hugh Herland , " the greatest creation of medieval timber architecture " , allowed the original three Romanesque aisles to be replaced with a single huge open space , with a dais at the end for Richard to sit in solitary state . The rebuilding had been begun by Henry III in 1245 , but had by Richard 's time been dormant for over a century . The court 's patronage of literature is especially important , because this was the period in which the English language took shape as a literary language . There is little evidence to tie Richard directly to patronage of poetry , but it was nevertheless within his court that this culture was allowed to thrive . The greatest poet of the age , Geoffrey Chaucer , served the king as a diplomat , a customs official and a clerk of The King 's Works while producing some of his best @-@ known work . He was also in the service of John of Gaunt , and wrote The Book of the Duchess as a eulogy to Gaunt 's wife Blanche . Chaucer 's colleague and friend John Gower wrote his Confessio Amantis on a direct commission from Richard , although he later grew disenchanted with the king . = = Character and assessment = = Contemporary writers , even those less sympathetic to the king , agreed that Richard was a " most beautiful king " , though with a " face which was white , rounded and feminine " , implying he lacked manliness . He was athletic and tall ; when his tomb was opened in 1871 he was found to be six feet tall . He was also intelligent and well read , and when agitated he had a tendency to stammer . While the Westminster Abbey portrait probably shows a good similarity of the king , the Wilton Diptych portrays the king as significantly younger than he was at the time ; it must be assumed that he had a beard by this point . Religiously , he was orthodox , and particularly towards the end of his reign he became a strong opponent of the Lollard heresy . He was particularly devoted to the cult of Edward the Confessor , and around 1395 he had his own arms impaled with the mythical arms of the Confessor . Though not a warrior king like his grandfather , Richard nevertheless enjoyed tournaments , as well as hunting . The popular view of Richard has more than anything been influenced by Shakespeare 's play about the king , Richard II . Shakespeare 's Richard was a cruel , vindictive and irresponsible king , who attained a semblance of greatness only after his fall from power . Writing a work of fiction , however , Shakespeare took many liberties and made great omissions . Shakespeare based his play on works by writers such as Edward Hall and Samuel Daniel , who in turn based their writings on contemporary chroniclers such as Thomas Walsingham . Hall and Daniel were part of Tudor historiography , which was highly unsympathetic to Richard . The Tudor orthodoxy , reinforced by Shakespeare , saw a continuity in civil discord starting with Richard 's misrule that did not end until Henry VII 's accession in 1485 . The idea that Richard was to blame for the later @-@ 15th century Wars of the Roses was prevalent as late as the 19th century , but came to be challenged in the twentieth . More recent historians prefer to look at the Wars of the Roses in isolation from the reign of Richard II . Richard 's mental state has been a major issue of historical debate since the first academic historians started treating the subject in the 19th century . One of the first modern historians to deal with Richard II as a king and as a person was Bishop Stubbs . Stubbs argued that towards the end of his reign , Richard 's mind " was losing its balance altogether " . Historian Anthony Steel , who wrote a full @-@ scale biography of the king in 1941 , took a psychiatric approach to the issue , and concluded that the king had schizophrenia . This was challenged by V.H. Galbraith , who argued that there was no historical basis for such a diagnosis , a line that has also been followed by later historians of the period , like Anthony Goodman and Anthony Tuck . Nigel Saul , who wrote the most recent academic biography on Richard II , concedes that – even though there is no basis for assuming the king had a mental illness – he showed clear signs of a narcissistic personality , and towards the end of his reign " Richard 's grasp on reality was becoming weaker " . One of the primary historiographical questions surrounding Richard concerns his political agenda and the reasons for its failure . His kingship was thought to contain elements of the early modern absolute monarchy as exemplified by the Tudor dynasty . More recently , Richard 's concept of kingship has been seen by some as not so different from that of his antecedents , and that it was exactly by staying within the framework of traditional monarchy that he was able to achieve as much as he did . Yet his actions were too extreme , and too abrupt . For one , the absence of war was meant to reduce the burden of taxation , and so help Richard 's popularity with the Commons in parliament . However , this promise was never fulfilled , as the cost of the royal retinue , the opulence of court and Richard 's lavish patronage of his favourites proved as expensive as war had been , without offering commensurate benefits . As for his policy of military retaining , this was later emulated by Edward IV and Henry VII , but Richard 's exclusive reliance on the county of Cheshire hurt his support from the rest of the country . As Simon Walker concludes : " What he sought was , in contemporary terms , neither unjustified nor unattainable ; it was the manner of his seeking that betrayed him . " = = Ancestry = = = = = Chronicles = = = ( 1993 ) Chronicles of the Revolution , 1397 – 1400 : The Reign of Richard II , ed . Chris Given @-@ Wilson . Manchester : Manchester University Press . ISBN 0 @-@ 7190 @-@ 3526 @-@ 0 . Froissart , Jean ( 1978 ) . Chronicles , ed . Geoffrey Brereton . London : Penguin . ISBN 0 @-@ 14 @-@ 044200 @-@ 6 . ( 1977 ) Historia Vitae et Regni Ricardi Secundi , ed . George B. Stow . Philadelphia : University of Pennsylvania Press . ISBN 0 @-@ 8122 @-@ 7718 @-@ X. Knighton , Henry ( 1995 ) . Knighton 's Chronicle 1337 – 1396 , ed . G. H. Martin . Oxford : Clarendon Press . ISBN 0 @-@ 19 @-@ 820503 @-@ 1 . Walsingham , Thomas ( 1862 – 64 ) . Historia Anglicana 2 vols . , ed . Henry Thomas Riley . London : Longman , Roberts , and Green
= StarCraft II : Wings of Liberty = StarCraft II : Wings of Liberty is a military science fiction real @-@ time strategy video game developed and released by Blizzard Entertainment for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X. A sequel to the award @-@ winning 1998 video game StarCraft and its expansion set Brood War , the game was released worldwide on July 27 , 2010 . It is split into three installments : the base game with the subtitle Wings of Liberty , an expansion pack Heart of the Swarm , and a stand @-@ alone expansion pack Legacy of the Void . The game revolves around three species : the Terrans , human exiles from Earth ; the Zerg , a super @-@ species of assimilated life forms ; and the Protoss , a technologically advanced species with vast mental powers . Wings of Liberty focuses on the Terrans , while the expansions Heart of the Swarm and Legacy of the Void focus on the Zerg and Protoss , respectively . The game is set four years after the events of 1998 's StarCraft : Brood War , and follows the exploits of Jim Raynor as he leads an insurgent group against the autocratic Terran Dominion . The game includes both new and returning characters and locations from the original game . The game was met with very positive reviews from critics , receiving an aggregated score of 93 % from Metacritic . Similar to its predecessor , StarCraft II was praised for its engaging gameplay , as well as its introduction of new features and improved storytelling . The game was criticized for lacking features that existed in the original StarCraft game including LAN play and the ability to switch between multiplayer regions . At the time of its release , StarCraft II became the fastest @-@ selling real @-@ time strategy game of all time , with over three million copies sold worldwide in the first month . = = Gameplay = = StarCraft II features the return of the three species from the original game : Protoss , Terran , and Zerg . In the Terran campaign , the original StarCraft briefing room is replaced with an interactive version of the battlecruiser Hyperion , with Jim Raynor , now a bitter and hard @-@ drinking mercenary captain , as the central character . In a departure from previous Blizzard games , the campaign is non @-@ linear , with Raynor taking jobs for money and using that money to buy additional units and upgrades . Although each play through will vary , the end result remains consistent , keeping the storyline linear . Blizzard 's Vice President Rob Pardo stressed that each campaign will function very differently . The Terran campaign , Wings of Liberty , places players in a mercenary @-@ style campaign , as Terran rebel group Raynor 's Raiders raise funds by taking assignments from outside groups . The second release , Heart of the Swarm , is Zerg @-@ focused and has role @-@ playing elements . Kerrigan is the focus of the campaign , and the story revolves around the possibility of her redemption . The Protoss @-@ themed Legacy of the Void will be the final expansion , with the Protoss Artanis attempting to reunite the Protoss tribes in order to stop Amon , a fallen Xel 'Naga . Wings of Liberty has 29 playable campaign missions , but only 26 of them are playable in a single playthrough since three missions are choice @-@ related alternates . There is one secret mission named " Piercing the Shroud " , which can be unlocked on the " Media Blitz " mission , by destroying a Science Facility in a corner of the map . There is also a series of four missions in which the player plays as the Protoss in reliving the memory of Zeratul . The Wings of Liberty campaign contains several missions with unique features , such as lava that floods the battlefield every five minutes , forcing the player to move their units to high ground before they 're destroyed . In another mission , enemy units will only attack the player at night , forcing the player into a form of siege warfare . Finally , in one mission , the player must use a single unit to influence the tide of an AI @-@ controlled battle . The single player missions are highly customizable and are featured in the StarCraft II Community Zone . Between missions , players can choose units , buildings , and upgrades that are not available in the multiplayer missions . A major new addition to the map @-@ making community will be the StarCraft II Marketplace , where high quality maps will be sold for a small fee as " premium maps " over Battle.net. The mode of payment has not yet been announced . Lead Designer Dustin Browder has mentioned that even maps like player @-@ created Defense of the Ancients in Warcraft III would not meet the quality requirements to be branded as a premium map . Wings of Liberty features approximately the same number of units as the original StarCraft . Some units from the original game have returned , some featuring new upgrades and abilities . For example , the Protoss Zealot , a melee unit from the original game , now has the researchable ability to dash forward and quickly reach nearby enemies as a refinement of its speed upgrade from the original . Other units have been replaced or removed entirely : for example , the Scout , a Protoss fighter craft present in the original , has been replaced by the Phoenix . Other changes to unit design have been inspired by story events in StarCraft and its expansion , StarCraft : Brood War , replacing old units with new or renamed versions which sport different attributes and abilities . Units in StarCraft II have new abilities , compared to the original , that encourage more complex interaction with the game environment . Among these are the inclusion of units that can traverse varying levels of terrain , or have the ability to teleport short distances . Some Protoss units can be warped into pylon @-@ powered areas using the Warp Gate , a slight modification of an existing building called the Gateway . StarCraft II 's campaign also has exclusive units that are only playable in the campaign and not in the regular multiplayer mode , though they are available for custom maps . These mostly consist of units that have been scrapped from development such as the Terran Diamondback as well as various returning units from the original StarCraft such as the Terran Wraith and Goliath . The campaign also features hirable mercenaries , modified versions of certain units with enhanced attributes such as health or damage that become available for hire once the standard unit is unlocked . = = = Editor = = = The StarCraft II Editor is a campaign , map , and mod editor . It is far more sophisticated than StarCraft 's StarEdit and Warcraft III 's World Editor for creating custom maps and campaigns , and it is the first editor by Blizzard to feature built @-@ in mod creation and usage support . Updated art and data from the original StarCraft that were not used , along with models and data that were scrapped during the development process ( including those made as April Fools jokes ) will be available in the editor . Unlike previous editors made by Blizzard , it is the first to have Internet connectivity features such as map publishing , retrieval , and online activation of the editor client . Lead Producer Chris Sigaty has stated that the editor gives players the ability to create RPG , Hero @-@ type units and structures resembling those from WarCraft III . At BlizzCon 2009 , Blizzard demonstrated a build of the StarCraft II Editor showcasing its capabilities , such as the ability to customize the user interface to include features such as the Item system from Warcraft III . The final build includes a third @-@ person style perspective for missions . The editor was available for the first time during the phase 1 beta testing of StarCraft II , when it came with a patch . With the start of phase 2 , the editor was updated . At present , there is a large map @-@ making community using the editor , creating first @-@ person shooter games , RPGs , tower defense , and AoS @-@ type games . The map database is constantly being updated as more map makers create mods for the community . The new editor also changes the way maps are distributed : rather than hosting games using local map files , users now create and join games using maps that have been published to Battle.net. map or mod uploads are limited to a total of 50 MB of storage , divided between ten files at most , with no file being larger than 10 MB . Although the StarCraft II Editor offers more features than the original StarCraft Editor in terms of game customization , there are concerns that the publishing limitations of Battle.net will not allow for large @-@ scale custom maps or extensive map availability unless there is an external map publishing tool . = = Synopsis = = = = = Background = = = The campaign storyline of StarCraft II takes place four years after StarCraft : Brood War , and features the return of Zeratul , Arcturus Mengsk , Artanis , Sarah Kerrigan , and Jim Raynor . It also features new characters such as Rory Swann and Tychus Findlay . In StarCraft II , players revisit familiar worlds , like Char , Mar Sara , and Tarsonis , as well as new locations , such as the jungle planet Bel 'Shir and New Folsom . The Xel 'Naga , an ancient space @-@ faring race responsible for creating the Protoss and the Zerg , also play a major role in the story . At the conclusion of Brood War , Kerrigan and her Zerg forces became the dominant faction in the Koprulu Sector , having annihilated the United Earth Directorate 's Expeditionary Force , defeated the Terran Dominion , and invaded the Protoss homeworld of Aiur . However , after the conclusion of Brood War , Kerrigan retreats to Char , despite having more than enough power to crush all remaining resistance in the Koprulu Sector . In the four years leading up to the events of StarCraft II , she has not been seen or heard from by any of the other characters . Arcturus Mengsk has been left to rebuild the Dominion , and is consolidating his power while fending off harassment from rival Terran groups . Mengsk has become power @-@ hungry , declaring Jim Raynor an outlaw and showing little desire to protect or aid the colonies under his jurisdiction . Valerian Mengsk , a character introduced in the novel Firstborn , will play an important role in Dominion politics , due to his position as heir apparent to the throne . Meanwhile , Jim Raynor , whose role in the events of StarCraft and Brood War has been marginalized by the media under the Dominion 's control , has become a mercenary who spends his free time drinking in Joeyray 's Bar . Chris Metzen , Vice President of Creative Development at Blizzard , has emphasized that by the events of StarCraft II , Raynor has become jaded and embittered by the way he was used and betrayed by Arcturus Mengsk . Other new characters to the series include Tychus Findlay , an ex @-@ convict and marine who becomes a member of Raynor 's crew , and Matt Horner , Raynor 's second in command , a character originally featured in the novel Queen of Blades . Following the fall of Aiur and the death of the Dark Templar matriarch Raszagal , the Protoss have retreated to the Dark Templar homeworld of Shakuras . There , Artanis , a former student of Tassadar , is trying to unify the Khalai Protoss and the Dark Templar , who have nearly separated into warring tribes as a result of centuries of distrust . Zeratul , tormented over the murder of his matriarch , has disappeared to search for clues to the meaning of Samir Duran 's cryptic statements regarding the Protoss / Zerg hybrids in Brood War 's secret mission " Dark Origin " . = = = Plot = = = Four years after the Brood War , the Dominion is once again the dominant Terran power in the Koprulu sector . News reports reveal that in the four years since the end of the Brood Wars , the standing Dominion military forces have been reduced and defense budget has instead been diverted to hunting down rebel forces that operate against the Dominion . For reasons unknown , Kerrigan gathered the swarm at Char and then vanished from sight . With the Zerg gone , the Protoss have once again taken a passive role in the galaxy . Jim Raynor has formed a revolutionary group named Raynor 's Raiders in order to overthrow Dominion Emperor Arcturus Mengsk . On Mar Sara , Raynor meets with an old comrade , Tychus Findlay . Together , they liberate the local population from Dominion control and also discover a component of a mysterious Xel 'Naga artifact . As the Zerg begin to overrun Mar Sara , Raynor arranges an evacuation to his battlecruiser , the Hyperion , captained by Matt Horner , Raynor 's second @-@ in @-@ command . With Tychus acting as the middleman , the Raiders embark on a series of missions to find the remaining pieces of the Xel 'Naga artifact , which they sell to the enigmatic Moebius Foundation in order to fund their revolution . Along the way , they meet with Gabriel Tosh , a rogue Dominion psychic assassin known as a Spectre , and Ariel Hanson , a researcher on the Zerg and leader of a small farming colony . The Raiders perform missions to help Tosh procure the raw materials to train new Spectres as well as to aid Hanson as she attempts to secure her colonists who are caught between the Zerg infesting their planets and the Protoss attempting to eradicate the infestation . Horner also arranges a series of missions to undermine Mengsk , recovering intelligence information about his war crimes and broadcasting them across the Dominion . Finally , Zeratul sneaks aboard the Hyperion to deliver a psychic crystal that allows Raynor to share visions involving an ominous prophecy where Zerg @-@ Protoss hybrids and an enslaved Zerg swarm wipe out Humanity and the Protoss . The vision reveals that only Kerrigan has the power to prevent the eradication of all life in the sector and beyond . After collecting more artifact pieces , Raynor 's forces encounter Dominion battleships at the pre @-@ agreed Moebius Foundation rendezvous point . The Moebius Foundation is revealed to be under the control of Valerian Mengsk , Arcturus ' son . Valerian , intending to show himself as a worthy successor to his father , asks Raynor to help him invade Char and use the artifact to restore Kerrigan 's humanity , thus weakening the Zerg . To the initial dismay of the crew , Raynor agrees . With Valerian 's aid , Raynor recovers the final artifact piece , and the Raiders and Dominion invade Char . The Dominion fleet is devastated by the heavy Zerg defenses , but Raynor secures a foothold on Char and rendezvouses with Dominion forces led by Horace Warfield , a decorated Dominion general . Warfield is later injured and appoints Raynor commander of surviving Dominion forces as well . The combined forces of the Raiders and Dominion military push towards the main Hive Cluster of the planet , protecting the artifact as it charges to full power , and the artifact eventually destroys all Zerg within its blast radius . Raynor 's team finds Kerrigan restored to human form ; however , Tychus reveals that he made a deal with Arcturus Mengsk , trading Kerrigan 's life for his own freedom . Raynor defends Kerrigan from Tychus ' attempt to kill her , fatally shooting Tychus in the process . The closing scene shows Raynor carrying Sarah Kerrigan out of the main hive in his arms . = = = Cast = = = The English language version of StarCraft II has Robert Clotworthy and James Harper reprising their roles from StarCraft as the voices of Jim Raynor and Arcturus Mengsk . Notable absences included Tricia Helfer replacing Glynnis Talken as Kerrigan , Michael Dorn replacing Michael Gough as Tassadar , and Fred Tatasciore filling in for the late Jack Ritschel as Zeratul . The voice director for the game was Andrea Romano . Over 58 voice actors were hired for the game , some of whom voiced multiple characters . = = Development = = The development of StarCraft II was announced on May 19 , 2007 , at the Blizzard Worldwide Invitational in Seoul , South Korea . According to Rob Pardo and Chris Sigaty , development on the game , though initially delayed for a year by the temporary reassignment of Blizzard 's resources to World of Warcraft , began in 2003 , shortly after Warcraft III : The Frozen Throne was released . StarCraft II supports the DirectX 9 ( Pixel shader 2 @.@ 0 ) software , and it is also fully compatible with DirectX 10 as well . The development team had decided not to add exclusive DirectX 10 graphic effects . The Mac version uses OpenGL . The game previously featured the Havok physics engine , which allowed for more realistic environmental elements such as " debris rolling down a ramp " which has since been replaced for a custom physics engine . Additionally , there are plans to implement VoIP into the game . At the June 2008 Blizzard Worldwide Invitational , Blizzard Executive Vice President Rob Pardo announced that development of the single @-@ player campaign was approximately one @-@ third complete , as well as that Wings of Liberty would be followed up by two expansion packs – StarCraft II : Heart of the Swarm , which would focus around the Zerg and StarCraft II : Legacy of the Void , which would focus around the Protoss . On February 25 , 2009 , Blizzard announced the Blizzard Theme Park Contest , where prizes would include two beta keys for StarCraft II . The updated news and updates page of Battle.net for Warcraft III : The Frozen Throne stated that the top 20 players from each realm was to be given a StarCraft II beta key . Blizzard posted a release date for the game 's first beta of Summer 2009 , but failed to release a beta during that time . Since May 6 , 2009 , it was possible to sign up for the beta phase of the game . In November 2009 , the game 's producer Chris Sigaty confirmed there would be no public beta for the game taking place in 2009 but assured fans that it would happen next year . In February 2010 , Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime announced that a closed beta would open later that month . On February 17 , 2010 , StarCraft II began closed beta testing , as promised . The beta was expected to last for 3 – 5 months . Beta keys for the initial release were sold on eBay for prices as high as $ 400 . Blizzard also released a map editor for the beta as part of Patch 9 . According to the company , they had planned to release a major content patch towards the end of beta testing . As of July 23 , 2010 , eighteen patches had been released for the beta ( only seventeen on European servers ) , including a patch which provided access to the Galaxy map editor . On May 12 , 2010 Blizzard released the beta client for computers running Mac OS X , for the users who had signed up . On May 17 , 2010 , Blizzard announced that the first phase of the beta test would be coming to an end in all regions on May 31 , but it was later extended to June 7 . The second phase began on July 7 , 2010 , and ended on July 19 , 2010 . In an interview held in June 2009 , Rob Pardo indicated that LAN support would not be included in StarCraft II . Removing LAN requires players to connect through Blizzard 's servers before being able to play multiplayer games , causing gamers to voice their dissatisfaction online . Further controversy was sparked when Blizzard confirmed that the game would not support cross @-@ server play out of the box , restricting gamers to only play against local opponents — for instance , US gamers against those in the US and Europeans against Europeans . The company originally explained that Australia and New Zealand servers would be located in Southeast Asia , pitting them against combatants from Indonesia , the Philippines , Malaysia , Singapore , and Thailand . However , starting from patch 1 @.@ 1 @.@ 0 , it was announced that the Southeast Asia / Australia / New Zealand version of the game would not be strictly region @-@ locked , with gamers able to play on both the SEA / ANZ servers and the North American ones . Mike Morhaime , president of Blizzard , announced during the opening ceremony of Blizzcon 2009 that StarCraft II and the new Battle.net platform would both be released in 2010 , with an approximately one @-@ month gap between releases . As of March 2010 , Blizzard had stated that the new platform was being tested outside the beta and was planned for release in early July 2010 , for both StarCraft II and World of Warcraft : Cataclysm , with a later upgrade for Diablo III . On May 5 , 2010 , it was revealed that StarCraft II and Battle.net 2 @.@ 0 would be integrated with social networking site Facebook , " linking the world 's premier online gaming platform with the world 's most popular social platform " — a move that allowed gamers to search among their Facebook friends for StarCraft II opponents . Wired magazine , in its annual Vaporware Award , ranked StarCraft II first among the delayed technology products of 2009 . StarCraft II was finally released on July 27 , 2010 , with launch parties in selected cities of countries around the world . Customers and reviewers who received the installation DVD before the July 27 release were greeted with an error screen , telling them to wait until the release date . There was no known workaround and some reviewers had praised the action for limiting journalists to playing and reviewing the game with actual players . Compared to the original StarCraft , StarCraft II was designed to focus more heavily on the multiplayer aspect , with changes that include major improvements to Battle.net , a new competitive " ladder " system for ranked games , and new matchmaking mechanics that are designed to " match @-@ up " players of equal skill level . In addition , the replay function , which allows players to record and review past games , was improved . Blizzard also stated that they incorporated changes to the game that were suggested by fans . StarCraft II continues its predecessor 's use of pre @-@ rendered cinematic cut scenes to advance the plot while also improving the quality of in @-@ game cut scenes within the levels themselves , which are rendered on @-@ the @-@ fly using the same game engine as the graphics in the game proper . Blizzard stated that , with the new graphics engine that StarCraft II uses to render the gameplay , they " can actually create in @-@ game cut @-@ scenes of near @-@ cinematic quality " . Improvements include advanced scenery allocation and more detailed space terrain , such as floating space platforms with planets and asteroids in the background . Small cliffs , extensions , and even advertising signs were also shown to have been improved and refined . = = = Expansions = = = During the development of StarCraft II , it was also announced that the game and its expansions would form a trilogy , with each chapter to center on one of the three playable races . The first expansion – Heart of the Swarm , which focuses on the Zerg race – was released on March 12 , 2013 . The second expansion Legacy of the Void , which centers on the Protoss race , was released on November 10 , 2015 . = = Release = = = = = Versions = = = On April 8 , 2010 , Blizzard officially announced that the game would be available in a standard and collector 's edition . The game was also made available for digital download from Blizzard on the release date ; pre @-@ loading began on July 15 . The collector 's edition comes with an artbook , 2 GB flash drive modeled after Jim Raynor 's dog tag with the original StarCraft and Brood War expansion preloaded , behind @-@ the @-@ scenes DVD , soundtrack , comic book , unique avatar portraits , a unique model for the in @-@ game Thor unit in multiplayer , and a World of Warcraft pet . On June 24 , 2010 , at a press @-@ only Korean event , Blizzard announced that Korean players would be able to play StarCraft II for free with an active World of Warcraft subscription . In PC bangs , or other cybercafés , players can play the game by paying 500 to 1500 South Korean won ( approx . $ .50 to $ 1 @.@ 50 ) per hour . Other options include a 30 @-@ day subscription for ₩ 9900 ( approx . $ 8 ) , a 24 hours play @-@ time ticket for ₩ 2000 ( approx . $ 1 @.@ 50 ) , and unlimited access for ₩ 69 @,@ 000 ( approx . $ 56 ) . The end @-@ user license agreement ( EULA ) for StarCraft II differs significantly from those of Blizzard 's earlier titles in that buying the game only grants the buyer a license to play , while the game itself remains the property of Blizzard . Any breach of the EULA amounts not only to breach of contract but copyright infringement as well , giving Blizzard greater control over how the game is used . Concerns have been raised by Public Knowledge over how the altered EULA may affect multiplayer tournaments not endorsed by Blizzard . On August 3 , 2011 , Blizzard replaced the previously available StarCraft II demo with the new StarCraft II : Starter Edition . It allows anyone to play part of the game for free and it comes as a 7 GB package downloaded using the Blizzard Downloader client . The Starter Edition is available for Mac and Windows , and requires a Battle.net account and an Internet connection to play . = = = Sales = = = Blizzard entered into a co @-@ marketing agreement with Korean Air that lasted for six months , in which two of the airline 's airplanes on both domestic and international routes prominently displayed StarCraft II advertising featuring Jim Raynor on the fuselage . On August 3 , 2010 , Blizzard announced that StarCraft II sold more than one million units worldwide within one day of its release . After two days , when Blizzard began selling the game as a digital download on its website , approximately 500 @,@ 000 additional units of the game were sold , bringing the total up to 1 @.@ 5 million worldwide and making it the fastest @-@ selling strategy game of all time . In its first month on sale , StarCraft II sold a total of three million copies worldwide . As of December 2010 , the game has sold nearly 4 @.@ 5 million units . The game was also heavily pirated , reportedly being downloaded over 2 @.@ 3 million times , and setting a record for most data transferred by a single torrent in only three months . = = = Technical difficulties = = = Several gaming and technology sites reported an " overheating bug " with StarCraft II that in some cases resulted in permanent damage to video cards . The source of the problem is the fact that the frame rate is not locked on menu screens . This causes the graphics card to continuously render the image , resulting in excessive heat . Blizzard has acknowledged the problem , and posted a temporary workaround . They also recommended ensuring computer systems are well ventilated and contacting the videocard manufacturer for hardware @-@ related issues . In response to the reports , Blizzard 's Public Relations Manager , Bob Colayco said : " There is no code in our software that will cause video cards to overheat . When we saw this issue first reported , we conducted thorough additional testing and determined that for those players experiencing this problem , the cause is most likely hardware @-@ related . " CrunchGear has also suggested that the problem is not with StarCraft II , but rather due to poorly maintained hardware and inadequate cooling . They do however agree that the overheating only occurs on non @-@ framerate locked screens and provide the fix that Blizzard has offered to users . Other articles recommend that users regularly clean the dust out of their computer to improve the cooling efficiency of their systems . Blizzard posted a message on their official forums regarding the issue that has since been removed . The original message was : " Screens that are light on detail may make your system overheat if cooling is overall insufficient . This is because the game has nothing to do so it is primarily just working on drawing the screen very quickly . " = = Reception = = StarCraft II : Wings of Liberty has been met with critical acclaim since its release . It received an aggregated score of 92 @.@ 39 % at GameRankings and 93 / 100 at Metacritic . The game was particularly praised for retaining the popular RTS gameplay from StarCraft , while introducing new features and improved storytelling . GamesRadar felt that " in many ways , StarCraft II : Wings of Liberty feels like StarCraft 2 @.@ 0 – and that ’ s a good thing " , stating that it " delivers on all fronts " . NZGamer.com said the game was " the best RTS game released in years and one of the best games on PC " . In relation to its story , GameTrailers stated , " If there 's anything immediately apparent from Wings of Liberty 's story , it 's that the series ' narrative structure has evolved well beyond the original 's sparse between @-@ sortie intermissions , " calling it " an epic and entertainingly told yarn " , while Eurogamer criticized the dialogue as being " flat " and the characters as being " either clichéd , banal or both " . Giant Bomb echoed this view while also noting the Hyperion portion between missions , finding it to have " more depth of character , more believable pathos , more surprise twists — than I honestly expected out of the story " . IGN however noted that " no doubt franchise fans will eat it up , but newcomers may be wondering what all the fuss is about while going through the early missions that lack the kind of urgency you would hope when the fate of civilization is in peril . " Joystiq was very positive towards the improved multiplayer matchmaking service , calling it " similar to Xbox Live and PlayStation Network , which is a welcome change from the archaic matchmaking of Battle.net in previous Blizzard games " , while GameSpot called the amount of online content " remarkable " , noting the variety of maps and up to 12 player online support . When comparing the single and multiplayer modes , GameSpy felt that the single @-@ player portion was " less inspiring , mostly because of the extremely shallow learning curve " , with the online multiplayer being " so smooth , so challenging , and so much plain @-@ old @-@ fun " . John Meyer of Wired praised the improved graphics engine , saying that it " shows decades of polish " and a " slick new presentation " . Matt Peckham of PC World also noted that some buyers expressed dissatisfaction with the absence of LAN @-@ based multiplayer gameplay , the lack of cross @-@ realm play and the campaign being limited to the Terran race . Game Revolution , in relation to only being able to play the Terran campaign , however , pointed out that " Wings of Liberty has 29 missions ; the original StarCraft had just over 30 . Fair odds say the next one will have roughly the same amount ; Broodwar brought about 30 too . We already got the full game for $ 50 , and we ’ re getting offered two expansions . If you want to feel outraged about something , pick something else . " Ars Technica gave the overall game a verdict of " buy " and especially praised the single @-@ player campaign as " fun as hell " . They were also very impressed with the game modding tools that allow users to create their own content and distribute it to other fans . The two " ugly " issues they identified with the game were lack of LAN play and the decision to split up the regions . They suggested that these decisions were influenced by Activision rather than by the game designers at Blizzard , and felt that this would turn many people off of the game and make things difficult for people who have international friends . In a separate article , Ars Technica vigorously supported StarCraft II against a series of 1 @-@ star ratings given to the game on Amazon.com in protest against the lack of LAN play . They argued in Blizzard 's defense against complaints that it was not a full game because only the Terran campaign was released , but did suggest that the customers ' complaints about the lack of LAN and cross @-@ region play were legitimate . = = Soundtracks = = Two official soundtracks were released for StarCraft II : Wings of Liberty . The original score , composed by Derek Duke , Glenn Stafford , Neal Acree , Russell Brower , Sascha Dikiciyan and Cris Velasco was released on CD as well as on the iTunes Store . Both versions contain 14 tracks and the iTunes version contains additional digital extras . A second soundtrack , Revolution Overdrive : Songs of Liberty , was released on CD , vinyl and iTunes . This soundtrack features the original and cover songs heard in JoeyRay 's bar during the video game . = = Professional competition = = StarCraft : Brood War has been called the most successful e @-@ sport in the world that includes its own ranking system , and it has been referred to as the national pastime in South Korea , where there are two television channels dedicated to broadcasting professional StarCraft matches . Since its launch , StarCraft II has become a successful e @-@ Sport with many leagues of ongoing tournaments with prize @-@ pools up to US $ 170 @,@ 000 . There have been many tournaments with players from around the world ; GomTV SC2 Global League , TeamLiquid StarCraft League , Major League Gaming , ESL and the North American Star League . StarCraft II has also become the main title in major LANs throughout the world like Assembly and Dreamhack . The first large StarCraft II tournaments occurred during the beta testing phase , the most notable being the HDH Invitational and Day [ 9 ] ' s King of the Beta . Currently the largest professional tournament is the GSL ( GomTV Star League ) which is a monthly tournament held in South Korea . The tournament enjoys major corporate sponsorships and prize pools of over $ 100 @,@ 000 . A new North American StarCraft League was announced on February 21 , 2011 and is scheduled for an initial run of three seasons offering $ 400 @,@ 000 in prize money . The first season of the North American Star League started on April 12 , 2011 , with 50 players divided into 5 divisions . It ended on July 10 , 2011 , and the total prize pool was US $ 100 @,@ 000 . The North American Star League has since run for an additional season , with a fifth starting in early 2013 . On May 2 , 2012 , Ongamenet and KeSPA announced a formal switch in StarCraft competition from Brood War to StarCraft II : Wings of Liberty . Starleague will transition over to StarCraft II by late 2012 . After three years of negotiations , Blizzard decided that the Korean e @-@ Sports Players Association ( KeSPA ) was unwilling to cooperate with them in regards to the sharing of profits from competitive StarCraft multiplayer games . This breakdown led to an uncertain future of KeSPA 's legal ability to broadcast Blizzard 's intellectual property of both StarCraft and StarCraft II without paying royalties . MBC Television agreed to Blizzard 's new terms in June 2010 ; KeSPA received a license from Blizzard and Ongamenet will host StarCraft II competitions starting in the summer of 2012 . Blizzard and GomTV signed an agreement on May 26 , 2010 , allowing the latter to create and broadcast the GomTV SC2 Global League , a series of tournaments , each with a US $ 170 @,@ 000 prize pool , in South Korea . This agreement followed the decision from Blizzard to cease the negotiation with KeSPA , and it confirmed that Blizzard had decided to take another route to promote StarCraft II as an e @-@ Sport in South Korea . The non @-@ profit public interest group Public Knowledge made the following statement regarding the issue : " The Battle.net Terms of Use state that it is a violation of the agreement — and an infringement of Blizzard 's copyright in the underlying game — to " use the Service for any ' e @-@ sports ' or group competition sponsored , promoted or facilitated by any commercial or non @-@ profit entity without Blizzard 's prior written consent . " = = = Battle.net World Championship Series = = = In early 2012 Blizzard Entertainment announced the 2012 StarCraft II World Championship Series ( WCS ) , featuring over 30 offline events . The WCS featured thousands of dollars in prize pools and a system starting from National Qualifiers , National Finals , Continental Finals , and culminating in the World Championship Finals in Shanghai , China . The Battle.net World Championship ( also known as the WCS Global Finals ) winner was professional South Korean player Lee @-@ Sak " PartinG " Won from team StarTale , winning both the trophy and US $ 100 @,@ 000 . There are other StarCraft 2 tournaments that may not bear the WCS name , but allow players to earn WCS points . A few such tournaments include some of the aforementioned tournaments such as Intel Extreme Masters ( IEM ) and DreamHack Open , but also ASUS ROG , Red Bull Battlegrounds , and Homestory Cup . A full list of tournaments can be found on the StarCraft 2 Liquidpedia . Professional StarCraft II began to decline in popularity by 2012 , in part because of competition from games like League of Legends . = = LAN play = = StarCraft II does not offer the ability to play directly over a local area network ( LAN ) , as is possible with StarCraft ; all network games are routed through the Internet via Blizzard 's gaming servers . The latency delay between commands issued and game response when played online is greatly reduced when playing over a LAN and this allows for much finer control over in @-@ game units ; there were concerns that a professional scene would not develop as a result . Over 250 @,@ 000 fans signed a petition asking Blizzard to add LAN play to StarCraft II , before the game 's release . Currently , Blizzard has no plans to support LAN play . Although it does not change the routing of the game through Blizzard 's servers , a Players Near You feature was added in StarCraft II patch 2 @.@ 0 @.@ 4 , to help with organizing games with other players on the same local network . Lack of LAN play caused problems in 2010 Major League Gaming tournament in Dallas , Texas , which experienced severe delays and problems with Battle.net 2 @.@ 0 .
= Point Loma , San Diego = Point Loma is a seaside community within the city of San Diego , California . Geographically it is a hilly peninsula that is bordered on the west and south by the Pacific Ocean , the east by the San Diego Bay and Old Town , and the north by the San Diego River . Together with the Silver Strand / Coronado peninsula , the Point Loma peninsula defines San Diego Bay and separates it from the Pacific Ocean . The term " Point Loma " is used to describe both the neighborhood and the peninsula . Point Loma has an estimated population of 47 @,@ 981 ( including Ocean Beach ) , according to the 2010 Census . The Peninsula Planning Area , which includes most of Point Loma , comprises approximately 4 @,@ 400 acres ( 1 @,@ 800 ha ) . Point Loma is historically important as the landing place of the first European expedition to come ashore in present @-@ day California . The peninsula has been described as " where California began " . Today , Point Loma houses two major military bases , a national cemetery , a national monument , and a university , in addition to residential and commercial areas . = = History = = Loma is the Spanish word for hill . The original name of the peninsula was La Punta de la Loma de San Diego , translated as Hill Point of San Diego . This was later anglicized to Point Loma . There were no permanent indigenous settlements on Point Loma because of a lack of fresh water . Kumeyaay people did visit Ocean Beach periodically to harvest mussels , clams , abalone and lobsters . Point Loma was discovered by Europeans on September 28 , 1542 when Portuguese navigator Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo ( João Rodrigues Cabrilho in Portuguese ) departed from Mexico and led an expedition for the Spanish crown to explore the west coast of what is now the United States . Cabrillo described San Diego Bay as " a very good enclosed port " . Historians believe he docked his flagship on Point Loma 's east shore , probably at Ballast Point . This was the first landing by a European in present @-@ day California , so that Point Loma has been described as " where California began " . More than 200 years were to pass before a permanent European settlement was established in San Diego in 1769 . Mission San Diego itself was in the San Diego River valley , but its port was a bayside beach in Point Loma called La Playa ( Spanish for beach ) . The historic La Playa Trail , the oldest European trail on the West Coast , led from the Mission and Presidio to La Playa , where ships anchored and unloaded their cargoes via small boats . Part of the route became present @-@ day Rosecrans Street . In his book Two Years Before the Mast , Richard Henry Dana , Jr. describes how sailors in the 1830s camped on the beach at La Playa , accumulated cattle hides for export , and hunted for wood and jackrabbits in the hills of Point Loma . The beach at La Playa continued to serve as San Diego 's " port " until the establishment of New Town ( current downtown ) in the 1870s . Ballast Point got its name from the practice of ships discarding their ballast there on arriving in San Diego Bay and taking on ballast as they left for the open ocean . Fort Guijarros was constructed at Ballast Point in 1797 . Ballast Point and La Playa are now on the grounds of Naval Base Point Loma . The longtime association of San Diego with the U.S. military began in Point Loma . The southern portion of the Point Loma peninsula was set aside for military purposes as early as 1852 . Over the next several decades the Army set up a series of coastal artillery batteries and named the area Fort Rosecrans . Significant U.S. Navy presence in San Diego began in 1901 with the establishment of the Navy Coaling Station in Point Loma . The Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego was commissioned in 1921 and the San Diego Naval Training Center in 1923 , both in Point Loma ; the Naval Training Center was closed in 1997 . During World War II the entire southern portion of the peninsula was closed to civilians and used for military purposes , including a battery of coast artillery . Following the war the area retained multiple Navy commands , including a submarine base and a Naval Electronics Laboratory ; they were eventually consolidated into Naval Base Point Loma . Other portions of Fort Rosecrans became Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery and Cabrillo National Monument . Following the death in 1891 of Helena Blavatsky its founder , Katherine Tingley moved the headquarters of the Theosophical Society to " Lomaland " , a hilltop campus in Point Loma overlooking the ocean . The facility with its unusual architecture and even more unusual lifestyles became an important source of music and culture for residents of San Diego between 1900 and 1920 . Producing most of its own food , the Society also experimented widely with planting trees and crops such as eucalyptus and avocado , giving that formerly barren part of Point Loma its current heavily wooded character . The Lomaland site is now the campus of Point Loma Nazarene University . During the 1920s there was a dirt airstrip known as Dutch Flats in what is now the Midway neighborhood of Point Loma . That is where Charles Lindbergh first tested and flew his airplane , The Spirit of St. Louis , which had been built in San Diego by the Ryan Aeronautical Company . A U.S. Post Office now located on the site contains several historic plaques commemorating Dutch Flats and Lindbergh . Due to the prevailing sea @-@ breezes and long north @-@ south ridge , Point Loma was a well @-@ known gliding site during 1929 @-@ 1935 . William Hawley Bowlus the Superintendent of Construction on the Spirit of St. Louis and resident of Point Loma built the first American sailplane the Bowlus SP @-@ 1 and flew that aircraft along the west side of Point Loma to establish new American endurance records . Bowlus later used other refined designs to soar for over 9 hours near the Cabrillo National Monument , and one of Bowlus ' students Jack C. Barstow soared over Point Loma for over 15 hours in 1930 to establish an unofficial world record for soaring endurance . = = = Landmarks = = = The best known landmark in Point Loma is the Old Point Loma lighthouse , an icon occasionally used to represent the entire city of San Diego . ( It is sometimes incorrectly referred to as the " Old Spanish Lighthouse " ; in fact it was built after California was admitted to the United States . ) Perched atop the southern point that creates the entrance of the bay with Coronado , the small , two story lighthouse was completed in 1854 and first lit on November 15 , 1855 . At 422 feet ( 129 m ) above sea level at the entrance of the bay , the seemingly good location for a lighthouse soon proved to be a poor choice , as fog and cloud within the marine layer often obscured the beam for ocean @-@ going vessels . On March 23 , 1891 , the lighthouse ceased to be used for its original purpose , as a new lighthouse was built nearer sea level on the same southern point . The Old Point Loma Lighthouse is now partially open to the public and has been refurbished to its historic 1880s interior . It is located within the Cabrillo National Monument , named after Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo , the first European explorer to see San Diego Bay . The lighthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places . In addition to the lighthouse , there are four other sites in Point Loma listed on the National Register of Historic Places : Cabrillo National Monument , the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Historic District , Naval Training Center San Diego , and Rosecroft . Point Loma is recognized as a National Landmark of Soaring of the National Soaring Museum because of the many record flights that took place along the promontory . Two plaques honoring these accomplishments are near the entrance to the Cabrillo National Monument . = = Geography = = = = = Geology = = = On the west side of the peninsula there are sandstone cliffs along the ocean , called the Sunset Cliffs . Geologically these cliffs are known as the Point Loma Formation . They contain fossils , including dinosaur fossils , from the Late Cretaceous period , about 75 million years ago . The formation represents one of the few sites containing dinosaur fossils in the state of California . Overlying the Point Loma Formation is another Late Cretaceous deposit called the Cabrillo Formation , which crops out in various areas of Point Loma . The top of the peninsula is fairly flat , reaches an elevation of 422 ft ( 129 m ) , and is capped by much younger sandstone and conglomerate deposits from the Pleistocene era , 1 million years or less in age . These flat @-@ lying beds lie directly on top of the gently dipping Point Loma and Cabrillo formations . The gap in the sedimentary record , called an Angular unconformity , represents about 70 million years of non @-@ deposition and / or erosion . The cliffs on the ocean side of the peninsula are sheer and are undergoing constant erosion due to wave action . On the east side the land slopes into San Diego Bay more gradually , so that homes and developments go right to the water 's edge . At the northern end of the peninsula the cliffs and hills become lower , disappearing entirely in Ocean Beach and the Midway area , where the San Diego River flows . Much of the Midway area is former marshland which has been filled in for development . In fact , the San Diego River used to flow through the Midway area into San Diego Bay , isolating Point Loma from San Diego . Because of fears that San Diego Bay might silt up , the river was diverted to its present course north of Point Loma by a levee built in 1877 . Parts of Liberty Station and Point Loma Village are also fill land , reclaimed from sand spits and wetlands surrounding the Bay . The only remnant of the formerly extensive wetlands in Point Loma , aside from the riverbed itself , is a city @-@ owned nature preserve called Famosa Slough , which branches off from the river near its mouth . = = = Neighborhoods = = = There are several distinct neighborhoods in the Point Loma peninsula . Most neighborhoods in Point Loma consist primarily of single family homes . The commercial and retail heart of the peninsula is called Point Loma Village . Its retail establishments serve local residents as well as yachting and sport fishing interests . The streets in Point Loma Village are lined with hundreds of jacaranda trees as a result of community beautification efforts . The newest commercial and retail area is found at Liberty Station , site of the former Naval Training Center San Diego , which also has residential and educational sections . The Midway district at the northern end of the peninsula , adjacent to the San Diego River and the I @-@ 5 and I @-@ 8 freeways , is primarily commercial and industrial with a few small residential developments . Connected to Point Loma Village by a causeway is Shelter Island , which is actually not an island but a former sandbank in San Diego Bay . Shelter Island was developed in the 1950s after it was built up into dry land using material dredged from the bay . It is under the control of the Port of San Diego and contains hotels , restaurants , marinas , and public parkland . The bayside residential area called La Playa lies somewhat north of the original La Playa , the beach where commercial and military ships anchored during the early days of the city . La Playa includes some of the most expensive homes in San Diego . Some bayfront homes have private piers for small boats . The hills above La Playa are known as the Wooded Area on the bay side of Catalina Boulevard ( so called because of the many mature trees in the area ) , and the College Area on the ocean side ( because of the proximity of Point Loma Nazarene College ) . The Sunset Cliffs neighborhood is on the west side , above ocean bluffs , and is known for its views of the Pacific Ocean . Roseville , named for San Diego pioneer Louis Rose , encompasses the oldest settled part of the peninsula . Roseville was originally a separate town but later was absorbed into San Diego . Many Portuguese fishermen and fishing boat owners settled there more than 100 years ago . Some people refer to the area as " Tunaville " because of its association with the tuna @-@ fishing fleet . The hilly area above Roseville is known as Fleetridge , named for its developer David Fleet , a son of Reuben H. Fleet . The bayside hills between Rosecrans Street and Chatsworth Boulevard north of Nimitz Boulevard are known as Loma Portal . A distinctive feature of this neighborhood is the location of street lights in the middle of several street intersections instead of on the sidewalk . Loma Portal lies directly in the takeoff pattern for planes from Lindbergh Field , making it the home of the " Point Loma Pause " where all conversation ceases temporarily due to airplane noise . The east @-@ west streets in Roseville and Loma Portal are known as the " alphabetical author streets " . The streets are named for authors in alphabetical order from Addison to Zola , with a second partial cycle from Alcott to Lytton . The northwest corner of the peninsula , where the San Diego River flows into the ocean , is a separate community known as Ocean Beach . The southern one @-@ third of the Point Loma Peninsula is entirely federal land , including Naval Base Point Loma , Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery , and Cabrillo National Monument . = = = Fauna = = = The area contains multiple species of wildlife , both in the federal lands at the southern end of the peninsula ( managed in part as an ecological reserve ) and in the developed suburban areas . Mammals include raccoons , skunks , possums , bats , rabbits , California ground squirrels , gray foxes , and occasional coyotes . More than 300 species of birds have been observed in Point Loma , which lies on the Pacific Flyway migration route . = = Economy = = The main economic engines of Point Loma are military facilities , neighborhood @-@ serving retail , and marine recreation , particularly yachting and deep @-@ sea fishing . = = = Tourism = = = Marine activities are mostly located on the Bay ( eastern ) side of the peninsula , where there are three yacht clubs , including the San Diego Yacht Club , which was home to the America 's Cup from 1988 to 1995 . There are half a dozen small @-@ boat marinas on the Bay side of Point Loma . There is also a commercial dock which services sport fishing cruises as well as seasonal whale watching expeditions . Point Loma hosts the biggest sport fishing fleet in Southern California . The Bay side hosts numerous other businesses related to yachting and fishing , such as marine supply stores , yacht brokerages , boat repair yards , and hotels and motels catering to fishing enthusiasts . Some restaurants and hotels have docks for customers who arrive by boat . Tourists and locals visit the cliffs on the western side of the peninsula for views of the ocean and the sunset - hence the name , Sunset Cliffs . There are surfing spots below the cliffs , such as Luscomb 's , Garbage Beach , and New Break . The cliffs are unstable and can be dangerous ; a woman died in a fall from the cliffs in December 2008 , and other falls have resulted in injuries . The Point Loma area has a number of hotels , restaurants , and local businesses . Located in the Voltaire business district , near Ocean Beach , is the Point Loma Youth Hostel , frequented by travelers from around the world . The San Diego Sports Arena and the SOMA concert venue are located in the Midway neighborhood of Point Loma . = = = Military = = = Point Loma is home to several major military installations including the US Navy 's SPAWAR program , the US Marine Corps ' Recruit Training Depot ( MCRD San Diego ) and Naval Base Point Loma . The Navy controls approximately 1 @,@ 800 acres ( 730 ha ) of Point Loma and provides employment to about 48 @,@ 000 military personnel and civilians . Naval Base Point Loma , at the southern end of Rosecrans Street in the La Playa area , is the home of Submarine Squadron 11 , with several nuclear fast @-@ attack submarines , and the Naval Mine and Anti @-@ Submarine Warfare Command , including eight Avenger class mine countermeasures ships . The naval base also houses extensive electronic and communications operations ( including the former Naval Electronics Laboratory ) serving the Pacific Fleet . At the southern end of the peninsula is historic Fort Rosecrans , site of the U.S. Army 's Coast Artillery Corps during World War I and World War II . Fort Rosecrans also includes the Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery and the USS Bennington Monument . The Naval Training Center San Diego served as a basic training facility for new Navy recruits for more than 70 years , as well as hosting many specialty schools providing advanced career training for sailors . In April 1997 the base was closed and these schools were moved to Recruit Training Command , Great Lakes , Illinois . The former site of the base is now Liberty Station , a 361 @-@ acre ( 1 @.@ 46 km2 ) mixed @-@ use redevelopment project that includes residential , office , retail , educational , and civic , arts and cultural districts . Liberty Station was developed by the City of San Diego and The Corky McMillin companies . It also includes a 9 @-@ hole golf course , a 46 @-@ acre ( 190 @,@ 000 m2 ) waterfront park and a 100 @-@ acre ( 0 @.@ 40 km2 ) historic district listed with the National Register of Historic Places . = = Culture = = = = = Annual events = = = The Day at the Docks festival each April highlights Point Loma 's sport fishing industry . The Festa do Espirito Santo , or Feast of the Holy Spirit , is a religious festival put on by Point Loma 's large Portuguese community . It has been staged annually since 1910 and is San Diego 's oldest ethnic tradition . The Cabrillo Festival each October is a weekend @-@ long commemoration of the landing of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo in Point Loma in 1542 . From June through September , nationally known musicians and comedians perform at an outdoor concert venue on Shelter Island . A free outdoor concert series features local musicians on five Friday evenings in a local park each summer . Every year since 1952 , the St. Nicholas Home Tour has been held on the first Saturday in December . The tour typically includes 4 - 6 significant homes decorated for the holidays , and is accompanied by tea , cookies , and caroling . All but one of the tours has been hosted by All Souls ' Episcopal Church . This is said to be the oldest home tour west of the Mississippi River . Point Loma is noted for neighborhood Christmas decorations . Several blocks of Garrison Street near Chatsworth are particularly well known for elaborate decorations . There is also a neighborhood @-@ wide lighting of luminarias on Christmas Eve in the Plumosa Park area . On two Sundays in December there is a Parade of Lights , with brightly decorated boats sailing on the Bay to be viewed from the shoreline . = = = Civic organizations = = = Civic organizations include the Point Loma Association , a nonprofit group dedicated to beautification and civic improvement , and the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce . Service clubs include Rotary , Kiwanis , Optimists , Lions , the Point Loma Assembly , and the Thursday Club . = = = Parks and libraries = = = Point Loma contains a few small neighborhood parks and the Cabrillo Recreation Center . There is large waterfront park at Liberty Station , which also contains a nine @-@ hole golf course . Most of the ocean frontage of the peninsula is a public shoreline park called Sunset Cliffs Natural Park . The Point Loma Native Plant Garden features plants and flowers native to the San Diego area . Cabrillo National Monument is a federal historic park at the southern end of the peninsula . The James Edgar and Jean Jessop Hervey Public Library opened in 2003 , replacing a much smaller public library . The new library , built by Conwell Shonkwiler & Associates , was partly funded by a donation via the San Diego Foundation from the Hervey family , who had close ties to the area . Jean Jessop Hervey in particular used to visit the old Point Loma Library every Tuesday to read with her children . The library , located at 3701 Voltaire Street , is over 25 @,@ 000 square feet and holds over 80 @,@ 000 books . It includes a kitchen area , a community meeting room , and outdoor sitting patios . The lower floor is the largest children 's library in the City of San Diego , featuring a simulated ship , reading desks shaped like surfboards , an art space and a Story Time Zone . In connecting to the place of Point Loma , the library 's architectural style features a nautical theme . There is even an operating periscope , salvaged from a U.S. Navy submarine , through which visitors can see the surrounding neighborhood . The floor in the entry lobby features a terrazzo map of the Point Loma Peninsula . The library holds scheduled events such as story time for children , Thursday after school movies , and arts and crafts demonstrations . = = Government = = The Point Loma community is part of the city of San Diego . On the San Diego City Council it is part of District 2 , currently represented by Lorie Zapf . In the Government of San Diego County , Point Loma is divided between District 1 and District 4 . In the California state legislature it is part of Assembly District 78 , currently represented by Assemblymember Toni Atkins , and Senate District 39 , represented by Senator Marty Block . At the federal level it is part of the 52nd Congressional District and is represented by Congressman Scott Peters . Some portions of the Point Loma peninsula are not under the jurisdiction of the city , including the federal and military lands as well as the bayside tidelands governed by the Port of San Diego . Approximately 60 % of the Point Loma community is included in the Coastal Zone and is subject to regulation by the California Coastal Commission . The Peninsula Community Planning Board is an advisory board which makes recommendations to the city on planning , land use , and similar matters for the Point Loma area . There are separate planning boards for Ocean Beach and the Midway area . = = Education = = Point Loma has several public , charter , and private schools at the elementary , middle , and high school levels , as well as multiple private preschools , an adult school and a university . Point Loma 's public schools are part of the San Diego Unified School District . Neighborhood public schools include Point Loma High School , two middle schools , and seven elementary schools . There is also a public charter school campus in the Liberty Station area which encompasses three high schools , two middle schools , and one elementary school , collectively known as High Tech High . Point Loma educational facilities also include a K @-@ 12 religious school , a religious elementary / middle school , and a private elementary / middle school . Post @-@ secondary education is offered at Point Loma Nazarene University , a Christian liberal arts college whose ocean @-@ view campus was once the home of the Theosophical Society . The Peninsula also has a branch campus of the San Diego Community College District . = = Infrastructure = = Interstate 8 freeway follows the northern edge of the Point Loma peninsula , paralleling the San Diego River , and terminates a few blocks from the Pacific Ocean . Rosecrans Street is the north / south avenue that serves the bay side of Point Loma , while Sunset Cliffs Boulevard is the north / south avenue on the ocean side ; the two streets run parallel to each other and to Catalina Boulevard on the crest of the hill . The former California State Route 209 followed Rosecrans and Catalina to the southern end of the Point . Sports Arena Boulevard , West Point Loma Boulevard , Harbor Drive and Nimitz Boulevard are other major traffic pipelines in Point Loma . Most streets in the coastal sections , both bay and ocean , are laid out in a rough grid pattern , with the oceanside blocks larger than the bayside . The grid breaks down in the hilly center , particularly west of Chatsworth Boulevard and east of Catalina and Nimitz Boulevard , where streets have more terrain @-@ following , curvy patterns . Some streets are broken into multiple disconnected sections by intervening canyons or hills . The presence of hills and canyons , together with the restraints imposed by a long narrow peninsula , result in " circuitous routing of traffic and a great deal of out @-@ of @-@ direction travel . " = = Notable people = = Charlotte Johnson Baker , 1855 @-@ 1937 , first woman physician in San Diego , first female president of the San Diego County Medical Society Fred Baker ( physician ) , physician , civic activist , member and president of the City Council , founder of Scripps Institution of Oceanography Belle Benchley , 1882 – 1973 , director of the San Diego Zoo for 25 years ; for most of that time she was the only female zoo director in the world Dennis Conner , 1942- , yacht racer Richard Henry Dana , Jr . , 1815 – 1882 , author who wrote about early 19th century San Diego Jim Evans , 1945 - , internationally @-@ recognized fitness consultant ; U.S. Natural ( Drug @-@ Free ) Bodybuilding Hall of Fame inductee . Kevin Faulconer , 1967- , Mayor of San Diego Reuben H. Fleet , 1887 – 1975 , founder of Convair Frankie Laine , 1913 – 2007 , singer Daniël de Lange , 1841 @-@ 1918 ) , Dutch composer ad Theosophist Justin Halpern , 1980- , author of the best selling book Sh * t My Dad Says Ed Harris , 1946- , member of the San Diego City Council Maureen O 'Connor , 1946- , first female Mayor of San Diego Robert O. Peterson , 1916 – 1994 , founder of Jack in the Box fast food chain Alfred D. Robinson , 1866 @-@ 1942 and Marion James Robinson , 1873 @-@ 1919 , builders of Rosecroft Louis Rose , 1807 – 1888 , early developer , founder of Roseville T. Claude Ryan , 1898 – 1982 , aviation pioneer , founder of Ryan Aeronautical Albert Spalding , 1850 – 1915 , founder of the A. G. Spalding sports equipment company Katherine Tingley , 1847 – 1929 , Theosophist , founder of Lomaland Joseph Wambaugh , 1937- , author
= Hurricane Anita = Hurricane Anita was a powerful Atlantic hurricane during an otherwise quiet 1977 Atlantic hurricane season . The first tropical cyclone of the season , Anita developed from a tropical wave on August 29 in the north @-@ central Gulf of Mexico . It tracked westward into an area with conditions favorable for further development , and quickly intensified into a hurricane by late on August 30 . Initially , Anita was forecast to strike Texas , though a building ridge turned it to the west @-@ southwest . The hurricane rapidly strengthened to attain peak winds of 175 mph ( 280 km / h ) , and on September 2 Anita made landfall in eastern Tamaulipas as a Category 5 hurricane . It quickly weakened as it crossed Mexico , and after briefly redeveloping into a tropical depression in the eastern Pacific Ocean , Anita dissipated on September 4 to the south of the Baja California Peninsula . The hurricane produced light rainfall and high tides along the Gulf Coast of the United States . Some low @-@ level flooding was reported , but damage was slight . In Mexico , the hurricane caused strong winds and moderate rainfall . The winds caused extensive damage to villages in northeastern Mexico , with about 25 @,@ 000 people left homeless . The rainfall , reaching over 17 @.@ 52 inches ( 445 mm ) , caused flooding and mudslides which killed eleven people in Tamaulipas . Overall damage is unknown . = = Storm history = = A tropical wave moved off the coast of Africa on August 16 . The wave axis tracked steadily westward , and on August 23 convection increased after the wave passed beneath a cold @-@ core upper @-@ level low . By August 27 , the wave axis was located over Cuba , with the area of convection located between Florida and the Bahamas after tracking northwestward . The disturbance crossed southern Florida , and after entering the Gulf of Mexico an anticyclone provided favorable conditions for further development . It tracked slowly westward at 5 mph ( 7 km / h ) , and after developing a surface circulation the system developed into a tropical depression on August 29 while located about 230 miles ( 370 km ) south @-@ southwest of New Orleans , Louisiana . With a ridge of high pressure to its north , the depression tracked westward . Favorable conditions persisted for several days prior to the arrival of the depression , and as such the depression quickly intensified into Tropical Storm Anita . The storm tracked slowly over warm water temperatures , and throughout its duration it was embedded within warm , moist tropical air ; Anita rapidly organized and attained hurricane status late on August 30 ; this is the latest date for the first hurricane since 1967 . Initially it threatened to strike Texas , though building high pressures to the north of the hurricane turned Anita to the west @-@ southwest . The hurricane developed a well @-@ defined eye , and Hurricane Anita began to rapidly intensify late on September 1 after attaining major hurricane status . During a two @-@ day period up to its peak intensity , Anita deepened at a rate of 2 mbar per hour , and on September 2 the hurricane reached peak winds of 175 mph ( 280 km / h ) while located just offshore northeastern Mexico , making Anita a Category 5 on the Saffir @-@ Simpson Hurricane Scale . Hurricane Anita maintained its strength as it approached land , and at 1100 UTC on September 2 it made landfall on Soto la Marina , Tamaulipas , about 145 miles ( 235 km ) south of Brownsville , Texas or 80 miles ( 130 km ) north of Tampico , Mexico . Moving ashore with a pressure of 926 mbar , Anita was the third most intense tropical cyclone to strike the nation , and was the most intense hurricane to hit from the Gulf of Mexico . It rapidly weakened over the mountainous terrain of Mexico , and on September 3 , about 25 hours after moving ashore , Anita emerged into the eastern Pacific Ocean as a tropical depression . Reclassified as Tropical Depression Eleven , the system continued to the west , and weakened further after encountering cooler water temperatures . The depression gradually lost its deep convection , and on September 4 it dissipated off of the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula . = = Preparations = = Shortly after first developing , one oil company evacuated its oil rigs off of Texas and Louisiana by helicopter , with several other companies beginning to evacuate unneeded workers . Ultimately , 7 @,@ 000 oil workers were removed from offshore oil platforms . The threat of the developing disturbance prompted officials to close a state park in southern Louisiana . The National Hurricane Center advised small craft along the northern Gulf Coast to remain at port . Initially , Anita was predicted to continue tracking west @-@ northwestward and make landfall near the Texas / Louisiana border . As a result , schools in Cameron Parish , Louisiana were closed , and on August 30 a hurricane watch was issued for the southwestern Louisiana and northeastern Texas coastlines . After the track shifted further to the south , the watch was replaced with a hurricane warning between Brownsville and just south of Corpus Christi , Texas . An emergency shelter was opened in Brownwood , Texas , and Army trucks were prepared to assist in evacuations . An official from the National Weather Service recommended evacuation for all residents east of Galveston , Texas living in an area below 5 feet ( 1 @.@ 5 m ) above sea level ; about 20 @,@ 000 left Cameron , Louisiana . In all , about 58 @,@ 000 people evacuated coastal locations in Louisiana and Texas . Though the National Hurricane Center did not issue hurricane warnings for Mexico , officials warned the Mexican government of the potential danger of the hurricane . Across the northeastern coastline of the country , 35 @,@ 000 people evacuated prior to the arrival of the hurricane , including all of the residents in the village where the hurricane struck . The Mexican army assisted in evacuations and preparing emergency shelters . = = Impact = = = = = United States = = = As the precursor tropical disturbance crossed southern Florida , it dropped light rainfall of over 1 inch ( 25 mm ) in the Miami area . Later , as a developing tropical depression , the system produced gusty winds and heavy rainfall in southern Louisiana ; one station near Galliano reported over 3 inches ( 76 mm ) of precipitation . Hurricane Anita produced a storm tide of 2 feet ( 0 @.@ 6 m ) above normal in Grand Isle , which resulted in hundreds of families being asked to leave their homes . The hurricane produced above @-@ normal tides along the Texas coastline , which closed several highways including Texas State Highway 87 . The northern periphery of Hurricane Anita produced light to moderate rainfall across the southern portion of the state , which peaked at 4 @.@ 97 inches ( 126 mm ) at Rio Grande City . Damage in the state was minor ; on South Padre Island damage was limited to a few broken windows . = = = Mexico = = = Hurricane Anita made landfall in a sparsely populated portion of Mexico ; as a result , few meteorological statistics exist . A station near where the hurricane moved ashore recorded 17 @.@ 52 inches ( 445 mm ) of precipitation in six hours , which resulted in severe flooding and mudslides . Winds along the eastern Mexico coastline were estimated at over 100 mph ( 160 km / h ) . The hurricane caused extensive damage to fishing and farming communities in northeastern Mexico . Strong winds destroyed thousands of homes and left about 25 @,@ 000 people homeless , according to newspaper reports from Mexico City . The winds destroyed the roofs of most buildings near where the hurricane moved ashore , and also caused widespread power outages which disrupted communications . Heavy rainfall destroyed or obstructed roadways across the region , with some flooded avenues in Tampico and reports of flooded highways near Ciudad Victoria . Eleven people were killed in floods and mudslides across Tamaulipas . In all , at least 50 @,@ 000 people were affected by the hurricane in Mexico . = = Aftermath = = The name Anita was retired following this storm , and will never be used for an Atlantic hurricane again . Shortly after the hurricane made landfall , the government of Mexico sent two trucks of food to the areas of greatest impact . Additionally , officials permitted full use of the Mexican railway system to facilitate the distribution of aid . Three municipalities were also declared disaster areas following the storm . In Texas , the combination of moderate rainfall and high tides into low @-@ lying marshland led to a mosquito outbreak near Galveston following the storm .
= Banksia acanthopoda = Banksia acanthopoda is a species of shrub in the Proteaceae family . It grows as a small spreading shrub to 2 m ( 6 1 ⁄ 2 ft ) high and has prickly leaves and yellow composite flower heads , called inflorescences , composed of 50 to 60 individual yellow flowers . Endemic to Western Australia , it occurs only in a few populations in the vicinities of Woodanilling , Katanning and Darkan . Because of its rarity , it is classed as " Priority Two " conservation flora by Western Australia 's Department of Environment and Conservation . The botanist Alex George first described this species in 1996 , naming it Dryandra acanthopoda . It was renamed to its current name in 2007 , when all Dryandra species were transferred to the genus Banksia . It is little known in cultivation and its sensitivity to dieback is unclear ( although highly likely ) . = = Description = = Banksia acanthopoda grows as a spreading shrub up to 2 m ( 6 1 ⁄ 2 ft ) high . Its stems are matted with short soft hairs when young , but these are soon lost . Leaves are long , thin and curved , with five to ten spines on the petiole , sharply serrated leaf margins , and an acute leaf tip . The leaf blade , or lamina , is dark @-@ green above , but white and hairy beneath . Leaves range from 5 to 13 cm ( 2 to 5 1 ⁄ 8 in ) in length , and 1 to 1 @.@ 5 cm ( 3 ⁄ 8 to 5 ⁄ 8 in ) in width , on a petiole up to 1 @.@ 5 cm ( 5 ⁄ 8 in ) long . Inflorescences occur on short lateral branches , and consist of 50 to 60 yellow flowers packed densely together into a dome @-@ shaped head up to 4 cm ( 1 1 ⁄ 2 in ) in diameter , surrounded by short involucral bracts . As with other Banksia species , each flower comprises a perianth of four united tepals , with a single anther on a short filament attached near the tip ; and a single pistil . In B. acanthopoda both perianth and pistil are yellow in colour ; the perianth is from 2 @.@ 6 to 3 cm ( 1 to 1 1 ⁄ 8 in ) long , and the pistil a few millimetres longer . The fruiting structure is a woody dome firmly embedded with up to six light brown follicles , each containing one or two seeds . Banksia acanthopoda resembles B. hewardiana but has smaller leaves that are sticky when young . Its flower heads are similar to that of B. squarrosa , but its perianths and pistils are straight rather than curved , and longer . = = Taxonomy = = Early collections of B. acanthopoda include a specimen collected by F. W. Humphreys between Katanning and Kwobrup on 21 December 1964 , a specimen collected by Alex George west of Woodanilling on 26 July 1986 , a specimen collected by Ray Garstone north of Woodanilling on 7 October 1986 , and a specimen collected by Ken Newbey east of Katanning . George 's specimen was recognised as belonging to an undescribed species , and this species was referred to by the phrase name " Dryandra sp . 1 ( A.S. George 16647 ) " , until 1996 , when George formally published it as Dryandra acanthopoda . The specific name comes from the Ancient Greek acantha ( " thorn " or " prickle " ) and podos ( " foot " ) , in reference to the spines on the petiole . George placed B. acanthopoda in genus Dryandra , subgenus Dryandra , series Armatae , remarking that its closest relative is Dryandra polycephala ( now Banksia polycephala ) . Its placement within George 's taxonomic arrangement of Dryandra , with 1999 and 2005 amendments , is as follows : Dryandra ( now Banksia ser . Dryandra ) D. subg . Dryandra D. ser . Floribundae ( 1 species , 4 varieties ) D. ser . Armatae D. cuneata ( now B. obovata ) D. fuscobractea ( now B. fuscobractea ) D. armata ( now B. armata ) ( 2 varieties ) D. prionotes ( now B. prionophylla D. arborea ( now B. arborea ) D. hirsuta ( now B. hirta ) D. pallida ( now B. pallida ) D. purdieana ( now B. purdieana ) D. xylothemelia ( now B. xylothemelia ) D. cirsioides ( now B. cirsioides ) D. acanthopoda ( now B. acanthopoda ) D. squarrosa ( now B. squarrosa ) ( 2 subspecies ) D. hewardiana ( now B. hewardiana ) D. wonganensis ( now B. wonganensis ) D. trifontinalis ( now B. trifontinalis ) D. stricta ( now B. strictifolia ) D. echinata ( now B. echinata ) D. polycephala ( now B. polycephala ) D. subpinnatifida ( now B. subpinnatifida ) ( 2 varieties ) D. longifolia ( now B. prolata ) ( 3 subspecies ) D. borealis ( now B. borealis ) ( 2 subspecies ) This arrangement remained current until 2007 , when botanists Austin Mast and Kevin Thiele transferred Dryandra into Banksia . They also published B. subgenus Spathulatae for the Banksia taxa having spoon @-@ shaped cotyledons , thus redefining the subgenus Banksia as comprising those that do not . They were not ready , however , to tender an infrageneric arrangement encompassing Dryandra , so as an interim measure they transferred Dryandra into Banksia at series rank . This minimised the nomenclatural disruption of the transfer , but also caused George 's rich infrageneric arrangement to be set aside . Thus under the interim arrangements implemented by Mast and Thiele , B. acanthopoda is placed in B. subg . Banksia , ser . Dryandra . = = Distribution and habitat = = Only a few small populations of B. acanthopoda exist . Until 1999 , it was thought to occur only in the Avon Wheatbelt biogeographic region , in the vicinity of Woodanilling and Katanning ; since then , a population has been found in the Jarrah Forest region , south of Darkan . Banksia acanthopoda grows in tall closed kwongan heath in lateritic soils , sometimes with a sparse overstorey of wandoo ( Eucalyptus wandoo ) or Drummond 's gum ( E. drummondii ) . Other B. ser . Dryandra species that co @-@ occur with it include B. stuposa , B. armata var. ignicida and B. nobilis . The area has a mean temperature range of 9 to 22 ° C ( 48 to 72 ° F ) , with up to 40 days above 30 ° C ( 86 ° F ) , and a mean annual rainfall of 400 to 500 mm ( 16 to 20 in ) . = = Ecology = = Little has been reported of its ecology . The flowering season is from May to July , and the seed is shed annually . When first published , Banksia acanthopoda was listed as " Priority Three – Poorly Known Taxa " on the Department of Environment and Conservation 's Declared Rare and Priority Flora List . It has since been upgraded to " Priority Two – Poorly Known Taxa " . Threats to the species vary according to the location . In the Avon Wheatbelt , where the land is heavily degraded due to extensive clearing for agriculture , a number of threatening processes have been identified : loss of habitat due to land clearing and the encroachment of salinity results in both direct plant loss and population fragmentation ; fragmentation in turn affects genetic diversity ; grazing pressure affects plant health , as does competition from exotic weeds ; and changes to the fire regime have the potential to eliminate entire generations . Further west , in the Jarrah Forest region , pathogens constitute the only identified threat to the species . Information on the species ' susceptibility to dieback is lacking : the only information available is from the 2006 report Management of Phytophthora cinnamomi for Biodiversity Conservation in Australia , which states that D. acanthopoda is " highly susceptible " ; but this claim is sourced to a 1994 paper that asserts it not for B. acanthopoda but for the species then known as " Dryandra sp . Kamballup ( M. Pieroni 20 @.@ 9 @.@ 88 ) " , now B. ionthocarpa . Investigations into long @-@ term seed storage have shown B. acanthopoda to store well under standard genebank storage conditions . After six years of storage in these conditions , 90 % of seeds were successfully germinated , a rate similar to that of fresh seed . = = Cultivation = = Banksia acanthopoda is little known in cultivation , although it has been successfully grown and propagated at The Banksia Farm in Mount Barker , Western Australia , and at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Cranbourne , Melbourne . It is a sprawling and untidy shrub , but its habit can be improved by pruning . Its prominent yellow flower heads appear from July to October in cultivation , and have potential for use in the cut flower industry . It prefers a well @-@ drained soil in full sun or light shade , and will tolerate dry conditions once established . Propagation is by seed ; seeds take three to five weeks to germinate , and have a germination rate of 80 to 90 percent .
= Lemmons = Lemmons , also known as Gladsmuir and Gladsmuir House , was the home of novelists Kingsley Amis ( 1922 – 1995 ) and Elizabeth Jane Howard ( 1923 – 2014 ) on Hadley Common , on the border of north London and Hertfordshire . The couple bought the Georgian house and its eight acres of land at auction for £ 48 @,@ 000 in 1968 , and lived there until 1976 . The house had been registered as a Grade II listed building in 1949 under the name Gladsmuir , previously known as Gladsmuir House . Jane Howard restored its previous name , Lemmons ; the next owners changed it back to Gladsmuir . Jane and Kingsley lived at Lemmons with Jane 's mother and brother , two artist friends , and Kingsley 's three children , Philip , Martin and Sally . Several of the family 's novels were written at Lemmons , including Kingsley 's The Green Man ( 1969 ) and The Alteration ( 1976 ) , Jane 's Odd Girl Out ( 1972 ) and Mr. Wrong ( 1975 ) , and Martin 's The Rachel Papers ( 1973 ) and Dead Babies ( 1975 ) . Cecil Day @-@ Lewis , the poet laureate , his wife , Jill Balcon , and their children , Daniel Day @-@ Lewis and Tamasin Day @-@ Lewis , stayed at Lemmons in the spring of 1972 , when Cecil was dying of cancer . He wrote his last poem in the house , " At Lemmons , " and died there shortly afterwards . Ian Sansom writes that , for the brief period that the Amises , Howards , Day @-@ Lewises and others were in residence , Lemmons became " the most brilliantly creative household in Britain . " = = History of the house = = = = = 16th – 19th century = = = The land and an earlier house were owned by Henry Bellamy in 1584 . The Quilter family owned the land from 1736 to 1909 ( it was an estate of 23 acres in 1778 ) . A Major Hemery appears to have lived in the house in or around 1881 . Captain Thomas Hall Rokeby Plumer , the 2nd Viscount Plumer , lived there in the 1920s . The writer Frances Trollope , mother of novelist Anthony Trollope , rented a house on Hadley Common from January 1836 until the early summer of 1838 , possibly Gladsmuir , shortly after the death of her husband and one of her sons . According to Robert Bradford 's biography of Martin Amis , Jane Howard discovered the Trollope connection from the house 's papers and maintained that Frances Trollope had purchased it , although a purchase seems unlikely given the Trollope family 's finances . Frances Trollope , her daughters , Emily and Cecilia , and two of her sons , Anthony and Tom , moved to Hadley Common from Bruges , Belgium , where they had fled to escape debtors ' prison in England . When Trollope 's husband ( the debtor ) died , the threat of prison receded . Emily had tuberculosis and her doctor advised that winter in England would benefit her . Trollope described the property as a " pleasant house with a good garden on the common at Hadley , near Barnet , " and her " pretty cottage . " R. H. Super writes that she invited eight guests to stay with her one Christmas , in addition to her family , so referring to it as a cottage was somewhat misleading . The move did not , in the end , help Emily , who died in February 1836 . She was buried in the nearby churchyard at the Church of St Mary the Virgin . Anthony Trollope later placed one of his characters in The Bertrams ( 1859 ) in a dull country house in Hadley . = = = 20th century = = = Jane Howard found that the house had previously been called Lemmons , and decided to restore that name . It was known as Gladsmuir when they bought it – from Gladsmuir Heath , the former name of Hadley Common , site of the Battle of Barnet in 1471 during the Wars of the Roses . The house had been registered under that name as a Grade II listed building in 1949 , previously known as Gladsmuir House , with an address in Hadley Wood Road . As of 2014 the address was listed as Hadley Common . Made of red brick with a stucco trim , the house has five @-@ bays , two @-@ storeys , sash windows , and a central Doric porch with fluted columns and entablature with triglyphs . There is a later extension and a detached housekeeper 's cottage , Gladsmuir Cottage . The panelled double doors lead to two internal staircases and over 20 rooms , including eight bedrooms , three reception rooms and a large kitchen ; one room contains late @-@ 18th @-@ century medallions . In the three @-@ acre garden , when Jane and Kingsley lived there , there was an old barn that was itself a listed building , a conservatory and a gravel drive , three descending lawns , a rose garden , cedar trees , a mulberry tree ( where Lucy Snowe , their cat , was buried ) , and a weathervane dating to 1775 . At the end of the garden , through a five @-@ bar gate , there lay a five @-@ acre meadow that also belonged to the property and had been let out to two local women for their horses . = = Lemmons household = = = = = Residents = = = Kingsley and Jane married in 1965 after meeting two years earlier at the Cheltenham Literary Festival , which she had helped to organize . In 1947 she had left her first husband , Peter Scott , with whom she had a daughter , and in 1963 divorced her second , Jim Douglas @-@ Henry . Kingsley was still married to his first wife , Hilly Bardwell , when he and Jane began an affair . The couple first lived together in an Edwardian house at 108 Maida Vale , London , W2 . They bought Lemmons at auction for £ 48 @,@ 000 in 1968 , and lived there from 28 November that year . Kingsley wrote to the poet Philip Larkin in April 1969 : This is a bloody great mansion , in the depths of the country though only 15 miles from the centre , and with lots of room for you to come and spend the night . " The core household consisted of Jane and Kingsley ; Jane 's mother , Katherine ( " Kit " ) , a former ballerina , who died in the house in 1972 ; one of Jane 's brothers , Colin ( " Monkey " ) ; and artists Sargy Mann and Terry Raybauld . The housekeeper , Lily Uniacke , lived in Gladsmuir Cottage . Kingsley 's children , Philip , Martin and Sally lived in the house from time to time , mostly outside term time , or at weekends in the case of Philip and Martin ; the children were 17 , 16 and 12 when Kingsley and Jane married . Sally moved into Lemmons in 1970 when Martin was in his second year at Oxford . It was Jane who encouraged Martin to start reading . When she and Kingsley married , Martin was reading comics and Harold Robbins ; she recommended Jane Austen , Charles Dickens , Scott Fitzgerald , Evelyn Waugh , Graham Greene and William Golding . She also advised him to try for a place at Oxford , for which he said he owed her an " unknowable debt . " After 12 months at Sussex Tutors ( a crammer in Brighton ) in 1967 – 1968 , he passed six O @-@ levels and 3 A @-@ levels , and won an exhibition to Exeter College , Oxford . He graduated in 1971 with a congratulatory first in English . Martin lived at Lemmons until Christmas that year , after which he started work at The Times Literary Supplement and moved to central London , visiting his father and Jane at weekends . He shared a maisonette in or near Pont Street , SW1 , with a friend , Rob Henderson – Henderson was Charles Highway in The Rachel Papers , Gregory Riding in Success ( 1978 ) , and Kenrik in The Pregnant Widow ( 2011 ) . When they ran out of money , Martin found himself a " dust @-@ furred bed @-@ sit in Earls Court . " He described Lemmons in Experience ( 2000 ) : The house on Hadley Common was a citadel of riotous insolvency – not just at Christmas but every weekend . There was a great sense of in @-@ depth back @-@ up , a cellar , a barrel of malt whisky , a walk @-@ in larder : proof against snowstorm or shutdown . I think it was that Christmas morning [ 1977 ] , that all four Amises , with breakfast trays on their laps , watched Journey to the Centre of the Earth – then the visit to the pub , then the day @-@ long , the week @-@ long lunch . And with Kingsley the hub of all humour and high spirits , like an engine of comedy ... I felt so secure in that house – and , clearly , so insecure elsewhere – that I always experienced a caress of apprehension as I climbed into the car on Sunday night , any Sunday night , and headed back to the motorway and Monday , to the flat or the flatlet , the street , the job , the tramp dread , the outside world . = = = Novels = = = Kingsley wrote ten books at Lemmons , in his wood @-@ panelled study on the ground floor , including The Green Man ( 1969 ) , What Became of Jane Austin ? And Other Questions ( 1970 ) , Girl , 20 ( 1971 ) , The Riverside Villas Murder ( 1973 ) , Ending Up ( 1974 ) , The Alteration ( 1976 ) , and part of Harold 's Years ( 1977 ) . Jane finished Something in Disguise ( 1969 ) , Odd Girl Out ( 1972 ) and Mr. Wrong ( 1975 ) , though she spent most of her time looking after the house . Martin wrote his first two novels , The Rachel Papers ( 1973 ) and Dead Babies ( 1975 ) , in his bedroom above Kingsley 's study . The first draft of The Rachel Papers was started in July 1970 and completed in September 1972 ; it won the Somerset Maugham Award in 1974 , which Kingsley had won in 1955 for Lucky Jim ( 1954 ) . When he heard the prize had gone to Martin , Kingsley said words to the effect that , " Good that it 's back in the family . It should keep the old prig turning in his grave , " a reference to Maugham 's view that Lucky Jim 's characters were illustrative of the country 's moral decline . = = = Guests = = = Tamasin Day @-@ Lewis wrote that Lemmons was always full of " impossibly glamorous older people and a core commune of writers , painters and inventors ; even the dogs and cats shared a communal basket , and there were always stray writers and publishers whose marriages were unravelling . " Gully Wells , Martin 's girlfriend and step @-@ daughter of the philosopher A. J. Ayer , said that " a more hospitable household would be impossible to imagine . " House guests included Martin 's close friends Christopher Hitchens , James Fenton , Clive James and Julian Barnes , and his and Kingsley 's literary agents Tom Maschler and Pat Kavanagh ; Pat 's sister , Julie ( Martin 's girlfriend ) ; the Australian psychiatrist James Durham , Pat 's partner at the time . Pat Kavanagh and Julian Barnes married in September 1979 . The Lemmons visitors ' book also listed John Betjeman and Philip Larkin ; writers Tina Brown and Paul Johnson , and Johnson 's wife , Marigold ; Iris Murdoch and her husband , John Bayley ; journalist Bernard Levin and John Gross , editor of the Times Literary Supplement ; the broadcaster Huw Wheldon and his wife , novelist Jacqueline Wheldon ; historians Robert Conquest and Paul Fussell ; and , for one visit , novelist Elizabeth Bowen . The Day @-@ Lewises moved into Lemmons in the spring of 1972 when Tamasin 's father , the poet laureate Cecil Day @-@ Lewis , was dying of cancer . The families were close . Cecil and Jane had been lovers after her first divorce and Jane was Tamasin 's godmother . Tamasin and Martin had also started dating . Tamasin and her brother , Daniel , and their mother , Jill Balcon , stayed at the house for five weeks , until Cecil died on 22 May . Jane wrote : " Nobody was better at getting the utmost pleasure from the simplest things as Cecil : a bunch of flowers , a toasted bun , a gramophone record ... a piece of cherry cake , a new thriller ... " He dedicated his final poem , " At Lemmons , " to " Jane , Kingsley , Colin , Sargy " : " I accept my weakness with my friends ' / Good natures sweetening each day my sick room . " = = Move to Hampstead = = Lemmons was featured in Woman 's Journal in June 1976 in an advertisement for wallpaper by Arthur Sanderson & Sons . The company decorated a room and took a photograph of Kingsley and Jane sitting in it , published under the headline " Very Sanderson , Very Amis . " The couple sold Lemmons shortly after this , for £ 105 @,@ 000 . They moved to a smaller house , Gardnor House , in Flask Walk , Hampstead , London NW3 . Kingsley was apparently tired of living so far from central London . Jane loved Lemmons , but was exhausted from the effort of running it . Kingsley expected her to do most of the cooking and domestic work , for the family plus assorted guests , as well as drive him around and do the finances and much of the gardening . Women for Kingsley were " for bed and board , " as Jane put it . She ended up on Tryptizol and Valium . Sargy Mann said that Lemmons was " wonderful for everyone but Jane . " Jane left the marriage in 1980 because she realized that Kingsley did not like her ; her lawyer gave him a letter the day she was expected back from a health farm . Neither of them remarried , and they never spoke to each other again . " [ T ] he big house disappeared , " Martin wrote , " and so did love . "
= Blitz @-@ class aviso = The Blitz class was a pair of avisos built by the Imperial German Navy ( Kaiserliche Marine ) in the 1880s . The ships , Blitz and Pfeil , were the first steel @-@ hulled ships of any kind built by the German Navy , and the progenitors of the later light cruisers of the Gazelle type . They were armed with a 12 @.@ 5 cm ( 4 @.@ 9 in ) gun and one 35 cm ( 14 in ) torpedo tube as their principal armament , and were capable of a top speed in excess of 15 knots ( 28 km / h ; 17 mph ) . Blitz and Pfeil served extensively in various roles , including as flotilla leaders for torpedo boats . Pfeil was deployed to German East Africa in 1889 to suppress an anti @-@ colonial revolt , and after 1899 , was used for fishery protection . They were both reduced to tenders by 1912 . Blitz was briefly used as a coastal patrol vessel early in World War I before returning to tender duties by 1915 . Both ships survived the war , and were sold for scrap in the early 1920s . = = Design = = The Blitz class avisos were the first step toward creating the modern , steel @-@ hulled light cruiser , which would ultimately come to fruition in the Gazelle class , built a decade later . The Blitz @-@ class ships were also the first steel @-@ hulled ships of any type built by the German Navy . At the time of their completion , they were among the earliest torpedo cruisers in the world . = = = General characteristics = = = The Blitz @-@ class ships were 75 @.@ 30 meters ( 247 ft 1 in ) long at the waterline and 78 @.@ 43 m ( 257 ft 4 in ) long overall . They had a beam of 9 @.@ 90 m ( 32 ft 6 in ) and a maximum draft of 4 @.@ 07 m ( 13 @.@ 4 ft ) forward . The ships displaced 1 @,@ 381 metric tons ( 1 @,@ 359 long tons ) as designed and up to 1 @,@ 486 t ( 1 @,@ 463 long tons ) at full combat load . The ships ' hulls were constructed with transverse and longitudinal steel frames , and contained eleven watertight compartments . A double bottom was located beneath the ships ' engine rooms . Blitz and Pfeil had a crew of 7 officers and 127 enlisted men , though this number was later revised to 6 officers and 135 sailors . When serving as torpedo boat flotilla leaders , the ships had an additional 3 officers and 16 enlisted men . The ships carried several smaller boats , including one picket boat , one yawl , and one dinghy . Later in their careers , a cutter , another yawl , and another dinghy were added . = = = Machinery = = = The ships ' propulsion system consisted of two horizontal 2 @-@ cylinder double expansion engines in a single engine room . The engines drove a pair of 3 @-@ bladed screws . Steam for the engines was provided by eight coal @-@ fired locomotive boilers . After refits in the early 1890s , the ships ' boilers were replaced with newer , more efficient models ; Blitz received eight transverse cylindrical boilers , while Pfeil had eight cylindrical boilers installed . The ships were supplied with electrical power with a single 10 @-@ kilowatt ( 13 hp ) generator that operated at 67 volts . As built , the ships were fitted with a schooner rig with a sail area of 591 square meters ( 6 @,@ 360 sq ft ) to supplement her steam engines , but this was later reduced to a rig of auxiliary sails with an area of 282 m2 ( 3 @,@ 040 sq ft ) , and the sails were removed entirely by 1900 . The propulsion system was rated at 2 @,@ 700 indicated horsepower ( 2 @,@ 000 kW ) , for a top speed of 16 knots ( 30 km / h ; 18 mph ) . Neither ship reached this speed on trials ; Blitz managed 15 @.@ 7 knots ( 29 @.@ 1 km / h ; 18 @.@ 1 mph ) , and Pfeil made 15 @.@ 6 knots ( 28 @.@ 9 km / h ; 18 @.@ 0 mph ) . The ships carried up to 220 t ( 220 long tons ; 240 short tons ) of coal , which allowed them to steam for approximately 2 @,@ 440 nautical miles ( 4 @,@ 520 km ; 2 @,@ 810 mi ) at a cruising speed of 9 knots ( 17 km / h ; 10 mph ) . Steering was controlled with one rudder . = = = Armament = = = As built , the Blitz @-@ class avisos were armed with one 12 @.@ 5 cm ( 4 @.@ 9 in ) K L / 23 gun placed in a pivot mount . The gun was supplied with 100 rounds of ammunition . The ships were also equipped with four 8 @.@ 7 cm K L / 23 guns in single mounts and one 35 cm ( 14 in ) torpedo tube mounted in the bow . In 1891 and 1892 , the ships were rearmed with six 8 @.@ 8 cm SK L / 30 guns in single mounts and three 35 cm torpedo tubes , one in the bow and one on each broadside , all submerged in the hull . The ships did not carry any armor protection . = = Service history = = Blitz was laid down at the Norddeutscher Schiffbau in Kiel in 1881 . She was launched on 26 August 1882 and commissioned into the German fleet on 28 March 1883 . Pfeil was built by the Kaiserliche Werft shipyard in Wilhelmshaven . Her keel was laid down in 1881 , she was launched on 16 September 1882 , and commissioned into the German fleet on 25 November 1884 . Both ships served in the fleet following their commissioning . Blitz was assigned as the flagship of the I Torpedo @-@ boat Flotilla , while Pfeil initially served as a tender for the fleet . Blitz participated in extensive training and experimentation in the Torpedo School , under the command of Alfred von Tirpitz , the future architect of the High Seas Fleet . In 1889 , Pfeil was sent to German East Africa to participate in the suppression of a local revolt against German colonial rule . By 1899 , both ships were withdrawn from front line service ; Pfeil was used for fishery protection , and Blitz became a fleet tender . In 1912 , both Blitz and Pfeil were serving as tenders to the I Battle Squadron and the II Battle Squadron , respectively . At the outbreak of World War I in August 1914 , Blitz was mobilized as a coastal patrol ship , while Pfeil remained a tender . Blitz returned to her tender duties in 1915 . Both ships were sold for scrapping in the early 1920s .
= American Pharoah = American Pharoah ( foaled February 2 , 2012 ) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the American Triple Crown and the Breeders ' Cup Classic in 2015 . In winning all four races , he became the first horse to win the " Grand Slam " of American horse racing . He won the 2015 Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year and 2015 Champion three @-@ year @-@ old . He was bred and owned throughout his racing career by Ahmed Zayat of Zayat Stables , trained by Bob Baffert , and ridden in most of his races by Victor Espinoza . He now stands at stud at Ashford Stud in Kentucky . After finishing fifth in his track debut as a two @-@ year @-@ old , American Pharoah won his next races , the Grade I Del Mar Futurity and FrontRunner Stakes , each by several lengths . An injury kept him out of the Breeders ' Cup Juvenile , but the strength of his two wins nonetheless resulted in his being voted American Champion Two @-@ Year @-@ Old Male Horse at the 2014 Eclipse Awards . Before the 2015 season began , Zayat had sold breeding rights to the colt to the Ashford Stud , a division of Ireland 's Coolmore Stud . He retained control over the colt and his racing career , as well as an undisclosed dividend on stud fees . American Pharoah began his 2015 campaign with wins in the Rebel Stakes and Arkansas Derby and went on to win the 2015 Kentucky Derby and 2015 Preakness Stakes . He won the Triple Crown in a wire @-@ to @-@ wire victory at the 2015 Belmont Stakes , becoming the first American Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978 and the 12th in history . His winning time was the second @-@ fastest for a Triple Crown winner , and his closing quarter @-@ mile time of 24 @.@ 32 was faster than Secretariat 's . He next shipped to Monmouth Park and easily won the Haskell Invitational on August 2 , prompting Baffert to say , " He just keeps bringing it ; he 's a great horse . " Three weeks later , he finished a close second in a hard @-@ fought Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on August 29 , 2015 , snapping a winning streak of eight races . After a layoff of two months , he shipped to Keeneland for the 2015 Breeders ' Cup and ran in the Breeders ' Cup Classic , where he challenged older horses for the first time and won by 6 1 ⁄ 2 lengths , breaking the track record . Pursuant to the agreement between Zayat and Ashford , American Pharoah was retired to stud at the conclusion of his 2015 racing year . = = Background = = American Pharoah is a bay colt with a faint star on his forehead and no other white markings . He is from the second crop of foals sired by Pioneerof the Nile , who finished second in the 2009 Kentucky Derby . The stallion 's first crop included Holy Bull Stakes winner Cairo Prince , and Social Inclusion , who finished third in the 2014 Preakness Stakes . American Pharoah 's dam , Littleprincessemma , was purchased by Zayat in 2007 for $ 250 @,@ 000 . She raced but did not win either of her two starts in 2008 . American Pharoah was her second foal , following allowance race winner Xixixi . Since his birth , she had produced two more full siblings to American Pharoah : a filly born in 2014 , and a colt , foaled in 2015 after she sold — in foal to Pioneerof the Nile — in November 2014 for $ 2 @.@ 1 million . American Pharoah was bred in Kentucky by his owner , Ahmed Zayat , CEO of Zayat Stables , LLC , and was born at 11 p.m. on Groundhog Day , February 2 , 2012 , at Tom VanMeter 's Stockplace Farm in Lexington , Kentucky . When he was a few days old , he and Littleprincessemma went to nearby Pretty Run Farm , also owned by VanMeter , where they remained for a few months . Later , the mare and foal were moved to Vinery , another Lexington farm where Pioneerof the Nile was stabled . There , American Pharoah was weaned at five months of age , and stood out from the other weanlings due to his conformation and good temperament . In January 2013 as a yearling , he went to Taylor Made Farm near Nicholasville , Kentucky , and began to be prepared for possible sale . In August 2013 , American Pharoah was consigned by the Taylor Made Sales Agency to the Fasig @-@ Tipton Saratoga Yearling sale . A few weeks before the auction , American Pharoah bumped his leg and had a small lump that was visible to potential buyers at the sale , which may have discouraged bidders . He was officially purchased for the posted minimum of $ 300 @,@ 000 by Ingordo Bloodstock , acting as an agent for Zayat , who in effect bought back his own horse . Zayat had pledged that he would not sell the promising but untested colt for less than $ 1 million . Zayat similarly bought back Pioneerof the Nile , American Pharoah 's sire , for $ 290 @,@ 000 in a 2007 yearling auction . " We felt that he had brilliance in him , " said Zayat of American Pharoah , " his demeanor , his aura , his conformation , the way he moved . " Following the auction , the horse first went to Florida and was started under saddle at the McKathan Brothers Training Center near Citra , where trainer J.B. McKathan said , " He just did everything right . " Once he was ready to begin race conditioning , he went into training with Hall of Fame inductee Bob Baffert in the spring of 2014 . He was described in 2014 as a ridgling , rather than a colt , meaning that he had an undescended testicle . The 2013 catalogue for his yearling Fasig @-@ Tipton sale listed him as a " colt " , and he was described that way again in 2015 . Zayat maintained the " ridgling " designation was an error : " he was always a colt . " The horse is set apart from other race horses by his smooth and distinctively long stride . Baffert has stated , " I 've never had a horse that moves or travels over the ground like he does . " The most unusual characteristic of American Pharoah during his two- and three @-@ year @-@ old seasons is his short tail — it was apparently chewed off by another horse . It is theorized that Mr. Z , a fellow competitor and Zayat @-@ bred colt , may have been the culprit ; the pair were kept together in Florida as younger horses . Trainer Baffert had a more colorful theory : " I think he was in the pasture one day and there was a mountain lion chasing him — that was the closest he could get ... " American Pharoah 's gentle demeanor is also distinctive , in that he is fond of people and , particularly for a young racehorse , surprisingly calm around them . As Baffert explained , " Horses of his caliber are not that nice and sweet . They 're just sort of tough . If I brought Bayern out here , you can 't get near him , he 's too aggressive . [ American Pharoah ] ' s just so different than any horse I 've ever had . " He was not always so calm , described initially as " a little bit of a headcase , " but Baffert explained that after his anxiety @-@ ridden first race , people worked with him , schooling him in the track paddock for about two weeks , when " all the sudden he got really sweet and really mellow . " = = = Name = = = American Pharoah 's name is inspired by that of his sire , Pioneerof the Nile , and his dam 's sire , Yankee Gentleman . The horse 's name also acknowledges Zayat 's own Egyptian @-@ American background . The misspelling of " Pharaoh " is permanent , but inadvertent . Zayat originally claimed that the spelling was the result of an error by The Jockey Club , but the organization 's president stated , " The name request for the 2012 colt American Pharoah was submitted electronically on January 25 , 2014 , through The Jockey Club 's interactive registration site . Since the name met all of the criteria for naming and was available , it was granted exactly as it was spelled on the digital name application . " Zayat later retracted his statement . Zayat 's wife , Joanne , offered another explanation for the name 's origins to a local news reporter just before the Preakness . Zayat 's son , Justin , ran a contest on social media in which fans could submit names for the horse . The winning entry had " Pharaoh " misspelled , she said . " Justin cut and pasted the name from [ the winner 's ] email , and sent it to the Jockey Club . " Marsha Baumgartner of Barnett , Missouri , who submitted the winning entry , told The New York Times , " I don 't want to assign blame , " but " I looked up the spelling before I entered . " Nonetheless , Baumgartner minimized the controversy , stating , " Horses can 't spell , anyway . " Ultimately , Justin Zayat accepted responsibility for the error , stating , " I didn 't happen to realize at the time that it was misspelled wrong ... Most English teachers in the world now are unhappy with me , but I 'll live with that . " Due to the winning record of American Pharoah , The Jockey Club has now reserved both spellings so another horse cannot be similarly named . The Triple Crown blanket awarded to American Pharoah after his Belmont win inadvertently used the correct spelling of " pharaoh " , and hence misspelled his name . = = Racing career = = = = = 2014 : two @-@ year @-@ old season = = = American Pharoah made his track debut in a maiden race over six and a half furlongs on the Polytrack surface at Del Mar Racetrack on August 9 . Ridden by Martin Garcia , he started as the 7 – 5 favorite against eight opponents . He became unsettled before the race and , after running in second place until the stretch , faded to finish fifth behind Om , Iron Fist , One Lucky Dane , and Calculator , more than nine lengths behind the winner . He ran in a blinker hood , which appeared to unnerve him , as did the commotion in the saddling paddock . Baffert addressed his anxiety issues by removing the hood and stuffing cotton in the horse 's ears for subsequent races . Despite his defeat , American Pharoah was moved up to Grade I class for the Del Mar Futurity over seven furlongs on September 3 . He was ridden by Victor Espinoza for the first time and started as the 3 @.@ 2 – 1 second favorite behind Best Pal Stakes winner Skyway , with Calculator and Iron Fist also in the field . American Pharoah took the lead from the start and went clear in the straight to win by four and three quarter lengths from Calculator , with a gap of more than eight lengths back to Iron Fist in third . Commenting on the colt 's improvement , Baffert said , " We took the blinkers off , put cotton in his ears and schooled him a lot . He trained well , we decided he was ready and we put him in there . Today , he behaved himself and showed what he could do . He did what we thought he 'd do the first time . " On September 27 , American Pharoah was made the 1 – 2 favorite for the Grade I FrontRunner Stakes over eight and a half furlongs at Santa Anita Park . As in his previous race , he was immediately sent to the front by Espinoza and stayed there , pulling away from his rivals in the straight to win by three and a quarter lengths over Calculator , with Texas Red a length and a half away in third . After the race , Espinoza explained how the colt moved : " All the way he was on a high cruising speed . He has such a long stride . He moves really nice and is light on his feet . " Baffert said , " I can 't believe his demeanor , how he has changed since his first out . He 's so professional . He 's really mentally there . " American Pharoah was scheduled to run in the Breeders ' Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita on November 1 but was scratched from the race after sustaining a " deep bruise " to his left front foot in a workout on October 27 . After this injury , he was fitted with a special horseshoe . His farrier , Wes Champagne , placed a thin sheet of aluminum alloy over a regular racing horseshoe and cut it to match the dimensions of the shoe , leaving the front two @-@ thirds of the hoof sole exposed , but creating a solid plate across the back that covered part of American Pharoah 's heels and part of his frog . Champagne varied the design slightly depending on the tracks and races American Pharoah would run , but used the same basic concept throughout the Triple Crown series . Even though he did not run in the Breeders ' Cup , for the 2014 Eclipse Awards , American Pharoah was voted American Champion Two @-@ Year @-@ Old Male Horse , beating Breeders ' Cup Juvenile winner Texas Red by 126 votes to 111 . = = = 2015 : three @-@ year @-@ old season = = = Five and a half months after his last start , American Pharoah began his second season in the Grade II Rebel Stakes on a sloppy track at Oaklawn Park on March 14 . He carried top weight of 119 pounds and started as the 2 – 5 favorite against six opponents , headed by the Todd Pletcher @-@ trained Madefromlucky . The colt led from the start and drew away in the closing stages to win by six and a quarter lengths . Espinoza called the winner " an amazing horse " , while Baffert was satisfied with the run , especially as the colt returned with a twisted shoe which would have hampered his progress . Four weeks later at the same track , American Pharoah started as the odds @-@ on favorite against seven opponents in the Grade I Arkansas Derby . After racing in second place behind outsider Bridget 's Big Luvy , he took the lead a quarter of a mile from the finish and steadily increased his advantage to win by eight lengths from Southwest Stakes winner Far Right . Baffert noted , " He 's matured substantially . He 's a good horse and he keeps moving forward . I don 't want to get ahead of myself , but Dortmund is another one who we don 't yet know how good he is . We 've got a one @-@ two punch and that 's a good position to be in . " After the race , Ron Moquett , the trainer of runner @-@ up Far Right , described American Pharoah as " a superhorse " . = = = = 2015 Kentucky Derby = = = = On May 2 , American Pharoah started as the 2 @.@ 9 – 1 favorite in an eighteen @-@ runner field for the 141st running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs . His opponents included Dortmund , winner of the Santa Anita Derby ; Carpe Diem , who won the Breeders ' Futurity Stakes and Blue Grass Stakes ; Firing Line , winner of the Sunland Derby ; Wood Memorial winner Frosted ; Florida Derby winner Materiality ; international entry Mubtaahij , who earned his way to Kentucky with a win in the UAE Derby ; and Upstart , winner of the Holy Bull Stakes . The crowd surrounding the horse during the walk @-@ over from the barns to the paddock upset American Pharoah , and several grooms were required to keep him under control . He continued to misbehave until he was loaded into the starting gate ; his connections and supporters worried that he was using up energy he needed for the race . Espinoza positioned the colt in third place early in the race as Dortmund took the lead , followed closely by Firing Line . The three remained ahead of the pack throughout the race , and broke clear of their rivals entering the straightaway with American Pharoah making a forward move on the outside . The favorite took the lead entering the final furlong and won by a length from Firing Line and Dortmund in 2 : 03 @.@ 02 , with Frosted finishing strongly in fourth . Espinoza , who won the race for the third time , said , " I feel like the luckiest Mexican on earth . He has been a special horse since the first time I rode him . He has a lot of talent and is an unbelievable horse . Turning for home I started riding a little bit harder . At the eighth pole I just couldn 't put that other horse away , but he got it done . " Espinoza 's performance attracted some scrutiny as he appeared to have struck the winner 32 times with his whip during the race . In post @-@ race analysis , one of the stewards at Churchill Downs said , " we watched [ the race replay ] many , many times prior to making it official , and that wasn 't anything that got our attention . " Baffert said , " He was hitting him on the saddle towel . He doesn 't hit that hard . " Gary Stevens , rider of second @-@ place Firing Line , commented that he had used his whip heavily as well , stating that the race was " as tough a race as I 've been in in 20 years the last eighth of a mile . " The Blood @-@ Horse writer Steve Haskin , while condemning whip overuse in general , offered analysis that Espinoza " did a lot of waving with the whip " and may not have actually hit the horse as many times as it seemed . Reflecting on the race , Baffert said that the colt did not bring his " super A @-@ game " to the Derby and that it was the first time American Pharoah had really been tested by other aggressive horses . = = = = 2015 Preakness Stakes = = = = Two weeks after winning the Kentucky Derby , American Pharoah entered the second leg of the Triple Crown , the 2015 Preakness Stakes , run over nine and a half furlongs at Pimlico Race Course . Despite an unfavorable inside draw of the number one post position , he was installed as the morning line favorite ahead of Firing Line and Dortmund . No horse had won the Preakness starting from the rail since 1994 . Immediately before post time , the weather changed to a heavy downpour with thunder . The last time the Preakness had been run on a sloppy track was in 1983 , and American Pharoah was the only horse in the field to have previously faced similar conditions , having won the Rebel Stakes running in rain and mud . American Pharoah had the lead within the first quarter @-@ mile and was challenged by Mr. Z early on , but held the lead on the inside throughout the race . He was challenged by Dortmund and then Divining Rod , but American Pharoah broke from the pack in the homestretch and won by seven lengths , as Tale of Verve made a strong rally to overtake Divining Rod to place . Firing Line slipped badly at the start and was eased in the stretch . The winning time was 1 : 58 @.@ 45 . Espinoza did not use his whip at all in the Preakness , and stated , " I couldn 't see how far I was in front because there was so much water in my eyes . " The margin of victory was tied for the sixth @-@ largest in Preakness history . The win by American Pharoah set up an attempt for the Triple Crown for the second straight year . It was also the second straight year that Espinoza had won both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes and the jockey 's third time winning both races . For Baffert , it was the fourth time in 19 years that he won the first two Triple Crown races . Of the colt , Baffert said , " He brought his A @-@ game today . " = = = = 2015 Belmont Stakes and Triple Crown = = = = In the week following the Preakness , the Leverage Agency was named as the exclusive marketing , sponsorship and licensing agents for the horse . They had performed similar duties for the 2014 Derby and Preakness winner , California Chrome . The agency secured a deal with Monster Energy for an undisclosed sum , rumored to be the largest single @-@ horse advertising sponsorship to date . The deal allowed the " Monster Girls " to be around the horse , and the product 's logo to be used on the horse 's horse sheets , on Espinoza 's shirt collar , as well as on caps and other gear worn by people around the horse . Ben Sturner of Leverage explained , " The energy and excitement that American Pharoah has generated around the world syncs perfectly with the brand . " Baffert created some controversy prior to the Belmont by choosing to work the horse at Churchill Downs and ship late to Belmont Park without a timed workout at the New York track . While several prominent trainers questioned his decision , Baffert believed that it was more important to keep American Pharoah " happy " on a track he liked , having used a similar strategy with his 2001 Belmont Stakes winner , Point Given . Rival trainers Kiaran McLaughlin and D. Wayne Lukas backed Baffert 's strategy , with McLaughlin making the remark , " I don 't think it matters for American Pharoah . He could probably run down a street over broken glass . " Appearing unperturbed but curious about a small crowd of well @-@ wishers , American Pharoah arrived at Long Island MacArthur Airport on June 2 , having traveled from Louisville , Kentucky on a customized Boeing 727 dubbed " Air Horse One " . American Pharoah 's connections drew the number five post position for the Belmont on June 3 . Pundits immediately noted it was the same slot from which Seattle Slew had won the 1977 Belmont and the Triple Crown , and that 14 other Belmont winners had started from the position . American Pharoah was the 3 – 5 morning line favorite in an eight @-@ horse field that included Tale of Verve , as well as five rivals from the Kentucky Derby who had skipped the Preakness , and one horse , Madefromlucky , who had not run either of the previous Triple Crown races , but , like Tonalist the year prior , had instead won the Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park . American Pharoah had previously defeated every horse entered , but he was also the only horse to contest all three legs of the Triple Crown and had run four races in the preceding eight weeks . American Pharoah won the Belmont Stakes on June 6 , becoming the 12th Triple Crown winner and the first since 1978 , ending a " drought " of 37 years . The horse was leaning back in the starting gate when it opened and was a touch late at the start , but he soon pulled out to an early lead , which he maintained for a gate @-@ to @-@ wire win . He steadily increased his lead throughout the race . He was challenged by Materiality until the top of the stretch when Materiality faded , ultimately finishing last , and Frosted held second although starting to fade at the sixteenth pole . Keen Ice ran in the middle of the pack until a late rally brought him into third over Mubtaahij , who was fourth . American Pharoah crossed the finish line leading by 5 1 ⁄ 2 lengths , with a winning time of 2 : 26 @.@ 65 for the 1 1 ⁄ 2 @-@ mile ( 2 @,@ 400 m ) race . His margin of victory was the fourth @-@ largest ever for a Triple Crown winner at the Belmont . Of the victory , Baffert said , " this little horse deserves it . There 's something about this horse that he just brought it every time . He 's a joy to be around . " In a post @-@ race interview , Zayat said that the colt 's racing schedule for the remainder of the year would be decided by Baffert , and that the needs of the horse would come first . He also acknowledged the need for horse racing to have " stars " and for them to race as long as they could . Though American Pharoah 's stud rights had been sold with plans to retire the horse at the end of 2015 , Zayat expressed hope that the horse would continue racing as long as he was healthy and " has it in him " . His winning time of 2 : 26 @.@ 65 was the sixth @-@ fastest in Belmont history , the second @-@ fastest for a Triple Crown winner , and his closing quarter @-@ mile was run in 24 @.@ 32 seconds , which was over a half @-@ second faster than Secretariat 's final quarter @-@ mile time of 25 @.@ 00 when the 1973 winner set a world record and won by 31 lengths . The following morning , the colt came out of the race tired but in good shape . When Baffert brought American Pharoah out of the Belmont Park barn , he invited the assembled media to come over and pet the horse . " I wanted to share him with everybody and show everybody how kind and sweet he is , " said Baffert , while the group of about 30 people touched and even kissed the horse . The horse then posed quietly with Baffert and Espinoza to tape a segment for The Today Show , standing between the two men who were seated in folding director 's chairs . An estimated 22 million U.S. television viewers watched the live Belmont race broadcast . Of 94 @,@ 237 winning $ 2 tickets sold at Belmont Park , each with a yield of $ 3 @.@ 50 for American Pharoah 's first @-@ place finish , some 90 @,@ 128 remained unredeemed several days after the race , most likely kept as race @-@ day souvenirs or to be offered for sale at a premium by their purchasers . = = = = The Haskell = = = = Following the Belmont , he was returned to Churchill Downs to rest , beginning to jog on the track the following Friday . On June 13 , the day of the Stephen Foster Handicap , American Pharoah was paraded on the track between races . A crowd of 30 @,@ 000 people showed up to see him as he was hand @-@ walked for about 45 minutes in front of the grandstand and in the paddock . Zayat , Baffert and Espinoza were also given their permanent keepsake Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown trophies in a ceremony that evening . American Pharoah 's popularity was so high that his win made the cover of Sports Illustrated , he was photographed for Vogue , and during the NBA Playoffs , the coach of the Golden State Warriors , Steve Kerr , suggested that American Pharoah was the only athlete better than LeBron James . American Pharoah 's next race was the Haskell Invitational , held August 2 at Monmouth Park , New Jersey . Zayat wanted the horse 's first race back be an " easy " race against other 3 @-@ year @-@ olds , he wanted to race the horse in Zayat 's home state of New Jersey , and he wanted to race on a Sunday to avoid a clash with the Jewish Sabbath . Zayat explained , " He can run anywhere ... as long as he 's happy and healthy ... I told [ Monmouth ] ... ' I want do to it for the sport and not worry about the money and stuff . " Nonetheless , Monmouth Park raised the purse money for the race from $ 1 million to $ 1 @.@ 75 million . Zayat had previously won the Haskell with Paynter in 2012 , and Baffert already held the record for the most Haskell wins , having seven previous victories . Over 60 @,@ 000 people showed up at Monmouth Park , which featured the Bruce Springsteen song " Born to Run " in the post parade . Viewed as being in even better physical condition than in the Belmont , American Pharoah took the lead in the far turn and easily opened up a five @-@ length lead over the six other horses in the race before Espinoza eased him back as second @-@ place finisher Keen Ice made a strong finishing push . He won the race by 2 1 ⁄ 4 lengths with a time of 1 : 47 @.@ 95 for the 9 @-@ furlong distance . Espinoza quipped , " He was having fun , and so was I. " Baffert said , " He just keeps bringing it ; he 's a great horse . " = = = = Defeat at the Travers = = = = The colt 's next start was in the August 29 Travers Stakes at Saratoga . While Zayat wanted to enter the race , Baffert was reluctant . The race marked the second time in under a month that American Pharoah , training with Baffert in California , had flown across the country , raising concerns that the extensive air travel was taking a toll on the horse . The only previous Triple Crown winner to win the Travers was Whirlaway in 1941 , and two others , Gallant Fox and Affirmed , had been defeated there , helping give the track its nickname " Graveyard of Champions " . Baffert had one Travers win ( in 2001 with Point Given ) in five previous attempts . With American Pharoah training well , he stated , " I 've been looking for an excuse not to come ( to the Travers ) and I can 't find one . " American Pharoah faced a field of 10 horses , most of whom , including Keen Ice , he had previously defeated . Espinoza had concerns at the starting gate when he noticed that his mount was already sweating , even though the weather was not particularly hot . While the horse led for much of the race , he was hard @-@ pressed throughout by Frosted , a change from Frosted 's previous stalking style , attributed to a rider change less than an hour before the race , when Jose Lezcano replaced an injured Joel Rosario , altering the " complexion " of the race . The unexpected tactics of Lezcano may have been decisive . Espinoza stated that he " knew he was in trouble " by the half @-@ mile pole because American Pharoah did not pull away from his rival and lacked his usual energy . Frosted challenged American Pharoah for the lead at the far turn , and the horses bumped several times , but American Pharoah dug in and fought back when Frosted took a very brief lead . While American Pharoah fended off the challenge from Frosted , Keen Ice was coming up on the outside , also under a new jockey , Javier Castellano . They overtook American Pharoah at the sixteenth pole , going on to defeat him by three @-@ quarters of a length . Once again the Saratoga track lived up to its reputation . After the race , Espinoza said , " He 's OK ... Maybe it was just a little too much for him those three weeks , flying back and forth . He was running pretty comfortable there , but not like he used to . " Baffert was proud of the horse 's fighting effort , stating " It was just guts . " Though Zayat talked of retiring the horse , Baffert said , " We knew we were doing the impossible , shipping him back and forth . " The following day , Baffert said that American Pharoah was healthy and came out of the race in good shape . He said he had no regrets , stating , " I 'm glad I brought him . Racing needed something like this . He almost pulled it off . " Regarding Zayat 's talk of retiring the horse , Baffert said , " Mr. Zayat is a very emotional man . We were all pretty disappointed ... I know ( Zayat ) will be going back and forth ... He 's a sportsman for bringing him up here . " Five days later , Zayat announced that the horse would be kept in training with the goal to run in the Breeders ' Cup Classic , stating , " I believe there were a combination of factors that prevented American Pharoah from running his absolute best ... I have every confidence that he can run to his best again , and he deserves the chance to do so . " = = = = Grand Slam = = = = On October 31 , 2015 , American Pharoah became the first horse in history to complete the " Grand Slam " of American horse racing — the Triple Crown plus the Breeders ' Cup Classic — after winning the 2015 Breeders ' Cup Classic at Keeneland , setting a track record with a time of 2 : 00 @.@ 07 ; and breaking the old track record by more than five seconds . Challenging older horses such as Tonalist and Honor Code for the first time in his career , as well as previous rivals Keen Ice and Frosted , American Pharoah led from gate @-@ to @-@ wire , challenged only by Effinex , racing at 33 – 1 odds , who placed 6 1 / 2 lengths behind the winner . Although American Pharoah 's decisive victory secured a $ 2 @.@ 75 million check for his win , Zayat had long insisted his horse continued to race only for the benefit of the sport and the pleasure of fans ; " this horse owes us nothing " , his son Justin Zayat said on the eve of the race . Joe Drape of The New York Times described American Pharoah 's Keeneland win as " sealing his legacy as a horse for the ages " . American Pharoah finished 2015 having set a single season record for race earnings , winning $ 8 @,@ 288 @,@ 800 . He broke the previous single season record of $ 7 @,@ 563 @,@ 535 set by Smarty Jones in 2004 , and that record had included a $ 5 million bonus that is no longer awarded . His lifetime career earnings were $ 8 @,@ 650 @,@ 300 . His Racing Post Rating ( RPR ) of 138 was the highest of any American horse since the Racing Post began the system in 1988 , topping that of previous U.S. record @-@ holders Ghostzapper and Cigar . Only two horses worldwide had ever achieved higher ratings , Frankel at 143 , and Dubai Millennium , with 139 , both doing so as more mature four @-@ year @-@ olds . He was rated the number one horse in the world in 2015 by the World 's Best Racehorse Rankings . = = = = Awards = = = = At the conclusion of the season , American Pharoah 's accomplishments were named the top sports story of the year by the Associated Press . He or his connections also swept most of the year @-@ end achievement awards of the horse racing world . At the 2015 Eclipse Awards , he was the unanimous choice for American Horse of the Year and Champion Three @-@ Year @-@ Old Male Horse . His win marked only the second time that an American Horse of the Year had been unanimously selected , the first being John Henry in 1981 . He was named the winner of the Secretariat Vox Populi Award , and his Belmont win was declared the NTRA Moment of the Year . His connections were given the Big Sport of Turfdom Award , an honor for people who " enhance coverage of Thoroughbred racing through cooperation with media and racing publicists . " In addition , Baffert won the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer and Zayat Stables took home the Eclipse awards for Outstanding Owner and Outstanding Breeder . Acknowledging owner Ahmed Zayat 's record of philanthropy to Jewish causes , the Jewish Daily Forward in November 2015 named American Pharoah its " plus one " on its annual list of 50 most influential American Jews . The major award that the horse did not win was the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year . In spite of being the public 's overwhelming favorite , earning 47 % of the vote out of eleven candidates in online voting , topping the Kansas City Royals , Usain Bolt , and Novak Djokovic , the editors of the magazine gave the award to Serena Williams . = = Retirement = = On May 20 , 2015 , The New York Times reported that Zayat had sold breeding rights to the colt to the Ashford Stud , a division of Ireland 's Coolmore Stud , but retained control over the colt and his racing career . Before the announcement , offers for American Pharoah 's breeding rights reportedly exceeded $ 20 million . After the Belmont , Forbes magazine reported that Zayat had actually sold the breeding rights to Ashford in late 2014 , long before he began his Triple Crown run , and that Zayat retained 100 % of the racing rights . Forbes went on to estimate that if American Pharoah stood for a $ 100 @,@ 000 stud fee , he could be worth $ 50 million . More conservative estimates placed his potential stud fee at $ 75 @,@ 000 and his potential value at about $ 25 to $ 36 million . The New York Times said that breeding rights had been sold for $ 13 @.@ 8 million : $ 9 @.@ 8 million with an additional $ 4 million incentive if American Pharoah won the Belmont Stakes . Zayat retained an undisclosed percentage in the colt 's breeding career , and explained that American Pharoah would retire from racing at the end of 2015 . American Pharoah shipped to Ashford Stud on November 2 , 2015 , where he was housed in the stall once occupied by Grand Slam and pastured each morning next to Thunder Gulch , who , at 23 years old , was chosen as a neighbor due to his calming influence on the young , energetic stallion . Ashford Stud set his initial stud fee for 2016 at $ 200 @,@ 000 , the second @-@ highest stud fee in the United States , behind that of the $ 300 @,@ 000 fee for Tapit . Sire Pioneerof the Nile 's stud fee of $ 60 @,@ 000 in 2015 was raised to $ 125 @,@ 000 for 2016 . American Pharoah officially began breeding mares in the spring of 2016 , and was first bred to Untouched Talent , an 11 @-@ year @-@ old mare owned by Coolmore , dam of Zayat 's Bodemeister ; within the first two months of his breeding career , American Pharoah had " about " 80 mares in foal after approximately 100 breeding sessions . Notably , he has retained his kind disposition even as a breeding stallion . = = Statistics = = = = Pedigree = = American Pharoah 's pedigree includes horses adept at classic race distances on his sire 's side and endowed with speed on his dam 's side . Sire Pioneerof the Nile won the Santa Anita Derby and ran second in the 2009 Kentucky Derby , with all of his wins at distances of 1 1 ⁄ 16 miles or more . Prior to American Pharoah , Pioneerof the Nile had sired five other winners of stakes races of a mile or more in his relatively new career as a stallion . Trainer Bob Baffert observed that Pioneerof the Nile also raced with " a big , long stride " and had " that same springing motion as American Pharoah , whose acceleration is pretty remarkable . " He also praised Pioneerof the Nile 's dam , Star of Goshen : " She was a freaky filly , really , really fast . " To Baffert , American Pharoah 's bloodline is a source of fascination : " Every time I work him , I go back and look at the pedigree , and I go , What is going on here ? " Pioneerof the Nile 's sire is Empire Maker , who won the 2003 Belmont Stakes . This makes American Pharoah a great @-@ grandson of Unbridled , who won the 1990 Kentucky Derby and the Breeders ' Cup Classic . He carries lines to Grade I champions Toussaud and Fappiano , and to the top @-@ rated European two- and three @-@ year @-@ old colt of 1983 and 1984 , El Gran Senor . He is also descended from Northern Dancer , Buckpasser , and Mr. Prospector — whose descendants have won 43 Triple Crown races , all via Empire Maker . Ultimately , via Unbridled and his ancestors , American Pharoah 's sire line traces to the Darley Arabian . Although Littleprincessemma , American Pharoah 's dam , is the half @-@ sister to graded stakes winner Storm Wolf , and to Misty Rosette , winner of the Old Hat Stakes in 2006 , her own undistinguished racing career , combined with the modest record of her sire , Yankee Gentleman , dampened initial public expectations for her second @-@ born foal . Yet American Pharoah 's maternal bloodline includes Storm Cat , a Grade I winner retired early due to injury , Northern Dancer , a Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner , and Terlingua , a celebrated broodmare , through whom he is a fifth @-@ generation descendant of Secretariat . He is also descended through his dam from Flying Paster , a Grade I champion who was 1978 California Horse of the Year , and Exclusive Native ( sire of Affirmed and Genuine Risk ) . Through both sire and dam , American Pharoah is a fifth- and sixth @-@ generation descendant of Bold Ruler , as well as a sixth- and seventh @-@ generation descendant of Tom Fool , one of the top thoroughbreds of the last century . His tail @-@ female line traces back to The Oldfield Mare , foaled circa 1695 . Figuring prominently and repeatedly in American Pharoah 's deep lineage is an earlier generation of champions , including Nasrullah , Native Dancer , Nearco , Princequillo , War Admiral and Man o ' War .
= Branded to Kill = Branded to Kill ( 殺しの烙印 , Koroshi no rakuin ) is a 1967 Japanese yakuza film directed by Seijun Suzuki and starring Joe Shishido , Koji Nanbara and Annu Mari . It was a low budget , production line number for the Nikkatsu Company , originally released in a double bill with Shōgorō Nishimura 's Burning Nature . The story follows Goro Hanada in his life as a contract killer . He falls in love with a woman named Misako , who recruits him for a seemingly impossible mission . When the mission fails , he becomes hunted by the phantom Number One Killer , whose methods threaten his sanity as much as his life . The studio was unhappy with the original script and called in Suzuki to rewrite and direct it at the last minute . Suzuki came up with many of his ideas the night before or on the set while filming , and welcomed ideas from his collaborators . He gave the film a satirical , anarchic and visually eclectic bent which the studio had previously warned him away from . It was a commercial and critical disappointment and Suzuki was ostensibly fired for making " movies that make no sense and no money " . Suzuki successfully sued Nikkatsu with support from student groups , like @-@ minded filmmakers and the general public and caused a major controversy through the Japanese film industry . Suzuki was blacklisted and did not make another feature film for 10 years but became a counterculture hero . The film grew a strong following , which expanded overseas in the 1980s , and has established itself as a cult classic . Film critics and enthusiasts now regard it as an absurdist masterpiece . It has been cited as an influence by filmmakers such as Jim Jarmusch , John Woo , Chan @-@ wook Park and Quentin Tarantino , and composer John Zorn . Thirty @-@ four years after Branded to Kill , Suzuki filmed Pistol Opera ( 2001 ) with Nikkatsu , a loose sequel to the former . The company has also hosted two major retrospectives spotlighting his career . = = Plot = = Goro Hanada , the Japanese underworld 's third @-@ ranked hitman , and his wife , Mami , fly into Tokyo and are met by Kasuga , a formerly ranked hitman turned taxi driver . Kasuga petitions Hanada to assist him in breaking back into the profession . Hanada agrees and the three go to a club owned by the yakuza boss Michihiko Yabuhara . The two men are hired to escort a client from Sagami Beach to Nagano . After the meeting , Yabuhara covertly seduces Hanada 's wife . Hanada and Kasuga pick up a car designated for the job which unexpectedly has a corpse in the back seat . They dispose of the body , then meet the client and proceed towards their destination . En route Hanada spots an ambush . He dispatches a number of gunmen while Kasuga panics and flails about in hysterics . Foaming at the mouth , Kasuga charges an ambusher , Koh , the fourth @-@ ranked hitman , and they kill each other . Hanada leaves the client to secure Koh 's car but hears three gunshots and rushes back to find the client is safe and three additional ambushers have been shot cleanly through the forehead . At a second ambush , Hanada kills more gunmen and sets Sakura , the second @-@ ranked hitman , on fire . Sakura madly rushes towards the client but is shot dead by him . On his way home Hanada 's car breaks down . Misako , a mysterious woman with a deathwish , stops and gives him a ride . At home , he has rough sex with his wife , fueled by his obsession with sniffing boiling rice . Yabuhara hires Hanada to kill four men , the first three being a customs officer , an ocularist and a jewellery dealer . Hanada snipes the first from behind a billboard 's animatronic cigarette lighter , shoots the second from a basement up through a pipe drain when the latter leans over the sink and , ordered to finish quickly , blasts his way into the third 's office and escapes on an advertising balloon . Misako then appears at his door and offers him a nearly impossible contract to kill a foreigner , which he cannot refuse having just been told the plan . During the job a butterfly lands on the barrel of his rifle causing him to miss his target and kill an innocent bystander . Misako tells him that he will now lose his rank and be killed . Hanada makes plans to leave the country but is shot by his wife who then sets fire to their apartment and flees . His belt buckle , however , stopped the bullet and he escapes the building . He finds Misako and they go to her apartment . After alternating failed attempts by him to seduce her and them to kill each other she succumbs to his advances when he promises to kill her . Afterwards , he finds he cannot as he has fallen in love with her . In a state of confusion he wanders the streets and passes out on the side of the road . The next day he finds his wife at Yabuhara 's club . She tries to seduce him , then fakes hysteria and tells him Yabuhara paid her to kill him and that the three men he had killed had stolen from Yabuhara 's diamond smuggling operation and the foreigner was an investigator sent by the supplier . Unmoved , Hanada kills her , gets drunk and waits for Yabuhara to return . Yabuhara arrives already dead with a bullet hole through the centre of his forehead . Hanada returns to Misako 's apartment where a film projector has been set up . It depicts Misako bound and tortured and directs him to a breakwater , where the following day he is to be killed . Hanada submits to the demand but kills the killers instead . The former client arrives and announces himself as the legendary Number One Killer . He says he will kill Hanada but , in thanks for the work he has done , is only giving a warning at present . Hanada holes up in Misako 's apartment and Number One begins an extended siege , taunting Hanada with threatening phone calls and forbidding him to leave the apartment . Eventually , Number One moves in with the now exhausted and inebriated Hanada under the pretext that he is deciding how to kill him . They agree to a temporary truce and set times to eat , sleep and , later , to link arms everywhere they go . Number One suggests they eat out one day and then disappears during the meal . At the apartment , Hanada finds a note and another film from Number One stating he will be waiting at a gymnasium with Misako . Hanada waits at the gymnasium but Number One does not show . As a bedraggled Hanada rises to leave , a tape recorder switches on explaining , " This is the way Number One works " , he exhausts you and then kills you . Hanada puts a headband across his forehead and climbs into a boxing ring . Number One appears and shoots him . The headband stops the bullet and Hanada returns fire . Number One slumps to the ground but manages to shoot him a few times before dying . Hanada leaps and staggers around the ring declaring himself the new Number One . Misako enters the arena and , crazed , he instinctively shoots her dead , then falls from the ring . = = Cast = = Joe Shishido as Goro Hanada , the Number Three Killer : a hitman with a fetish for the smell of boiling rice . He is gainfully employed by the yakuza until a butterfly lands on the barrel of his rifle during a " Devil 's job " . He misses his target and is marked for death — then descends into a world of alcohol and paranoia . Shishido has been called the face of Suzuki 's films , owing in part to their frequent collaborations , this being among the most prominent . After middling success in Nikkatsu melodramas he underwent plastic surgery , enlarging his cheeks several sizes . He returned to tremendous success as a heavy and , soon thereafter , a star . Koji Nanbara as the Number One Killer : the legendary hitman whose existence remains a subject of debate . Incognito , he employs the yakuza to provide bodyguards . Later , he reappears with the intention of killing Hanada , first trapping him in an apartment , then moving in with him , before their final showdown in a public gymnasium . Isao Tamagawa as Michihiko Yabuhara : the yakuza boss that hires Hanada and seduces his wife . Upon the discovery that his diamond smuggling operation has been burgled , he employs Hanada to execute the guilty parties then adds him to the list when he flubs the job . His final appearance is with a bullet hole in his head . Annu Mari as Misako Nakajo : the femme fatale with a penchant for dead butterflies and birds . She picks Hanada up in her open top convertible when his car breaks down in the rain . Under Yabuhara 's direction she enlists him to kill a foreigner . She attempts to kill Hanada but falls in love with him , which instigates her capture and use as bait by Number One . Mari has said she was experiencing suicidal urges at the time she first read the script and the character captivated her . " I loved her name , but it was her first line ' My dream is to die ' that had a profound impact on me . It was like lightning . " Mariko Ogawa as Mami Hanada : Hanada 's wife who has a predilection towards walking around the house nude . Shortly after meeting Yabuhara she enters an affair with him . When her husband 's career sours she attempts mariticide and flees — to be confronted later at Yabuhara 's club . This was Mariko Ogawa 's only film appearance . Hiroshi Minami as Gihei Kasuga : formerly a ranked hitman who lost his nerve and took to drinking . After introducing Hanada to Yabuhara he joins the former in a dangerous chauffeur mission . His nerves get the better of him and he experiences a short @-@ lived mental breakdown . = = Production = = The Nikkatsu Company conceived Branded to Kill as a low @-@ budget hitman film , a subgenre of the studio 's yakuza @-@ oriented movies . Their standard B movie shooting schedule was applied , one week for pre @-@ production , 25 days to shoot and three days for post @-@ production . The budget was set at approximately 20 million yen . Shortly before filming began , with the release date already set , the script was deemed " inappropriate " by the head office and contract director Seijun Suzuki was brought in to do a rewrite . Studio head Kyūsaku Hori told Suzuki he had had to read it twice before he understood it . Suzuki suggested they drop the script but was ordered to proceed . The rewrite was done with his frequent collaborator Takeo Kimura and six assistant directors , including Atsushi Yamatoya ( who also played Killer Number Four ) . The eight men had worked under the joint pen name Hachiro Guryu ( " Group of Eight " ) since the mid @-@ 1960s . Nikkatsu was building leading man Joe Shishido into a star and assigned him to the film . They specified that the script was to be written with this aim . The film also marks Shishido 's first nude scene . Suzuki originally wanted Kiwako Taichi , a new talent from the famous theatre troupe Bungakuza , for the female lead but she took a part in another film . Instead , Suzuki selected Annu Mari , another new actress who had been working in Nikkatsu 's music halls . In casting the role of Hanada 's wife , Suzuki selected Mariko Ogawa from outside of the studio as none of the contract actresses would do nude scenes . Suzuki did not use storyboards and disliked pre @-@ planning . He preferred to come up with ideas either the night before or on the set as he felt that the only person who should know what is going to happen is the director . He also felt that it was sudden inspiration that made the picture . An example is the addition of the Number Three Killer 's rice @-@ sniffing habit . Suzuki explained that he wanted to present a quintessentially " Japanese " killer , " If he were Italian , he 'd get turned on by macaroni , right ? " Suzuki has commended Shishido on his similar drive to make the action scenes as physical and interesting as possible . In directing his actors , Suzuki let them play their roles as they saw fit and only intervened when they went " off track " . For nude scenes the actors wore maebari , or adhesive strips , over their genitals in accordance with censorship practices . The film was edited in one day , a task made easy by Suzuki 's method of shooting only the necessary footage . He had picked up the habit during his years working as an assistant director for Shochiku when film stock remained sparse after the war . Post @-@ production was completed on June 14 , 1967 , the day before the film was released . = = Style = = Like many of its yakuza film contemporaries , Branded to Kill shows the influence of the James Bond films and film noir , though the film 's conventional genre basis was combined with satire , kabuki stylistics and a pop art aesthetic . It was further set apart from its peers , and Seijun Suzuki 's previous films , through its gothic sensibilities , unusual atonal score and what artist and academic Philip Brophy called a " heightened otherness " . The result has been alternately ascribed as a work of surrealism , absurdism , the avant garde and included in the Japanese New Wave movement , though not through any stated intention of its director . Suzuki employed a wide variety of techniques and claimed his singular focus was to make the film as entertaining as possible . Genre conventions are satirized and mocked throughout the film . In American noirs , heroes , or anti @-@ heroes , typically strive to be the best in their field . Here the process was formalized into a rankings system obsessed over by its players . The femme fatale — a noir staple — Misako , does not simply entice the protagonist and bring the threat of death but obsesses him and is obsessed with all things death herself . She tries to kill him , wants to kill herself and surrounds herself with dead things . Hanada 's libido is as present as that of the protagonists of similar films of the period , such as James Bond , though perversely exaggerated . Reviewer Rumsey Taylor likened Hanada 's boiled rice sniffing fetish to Bond 's " shaken , not stirred " martini order . The film also deviates from the opening killer @-@ for @-@ hire scenario to touch on such varied subgenres as psychosexual romance , American Gothic thriller and Odd Couple slapstick . The film industry is a subject of satire as well . For example , Japanese censorship often involved masking prohibited sections of the screen . Here Suzuki preemptively masked his own compositions but animated them and incorporated them into the film 's design . In the story , after Hanada finds he is unable to kill Misako he wanders the streets in a state of confusion . The screen is obscured by animated images with accompanying sounds associated to her . The effects contributed to the eclectic visual and sound design while signifying his obsessive love . Author Stephen Teo proposed that the antagonistic relationship between Hanada and Number One may have been analogous of Suzuki 's relationship with studio president Kyūsaku Hori . He compared Hanada 's antagonizers to those who had been pressuring Suzuki to rein in his style over the previous two years . Teo cited Number One 's sleeping with his eyes open and urinating where he sits , which the character explains as techniques one must master to become a " top professional . " The film was shot in black and white Nikkatsuscope ( synonymous with CinemaScope at a 2 @.@ 35 : 1 aspect ratio ) . Due to the wide frame , moving a character forward did not produce the dynamic effect Suzuki desired . Instead , he relied on spotlighting and chiaroscuro imagery to create excitement and suspense . Conventional framing and film grammar were disregarded in favour of spontaneous inspiration . In editing , Suzuki frequently abandoned continuity , favouring abstract jumps in time and space as he found it made the film more interesting . Critic David Chute suggested that Suzuki 's stylistics had intensified — in seeming congruence with the studio 's demands that he conform : You can see the director reusing specific effects and pointedly cranking them up a notch . In Our Blood Will Not Allow It , the two battling brothers had a heart @-@ to @-@ heart in a car that was enveloped , just for the hell of it , in gorgeous blue moiré patterns of drenching rain . This ' lost at sea ' effect is revived in Branded to Kill but there 's no sound at all in this version of the scene , except for the gangsters ' hushed voices , echoless , plotting some fresh betrayal in a movie @-@ movie isolation chamber . = = Reception = = Branded to Kill was released to Japanese theatres on June 15 , 1967 , in a double bill with Nishimura Shōgorō 's Burning Nature . The films were financially unsuccessful and the former fared likewise among critics . Kinema Junpo magazine reported that the films " resulted in less than 2 @,@ 000 viewers at Asakusa and Shinjuku and about 500 at Yurakucho on the second day . " Both Joe Shishido and Yamatoya Atsushi later recounted having seen Branded to Kill in practically empty theatres , the latter on its opening night . Iijima Kōichi , a critic for the film journal Eiga Geijutsu , wrote that " the woman buys a mink coat and thinks only about having sex . The man wants to kill and feels nostalgic about the smell of boiling rice . We cannot help being confused . We do not go to theaters to be puzzled . " Nikkatsu Studios had been criticized for catering to rebellious youth audiences , a specialty of contract director Seijun Suzuki , whose films had grown increasingly anarchic through the 1960s . This had earned him a large following but it had also drawn the ire of studio head Kyūsaku Hori . On April 25 , 1968 , Suzuki received a telephone call from a company secretary informing him that he would not be receiving his salary that month . Two of Suzuki 's friends met with Hori the next day and were told , " Suzuki 's films were incomprehensible , that they did not make any money and that Suzuki might as well give up his career as a director as he would not be making films for any other companies . " A student film society run by Kazuko Kawakita , the Cineclub Study Group , was planning to include Branded to Kill in a retrospective honouring Suzuki 's works but Hori refused them and withdrew all of his films from circulation . With support from the Cineclub , similar student groups , fellow filmmakers and the general public — which included the picketing of the company 's Hibiya offices and the formation of the Seijun Suzuki Joint Struggle Committee — Suzuki sued Nikkatsu for wrongful dismissal . During the three @-@ and @-@ a @-@ half year trial the circumstances under which the film was made and Suzuki was fired came to light . He had been made into a scapegoat for the company 's dire financial straits and was meant to serve as an example on the outset of an attempted company @-@ wide restructuring . A settlement was reached on December 24 , 1971 , in the amount of one million yen , a fraction of his original claim , as well as a public apology from Hori . In a separate agreement Branded to Kill and his previous film , Fighting Elegy , were donated to the Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art 's Film Centre . The events turned Suzuki into a legend and shook the film world . Branded to Kill , along with other of his films , played to " packed audiences who wildly applauded " at all @-@ night revivals in and around Tokyo . However , Suzuki was blacklisted by the major studios and did not make another feature film until A Tale of Sorrow and Sadness ( 1977 ) ten years after Branded to Kill . In the meantime , he subsisted on commercial and television work and writing books of essays . Branded to Kill first reached international audiences in the 1980s , featuring in various film festivals and retrospectives dedicated wholly or partially to Suzuki , which was followed by home video releases in the late 1990s . It garnered a reputation as one of his most unconventional , revered Nikkatsu films and an international cult classic . It has been declared a masterpiece by the likes of film critic Chuck Stephens , writer and musician Chris D. , and composer John Zorn and inspired film director Quentin Tarantino . Writer and critic Tony Rayns noted , " Suzuki mocks everything from the clichés of yakuza fiction to the conventions of Japanese censorship in this extraordinary thriller , which rivals Orson Welles ' Lady from Shanghai in its harsh eroticism , not to mention its visual fireworks . " Modified comparisons to the films of a " gonzo Sam Fuller " , or Jean @-@ Luc Godard , assuming one " factor [ s ] out Godard 's politics and self @-@ consciousness " , are not uncommon . In a 1992 Rolling Stone magazine article , film director Jim Jarmusch affectionately recommended it as , " Probably the strangest and most perverse ' hit man ' story in cinema . " Jasper Sharp of the Midnight Eye wrote , " [ It ] is a bloody marvellous looking film and arguably the pinnacle of the director 's strikingly eclectic style . " However , the workings of the plot remain elusive to most . Sharp digressed , " [ T ] o be honest it isn 't the most accessible of films and for those unfamiliar with Suzuki 's unorthodox and seemingly disjointed style it will probably take a couple of viewings before the bare bones of the plot begin to emerge . " As Zorn has put it , " plot and narrative devices take a back seat to mood , music , and the sensuality of visual images . " Japanese film historian Donald Richie thus encapsulated the film , " An inventive and ultimately anarchic take on gangster thrillers . [ The ] script flounders midway and Suzuki tries on the bizarre for its own sake . " David Chute conceded that in labeling the film incomprehensible , " [ i ] f you consider the movie soberly , it 's hard to deny the bosses had a point " . On a conciliatory note , Rayns commented , " Maybe the break with Nikkatsu was inevitable ; it 's hard to see how Suzuki could have gone further in the genre than this . " After another unrelated 10 @-@ year hiatus , Suzuki and Nikkatsu reunited for the Style to Kill retrospective , held in April , 2001 , at Theatre Shinjuku in Tokyo . It featured 28 films by Suzuki , including Branded to Kill . Suzuki appeared at the gala opening with star Annu Mari . Joe Shishido appeared for a talk session at an all @-@ night , four @-@ film screening . An accompanying Branded to Kill visual directory was published . The following year , the Tanomi Company produced a limited edition 1 / 6 scale " Joe the Ace " action figure based on Shishido 's character in the film , complete with a miniature rice cooker . In 2006 , Nikkatsu celebrated the 50th anniversary of Suzuki 's directorial debut by hosting the Seijun Suzuki 48 Film Challenge retrospective at the 19th Tokyo International Film Festival . It showcased all of his films . He and Mari were again in attendance . = = Legacy = = As one of Seijun Suzuki 's most influential films , Branded to Kill has been acknowledged as a source of inspiration by such internationally renowned directors as Hong Kong 's John Woo , South Korea 's Chan @-@ wook Park and America 's Jim Jarmusch and Quentin Tarantino . Jarmusch listed it as his favourite hitman film , alongside Le Samouraï ( also 1967 ) , and thanked Suzuki in the screen credits of his own hitman film Ghost Dog : The Way of the Samurai ( 1999 ) . Most notably , Jarmusch mirrored a scene in which the protagonist kills a target by shooting up from a basement through a sink drain . He went so far as to screen the film for Suzuki when the two met in Tokyo . Critics have noted Branded to Kill 's influence on the films of Wong Kar @-@ wai , such as his hitman film Fallen Angels ( 1995 ) , as well as Johnnie To 's Fulltime Killer ( 2001 ) . However , Branded to Kill was most influential in its native Japan . The film 's premise , in which hitmen try to kill each other in competition for the Number One rank , is spoofed in films such as Takeshi Kitano 's Getting Any ? ( 1995 ) and Sabu 's Postman Blues ( 1997 ) , which features a character named Hitman Joe . Branded to Kill played a role in the development of the long @-@ running Lupin III franchise . It also had a profound impact , through Suzuki 's firing and the resulting student uprising , in the beginnings of the movement film , usually underground or anti @-@ establishment films which focused on issues of import to audiences , as opposed to production line genre pictures . Thirty @-@ four years after Branded to Kill , Suzuki directed Pistol Opera ( 2001 ) , a loose sequel co @-@ produced by Shochiku and filmed at Nikkatsu . The character Goro Hanada returns as a mentor figure to the new Number Three , played by Makiko Esumi . However , Joe Shishido was replaced by Mikijiro Hira in the role of Hanada . Suzuki has said that the original intention was for Shishido to play the character again but that the film 's producer , Satoru Ogura , wanted Hira for the role . Reviews were of a favourable nature on par with its predecessor . Jonathan Rosenbaum supposed , " Can I call a film a masterpiece without being sure that I understand it ? I think so ... " Although some , such as Elvis Mitchell for The Village Voice , felt its zeal fell slightly short of the original . = = Home video = = Branded to Kill was initially made available in Japan by Nikkatsu in VHS format , first on February 10 , 1987 , then a second version on June 10 , 1994 . Both versions were censored for nudity with a black bar obscuring half of the frame during the relevant scenes . The first uncensored release since the film 's theatrical debut was an October 26 , 2001 , DVD from Nikkatsu . It included an interview with Seijun Suzuki , two with Joe Shishido , an Annu Mari photo gallery and the original film trailers for it and several other Suzuki films . The release was one of three linked to the Style to Kill theatrical retrospective . In conjunction with the 50th anniversary of Suzuki 's directorial debut , the film was included in the first of two six @-@ film DVD box sets which was released October 1 , 2006 . All six titles included audio commentary tracks featuring Suzuki with various collaborators , those being Annu Mari and assistant director Masami Kuzū for Branded to Kill . The first North American copy surfaced in the early 1990s at Kim 's Video in New York in a video series titled Dark of the Sun devoted to obscure Asian cinema , assembled by John Zorn , albeit without English subtitles . The Criterion Collection released the film in the United States and Canada on laserdisc in 1998 , followed by a DVD on February 23 , 1999 , both containing a 15 @-@ minute interview with Suzuki , poster gallery of Shishido films and liner notes by Zorn . Home Vision Cinema release a VHS version on June 16 , 2000 . Both companies conjunctively released Tokyo Drifter in all three formats in addition to a VHS collection packaging the two films together . In the United Kingdom , Second Sight Films released a DVD on February 25 , 2002 , and a VHS on March 11 , 2002 . Yume Pictures released a new DVD on February 26 , 2007 , as a part of their Suzuki collection , featuring a 36 @-@ minute interview with the director , trailers and liner notes by Tony Rayns . Madman Entertainment 's Eastern Eye label released the film on DVD in Australia and New Zealand on May 2 , 2007 . It also contained the original trailer , a photo gallery and liner notes . Criterion released Branded to Kill on Blu @-@ ray on December 13 , 2011 . = = Soundtrack = = Forty years after the film 's original release , on February 23 , 2007 , the Japanese record label Think issued the soundtrack on Compact Disc through its Cine Jazz series , which focused on 1960s Nikkatsu action films . The music was culled from Naozumi Yamamoto 's score . Atsushi Yamatoya wrote the lyrics for the " Killing Blues " themes . Listings 27 through 29 are bonus karaoke tracks . = = = Track listing = = =
= M @-@ 89 ( Michigan highway ) = M @-@ 89 is an east – west state trunkline highway in the US state of Michigan that runs from near Ganges to Battle Creek . M @-@ 89 starts at an interchange with Interstate 196 / US Highway 31 ( I @-@ 196 / US 31 ) and passes through Allegan , Kalamazoo County , Michigan , and Calhoun counties . The highway also briefly crosses the southwest corner of Barry County before it terminates an at intersection with Business Loop I @-@ 94 ( BL I @-@ 94 ) on the northwestern side of downtown Battle Creek . In between the trunkline runs parallel to the Kalamazoo River through rural southwestern Michigan farmlands while also running through the middle of several smaller towns in the area . Dating back to 1919 , M @-@ 89 was originally just a segment of the current highway between the Ganges area and Martin . Changes through the 1920s and 1930s moved the eastern end to Calhoun County . The last section was paved in the 1950s before the highway was rerouted in the Allegan , Michigan area . The last extensions into Battle Creek came in the 1960s and 1998 . = = Route description = = M @-@ 89 begins at an interchange with I @-@ 196 / US 31 near Ganges , just a half mile ( 0 @.@ 8 km ) from Lake Michigan . The highway travels east on 124th Street from there through farmlands and small communities like Fennville . The trunkline passes wetlands just north of Swan Creek Marsh and crosses the Kalamazoo River about two miles ( 3 @.@ 2 km ) west of an intersection with M @-@ 40 . M @-@ 89 and M @-@ 40 run concurrently to the southeast for 6 @.@ 5 miles ( 10 @.@ 5 km ) through more farms and across Lake Allegan on the Kalamazoo River on the way into Allegan . Just two blocks before M @-@ 89 splits from M @-@ 40 , the concurrent highways have a junction with M @-@ 222 . After M @-@ 89 splits from M @-@ 40 , it continues out of Allegan to the southeast , again crossing over the Kalamazoo River . After leaving Allegan , M @-@ 89 runs roughly parallel with the Kalamazoo River for approximately 12 miles ( 19 km ) , passing through mostly rural areas with residences and agricultural fields . The highway curves to the east and crosses the Kalamazoo River again just west of the city of Otsego . The trunkline curves to the south in the city then again runs east to junction with US 131 at exit 49 on the west side of Plainwell . East of US 131 , the highway passes through the city of Plainwell and crosses the Kalamazoo River again before continuing into rural areas again . The route heads the southeast on towards the village of Richland . Just north of Richland , M @-@ 89 meets up with M @-@ 43 , and the two share a brief routing together for a mile ( 1 @.@ 6 km ) as M @-@ 43 heads southwest out of Richland while M @-@ 89 heads east , passing to the south of Gull Lake . After passing the lake , the highway turns southeast towards Battle Creek . As M @-@ 89 begins to enter the outskirts of Battle Creek it follows Michigan Avenue . It passes through the neighborhoods of Level Park @-@ Oak Park and Urbandale , the first residential areas of the city . As the highway continues towards Battle Creek it has a junction with M @-@ 37 . M @-@ 89 continues on Michigan Avenue until an intersection with Washington Avenue where the route turns to the southwest where it crosses the Kalamazoo River one last time . The trunkline terminates a few blocks later at Dickman Road , otherwise known as the Business Loop I @-@ 94 ( BL I @-@ 94 ) . M @-@ 89 is maintained by the Michigan Department of Transportation ( MDOT ) like other state highways in Michigan . As a part of these maintenance responsibilities , the department tracks the volume of traffic that uses the roadways under its jurisdiction . These volumes are expressed using a metric called annual average daily traffic , which is a statistical calculation of the average daily number of vehicles on a segment of roadway . MDOT 's surveys in 2010 showed that the highest traffic levels along M @-@ 89 were the 26 @.@ 470 vehicles daily between Otsego and Plainwell ; the lowest counts were the 2 @,@ 879 vehicles per day between Fennville and the I @-@ 196 / US 31 interchange . No section of M @-@ 89 has been listed on the National Highway System , a network of roads important to the country 's economy , defense , and mobility . = = History = = The July 1 , 1919 , incarnation of M @-@ 89 was much shorter relative to today 's road . Its western terminus was at a junction with M @-@ 11 ( later US 31 , now A @-@ 2 ) near Ganges . It traveled east to Fennville then turned south to Pearl before turning back to the east towards Allegan on an alignment that is a few miles south of the present day configuration . The highway then left Allegan on present day M @-@ 222 and terminated at M @-@ 13 , which is now A @-@ 45 east of the US 131 freeway . In 1926 , when M @-@ 40 was extended , M @-@ 89 was rerouted out of Allegan to the southeast along its present day alignment to terminate at US 131 in Plainwell . Just a few years later , the road was extended further to the southeast to Richland then east along its present day routing to end at M @-@ 96 in Augusta . In 1931 , the route was realigned to run east , rather than south into Augusta , where it then met up with M @-@ 96 just inside the Calhoun County line . The road remained in this fashion for the next 20 years . In late 1951 or early 1952 , the last section of M @-@ 89 was paved , a segment south and east of Fennville in Allegan County . Just months later , the highways was realigned to run east from Fennville , rather than south to Pearl , to intersect M @-@ 40 . From there it was rerouted to run concurrently into Allegan . In 1963 , when the I @-@ 196 / US 131 freeway opened , the western terminus of M @-@ 89 was extended to meet the new freeway . A few years later , when M @-@ 96 was realigned onto a route that took it into Battle Creek , M @-@ 89 was extended southeasterly along Michigan Avenue ( the old M @-@ 96 ) and terminated at M @-@ 37 . The highway was extended further southeasterly into Battle Creek to replace the old routing of M @-@ 37 along Michigan Avenue ; it then turned south on Washington to the BL I @-@ 94 where it terminated , thus bringing the route to its current alignment . = = Major intersections = =
= John Bauer ( illustrator ) = John Albert Bauer ( 4 June 1882 – 20 November 1918 ) was a Swedish painter and illustrator . His work is concerned with landscape and mythology , but he also composed portraits . He is best known for his illustrations of early editions of Bland tomtar och troll ( Among Gnomes and Trolls ) , an anthology of Swedish folklore and fairy tales . Bauer was born and raised in Jönköping . At 16 he moved to Stockholm to study at the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts . While there he received his first commissions to illustrate stories in books and magazines , and met the artist Ester Ellqvist , whom he married in 1906 . He traveled throughout Lappland , Germany and Italy early in his career , and these cultures deeply informed his work . He painted and illustrated in a romantic nationalistic style , in part influenced by the Italian Renaissance and Sami cultures . Most of his works are watercolors or prints in monochrome or muted colours ; he also produced oil paintings and frescos . His illustrations and paintings broadened the understanding and appreciation of Swedish folklore , fairy tales and landscape . When Bauer was 36 , he , Ester and their son , Bengt , drowned in a shipwreck on Lake Vättern . = = Biography = = = = = Early life and education = = = John Bauer was born and raised in Jönköping , the son of Josef Bauer , a man of Bavarian origin , and Emma Charlotta Wadell , from a farming family from the town Rogberga just outside Jönköping . Josef Bauer came to Sweden in 1863 , penniless . He founded a successful charcuterie business at the Östra Torget in Jönköping . The family lived in the apartment above the shop until 1881 when the construction of their house in Sjövik was completed . John , born in 1882 , lived at the Villa Sjövik by the shore of Lake Rocksjön with his parents and two brothers , one older and one younger ; his only sister died at a young age . The family home would remain central to him long after he lived on his own . His initial schooling was at the Jönköpings Högre Allmäna Läroverk ( The Jönköping Public School of Higher Education ) , followed by the Jönköpings Tekniska Skola ( The Jönköping Technical School ) from 1892 to 1898 . He spent most of his time drawing caricatures of his teachers and daydreaming , something not appreciated by his teachers . He was given to sketching and drawing from an early age , without encouragement from his family . However , when he turned sixteen and wanted to go to Stockholm to study art , they were enthusiastic for him and backed him financially . In 1898 , he was one of the 40 applicants to study at the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts , and although he was deemed well qualified for a place at the academy , he was too young to be accepted . He spent the next two years at the Kaleb Ahltins school for painters . During this time he was , like most teenagers , torn between hope and despair , something that is reflected in his artwork . By 1900 , he was old enough to attend the Academy of Arts , and was one of the three students admitted that year ; the two other successful applicants were his friends Ivar Kamke and Pontus Lanner . He studied traditional illustrations and made drawings of plants , medieval costumes and croquis ; all of which served him in his later work . One of his teachers , professor and noted historic painter , Gustaf Cederström praised Bauer : His art is what I would call great art , in his almost miniaturized works he gives an impression of something much more powerful than many monumental artists can accomplice on acres of canvas . It is not size that matters but content . While at the academy , he received his first commissions to illustrate magazines ( including the Söndags @-@ Nisse and Snöflingan ) and books ( e.g. De gyllene böckerna , Ljungars saga and Länge , länge sedan ) . In 1904 he traveled to Lappland to create paintings for a book on the culture of the county and its " exotic wilderness " . At the end of 1905 , he left the academy and put " Artist " on his business card . = = = Journey to Lappland = = = Following the discovery of iron ore deposits in the north of Sweden , Lappland became a frontier for industrial development , instead of an exotic wilderness of the Sami culture and midnight sun . Opportunistically , Carl Adam Victor Lundholm published a his Lappland , det stora svenska framtidslandet ( Lappland , the great Swedish land of the future ) . He engaged noted Swedish artists — such as Karl Tirén , Alfred Thörne , Per Daniel Holm and Hjalmar Lindberg — to create the illustrations . Since Bauer was an inexperienced illustrator by comparison , Lundholm tested his abilities by sending him to create some drawings of Sami people at Skansen . Although reluctant to audition for the commission , on 15 July 1904 Bauer left for Lappland and stayed there for a month . Coming from the dense , dark forests of Småland he was overwhelmed by the open vistas and colorful landscapes . His encounters with the Sami people and their culture became important for his later works . He took many photos , sketched and made notes of the tools , costumes and objects he saw , but he had difficulty becoming close to the Sami , due to their shyness . He recorded his experiences in his diary and in letters to his family and friends . After a visit to a Sami goahti he noted : " All light from above . If the head is tilted forward it is dark . The lit parts of the figure always lighter than the tent canvas . Sharp shadows run like spokes from the middle of the goathi . " The book on Lappland was published in 1908 , with eleven watercolors by Bauer . They were painted Stockholm , almost 18 months after his visit , using the photos and sketches he had collected during his journey . Many of the photos resulted in other drawings and paintings . Most of these were romanticized versions of the photos , but he succeeded in capturing the nuances and ambiance of the goahtis , and the richness of the Sami garments and crafts . Details from the Sami culture , such as the bent knives , shoes , spears , pots and belts , became important elements in the clothes and ornamentations of Bauer 's trolls . Bauer 's eye for detail and his numerous notes also made the material an ethnographic documentation of the era . = = = Courtship and marriage = = = Bauer met fellow student Ester Ellqvist at the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts . Ellqvist studied at the separate department for women , since women were not allowed to attend the same classes as the men and their education was conducted in a different manner . So , while Ellqvist was talented and ambitious , she did not have an equal opportunity as her male colleagues to develop her artistry . Bauer started courting her in 1903 , but since they were apart most of the time , this was done by mail . Their relationship developed as they shared their dreams , aspirations , doubts and insecurities in their correspondence . For Bauer , Ellqvist became his inspiration , muse , and " fairy princess " ; it was as such he painted her for the first time in Sagoprinsessan ( The Fairy Princess ) . He made sketches for the painting in 1904 , and finalized them in an oil painting in 1905 . Ellqvist is portrayed as a strong , enlightened and unobtainable Valkyrie . The painting was shown at Bauer 's first exhibition at the Valand Academy in Gothenburg in 1905 ( where he was one of eleven debutants ) and in Norrköping in 1906 , where it was sold to a private collector . It is now in the Jönköpings läns museum . Bauer tried to mold Ellqvist into his vision of a creature of the woods and as the perfect artist 's wife ; he wanted her to make a home for them in a romantic cottage in the woods , while he wandered about the forest seeking inspiration . Ellqvist , on the other hand , had been raised in Stockholm and was a lively person who enjoyed the social life that could only be found in towns or cities . She wanted to settle down in a comfortable place with a husband and have children . Bauer was not sufficiently established an artist to provide for a family ; throughout his entire lifetime he relied on his parents for financial support . When he proposed to Ellqvist , Bauer did so without the approval of his parents , who thought that he should be more established in a career and self @-@ supporting before marriage . On 18 December 1906 , Bauer and Ellqvist were married . Little is known of their first years together since they now lived in the same house , making letters unnecessary . Bauer had jobs illustrating covers for magazines , like Hvar 8 Dag , and began work on Bland tomtar och troll ( Among Gnomes and Trolls ) . In 1908 , John and Ester traveled to Italy together ; on their return they found a house , the " Villa Björkudden " , situated on the shores of Lake Bunn just outside Gränna . They bought the house in 1914 , and the following year their son Bengt ( called " Putte " ) was born . The birth of Putte marked a harmonious and joyful time for the couple . Bauer made his final illustrations for Among Gnomes and Trolls , his grand farewell to the series , which freed him to explore playwriting and make frescos . He showed his paintings at exhibitions and experimented with modernism , but all this came at a cost . Bauer was often away , leaving Ellqvist alone at home , and he no longer had the steady income that the illustrations had provided . By 1917 , their marriage was in trouble , and in 1918 , Bauer put his thoughts about a divorce in a letter to his wife . Over time , Bauer used Ellqvist as a model less frequently . With the birth of their son , Bauer started to paint pictures with children as part of the composition . The painting Rottrollen ( The Root Trolls ) , completed in 1917 , is of Putte sleeping among troll @-@ shaped roots in a forest . = = = Journey to Italy = = = Bauer and his wife could to make the long journey at Josef 's expense in 1909 . They choose to travel through Germany and on to Italy based on his readings of medieval towns during a 1902 visit to Germany with his father . The couple visited Verona , Florence , Siena and spent two months in Volterra . They continued through Naples and Capri , spending the winter in Rome . Throughout their travels they studied art and visited churches and museums , which appealed to Bauer 's eclectic mind . In the evenings they went to small tavernas to enjoy the ambiance ; all of which is recorded in the letters they sent home to Bauer 's family . Bauer 's sketchbooks are full of studies of antique objects and Renaissance art , some of which he used for his illustrations . A portrait of Ghirlandaio by Sandro Botticelli is said to be the basis for Svanhamnen ( The Swan maiden ) , and Piero della Francesca 's work was the inspiration for Den helige Martin ( Saint Martin , the Holy ) . He also became intrigued by frescoes . He was exuberant in the study of art , but he also became homesick for the quiet serenity of the Swedish forest which resulted in some of his best winter pictures with white snow , dark woods and the sky glittering with tiny stars . Their journey was abandoned after a murder in their building in Rome . Bauer was interrogated by Italian police due to a misunderstanding . He was never a suspect but the situation became public , leaving a bitter memory of their visit to Rome . = = = Death on Lake Vättern = = = Bauer , Ester and their two @-@ year @-@ old son , Bengt , were on their way to their new home in Stockholm , where Bauer hoped for spiritual renewal and a new life for himself and his family . A recent , well @-@ publicized train accident at Getå caused Bauer to book their return to Stockholm by boat , the Per Brahe steamer . On the night of 19 November 1918 , when the steamer left Gränna it was loaded with iron stoves , plowshares , sewing machines and barrels of produce . All the cargo did not fit into the hold and a significant portion was stored unsecured on deck , making the ship top @-@ heavy . The weather was bad and by the time the steamer was at sea a full storm was raging ; the wind caused the cargo on deck to shift , some of it falling overboard , further destabilizing the ship . The ship capsized and went down , stern first , just 500 metres ( 1 @,@ 600 feet ) from the next port , Hästholmen , killing all 24 people on board , including the Bauers . Most of the passengers had been trapped in their cabins . The wreckage was found on 22 November 1918 at a depth of 32 metres ( 105 feet ) , salvaged on 12 August 1922 . Investigations indicated that just one third of the cargo had been stowed in the hold , the rest unsecured on deck . The salvage operation turned into a bizarre public attraction ; for example , a sewing machine from the steamer was smashed into pieces and sold for one crown each . It is estimated that about 20 @,@ 000 people came to watch the raising of the ship , requiring the addition of trains from Norrköping . Newsreels featuring the raising of the ship were shown in cinemas all over Sweden . In order to finance the salvage operation , the Per Brahe was sent on a macabre tour throughout Sweden . The newspapers fed people 's superstitions that the mythical creatures of the forests had claimed Bauer by sinking the ship . The most common theme was connected to the tale Agneta och sjökungen ( Agneta and the Sea King ) from 1910 in which the Sea King lures a maiden into the depths . On 18 August 1922 , the Bauers were buried at the Östra cemetery in Jönköping ( in quarter 04 plot number 06 ) . = = = Bauer , the person = = = Bauer consistently and privately doubted himself . He considered the praise he received for his pictures of trolls and princesses to be " a nice pat on the head for making funny pictures for children " . He wanted to paint in oil and make what he called " real art " , but he needed the money he received for his illustrations . His self @-@ doubts were contrary to his public persona and how he presented himself in self @-@ portraits : strong minded but self @-@ deprecating . = = Career = = = = = Subjects = = = Bauer 's favorite subject was Swedish nature , the dense forests where the light trickled down through the tree canopies . Ever since he was little he had wandered in the dark woods of Småland imagining all the creatures living there . His paintings frequently included detailed depictions of plants , mosses , lichens and mushrooms found in the Swedish woods . He is best known for his illustrations of Among Gnomes and Trolls . In a 1953 article in Allers Familje @-@ journal ( Allers Family Journal ) , his friend Ove Eklund stated that " although [ Bauer ] only mumbled about and never said clearly " , he believed that all the creatures he drew actually existed . Eklund had on several occasions accompanied Bauer on his walks through the forests by Lake Vättern , and Bauer 's description of all the things he thought existed made Eklund feel he could see them as well . Ove Eklund on Bauer : Yes , there he was , John Bauer , with his brown , eternal pipe glued to the corner of his mouth . Now and then he blew a small cloud of brown troll smoke straight up into the turquoise @-@ bleu , sun @-@ sparkling space . And muttered something far behind his tight , narrow lips — not always so easy to decipher . But I , having had the key for many years , understood most of it . = = = Inspiration = = = Bauer and his friends were part of a generation of Swedish painters who started their careers just before the Modernism movement began to flourish , but at the same time were considerably younger than those dominating the Swedish art scene : artists such as Carl Larsson , Anders Zorn and Bruno Liljefors . Bauer was inspired by these artists , but from his heritage came in contact with Fritz Erler , Max Klinger and other German illustrators . He lived in an era when the Old Norse were romanticized throughout Scandinavia , and borrowed ideas and motifs from artists like Theodor Kittelsen and Erik Werenskiöld , yet his finished works were in his own style . After his journey to Italy his works clearly showed elements from the 14th century Renaissance . The pictures of princes and princesses had elements from Flandic tapestries , and even the trolls garments were pleated , much like the draped clothing seen in antique Roman sculptures . = = = Style = = = Bauer had a time consuming technique when painting : he would start with a small sketch , no bigger than a stamp , with just the basic shapes . Then he would make another , slightly bigger , sketch with more details . The sketches grew progressively in size and detail until the work reached its final size . Most of the originals for About Gnomes and Trolls are square pictures about 20 to 25 centimetres ( 7 @.@ 9 to 9 @.@ 8 inches ) . He doodled on anything at hand , from used stationary to the back of an envelope . Many of his sketches resemble cartoon strips where the pictures get bigger and more detailed . He would also do several versions of the same finished picture , such as one where the motif is depicted in a summer and winter scene . He did not observe the traditional hierarchy in the mediums or techniques at that time . He could make a complete work in pencil or charcoal just as well as a sketch in oil . From an early age Bauer had to adapt his illustrations to contemporary printing technique . Full @-@ color was expensive , so the illustrations were made in one color plus black . As the process developed and his works became in greater demand , his pictures were eventually printed in full color . = = = Watercolor = = = The most noted of Bauer 's pictures are his watercolors , the technique he used when illustrating for books and magazines ; he alternated between aquarelle and gouache . When he created illustrations the two mediums were sometimes mixed , since he needed both the speed of the aquarelle and the contrast and impasto that the gouache provided . These water @-@ soluble , and fast drying , media allowed Bauer to work on his pictures until the last minute before deadline , something he was prone to do . = = = Among Gnomes and Trolls = = = In 1907 , Bauer was asked by the Åhlén & Åkerlund publishing house ( now Bonnier Group ) to illustrate their new series of books , Among Gnomes and Trolls . The books would be published annually , and contain stories by prominent Swedish authors . The majority of Bauer 's pictures for the book were full @-@ page watercolor illustrations in a muted color scheme ; he also contributed with covers , vignettes and other smaller illustrations . Bauer 's most significant creatures , the trolls , were rendered in shades of gray , green , and brown , the colors of the forests , as if these beings had grown from the landscape itself . Due to the limitiations of the technology available to his printers , the 1907 – 10 editions were produced in just two colors : black and yellow . Some of Bauer 's original paintings for these prints were in full color . In 1911 , when Bauer again was asked to illustrate the book , he made it clear to the publisher that he wanted to retain his pictures along with the copyrights after publication . The publishing house had kept the original illustrations for the previous editions and considered them their property . Bauer was backed up in his request by other artists facing the same problem . The publishers did not budge from their position and without Bauer 's illustrations , book sales dropped . The publisher yielded to Bauer for the 1912 edition ; he was again illustrating his own book . Printing techniques had also been updated and the pictures could be printed in three colors : black , yellow and blue . With this technical improvement , the prints almost resembled Bauer 's original paintings . Bauer illustrated the 1913 – 15 editions , printed in the same three colors as previously . 1913 marked the peak of his performance in these books , and Bauer 's illustrations from that edition are among the most reproduced of his works . In 1914 , his illustrations started to be influenced by the Italian Renaissance . At that time Bauer wanted to stop illustrating the series , but was contractually obligated to illustrate one more edition . 1915 was the last year he worked with trolls and gnomes ; he said he " was done with them and wanted to move on " . The war in Europe had altered Bauer 's vision of the world and he stated that he could no longer imagine it as a fairy tale . = = = Tuvstarr = = = Ännu sitter Tuvstarr kvar och ser ner i vattnet ( Still , Tuvstarr sits and gazes down into the water ) , painted in 1913 , is one of Bauer 's most noted works . Until the 1980s , the most reproduced and publicized of Bauer 's works were two paintings depicting the princess and the moose from Sagan om älgtjuren Skutt och lilla prinsessan Tuvstarr ( The Tale of the Moose Hop and the Little Princess Cotton Grass ) , published in 1913 . The first picture is of the princess riding on the moose and the second is of the moose standing guard over the sleeping princess . They were mainly used as pictures on the wall in nurseries . The same tale also contains the picture of Tuvstarr gazing down into the tarn looking for her lost heart , an allegory of innocence lost . Bauer made several studies of this motif . During the 1980s the painting of Tuvstarr and the tarn was used in advertising for a shampoo . This started a debate in Sweden about how works of art , considered part of the national heritage , should be used . In 1999 , the picture again appeared in advertising , this time in a manipulated version in which all the trees had been cut down and Tuvstarr seemed to be lamenting them . The award @-@ winning advertising campaign was made by the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation and helped further the newly awakened environmental movement in Sweden . In his biography on Bauer , Gunnar Lindqvist argues that the picture has become too commercialized . = = = Oil painting = = = Bauer created most of his major works in oil at the beginning of his career , since this was the traditional technique taught at the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts . The trip to northern Sweden resulted in many sketches and watercolors for the Lappland book , but also in an oil on canvas entitled , Kåsovagge ( 1904 ) . From 1903 to 1905 , he made several portraits and landscapes influenced by Expressionism . He also made his first oil of Ester , The Fairy Princess , a painting with elements from the Pre @-@ Raphaelites . This work indicates what kind of paintings Bauer wanted to do , but his commissions from illustrating " Among gomes and trolls " got in the way . He wrote that he " felt like a Jack @-@ of @-@ all @-@ trades " , and made regular outbursts in letters to editors and publishers asking for his help , saying that he " had to work , he wanted a future painting in oil and the rest be damned " . By the time he ceased painting his trolls and gnomes , he was tired and worn out and turned to other venues such as scenography , writing a compendium on drawing to be used in schools , and starting with frescos . He never got to revisit oil painting fully before he drowned . = = = Large works = = = As in his earlier works at the academy , Bauer showed an interest in large frescos and , after his visit to Italy , this interest grew . His first chance to create a major work using this technique was in 1912 , when he completed a 1 @.@ 5 @-@ by @-@ 1 @.@ 5 @-@ metre ( 4 ft 11 in by 4 ft 11 in ) fresco @-@ secco mural , Vill @-@ Vallareman , at the home of publisher Erik Åkerlund . In 1913 , he was asked to do a fresco for the Odd Fellows lodge in Nyköping , Den helige Martin ( Saint Martin , the Holy ) . At the same time , the new Stockholm Court House was under construction . Contests regarding decorations for the building were held , and most of the noted Swedish artists at that time presented entries and suggestions . Bauer made a number of sketches for these competitions , but his confidence failed and he did not submit any of his drafts . Bauer 's last large work was an oil painting for the auditorium at the Karlskrona flickläroverk ( The Karlskrona School for Girls ) in 1917 . It depicts Freja , the old Norse goddess of fertility . Ester posed nude for the painting ; Bauer shows her as strong , sensual and forceful . Their friends teasingly called it the " breast picture of Mrs. Bauer " . = = Exhibitions = = Some of the exhibitions of his work during his lifetime were : 1905 Gothenburg 1906 Norrkoping 1911 Rome 1913 Munich 1913 Dresden 1913 Brighton 1913 Stockholm 1914 Malmö 1915 San Francisco – Bauer was awarded the medal of honor . Post @-@ humus exhibitions include : 1934 – 45 Traveling exhibition 1968 Jönköpings läns museum , Jönköping 1973 Thielska galleriet , Stockholm 1981 – 82 Nationalmuseum , Stockholm 1993 Milesgården , Stockholm 1994 Göteborgs konstmuseum , Gothenburg = = Collections = = The Jönköpings läns museum owns over 1 @,@ 000 paintings , drawings and sketches by Bauer , which is the world 's largest collection of his artwork . He is also represented at the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm , the Gothenburg Museum of Art and the Malmö konstmuseum . The John Bauer Museum in Ebenhausen , Germany is a museum dedicated to the life and works of Bauer . = = Works = = For illustrations from the famous children 's anthology , see Among Gnomes and Trolls Other works Written work Bauer , John ( 1928 ) . Cyrus Granér ; Karl Steenberg ; Gottfrid Kallstenius , eds . Ritkurs för Sveriges barndomsskolor [ Drawing class for Sweden 's schools for young children ] ( in Swedish ) ( 1 – 12 ed . ) . Stockholm : Skolboks a.-b. De förenade . = = Legacy = = Bauer 's pictures continue to be popular at art auctions . At a sale in 2014 , one of Bauer 's gouaches , Humpe I trollskogen ( Humpe in the Troll Forest ) , sold for 563 @,@ 500 kronor ( about US $ 87 @,@ 000 ) , and a watercolor , En riddare red fram ( A Knight Rode Forth ) , made 551 @,@ 250 kronor ( c . US $ 85 @,@ 100 ) . His illustrations have been reprinted many times , and are considered among the classics in fairy tales . As of 2014 , books with Bauer 's pictures have been published in ten languages . Bauer 's works have influenced Sulamith Wülfing , Kay Nielsen , Brian Froud , Rebecca Guay , and other illustrators . In his biography on Bauer , Gunnar Lindqvist states that : " Although Bauer 's work is sometimes credited to have influenced that of Arthur Rackham , and vice versa , these artists did not come in contact with each other 's works until the 1910s when they had already established their own style . Any similarities must therefore be credited to their common inspirations by the romantic Munich art of the late 1800s and the art of Albrecht Dürer . " In Jönköping , a memorial in honour of Bauer stands in the Town park , which was created in 1931 by Swedish sculptor Carl Hultström . Hultström also made a bust in bronze of Bauer , which sits in the National Portrait Gallery at Gripsholm Castle . Celebrating John Bauer 's centennial birthday in 1982 , the Swedish postal service issued three stamps with motifs from Among Gnomes and Trolls . Four more were issued in 1997 . A park and an adjacent street at the place where Villa Sjövik , Bauer 's family home , once stood were named after him . The area is now part of the municipality of Jönköping . In Mullsjö a street was named after Bauer , and in Nyköping a square was named after him . = = Popular culture = = In 1986 , Sveriges Television produced and broadcast the movie Ester — om John Bauers wife ( Ester — About John Bauers Wife ) . Ester was played by Lena T. Hansson , while John was portrayed by Per Mattsson . A short film for children about Bauer and storytelling , John Bauer , fantasin och sagorna ( John Bauer , Fantasy and Tales ) was made in 2013 ; created by Ulf Hansson , Kunskapsmedia AB , in co @-@ operation with the Jönköpings läns museum and John Bauer Art HB . The Sveriges Television series Konstverk berättar ( A Work of Art Tells a Story ) featured the picture At dusk she often snuck out just to get a whiff of the good smell in the episode " The childhood picture " , by Bengt Lagerkvist on 24 January 1977 . The episode is available in Sweden through the Swedish Television Open Archive . A film project about John and Ester Bauer was started in 2012 , by Börje Peratt . Called John Bauer — Bergakungen ( John Bauer — The Mountain King ) , the movie focuses on the fairy tale artist and his love for Ester . Gustaf Skarsgård is slated for the role of Bauer . Swedish photographer Mats Andersson published a book where he revisited the forests of Bauer , using a camera instead of drawing . The pictures were also exhibited at the Abecita art museum in Borås in November 2013 . A Scandinavian franchise of private schools ( now defunct ) derived its name and some themes from Bauer , such as naming the classes after his characters . Bauer is mentioned in Neil Gaiman 's comic book series The Sandman . The visual look of the motion picture The Dark Crystal , directed by Jim Henson and Frank Oz , was developed by primary concept artist and chief creature designer , Brian Froud , who was inspired by Bauer 's art . Italian musician Gianluca Plomitallo , a.k.a. " The Huge " , made an album called John Bauer – Riddaren Rider , in which all the songs are named after pictures by Bauer . Norwegian Artist Mortiis uses the art of Bauer on his ambient albums . Swedish poet Roger L. Svensson recalls the Bauer Memorial and Bauer 's creations in his poems .
= Dunster = Dunster is a village , civil parish and former manor within the English county of Somerset , today just within the north @-@ eastern boundary of the Exmoor National Park . It lies on the Bristol Channel coast 2 @.@ 5 miles ( 4 km ) south @-@ southeast of Minehead and 20 miles ( 32 km ) northwest of Taunton . The United Kingdom Census of 2011 recorded a parish population of 817 . Iron Age hillforts testify to occupation of the area for thousands of years . The village grew up around Dunster Castle which was built on the Tor by the Norman warrior William I de Moyon ( d. post 1090 ) shortly after the Norman Conquest of 1066 . The Castle is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 . From that time it was the caput of the Feudal barony of Dunster . The Castle was remodelled on several occasions by the Luttrell family who were lords of the manor from the 14th to 20th centuries . The benedictine Dunster Priory was established in about 1100 . The Priory Church of St George , dovecote and tithe barn are all relics from the Priory . The village became a centre for wool and cloth production and trade , of which the Yarn Market , built by George Luttrell ( d.1629 ) , is a relic . There existed formerly a harbour , known as Dunster Haven , at the mouth of the River Avill , yet today the coast having receded is now about 0 @.@ 5 miles ( 0 @.@ 80 km ) from the village and no sign of the harbour can be seen on the low lying marshes between the village and the coast . Dunster has a range of heritage sites and cultural attractions which combine with the castle to make it a popular tourist destination with many visitors arriving on the West Somerset Railway , a heritage railway running from Minehad to Bishops Lydeard . The village lies on the route of the Macmillan Way West , Somerset Way and Celtic Way Exmoor Option . = = Name = = The name Dunster derives from an earlier name Torre ( " tor , rocky hill " ) , recorded in the Domesday Book written twenty years after the Norman conquest . The origin of the prefix is uncertain , although it may well refer to Dunn , a Saxon noble who held land in nearby Elworthy and Willett before the conquest , giving Dunestore meaning Dunn 's craggy hill . The historian David Nash Ford proposed Dunster as a possible location of the Cair Draitou listed by the History of the Britons as one of the 28 cities of Britain . = = History = = Within 2 miles ( 3 @.@ 2 km ) of the village itself are several Iron Age hillforts showing evidence of early human occupation . These include Bat 's Castle and Black Ball Camp on Gallox Hill , Long Wood Enclosure and a similar earthwork on Grabbist Hill . Dunster is mentioned as a manor and Dunster Castle as belonging to William I de Moyon ( alias de Moion , also de Mohun ) in the 1086 Domesday Book . After the Norman conquest of England in the 11th century , he constructed a timber castle on the site as part of the pacification of Somerset . A stone shell keep was built on the motte by the start of the 12th century , and the castle survived a siege during the early years of the Anarchy . At the end of the 14th century the de Mohuns sold the castle to the Luttrell family , who continued to occupy the property until the late 20th century . During the English Civil War , Dunster was initially held as a garrison for the Royalists . It fell to the Parliamentarians in 1645 and orders were sent out for the castle to be demolished . However , these were not carried out , and the castle remained the garrison for Parliamentarian troops until 1650 . Dunster is regularly home to Taunton Garrison who re @-@ enact plays , battles , and life in the civil war . Major alterations to the castle were undertaken by Henry Fownes Luttrell who had acquired it through marriage to Margaret Fownes @-@ Luttrell in 1747 . Following the death of Alexander Luttrell in 1944 , the family was unable to afford the death duties on his estate . The castle and surrounding lands were sold off to a property firm , the family continuing to live in the castle as tenants . The Luttrells bought back the castle in 1954 , but in 1976 Colonel Walter Luttrell gave Dunster Castle and most of its contents to the National Trust , which operates it as a tourist attraction . It is a Grade I listed building and scheduled monument . Dunster Priory was established as a Benedictine monastery around 1100 . The first church in Dunster was built by William de Mohun who gave the church and the tithes of several manors and two fisheries , to the Benedictine Abbey at Bath . The priory , which was situated just north of the church , became a cell of the abbey . The church was shared for worship by the monks and the parishioners , however this led to several conflicts between them . One outcome was the carved rood screen which divided the church in two with the parish using the west chancel and the monks the east . The priory church is now in parochial use as the Priory Church of St George which still contains 12th and 13th century work , although most of the current building is from the 15th century . It has been designated as a Grade I listed building . In 1332 it became more separated from the Abbey at Bath and became a priory in its own right . In the " Valor Ecclesiasticus " of 1535 the net annual income of the Dunster Tithe Barn is recorded as being £ 37.4.8d ( £ 37 23p ) , with £ 6.13s7d ( £ 6.68p ) being passed on to the priory in Bath . In 1346 Cleeve Abbey built a nunnery in Dunster , but it was never inhabited by nuns and was used as a guest house . The priory was dissolved as part of the dissolution of the monasteries in 1539 . Dunster was part of the hundred of Carhampton , but St George 's was the seat of the local deanery , overseeing the area 's parish churches . Dunster had become a centre for woollen and clothing production by the 13th century , with the market dating back to at least 1222 , and a particular kind of kersey or broadcloth became known as ' Dunsters ' . The prosperity of Dunster was based on the wool trade , with profits helping to pay for the construction of the tower of the Priory Church of St George and provide other amenities . The 15th century Gallox Bridge was one of the main routes over the River Avill on the southern outskirts . The market was held in " The Shambles " however these shops were demolished in 1825 and now only the Yarn Market remains . Dunster Beach , which includes the mouth of the River Avill , is located half a mile from the village , and used to have a significant harbour , known as Dunster Haven , which was used for the export of wool from Saxon times ; however , it was last used in the 17th century and has now disappeared , as new land was laid down among the dykes , meadows and marshes near the shore . During the Second World War , considerable defences were built along the coast as a part of British anti @-@ invasion preparations , though the north coast of Somerset was an unlikely invasion site . Some of the structures remain to this day . Most notable are the pillboxes on the foreshore of Dunster Beach . These are strong buildings made from pebbles taken from the beach and bonded together with concrete . From these , soldiers could have held their ground if the Germans had ever invaded . The beach site has a number of privately owned beach huts ( or chalets as some owners call them ) along with a small shop , a tennis court and a putting green . The chalets , measuring 18 by 14 feet ( 5 @.@ 5 by 4 @.@ 3 m ) , can be let out for holidays ; some owners live in them all the year round . = = Governance = = The parish council has responsibility for local issues , including setting an annual precept to cover the council ’ s operating costs and producing annual accounts for public scrutiny . The parish council evaluates local planning applications and works with the local police , district council officers , and neighbourhood watch groups on matters of crime , security , and traffic . The parish council 's role also includes initiating projects for the maintenance and repair of parish facilities , as well as consulting with the district council on the maintenance , repair , and improvement of highways , drainage , footpaths , public transport , and street cleaning . Conservation matters ( including trees and listed buildings ) and environmental issues are also the responsibility of the council . The village falls within the Non @-@ metropolitan district of West Somerset , which was formed on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972 ; previously it was part of Williton Rural District . The district council is responsible for local planning and building control , local roads , council housing , environmental health , markets and fairs , refuse collection and recycling , cemeteries and crematoria , leisure services , parks , and tourism . The larger and most expensive local services such as education , social services , libraries , main roads , public transport , policing and fire services , trading standards , waste disposal and strategic planning are the responsibility of Somerset County Council . As Dunster falls within the Exmoor National Park , some functions normally administered by district or county councils have , since 1997 , fallen under the Exmoor National Park Authority , which is known as a ' single @-@ purpose ' authority , whose purpose is to " conserve and enhance the natural beauty , wildlife and cultural heritage of the National Parks " and " promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the Parks by the public " , including responsibility for the conservation of the historic environment . Dunster is the most populous area of the electoral ward named ' Dunster and Timbercombe ' . The ward extends North East to the Bristol Channel and South West to Timberscombe . The total population at the 2011 Census was 1 @,@ 219 . It is also part of the Bridgwater and West Somerset county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom . It elects one Member of parliament ( MP ) by the first past the post system of election , and is part of the South West England constituency of the European Parliament ; the constituency elects seven MEPs using the d 'Hondt method of party @-@ list proportional representation . = = Geography = = Dunster Castle was positioned on a steep , 200 @-@ foot ( 61 m ) high hill . Geologically , the hill is an outcrop of Hangman Grits , a type of red sandstone . During the early medieval period the sea reached the base of the hill , close to the mouth of the River Avill , offering a natural defence and making the village an inland port . Nearby is the Dunster Park and Heathlands Site of Special Scientific Interest noted for nationally important lowland dry heath , dry lowland acid grassland , wood @-@ pasture with veteran trees and ancient semi @-@ natural oak woodland habitats . The fauna of the lowland heath includes the Heath fritillary ( Mellicta athalia ) , a nationally rare butterfly . The assemblage of beetles associated with the veteran trees is of national significance because of the variety and abundance of species . Along with the rest of South West England , Dunster has a temperate climate which is generally wetter and milder than the rest of England . The mean annual temperature in the area is 8 @.@ 3 ° C ( 46 @.@ 9 ° F ) with a seasonal and diurnal variation , but due to the modifying effect of the sea the range is less than in most other parts of the UK . January is the coldest month , with mean minimum temperatures between 1 and 2 ° C ( 34 and 36 ° F ) . July and August are the warmest months in the region , with mean daily maxima around 21 ° C ( 70 ° F ) . In general , December is the month with the least sunshine and June the month with the most sun . The south west of England has a favoured location with regard to the Azores High when it extends its influence north @-@ eastwards towards the UK , particularly in summer . Cloud often forms inland , especially near hills , and reduce the amount of sunshine that reaches the park . The average annual sunshine is about 1 @,@ 600 hours . Rainfall tends to be associated with Atlantic depressions or with convection . In summer , convection , caused by the sun heating the land surface more than the sea , sometimes forms rain clouds and at that time of year a large proportion of the rainfall comes from showers and thunderstorms . Annual precipitation is around 800 mm ( 31 in ) . Local weather data is collected at Nettlecombe . = = Economy and demographics = = The village provides a variety of shops and amenities for both local residents and visitors . These are largely situated in West Street and the high street . The village has numerous restaurants and three pubs with considerable trade being brought by tourists visiting the heritage sites and particularly the castle which attracted approximately 150 @,@ 000 visitors in 2014 . Although there is still some agriculture , the previous reliance on the wool trade has been replaced by service industries catering to the visitors . Both day @-@ trippers and those staying for longer periods are catered for with shops , pubs , cafes and hotels . 52 @.@ 6 % of people within the parish are employed which is slightly lower than the 61 @.@ 9 % in England and Wales and the 65 @.@ 2 % in Somerset . At the time of the 2011 census there were 817 people living in the parish . 13 @.@ 2 % were children up the age of 15 years . 52 @.@ 3 % were between 16 and 64 with 34 @.@ 5 being 65 and older . This is an older population than in the rest of Somerset and England and Wales in general . In line with the rest of Somerset the majority of the population ( 95 % ) describes themselves as White British . 69 @.@ 7 % of the population live in property which they own , with 14 @.@ 3 % living in social rented accommodation and 12 @.@ 9 % privately rented . There is a higher proportion of people living alone than in other areas . The housing is fairly evenly divided between detached , semi @-@ detached and terraced house , with 5 @.@ 7 % living in flats . = = Culture = = Dunster was the birthplace of the song " All Things Bright and Beautiful " when Cecil Alexander was staying with Mary Martin , the daughter of one of the owners of Martins Bank . The nearby hill , Grabbist , was originally heather @-@ covered before its reforestation and was described as the " Purple @-@ headed mountain " . On the evening of 1 May each year the Minehead Hobby Horse visits Dunster and is received at the Castle . A local newspaper printed in May 1863 says " The origin professes to be in commemoration of the wreck of a vessel at Minehead in remote times , or the advent of a sort of phantom ship which entered the harbour without Captain or crew . Once the custom was encouraged , but now is much neglected , and perhaps soon will fall into desuetude . " Another conjecture about its origin is that the hobby horse was the ancient King of the May . The Hobby Horse tradition begins with the waking of the inhabitants of Minehead by the beating of a loud drum . The hobby horse dances its way about the town and on to Dunster Castle . Annually on the third Friday in August the village hosts the well known Dunster Show where local businesses and producers come together to showcase the very best that Exmoor and West Somerset has to offer . A major part of the show is the showing of livestock especially horses , cattle and sheep.The 2015 show was the 169th show . A more recent tradition ( started in 1987 ) is Dunster by Candlelight which takes place every year on the first Friday and Saturday in December when this remarkably preserved medieval village turns its back on the present and lights its streets with candles . To mark the beginning of the festival on Friday at 5 pm , there is the Lantern Lighting Procession that starts on the Steep and continues through the village until all the lanterns in the streets have been lit . The procession of children and their families is accompanied by colourful stilt walkers in costumes who put up the lanterns . The old English Christmas tradition of burning the Ashen faggot takes place at the Luttrell Arms hotel every Christmas Eve . The pub was formerly a guest house for the Abbots of Cleeve ; its oldest section dates from 1443 . The Priory Church of St George is predominantly 15th century with evidence of 12th- and 13th century work . It has been designated as a Grade I listed building . The church was started by William de Moyon during the 11th century . The tower was built by Jon Marys of Stogursey who received a contract from the parish in 1442 . He was paid 13s 4d ( approx . 67p ) for each foot in height and £ 1 for the pinnacles . The work was completed in three years . Aisles were added in 1504 . The church was shared for worship between the monks of Dunster Priory and the parishioners , however this led to several conflicts between them . One outcome was the carved rood screen which divided the church in two with the parish using the west chancel and the monks the east . It was restored in 1875 – 77 by George Edmund Street . The church has a cruciform plan with a central four @-@ stage tower , built in 1443 with diagonal buttresses , a stair turret and single bell @-@ chamber windows . = = Landmarks = = Dunster , in Exmoor National Park , has many listed buildings including 200 Grade II , two Grade I and two Grade II * . The 17th century Yarn Market is a market cross which was probably built in 1609 by the Luttrell family who were the local lords of the manor to maintain the importance of the village as a market , particularly for wool and cloth . The Yarn Market is an octagonal building constructed around a central pier . The tiled roof provides shelter from the rain . The building contains a hole in one of the roof beams , a result of cannon fire in the Civil War . A bell at the top was rung to indicate the start of trading . Nearby was an older cross known as the Butter Cross which was constructed in the late 14th or early 15th century and once stood in the High Street , possibly at the southern end of the high street , and was moved to its current location on the edge of the village possibly in 1825 , however a drawing by J. M. W. Turner made in 1811 suggests it was in its present position by then . The site where the cross now stands was leveled in 1776 by workman , paid by Henry Fownes Luttrell , and it may have been on this occasion that the cross was moved . The cross has an octagonal base and polygonal shaft , however the head of the cross has been lost . It stands on a small area of raised ground on a plinth . The socket stone is 0 @.@ 85 metres ( 2 ft 9 in ) wide and 0 @.@ 5 metres ( 1 ft 8 in ) high . The surviving shaft is 1 @.@ 1 metres ( 3 ft 7 in ) high and changes from square to octagonal as it rises . There is an inscription on the northern face which says " WC , 1871 , WS " recording a restoration . It is in the care of English Heritage for the state and managed by the National Trust . Other notable buildings include the Nunnery , Dunster Watermill , Dovecote and the Priory barn , which belonged to Dunster Priory . Dunster Working Watermill ( also known as Castle Mill ) is a restored 18th century watermill , situated on the River Avill , close to Gallox Bridge , in the grounds of Dunster Castle . It is a Grade II * listed building . The mill stands on a site where a mill was first recorded in the Domesday Book , but the present building was constructed around 1780 . It closed in 1962 but was restored in 1979 and is still used to grind flour . The equipment is powered by two overshot wheels . It is owned by the National Trust but operated as a tourist attraction by a private company . The Dovecote was probably built in the late 16th century . It has been designated as a Grade II * listed building and Scheduled Ancient Monument . It is approximately 19 feet ( 5 @.@ 8 m ) high and 19 feet ( 5 @.@ 8 m ) in diameter , with walls around 4 feet ( 1 @.@ 2 m ) thick . In the 18th century the floor level and door were raised among several major alterations . The lower tiers of nest holes were blocked to protect against brown rats which had arrived in the Britain in 1720 and reached Somerset by 1760 . A revolving ladder , known as a " potence " , was installed to allow the pigeon keeper to search the nest holes more easily . In the 19th century two feeding platforms were added to the axis of the revolving ladder . When the ladder was installed in the 16th century the base rests on a pin driven into a beam on the floor . The head of the pin sits in a metal cup in the base of the wooden pillar , which means the mechanism has never had to be oiled . When the Dunster Castle estate was sold the dovecote was bought by the Parochial church council and opened to the public . Extensive repairs were undertaken in 1989 . The Tithe Barn was originally part of a Benedictine Dunster Priory , has been much altered since the 14th century and only a limited amount of the original features survive . In the " Valor Ecclesiasticus " of 1535 the net annual income of the Dunster Tithe Barn is recorded as being £ 37.4s.8d ( £ 37.23p ) , with £ 6.13s.7d ( £ 6.68p ) being passed on to the priory in Bath . The Somerset Buildings Preservation Trust ( SBPT ) has co @-@ ordinated a £ 550 @,@ 000 renovation project on behalf of the Dunster Tithe Barn Community Hall Trust ( DTBCHT ) , into a multi @-@ purpose community hall under a 99 @-@ year lease at a pepper @-@ corn rent , by the Crown Estate Commissioners who own the building . Funding has been obtained from the Heritage Lottery Fund and others to support the work . Conygar Tower is a folly used as a landmark for shipping . It is at the top of Conygar Hill and overlooks the village . It is a circular , 3 storey tower built of red sandstone , situated on a hill overlooking the village . It was commissioned by Henry Luttrell and designed by Richard Phelps and stands about 18 metres ( 59 ft ) high so that it can be seen from Dunster Castle on the opposite hillside . There is no evidence that it ever had floors or a roof . It has no strategic or military significance . The name Conygar comes from two medieval words Coney meaning rabbit and Garth meaning garden , indicating that it was once a warren where rabbits were bred for food . In 1997 a survey carried out by The Crown Estate identified cracks in the walls which were repaired in 2000 . Dunster Doll Museum houses a collection of more than 800 dolls from around the world , based on the collection of the late Mollie Hardwick , who died in 1970 and donated her collection to the village memorial hall committee . Established in 1971 , the collection includes a display of British and foreign dolls in various costumes . Thirty @-@ two of the dolls were stolen during a burglary in 1992 and have never been recovered . = = Transport = = Dunster railway station is on the West Somerset Heritage Railway , though the station is over a mile from the village . The station was opened on 16 July 1874 by the Minehead Railway . The line was operated by the Bristol and Exeter Railway which was amalgamated into the Great Western Railway ( GWR ) in 1876 . The Minehead Railway was itself absorbed into the GWR in 1897 . A small signal box stood at the Watchet end of the platform , but was demolished in 1926 when this was extended . In 1934 a new signal box at the opposite end of the station , brought second @-@ hand from Maerdy , was put into use when the line from Dunster to Minehead was doubled in 1934 . The GWR was nationalised into British Railways in 1948 and from 1964 , when goods traffic was withdrawn on 6 July , the line was run down until it was eventually closed on 4 January 1971 . The line was reopened as a heritage railway operated by the West Somerset Railway on 28 March 1976 . The signal box was moved to Minehead in 1977 but the goods yard is now home to the railway ’ s civil engineering team . It is a Grade II listed building . Road access is via the A39 and A369 . The nearest international airports would be those at Exeter or Bristol . = = Education = = Dunster First School provides primary education for children from 4 to 9 years . The school is attended by 143 pupils . The Grade II listed building was originally constructed in the 1870s . It but has since been modified and expanded since then including the construction of a heated outdoor swimming pool . Middle and Secondary education in the area is provided by West Somerset Community College in Minehead .
= LoveGame = " LoveGame " is a song by American singer Lady Gaga from her debut album , The Fame ( 2008 ) . Produced by RedOne , the track was released as the album 's third single in North America and Europe and the fourth single in Australia , New Zealand , and Sweden after " Eh , Eh ( Nothing Else I Can Say ) " . " LoveGame " was also released as the fourth single in the United Kingdom , after " Paparazzi " . Critics appreciated the song 's rhythm and the " I wanna take a ride on your disco stick " hook . Gaga had explained that the term " disco stick " is a euphemism for a penis and was inspired by her sexual attraction to a stranger at a night club . Musically carrying the vibe of underground New York discos , " LoveGame " talks about love , fame , and sexuality which was the central theme of the album . The song received a number of remixes , one of them featuring rocker Marilyn Manson . " LoveGame " was a commercial success , charting within the top ten in the United States , Australia , New Zealand , Canada , France , Germany , and other European countries . It became Gaga 's third consecutive number @-@ one song on the Billboard Pop Songs chart and achieved double platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America . The New York underground inspired music video for the song was directed by Joseph Kahn , and portrayed Gaga dancing at an underground subway station and in a parking lot . The music video was a tribute from the singer to the New York lifestyle including its glamour , fans and fashion . It was influenced by the music video for Michael Jackson 's " Bad " , which also took place in a subway station . The music video was banned from broadcast at the PG rated time slots in Australian television channels because of its sexual content . " LoveGame " has been performed live a number of times by Gaga , including The Fame Ball and The Monster Ball tours , where she performed it while holding her characteristic disco stick in one hand . = = Background and release = = Towards the end of 2007 , Lady Gaga 's management company introduced her to songwriter and producer RedOne , whom they also managed . By 2008 , Gaga relocated to Los Angeles in order to work extensively with her record label to complete her debut album , The Fame , and set up her own creative team called the Haus of Gaga . " LoveGame " was one of the songs written by Gaga and RedOne who also produced the track . With Rolling Stone , Gaga explained that she was at a nightclub and had a " sexual crush " on somebody . She went up to the person and uttered the line , " I wanna ride on your disco stick " . Thinking it to be a thoughtful metaphor for penis , Gaga went to the recording studio the next day and wrote the song in roughly four minutes . Gaga also had ideas for the live performance of the song where she used " an actual stick — it looks like a giant rock @-@ candy pleasuring tool — that lights up " . While commenting in regards to the lyrical content of the song on Australian talk show , Rove , Gaga said that she was unrepentant about her " disco stick " metaphor , though it led to a banning of the music video on Network Ten in Australia . She added that the metaphor was not meant to be subtle and was clear what the lyrics constituted off . " If anything , I happen to think people are frivolously hard on me " , Gaga generalized . She went on to relegate " lot of youth @-@ oriented pop music " as much racier than hers with their sexually provocative lyrics , but Gaga felt that the whole context of her visuals alongside the music was what made people react . " It 's the music in relation to the visual , in relation to the way I move and the way I articulate the lyrics . But if I wanted to make music to make people sing ' la di da ' that would be very boring , " she concluded . " LoveGame " was released as the album 's third single in North America and Europe and the fourth single in Australia , New Zealand , and Sweden after " Eh , Eh ( Nothing Else I Can Say ) " . In the US it was sent to Contemporary hit radio ( CHR ) formats for airplay from May 12 , 2009 . The track initially had been planned as the third single release in the United Kingdom , but deeming its lyrics and music video potentially controversial , it was decided that " Paparazzi " would be released instead . " LoveGame " has received a number of remix treatments , one of which featured rocker Marilyn Manson in the vocals . Rolling Stone reported that the remix was conceived during Gaga 's photoshoot with the magazine in May 2009 , when Manson arrived at the set . The rocker was impressed by the shoot and wanted to collaborate with Gaga , saying that " she 's a great musician , she 's a great singer , and she 's laughing when she 's doing it , the same way that I am " . In return , Gaga also lent vocals for a remix of a song from Manson 's seventh studio album , The High End of Low . = = Recording and composition = = " LoveGame " was recorded at Record Plant Studios , Hollywood and Chalice Recording Studios , Los Angeles , California . Along with the production work of the track , RedOne also contributed to its background vocals , instrumentation , programming , audio engineering and recording . Other personnel involved in creating the final version of the song included Robert Orton who did the audio mixing , and Gene Grimaldi who mastered the song at Oasis Mastering , Burbank , California . Musically , " LoveGame " is an uptempo electro and R & B song . According to Kerri Mason of Billboard , the composition has a vibe of the New York downtown musical scene , but has a more mainstream appeal to it , making it perfect for radio , " without losing its smut and sass " . The song does not have a massive sound like previous single " Poker Face " , nor has a big melody like subsequent single , " Paparazzi " . Instead the composition of the song is electro @-@ R & B , consisting of big beats and a number of hooks , with Gaga repeating the word " huh ! " from time to time . Gaga explained that the lyrics of " LoveGame " were clear about what the song is all about . She thought that the lyrics portrayed a powerful message about love , fame , and sexuality which was the central theme of The Fame . According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Sony / ATV Music Publishing , " LoveGame " is set in the time signature of common time and is composed in the key of B minor with a moderate tempo of 104 beats per minute . Gaga 's vocal range spans from B3 to G5 . It follows in the chord progression of Am – Dm – C – Am – Dm – C in the first two verse and chorus while progressing as Am – Dm – Am – Dm in the intermediate verse before the final chorus . = = Critical reception = = The song received mostly positive reviews from critics . The Phoenix music editor Daniel Brockman said that " Gaga ups the ante in terms of catchy song writing and sheer high @-@ in @-@ the @-@ club @-@ banging @-@ to @-@ the @-@ beat abandon . " He also commented on the lyrics saying that " ' Let 's have some fun , this beat is sick / I wanna take a ride on your disco stick ' might be the trashiest @-@ yet @-@ awesomest refrain I 've heard on a major @-@ label record this year . " Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine criticized the song for " cheap " lyrics and " painfully enunciat [ ing ] without any resemblance of actual sex appeal " . While reviewing The Fame , BBC said that the song sounded robotic in the line " I wanna take a ride on your disco stick " , though deemed it a brilliant track which " leaves us awarding Gaga the yearbook title of ' pop star most likely to kill ' . " Nick Levine from Digital Spy believed that lines like " I wanna take a ride on your disco stick " was a direct reason of Gaga 's commercial success . Although he felt that the song was " attention @-@ seeking " , he knew that it would provoke reaction from the masses , be it good or bad . Genevieve Koski from The A.V. Club called the song as a " propulsive club anthem " and complimented its synths and drum programming . She described it aurally as " a dizzying sonic trip that approximates the high point of a chemically enhanced night of club @-@ hopping . " Evan Sawdey from PopMatters complimented RedOne 's production of the song , listing it as one of the best tracks on The Fame . Ben Hogwood from musicOMH declared the song as " top notch , diamond @-@ encrusted pop " along with other tracks like " Starstruck " and " Paparazzi " . He found the lyrics to be sometimes odd , especially the statement , " I 'm on a mission , and it involves some heavy touchin ' . " Sarah Rodman of The Boston Globe said that the song " has a gutter level quippage with sinuous moves " . Priya Elan from The Times was not impressed with the song and called it calculated . Billboard music editor Chris Williams gave the song a positive review , commenting that " It has all the winning ingredients of its predecessors : a radio @-@ friendly , club / electropop feel ; a provocative , yet silly enough catchphrase and hook ; and a dash of ' 80s synth magic , so the adults can play along . On ' LoveGame ' Gaga is in it to win it . " While reviewing The Fame on its fifth year anniversary , Bradley Stern from Idolator noted that " LoveGame " could " easily be erased from Gaga 's back catalog with little consequence " since he felt it to be nothing more than an " electro @-@ dance " track . But Stern believed that " LoveGame " was an important component of Gaga 's career trajectory , since it was the last testament of her image as " that of the disco @-@ stick wielding pop star from out of space " — the image was later deconstructed as the doomed starlet in the music video of " Paparazzi " . He concluded by saying that the song " is a wonderful moment of pop frivolity which served to keep the upstart Lady Gaga machine chugging along at the beginning of her career . " = = Chart performance = = Following its release , " LoveGame " debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 96 for the week ending April 4 , 2009 , but fell off the chart the following week . After six weeks it reached number six on the Hot 100 by selling 107 @,@ 000 digital downloads and becoming the week 's greatest digital gainer . Two weeks later , " LoveGame " peaked at number five on the chart . It reached number @-@ one on the Hot Dance Club Songs , and also became Gaga 's third number @-@ one on the Mainstream Top 40 chart . The Recording Industry Association of America ( RIAA ) certified " LoveGame " double platinum for shipment of two million copies across United States . It has sold 2 @,@ 630 @,@ 000 paid digital downloads in the United States as of April 2016 , according to Nielsen Soundscan . In Canada , the song debuted on the Canadian Hot 100 at number 68 before its official release as a single . Its second appearance was on the chart of January 10 , 2009 , at number 87 . After a few weeks , " LoveGame " entered the top ten of the Canadian Hot 100 and climbed to number five . After fluctuating down the chart for a few weeks " LoveGame " reached a new peak of two on the chart . The song was certified double platinum by the Canadian Recording Industry Association ( CRIA ) in June 2009 , for sales of 160 @,@ 000 paid digital downloads . In Australia , the song debuted at number 92 on the ARIA Charts , and then moved up the charts to number 41 the next week . On the issue dated May 11 , 2009 , the song peaked at number four , becoming Gaga 's third top five single there . " LoveGame " was certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association ( ARIA ) for shipment of 70 @,@ 000 copies of the single . In New Zealand , the song debuted at number thirty @-@ six and moved up to a peak of number 12 . The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand ( RIANZ ) certified it gold for shipment of 7 @,@ 500 copies of the single . On the issue dated March 6 , 2009 , the song entered the Irish Singles Chart at number 49 and peaked at number 30 , after eight weeks on the chart . It also debuted at number 19 in Finland and has since moved to a peak of number 12 . In early 2009 , the song charted on the UK Singles Chart and peaked at number 89 based on downloads only . It re @-@ entered the chart at number 64 after the release of the single was announced , and peaked at 19 , becoming her lowest @-@ charting single in the UK at that time . The British Phonographic Industry ( BPI ) certified it silver , for sales of 200 @,@ 000 copies . In the Netherlands the song debuted at number 28 and has peaked at number five . The song debuted at number six in France and moved to its peak of number five the next week . It debuted at numbers 19 and 38 on the Belgian Ultratop Flanders and Wallonia charts respectively . In Flanders it has reached a peak of six , while in Wallonia it moved to a peak of five . " LoveGame " also reached a peak of number seven on the Billboard European Hot 100 Singles chart . = = Music video = = = = = Background and development = = = The music video of " LoveGame " was directed by Joseph Kahn and premiered on March 23 , 2009 , in Australia , and on August 13 , 2009 , at UK on 4Music channel . The video mainly takes place in a subway station , hence several scenes are reminiscent to Michael Jackson 's " Bad " music video , which was also shot in a similar location . Although the production and shooting of " LoveGame " took place in January 2009 alongside the music video for " Eh , Eh ( Nothing Else I Can Say ) " , it nevertheless has a New York City setting . Gaga spoke to Whitney Pastorek of Entertainment Weekly during a " Behind the Scenes " episode of the shoot , about her inspirations for the video . She wanted to have a " giant " dance video with " LoveGame " , describing it as " plastic , beautiful , gorgeous , sweaty , tar on the floor " . There would be scary and dangerous looking men also in the video . Gaga had the idea of portraying herself and her co @-@ actors as New York inhabitants taking on the role of designers , performance artists , dancers etc . She enlisted people from downtown New York as dancers , who normally would not get cast in a video . One of the props developed for the video was a pair of sunglasses made of wire . According to Gaga , she imagined " a downtown , bad @-@ ass kid walking down the street with his buddies , grabbing a pair of pliers , and making a pair of sunglasses out of a fence on the street " . She wore them on the opening shot of the music video along with a chain link hood garment , saying that " they look so hard . It looks like I plied them right out of the fence and put them on my face " . = = = Synopsis and reception = = = The video starts with the heading " Streamline presents " and three men moving through Times Square . They open a man @-@ hole cover on which " Haus of Gaga " is written . Gaga is then shown naked with blue and purple paint and glitter on her body , frolicking with two men who have the words " Love " and " Fame " shaved into their heads . The scene shifts to a subway where Gaga starts singing in a grey @-@ white leotard with a hood . She carries her characteristic disco stick and wears chain @-@ linked glasses . The chorus starts with Gaga and her dancers progressing through the subway and dancing down a staircase . Two harlequin Great Danes , are also shown on top of the staircase . The video shifts to a train where the second verse takes place with choreographed dance routines and Gaga wearing a black jacket . During the intermediate music , Gaga is shown entering a ticket booth with an inspector while kissing and caressing . As the camera pans from right to left the inspector changes from a man to woman in each frame . The final scene shows Gaga doing a choreographed dance routine with her crew of backup dancers . The video comes to an end as Gaga and her dancers hold their groins , gesturing towards the camera . The music video was censored in many countries after its release in 2009 . The video faced censorship troubles in Australia where it was rated AV18 + by Network Ten for the " suggestive video footage involving bondage and sexual acts " . The channel demanded an edited version of the video which would not violate censorship rules . Video Hits refused to air the video in its G and PG rated time slots . They cited " numerous sexual references both visually and lyrically " as the reason they could not create a child @-@ friendly edit without bleeping the repeated hook " I wanna take a ride on your disco stick " . However , Australian programs like Rage and cable networks Channel V and MTV aired the video in its original form . The video also faced a ban from MTV Arabia citing the same reason as Australia . Since it was very rare to ban videos in MTV , head of MTV Arabia Samer al Marzouki commented , " We represent the young generation 's mentality and culture so we can 't play something that conflicts with that . If they can 't watch something comfortably with their brother , sisters or friends then we will not play it . " In the United States , VH1 and MTV played an edited version that removed the scenes showing Gaga naked , and blurred the label on a bottle of alcohol held by a dancer , but they did not change the lyrics . = = Live performances = = Gaga first performed " LoveGame " live in June 2008 on the Isle of Malta special of MTV Asia . She later performed it on the UK program , The Album Chart Show , on February 4 , 2009 , while promoting The Fame . On March 20 , 2009 , the song was performed live at the AOL Sessions along with Gaga 's other singles such as " Just Dance " , " Paparazzi " , " Beautiful , Dirty , Rich " , and an acoustic version of " Poker Face " . An acoustic version of " LoveGame " was performed at the MTV Sessions in January 2009 . The song was a major part of Gaga 's Fame Ball tour as the second number of the set list , and was performed alongside album track , " Starstruck " . Gaga wore a silver and black short skirt looking like a tutu and shaped like a peplum . She had a triangular piece attached on the dress on her right breast , and completed her look with high heeled ultra spike shoes . Gaga 's hair was made an austere blond bob , and she accessorized with black sunglasses . Her dancers surrounded the stage , holding plates encrusted with crystals , which completely hid them . As the performance of the opening number " Paparazzi " ended , the plates opened up and Gaga started singing the song " Starstruck " while standing on the platform . Pre @-@ recorded music and mixing were provided in the background by DJ Space Cowboy . Gaga also brought out the disco stick for the performance of " LoveGame " . It ended with Gaga doing a dance routine for the last chorus and coming down to the front of the stage . On May 17 , 2009 , Gaga performed the song live on Australian talk show , Rove . She also performed the song at the season finale of the eighth season of Dancing with the Stars . A remixed version of " Poker Face " and " LoveGame " was performed at the 2009 MuchMusic Video Awards ( MMVA ) , during the indoor @-@ outdoor street @-@ side show . The performance , which included Gaga being trapped in a fake subway car surrounded by fake police officers , was billed as a tribute to New York City . In 2014 , Toronto Sun listed the performance as the fifth most " jaw @-@ dropping " moment in the history of MMVAs , when Gaga introduced her characteristic " flaming bra " during the song . On September 8 , 2009 , Gaga performed " LoveGame " at the season seven premiere of The Ellen DeGeneres Show . A version featuring a full live band was performed at the thirty @-@ fifth season of American comedy show Saturday Night Live , while wearing a big gyroscope @-@ like contraption that rotated around Gaga . In late 2009 , " LoveGame " was added to the set list of Gaga 's The Monster Ball Tour . In the original version of the tour , the singer wore an off @-@ white costume with skeletal lighted headgear and breastplates shaped like ribs . A digital background of flames and mechanical fog was featured , with her dancers also wearing skeletal headgear . On the revamped shows of The Monster Ball during 2010 – 11 , the intro of the song had a video showing Gaga puking green liquid on the white dress of her look @-@ alike . " LoveGame " was introduced during the second act and featured a New York City subway car on stage from which Gaga and her dancers emerged . While wearing a revealing plastic dress and an exaggerated nun 's habit , Gaga wielded the disco stick , which was modified to look like a torch . The performance incorporated the Chew Fu remix of the song which commenced at the end with Gaga asking the audience to dance along with her . The song was also included on the set list of the 2012 Born This Way Ball tour . The song was shortened and had Gaga performing it in a clear bath tub while wearing a Statue of Liberty styled head piece . Gaga ventured into the crowd during the song , through the extended pathways from the stage and after the performance she invited a fan onstage . Joey Guerra from the Houston Chronicle believed that the appearance of " LoveGame " during the tour proved it to be a far superior track than the ones from Gaga 's second studio album , Born This Way ( 2011 ) . = = Track listing = = = = Credits and personnel = = Lady Gaga – vocals , songwriting , background vocals RedOne – songwriting , production , background vocals , instrumentation , programming , audio engineering , recording at Record Plant Studios , Hollywood and Chalice Recording Studios , Los Angeles , California Robert Orton – audio mixing Gene Grimaldi – audio mastering at Oasis Mastering , Burbank , California Credits adapted from The Fame album liner notes . = = Charts = = = = Certifications = = = = Release history = =
= Kepler @-@ 5b = Kepler @-@ 5b is one of the first five planets discovered by NASA 's Kepler spacecraft . It is a Hot Jupiter that orbits a subgiant star that is more massive , larger , and more diffuse than the Sun is . Kepler @-@ 5 was first flagged as the location of a possibly transiting planet , and was reclassified as a Kepler Object of Interest until follow @-@ up observations confirmed the planet 's existence and many of its characteristics . The planet 's discovery was announced at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society on January 4 , 2010 . The planet has approximately twice the mass of Jupiter , and is about 1 @.@ 5 times larger . It is also fifteen times hotter than Jupiter . Kepler @-@ 5b orbits Kepler @-@ 5 every 3 @.@ 5 days at a distance of approximately 0 @.@ 051 AU ( 7 @.@ 6 Gm ) . = = Observational history = = The Kepler spacecraft 's first days of science activity revealed a series of transit events , in which some body ( such as a planet ) crosses in front of , and therefore dims , its host star . Such objects were taken from the Kepler Input Catalog and reclassified as Kepler Objects of Interest . Kepler @-@ 5 was one of these objects of interest , and was given the designation KOI @-@ 18 . After the stellar parameters were established , the Kepler science team ran models and fits to ensure that Kepler @-@ 5 's transit event was not a false positive , such as an eclipsing binary star . Once the planetary nature of Kepler @-@ 5b was established , the Kepler team searched for the planet 's occultation behind its star , hoping to find the temperature on its day side . They found both , and were able to set the equilibrium temperature of the planet . The use of speckle imaging using adaptive optics at the WIYN Observatory in Arizona and the Palomar Observatory in California isolated the starlight of Kepler @-@ 5 from background stars . Use of the Fibre @-@ fed Echelle Spectrograph ( FIES ) at the Nordic Optical Telescope on the Canary Islands on June 4 , 2009 provided data that was used to determine the star 's stellar classification . The W.M. Keck Observatory 's High Resolution Echelle Spectrometer ( HIRES ) , which was used on June 3 – 6 , 2009 , and July 2 – 4 , 2009 , determined radial velocity measurements for the star , which helped to further define stellar parameters . Kepler @-@ 5 has , as considered by the Kepler team , the potential for use in the study of planets in extreme conditions ; its high temperature , large size , and short orbital period contribute to the aforementioned conditions . The findings of the Kepler team , which also included planets Kepler @-@ 4b , Kepler @-@ 6b , Kepler @-@ 7b , and Kepler @-@ 8b , were announced at the 215th meeting of the American Astronomical Society of January 4 , 2010 . = = Host star = = Kepler @-@ 5 is a subgiant in the Cygnus constellation that is expected to soon deplete its hydrogen stores in the core and begin fusing hydrogen in the shell region surrounding the core . The star is 1 @.@ 374 times the mass of the Sun ( another model suggests that Kepler @-@ 5 as a mass of 1 @.@ 21 times that of the Sun ) , although it is more diffuse at 1 @.@ 793 times the Sun 's radius . The star 's metallicity is measured to be at [ Fe / H ] = 0 @.@ 04 , which means that Kepler @-@ 5 has 1 @.@ 10 times the levels of iron as the Sun does . The star 's apparent magnitude is 13 @.@ 4 , meaning that it cannot be seen with the unaided eye . = = Characteristics = = Kepler @-@ 5b is a Hot Jupiter with a mass that is 2 @.@ 114 times that of Jupiter and a radius of 1 @.@ 431 times Jupiter 's radius . This also means that Kepler @-@ 5b is not very dense . The planet 's measured density is 0 @.@ 894 grams / cm3 , less than that of pure water and comparable only to the density of Saturn , which is approximately 0 @.@ 69 grams / cm3 . The planet has an equilibrium temperature of 1868 K , making it fifteen times hotter than Jupiter . Kepler @-@ 5b orbits its host star every 3 @.@ 5485 days at a mean distance of 0 @.@ 05064 AU . In addition , with an orbital inclination of 86.3º , Kepler @-@ 5b orbits Kepler @-@ 5 almost edge @-@ on with respect to Earth . In comparison , planet Mercury orbits the Sun at a distance of 0 @.@ 387 AU every 87 @.@ 97 days .
= Pretty on the Inside = Pretty on the Inside is the debut studio album by American alternative rock band Hole , released on September 17 , 1991 in the United States on Caroline Records . [ 1 ] Produced by Sonic Youth 's Kim Gordon , and Gumball frontman Don Fleming , the album was Hole 's first major label release after the band 's formation in 1989 by singer @-@ songwriter Courtney Love and lead guitarist Eric Erlandson . The album features distorted and alternating guitar compositions , screaming vocals , " shock value " lyrics , and " sloppy punk ethics " , a style which the band would later distance themselves from , opting for a less abrasive sound on their subsequent releases . Love 's lyrics on the album are often narrative , graphic , and abstract , detailing issues of violence , self @-@ realization , and womanhood . The record was dedicated to Rob Ritter of the Los Angeles punk rock acts Bags and The Gun Club . Pretty on the Inside was well received by alternative music critics , garnering favorable reviews in Spin , NME , and The Village Voice . It received considerable commercial success in the United Kingdom , where the record 's lead single , " Teenage Whore , " entered the UK Indie Chart at number one in September 1991 . It has sold over 200 @,@ 000 copies in the United States and gained a contemporary cult following among punk rock fans , and has been cited as a seminal influence for songwriters and musicians such as Brody Dalle and Scout Niblett . Despite its critical acclaim , frontwoman Courtney Love has , in later years , referred to the album as " unlistenable . " An LP version of the album was reissued in the United States in August 2011 to celebrate its twentieth anniversary . = = Background = = Hole formed in 1989 in Los Angeles , California when frontwoman Courtney Love , after years of fruitless attempts at forming bands , bought her neighbor Lisa Roberts a bass and posted an advertisement in a local paper stating : " I want to start a band . My influences are Big Black , Sonic Youth , and Fleetwood Mac . " Eric Erlandson , along with over a dozen other musicians , answered the ad . Love later said that she knew Eric was " the one " as soon as they met , and that he had a " Thurston Moore quality about him " that she liked . Erlandson said that early in Hole 's career , they were more interested in " making noise " than achieving success and before drummer Caroline Rue joined the band that they used no percussion whatsoever . It was not until Love and Erlandson heard Mudhoney 's " Touch Me , I 'm Sick " that they began to think about taking the band to the next level . Early on , the band was most influenced by the New York No Wave art and music scene of the 1980s , which included visual artists , such as Richard Kern , as well as scuzz rock acts , such as Teenage Jesus and the Jerks , Sonic Youth , and Pussy Galore . The band also featured a third guitarist in its early days , first Mike Geisbrecht and then Errol Stewart . After the band 's first four shows , the original lineup disbanded and Hole recruited bassist Jill Emery in 1990 . In the documentary film Not Bad for a Girl , Love , who had been in the erotic dancing industry for years prior , said that she worked as a stripper to help support the band in its early incarnation . She also cited her work as a dancer as being one of many inspirations for the songs on Pretty on the Inside : " I was blonde , wore makeup , had to support my band by dancing , and had to play this ridiculous archetype at work ... so I took , you know , high heels and white pumps , and I had a wiglet — I just took that and messed with it . " = = Recording and production = = Hole had previously released two singles , " Retard Girl " on Sympathy for the Record Industry and " Dicknail " on Sub Pop . According to Love , she had initially wanted to release the album on Sympathy for the Record Industry , but was " talked into " signing on with Caroline Records . After signing , Love sought Sonic Youth 's Kim Gordon to produce the album . In January 1991 , Love sent her letter , a Hello Kitty barrette , and copies of the band 's early singles , mentioning that the band greatly admired Gordon 's work and appreciated " the production of the SST record " ( referring to Sonic Youth 's EVOL or Sister ) . Gordon agreed on the condition that her friend , Gumball frontman Don Fleming , assist . The band entered Music Box Studios with Gordon , Fleming and Holly Price in March 1991 and worked on the album for one week ; the songs were recorded over a period of four days , and were mixed over the course of a further three days . During the recording sessions for the album , Love gargled whiskey and smoked cigarettes excessively to " give a raw edge to her vocals . " The sessions were said to be stressful , with an anonymous band member saying that Love was " on a total power trip " the entire time , making sure she had the final say of " everything in terms of album cover design , order of musicians ' credits in the liner notes , and even the spot where the price code went on the back . " Fleming was impressed by Love 's " focus and intensity , " especially while recording vocals for one song when Love " literally ripped her clothes off while she sang . " " Courtney was amazing , " said Fleming . " She was the most gung @-@ ho person I 've ever met . She was going to make the greatest record ever - I like that attitude in the studio . Courtney was like ' Let 's go , fuckers ' , and I loved that . " In a later interview , Fleming said : Courtney was great at the time — it was before she even knew Kurt [ Cobain ] . She gave 180 % . I 've worked with some people that you 've had to coax the performance out of them . With Courtney , there was no attitude . She was gonna give it all . And she did and it was really impressive to me [ ... ] I loved the whole band ; they were a lot of fun . That early lineup of Hole — I felt they were the real deal . They were Hollywood misfits — all of them . I felt it really captured what they were . Gordon said that Love " was either charming and nice or screaming at her band " but that she was " a really good singer and entertainer and front person . " = = Composition = = = = = Music = = = The music of Pretty on the Inside is most often noted for its extreme abrasiveness , and for its sophisticated use of melody buried under arrangements . The album 's sonic elements are heavily influenced by Los Angeles hardcore punk as well as New York 's no wave scene ; many of the tracks are accompanied by overt use of feedback , experimental playing , wah pedals , and use of sampling and interpolation . Rapid sliding techniques and string muting are also heavily present on the album , as well as what Love and Erlandson describe as " Sonic Youth tunings . " Love 's vocals range from whispers to violent screaming , often in succession with the extreme shifts in speed and volume . The album also contains multiple references to other musicians , specifically in its two noise tracks , " Sassy " and " Starbelly " : the main riff to " Starbelly " is based on Neil Young 's " Cinnamon Girl " and features analog cassette excerpts from " Rhiannon " by Fleetwood Mac and an early recording of " Best Sunday Dress " by Pagan Babies , one of Love 's earlier bands with Kat Bjelland ; " Sassy " includes snippets from an angry message left by Nymphs singer Inger Lorre on Love 's answering machine , accompanied by one chord progression repeated throughout . Love has admitted that the main riff to " Mrs. Jones " was copied verbatim from " Dark Entries " by the goth rock group Bauhaus , one of her favorite bands as a teenager . In a 1991 Canadian television interview , Love commented on the album 's coarse musical structure . She said that since the band was from Los Angeles , the " metal capital of the US " , they thought they were making a " pop record with an edge , " and were surprised by people 's reactions when they were told it was violent and extreme . Love also said , " It was all about the expression of my experience . I was not coming from a black void ; I was trying to create light ... I was trying to heal . " In an interview with Spin magazine several years after its release , Love said that she was " posing in a lot of ways " with the album : " It was the truth , but it was also me catching up with all my hip peers who 'd gone all indie on me , and who made fun of me for liking R.E.M. and The Smiths . I 'd done the whole punk thing , sleeping on floors in piss and beer , and waking up with the guy with the fucking mohawk and the skateboards and the speed and the whole goddamned thing . But I hated it . I 'd grown out of it by the time I was seventeen . " In a 1994 interview with Kurt Loder , Love admitted to having been " consciously self @-@ conscious " when making the record due to her feeling the need to compete with her peers at the time . In a 2011 interview for Hit So Hard ( 2011 ) , a documentary on later Hole drummer Patty Schemel , Love referred to Pretty on the Inside as " unlistenable " . = = = Lyrics and themes = = = Many of the album 's lyrics are narrative and diaristic in nature , and were heavily drawn from Love 's personal life and experiences in her teenage and young adult years . In a press release promoting the album , Love said : " These songs are about my own weaknesses and impurities ; things about myself that I hate ... paranoias , petty concerns , and pithy , pathetic things that are inside of me . " The songs are often lyrically abstract and describe shocking scenes of violence , and , particularly , violence against women . Prominent themes discussed in the lyrics include elitism , beauty and self @-@ image , as well as the more disconcerting themes of abortion , prostitution , suicide , murder , " red lights " , and self @-@ destructiveness . Q Magazine described the lyrics on the record as " confrontational " and " genuinely uninhibited . " The Seattle publication The Stranger analyzed the lyrics to the track " Mrs. Jones " , calling it a " particularly rattling sketch of what appears to be a rape scene , with Love seamlessly handling three perspectives : the ugly attacker ( " Look into the bloodrot , you suicide bitch / It takes an hour with you to make me want to live " ) , the vengeful victim ( " The abortion left an abscess / Don 't ever talk to me like that again " ) , and the supportive narrator ( " Just like a pro , she takes off her dress / And she kicks you down in her snow white pumps " ) . " The song also makes direct references to The Ballad of East and West , a poem by Rudyard Kipling , specifically with the line : " East is east and west is west , and mine was you and mine was best , " which is a partial quote from the poem . " Garbadge Man " , discusses abandonment and alienation , as well as crisis of spirituality , and is one of the few songs on the album to feature a verse @-@ chorus @-@ verse composition . The album closes with two songs that are bridged together as a single piece : " Pretty on the Inside " , noted for its hostile lyrics and allusions to vanity , and " Clouds " , a dark and raucous cover of Joni Mitchell 's " Both Sides , Now " from her 1969 album Clouds . The cover of the song features altered lyrics that appear to illustrate a suicide scene . The explicitness of the album 's lyrics mandated a Parental Advisory logo in the United States , largely due to the lurid nature of the songs as well as their usage of profanity . Female @-@ aimed curse words such as " bitch " , " slut " , and " whore " are prominent in the songs , though in a presumably subversive manner . " I try to place [ beautiful imagery ] next to fucked up imagery , because that 's how I view things , " said Love in a 1991 interview with Everett True . " I sometimes feel that no one 's taken the time to write about certain things in rock , that there 's a certain female point of view that 's never been given space . " In spite of its graphic lyrics , the underlying pro @-@ feminist slant that is found in many of the songs led some to tag the band as being part of the riot grrl movement , which Love was not directly associated with . = = Packaging and artwork = = The artwork for Pretty on the Inside is abstract in comparison to Hole 's later album artwork . The front cover of the album features a heavily saturated pink press photo of the band amidst forest underbrush , taken by photographer Vickie Berndt . Berndt said that " Courtney wanted something striking and unusual " and Berndt was experimenting with color infrared film during the shoot , testing exposure settings with Love . The photo is similar to several others taken during the same shoot , one of which was featured in a Spin article in 1991 . The font design featured on the front cover was created by Pizz , a graphic artist from Long Beach , who also designed album cover art for several other indie rock bands . The back side of the album features a painting by bassist Emery , depicting a topless woman looking at herself through a hand mirror . On her chest is a red heart surrounded by arrows , and below , her ribs protrude from her sides , possibly a reference to anorexia and body image issues , a major theme of the album and its successor Live Through This . The interior artwork , presented in a booklet on the CD version of the album and on the record sleeve on vinyl releases , features an assemblage of scribbled and typewritten lyrics , personal " thank you " notes , cutouts of Catholic and Renaissance artwork , as well as childlike drawings and storybook pictures juxtaposed with photos of women in bondage . The collages in the album 's liner notes have been described as looking like " the scrapbook of an incest victim . " In the liner notes , the album is dedicated to Rob Ritter of the LA punk group Bags . = = Release = = Pretty on the Inside was released on September 17 , 1991 in the United States on Caroline Records and on City Slang in Europe . The album 's lead single , " Teenage Whore " , was released in Europe on September 23 , and entered the UK Indie Chart 's Top 10 at number one on September 28 , 1991 , beating out " Heaven Sent An Angel " by Revolver , " Let It Slide " by Mudhoney , and " Love to Hate You " by Erasure , among others . On The Chart Show on Channel 4 , the song 's title was censored with ellipsis in place of the word " whore " . The single 's success in the United Kingdom led the band to perform a twelve @-@ date tour of the country supporting Mudhoney . The subsequent success of both the album , single , and tour saw Hole embark on a further three tours of the United States , Germany and Western Europe in the latter half of 1991 , playing again with Mudhoney , as well as alternative rock acts Daisy Chainsaw and Therapy ? . In spite of the album 's popularity in the United Kingdom , it failed to chart in the United States despite extensive touring , though it was known to be outselling Nirvana 's output before the band 's release of Nevermind the following week . The band played their final show of the tour in San Francisco opening for The Smashing Pumpkins , which ended with Love infamously smashing her guitar headstock onstage at the end of their set after the audience failed to respond well . Los Angeles Times journalist David Cromelin noted in his review of the concert : Smashing Pumpkins ' singer @-@ guitarist Billy Corgan referred to himself as " a frustrated Midwestern youth " at the Whisky on Tuesday [ ... ] Smashing Pumpkins was preceded by smashing guitars , courtesy of Hole . The tortured , transfixing L.A. group 's pairing with the headliners should have made this a bill to remember , but the audience was primed for Pumpkin and didn 't take to Courtney Love 's powerful howls of anguish . Hole ended its set in a tantrum , as Love ordered the band to halt and hurled her guitar to the ground . Guitarist Eric Erlandson finished things off by demolishing his instrument with a few impressive swings . Frustrated Midwestern youth , meet frustrated California youth . After the tour concluded , a music video for the track " Garbadge Man " was released , though the album 's only single , " Teenage Whore " , did not receive a music video . The video is fairly abstract and a reflection of Hole 's no wave influence at the time , with shots of Love and other band members in a car interspersed with shots of them performing outside the window . According to Love , she tracked down original rolls of radiographic medical film from Denver , Colorado that had been used in the Vietnam war , which the music video was then shot on , giving the images an X @-@ ray @-@ like appearance . The video was shown on MTV 's 120 Minutes in 1992 during an interview with Love and Kim Gordon , and was broadcast again on the show in 1994 and 1995 but was never as popular as the band 's later videos . For the music video , an alternate mix of the song by Gordon was used to eliminate profanity . The album was released on CD and cassette in the United States , but received a release on vinyl LP throughout Europe by City Slang , based in Berlin , Germany . The first 3 @,@ 000 pressings of the LP featured blue vinyl , while the following pressings were in standard black . In June 2011 , Plain Recordings , an independent American record label specializing in cult album re @-@ issues , announced that a 180 gram vinyl re @-@ release of Pretty on the Inside was being introduced to their catalogue ; it was released on August 2 , 2011 . = = = Critical reception = = = Pretty on the Inside was received with positive acclaim by many British and American alternative press . In a review by NME , the album was positively compared to Patti Smith 's Horses , as well as the debut albums of The Ramones , Television , and New York Dolls , and was branded as being in " a class of its own , " while Elizabeth Wurtzel wrote in The New Yorker that " Pretty on the Inside is such a cacophony ... very few people are likely to get through it once , let alone give it the repeated listenings it needs for you to discover that it 's probably the most compelling album to have been released in 1991 . " Q called the album " loud , ugly , and deliberately shocking , " awarding it three out of five stars . Spin noted in their review : [ The album ] revolves around a fascination of the repulsive aspects of L.A. — superficiality , sexism , violence , and drugs . Love is the embodiment of what drives the band : the dichotomy of pretty / ugly ... The pretty / ugly dynamic also comes across in Hole 's music ... a song like " Teenage Whore " at first comes across like a ranting noisy rage , but underneath is a surprisingly lush melody . " Melody Maker columnist Sharon O 'Connell said the album was " the very best bit of fucked up rock ' n ' roll [ I 've heard ] all year " , and it was named one of the 20 best albums of the year by Spin in December 1991 . Deborah Frost of The Village Voice , in her review of the album , called it " genre @-@ defying " , taking note of Love 's reputation on the album as " the girl who won 't shut up ... She is all the things that she should not be , and she shoves it , raw , right in your face . " The Seattle publication The Stranger took note of the album 's production work by Gordon and Fleming , stating that " despite Pretty on the Inside 's reputation as an unhinged , raw @-@ sounding debut , a great deal of professional calculation went into putting this record together . " They also applauded Love 's lyrics , and said the album " judiciously toes the line between the evasively obtuse and overtly obscene . " In 1995 , Alternative Press magazine ranked the album at # 74 in their " Top 99 Of ' 85- ' 95 " list , noting that " Love works in extremes and wears that scarlet letter when she feels like it , and when she doesn 't she rips it off , never neglecting melody and language as the real medium for her message . " In 2009 PopMatters called it an album with " bold musical splendour on display " that " [ leaves one feeling ] nothing short of gobsmacked . " In a 1994 article , Rolling Stone journalist David Fricke called the album " gloriously assaultive " and " a classic of sex @-@ mad self @-@ laceration , hypershred guitars and full @-@ moon bawling [ ... ] in particular the spectacular goring of Joni Mitchell 's " Both Sides , Now " ( aka " Clouds " ) at the end of the record . You don 't really know the solitary despair at the core of that song until you 've heard Love 's embittered delivery of the last two lines — " It 's life 's illusions I recall / I really don 't know life at all " — over guitarist Eric Erlandson 's fading squall . " = = Legacy = = Pretty on the Inside has had an influence on multiple alternative rock acts , being specifically mentioned by Spinnerette frontwoman Brody Dalle in an interview as a seminal album in the development of her music . British rock band Nine Black Alps also noted the album as a major influence on their third release , Locked Out from the Inside ( 2009 ) , and indie singer @-@ songwriter Scout Niblett cited it as a major influence on her : " For me , the thing that I loved about them and her [ Courtney Love ] was the anger , and aggressiveness , along with the tender side , " said Niblett . " That was something I hadn ’ t seen before in a woman playing music . That was hugely influential and really inspiring . Women up ’ til then were kind of one @-@ dimensional , twee , sweet , ethereal , and that annoys the shit out of me . " Contemporarily , the album has also gained a cult following among rock and punk music fans . The Trouser Press Guide to ' 90s Rock called the album a " surly milkshake of broken rock shards ... from the artistic misspellings of song titles to the lyric collage on the inner sleeve and the abrasive , abstract guitar noises on the songs , Pretty on the Inside reveals the band 's fascination with the New York no wave art and music scene of the ' 80s . " According to Billboard , the album had sold 27 @,@ 000 copies by 1994 , when the band released their wildly popular follow @-@ up album , Live Through This . In more recent years , frontwoman Love stated that the album contains " nothing melodic " . In a 2011 interview for Hit So Hard ( 2011 ) , a documentary on later Hole drummer Patty Schemel , Love referred to Pretty on the Inside as " unlistenable " , going on to say : " That record was a calling card for rock critics and hardcorers , [ saying ] ' This is what I do , and I am not going to back down from it . I am announcing my persona as a cunt . Thank you very much . ' " Nonetheless , the title track of the album was performed regularly at Hole concerts between 1993 and 1999 , and Love opened shows with the song during Hole 's 2010 tour . = = Track listing = = = = Personnel = = All personnel credits adapted from the album 's liner notes . = = Chart positions = = = = = Singles = = =
= Deepwater Horizon = Deepwater Horizon was an ultra @-@ deepwater , dynamically positioned , semi @-@ submersible offshore oil drilling rig owned by Transocean . Built in 2001 in South Korea by Hyundai Heavy Industries , the rig was commissioned by R & B Falcon , which later became part of Transocean , registered in Majuro , Marshall Islands , and leased to BP from 2001 until September 2013 . In September 2009 , the rig drilled the deepest oil well in history at a vertical depth of 35 @,@ 050 ft ( 10 @,@ 683 m ) and measured depth of 35 @,@ 055 ft ( 10 @,@ 685 m ) in the Tiber Oil Field at Keathley Canyon block 102 , approximately 250 miles ( 400 km ) southeast of Houston , in 4 @,@ 132 feet ( 1 @,@ 259 m ) of water . On 20 April 2010 , while drilling at the Macondo Prospect , an explosion on the rig caused by a blowout killed 11 crewmen and ignited a fireball visible from 40 miles ( 64 km ) away . The resulting fire could not be extinguished and , on 22 April 2010 , Deepwater Horizon sank , leaving the well gushing at the seabed and causing the largest oil spill in U.S. waters . = = Design = = Deepwater Horizon was a fifth @-@ generation , RBS @-@ 8D design ( i.e. model type ) , deepwater , dynamically positioned , column @-@ stabilized , semi @-@ submersible mobile offshore drilling unit , designed to drill subsea wells for oil exploration and production using an 18 @.@ 75 in ( 476 mm ) , 15 @,@ 000 psi ( 100 @,@ 000 kPa ) blowout preventer , and a 21 in ( 530 mm ) outside diameter marine riser . Deepwater Horizon was the second semi @-@ submersible rig constructed of a class of two , although Deepwater Nautilus , its predecessor , is not dynamically positioned . The rig was 396 by 256 ft ( 121 by 78 m ) and capable of operating in waters up to 8 @,@ 000 feet ( 2 @,@ 400 m ) deep , to a maximum drill depth of 30 @,@ 000 ft ( 9 @,@ 100 m ) . In 2010 it was one of approximately 200 deepwater offshore rigs capable of drilling in waters deeper than 5 @,@ 000 ft ( 1 @,@ 500 m ) . Its American Bureau of Shipping ( ABS ) class notations were " A1 , Column Stabilized Drilling Unit , AMS , ACCU , DPS @-@ 3 " . In 2002 , the rig was upgraded with " e @-@ drill " , a drill monitoring system whereby technical personnel based in Houston , Texas , received real @-@ time drilling data from the rig and transmitted maintenance and troubleshooting information . Advanced systems played a key role in the rig 's operation , from pressure and drill monitoring technology , to automated shutoff systems and modelling systems for cementing . The OptiCem cement modelling system , used by Halliburton in April 2010 , played a crucial part in cement slurry mix and support decisions . These decisions became a focus for investigations into the explosion on the rig that month . = = History = = = = = Construction and ownership = = = Deepwater Horizon was built for R & B Falcon ( which later became part of Transocean ) by Hyundai Heavy Industries in Ulsan , South Korea . Construction started in December 1998 , the keel was laid on 21 March 2000 , and the rig was delivered on 23 February 2001 , after the acquisition of R & B Falcon by Transocean . Until 29 December 2004 the rig was registered in the Republic of Panama . Transocean , through its Steinhausen , Switzerland subsidiary Triton Asset Leasing GmbH , operated the rig under the Marshallese flag of convenience . The rig was leased to BP on a 3 @-@ year contract for deployment in the Gulf of Mexico following construction . The lease was renewed in 2004 for a year , 2005 for 5 years , and 2009 for 3 years covering 2010 to 2013 . The last contract was worth $ 544 million , or $ 496 @,@ 800 a day , for a " bare rig " , with crew , gear and support vessels estimated to cost the same . According to R & B Falcon 's filings to SEC in 2001 , the transfer document between R & B Falcon and Transocean was dated 17 August 2001 , and the rig was specified as " official registration number of 29273 @-@ PEXT @-@ 1 , IMO number of 8764597 , with gross tonnage of 32 @,@ 588 and net tonnage of 9 @,@ 778 " and the transfer value as US $ 340 million . As of 2010 , the rig was insured for US $ 560 million covering the replacement cost and wreckage removal . = = = Drilling operations = = = Deepwater Horizon worked on wells in the Atlantis ( BP 56 % , BHP Billiton 44 % ) and Thunder Horse ( BP 75 % , ExxonMobil 25 % ) oil fields . It was described at times as a " lucky " and " celebrated " rig , and in 2007 was still described as " one of the most powerful rigs in the world " . In 2006 it discovered oil in the Kaskida oil field , and in 2009 the " giant " Tiber field . The well in the Tiber field has a vertical depth of 35 @,@ 050 ft ( 10 @,@ 683 m ) and a measured depth of 35 @,@ 055 ft ( 10 @,@ 685 m ) , below 4 @,@ 132 ft ( 1 @,@ 259 m ) of water . The well was the deepest oil well in the world , and more than 5 @,@ 000 feet ( 1 @,@ 500 m ) further below the seabed than the rig 's official drilling specification stated on the company 's fleet list . In February 2010 , Deepwater Horizon commenced drilling an exploratory well at the Macondo Prospect ( Mississippi Canyon Block 252 ) , about 41 miles ( 66 km ) off the southeast coast of Louisiana , at a water depth of approximately 5 @,@ 000 feet ( 1 @,@ 500 m ) . The Macondo prospect exploration rights were acquired by BP in 2009 , with the prospect jointly owned by BP ( 65 % ) , Anadarko ( 25 % ) and MOEX Offshore 2007 ( 10 % ) . Deepwater Horizon was still working on the Macondo site on 20 April 2010 , when a violent explosion occurred leading to destruction of the rig and resulting oil spill . The well was in the final stages of completion at the time ; its cement casing was injected and hardening , and the rig was due to move shortly to its next role as a semi @-@ permanent production platform at the Nile site followed by a return to the Kaskida field . The exploratory work was described as " concluded " and permission had already been requested from MMS to terminate operations at the Macondo site . During its operational lifetime , the rig was actively in operation for 93 % of its working life ( 2 @,@ 896 of 3 @,@ 131 days ) . The remainder partly relates to time spent between sites . = = = Regulation , safety , and inspection = = = The Minerals Management Service ( renamed on 18 June 2010 to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management , Regulation and Enforcement , or Bureau of Ocean Energy ( BOE ) ) is the regulatory and inspecting body for offshore oil drilling and rigs in the United States of America . According to an Associated Press investigation , certain safety documentation and emergency procedure information , including documentation for the exact incident that later occurred , was absent . The exact number of required monthly inspections performed varied over time ; the inspections were carried out as required for the first 40 months , but after that around 25 % of inspections were omitted , although the investigation notes this is partly expected , since there are circumstances such as weather and movement which preclude an inspection . Reports of the last three inspections for 2010 were provided under Freedom of Information legislation . Each of these inspections had taken two hours or less . During its lifetime the rig received 5 citations for non @-@ compliance , 4 of which were in 2002 ( safety , including the blowout preventer ) and the other in 2003 ( pollution ) . A sixth citation in 2007 related to non @-@ grounded electrical equipment was later withdrawn when the equipment was determined to be compliant with regulations . Overall the Deepwater Horizon 's safety record was " strong " according to a drilling consultant reviewing the information . In 2009 the Minerals Management Service " herald [ ed ] the Deepwater Horizon as an industry model for safety " . According to AP 's investigation " its record was so exemplary , according to MMS officials , that the rig was never on inspectors ' informal ' watch list ' for problem rigs " . = = Explosion and oil spill = = At 9 : 45 P.M. CDT on 20 April 2010 , during the final phases of drilling the exploratory well at Macondo , a geyser of seawater erupted from the marine riser onto the rig , shooting 240 ft ( 73 m ) into the air . This was soon followed by the eruption of a slushy combination of drilling mud , methane gas , and water . The gas component of the slushy material quickly transitioned into a fully gaseous state and then ignited into a series of explosions and then a firestorm . An attempt was made to activate the blowout preventer , but it failed . The final defense to prevent an oil spill , a device known as a blind shear ram , was activated but failed to plug the well . At the time of the explosion , there were 126 crew on board ; seven were employees of BP , 79 of Transocean , there were also employees of various other companies involved in the operation of the rig , including Anadarko , Halliburton and M @-@ I SWACO . Eleven workers were presumed killed in the initial explosion . The rig was evacuated , with injured workers airlifted to medical facilities . After approximately 36 hours , Deepwater Horizon sank on 22 April 2010 . The remains of the rig were located resting on the seafloor approximately 5 @,@ 000 ft ( 1 @,@ 500 m ) deep at that location , and about 1 @,@ 300 ft ( 400 m ) ( quarter of a mile ) northwest of the well . The resultant oil spill continued until 15 July when it was closed by a cap . Relief wells were used to permanently seal the well , which was declared " effectively dead " on 19 September 2010 . = = Aftermath = = Transocean received an early partial insurance settlement for total loss of the Deepwater Horizon of US $ 401 million around 5 May 2010 . Financial analysts noted that the insurance recovery was likely to outweigh the value of the rig ( although not necessarily its replacement value ) and any liabilities – the latter estimated at up to US $ 200 million . Litigation , ultimate roll call of damage , and the scope of final insurance recovery were all unknown as of June 2010 , with analysts reporting that the aftermath was of unprecedented scale and complexity compared to previous disasters which themselves took many years to unfold and resolve . A July 2010 analysis by the Financial Times on the aftermath cited legal sources as saying that " at some point the scale of the litigation becomes so large that it really is novel " , that " the situation is likely to be complicated further because the variety of probable cases means it will be hard to aggregate them into so @-@ called class actions " and that there was " no way to put this in historical context because we have never faced anything like this before " . As with the Exxon Valdez disaster , litigation was being discussed in terms of a 20 @-@ year timescale . In January 2013 , Transocean agreed to pay US $ 1 @.@ 4 billion for violations of the US Clean Water Act . BP had earlier agreed to pay $ 2 @.@ 4 billion but faced additional penalties that could range from $ 5 billion to $ 20 billion . In September 2014 , Halliburton agreed to settle a large percentage of legal claims against them by paying $ 1 @.@ 1 billion into a trust by way of three installments over two years . On 4 September 2014 , U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier ruled BP was guilty of gross negligence and willful misconduct under the Clean Water Act ( CWA ) . He described BP 's actions as " reckless , " while he said Transocean 's and Halliburton 's actions were " negligent . " He apportioned 67 % of the blame for the spill to BP , 30 % to Transocean , and 3 % to Halliburton . BP issued a statement strongly disagreeing with the finding , and saying the court 's decision would be appealed .
= American crow = The American crow ( Corvus brachyrhynchos ) is a large passerine bird species of the family Corvidae . It is a common bird found throughout much of North America . American crows are the new world counterpart to the carrion crow and the hooded crow . Although the American crow and the hooded crow are very similar in size , structure and behavior , their calls are different . The American crow nevertheless occupies the same role the hooded crow does in Eurasia . From beak to tail , an American crows measures 40 – 50 cm ( 16 – 20 in ) , almost half of which is tail . Mass varies from about 300 to 600 g ( 10 to 20 oz ) . Males tend to be larger than females . The most usual call is caaw @-@ caaw @-@ caaw . The American crow is all black , with iridescent feathers . It looks much like other all @-@ black corvids . They can be distinguished from the common raven ( C. corax ) because American crows are smaller and from the fish crow ( C. ossifragus ) because American crows do not hunch and fluff their throat feathers when they call . American crows are common , widespread , and susceptible to the West Nile virus , making them useful as a bioindicator to track the virus 's spread . Direct transmission of the virus from American crows to humans is unheard of and unlikely . = = Taxonomy = = The American crow was described by Christian Ludwig Brehm in 1822 . Its scientific name means literally " short @-@ billed crow " , from Ancient Greek brachy- ( βραχυ- ) " short- " and rhynchos ( ρυνχος ) " billed " . The northwestern crow ( C. caurinus ) is very closely related to the American crow . Its ancestors became separated by Ice Age glaciation west of the Rocky Mountains . It is endemic to Pacific temperate rain forests where it all but replaces the American crow . Only in the Seattle region do they co @-@ occur to any extent . In form the two species are much alike . There is a marked difference in voice . = = = Subspecies = = = Four subspecies are recognized . They differ in bill proportion and form a rough NE @-@ SW clinal in size across North America . Birds are smallest in the far west and on the south coast . Corvus brachyrhynchos brachyrhynchos – eastern crow : northeastern United States , eastern Canada and surroundings . Largest subspecies . Corvus brachyrhynchos hesperis – western crow : Western North America except arctic north , Pacific Northwest and extreme south . Smaller overall with a proportionally more slender bill and low @-@ pitched voice . Corvus brachyrhynchos pascuus – Florida crow : Florida . Mid @-@ sized , short @-@ winged but decidedly long bill and legs . Corvus brachyrhynchos paulus – southern crow : southern United States . Smaller overall , bill also small . = = Description = = The American crow is a distinctive bird with iridescent black feathers all over . Its legs , feet and bill are also black . They measure 40 – 53 cm ( 16 – 21 in ) in length , of which the tail makes up about 40 % . The wing chord is 24 @.@ 5 to 33 cm ( 9 @.@ 6 to 13 @.@ 0 in ) , with the wingspan ranging from 85 to 100 cm ( 33 to 39 in ) . The bill length can be from 3 to 5 @.@ 5 cm ( 1 @.@ 2 to 2 @.@ 2 in ) , varying strongly according to location . The tarsus is 5 @.@ 5 to 6 @.@ 5 cm ( 2 @.@ 2 to 2 @.@ 6 in ) and the tail is 13 @.@ 5 to 19 cm ( 5 @.@ 3 to 7 @.@ 5 in ) . The body mass can vary from 316 to 620 g ( 11 @.@ 1 to 21 @.@ 9 oz ) . Males tend to be larger than females . The most usual call is a loud , short , and rapid caaw @-@ caaw @-@ caaw . Usually , the birds thrust their heads up and down as they utter this call . American crows can also produce a wide variety of sounds and sometimes mimic noises made by other animals , including other birds . Visual differentiation from the fish crow ( C. ossifragus ) is extremely difficult and often inaccurate . Nonetheless , differences apart from size do exist . Fish crows tend to have more slender bills and feet . There may also be a small sharp hook at the end of the upper bill . Fish crows also appear as if they have shorter legs when walking . More dramatically , when calling , fish crows tend to hunch and fluff their throat feathers . If seen flying at a distance from where size estimates are unreliable , the distinctly larger common ravens ( C. corax ) can be distinguished by their almost lozenge @-@ shaped tail and their larger @-@ looking heads . They also fluff their throat feathers when calling like fish crows , only more so . The average life span of the American crow in the wild is 7 – 8 years . Captive birds are known to have lived up to 30 years . = = Distribution and habitat = = The range of the American crow now extends from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean in Canada , on the French islands of Saint @-@ Pierre and Miquelon , south through the United States , and into northern Mexico . The increase in trees throughout the Great Plains during the past century due to fire suppression and tree planting facilitated range expansions of the American crow as well as range expansions of many other species of birds . Virtually all types of country from wilderness , farmland , parks , open woodland to towns and major cities are inhabited ; it is absent only from Pacific temperate rain forests and tundra habitat where it is replaced by the raven . This crow is a permanent resident in most of the USA , but most Canadian birds migrate some distances southward in winter . Outside of the nesting season these birds often gather in large ( thousands or even millions ) communal roosts at night . The American crow was recorded in Bermuda from 1876 onwards . = = Behavior = = = = = Diet = = = The American crow is omnivorous . It will feed on invertebrates of all types , carrion , scraps of human food , seeds , eggs and nestlings , stranded fish on the shore and various grains . American crows are active hunters and will prey on mice , frogs , and other small animals . In winter and autumn , the diet of American crows is more dependent on nuts and acorns . Occasionally , they will visit bird feeders . The American crow is one of only a few species of bird that has been observed modifying and using tools to obtain food . Like most crows , they will scavenge at landfills , scattering garbage in the process . Where available , corn , wheat and other crops are a favorite food . These habits have historically caused the American crow to be considered a nuisance . However , it is suspected that the harm to crops is offset by the service the American crow provides by eating insect pests . = = = Reproduction = = = American crows are socially monogamous cooperative breeding birds . Mated pairs form large families of up to 15 individuals from several breeding seasons that remain together for many years . Offspring from a previous nesting season will usually remain with the family to assist in rearing new nestlings . American crows do not reach breeding age for at least two years . Most do not leave the nest to breed for four to five years . The nesting season starts early , with some birds incubating eggs by early April . American crows build bulky stick nests , nearly always in trees but sometimes also in large bushes and , very rarely , on the ground . They will nest in a wide variety of trees , including large conifers , although oaks are most often used . Three to six eggs are laid and incubated for 18 days . The young are usually fledged by about 36 days after hatching . Predation primarily occurs at the nest site and eggs and nestlings are frequently eaten by snakes , raccoons , ravens and domestic cats . Adults are less frequently predated but face potential attack from great horned owls , red @-@ tailed hawks , peregrine falcons and eagles . They may be attacked by predators such as coyotes or bobcats at carrion when incautious although this is even rarer . = = = West Nile virus = = = American crows succumb easily to West Nile virus infection . This was originally a mosquito @-@ borne African virus causing encephalitis in humans and livestock since about 1000 AD , and was accidentally introduced to North America in 1999 , apparently by an infected air traveller who got bitten by a mosquito after arrival . It is estimated that the American crow population has dropped by up to 45 % since 1999 . Despite this decline , the crow is considered a species of least concern . The disease runs most rampant in the subtropical conditions which encourage reproduction of its mosquito vectors among which Culex tarsalis is most significant . Mortality rates appear to be higher than those in other birds , causing local population losses of up to 72 % in a single season . Because of this , American crows are a sentinel species indicating the presence of West Nile virus in an area . Crows cannot transmit the virus to humans directly . = = = Status and conservation = = = Crows have been killed in large numbers by humans , both for recreation and as part of organized campaigns of extermination . American crows are protected internationally by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 . Despite attempts by humans in some areas to drive away or eliminate these birds , they remain widespread and very common . The number of individual American crows is estimated by BirdLife International to be around 31 @,@ 000 @,@ 000 . The large population , as well as its vast range , are the reasons why the American crow is considered to be of least concern , meaning that the species is not threatened .
= No Surrender ( 2008 ) = No Surrender ( 2008 ) was a professional wrestling pay @-@ per @-@ view ( PPV ) event produced by the Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ( TNA ) promotion that took place on September 14 , 2008 at the General Motors Centre in Oshawa , Ontario , Canada . It was the fourth event under the No Surrender name , TNA 's first PPV to take place outside of the United States , and the ninth event in the 2008 TNA PPV schedule . Nine professional wrestling matches were featured on the event 's card , four of which were for championships . The main event was a Three Ways to Glory match for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship with the champion Samoa Joe defending the title against Christian Cage and Kurt Angle . Joe successfully retained the title at the show . A.J. Styles defeated Frank Trigg in a Mixed Martial Arts match match also on the show . The TNA World Tag Team Championship was defended by Beer Money , Inc . ( James Storm and Robert Roode ) against The Latin American Xchange ( Hernandez and Homicide ) . Beer Money , Inc. retained the championship at the event . TNA held a Ladder of Love match for SoCal Val , in which Sonjay Dutt defeated Jay Lethal . The TNA X Division Championship was also defended in a Three Way match by Petey Williams against Sheik Abdul Bashir and Consequences Creed , which Bashir won to become the new champion . No Surrender is remembered for being the first TNA PPV held outside of the United States and for the return of Jeff Jarrett to TNA television . 20 @,@ 000 was the reported figure of purchasers for the event by The Wrestling Observer Newsletter . No Surrender had an attendance of 3 @,@ 500 people . Jason Clevett of the professional wrestling section of the Canadian Online Explorer rated the show a 3 out of 10 , which was lower than the 7 out of 10 given to the 2007 edition by Chris Sokol . In regards to the overall show , Clevett said that " TNA ’ s pay per view debut in Canada was one of the weakest shows in recent memory , overwhelmed by horrible overbooking by TNA that once again proves that they do not know what their fanbase wants . " = = Production = = = = = Background = = = The fourth installment under the No Surrender name was announced in January 2008 with a September 14 date attached . In July , The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported that TNA would hold its first PPV held in Canada with No Surrender in September . The reported location for the event was Oshawa , Ontario , Canada at the General Motors Centre . TNA issued a press release in late @-@ July revealing that No Surrender would be held at the General Motors Centre in Oshawa , Ontario on September 14 . Tickets for the show went on @-@ sale on July 25 . Early ticket sales for the event were on par with the early sales of TNA 's Lockdown PPV event . The General Motors Centre was close to being sold out a few days prior to the show , with only 800 tickets remaining . The arena had a maximum capacity of 5 @,@ 000 but was configured to have a maximum capacity of 3 @,@ 500 due to the event layout . Views were positive in TNA towards early ticket sales considering it was TNA 's first PPV in Canada . Before any matches were announced , it was suspected that the event would be headlined by a tag team match or a trios bout to set up for a standard match at TNA 's next PPV event Bound for Glory IV on October 12 . TNA released a poster to promote the show featuring Samoa Joe , while " Soul Crusher " by Operator was the official theme . = = = Storylines = = = No Surrender featured nine professional wrestling matches that involved different wrestlers from pre @-@ existing scripted feuds and storylines . Wrestlers portrayed villains , heroes , or less distinguishable characters in the scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches . The main event at No Surrender was a Four Ways to Glory match for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship , in which the champion Samoa Joe defended the title against three competitors . This match was announced on the August 14 episode of TNA 's television program TNA Impact ! , with Management Director Jim Cornette stating that three qualification matches would take place to determine the challengers to Joe over the weeks leading to No Surrender . The first qualifying match was on the August 21 episode of Impact ! , when Booker T defeated Rhino to take a spot in the match . Kurt Angle defeated Kevin Nash on the August 28 episode of Impact ! to qualify for the contest . The final qualifier was Christian Cage , who defeated A.J. Styles on the September 4 episode of Impact ! . TNA held a scripted Mixed Martial Arts match at No Surrender between A.J. Styles and Frank Trigg . This match was the result of a feud between Kurt Angle and Styles . The two had competed against each other at TNA 's Slammiversary PPV event on June 8 , Victory Road PPV event on July 13 , Hard Justice PPV event on August 10 , and on several Impact ! episodes with Trigg providing commentary for some of the contests and aiding Angle in the feud as they were depicted as on @-@ screen bestfriends . At one point during the rivalry , Styles mistakenly attacked Trigg on the June 19 episode of Impact ! . A couple of months later on the September 4 episode of Impact ! , Trigg attacked Styles during his Four Ways to Glory qualifying match with Christian Cage . Trigg hit Styles with a kendo stick and left the ring , which allowed Cage to pin Styles to win the bout . On the September 11 episode of Impact ! , Styles challenged Trigg to a bout at No Surrender , which Trigg agreed but only if it was contested under Mixed Martial Arts rules . The TNA World Tag Team Championship was defended at No Surrender by Beer Money , Inc . ( James Storm and Robert Roode ) against The Latin American Xchange ( Hernandez and Homicide ; LAX ) . On the June 12 episode of Impact ! , Roode and Storm teamed to face LAX for the World Tag Team Championship . The match was originally won by Roode and Storm before being restarted due to interference . LAX won the restart to retain the championship . After the bout , Roode and Storm assaulted LAX and their manager Héctor Guerrero . Management Director Jim Cornette scheduled a title defense at Victory Road between LAX and Roode and Storm under " Fan 's Revenge " Lumberjack rules on the June 19 episode of Impact ! . At Victory Road , LAX defeated the newly renamed Beer Money Incorporated to retain the World Tag Team Championship . On the July 17 episode of Impact ! , Roode and Storm began assaulting various wrestlers , crew members , and fans in retaliation for their loss at Victory Road . Later in the program , Roode and Storm once again attacked Guerrero , prompting LAX to come to his rescue . On the July 31 episode of Impact ! , Roode and Storm defeated the team of Christian Cage and Rhino for a World Tag Team Championship match at Hard Justice . On the August 7 episode of Impact ! , the team of Cage , Rhino , and LAX fought the team of Roode , Storm , and Team 3D in an Eight Man Tag Team match , which the latter lost . After the contest , Roode and Storm slammed Homicide through a glass table , injuring his right eye in the storyline . At Hard Justice , Beer Money , Inc. defeated LAX to win the TNA World Tag Team Championship by pinning Homicide after Roode hit Homicide in his injured eye with a beer bottle . TNA scheduled a rematch between the two teams for the championship to take place at No Surrender . Another rivalry heading into the show was between Jay Lethal and Sonjay Dutt , who were fighting over the heart of SoCal Val . The storyline behind this rivalry started on the May 15 episode of Impact ! , when Lethal proposed marriage to Val in the storyline . With the two being an on @-@ screen couple , she accepted with the planned wedding segment taking place at Slammiversary . Lethal then asked Dutt to be his bestman on the May 29 episode of Impact ! , which he accepted despite him being scripted to show feelings for Val . At Slammiversary , Dutt interrupted the wedding proclaiming his love for Val in the storyline and attacked Lethal , which ended with Dutt unconscious as Jake Roberts placed a snake on top of his body . Dutt then defeated Lethal in a bout at Victory Road . Lethal won a rematch in a Black Tie Brawl and Chain match at Hard Justice over Dutt . Leading up to No Surrender , Dutt attacked Lethal after he was defeated by Sheik Abdul Bashir on the August 14 episode of Impact ! . On the September 11 episode of Impact ! , TNA promoted a Ladder of Love match at No Surrender with the winner becoming engaged to Val . The TNA X Division Championship was defended by Petey Williams against Sheik Abdul Bashir and Consequences Creed in a Three Way match at the event . At Hard Justice , Bashir attacked Creed with a steal chair during his bout with Williams , which allowed Williams to force Creed 's head into the mat with his signature Canadian Destroyer maneuver to retain the X Division Championship . Creed was given a rematch on the August 21 episode of Impact ! , with Bashir once again interfering by attacking Creed , resulting in Creed winning by disqualification and Williams retaining the X Division Championship . This match was later advertised on the card for No Surrender . = = Event = = The event began with Sting announcing that he would be facing the TNA World Heavyweight Champion for the title at Bound for Glory IV . TNA commentator Mike Tenay also announced that due to Hurricane Ike , Booker T could not make it to the event so the original scheduled Four Ways to Glory match was changed to a Three Ways to Glory match . This was not announced to the live audience in attendance . = = = Miscellaneous = = = No Surrender featured employees other than the wrestlers involved in the matches . Mike Tenay and Don West were the commentators for the telecast . Jeremy Borash and David Penzer were ring announcers for the event . Andrew Thomas , Earl Hebner , Rudy Charles , Mark " Slick " Johnson , and Traci Brooks participated as referees for the encounters . Lauren Thompson and Borash were used as interviewers during the event . Besides employees who appeared in a wrestling role , Raisha Saeed , Johnny Devine , Rhaka Khan , Rhino , Velvet Sky , Cute Kip , Jacqueline , Héctor Guerrero , and Jeff Jarrett all appeared on camera , either in backstage or in ringside segments . = = = Preliminary matches = = = The opening encounter of the show was a Six Person Intergender Tag Team match pitting The Prince Justice Brotherhood ( Curry Man , Shark Boy , and Super Eric ) against The Rock ' n ' Rave Infection ( Christy Hemme , Jimmy Rave , and Lance Rock ) , which lasted 7 minutes and 35 seconds . The Prince Justice Brotherhood won the bout when Curry Man pinned Hemme after a Chummer performed by Shark Boy . TNA held a Falls Count Anywhere match next between Awesome Kong and ODB . Raisha Saeed accompanied Kong to the ring . The competitors fought throughout the crowd and around the ring before Kong won the match by picking up and slamming ODB back @-@ first through a table at 10 minutes and 23 seconds . The team of Abyss and Matt Morgan fought Team 3D ( Brother Devon and Brother Ray ) in a Tag Team match at the event . The duration of the contest was 11 minutes and 33 seconds . Johnny Devine interfered in the contest on Team 3D 's behalf , attacking Morgan with a steel chair before Abyss performed his signature Shock Treatment maneuver on him . Abyss won the bout for his team by slamming Devon back @-@ first against the mat with his trademark Black Hole Slam maneuver . The TNA X Division Championship was defended in a Three Way match by Petey Williams against Sheik Abdul Bashir and Consequences Creed next . Williams was accompanied by Rhaka Khan . The finish of the match saw Williams force Creed 's head into the mat with his signature Canadian Destroyer maneuver . Bashir , who had been knocked to the ringside area , pulled Williams from the ring and threw him into the guardrail , thus preventing a pin attempt by Williams . Bashir then pinned Creed to win the TNA X Division Championship at 8 minutes and 15 seconds . The fifth match was for the TNA Women 's Knockout Championship , in which the champion Taylor Wilde defended against Angelina Love . Wilde was accompanied by Rhino to the ring , while Love was accompanied by Velvet Sky and Cute Kip . The bout lasted 6 minutes and 22 seconds . At one point in the contest , Kip attempted to interefere by aiding Love to only be met by Rhino who tackled Kip with his trademark Gore maneuver . Wilde won the bout by pinning Love following a Northern Lights suplex to retain the Women 's Knockout Championship . = = = Main Event matches = = = The Ladder of Love match for SoCal Val followed between Sonjay Dutt and Jay Lethal , which lasted 13 minutes and 19 seconds . In the bout , the only way to win was to climb a ladder and retrieve an engagement ring that hung above the ring , which symbolized winning SoCal Val 's heart in the storyline . Early in the match , TNA commentator Mike Tenay announced that Salinas had been injured in an assault by Jacqueline and was taken to the hospital in the storyline . The competitors set up two ladders in the ring at one point , with one standing upright and the other positioned between two steps of the first and on the top rope . This led to Dutt placing Lethal on the bridged ladder , ascending a turnbuckle , and delivered an aerial senton splash to Lethal . Later , Dutt bridged a ladder over two chairs at ringside , then followed up by forcing Lethal back @-@ first onto the ladder with a neckbreaker . Close to the end of the encounter , Dutt had Lethal positioned on top of two standing ladders when he climbed on top of Lethal and placed Lethal in a Camel Clutch submission hold . Lethal fought out of it and pushed Dutt off the ladder , causing him to land back @-@ first onto the ring mat . Afterwards , Lethal got his leg stuck in between the ladder rungs , causing Val to enter the ring and help release him from his predicament . Dutt then yelled at Val for helping Lethal before climbing the ladder . Lethal checked on a visibly upset Val in the storyline before also climbing the ladder . Val then hit Lethal in the groin as he climbed , allowing Dutt to retrieve the ring and win the contest . The TNA World Tag Team Championship was defended by Beer Money , Inc . ( James Storm and Robert Roode ) against The Latin American Xchange ( Hernandez and Homicide ; LAX ) in a Tag Team match afterwards . Beer Money , Inc. was accompanied by Jacqueline , while LAX was accompanied by Hector Guerrero . The duration of the contest was 8 minutes and 42 seconds . Early in the bout , Hernandez threw Homicide over the ring ropes to the outside onto a standing Storm and Roode . Later , Storm spat beer in the face of Hernandez and powerbombed him off the top of a turnbuckle to the mat below . Hernandez in return jumped over the rope to the outside onto Storm . The conclusion of the encounter saw Roode attempt to perform his signature Payoff maneuver on Homicide , only for Homicide to counter the move into his signature Gringo Stunner maneuver . Homicide then followed up by attempting to perform his trademark Da Gringo Killa maneuver , however , Jacqueline interfered in the bout throwing powder in Homicide 's eyes . Roode performed the Payoff afterwards and pinned Homicide to retain the World Tag Team Championship for his team . A Mixed Martial Arts match between A.J. Styles and Frank Trigg was the eighth contest of the show . This match lasted 6 minutes and 7 seconds . This bout was contested under mixed martial arts rules , but had a scripted finish . Half way through Round One , Styles and Trigg tumbled to the ringside area and continued to fight until security broke them up . The round ended with Styles having Trigg in an armbar submission hold , causing Styles to release the hold . The system feed broadcasting the show was interrupted at this time , upon its return it displayed a pornographic film , until the broadcast was fixed , returning to No Surrender . The feed returned to Styles and Trigg fighting in Round Two , with Styles grabbing a kendo stick from under the ring and assaulting Trigg with it . It was later shown that the bout was ruled a no contest by the referee due to Styles hitting Trigg in the groin by accident . The main event was a Three Ways to Glory match for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship , in which the champion Samoa Joe defended against Christian Cage and Kurt Angle . Mid @-@ way through the encounter , Angle held Joe in his signature Ankle lock submission hold when Cage tried to break up the hold , only to have Angle place Cage in the hold as well , resulting in Angle having both Joe and Cage in the Ankle Lock simultaneously . Both Cage and Joe broke out of the submission , tossing Angle to the outside area . Later , Joe attempted to perform his signature Muscle Buster maneuver on Angle , with Angle countering the move into his signature Olympic slam maneuver . Cage followed by hitting a frog splash aerial maneuver from the top of a turnbuckle onto Joe . He threw Angle from the ring , performed his signature Unprettier maneuver on Joe , and covered Joe for a pin attempt . Angle pulled the referee Earl Hebner from the ring and threw him into a ringside barricade . Angle grabbed a chair and attacked Cage and Joe with it . He knocked out Cage first then placed Joe in the Ankle lock . Jeff Jarrett then returned to TNA television by smashing a guitar over the head of Angle . Joe performed the Muscle Buster on Angle and followed by pinning Angle as the referee returned to the ring at 15 minutes and 27 seconds to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship . = = Reception = = A total of 3 @,@ 500 people attended No Surrender , while the The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported that 20 @,@ 000 people bought the event . The show was reviewed by two contributors of the Canadian Online Explorer 's SLAM ! Sports , Jason Clevett and Kenai Andrews , with Andrews providing a live attendance review . Clevett rated the entire event a 3 out of 10 , which was lower than the 7 out of 10 given to the 2007 edition by Chris Sokol . 7 out of 10 was also given to the 2009 edition by Bob Kapur . Bound for Glory IV also received a 7 out of 10 by Chris Sokol and Bryan Sokol . Compared to rival World Wrestling Entertainment 's ( WWE ) Unforgiven PPV event on September 7 , Unforgiven performed better as it received a 7 out of 10 from Matt Bishop . Clevett also rated the matches out of 10 , with his highest rating going to the Ladder of Love match , which he gave an 8 out of 10 . The main event received a 6 out of 10 , the Mixed Martial Arts bout was given a 0 out of 10 , the X Division Championship match got a 7 out of 10 , while the World Tag Team match received a 5 out of 10 . Overall , Clevett was disappointed by the event , making several comments regarding the quality of the show . In his closing comments , Clevett wrote that he " once considered himself a huge wrestling fan " but shows " like tonight make him question his dedication anymore , " before revealing that he wanted " his money and three hours back . " When discussing the A.J. Styles versus Frank Trigg encounter , Clevett stated that " the chant “ this is b.s. ” should never , ever be heard during an A.J. Styles match , the man is far too talented to ever have fans react in such a manner . However , that is exactly what the crowd at GM Place in Oshawa , Ontario , chanted during his “ MMA ” bout with Frank Trigg . TNA ’ s pay per view debut in Canada was one of the weakest shows in recent memory , overwhelmed by horrible overbooking by TNA that once again proves that they do not know what their fanbase wants . " For the X Division Championship contest , Clevett discussed various issues such as Bashir 's entrance music and the match quality : " I watched this show with a friend who moved here from the U.S. , and we shared our disgust with Bashir ’ s theme music opening with the sound of a plane crashing . TNA has probably lost a few viewers at that lame attempt to garner heat . " However , he felt the match was a " highlight of the show with some fast paced @-@ solid wrestling " but that it lost a rating point for the " lousy finish . " He also believed the Ladder of Love match was another " highlight of the show " despite the " terrible angle that has surrounded the feud between the two over SoCal Val . " He said the two competitors " busted their asses " but that the match " should have been showcased in New Jersey last month in front of Lethal ’ s hometown crowd " at the Hard Justice PPV event . However , he gave credit to the two involved for " coming up with some incredibly creative spots " that got the crowd to cheer and chant " This is awesome " despite the ladder match genre having " become rather tired and overdone . " Regarding the World Tag Team match , Clevett thought it " should have been held off a month " since " it really doesn ’ t mean much so soon after the title change . " However , he felt the " four men worked hard and it was a decent tag match , but by this point the show wasn ’ t salvageable . " As for the main event , he commented that the " match itself was solid , but felt like all three men were going through the motions " since the " three have wrestled each other so many times in the past year , it doesn ’ t feel fresh or exciting . " He also said he could not " remember many specifics of the match , and considering the talent level that is surprising . " He also expressed his disappointment in the finish , that he tried to remember " the last time a TNA main event ended without some kind of interference , guitar shot , or overbooking " but he could not . Andrews discussed the experience of witnessing the show live along with the crowd reaction during his review . He did not give any event or match ratings , but did provide comments on the quality of the event . Andrews mentioned that the TNA President Dixie Carter was present " earnestly signed autographs " and interacting " with fans in the pre @-@ amble " which he said they " seemed to love mingling with her and her eyes beamed when told SLAM ! Wrestling was present covering the show . " He stated the " crowd anticipation was decent , with many fans looking forward to " Four ways to Glory , " but wondering if Booker T would show , due to Hurricane Ike making landfall in Houston , Texas , Booker 's hometown " with no announcement being " made to the arena crowd about Booker T being there one way or another . " Also that the " energy through most of the show had an ordinary quality , bobbing unevenly between good and bland . Sting ’ s opening promo were greeted warmly and Curry Man ’ s comical segments with Christy Hemme tickled the crowd . They also gushed over Petey Williams and his Maple Leaf Muscle , The Beautful [ sic ] People and Taylor Wilde , and the Jay Lethal versus Sonjay Dutt ladder match . " Andrews said " the crowd came alive and actively participated throughout " those matches with the energy level being " high . " Conversely , he stated that " ODB and Kong ’ s match was a slow @-@ paced affair , and Beer Money Inc . - LAX tag team title match was notable only for James Storm and Jacqueline 's coherent performances given their injuries at the TNA London house show the night before . " The Mixed Martial Arts bout " annoyed the action @-@ hungry fans , not wanting to endure the chess style patience that MMA can be known for . It was probably a harsh reaction , as the extremely small vocal minority thought the MMA chorography was well done , mimicking a good blend of both men trying to impose their style on the other . Ultimately , that opinion was squashed , symbolized by Styles beating Trigg with a kendo stick after the match . " He felt that Booker T 's absence " seemed to dampen any mystique " Four ways to Glory " had going for it " with the main event being " lacklustre [ sic ] " despite Christian Cage ’ s entrance maintaining the " aura of the grand spectacle everyone was hoping the match would be . " He said it still a " solid match put on by the combatants , but one that was very familiar , prompting one fan to coin the bout " 3 the Hard Way . " Even Jeff Jarrett ’ s run @-@ in couldn ’ t get a notable rise out of the crowd . Not bad and not great . " However , he stated that it was " hard to ignore the grumblings about the main event in the tunnels and down Athol St. " He concluded his review by writing that the " card from a ringside experience perspective was hurt by the ordinary main event , turning a possibly good and memorable show into an average one . " Wade Keller of the Pro Wrestling Torch Newsletter rated the matches out of five stars in his review of the show . For the main event , Keller gave it 3 1 / 4 stars and said it was a " good match " and that the " booking made sense within TNA 's style , but it 's yet another example of a match ending only after obvious outside interference . " As for the Styles versus Trigg bout , Keller did not give it a rating and did not comment on the quality of the match , instead focused on the feed interruption , stating that the " brief image of the naked women will be talked about for years as one of the funniest blunders on pro wrestling PPV , and not so funny for parents watching with their kids . " He gave the World Tag Team Championship match 1 1 / 4 stars calling it a " basic match " with " nothing wrong with it " despite the highpoints being late " it felt like a match to cool down the crowd after the ladder match " with another finish that conditioned " viewers to never consider a pinfall attempt a serious potential finish until there 's some sort of interference - such as powder from Jackie this time . " The Ladder of Love match was given 3 3 / 4 stars with Keller saying it was a " really good ladder match " with the competitors managing to " really innovate and not rely on the standard ladder spots we 've seen so often before " but that the finish " made no sense that Val would save Lethal seconds before turning on him . It 's one of those things that 's done for drama that doesn 't seem the least bit realistic . " Lastly , Keller discussed the X Division Championship match , which he gave 2 1 / 2 stars and also commented on Bashir 's entrance music calling it " among the most scummy promoting tactics in history " believing it was " beyond words how absolutely disgusting it is . " Also saying that it is " the type of thing that should put a risk their deals with Spike TV and InDemand , it 's that bad . Coming three days after the anniversary makes it worse , but it really isn 't acceptable on any day . " = = Aftermath = = Since Sting announced that he would challenge for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship at Bound for Glory IV and Samoa Joe retained the championship at No Surrender , TNA scheduled the two to fight for the title . This feud was connected to the company wide narrative involving the rivalry between wrestling veterans and the next generation of wrestlers . Also connected to that narrative was the feud between Jeff Jarrett and Kurt Angle . Jarrett and Angle became involved after Jarrett accused the veterans in the company of trying to keep the next generation from being stars and refusing to retire . Angle challenged Jarrett to a match at Bound for Glory IV for these comments and for Jarrett assaulting him with a guitar at No Surrender . Jarrett refused at first but later accepted the challenge on the September 25 episode of Impact ! . Mick Foley was announced as the Special Ringside Enforcer for the Jarrett versus Angle bout on the October 2 Impact ! episode . Meanwhile , Sting and Joe signed the contract for their encounter on the October 9 episode of Impact ! , with the stipulation added that there would be no rematch between the two after the event . Sting went on to win the title at the show , while Jarrett defeated Angle . A.J. Styles , Booker T , and Christian Cage all went on to feud heading into Bound for Glory IV . This bout was also connected to the above narrative , with Cage being neutral in the storyline and both camps trying to recruit him to their group . After various miscommunications in matches involving the three wrestlers , Management Director Jim Cornette announced Booker T versus Styles with Cage as Special Guest Referee as the main event of the October 9 episode of Impact ! to settle the issue . Styles defeated Booker T during the show , with Cage assaulting both wrestlers after the contest . Cornette then promoted a Three Way match between the three at Bound for Glory . Booker T won the contest at the event . The TNA World Tag Team Championship went on to be defended in a Four Way Tag Team Monster 's Ball match by Beer Money , Inc . ( James Storm and Robert Roode ) against the team of Abyss and Matt Morgan , The Latin American Xchange ( Hernandez and Homicide ; LAX ) , and Team 3D ( Brother Devon and Brother Ray ) . On the September 18 episode of Impact ! , Matt Morgan announced that TNA were holding a Tag Team Invitational Tournament at Bound for Glory and that he had signed up himself and his partner Abyss for the contest . Team 3D interrupted Morgan and revealed that they were also involved in the tournament . On the same telecast , Beer Money , Inc. and Jacqueline assaulted Héctor Guerrero . On the September 25 episode of Impact ! , Team 3D announced that the match between them and the team of Morgan and Abyss was made a Monster 's Ball match . On the same telecast , Beer Money , Inc. defeated LAX in a bout with the stipulation that the losing team lost their manager . This meant that Guerrero could no longer manage LAX in the storyline . On the October 2 episode of Impact ! , Management Director Jim Cornette announced that the originally scheduled tournament was cancelled . Instead , TNA was holding a Four Way Tag Team Monster 's Ball match for the TNA World Tag Team Championship between the above teams at Bound for Glory IV . TNA issued a press release announcing that Steve McMichael would be the Special Guest Referee for this match after it was promoted for the event . Beer Money , Inc. retained the championship during the telecast . The TNA X Division Championship was defended by Sheik Abdul Bashir against Consequences Creed at Bound for Glory IV . On the October 9 episode of Impact ! , Creed won a Four Way match to challenge Bashir for the title at Bound for Glory , defeating Sonjay Dutt , Williams , and Jay Lethal in the process . Bashir retained the title at the event . During the No Surrender telecast , the commentators Mike Tenay and Don West announced that LAX 's manager Salinas had been attacked backstage and was sent to the hospital . In reality , Salinas had quit the company and decided against appearing at No Surrender . = = Results = =
= These Words = " These Words " ( also known as " These Words ( I Love You , I Love You ) " ) is a song by Natasha Bedingfield . It was written by Steve Kipner , Andrew Frampton , Wayne Wilkins and Bedingfield for her 2004 debut album , Unwritten . The song is the album 's opening track , and was released as its second single . " These Words " details Bedingfield 's lack of inspiration and her reaction to pressure from her record label to produce a hit song . " These Words " was released as the album 's second international single and as the lead single in North America . The single sold well , reached the top forty worldwide , and topped the charts in both Ireland and the United Kingdom . It was certified platinum in the United States and Australia , and was nominated for " Best British Single " at the 2005 BRIT Awards . The song was very well received by music critics , and was frequently cited as a highlight of the album . = = Background and writing = = Bedingfield began recording her debut album in mid @-@ 2003 , following the signing of a recording contract with Sony BMG earlier that year . She was determined not to be shaped into " some music biz pigeonhole " and wanted to write songs that were " organic , different and real " . Bedingfield began collaborating with Steve Kipner , Andrew Frampton and Wayne Wilkins in London and Los Angeles , but their sessions were largely unproductive due to Bedingfield 's writer 's block and the pressure that she felt to produce a hit song . Frustrated , she began to sing " I love you , I love you , I love you " over and over . She was at " wit 's end and just wanted to say what I meant in a simple way , without using all those flowery words . " The line that Bedingfield sang out of frustration became the song 's hook and its subject matter inspired by her real life difficulty writing a love song . = = Critical reception = = " These Words " was generally very well received by contemporary pop music critics . PlayLouder 's Daniel Robson described the song as a " compelling chunk of popply joy " , while Allmusic wrote that the track was " near @-@ perfect " and merged " the rhythms and flavors of hip @-@ hop and R & B with unique melodies and Bedingfield 's vocal confidence " . The BBC called it a " classic love song " with a " really catchy tune " , and commented that it was worthy of reaching number one on the UK singles chart . Josh Timmermann of Stylus Magazine called it " best single so far this year " , and David Welsh of musicOMH.com wrote that the song had a " virally @-@ infectious chorus and ( relatively ) clever wordplay . " Stylus Magazine 's Colin Cooper ranked " These Words " at number thirteen on his list of the Top 20 Singles of 2004 and About.com ranked the song at number five on its list of the Top 10 Most Memorable Pop Song Lyrics 2005 . The website wrote that Bedingfield 's naming of the famous poets George Byron , Percy Bysshe Shelley , and John Keats in the song enables the listener to " almost hear the classic poetry over a drum machine " as Bedingfield sings . = = Chart performance = = " These Words " entered the UK Singles Chart on 22 August 2004 at number one , remaining on the chart for thirteen weeks . It maintained the number one position for two weeks . In the United Kingdom , Bedingfield and her brother , pop @-@ singer Daniel Bedingfield , became the first sister and brother to achieve separate number one singles . The track also charted at number one in Ireland , remaining on the singles chart for seventeen weeks . Across Europe , " These Words " was largely successful , reaching number one in Poland , number two in Austria , Germany and Norway , and the top ten in the Netherlands , Sweden and Switzerland . Elsewhere , the song peaked within the top ten on the majority of the charts it entered . In Australia , " These Words " debuted at number six and reached a peak position of number five three weeks later . On the 2004 ARIA end of the year chart , the song charted at number forty @-@ nine and was certified gold . In New Zealand the single performed stronger , reaching number two on the singles chart . " These Words " performed moderately well in North America . The single debuted at number one hundred on the Billboard Hot 100 on 2 July 2005 and reached a peak position at number seventeen , remaining on the chart for twenty weeks . The song did well on pop @-@ oriented charts , reaching number nine on the Pop 100 and number ten on the Top 40 Mainstream . " These Words " was helped on the Hot 100 by its strong digital downloads , peaking at number seven on the Hot Digital Songs chart . The single had crossover success in the dance charts , reaching number one on the Hot Dance Airplay chart and number thirty @-@ five on the Hot Dance Club Play chart . = = Music videos = = Two music videos were produced for the international and North American markets . = = = International version = = = The song 's international music video was directed by Scott Lyon and Sophie Muller and premiered in August 2004 . The video features several sequences . It opens with Bedingfield sitting at a table in her Spanish villa , in Málaga , frustrated by her inability to find inspiration to write a song , and she cuts the flowers off by the window . She is then seen walking through the villa in colorful outfits , and sitting by the swimming pool , surrounded by dancing chairs , dancing radios , dancing books in the library , and multiple versions of herself . The video concludes with Bedingfield scribbling in her notebook on the roof of her villa . Her scribblings lead her boyfriend to the front of her home where she admits that she loves him and she goes to the balcony , asking him if her feelings are " okay " . = = = North American version = = = The North American music video was directed by Chris Milk and filmed in Rio de Janeiro , Brazil in March 2005 . The music video , however , was discarded by the record label , though this version won four Annual MVPA Awards . The video begins with Bedingfield waking up next to a boombox , dressing , brushing her teeth and leaving her home with the boombox . While performing on a beach in New York City , she kicks her boombox , which comes alive and begins to dance , and she leaves the beach and walks down the street . The video concludes with Bedingfield arriving back home to a house full of dancing boomboxes in the bedroom . An alternate version of the North American video was directed by Jim Gable using much of the footage from the original . The boomboxes featured in the video are animated to look like drawings and a performance by Bedingfield in a room with flowing white drapery has been added . The video debuted in June 2005 and proved successful on U.S. video @-@ chart programs . It debuted on MTV 's Total Request Live on 28 June 2005 at number ten and remained on the program for a total of six days . VH1 ranked the video at number twenty @-@ two on its Top 40 Videos of 2005 countdown . = = Formats and track listings = = = = Personnel = = The following people contributed to " These Words " . = = Charts = = = = Certifications = = = = Release history = =
= Kevin Grady = Kevin Lee Grady , Jr . ( born June 24 , 1986 ) is a former American football running back . He completed his athletic eligibility for the Michigan Wolverines football team during the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season . He began his Michigan career as a tailback but was converted to fullback . He has also played for the Chicago Slaughter of the Indoor Football League . In high school , he led his team to consecutive Michigan High School Athletic Association Championships . Along the way , he established numerous Michigan High School Athletic Association career football rushing records while playing for East Grand Rapids High School , many of which still stand . He was also widely @-@ regarded as the best junior class high school football player in the nation during the 2003 high school football season . At the University of Michigan , he became the school 's first athlete to graduate high school a semester early in order to participate in Spring football practice . He was Mike Hart 's backup at tailback during his first two years at Michigan . He missed his third year due to injury and returned to play fullback during his final two years of eligibility . = = High school career = = Grady was born in Grand Rapids , Michigan . During high school , Grady was a four @-@ year varsity starter at East Grand Rapids High School . There he earned many honors and achievements , including being named All @-@ State and the title of EA Sports junior player of the year . He led East Grand Rapids to consecutive state Division 3 football championships . He was one of the top high school running backs in the nation in high school on par with Jonathan Stewart , Rashard Mendenhall , Marlon Lucky , Antone Smith and Jamaal Charles . He was a 5 @-@ star blue chip recruit ranked among the top 5 running backs in the nation according to both Scout.com and Rivals.com. He holds the following Michigan High School Athletic Association records : Most career rushing yards ( 8 @,@ 431 ) Most career touchdowns ( 151 ) Most career points ( 924 ) Most career rushing attempts ( 1 @,@ 154 ) He formerly held the following record : Most consecutive games with 100 yards rushing ( 24 ) Grady did not consider any other schools en route to signing with Michigan . = = College career = = Although football players had been enrolling early at Bowl Championship Series ( BCS ) programs for several years , Grady was the first University of Michigan football player to do so . In subsequent years several other players followed his lead , including Justin Boren and Carlos Brown the following year . By graduating high school early , he was able to attend the 2005 Rose Bowl and participate in 2005 Spring football practice . = = = Freshman year ( 2005 ) = = = As a freshman in 2005 , Grady rushed 121 times for 483 yards and five touchdowns as a backup and injury replacement for starter Mike Hart , who only played in eight games due to injuries . Grady also caught 14 passes for 113 yards receiving . One of his touchdowns gave Michigan an 18 – 12 lead in the third quarter of the Ohio State game . In the end Grady made two starts at tailback , and was one of only six freshman to have played for the 2005 Michigan Wolverines football team . = = = Sophomore year ( 2006 ) = = = Based on his performance during 2006 spring practice , Grady received the John F. Maulbetsch Award . In 2006 , he entered the season as Hart 's primary backup , ahead of senior Jerome Jackson , freshmen Brandon Minor , and Carlos Brown on the depth chart . On opening day , Grady 's five carries were second on the team , but some questioned why his total was so low . As the season progressed , he remained second on the depth chart , seeing limited playing time due to injuries as well as starter Mike Hart being healthy and starting all thirteen games . Grady rushed for 187 yards and three touchdowns on 55 carries and added one reception for eight yards . His net rushing yards from scrimmage ranked fourth on the 2006 Michigan Wolverines football team . = = = Junior year ( 2007 ) = = = Prior to spring football practice in 2007 , Grady switched his jersey number from 3 to 24 , his high school number and the day on which he was born . Later that year he was converted to fullback . During a scrimmage in early April , Grady tore his anterior cruciate ligament . On April 16 , 2007 , he had surgery . He would miss the entire 2007 season recovering from his injuries ; by making use of a redshirt year , however , he was able to not use up a year of eligibility . = = = Junior ( redshirt ) year ( 2008 ) = = = In 2008 , Rich Rodriguez replaced Lloyd Carr as head coach . During spring football , Grady was still recovering from injuries . In July 2008 , Grady was pulled over while driving in Wyoming , Michigan with a blood alcohol content of .281 , more than three times the state 's legal limit . He originally pleaded not guilty . Grady began the 2008 season on suspension from the 2008 Wolverines , while Brown , Minor and freshmen Michael Shaw and Sam McGuffie fought for time . During the season , Grady pleaded guilty to misdemeanor drunken driving . In early August , it appeared that juniors Brown and Minor would vie for the starting job because of Grady 's suspension . With both Brown and Minor nursing injuries , Sam McGuffie was tentatively penciled into the starting position on the depth chart . In the end , Grady only accumulated 33 yards rushing for the season . = = = Senior ( redshirt ) year ( 2009 ) = = = In the spring of 2009 , Grady was accused by court officials of not adhering to his probation reporting requirements and not meeting the 24 hours of community service requirement of his probation , among other violations . As a result , he was jailed for seven days in May 2009 . Kevin 's brother , Kelvin Grady , was a point guard on the Michigan Wolverines men 's basketball team before transferring to the Michigan football team after the 2008 – 09 season . On October 17 , 2009 , the two became the first pair of brothers to score a touchdown in the same game for Michigan as far as could be told by the school 's record books . Over the course of the season , Kevin started three games at fullback for the 2009 Wolverines . He compiled 80 yards rushing on 10 carries bringing his career total to 783 yards on 200 carries and 10 touchdowns . He also made 5 receptions bringing his career total to 20 for 150 yards . Grady was not selected in the 2010 NFL Draft and was not an immediate undrafted free agent . However , only 17 % of the top 100 high school football players from 2003 – 05 were selected in the NFL Draft . = = Personal = = On November 26 , 2010 , Grady was arrested and charged again for driving under the influence after recording a .3 blood @-@ alcohol level on a breathalyzer test . He is required to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings three times a week . On December 31 , 2010 , the Indoor Football League announced that the Chicago Slaughter had signed Grady . On May 11 , 2011 , four days after scoring 6 touchdowns for the Slaughter , Grady was sentenced to twenty days in jail for his November drunk driving offense . The sentence included two years of probation , 80 hours of community service , random drug tests , confinement to the state of Michigan until given leave by the judge , and 180 days of car immobilization . In addition , the sentence resulted in him being dropped from the Slaughter .
= Decltype = In the C + + programming language , decltype is a keyword used to query the type of an expression . Introduced in C + + 11 , its primary intended use is in generic programming , where it is often difficult , or even impossible , to express types that depend on template parameters . As generic programming techniques became increasingly popular throughout the 1990s , the need for a type @-@ deduction mechanism was recognized . Many compiler vendors implemented their own versions of the operator , typically called typeof , and some portable implementations with limited functionality , based on existing language features were developed . In 2002 , Bjarne Stroustrup proposed that a standardized version of the operator be added to the C + + language , and suggested the name " decltype " , to reflect that the operator would yield the " declared type " of an expression . decltype 's semantics were designed to cater to both generic library writers and novice programmers . In general , the deduced type matches the type of the object or function exactly as declared in the source code . Like the sizeof operator , decltype 's operand is not evaluated . = = Motivation = = With the introduction of templates into the C + + programming language , and the advent of generic programming techniques pioneered by the Standard Template Library , the need for a mechanism for obtaining the type of an expression , commonly referred to as typeof , was recognized . In generic programming , it is often difficult or impossible to express types that depend on template parameters , in particular the return type of function template instantiations . Many vendors provide the typeof operator as a compiler extension . As early as 1997 , before C + + was fully standardized , Brian Parker proposed a portable solution based on the sizeof operator . His work was expanded on by Bill Gibbons , who concluded that the technique had several limitations and was generally less powerful than an actual typeof mechanism . In an October 2000 article of Dr. Dobb 's Journal , Andrei Alexandrescu remarked that " [ h ] aving a typeof would make much template code easier to write and understand . " He also noted that " typeof and sizeof share the same backend , because sizeof has to compute the type anyway . " Andrew Koenig and Barbara E. Moo also recognized the usefulness of a built @-@ in typeof facility , with the caveat that " using it often invites subtle programming errors , and there are some problems that it cannot solve . " They characterized the use of type conventions , like the typedefs provided by the Standard Template Library , as a more powerful and general technique . However , Steve Dewhurst argued that such conventions are " costly to design and promulgate " , and that it would be " much easier to ... simply extract the type of the expression . " In a 2011 article on C + + 0x , Koenig and Moo predicted that " decltype will be widely used to make everyday programs easier to write . " In 2002 , Bjarne Stroustrup suggested extending the C + + language with mechanisms for querying the type of an expression , and initializing objects without specifying the type . Stroustrup observed that the reference @-@ dropping semantics offered by the typeof operator provided by the GCC and EDG compilers could be problematic . Conversely , an operator returning a reference type based on the lvalue @-@ ness of the expression was deemed too confusing . The initial proposal to the C + + standards committee outlined a combination of the two variants ; the operator would return a reference type only if the declared type of the expression included a reference . To emphasize that the deduced type would reflect the " declared type " of the expression , the operator was proposed to be named decltype . One of the cited main motivations for the decltype proposal was the ability to write perfect forwarding function templates . It is sometimes desirable to write a generic forwarding function that returns the same type as the wrapped function , regardless of the type it is instantiated with . Without decltype , it is not generally possible to accomplish this . An example , which also utilizes the trailing @-@ return @-@ type : decltype is essential here because it preserves the information about whether the wrapped function returns a reference type . = = Semantics = = Similarly to the sizeof operator , the operand of decltype is unevaluated . Informally , the type returned by decltype ( e ) is deduced as follows : If the expression e refers to a variable in local or namespace scope , a static member variable or a function parameter , then the result is that variable 's or parameter 's declared type Otherwise , if e is an lvalue , decltype ( e ) is T & , where T is the type of e ; if e is an xvalue , the result is T & & ; otherwise , e is a prvalue and the result is T. These semantics were designed to fulfill the needs of generic library writers , while at the same time being intuitive for novice programmers , because the return type of decltype always matches the type of the object or function exactly as declared in the source code . More formally , Rule 1 applies to unparenthesized id @-@ expressions and class member access expressions . Example : The reason for the difference between the latter two invocations of decltype is that the parenthesized expression ( a- > x ) is neither an id @-@ expression nor a member access expression , and therefore does not denote a named object . Because the expression is an lvalue , its deduced type is " reference to the type of the expression " , or const double & . In December 2008 , a concern was raised to the committee by Jaakko Järvi over the inability to use decltype to form a qualified @-@ id , which is inconsistent with the intent that decltype ( e ) should be treated " as if it were a typedef @-@ name " . While commenting on the formal Committee Draft for C + + 0x , the Japanese ISO member body noted that " a scope operator ( : : ) cannot be applied to decltype , but it should be . It would be useful in the case to obtain member type ( nested @-@ type ) from an instance as follows " : This , and similar issues pertaining to the wording inhibiting the use of decltype in the declaration of a derived class and in a destructor call , were addressed by David Vandevoorde , and voted into the working paper in March 2010 . = = Availability = = decltype is included in the C + + Language Standard since C + + 11 . It is provided by a number of compilers as an extension . Microsoft 's Visual C + + 2010 and later compilers provide a decltype type specifier that closely mimics the semantics as described in the standards committee proposal . It can be used with both managed and native code . The documentation states that it is " useful primarily to developers who write template libraries . " decltype was added to the mainline of the GCC C + + compiler in version 4 @.@ 3 , released on March 5 , 2008 @.@ decltype is also present in Codegear 's C + + Builder 2009 , the Intel C + + Compiler , and Clang .
= Grey heron = The grey heron ( Ardea cinerea ) is a long @-@ legged predatory wading bird of the heron family , Ardeidae , native throughout temperate Europe and Asia and also parts of Africa . It is resident in much of its range , but some populations from the more northern parts migrate southwards in autumn . A bird of wetland areas , it can be seen around lakes , rivers , ponds , marshes and on the sea coast . It feeds mostly on aquatic creatures which it catches after standing stationary beside or in the water or stalking its prey through the shallows . Standing up to a metre tall , adults weigh from 1 to 2 kg ( 2 @.@ 2 to 4 @.@ 4 lb ) . They have a white head and neck with a broad black stripe that extends from the eye to the black crest . The body and wings are grey above and the underparts are greyish @-@ white , with some black on the flanks . The long , sharply pointed beak is pinkish @-@ yellow and the legs are brown . The birds breed colonially in spring in " heronries " , usually building their nests high in trees . A clutch of usually three to five bluish @-@ green eggs is laid . Both birds incubate the eggs for a period of about 25 days , and then both feed the chicks , which fledge when seven or eight weeks old . Many juveniles do not survive their first winter , but if they do , they can expect to live for about five years . In Ancient Egypt , the deity Bennu was depicted as a heron in New Kingdom artwork . In Ancient Rome , the heron was a bird of divination . Roast heron was once a specially @-@ prized dish ; when George Neville became Archbishop of York in 1465 , four hundred herons were served to the guests . = = Description = = The grey heron is a large bird , standing up to 100 cm ( 39 in ) tall and measuring 84 – 102 cm ( 33 – 40 in ) long with a 155 – 195 cm ( 61 – 77 in ) wingspan . The body weight can range from 1 @.@ 02 – 2 @.@ 08 kg ( 2 @.@ 2 – 4 @.@ 6 lb ) . The plumage is largely ashy @-@ grey above , and greyish @-@ white below with some black on the flanks . Adults have the head and neck white with a broad black supercilium that terminates in the slender , dangling crest , and bluish @-@ black streaks on the front of the neck . The scapular feathers are elongated and the feathers at the base of the neck are also somewhat elongated . Immature birds lack the dark stripe on the head and are generally duller in appearance than adults , with a grey head and neck , and a small , dark grey crest . The pinkish @-@ yellow beak is long , straight and powerful , and is brighter in colour in breeding adults . The iris is yellow and the legs are brown and very long . The main call is a loud croaking " fraaank " , but a variety of guttural and raucous noises are heard at the breeding colony . The male uses an advertisement call to encourage a female to join him at the nest , and both sexes use various greeting calls after a pair bond has been established . A loud , harsh " schaah " is used by the male in driving other birds from the vicinity of the nest and a soft " gogogo " expresses anxiety , as when a predator is nearby or a human walks past the colony . The chicks utter loud chattering or ticking noises . = = Taxonomy and evolution = = Herons are a fairly ancient lineage and first appeared in the fossil record in the Paleogene period ; very few fossil herons have been found however . By seven million years ago ( the late Miocene ) , birds closely resembling modern forms and attributable to modern genera had appeared . Herons are members of the family Ardeidae , and the majority of extant species are in the subfamily Ardeinae and known as true or typical herons . This subfamily includes the herons and egrets , the green herons , the pond herons , the night herons and a few other species . The grey heron belongs in this subfamily and is placed in the genus Ardea , which also includes the cattle egret and the great egret . The grey heron was first described in 1758 by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus who gave it the name Ardea cinerea . The scientific name comes from Latin ardea " heron " , and cinerea , " ash @-@ grey " ( from cineris ashes ) . Four subspecies are recognised : A. c. cinerea – Linnaeus , 1758 : nominate , found in Europe , Africa , western Asia A. c. jouyi – Clark , 1907 : found in eastern Asia A. c. firasa – Hartert , 1917 : found in Madagascar A. c. monicae – Jouanin & Roux , 1963 : found on islands off Banc d 'Arguin , Mauritania . It is closely related and similar to the North American great blue heron ( Ardea herodias ) , which differs in being larger , and having chestnut @-@ brown flanks and thighs , and to the cocoi heron ( Ardea cocoi ) from South America that forms a superspecies with . Some authorities believe that the subspecies A. c. monicae should be considered a separate species . It has been known to hybridise with the great egret ( Ardea alba ) , the little egret ( Egretta garzetta ) , the great blue heron and the purple heron ( Ardea purpurea ) . The Australian white @-@ faced heron is often incorrectly called a grey heron . In Ireland , the grey heron is often colloquially called a " crane " . = = Distribution and habitat = = The grey heron has an extensive range throughout most of the Palearctic ecozone . The range of the nominate subspecies A. c. cinerea extends to 70 ° North in Norway and 66 ° North in Sweden , but otherwise its northerly limit is around 60 ° North across the rest of Europe and Asia eastwards as far as the Ural Mountains . To the south , its range extends to northern Spain , France , central Italy , the Balkans , the Caucasus , Iraq , Iran , India and Myanmar ( Burma ) . It is also present in Africa south of the Sahara Desert , the Canary Islands , Morocco , Algeria , Tunisia and many of the Mediterranean Islands . It is replaced by A. c. jouyi in eastern Siberia , Mongolia , eastern China , Hainan , Japan and Taiwan . In Madagascar and the Aldabra Islands , the subspecies A. c. firasa is found , while the subspecies A. c. monicae is restricted to Mauritania and offshore islands . Over much of its range , the grey heron is resident , but birds from the more northerly parts of Europe migrate southwards , some remaining in central and southern Europe , others travelling on to Africa south of the Sahara Desert . Within its range , the grey heron can be found anywhere with suitable watery habitat that can supply its food . The water body needs to be either shallow enough , or have a shelving margin in which it can wade . Although most common in the lowlands it also occurs in mountain tarns , lakes , reservoirs , large and small rivers , marshes , ponds , ditches , flooded areas , coastal lagoons , estuaries and the sea shore . It sometimes forages away from water in pasture , and it has been recorded in desert areas , hunting for beetles and lizards . Breeding colonies are usually near feeding areas but exceptionally may be up to 8 kilometres ( 5 mi ) away , and birds sometimes forage as much as 20 kilometres ( 12 mi ) from the nesting site . = = Behavior = = The grey heron has a slow flight , with its long neck retracted ( S @-@ shaped ) . This is characteristic of herons and bitterns , and distinguishes them from storks , cranes , and spoonbills , which extend their necks . It flies with slow wing @-@ beats and sometimes glides for short distances . It sometimes soars , circling to considerable heights , but not as often as the stork . In spring , and occasionally in autumn , birds may soar high above the heronry and chase each other , undertake aerial manoeuvres or swoop down towards the ground . The birds often perch in trees , but spend much time on the ground , striding about or standing still for long periods with an upright stance , often on a single leg . = = = Diet and feeding = = = Fish , amphibians , small mammals and insects are taken in shallow water with the heron 's long bill . It has also been observed catching and killing juvenile birds such as ducklings , and occasionally takes birds up to the size of a water rail . It may stand motionless in the shallows , or on a rock or sandbank beside the water , waiting for prey to come within striking distance . Alternatively , it moves slowly and stealthily through the water with its body less upright than when at rest and its neck curved in an " S " . It is able to straighten its neck and strike with its bill with great rapidity . Small fish are swallowed head first , and larger prey and eels are carried to the shore where they are subdued by being beaten on the ground or stabbed by the bill . They are then swallowed , or have hunks of flesh torn off . The bird regurgitates pellets of indigestible material such as fur , bones and the chitinous remains of insects . The main periods of hunting are around dawn and dusk , but it is also active at other times of day . At night it roosts in trees or on cliffs , where it tends to be gregarious . = = = Breeding = = = This species breeds in colonies known as heronries , usually in high trees close to lakes , the seashore or other wetlands . Other sites are sometimes chosen , and these include low trees and bushes , bramble patches , reed beds , heather clumps and cliff ledges . The same nest is used year after year until blown down ; it starts as a small platform of sticks but expands into a bulky nest as more material is added in subsequent years . It may be lined with smaller twigs , strands of root or dead grasses , and in reed beds , it is built from dead reeds . The male usually collects the material while the female constructs the nest . Breeding activities take place between February and June . When a bird arrives at the nest , a greeting ceremony occurs in which each partner raises and lowers its wings and plumes . In continental Europe , and elsewhere , nesting colonies sometimes include nests of the purple heron and other heron species . Courtship involves the male calling from the chosen nesting site . On the arrival of the female , both birds participate in a stretching ceremony , in which each bird extends its neck vertically before bringing it backwards and downwards with the bill remaining vertical , simultaneously flexing its legs , before returning to its normal stance . The snapping ceremony is another behaviour where the neck is extended forward , the head is lowered to the level of the feet and the mandibles are vigorously snapped together . This may be repeated twenty to forty times . When the pairing is settled , the birds may caress each other by attending to the other bird 's plumage . The male may then offer the female a stick which she incorporates into the nest . At this , the male becomes excited , further preening the female and copulation takes place . The clutch of eggs usually numbers three to five , though as few as two and as many as seven eggs have been recorded . The eggs have a matt surface and are greenish @-@ blue , averaging 60 mm × 43 mm ( 2 @.@ 36 in × 1 @.@ 69 in ) . The eggs are normally laid at two @-@ day intervals and incubation usually starts after the first or second egg has been laid . Both birds take part in incubation and the period lasts for about twenty @-@ five days . Both parents bring food for the young . At first the chicks seize the adult 's bill from the side and extract regurgitated food from it . Later the adult disgorges the food at the nest and the chicks squabble for possession . They fledge at seven to eight weeks . There is usually a single generation each year , but two broods have been recorded . The oldest recorded bird lived for twenty @-@ three years but the average life expectancy in the wild is about five years . Only about a third of juveniles survive into their second year , many falling victim to predation . = = = City life = = = Grey herons have the ability to live in cities where habitats and nesting space are available . In the Netherlands , the grey heron has established itself over the past decades in great numbers in urban environments . In cities such as Amsterdam , they are ever present and well adapted to modern city life . They hunt as usual , but also visit street markets and snackbars . Some individuals make use of people feeding them at their homes or share the catch of recreational fishermen . Similar behaviour on a smaller scale has been reported in Ireland . Garden ponds stocked with ornamental fish are attractive to herons , and may provide young birds with a learning opportunity on how to catch easy prey . Herons have been observed visiting water enclosures in zoos , such as spaces for penguins , otters , pelicans , and seals , and taking food meant for the animals on display . = = Predators and parasites = = Being large birds with powerful beaks , grey herons have few predators as adults , but the eggs and young are more vulnerable . The adult birds do not usually leave the nest unattended , but may be lured away by marauding crows or kites . A dead grey heron found in the Pyrenees is thought to have been killed by an otter . The bird may have been weakened by harsh winter weather causing scarcity of its prey . A study performed by Sitko and Heneberg in the Czech Republic between 1962 and 2013 suggested that central European grey herons host 29 species of parasitic worms . The dominant species consisted of Apharyngostrigea cornu ( 67 % prevalence ) , Posthodiplostomum cuticola ( 41 % prevalence ) , Echinochasmus beleocephalus ( 39 % prevalence ) , Uroproctepisthmium bursicola ( 36 % prevalence ) , Neogryporhynchus cheilancristrotus ( 31 % prevalence ) , Desmidocercella numidica ( 29 % prevalence ) and Bilharziella polonica ( 5 % prevalence ) . Juvenile grey herons were shown to host fewer species , but the intensity of infection was higher in the juveniles than in the adult herons . Of the digenean flatworms found in central European grey herons , 52 % of the species likely infected their definitive hosts outside central Europe itself , in the pre @-@ migratory , migratory , or wintering quarters , despite the fact that a substantial proportion of grey herons do not migrate to the south . = = In human culture = = In Ancient Egypt , the bird deity Bennu , associated with the sun , creation , and rebirth , was depicted as a heron in New Kingdom artwork . In Ancient Rome , the heron was a bird of divination that gave an augury ( sign of a coming event ) by its call , like the raven , stork , and owl . Roast heron was once a specially @-@ prized dish in Britain for special occasions such as state banquets . For the appointment of George Neville as Archbishop of York in 1465 , four hundred herons were served to the guests . Young birds were still being shot and eaten in Romney Marsh in 1896 . Two grey herons feature in a stained glass window of the church in Selborne , Hampshire . The English surnames Earnshaw , Hernshaw , Herne , and Heron all derive from the heron , the suffix -shaw meaning a wood , referring to a place where herons nested .
= Decipherment of rongorongo = There have been numerous attempts to decipher the rongorongo script of Easter Island since its discovery in the late nineteenth century . As with most undeciphered scripts , many of the proposals have been fanciful . Apart from a portion of one tablet which has been shown to deal with a lunar calendar , none of the texts are understood , and even the calendar cannot actually be read . There are three serious obstacles to decipherment : the small number of remaining texts , comprising only 15 @,@ 000 legible glyphs ; the lack of context in which to interpret the texts , such as illustrations or parallels to texts which can be read ; and the fact that the modern Rapanui language is heavily mixed with Tahitian and is unlikely to closely reflect the language of the tablets — especially if they record a specialized register such as incantations — while the few remaining examples of the old language are heavily restricted in genre and may not correspond well to the tablets either . Since a proposal by Butinov and Knorozov in the 1950s , the majority of philologists , linguists and cultural historians have taken the line that rongorongo was not true writing but proto @-@ writing , that is , an ideographic- and rebus @-@ based mnemonic device , such as the Dongba script of the Nakhi people , which would in all likelihood make it impossible to decipher . This skepticism is justified not only by the failure of the numerous attempts at decipherment , but by the extreme rarity of independent writing systems around the world . Of those who have attempted to decipher rongorongo as a true writing system , the vast majority have assumed it was logographic , a few that it was syllabic or mixed . Statistically it appears to have been compatible with neither a pure logography nor a pure syllabary . The topic of the texts is unknown ; various investigators have speculated they cover genealogy , navigation , astronomy , or agriculture . Oral history suggests that only a small elite were ever literate , and that the tablets were considered sacred . = = Accounts from Easter Island = = In the late 19th century , within a few years to decades of the destruction of Easter Island society by slave raiding and introduced epidemics , two amateur investigators recorded readings and recitations of rongorongo tablets by Easter Islanders . Both accounts were compromised at best , and are often taken to be worthless , but they are the only accounts from people who may have been familiar with the script first @-@ hand . = = = Jaussen = = = In 1868 the Bishop of Tahiti , Florentin @-@ Étienne Jaussen , received a gift from recent converts on Easter Island : a long cord of human hair wound around a discarded rongorongo tablet . He immediately recognized the importance of the tablet , and asked Father Hippolyte Roussel on Easter Island to collect more tablets and to find islanders capable of reading them . Roussel was able to acquire only a few additional tablets , and he could find no @-@ one to read them , but the next year in Tahiti Jaussen found a laborer from Easter Island , Metoro Tau ‘ a Ure , who was said to know the inscriptions " by heart " . Sometime between 1869 and 1874 , Jaussen worked with Metoro to decipher four of the tablets in his possession : A Tahua , B Aruku kurenga , C Mamari , and E Keiti . A list of the glyphs they identified was published posthumously , along with a complete account of the chants for A and B. This is the famous Jaussen list . Though at first taken for a Rosetta Stone of rongorongo , it has not led to an understanding of the script . It has been criticized for , among other inadequacies , glossing five glyphs as " porcelain " , a material not found on Easter Island . However , this is a mistranslation : Jaussen glossed the five glyphs as porcelaine , French for both " cowrie " and the cowrie @-@ like Chinese ceramic which is called porcelain in English . Jaussen 's Rapanui gloss , pure , means specifically " cowrie " . Almost a century later , Thomas Barthel published some of Jaussen 's notes . He compared Metoro 's chants with parallel passages in other tablets and discovered that Metoro had read the lines of Keiti forwards on the reverse but backwards on the obverse . Jacques Guy found that Metoro had also read the lunar calendar in Mamari backwards , and failed to recognize the " very obvious " pictogram of the full moon within it , demonstrating a lack of any understanding of the contents of the tablets . = = = Thomson = = = William J. Thomson , paymaster on the USS Mohican , spent twelve days on Easter Island from 19 December to 30 December 1886 , during which time he made an impressive number of observations , including some which are of interest for the decipherment of the rongorongo . = = = = Ancient calendar = = = = Among the ethnographic data Thomson collected were the names of the nights of the lunar month and of the months of the year . This is key to interpreting the single identifiable sequence of rongorongo , and is notable in that it contains thirteen months ; other sources mention only twelve . Métraux criticizes Thomson for translating Anakena as August when in 1869 Roussel identified it as July , and Barthel restricts his work to Métraux and Englert , because they are in agreement while " Thomson 's list is off by one month " . However , Guy calculated the dates of the new moon for years 1885 to 1887 and showed that Thomson 's list fit the phases of the moon for 1886 . He concluded that the ancient Rapanui used a lunisolar calendar with kotuti as its embolismic month ( its " leap month " ) , and that Thomson chanced to land on Easter Island in a year with a leap month . = = = = Ure Va ‘ e Iko 's recitations = = = = Thomson was told of an old man called Ure Va ‘ e Iko who " professes to have been under instructions in the art of hieroglyphic reading at the time of the Peruvian raids , and claims to understand most of the characters " . He had been the steward of King Nga ‘ ara , the last king said to have had knowledge of writing , and although he was not able to write himself , he knew many of the rongorongo chants and was able to read at least one memorized text . When Thomson plied him with gifts and money to read the two tablets he had purchased , Ure " declined most positively to ruin his chances for salvation by doing what his Christian instructors had forbidden " and finally fled . However , Thomson had taken photographs of Jaussen 's tablets when the USS Mohican was in Tahiti , and he eventually cajoled Ure into reading from those photographs . The English @-@ Tahitian landowner Alexander Salmon took down Ure 's dictation , which he later translated into English , for the following tablets : Salmon 's Rapanui was not fluent , and apart from Atua Matariri , which is almost entirely composed of proper names , his English translations do not match what he transcribed of Ure 's readings . The readings themselves , seemingly reliable although difficult to interpret at first , become clearly ridiculous towards the end . The last recitation , for instance , which has been accepted as a love song on the strength of Salmon 's English translation , is interspersed with Tahitian phrases , including words of European origin , such as " the French flag " ( te riva forani ) and " give money for revealing [ this ] " ( horoa moni e fahiti ) , which would not be expected on a pre @-@ contact text . The very title is a mixture of Rapanui and Tahitian : pohera ‘ a is Tahitian for " death " ; the Rapanui word is matenga . Ure was an unwilling informant : even with duress , Thomson was only able to gain his cooperation with " the cup that cheers " ( that is , rum ) : Finally [ Ure ] took to the hills with the determination to remain in hiding until after the departure of the Mohican . [ U ] nscrupulous strategy was the only resource after fair means had failed . [ When he ] sought the shelter of his own home on [ a ] rough night [ we ] took charge of the establishment . When he found escape impossible he became sullen , and refused to look at or touch a tablet [ but agreed to ] relate some of the ancient traditions . [ C ] ertain stimulants which had been provided for such an emergency were produced , and [ … ] as the night grew old and the narrator weary , he was included as the " cup that cheers " made its occasional rounds . [ A ] t an auspicious moment the photographs of the tablets owned by the bishop were produced for inspection . [ … ] The photographs were recognized immediately , and the appropriate legend related with fluency and without hesitation from beginning to end . Nonetheless , while no one has succeeded in correlating Ure 's readings with the rongorongo texts , they may yet have value for decipherment . The first two recitations , Apai and Atua Matariri , are not corrupted with Tahitian . The verses of Atua Matariri are of the form X ki ‘ ai ki roto Y , ka pû te Z " X , by mounting into Y , let Z come forth " , and when taken literally , they appear to be nonsense : " Moon , by mounting into Darkness , let Sun come forth " ( verse 25 ) , " Killing , by mounting into Stingray , let Shark come forth " ( verse 28 ) , " Stinging Fly , by mounting into Swarm , let Horsefly come forth " ( verse 16 ) . These verses have generally been interpreted as creation chants , with various beings begetting additional beings . However , they do not conform to Rapanui or other Polynesian creation mythology . Guy notes that the phrasing is similar to the way compound Chinese characters are described . For example , the composition of the Chinese character 銅 tóng " copper " may be described as " add 同 tóng to 金 jīn to make 銅 tóng " ( meaning " add Together to Metal to make Copper " ) , which is also nonsense when taken literally . He hypothesizes that the Atua Matariri chant which Ure had heard in his youth , although unconnected to the particular tablet for which he recited it , was a genuine rongorongo chant : A mnemonic which taught students how the glyphs were composed . = = Fanciful decipherments = = Since the late nineteenth century , there has been all manner of speculation about rongorongo . Most remained obscure , but a few attracted considerable attention . In 1892 the Australian pediatrician Alan Carroll published a fanciful translation , based on the idea that the texts were written by an extinct " Long @-@ Ear " population of Easter Island in a diverse mixture of Quechua and other languages of Peru and Mesoamerica . Perhaps due to the cost of casting special type for rongorongo , no method , analysis , or sound values of the individual glyphs were ever published . Carroll continued to publish short communications in Science of Man , the journal of the ( Royal ) Anthropological Society of Australasia until 1908 . Carroll had himself founded the society , which is " nowadays seen as forming part of the ' lunatic fringe ' . " In 1932 the Hungarian Vilmos Hevesy ( Guillaume de Hevesy ) published an article claiming a relationship between rongorongo and the Indus Valley script , based on superficial similarities of form . This was not a new idea , but was now presented to the French Academy of Inscriptions and Literature by the French Sinologist Paul Pelliot and picked up by the press . Due to the lack of an accessible rongorongo corpus for comparison , it was not apparent that several of the rongorongo glyphs illustrated in Hevesy 's publications were spurious . Despite the fact that both scripts were undeciphered ( as they are to this day ) , separated by half the world and half of history ( 19 @,@ 000 km ( 12 @,@ 000 mi ) and 4000 years ) , and had no known intermediate stages , Hevesy 's ideas were taken seriously enough in academic circles to prompt a 1934 Franco – Belgian expedition to Easter Island led by Lavachery and Métraux to debunk them ( Métraux 1939 ) . The Indus Valley connection was published as late as 1938 in such respected anthropological journals as Man . At least a score of decipherments have been claimed since then , none of which have been accepted by other rongorongo epigraphers . For instance , ethnographer Irina Fedorova published purported translations of the two St Petersburg tablets and portions of four others . More rigorous than most attempts , she restricts each glyph to a single logographic reading . However , the results make little sense as texts . For example , tablet P begins ( with each rongorongo ligature marked by a comma in the translation ) : he cut a rangi sugarcane , a tara yam , he cut lots of taro , of stalks ( ? ) , he cut a yam , he harvested , he cut a yam , he cut , he pulled up , he cut a honui , he cut a sugarcane , he cut , he harvested , he took , a kihi , he chose a kihi , he took a kihi … and continues in this vein to the end : he harvested a yam , a poporo , a calabash , he pulled up a yam , he cut , he cut one plant , he cut one plant , a yam , he cut a banana , he harvested a sugarcane , he cut a taro , he cut a kahu yam , a yam , a yam … The other texts are similar . For example , the Mamari calendar makes no mention of time or the moon in Fedorova 's account : a root , a root , a root , a root , a root , a root [ that is , a lot of roots ] , a tuber , he took , he cut a potato tuber , he dug up yam shoots , a yam tuber , a potato tuber , a tuber … which even Fedorova characterized as " worthy of a maniac " . Moreover , the allographs detected by Pozdniakov are given different readings by Fedorova , so that , for example , otherwise parallel texts repeatedly substitute the purported verb ma ‘ u " take " for the purported noun tonga " a kind of yam " . ( Pozdniakov has demonstrated that these are graphic variants of the same glyph . ) As it was , Fedorova 's catalog consisted of 130 glyphs ; Pozdniakov 's additional allography would have made her interpretation even more repetitive . Such extreme repetition is a problem with all attempts to read rongorongo as a logographic script . Many recent scholars are of the opinion that , while many researchers have made modest incremental contributions to the understanding of rongorongo , notably Kudrjavtsev et al . , Butinov and Knorozov , and Thomas Barthel , the attempts at actual decipherment , such as those of Fedorova here or of Fischer below , " are not accompanied by the least justification " . All fail the key test of decipherment : a meaningful application to novel texts and patterns . = = Harrison = = James Park Harrison , a council member of the Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland , noticed that lines Gr3 – 7 of the Small Santiago tablet featured a compound glyph , 380 @.@ 1 @.@ 3 ( a sitting figure 380 holding a rod 1 with a line of chevrons ( a garland ? ) 3 ) , repeated 31 times , each time followed by one to half a dozen glyphs before its next occurrence . He believed that this broke the text into sections containing the names of chiefs . Barthel later found this pattern on tablet K , which is a paraphrase of Gr ( in many of the K sequences the compound is reduced to 380 @.@ 1 ) , as well as on A , where it sometimes appears as 380 @.@ 1 @.@ 3 and sometimes as 380 @.@ 1 ; on C , E , and S as 380 @.@ 1 ; and , with the variant 380 @.@ 1 @.@ 52 , on N. In places it appears abbreviated as 1 @.@ 3 or 1 @.@ 52 , without the human figure , but parallels in the texts suggest these have the same separating function . Barthel saw the sequence 380 @.@ 1 as a tangata rongorongo ( rongorongo expert ) holding an inscribed staff like the Santiago Staff . = = Kudrjavtsev et al . = = During World War II , a small group of students in Saint Petersburg ( then Leningrad ) , Boris Kudrjavtsev , Valeri Chernushkov , and Oleg Klitin , became interested in tablets P , and Q , which they saw on display at the Museum of Ethnology and Anthropology . They discovered that they bore , with minor variation , the same text , which they later found on tablet H as well : Parallel texts : A short excerpt of tablets H , P , and Q Barthel would later call this the " Grand Tradition " , though its contents remain unknown . The group later noticed that tablet K was a close paraphrase of the recto of G. Kudrjavtsev wrote up their findings , which were published posthumously . Numerous other parallel , though shorter , sequences have since been identified through statistical analysis , with texts N and R found to be composed almost entirely of phrases shared with other tablets , though not in the same order . Identifying such shared phrasing was one of the first steps in unraveling the structure of the script , as it is the best way to detect ligatures and allographs , and thus to establish the inventory of rongorongo glyphs . Ligatures : Parallel texts Pr4 – 5 ( top ) and Hr5 ( bottom ) show that a figure ( glyph 200 ) holding an object ( glyphs 8 , 1 , and 9 ) in P may be fused into a ligature in H , where the object replaces either the figure 's head or its hand . ( Elsewhere in these texts , animal figures are reduced to a distinctive feature such as a head or arm when they fuse with a preceding glyph . ) Here also are the two hand shapes ( glyphs 6 and 64 ) which would later be established as allographs . Three of the four human and turtle figures at left have arm ligatures with an orb ( glyph 62 ) , which Pozdniakov found often marks a phrase boundary . = = Butinov and Knorozov = = In 1957 the Russian epigraphers Nikolai Butinov and Yuri Knorozov ( who in 1952 had provided the key insights which would later lead to the decipherment of the Maya writing system ) suggested that the repetitive structure of a sequence of some fifteen glyphs on Gv5 – 6 ( lines 5 and 6 of the verso of the Small Santiago Tablet ) was compatible with a genealogy . It reads in part , Now , if the repeated independent glyph 200 is a title , such as " king " , and if the repeated attached glyph 76 is a patronymic marker , then this means something like : King A , B 's son , King B , C 's son , King C , D 's son , King D , E 's son , and the sequence is a lineage . Although no @-@ one has been able to confirm Butinov and Knorozov 's hypothesis , it is widely considered plausible . If it is correct , then , first , we can identify other glyph sequences which constitute personal names . Second , the Santiago Staff would consist mostly of persons ' names as it bears 564 occurrences of glyph 76 , the putative patronymic marker , one fourth of the total of 2320 glyphs . Third , the sequence 606 @.@ 76 700 , translated by Fischer ( below ) as " all the birds copulated with the fish " , would in reality mean ( So @-@ and @-@ so ) son of 606 was killed . The Santiago Staff , with 63 occurrences of glyph 700 , a rebus for îka " victim " , would then be in part a kohau îka ( list of war casualties ) . = = Barthel = = German ethnologist Thomas Barthel , who first published the rongorongo corpus , identified three lines on the recto ( side a ) of tablet C , also known as Mamari , as a lunar calendar . Guy proposed that it was more precisely an astronomical rule for whether one or two intercalary nights should be inserted into the 28 @-@ night Rapanui month to keep it in sync with the phases of the moon , and if one night , whether this should come before or after the full moon . Berthin and Berthin propose that it is the text which follows the identified calendar which shows where the intercalary nights should appear . The Mamari calendar is the only example of rongorongo whose function is currently accepted as being understood , though it cannot actually be read . In Guy 's interpretation , the core of the calendar is a series of 29 left @-@ side crescents ( " ☾ " , colored red on the photo of the table at right ) on either side of the full moon , , a pictogram of te nuahine kā ‘ umu ‘ a rangi kotekote ' the old woman lighting an earth oven in the kotekote sky ' — the Man in the Moon of Oceanic mythology . These correspond to the 28 basic and two intercalary nights of the old Rapa Nui lunar calendar . These thirty nights , starting with the new moon , are divided into eight groups by a " heralding sequence " of four glyphs ( above , and colored purple on the tablet at right ) which ends in the pictogram of a fish on a line ( yellow ) . The heralding sequences each contain two right @-@ side lunar crescents ( " ☽ " ) . In all four heralding sequences preceding the full moon the fish is head up ; in all four following it the fish is head down , suggesting the waxing and waning of the moon . The way the crescents are grouped together reflects the patterns of names in the old calendar . The two ☾ crescents at the end of the calendar , introduced with an expanded heralding sequence , represent the two intercalary nights held in reserve . The eleventh crescent , with the bulge , is where one of those nights is found in Thomson 's and Métraux 's records . Guy notes that the further the Moon is from the Earth in its eccentric orbit , the slower it moves , and the more likely the need to resort to an intercalary night to keep the calendar in sync with its phases . He hypothesizes that the " heralding sequences " are instructions to observe the apparent diameter of the Moon , and that the half @-@ size superscripted crescents ( orange ) preceding the sixth night before and sixth night after the full moon represent the small apparent diameter at apogee which triggers intercalation . ( The first small crescent corresponds to the position of hotu in Thomson and Métraux . ) Seven of the calendrical crescents ( red ) are accompanied by other glyphs ( green ) . Guy suggests syllabic readings for some of these , based on possible rebuses and correspondences with the names of the nights in the old calendar . The two sequences of six and five nights without such accompanying glyphs ( beginning of line 7 , and transition of lines 7 – 8 ) correspond to the two groups of six and five numbered kokore nights , which do not have individual names . = = Fischer = = In 1995 independent linguist Steven Fischer , who also claims to have deciphered the enigmatic Phaistos Disc , announced that he had cracked the rongorongo " code " , making him the only person in history to have deciphered two such scripts . In the decade since , this has not been accepted by other researchers , who feel that Fischer overstated the single pattern which formed the basis of his decipherment , and note that it has not led to an understanding of other patterns . = = = Decipherment = = = Fischer notes that the long text of the 125 @-@ cm Santiago Staff is unlike other texts in that it appears to have punctuation : The 2 @,@ 320 @-@ glyph text is divided by " 103 vertical lines at odd intervals " which do not occur on any of the tablets . Fischer remarked that glyph 76 , identified as a possible patronymic marker by Butinov and Knorozov , is attached to the first glyph in each section of text , and that " almost all " sections contain a multiple of three glyphs , with the first bearing a 76 " suffix " . Fischer identified glyph 76 as a phallus and the text of the Santiago Staff as a creation chant consisting of hundreds of repetitions of X – phallus Y Z , which he interpreted as X copulated with Y , there issued forth Z. His primary example was this one : about half @-@ way through line 12 of the Santiago Staff . Fischer interpreted glyph 606 as " bird " + " hand " , with the phallus attached as usual at its lower right ; glyph 700 as " fish " ; and glyph 8 as " sun " . On the basis that the Rapanui word ma ‘ u " to take " is nearly homophonous with a plural marker mau , he posited that the hand of 606 was that plural marker , via a semantic shift of " hand " → " take " , and thus translated 606 as " all the birds " . Taking penis to mean " copulate " , he read the sequence 606 @.@ 76 700 8 as " all the birds copulated , fish , sun " . Fischer supported his interpretation by claiming similarities to the recitation Atua Matariri , so called from its first words , which was collected by William Thomson . This recitation is a litany where each verse has the form X , ki ‘ ai ki roto ki Y , ka pû te Z , literally " X having been inside Y the Z comes forward " . Here is the first verse , according to Salmon and then according to Métraux ( neither of whom wrote glottal stops or long vowels ) : Atua Matariri ; Ki ai Kiroto , Kia Taporo , Kapu te Poporo . " God Atua Matariri and goddess Taporo produced thistle . " Atua @-@ matariri ki ai ki roto ki a te Poro , ka pu te poporo . " God @-@ of @-@ the @-@ angry @-@ look by copulating with Roundness ( ? ) produced the poporo ( black nightshade , Solanum nigrum ) . " Fischer proposed that the glyph sequence 606 @.@ 76 700 8 , literally MANU : MA ‘ U. ‘ AI ÎKA RA ‘ Â " bird : hand.penis fish sun " , had the analogous phonetic reading of : te manu mau ki ‘ ai ki roto ki te îka , ka pû te ra ‘ â " All the birds copulated with the fish ; there issued forth the sun . " He claimed similar phallic triplets for several other texts . However , in the majority of texts glyph 76 is not common , and Fischer proposed that these were a later , more developed stage of the script , where the creation chants had been abbreviated to X Y Z and omit the phallus . He concluded that 85 % of the rongorongo corpus consisted of such creation chants , and that it was only a matter of time before rongorongo would be fully deciphered . = = = Objections = = = There are a number of objections to Fischer 's approach : When Andrew Robinson checked the claimed pattern , he found that " Close inspection of the Santiago Staff reveals that only 63 out of the 113 [ sic ] sequences on the staff fully obey the triad structure ( and 63 is the maximum figure , giving every Fischer attribution the benefit of the doubt ) . " Glyph 76 occurs sometimes in isolation , sometimes compounded with itself , and sometimes in the ' wrong ' part ( or even all parts ) of the triplets . Other than on the Staff , Pozdniakov could find Fischer 's triplets only in the poorly preserved text of Ta and in the single line of Gv which Butinov and Knorozov suggested might be a genealogy . Pozdniakov and Pozdniakov calculated that altogether the four glyphs of Fischer 's primary example make up 20 % of the corpus . " Hence it is easy to find examples in which , on the contrary , ' the sun copulates with the fish ' , and sometimes also with the birds . Fischer does not mention the resulting chaos in which everything is copulating in all manner of unlikely combinations . Furthermore , it is by no means obvious in what sense this ' breakthrough ' is ' phonetic ' . " The plural marker mau does not exist in Rapanui , but is instead an element of Tahitian grammar . However , even if it did occur in Rapanui , Polynesian mau is only a plural marker when it precedes a noun ; after a noun it 's an adjective which means " true , genuine , proper " . No Polynesian myth tells of birds copulating with fish to produce the sun . Fischer justifies his interpretation thus : This is very close to [ verse ] number 25 from Daniel Ure Va ‘ e Iko 's procreation chant [ Atua Matariri ] " Land copulated with the fish Ruhi Paralyzer : There issued forth the sun . " However , this claim depends on Salmon 's English translation , which does not follow from his Rapanui transcription of Heima ; Ki ai Kiroto Kairui Kairui @-@ Hakamarui Kapu te Raa . Métraux gives the following interpretation of that verse : He Hina [ He ima ? ] ki ai ki roto kia Rui @-@ haka @-@ ma @-@ rui , ka pu te raa . " Moon ( ? ) by copulating with Darkness ( ? ) produced Sun " , which mentions neither birds nor fish . Given Fischer 's reading , Butinov and Knorozov 's putative genealogy on tablet Gv becomes semantically odd , with several animate beings copulating with the same human figure to produce themselves : [ turtle ] copulated with [ man ] , there issued forth [ turtle ] [ shark ? ] copulated with [ man ] there issued forth [ shark ] etc . Cryptologist Tomi Melka deduced that Fischer 's hypothesis cannot be true for the entire Staff , let alone other texts . Computational linguist Richard Sproat could not replicate the parallels Fischer claimed between the Santiago Staff and the other texts . He automated the search for string matches between the texts and found that the staff stood alone : As an attempt at a test for Fischer 's " phallus omission " assumption , we computed the same string matches for a version of the corpus where glyph 76 , the phallus symbol , had been removed . Presumably if many parts of the other tablets are really texts which are like the Santiago Staff , albeit sans explicit phallus , one ought to increase one 's chance of finding matches between the Staff and other tablets by removing the offending member . The results were the same as for the unadulterated version of the corpus : the Santiago staff still appears as an isolate . = = Pozdniakov = = In the 1950s , Butinov and Knorozov had performed a statistical analysis of several rongorongo texts and had concluded that either the language of the texts was not Polynesian , or that it was written in a condensed telegraphic style , because it contained no glyphs comparable in frequency to Polynesian grammatical particles such as the Rapanui articles te and he or the preposition ki . These findings have since been used to argue that rongorongo is not a writing system at all , but mnemonic proto @-@ writing . However , Butinov and Knorozov had used Barthel 's preliminary encoding , which Konstantin Pozdniakov , senior researcher at the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Saint Petersburg ( until 1996 ) , noted was inappropriate for statistical analysis . The problem , as Butinov and Knorozov , and Barthel himself , had admitted , was that in many cases distinct numerical codes had been assigned to ligatures and allographs , as if these were independent glyphs . The result was that while Barthel 's numerical transcription of a text enabled a basic discussion of its contents for the first time , it failed to capture its linguistic structure and actually interfered with inter @-@ text comparison . In 2011 , Pozdniakov released a pre @-@ press publication analyzing Text E Keiti , including a glyph @-@ by @-@ glyph comparison of the transcription in Barthel ( 1958 ) , with misidentified glyphs corrected per Horley ( 2010 ) . = = = Revising the glyph inventory = = = To resolve this deficiency , Pozdniakov ( 1996 ) reanalyzed thirteen of the better preserved texts , attempting to identify all ligatures and allographs in order to better approach a one @-@ to @-@ one correspondence between graphemes and their numeric representation . He observed that all these texts but I and G verso consist predominantly of shared phrases ( sequences of glyphs ) , which occur in different orders and contexts on different tablets . By 2007 he had identified some one hundred shared phrases , each between ten and one hundred glyphs long . Even setting aside the completely parallel texts Gr – K and the ' Grand Tradition ' of H – P – Q , he found that half of the remainder comprises such phrases : Phrasing : Variants of this twenty @-@ glyph phrase , all missing some of these glyphs or adding others , are found twelve times , in eight of the thirteen texts Pozdniakov tabulated : lines Ab4 , Cr2 – 3 , Cv2 , Cv12 , Ev3 , Ev6 , Gr2 – 3 , Hv12 , Kr3 , Ra6 , Rb6 , and Sa1 . Among other things , such phrases have established or confirmed the reading order of some of the tablets . These shared sequences begin and end with a notably restricted set of glyphs . For example , many begin or end , or both , with glyph 62 ( an arm ending in a circle : ) or with a ligature where glyph 62 replaces the arm or wing of a figure ( see the ligature image under Kudrjavtsev et al . ) . Contrasting these phrases allowed Pozdniakov to determine that some glyphs occur in apparent free variation both in isolation and as components of ligatures . Thus he proposed that the two hand shapes , 6 ( three fingers and a thumb ) and 64 ( a four @-@ fingered forked hand ) , are graphic variants of a single glyph , which also attaches to or replaces the arms of various other glyphs : Allographs : The ' hand ' allographs ( left ) , plus some of the fifty pairs of allographic ' hand ' ligatures to which Barthel had assigned distinct character codes . The fact the two hands appear to substitute for each other in all these pairs of glyphs when the repeated phrases are compared lends credence to their identity . Similarly , Pozdniakov proposed that the heads with " gaping mouths " , as in glyph 380 , are variants of the bird heads , so that the entirety of Barthel 's 300 and 400 series of glyphs are seen as either ligatures or variants of the 600 series . Despite finding that some of the forms Barthel had assumed were allographs appeared instead to be independent glyphs , such as the two orientations of his glyph 27 , , the overall conflation of allographs and ligatures greatly reduced the size of Barthel 's published 600 @-@ glyph inventory . By recoding the texts with these findings and then recomparing them , Pozdniakov was able to detect twice as many shared phrases , which enabled him to further consolidate the inventory of glyphs . By 2007 , he and his father , a pioneer in Russian computer science , had concluded that 52 glyphs accounted for 99 @.@ 7 % of the corpus . From this he deduced that rongorongo is essentially a syllabary , though mixed with non @-@ syllabic elements , possibly determinatives or logographs for common words ( see below ) . The data analysis , however , has not been published . The shared repetitive nature of the phrasing of the texts , apart from Gv and I , suggests to Pozdniakov that they are not integral texts , and cannot contain the varied contents which would be expected for history or mythology . In the following table of characters in the Pozdniakov & Pozdniakov inventory , ordered by descending frequency , the first two rows of 26 characters account for 86 % of the entire corpus . = = = Statistical evidence = = = With a rigorously derived inventory , Pozdniakov was able to test his ideas about the nature of the script . He tabulated the frequency distributions of glyphs in ten texts ( excluding the divergent Santiago Staff ) and found that they coincided with the distribution of syllables in ten archaic Rapanui texts such as the Apai recitation , with nearly identical deviations from an ideal Zipfian distribution . He took this as evidence both for rongorongo being essentially syllabic and for its being consistent with the Rapanui language . For example , the most common glyph , 6 , and the most common syllable , / a / , both make up 10 % of their corpora ; the syllables te and he , which Butinov and Knorozov found so problematic , could at 5 @.@ 7 % and 3 @.@ 5 % be associated with any number of common rongorongo glyphs . In addition , the numbers of glyphs linked or fused together closely match the numbers of syllables in Rapanui words , both in the texts overall and in their respective lexicons , suggesting that each combination of glyphs represents a word : In both corpora there were many more monosyllables / single glyphs in running text than in the lexicon . That is , in both a relatively small number of such forms are very frequent , suggesting that rongorongo is compatible with Rapanui , which has a small number of very frequent monosyllabic grammatical particles . Rongorongo and Rapanui are also almost identical in the proportion of syllables / glyphs found in isolation and in initial , medial , and final position within a word / ligature . However , while such statistical tests demonstrate that rongorongo is consistent with a syllabic Rapanui script , syllables are not the only thing which can produce this result . In the Rapanui texts , some two dozen common polysyllabic words , such as ariki ' leader ' , ingoa ' name ' , and rua ' two ' , have the same frequency as a score of syllables , while other syllables such as / tu / are less frequent than these words . This suspicion that rongorongo may not be fully syllabic is supported by positional patterns within the texts . The distributions of Rapanui syllables within polysyllabic words and of rongorongo glyphs within ligatures are very similar , strengthening the syllabic connection . However , monosyllabic words and isolated glyphs behave very differently ; here rongorongo does not look at all syllabic . For example , all glyphs but 901 are attested in isolation , whereas only half of the 55 Rapanui syllables occur as monosyllabic words . Furthermore , among those syllables which do occur in isolation , their rate of doing so is much lower than that of the glyphs : Only three syllables , / te / , / he / , and / ki / , occur more than half the time in isolation ( as grammatical particles ) , whereas a score of glyphs are more commonly found in isolation than not . Contextual analysis may help explain this : Whereas Rapanui monosyllables are grammatical particles and generally precede polysyllabic nouns and verbs , so that monosyllables rarely occur together , isolated rongorongo glyphs are usually found together , suggesting a very different function . Pozdniakov hypothesizes that the difference may be due to the presence of determinatives , or that glyphs have dual functions , as phonograms in combination but as logograms in isolation , parallel to the Maya script . On the other hand , no glyph approaches the frequency , when in isolation , of the articles te and he or the preposition ki in running text . It may be that these particles were simply not written , but Pozdniakov suspects that they were written together with the following word , as is the case with prepositions and articles in Classical Latin and written Arabic . Further complicating this picture are repetition patterns . There are two types of repetition in Rapanui words : double syllables within roots , as in mamari , and grammatical reduplication of disyllables , as seen in rongorongo . In the Rapanui lexicon , double syllables as in mamari are 50 % more likely than chance can explain . However , in the rongorongo texts , analogous double AA glyphs are only 8 % more likely than chance . Similarly , in the Rapanui lexicon reduplicated disyllables such as rongorongo are seven times as common as chance , constituting a quarter of the vocabulary , whereas , in rongorongo texts , ABAB sequences are only twice as likely as chance , and 10 % of the vocabulary . If rongorongo is a phonetic script , therefore , this discrepancy needs to be explained . Pozdniakov suggests that perhaps there was a ' reduplicator ' glyph , or that modifications of glyphs , such as facing heads to the left rather than to the right , may have indicated repetition . = = = Sound values = = = The results of statistical analysis will be strongly affected by any errors in identifying the inventory of glyphs , as well as by divergence from a purely syllabic representation , such as a glyph for reduplication . There are also large differences in the frequencies of individual syllables among the Rapanui texts , which makes any direct identification problematic . While Pozdniakov has not been able to assign any phonetic values with any certainty , statistical results do place constraints on which values are possible . One possibility for a logogram of the most common word in Rapanui , the article te , is the most common glyph , 200 , which does not pattern like a phonogram . Glyph 200 occurs mostly in initial position and is more frequent in running text than any syllable in the Rapanui lexicon , both characteristics of the article . A possibility for a reduplicator glyph is 3 , which is also very common and does not pattern like a phonogram , but occurs predominantly in final position . Because a repeated word or phrase , such as the ubiquitous ki ‘ ai ki roto in the Atua Matariri recitation , will skew the statistics of that text , phonetic frequencies are best compared using word lists ( considering each word individually ) rather than the full texts . Pozdniakov used a few basic correlations between Rapanui and rongorongo to help narrow down the possible phonetic values of the glyphs . For instance , the relative frequencies of rongorongo glyphs in initial , medial , and final position in a ligature presumably constrain their possible sound values to syllables with similar distributions within the lexicon . Syllables beginning with ng , for example , are more common at the ends of words than in initial position . The overall frequencies , and the patterns of doubling and reduplication , on the other hand , seem to associate arm glyphs specifically with vocalic syllables : Overall frequency . Syllables without a consonant ( vocalic syllables ) are more common in Rapanui than syllables beginning with any of the ten consonants . Of the vowels , / a / is more than twice as frequent as any of the others . Thus the syllables comprising more than 3 % of the Rapanui lexicon are / i / , / e / , / a / , / o / , / u / ; / ta / , / ra / , / ka / , / na / , / ma / ; and / ri / . ( The three most common , the vocalic syllables / a / , / i / , / u / , comprise a full quarter of the corpus . ) The glyphs comprising more than 3 % of the rongorongo corpus are , in order , 200 , 6 or , 10 , 3 , 62 , 400 , 61 . As noted above , 200 and 3 do not pattern as phonograms . Of the remaining five , four are limbs ( arms or wings ) . Reduplication . In grammatical reduplication , vowels are also the most common syllables ; so are the glyphs 6 , 10 , 61 , 62 , 901 , all limbs . Doubling . Among doubled syllables , however , vocalic syllables are much less common . Four syllables , / i / , / a / , / u / , / ma / , are less commonly doubled than chance would dictate . Three glyphs are less common when doubled than chance as well : 6 , 10 , and 63 , two of them limbs . The exceptionally high frequencies of glyph 6 and of the syllable / a / , everywhere except when doubled , suggest that glyph 6 may have the sound value / a / . Pozdniakov proposes with less confidence that the second most extreme glyph , 10 , might have the sound value / i / . = = = Objections = = = As Pozdniakov readily admits , his analysis is highly sensitive to the accuracy of the glyph inventory . Since he has not published the details of how he established this inventory , it is not possible for others to verify his work . As of 2008 , there has been little response to Pozdniakov 's approach . However , Sproat ( 2007 ) believes that the results from the frequency distributions are nothing more than an effect of Zipf 's Law , and furthermore that neither rongorongo nor the old texts were representative of the Rapanui language , so that a comparison between them is unlikely to be enlightening . = = De Laat = = Another decipherment , self @-@ published by Mary de Laat in 2009 , covers three texts , A , B , and E. Horley ( 2010 ) is a critical review . All three texts are proposed to consist of nothing but extended dialogue . It would be remarkable enough for these rare pieces of wood to record the banal exchanges de Laat attributes to them , yet the ligature 380 @.@ 1 , which de Laat identified as a man named Taea , is found in six of the surviving texts , fully half of the corpus that is indisputably authentic and in good condition , presenting this figure , who is supposed to have murdered his wife , as one of the most important protagonists in the Rapa Nui tradition . Yet there is no such Taea in the surviving Rapa Nui oral literature . This ligature for Taea is the one that was identified by Harrison as a marker for dividing lists , and found by Barthel to have parallels on yet other texts in the forms 380 @.@ 1 @.@ 3 and 1 @.@ 3 . However , despite the parallel content of these texts , de Laat 's translations of them are quite divergent , because his purely phonetic reading does not allow him to read 1 @.@ 3 as " Taea " . The participants in the dialogues must therefore be different , and de Laat 's segmentation of the texts is " unstable " . There are also fatal grammatical errors , and readings that turn out to be post @-@ colonial Tahitian loans . In response to such criticism , de Laat has begun to " substantially revise " his translations .
= Black honeyeater = The black honeyeater ( Sugomel nigrum ) is a species of bird in the family of honeyeaters , Meliphagidae , and the sole species in the genus Sugomel . The black honeyeater exhibits sexual dimorphism with the male being black and white while the female is a speckled grey @-@ brown ; immature birds look like the female . The species is endemic to Australia , and ranges widely across the arid areas of the continent , through open woodland and shrubland , particularly in areas where the emu bush and related species occur . Black honeyeaters feed on nectar , and have a long curved bill to reach the base of tubular flowers such as those of the emu bush . They also take insects on the wing , and regularly eat charcoal left behind at campfires . The male engages in a soaring song flight in the mating season , but contributes little to nest building and incubation . Both sexes feed and care for the young . While the population appears to be decreasing , they are sufficiently numerous and widespread to be considered of Least Concern in terms of conservation . = = Taxonomy = = The black honeyeater was first described by John Gould in 1838 as Myzomela nigra , using the Latin adjective niger to refer to the black plumage of the male . The genus name was derived from the Ancient Greek words myzo ' to suckle ' and meli ' honey ' , and referred to the bird 's nectivorous habits . In 1967 ornithologist Finn Salomonsen transferred the species from Myzomela to the genus Certhionyx , which also contained the banded honeyeater ( Certhionyx pectoralis ) and pied honeyeater ( Certhionyx variegatus ) , and later authorities accepted this classification . However , in 2004 genetic study of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA of honeyeaters resolved it as in a natural group with Myzomela after all , although it was an early offshoot and quite divergent genetically . It was subsequently reclassified in its own genus Sugomel . It is identified as Sugomel niger by most taxonomic authorities , and Sugomel nigrum by the IOC Birdlist . DNA analysis has shown honeyeaters to be related to the Pardalotidae ( pardalotes ) , Acanthizidae ( Australian warblers , scrubwrens , thornbills , etc . ) , and the Maluridae ( Australian fairy @-@ wrens ) in a large Meliphagoidea superfamily . The Papuan black myzomela , ( Myzomela nigrita ) , found in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea is also known as the black honeyeater . It is a different but related species . = = Description = = The black honeyeater is a small honeyeater with a long slender down @-@ curved bill , a small rounded head and slender neck set on a plump body , and a short , slightly cleft tail . It has relatively long , pointed wings compared with other Meliphagidae , and very long wings for such a small bird , the development of which has been attributed to its feeding behaviour of flying between shrubs and hovering over flowers . The species is strongly sexually dimorphic . Adult males are black and white , with a black head , neck , wings and upperparts , and a black stripe running down from the centre of the chest to the abdomen , and with a white belly , flanks and under @-@ tail coverts . The female ’ s crown , ear coverts and upper parts are buff brown , scalloped paler , with a pale eyebrow , and the chest is speckled grey @-@ brown grading into a dull white belly . In both male and female the iris is dark brown and the bill and legs blackish brown . Immature birds are similar to the adult female , however the upper breast and throat tend to be more uniform and the base of the bill is paler . Immature birds are not separable from adults at a distance . The black honeyeater is quiet outside the breeding season , but calls before and during nesting , often early in the morning . The calls include a soft metallic " chwit , chwit " ; a louder note , a " tieee " , with a monotonously even pitch and spacing at intervals of several seconds ; and a weak " peeee " , usually uttered by breeding males . In high song flights the males give a double noted " tieee @-@ tieee " . A soft scolding call is given by both sexes after the young hatch , which may be a food call for the young . The species is also heard making a bill snap when hawking insects . It is constantly on the move , hovering and hawking when feeding , and constantly chasing intruders at food sources . Gould described its flight as " remarkably quick , and performed with zigzag starts " . = = Distribution and habitat = = The black honeyeater is a bird of the dry inland of Australia , being generally widespread if scattered in western Queensland and New South Wales to the South Australian border and occasionally recorded in the Victorian Mallee and Wimmera regions . In South Australia , it occurs in the south @-@ east and it is widespread in the central and northern regions of Western Australia , with some rare records in the south near Kalgoorlie . In the Northern Territory it is widespread around Alice Springs , with some vagrants to the Top End . It is dependent on the presence of the emu bush Eremophila longifolia and related species . As a result , the black honeyeater is found in open woodlands and shrublands of arid and semi @-@ arid regions , as well as in mulga or mallee woodlands , and it will also be found in spinifex savanna where flowering shrubs such as grevilleas and paperbarks occur . It has been noted that the black honeyeater is able to locate emu bushes , even when clumps consisted of only two or three trees and were separated by many kilometres of country , which suggests the importance of this plant @-@ bird association . The black honeyeaters is considered to be migratory rather than nomadic , with regular seasonal movements related to flowering of food plants , especially the emu bush . Some movements are southwards in spring and summer , moving northwards again in autumn and winter . During severe droughts it has been recorded south of Bendigo and in the Hunter Region . Irruptions ( sudden population increases ) can occur in some areas after rain or the movement of floodwaters . = = Behaviour = = = = = Food and feeding = = = The black honeyeater feeds on nectar , probing flowers and foliage with its long fine bill . It is mainly found in the crowns of eucalypts , at clumps of mistletoe or in shrubs , especially emu bushes Eremophila . Observations over a twelve @-@ month period in South Australia recorded black honeyeaters visiting the flowers of Eremophila longifolia , Eremophila oppositifolia , Eucalyptus incrassata , and Grevillea ilicifolia . They were also frequently observed hawking for small insects . The black honeyeater hovers briefly around flowers when feeding . Normally found alone , in pairs or in small flocks , they may sometimes form large mixed flocks at food sources , associating with other birds such as pied honeyeaters and white @-@ browed woodswallows . Like many other honeyeaters , the black honeyeater catches insects on the wing . The male , in particular , will rise to a height of 15 metres ( 49 ft ) to seize an insect in mid @-@ air , and then drop to a regularly used perch . A study of black honeyeaters at seven sites in Western Australia regularly recorded breeding females eating ash from the campsite fires and often making repeated visits over a brief period of time . It was noted that the birds seemed attracted to the remote campfire with groups of around six hovering around and landing beside the fire , an activity described as similar to " bees buzzing around a honeypot . " After pecking at the ash , some of the females foraged for insects , sallying from the foliage of nearby Wheatbelt Wandoo ( Eucalyptus capillosa ) before returning for more ash . The activity of the females approaching the fire ranged from a single peck to sustained feeding for a minute or more . Male birds occasionally landed near the fire , but none were seen to take ash . Well developed brood patches on the birds mist netted near the fires , suggest that the females take ash around the time of laying , and throughout the incubation and feeding period . Wood ash is rich in calcium and it was hypothesised that the females were eating ash to form medullary bone before egg @-@ laying or to repair a calcium deficit after laying . When other small birds , such as American hummingbirds , were recorded eating calcium @-@ rich ash , bones or shell it was suggested that the bones of small species may not be able to store enough calcium for egg production . = = = Breeding = = = The breeding season is from July to December ( mostly between August and November ) , or opportunistically after rain . There is apparently some variation based upon location , with birds in West Australia breeding earlier and breeding in March in Queensland . Black honeyeater populations concentrate for breeding wherever the right plants are in flower and there is an abundance of insects , essential for feeding the young . At the beginning of the mating season , males can be seen soaring in " song flights " which consist of a series of zigzagging movements , high into the air , accompanied by constant calling . The birds appear to stiffen themselves , with wings pointed downward , as they rise , while uttering a two @-@ note call . Breeding pairs of black honeyeaters will nest in groups or loose colonies , with males aggressively defending a small breeding territory against members of their own species as well as other honeyeaters . Both members of the pair seem to be involved in selecting the nest site . The nest is usually situated low on a dead limb or in a fork of a small tree or shrub , though sometimes fallen timber including a fallen Callitris pine is chosen as the nest site . The female gathers nesting material close to the nest site , while the male is engaged in song flights , and she builds the shallow , open , cup @-@ shaped nest from fine twigs , grass , and other plant material bound with spiderweb , lining it with grass , roots , fibre , horse hair , flowers or wool . As the young grow the nest can become flattened to a saucer shape , and may be an almost flat platform by the time the chicks fledge . The female lays two to three eggs that are 15 millimetres ( 0 @.@ 59 in ) long , 12 millimetres ( 0 @.@ 47 in ) wide and an unusual swollen oval shape . The eggs are slightly lustrous , buffy white in colour and dotted with reddish @-@ brown and grey blotches that often appear in a cloud over the larger end of the eggs . Black honeyeater nests are occasionally parasitised by Horsfield 's Bronze Cuckoo . The female incubates alone , leaving the eggs exposed for short periods during the day to take insects on the wing . When approached , the sitting bird attempts to hide by sinking into the nest and , if unsuccessful in deterring the intruder , will tumble to the ground with outstretched wings , giving weak calls in an effort to lure the intruder away from the nest . While the female is incubating , the male remains on guard at one of several regular vantage points . The incubation period is around sixteen days , and the fledging period approximately eighteen days . On hatching , the young birds ' eyes are closed , and they are naked except for tufts of down on the head , nape and back . Both sexes feed and care for the young , taking all of the insects for the young birds on the wing . At one nest , two small young were fed every ten minutes or so , with the male bringing food three to four times more often than the female . = = Conservation status = = The black honeyeater may be adversely affected by the loss of the emu bush to grazing and weed control by farmers . Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing , the decline is not believed to be particularly rapid ; the current population seems to be of sufficient numbers , and the species has a sufficiently large range , for the species to be evaluated as of Least Concern .
= A2 ( Croatia ) = The A2 motorway ( Croatian : Autocesta A2 ) is a motorway in the Hrvatsko Zagorje region of northern Croatia , connecting Zagreb to the Macelj border crossing and Slovenia . The A2 motorway is part of the European route E59 and the Pan @-@ European Corridor Xa . The motorway spans 59 @.@ 2 kilometres ( 36 @.@ 8 mi ) between the Slovenian border and the Jankomir interchange within the Zagreb bypass , providing road connections to a number of cities and towns besides Zagreb , including Krapina , Zabok and Zaprešić . All sections of the motorway , except the northernmost one between the Macelj border crossing and Trakošćan , and the southernmost one near Zagreb , are tolled , using a closed toll collection system . Construction of the motorway began in 1990 , lbut a decade @-@ long hiatus between the mid @-@ 1990s and 2004 caused by funding issues and the setting up of a separate company to develop and operate the motorway meant it was not completed until 2007 . As of July 2011 , the entire motorway route is completed , consisting of a dual @-@ carriageway and four traffic lanes , except for a relatively short segment which is still a single carriageway road . The motorway is currently operated by Autocesta Zagreb - Macelj . The motorway carries a considerable volume of traffic throughout the year ; however , in the summer , its peak volume is nearly double the average , as traffic intensifies because of tourists travelling to Adriatic Sea resorts and back . Furthermore , the southernmost sections of the motorway serve Zagreb 's sizeable suburban traffic . = = Route description = = The A2 motorway is an important north – south motorway in Croatia , connecting the capital of the country , Zagreb , to Graz , Austria , via Maribor , Slovenia , as well as Vienna and other destinations along the Pyhrn route . The motorway follows a route through the Hrvatsko Zagorje region . Part of the road network of Croatia , the motorway is also part of European route E59 Zagreb – Graz – Vienna – Prague . The motorway is of major importance to Croatia in terms of economic development , especially for tourism and as a transit transport route . The road carries significant transit and tourist traffic as it connects to the Zagreb bypass segment of the A3 motorway , which serves as a hub distributing the southbound traffic to either eastbound A3 or southbound A1 , and vice versa . As of the June 1997 Pan @-@ European Transport Conference in Helsinki , the motorway is part of the Pan @-@ European Corridor Xa . The motorway spans 59 @.@ 2 kilometres ( 36 @.@ 8 mi ) between the Macelj border crossing , Slovenia and the Zagreb – Jankomir interchange on the A3 motorway . The route serves Zagreb via the Ž1035 at the Jankomir interchange , Zaprešić via the D225 , Zabok , Klanjec and Oroslavje via the D307 , Sveti Križ Začretje via the D35 , Krapina and Pregrada via the D206 , Đurmanec via the D207 and Trakošćan via the D508 . The D1 state road runs as a parallel , toll @-@ free route along the motorway , and most of the motorway exits connect to that route directly , switching to D35 , D206 , D207 and D508 shortly afterwards . The A2 motorway has at least two traffic lanes and an emergency lane in each direction along its entire length , except in tunnels , where there are emergency bays instead . All of the interchanges are trumpet interchanges , except the Jankomir interchange , which is a cloverleaf interchange . There are a number of rest areas along the motorway providing various types of services , ranging from simple parking spaces and restrooms to filling stations , restaurants and hotels . As of July 2011 , the motorway has seven interchanges providing access to numerous towns and cities and the Croatian state road network . The motorway is operated by the Autocesta Zagreb – Macelj company . An automatic traffic monitoring and guidance system is in place along the motorway . It consists of measuring , control and signalling devices located in zones where driving conditions may vary , such as at interchanges , viaducts , bridges , tunnels and zones where fog and strong wind are known to occur . The system uses variable traffic signs to communicate changing driving conditions , possible restrictions and other information to motorway users . The A2 motorway mainly runs through the plains and rolling hills of Hrvatsko Zagorje region , although the northernmost sections of the route traverse rugged terrain , requiring a number of viaducts and long tunnels along the route . = = Toll = = The A2 is a tolled motorway , based on the vehicle classification in Croatia , using a closed toll system . As of July 2011 , the toll charged along the A2 route between the Zaprešić and Trakošćan mainline toll plazas varies depending on the length of route travelled , ranging from 11 @.@ 00 kuna ( 1 @.@ 44 euros ) to 42 @.@ 00 kuna ( 5 @.@ 48 euros ) for passenger cars and 47 @.@ 00 kuna ( 6 @.@ 13 euro ) to 187 @.@ 00 kuna ( 24 @.@ 40 euro ) for semi @-@ trailer trucks . The toll is payable in either Croatian kuna or euros and by major credit and debit cards . A prepaid toll collection system is also used . The A2 is the only motorway in Croatia which does not provide for use of the ENC — an electronic toll collection ( ETC ) system shared by most motorways in Croatia that provides drivers with discounted toll rates for dedicated lanes at toll plazas . In addition to the vehicle classification in Croatia , the motorway operator maintains an additional vehicle category for motorbikes , which are charged from 7 @.@ 00 kuna ( 0 @.@ 91 euros ) to 25 @.@ 00 kuna ( 3 @.@ 26 euros ) toll . The southernmost Jankomir – Zaprešić section of the motorway is not tolled , as it is part of the Zagreb bypass . The toll collected by Autocesta Zagreb – Macelj from the A2 motorway in the first quarter of 2011 amounted to 27 @.@ 7 million kuna ( 3 @.@ 61 million euros ) ; however , this period does not include the significantly increased tourist traffic during the summer . In 2010 , Autocesta Zagreb – Macelj collected 166 @.@ 9 million kuna ( 22 @.@ 4 million euros ) from A2 tolls . = = Notable structures = = The southernmost section of the motorway , between the Jankomir and Zaprešić interchanges , forms part of the Zagreb bypass and entails a number of viaducts spanning roads and railways , including a 373 @-@ metre ( 1 @,@ 224 ft ) viaduct across the Zagreb – Ljubljana railway . Furthermore , the section comprises the Sava River Bridge , spanning 1 @,@ 072 metres ( 3 @,@ 517 ft ) . All the structures along the section are executed as dual structures with four traffic lanes . The northernmost segment between the Krapina interchange and the Macelj border crossing traverses rugged terrain , requiring further viaducts and tunnels . Among those , the most notable ones are the 579 @-@ metre ( 1 @,@ 900 ft ) Krapinčica Viaduct and the 1 @,@ 740 @-@ metre ( 5 @,@ 710 ft ) Sveta Tri Kralja Tunnel . The tunnel is part of a sequence of two tunnels and three viaducts in a 3 @.@ 7 @-@ kilometre ( 2 @.@ 3 mi ) segment between Krapina and Đurmanec . Generally , the Krapina – Macelj border crossing segment of the A2 motorway required numerous expensive engineering works , including six tunnels and nine viaducts , which caused the construction cost to be over 235 million euros . = = History = = In the 1960s , various levels of government in the Socialist Republic of Croatia initiated planning processes aimed at development of road transport infrastructure of the then constituent republic of Yugoslavia . The first proposal of a motorway link in Croatia was made by Josip Roglić , a member of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts at the time . He proposed the motorway to be built between Zagreb and Split . In 1962 , a formal proposal was made by local authorities in Split , resulting in Croatian government adopting a framework motorway development plan in 1966 . Designs were commissioned in 1967 , extending the route north to Maribor , Slovenia for the first time . The extension largely used the same corridor as an existing Zagreb – Maribor road — Zagorje Highway — a congested and insufficiently safe two @-@ lane road with at @-@ grade intersections , connecting numerous towns and villages between Zagreb and Maribor . The road itself represented yet another upgrade of a transport route recorded along Zagreb – Maribor corridor since Middle Ages . The plan was shelved because of political pressures following suppression of Croatian Spring only to be reinstated upon Croatian independence from Yugoslavia . The first section of the present A2 motorway was completed as a single @-@ carriageway limited @-@ access road between the Jankomir and Zaprešić interchanges , forming the westernmost section of Zagreb bypass , in 1990 . The section included a number of bridges and viaducts , spanning the Sava River and numerous roads and railroads , making construction of a dual @-@ carriageway prohibitively expensive at the time . In 1991 , the 7 @.@ 4 @-@ kilometre ( 4 @.@ 6 mi ) section was extended by 17 kilometres ( 11 mi ) of dual @-@ carriage motorway to Zabok . Lack of funding greatly slowed further construction , and the following 16 @.@ 2 @-@ kilometre ( 10 @.@ 1 mi ) section to Velika Ves , south of Krapina , was only completed in 1996 . Further construction was suspended due to lack of available funding . In 1997 , the governments of the Republic of Croatia and the German state of Bavaria made a joint declaration regarding their future transport infrastructure development cooperation . The cooperation primarily dealt with the construction of the remaining A2 motorway sections and the Franjo Tuđman Bridge , and the two issues were formally settled between the Croatian government and Walter Bau AG . In 2003 , the Autocesta Zagreb – Macelj company was established by the Croatian government and was awarded a concession contract to operate the motorway . Furthermore , a joint investment agreement with Walter Bau AG was signed by the government , effectively securing the financial assets required to resume construction . In 2004 , Strabag replaced Walter Bau AG as a contract partner and construction finally resumed . In 2006 , the section between Jankomir and Zaprešić was upgraded to dual @-@ carriage motorway , and the motorway was extended to Krapina itself . In 2007 , after 33 months of construction defined by the contracts , the motorway was completed along its entire length , except for a short segment near Krapina which , as of July 2011 , is still a single @-@ carriageway road . The total cost of the motorway was approximately 372 million euros . The largest portion of the total pertains to the northernmost 20 @-@ kilometre ( 12 mi ) section between Krapina and Macelj , which was reported to cost 235 million euros . = = Further construction = = As of 2012 , the 3 @.@ 7 @-@ kilometre ( 2 @.@ 3 mi ) segment of the motorway between Krapina and Đurmanec is still missing the second carriageway . The upgrading of this segment is planned , as the Croatian government reportedly concluded talks regarding the matter with the motorway operator in 2010 . The upgrade is expected to take one year and cost 50 million euros . = = Traffic volume = = Traffic is regularly counted and reported by Autocesta Zagreb – Macelj , the operator of the motorway , and is published by Hrvatske Ceste . As the motorway traffic volume is measured through an analysis of toll ticket sales , the southernmost section of the motorway , Jankomir - Zaprešić , is not included in this report , as it is not tolled . However , since the section is a part of Zagreb bypass , it is considered to carry heavier traffic than any other section of the A2 motorway . In 2006 , it carried more than 22 @,@ 000 vehicles per day , and its traffic volume grew considerably since the completion of the motorway in 2007 . Variations between AADT and average summer daily traffic ( ASDT ) traffic volumes are attributed to the fact that the motorway carries substantial tourist traffic to the Adriatic Sea resorts during the summer . On average , the tolled section of the A2 motorway carries 90 % more ASDT than AADT . The largest increase , 125 % , of the ASDT relative to the AADT is observed on the Đurmanec – Trakošćan section . = = Rest areas = = As of July 2011 , there are three rest areas along the A2 motorway . Legislation identifies four types of rest areas designated as types A through D : A @-@ type rest areas comprise a full range of amenities , including a filling station , a restaurant and a hotel or motel ; B @-@ type rest areas have no lodging ; C @-@ type rest areas are very common and include a filling station and a café , but no restaurants or accommodations ; D @-@ type rest areas only offer parking spaces , possibly picnicking tables and benches and restrooms . Most rest areas along the A2 motorway generally follow this ranking system , although some offer extra services . Many filling stations have small convenience stores , and some offer LPG fuel . The primary motorway operator , Hrvatske autoceste ( HAC ) , leases the A , B and C type rest areas to various operators through public tenders . As of July 2011 , there are two such rest area operators on the A2 motorway : INA and OMV . The rest area operators are not permitted to sub @-@ lease the fuel operations . The A2 motorway rest areas are accessible from both directions of the motorway and operate 24 hours a day , 7 days a week . = = Exit list = =
= Blow ( Beyoncé song ) = " Blow " is a song recorded by American recording artist Beyoncé from her self @-@ titled fifth studio album ( 2013 ) . It was written by Beyoncé , Pharrell Williams , Timbaland , J @-@ Roc , James Fauntleroy and Justin Timberlake , and produced by the former four . It was set to be released as one of the lead singles following the release of the album along with " Drunk in Love " , however , its release was scrapped in favor of " XO " . " Blow " is a disco @-@ influenced R & B and funk song which has several other musical influences and elements featured in it . It received comparison to songs from the 1970s and 1980s mostly by Prince and Janet Jackson . Lyrically it talks explicitly about oral sex and cunnilingus through heavy innuendo in line with Beyoncé 's sexual tone . It received positive reviews by music critics who hailed it as an old school album standout . Its variety of musical genres and production were also praised as well as Beyoncé 's vocal performance . Due to several promotional remixes of the song , " Blow " managed to peak at number one on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart without an official release as a single . An accompanying music video for the song was directed by Hype Williams and released on the album on December 13 , 2013 . It was filmed at a roller skating rink in Houston and it features Beyoncé 's sister Solange Knowles , her background dancers and her female band . The singer 's style received comparisons to 1980s fashion and music videos in a similar way to the song itself . " Blow " was included on the set list of the European leg of Beyoncé 's The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour ( 2014 ) and The Formation World Tour ( 2016 ) . It was also performed during the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards as part of a medley of Beyoncé 's self @-@ titled album . A remix version featuring Pharrell Williams was included on the platinum reissue of Beyoncé in 2014 . = = Background and production = = " Blow " was written by Beyoncé , Pharrell Williams , James Fauntleroy , Timbaland , J @-@ Roc and Justin Timberlake . It was produced by Beyoncé and Pharrell , with co @-@ production by Timbaland and J @-@ Roc . Beyoncé produced her vocals , which were recorded by Stuart White , Chris Godbey , Bart Schoudel and Andrew Coleman at Jungle City Studios and Oven Studios . White and Coleman also digitally arranged and edited the track . White handled the mixing at the Mix room in North Hollywood , California . The track was engineered by Justin Hergett with help from James Krausse , Paul Pavao and Edward Valldejuli . The track features backing vocals by Williams and Timbaland . The horns are performed by Katty Rodriguez , Adison Evans and Crystal Torres and arranged by Derek Dixie . When Beyoncé was released on December 13 , 2013 , Billboard reported that " Blow " would be released as a contemporary hit radio single both in the US and worldwide , and " Drunk in Love " was reported to be sent to urban radio in the US only ; " XO " was reportedly scheduled to be released as the second worldwide contemporary hit radio single in 2014 . However , the US release of " Blow " was cancelled , reportedly due to the song 's racy lyrics , and " XO " was issued to radio in that country instead . = = Composition = = " Blow " is a five @-@ minute and nine @-@ second disco @-@ influenced , R & B , funk , retro @-@ soul song with an electro @-@ funk groove and a jazz @-@ influenced opening . Critics also found elements of " chilly " neo @-@ disco in the groove with Rolling Stone writer Rob Shefield further noting that it created an " air of melancholy " . Instrumentally it is complete with a heavy bass , sparse piano chords and guitars altogether creating a blipping , marching and parping beat . Kevin Fallon from The Daily Beast described the song 's production as " so bouncy it 's almost coyish and flirty " and added that it was a counterbalance to the " raunchy " lyrics . An ode to oral sex , " Blow " stands in line with the explicit theme of the album about frank female sexuality and eroticism . Lyrically , it refers to cunnilingus through heavy innuendos omitting subtlety ; the lines " Can you lick my Skittles , it 's the sweetest in the middle / Pink is the flavor , solve the riddle " are sung " flirtatiously " by Beyoncé . It opens with a breathy atmosphere and Beyoncé singing the lines , " I kiss you and you lick your lips / You like it wet and so do I / I know you never waste a drip / I wonder how it feels sometimes " . The chorus lines are " pleaded " by the singer as stated by Fallon : " Keep me coming , keep me going , keep me humming , keep me moaning " . The second half of the song contains a tempo change with a funkier beat and the singer singing verse @-@ chorus @-@ verse trajectories . Chris Richards of The Washington Post compared this type of songcraft with Maxwell , Erykah Badu and Frank Ocean 's work . It starts with Beyoncé declaring " I 'm about to get into this girls . This for all my grown women out there " . During this part , Timbaland 's vocals can be heard in the background as part of a call and response . It follows with Beyoncé singing the lines " I can 't wait ' til I get home so you can turn that cherry out " to her man ; according to Caitlin White of the website The 405 , these line " exhibit deep assurance of her usual freedom " . During the second part , the lines " turn that cherry out " are repeatedly sung followed by the lyrics " I 'm @-@ a let you be the boss of me " . She finishes the second part by delivering , " Don 't slip off when it drip off on top of you ... Gimme that daddy @-@ long stroke " . The second part was further described as a " masterful recreation of mid- ' 80s First Avenue funk " . At the end " Blow " features a French @-@ language interlude . The song 's composition mostly drew comparisons to Prince , Janet Jackson and Timberlake . Whitney Phaneuff from the website HitFix wrote that " Blow " sounded like it was written by Prince ; Writers of Spin and Variety compared it with his song " Dirty Mind " ( 1980 ) which was being used as a template for creating " Blow " and its minimalist new @-@ wave sound with the song 's parent album . The Verge 's Trent Wolbe noted similarities to his song " Erotic City " ( 1989 ) . Joey Guerra of the Houston Chronicle described it as a " disco @-@ fueled ode to oral sex that erupts into a Prince @-@ inspired funk groove " . Greg Kot from the Chicago Tribune compared the song 's electro @-@ funk groove with Jimmy Jam 's collaboration with Janet Jackson during the 1980s while Shefield also compared it with Jackson 's album The Velvet Rope ( 1997 ) . Julia Leconte of Now magazine opined that Beyoncé " manages a Janet Jackson delivery over a Michael Jackson beat " with the song . Evan Rytlewski of The A.V. Club compared the pace of " Blow " with the songs on Timberlake 's albums FutureSex / LoveSounds ( 2006 ) and The 20 / 20 Experience ( 2013 ) . Andrew Hampp and Erika Ramirez of Billboard found similarities between " Blow " and Beyoncé 's previous work with Williams on the songs " Kitty Kat " and " Green Light " from her album B 'Day ( 2006 ) . Tom Breihan from Stereogum compared the " organic breezy joy " of the song with the one found on Solange Knowles ' extended play True ( 2012 ) . It also received comparisons with " Blurred Lines " ( 2013 ) , Rick James 's Cold Blooded album ( 1983 ) and its guitar riff with Mtume . = = Critical reception = = " Blow " received highly positive reviews by music critics upon the release of Beyoncé with many considering it an album highlight and single @-@ worthy . Writing for Rolling Stone , Rob Sheffield called the song the best one on the album . Jon Dolan of the same website described it as the " hottest slinky Seventies electro @-@ soul jammy " . Idolator reviewer Mike Wass described it as a " contender for the song of [ 2013 ] . " The A.V. Club 's Evan Rytlewski thought that the song was " the last great disco song " of 2013 . AllMusic 's Andy Kellman chose the song as the best one on the album , writing that it is a " playfully risqué boogie loaded with instantly memorable lines " . Emily Mackay of NME wrote : " [ The ] Most gleefully brazen of all [ on the album ] ... is the soft @-@ focus disco @-@ tinged romp ' Blow ' " . Mesfin Fekadu of the Associated Press wrote that " the old school @-@ flavored " song was one of the best on the whole album . Melissa Locker of Time described it as " one of the better tracks on the album " . While reviewing the album Jody Rosen of Vulture hailed the song as " beatific " and added that it had potential to become a future hit . In another review he wrote that it " find [ s ] a sweet spot between nostalgia trip and future shock " . Chris Talbott and Mesfin Fekadu of the Associated Press described " Blow " as " addictive " . Digital Spy 's Robert Copsey wrote in his review that the " hipster funk " song was the closest one to being a single from the album and one of " the most obvious chart contenders " . Under the Radar editor Ryan E.C. Hamm felt that the song " could skyrocket up the charts " . USA Today 's Amanda Dobbins felt that the song should have been released during the summer of 2014 as " It has that feel @-@ good ' 70s sound that 's very popular right now " . Andrew Hampp and Erika Ramirez of Billboard magazine praised Beyoncé 's " sexy " vocals on the track which they hailed as a " slinky club banger " . The Washington Post writer Chris Richards described " Blow " as a " strutting , moaning disco vamp " . Sal Cinquemani , writing for Slant Magazine described it as a " post @-@ disco slink " . The Quietus writer Mof Gimmers wrote , " The cocaine soul bears down again , with the excellent ' Blow ' which grooves along like Kelis on a Friday night , before gnashing its teeth into the gonzo pop of Cameo or Parliament . " The Guardian 's Michael Cragg described it as a " delicious throwback funk " song . Mikael Wood of Los Angeles Times felt that the " sumptuous " song allowed Beyoncé " to flex her impressive stylistic chops " . Spin 's Anupa Mistry praised the collaboration of Timbaland and Pharrell on the " nimble and funky " track " Blow " as " mighty " and " genius " . Similarly , Claire Lobenfeld from Complex who felt that Justin Timberlake and Timbaland " lost their ability to make their distinctive , infectious love @-@ pop " on Timberlake 's album The 20 / 20 Experience , noted that " Blow " proved the opposite : " The two have reinvigorated the overused private @-@ parts @-@ as @-@ candy trope by writing one of Bey 's friskiest songs ever . Add some Pharrell production ... and you have one of the smoothest pieces of filth of the year . " Ryan Dennehy from AbsolutePunk found " trademark " Timbaland production in " Blow " and opined , " Bey [ oncé ] wisely co @-@ opts Timbaland himself to deliver a steamy hook that interlocks with her own vocals . " Cosmopolitan writer Alex Rees deemed " Blow " an " awesome disco moment " . Carrie Battan of the website Pitchfork Media described the song 's innuendo as " bawdy and overblown " but praised the singer for being sincere . She concluded , " Monogamy has never sounded more seductive or less retrograde as when dictated on Beyoncé 's terms . " Janice Llamoca of the website HipHopDX found " straight @-@ to @-@ the @-@ point raunchiness " in the song . Philip Matusavage from the website musicOMH noted that the lyrics of the song sounded " more saucy than salacious " . Ryan B. Patrick of Exclaim ! felt that the text of the song " lays the sex kitten shtick a bit thick " . He further described it as a " weird ' 80s Prince / Vanity 6 roller @-@ skating throwback " . Una Mullally from The Irish Times gave a mixed review for " Blow " , saying that the album " falls off a little " with the song . Similarly , Stereogum 's Tom Breihan criticized Timbaland 's vocals featured in the song . In the annual Pazz and Jop mass critics poll of the year 's best in music in 2013 , " Blow " was ranked at number 228 . = = Commercial performance = = Despite no single release , " Blow " debuted at number 48 on Billboard 's US Hot Dance Club Songs chart in the US for the week ending February 8 , 2014 . After seven weeks of ascending the chart , the track went on to top the Hot Dance Club Songs chart for the week ending March 22 , 2014 after its position at number two the previous week . Promotional remixes by Dirty Pop , CJay Swayne and Romeo Blanco helped the song top the chart . This gave Beyoncé her 19th number @-@ one single on the chart and tied her with Janet Jackson for third on the all @-@ time list . At the end of 2014 , it was placed at number 23 on the Billboard year @-@ end chart . " Blow " also debuted at 118 on South Korea 's international South Korea 's international Gaon Music Chart , for the week ending December 22 , 2013 ; that position also became its peak . = = Music video = = = = = Background and synopsis = = = The music video for " Blow " was directed by Hype Williams and produced by Tony McGarry . It was filmed in September 2013 at the roller skating rink Fun Plex in Houston , Texas which the singer frequently visited during her childhood . Beyoncé described the filming of the video as beautiful due to the location and added , " I was really happy to work with him [ Williams ] again because , growing up , he created the music video for hip @-@ hop artists and R & B artists . " Todrick Hall served as the choreographer for the video alongside Beyoncé 's long @-@ time collaborator Frank Gatson Jr. and Chris Grant . During an interview with MTV News , Hall acknowledged the singer 's involvement in the filming of the video saying that she would watch the playback of the filmed scenes several times . The clip was released on December 13 , 2013 to iTunes Store in addition to a clip for every other track on the parent album . On November 24 , 2014 it was uploaded to the singer 's Vevo account . The video features appearances by Beyoncé 's sister Solange Knowles , her background dancers , including French dancing duo Les Twins , and her all @-@ female band . Houston @-@ located rapper Nosaprise also makes a cameo appearance . The video opens with Beyoncé and her sister riding lowrider bicycles , getting to a roller rink where several people are already gathered . Shots of people roler @-@ skating inside the rink with disco balls hanging from the ceiling follow . The singer is then seen performing a dance with several background dancers as they hold rollers in their hands and enter a place called " Roller City USA " . Beyoncé starts skating and performing dance moves in slow @-@ motion with several of her dancers dressed in shorts and T @-@ shirts . Several scenes which are shot in bright black light follow as Beyoncé performs another dance sequence along with her dancers on their rollers . The second , more uptempo part of the song starts and the singer is seen arriving with a vehicle in front of a place called " Cherry " . She dances atop the car and dances with her background band as they play the song on their keytars . As the song progresses , smoke starts appearing out of the car and on the scene where she is with her band . During the end of the video , Beyoncé and her sister are seen going away on the same path by which they came . Close @-@ up shots of Beyoncé lip @-@ syncing the song are intertwined in the video with her lips covered with a shiny lipstick . = = = Reception = = = Mike Wass of the website Idolator called the clip for " Blow " the best music video of 2013 . Brent DiCrescenzo of the magazine Time Out listed the video as the album 's second best further describing it as a " candied and cool disco cut stuffed with ' 80s cheese " . James Montgomery of MTV News chose the video for the song as one of the best on the album . Jocelyn Vena of the same publication wrote that the " colorful " video which was " all about fun " and included " sexy moves " , paid homage to the disco @-@ era of the 1970s and the 1980s dance show Solid Gold . Writing for Spin magazine , Anupa Mistry found references of Hype Williams ' previous collaborations with Faith Evans on " Love Like This " ( 1998 ) which was also filmed at a roller rink and Belly 's blacklighting that he worked on . Lindsey Weber , writing for Vulture felt that with the video for " Blow " , the singer paid homage to " Cherry Pie " ( 1990 ) , a song by the band Warrant . Erin Donnelly of the website Refinery29 described the video as tongue @-@ in @-@ cheek and compared the singer 's look with Mariah Carey during the 1990s . He described her outfits as " [ t ] rash @-@ glam " and found " gratuitous booty wiggles " . Jody Rosen of Vulture simply described the video and its atmosphere as " fun " . Joe Lynch of Fuse felt that the music video channeled the retro R & B vibe of the song and praised Beyoncé for " looking like a gorgeous ' 70s disco diva " . Phaneuf of the website HitFix reviewed the music video for the song positively by writing , " ' Blow ' takes Beyonce back to the 80s heyday of big hair , booty shorts and roller discos . It 's kitschy eye @-@ candy , perfectly stylized " . Bronwyn Barnes of Entertainment Weekly commented that Beyoncé was " the center of attention in the video " partly due to a neon tiger @-@ print mink coat from Versace that she wore . Melissa Locker of Time magazine wrote that the singer managed to channel her inner rollergirl . Vanity Fair 's Michelle Collins compared the video with the film Boogie Nights ( 1997 ) and went on to describe the scene where the singer dances on a car as a " Cinemax After Dark " . In 2014 , Michael Cragg writing for The Guardian ranked the video in the ten best of Beyoncé 's career . He deemed it a " 70s @-@ referencing visual feast that looks like its [ sic ] been shot through a filter called Strawberry Hubba Bubba " . He also praised the singer 's " kitsch " dance moves and concluded , the clip was " [ p ] retty standard " . = = Live performances = = In 2014 , " Blow " was added to the set list of the last , European leg of The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour . The song was merged with " Naughty Girl " ( 2003 ) with a burlesque and disco @-@ era theme . During the end of the performance a projection of Pac @-@ Man , the character of the game with the same name , eating cherries was projected on an LED screen on the stage . Kitty Empire of The Observer who hailed the song as one of the most explicit on the album described the projection as " funny rather than risible " . Digital Spy 's Robert Copsey similarly wrote that he enjoyed the projection , writing that it managed to turn " a family friendly computer game into something very different " . While reviewing a tour concert , Graeme Virtue of The Guardian felt that the song along with " Partition " and " Naughty Girl " , " make [ s ] a persuasive case for Mrs Carter , the unstoppable sex machine " . Similarly BBC News ' Mark Savage described the middle of the show which included the most explicit songs , including " Blow " , as a " raunchy sequence " . Writing for MTV News , Sidney Madden praised the dance performed by the singer along with her background dancers . Describing the singer as a " model of power " , David Pollock from The Independent praised Beyoncé 's " grinding through the disco @-@ soaked majesty " of the song . In June 2014 , a live recording of the song aired on Beyonce : X10 , an HBO series documenting performances of the song during The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour ; it was also included on platinum edition of Beyoncé ( 2014 ) . In 2016 , the song was performed during the set list of The Formation World Tour . At the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards on August 25 , Beyoncé performed " Blow " as part of a medley consisting of songs from her fifth studio album . For the performance of the song , she wore a bejeweled bodysuit and was accompanied by her background dancers performing a cabaret @-@ styled choreography . Throughout the performance , the word " cherry " was lit up on the screen behind her in neon letters . In a review of the performance , Nadeska Alexis of MTV News felt that " things started to heat up " with the rendition of the song . She further praised the fact that the lights illuminated her bodysuit being " nothing short of mesmerizing " . Caitlin White of the same publication found " rainbow neon sexiness " in the song 's performance . Mike Wayers writing for The Wall Street Journal noted that " [ t ] hings started to heat up beat @-@ wise " during " Blow " . = = Remixes and other versions = = On April 8 , 2014 , remix versions of " Blow " and " XO " by French musician Monsieur Adi premiered on Out 's official website along Beyoncé 's appearance on the cover of the magazine . The remix for " Blow " was influenced by electro house music and was described as " infectious " by the editors of the magazine . Complex magazine writer Lauren Nostro described the version as " fantastic " . A remix with previously unreleased lyrics done by Country Club Martini Crew was released on January 1 , 2015 . An official remix of " Blow " featuring Pharrell Williams was included on Beyoncé : Platinum Edition ( 2014 ) . Mike Wass from Idolator noted how the song was " borderline unlistenable " and the newly @-@ added line , " I 'm a milkman at your door " a contender for " worst lyric / euphemism of 2014 " . Allan Raible , an ABC News writer , deemed it redundant due to the minimal new addition to the original version . Lindsay Zoladz from the Vulture , panned the " inexplicable " remix as " a poorly assembled cut @-@ and @-@ paste job " , further criticizing Williams 's vocals as " awkward , labored , and even a little off @-@ key " . Critic Robert Christgau , writing for Cuepoint , was more positive towards the remix , deeming it " cuter " . = = Credits and personnel = = Credits are adapted from liner notes of Beyoncé . Song credits Video credits = = Charts = =
= The Wire = The Wire is an American crime drama television series set and produced in and around Baltimore , Maryland . Created and primarily written by author and former police reporter David Simon , the series was broadcast by the cable network HBO in the United States . The Wire premiered on June 2 , 2002 , and ended on March 9 , 2008 , comprising 60 episodes over five seasons . Each season of The Wire introduces a different institution in the city of Baltimore and its relationship to law enforcement , while retaining characters and advancing storylines from previous seasons . In chronological order these institutions are : the illegal drug trade , the seaport system , the city government and bureaucracy , the school system , and the print news media . The large cast consists mainly of actors who are little known for their other roles , as well as numerous real @-@ life Baltimore and Maryland figures in guest and recurring roles . Simon has said that despite its framing as a crime drama , the show is " really about the American city , and about how we live together . It 's about how institutions have an effect on individuals . Whether one is a cop , a longshoreman , a drug dealer , a politician , a judge or a lawyer , all are ultimately compromised and must contend with whatever institution to which they are committed . " The Wire is lauded for its literary thematics ; its uncommonly acute exploration of social and political themes ; and its realistic portrayal of urban life . Although the show received average ratings throughout its run , and never won any major television awards , it has since come to be regarded by many critics as one of the greatest television dramas of all time . = = Production = = = = = Conception = = = Simon has stated that he originally set out to create a police drama loosely based on the experiences of his writing partner Ed Burns , a former homicide detective . Burns , when working on protracted investigations of violent drug dealers using surveillance technology , had often been frustrated by the bureaucracy of the Baltimore police department ; Simon saw similarities with his own ordeals as a police reporter for The Baltimore Sun . Simon chose to set the show in Baltimore because of his familiarity with the city . During his time as a writer and producer for the NBC program Homicide : Life on the Street , based on his book Homicide : A Year on the Killing Streets ( 1991 ) , also set in Baltimore , Simon had come into conflict with NBC network executives who were displeased by the show 's pessimism . Simon wanted to avoid a repeat of these conflicts and chose to take The Wire to HBO , because of their working relationship from the miniseries The Corner ( 2000 ) . HBO was initially doubtful about including a police drama in its lineup but eventually agreed to produce the pilot episode . Simon approached the mayor of Baltimore , telling him that he wanted to give a bleak portrayal of certain aspects of the city ; Simon was welcomed to work there again . He hoped the show would change the opinions of some viewers but said that it was unlikely to affect the issues it portrays . = = = Casting = = = The casting of the show has been praised for avoiding big @-@ name stars and using character actors who appear natural in their roles . The looks of the cast as a whole have been described as defying TV expectations by presenting a true range of humanity on screen . Most of the cast is African @-@ American , consistent with the demographics of Baltimore . The initial cast was assembled through a process of auditions and readings . Lance Reddick received the role of Cedric Daniels after auditioning for several other parts . Michael K. Williams got the part of Omar Little after only a single audition . Several prominent real @-@ life Baltimore figures , including former Maryland Governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr . ; Rev. Frank M. Reid III ; former police chief , convicted felon , and radio personality Ed Norris ; Virginia Delegate Rob Bell ; Baltimore Sun reporter and editor David Ettlin ; Howard County Executive Ken Ulman ; and former mayor Kurt Schmoke have appeared in minor roles despite not being professional actors . " Little Melvin " Williams , a Baltimore drug lord arrested in the 1980s by an investigation that Ed Burns had been part of , had a recurring role as a deacon beginning in the third season . Jay Landsman , a longtime police officer who inspired the character of the same name , played Lieutenant Dennis Mello . Baltimore police commander Gary D 'Addario served as the series technical advisor for the first two seasons and has a recurring role as prosecutor Gary DiPasquale . Simon shadowed D 'Addario 's shift when researching his book Homicide : A Year on the Killing Streets and both D 'Addario and Landsman are subjects of the book . More than a dozen cast members previously appeared on HBO 's first hour @-@ long drama Oz . J. D. Williams , Seth Gilliam , Lance Reddick , and Reg E. Cathey were featured in very prominent roles in Oz , while a number of other notable stars of The Wire , including Wood Harris , Frankie Faison , John Doman , Clarke Peters , Domenick Lombardozzi , Michael Hyatt , Michael Potts , and Method Man appeared in at least one episode of Oz . Cast members Erik Dellums , Peter Gerety , Clark Johnson , Clayton LeBouef , Toni Lewis and Callie Thorne also appeared on Homicide : Life on the Street , the earlier and award @-@ winning network television series also based on Simon 's book ; Lewis appeared on Oz as well . A number of cast members , as well as crew members , also appeared in the preceding HBO miniseries The Corner including Clarke Peters , Reg E. Cathey , Lance Reddick , Corey Parker Robinson , Robert F. Chew , Delaney Williams and Benay Berger . = = = Crew = = = Alongside Simon , the show 's creator , head writer , showrunner and executive producer , much of the creative team behind The Wire were alumni of Homicide and Emmy @-@ winning miniseries The Corner . The Corner veteran , Robert F. Colesberry , was executive producer for the first two seasons and directed the season 2 finale before dying from complications from heart surgery in 2004 . He is credited by the rest of the creative team as having a large creative role for a producer , and Simon credits him for achieving the show 's realistic visual feel . He also had a small recurring role as Detective Ray Cole . Colesberry 's wife Karen L. Thorson joined him on the production staff . A third producer on The Corner , Nina Kostroff Noble also stayed with the production staff for The Wire rounding out the initial four @-@ person team . Following Colesberry 's death , she became the show 's second executive producer alongside Simon . Stories for the show were often co @-@ written by Ed Burns , a former Baltimore homicide detective and public school teacher who had worked with Simon on other projects including The Corner . Burns also became a producer on The Wire in the show 's fourth season . Other writers for The Wire include three acclaimed crime fiction writers from outside of Baltimore : George Pelecanos from Washington , Richard Price from the Bronx and Dennis Lehane from Boston . Reviewers drew comparisons between Price 's works ( particularly Clockers ) and The Wire even before he joined . In addition to writing , Pelecanos served as a producer for the third season . Pelecanos has commented that he was attracted to the project because of the opportunity to work with Simon . Staff writer Rafael Alvarez penned several episodes ' scripts , as well as the series guidebook The Wire : Truth Be Told . Alvarez is a colleague of Simon 's from The Sun and a Baltimore native with working experience in the port area . Another city native and independent filmmaker , Joy Lusco , also wrote for the show in each of its first three seasons . Baltimore Sun writer and political journalist William F. Zorzi joined the writing staff in the third season and brought a wealth of experience to the show 's examination of Baltimore politics . Playwright and television writer / producer Eric Overmyer joined the crew of The Wire in the show 's fourth season as a consulting producer and writer . He had also previously worked on Homicide . Overmyer was brought into the full @-@ time production staff to replace Pelecanos who scaled back his involvement to concentrate on his next book and worked on the fourth season solely as a writer . Emmy @-@ award winner , Homicide and The Corner writer and college friend of Simon David Mills also joined the writing staff in the fourth season . Directors include Homicide alumnus Clark Johnson , who directed several acclaimed episodes of The Shield , and Tim Van Patten , an Emmy winner who has worked on every season of The Sopranos . The directing has been praised for its uncomplicated and subtle style . Following the death of Colesberry , director Joe Chappelle joined the production staff as a co @-@ executive producer and continued to regularly direct episodes . = = = Episode structure = = = When broadcast on HBO and on some international networks , the episodes are preceded by a recap of events that have a bearing upon the upcoming narrative , using clips from previous episodes . Each episode begins with a cold open that seldom contains a dramatic juncture . The screen then fades or cuts to black while the intro music fades in . The show 's opening title sequence then plays ; a series of shots , mainly close @-@ ups , concerning the show 's subject matter that changes from season to season , separated by fast cutting ( a technique rarely used in the show itself ) . The opening credits are superimposed on the sequence , and consist only of actors ' names without identifying which actors play which roles . In addition , actors ' faces are rarely seen in the title sequence . At the end of the sequence , a quotation is shown on @-@ screen that is spoken by a character during the episode . The three exceptions were the first season finale which uses the phrase " All in the game " , attributed to " Traditional West Baltimore " , a phrase used frequently throughout all five seasons including that episode ; the fourth season finale which uses words written on boarded up vacant homes attributed to " Baltimore , traditional " and the series finale , which started with a quote from H. L. Mencken that is shown on a wall at The Baltimore Sun in one scene , neither quote being spoken by a character . Progressive story arcs often unfold in different locations at the same time . Episodes rarely end with a cliffhanger , and close with a fade or cut to black with the closing music fading in . = = = Music = = = Rather than overlaying songs on the soundtrack , or employing a score , The Wire primarily uses pieces of music that emanate from a source within the scene , such as a jukebox or car radio . This kind of music is known as diegetic or source cue . This practice is rarely breached , notably for the end @-@ of @-@ season montages and occasionally with a brief overlap of the closing theme and the final shot . The opening theme is " Way Down in the Hole , " a gospel @-@ and @-@ blues @-@ inspired song , written by Tom Waits for his 1987 album Franks Wild Years . Each season uses a different recording and a different opening sequence , with the theme being performed by The Blind Boys of Alabama , Waits , The Neville Brothers , DoMaJe and Steve Earle . The season four version of " Way Down in the Hole " was arranged and recorded for the show and is performed by five Baltimore teenagers : Ivan Ashford , Markel Steele , Cameron Brown , Tariq Al @-@ Sabir and Avery Bargasse . Earle , who performed the fifth season version , is also a member of the cast , playing the recovering drug addict Walon . The closing theme is " The Fall , " composed by Blake Leyh , who is also the music supervisor of the show . During season finales , a song is played before the closing scene in a montage showing the lives of the protagonists in the aftermath of the narrative . The first season montage is played over " Step by Step " by Jesse Winchester , the second " I Feel Alright " by Steve Earle , the third " Fast Train " written by Van Morrison and performed by Solomon Burke , the fourth " I Walk on Gilded Splinters " written by Dr. John and performed by Paul Weller and the fifth uses an extended version of " Way Down In The Hole " by the Blind Boys of Alabama , the same version of the song used as the opening theme for the first season . While the songs reflect the mood of the sequence , their lyrics are usually only loosely tied to the visual shots . In the commentary track to episode 37 , " Mission Accomplished " , executive producer David Simon said : " I hate it when somebody purposely tries to have the lyrics match the visual . It brutalizes the visual in a way to have the lyrics dead on point . ... Yet at the same time it can 't be totally off point . It has to glance at what you 're trying to say . " Music by the Celtic punk band The Pogues is used throughout the series . The band 's song " The Body of an American , " which is always played at detectives ' wakes at Kavanaugh 's Bar , occurs in three episodes . In the episode " Dead Soldiers , " the song " Sally MacLennane " can be heard when Bunk and McNulty are drinking on the street outside Kavanaugh 's Bar . The song " Transmetropolitan " is heard in the opening sequence of the episode " Duck and Cover " during season two , where McNulty crashes his car while drunk . Two soundtrack albums , called The Wire : And All the Pieces Matter — Five Years of Music from The Wire and Beyond Hamsterdam , were released on January 8 , 2008 on Nonesuch Records . The former features music from all five seasons of the series and the latter includes local Baltimore artists exclusively . = = Style = = = = = Realism = = = The writers strove to create a realistic vision of an American city based on their own experiences . Simon , originally a journalist for the Baltimore Sun , spent a year researching a homicide police department for his book , Homicide : A Year on the Killing Streets , where he met Burns . Burns served in the Baltimore Police Department for 20 years , and later became a teacher in an inner @-@ city school . The two of them spent a year researching the drug culture and poverty in Baltimore for their book , The Corner : A Year in the Life of an Inner @-@ City Neighborhood . Their combined experiences were used in many of the storylines of The Wire . Central to the show 's aim for realism was the creation of truthful characters . Simon has stated that most of them are composites of real @-@ life Baltimore figures . For instance , Donnie Andrews served as the main inspiration of Omar Little . Martin O 'Malley served as " one of the inspirations " for Tommy Carcetti . The show often cast non @-@ professional actors in minor roles , distinguishing itself from other television series by showing the " faces and voices of the real city " it depicts . The writing also uses contemporary slang to enhance the immersive viewing experience . In distinguishing the police characters from other television detectives , Simon makes the point that even the best police of The Wire are motivated not by a desire to protect and serve , but by the intellectual vanity of believing they are smarter than the criminals they are chasing . However , while many of the police do exhibit altruistic qualities , many officers portrayed on the show are incompetent , brutal , self @-@ aggrandizing , or hamstrung by bureaucracy and politics . The criminals are not always motivated by profit or a desire to harm others ; many are trapped in their existence and all have human qualities . Even so , The Wire does not minimize or gloss over the horrific effects of their actions . The show is realistic in depicting the processes of both police work and criminal activity . There have even been reports of real @-@ life criminals watching the show to learn how to counter police investigation techniques . The fifth season portrayed a working newsroom at the Baltimore Sun and has been hailed as the most realistic portrayal of the media in film and television . In December 2006 , The Washington Post carried an article in which local African @-@ American students stated that the show had " hit a nerve " with the black community , and that they themselves knew real @-@ life counterparts of many of the characters . The article expressed great sadness at the toll drugs and violence are taking on the black community . = = = Visual novel = = = Many important events occur off @-@ camera and there is no artificial exposition in the form of voice @-@ over or flashbacks , with the exceptions of two flashbacks – one at the end of the pilot episode that replays a moment from earlier in the same episode and one at the end of the fourth season finale that shows a short clip of a character tutoring his younger brother earlier in the season . Thus , the viewer needs to follow every conversation closely to understand the ongoing story arc and the relevance of each character to it . Salon.com has described the show as novelistic in structure , with a greater depth of writing and plotting than other crime shows . Each season of The Wire consists of 10 – 13 full @-@ hour episodes , which form several multi @-@ layered narratives . Simon chose this structure with an eye towards long story arcs that draw a viewer in , which then results in a more satisfying payoff . He uses the metaphor of a visual novel in several interviews , describing each episode as a chapter , and has also commented that this allows a fuller exploration of the show 's themes in time not spent on plot development . = = = Social commentary = = = Simon described the second season as " a meditation on the death of work and the betrayal of the American working class ... it is a deliberate argument that unencumbered capitalism is not a substitute for social policy ; that on its own , without a social compact , raw capitalism is destined to serve the few at the expense of the many . " He added that season 3 " reflects on the nature of reform and reformers , and whether there is any possibility that political processes , long calcified , can mitigate against the forces currently arrayed against individuals . " The third season is also an allegory that draws explicit parallels between the Iraq War and drug prohibition , which in Simon 's view has failed in its aims and has become a war against America 's underclass . This is portrayed by Major Colvin , imparting to Carver his view that policing has been allowed to become a war and thus will never succeed in its aims . Writer Ed Burns , who worked as a public school teacher after retiring from the Baltimore police force shortly before going to work with Simon , has called education the theme of the fourth season . Rather than focusing solely on the school system , the fourth season looks at schools as a porous part of the community that are affected by problems outside of their boundaries . Burns states that education comes from many sources other than schools and that children can be educated by other means , including contact with the drug dealers they work for . Burns and Simon see the theme as an opportunity to explore how individuals end up like the show 's criminal characters , and to dramatize the notion that hard work is not always justly rewarded . = = Themes = = = = = Institutional dysfunction = = = Simon has identified the organizations featured in the show — the Baltimore Police Department , City Hall , the Baltimore public school system , the Barksdale drug trafficking operation , The Baltimore Sun , and the stevedores ' union — as comparable institutions . All are dysfunctional in some way , and the characters are typically betrayed by the institutions that they accept in their lives . There is also a sentiment echoed by a detective in Narcotics — " Shit rolls downhill " — which describes how superiors , especially in the higher tiers of the police department in the series , will attempt to use subordinates as scapegoats for any major scandals . Simon described the show as " cynical about institutions " while taking a humanistic approach toward its characters . A central theme developed throughout the show is the struggle between individual desires and subordination to the group 's goals . Whether it is Officer Jimmy McNulty using all his cards to pursue a high @-@ profile case despite resistance from his own department , or gang member D 'Angelo Barksdale accepting a 20 @-@ year prison sentence contrary to his strong desire to turn in his uncle Avon and walk , this type of conflict is pervasive in all aspects of the show . = = = Surveillance = = = Central to the structure and plot of the show is the use of electronic surveillance and wiretap technologies by the police — hence the title The Wire . Salon.com described the title as a metaphor for the viewer 's experience : the wiretaps provide the police with access to a secret world , just as the show does for the viewer . Simon has discussed the use of camera shots of surveillance equipment , or shots that appear to be taken from the equipment itself , to emphasize the volume of surveillance in modern life and the characters ' need to sift through this information . = = Cast and characters = = The Wire employs a broad ensemble cast , supplemented by many recurring guest stars who populate the institutions featured in the show . The majority of the cast is black , which accurately reflects the demographics of Baltimore . The show 's creators are also willing to kill off major characters , so that viewers cannot assume that a given character will survive simply because of a starring role or popularity among fans . In response to a question on why a certain character had to die , David Simon said , We are not selling hope , or audience gratification , or cheap victories with this show . The Wire is making an argument about what institutions — bureaucracies , criminal enterprises , the cultures of addiction , raw capitalism even — do to individuals . It is not designed purely as an entertainment . It is , I 'm afraid , a somewhat angry show . = = = Main cast = = = The major characters of the first season were divided between those on the side of the law and those involved in drug @-@ related crime . The investigating detail was launched by the actions of Detective Jimmy McNulty ( Dominic West ) , whose insubordinate tendencies and personal problems played counterpoint to his ability as a criminal investigator . The detail was led by Lieutenant Cedric Daniels ( Lance Reddick ) who faced challenges balancing his career aspirations with his desire to produce a good case . Kima Greggs ( Sonja Sohn ) was a capable lead detective who faced jealousy from colleagues and worry about the dangers of her job from her domestic partner . Her investigative work was greatly helped by her confidential informant , a drug addict known as Bubbles ( Andre Royo ) . Like Greggs , partners Thomas " Herc " Hauk ( Domenick Lombardozzi ) and Ellis Carver ( Seth Gilliam ) were reassigned to the detail from the narcotics unit . The duo 's initially violent nature was eventually subdued as they proved useful in grunt work , and sometimes served as comic relief for the audience . Rounding out the temporary unit were detectives Lester Freamon ( Clarke Peters ) and Roland " Prez " Pryzbylewski ( Jim True @-@ Frost ) . Though not initially important players in the operation , Freamon proved a quietly capable and methodical investigator with a knack for noticing tiny but important details , and Prez turned out to be a natural at following paper trails and his persistence when dealing with seemingly unbreakable codes paid off eventually . These investigators were overseen by two commanding officers more concerned with politics and their own careers than the case , Deputy Commissioner Ervin Burrell ( Frankie Faison ) and Major William Rawls ( John Doman ) . Assistant state 's attorney Rhonda Pearlman ( Deirdre Lovejoy ) acted as the legal liaison between the detail and the courthouse and also had a sexual relationship with McNulty . In the homicide division , Bunk Moreland ( Wendell Pierce ) was a gifted , dry @-@ witted , hard @-@ drinking detective partnered with McNulty under Sergeant Jay Landsman ( Delaney Williams ) , the sarcastic , sharp @-@ tongued squad supervisor . Peter Gerety had a recurring role as Judge Phelan , the official who started the case moving . On the other side of the investigation was Avon Barksdale 's drug empire . The driven , ruthless Barksdale ( Wood Harris ) was aided by business @-@ minded Stringer Bell ( Idris Elba ) . Avon 's nephew D 'Angelo Barksdale ( Larry Gilliard , Jr . ) ran some of his uncle 's territory , but also possessed a guilty conscience , while loyal Wee @-@ Bey Brice ( Hassan Johnson ) was responsible for multiple homicides carried out on Avon 's orders . Working under D 'Angelo were Poot ( Tray Chaney ) , Bodie ( J.D. Williams ) , and Wallace ( Michael B. Jordan ) , all street @-@ level drug dealers . Wallace was an intelligent but naive youth trapped in the drug trade , and Poot a randy young man happy to follow rather than lead . Omar Little ( Michael K. Williams ) , a renowned Baltimore stick @-@ up man robbing drug dealers for a living , was a frequent thorn in the side of the Barksdale clan . The second season introduced a new group of characters working in the Baltimore port area , including Spiros " Vondas " Vondopoulos ( Paul Ben @-@ Victor ) , Beadie Russell ( Amy Ryan ) , and Frank Sobotka ( Chris Bauer ) . Vondas was the underboss of a global smuggling operation , Russell an inexperienced port authority officer and single mother thrown in at the deep end of a multiple homicide investigation , and Frank Sobotka a union leader who turned to crime to raise funds to save his union . Also joining the show in season 2 were Nick Sobotka ( Pablo Schreiber ) , Frank 's nephew ; Ziggy Sobotka ( James Ransone ) , Frank 's troubled son ; and " The Greek " ( Bill Raymond ) , Vondas 's mysterious boss . As the second season ended , the focus shifted away from the ports , leaving the new characters behind . The third season saw several previously recurring characters assuming larger starring roles , including Detective Leander Sydnor ( Corey Parker Robinson ) , Bodie ( J.D. Williams ) , Omar ( Michael K. Williams ) , Proposition Joe ( Robert F. Chew ) , and Major Howard " Bunny " Colvin ( Robert Wisdom ) . Colvin commanded the Western district where the Barksdale organization operated , and nearing retirement , he came up with a radical new method of dealing with the drug problem . Proposition Joe , the East Side 's cautious drug kingpin , became more cooperative with the Barksdale Organization . Sydnor , a rising young star in the police department in season 1 , returned to the cast as part of the major crimes unit . Bodie had been seen gradually rising in the Barksdale organization since the first episode ; he was born to their trade and showed a fierce aptitude for it . Omar had a vendetta against the Barksdale organization and gave them all of his lethal attention . New additions in the third season included Tommy Carcetti ( Aidan Gillen ) , an ambitious city councilman ; Mayor Clarence Royce ( Glynn Turman ) , the incumbent whom Carcetti planned to unseat ; Marlo Stanfield ( Jamie Hector ) , leader of an upstart gang seeking to challenge Avon 's dominance ; and Dennis " Cutty " Wise ( Chad Coleman ) , a newly released convict uncertain of his future . In the fourth season , four young actors joined the cast : Jermaine Crawford as Duquan " Dukie " Weems ; Maestro Harrell as Randy Wagstaff ; Julito McCullum as Namond Brice ; and Tristan Wilds as Michael Lee . The characters are friends from a West Baltimore middle school . Another newcomer was Norman Wilson ( Reg E. Cathey ) , Carcetti 's deputy campaign manager . The fifth season saw several actors join the starring cast . Gbenga Akinnagbe returns as the previously recurring Chris Partlow , chief enforcer of the now dominant Stanfield Organization . Neal Huff reprises his role as Mayoral chief of staff Michael Steintorf having previously appeared as a guest star at the end of the fourth season . Two other actors also join the starring cast having previously portrayed their corrupt characters as guest stars — Michael Kostroff as defense attorney Maurice Levy and Isiah Whitlock , Jr. as senator Clay Davis . Crew member Clark Johnson appeared in front of the camera for the first time in the series to play Augustus Haynes , the principled editor of the city desk of The Baltimore Sun . He is joined in the newsroom by two other new stars ; Michelle Paress and Tom McCarthy play young reporters Alma Gutierrez and Scott Templeton . = = Plot = = = = = Season 1 = = = The first season introduces two major groups of characters : the Baltimore police department and a drug dealing organization run by the Barksdale family . The season follows the police investigation of the latter over its 13 episodes . The investigation is triggered when detective Jimmy McNulty meets privately with judge Daniel Phelan following the acquittal of D 'Angelo Barksdale for murder after a key witness changes her story . McNulty tells Phelan that the witness has probably been intimidated by members of a drug trafficking empire run by D 'Angelo 's uncle , Avon Barksdale , having recognized several faces at the trial , most notably Avon 's second @-@ in @-@ command , Stringer Bell . He also tells Phelan that no one is investigating Barksdale 's criminal activity , which includes a significant portion of the city 's drug trade and several unsolved homicides . Phelan takes issue with McNulty 's report and complains to senior Police Department figures , embarrassing them into creating a detail dedicated to investigating Barksdale . However , owing to the department 's dysfunction , the investigation is intended as a façade to appease the judge . An intradepartmental struggle between the more motivated officers on the detail and their superiors spans the whole season , with interference by the higher @-@ ups often threatening to ruin the investigation . The detail 's commander , Cedric Daniels , acts as mediator between the two opposing groups of police . Meanwhile , the organized and cautious Barksdale gang is explored through characters at various levels within it . The organization is continually antagonized by a stick @-@ up crew led by Omar Little , and the feud leads to several deaths . Throughout , D 'Angelo struggles with his conscience over his life of crime and the people it affects . The police have little success with street @-@ level arrests or with securing informants beyond Bubbles , a well known West Side drug addict . Eventually the investigation takes the direction of electronic surveillance , with wiretaps and pager clones to infiltrate the security measures taken by the Barksdale organization . This leads the investigation to areas the commanding officers had hoped to avoid , including political contributions . When an associate of Avon Barksdale is arrested by State Police and offers to cooperate , the commanding officers order the detail to undertake a sting operation to wrap up the case . Detective Kima Greggs is seriously hurt in the operation , triggering an overzealous response from the rest of the department . This causes the detail 's targets to suspect that they are under investigation . Wallace is murdered by his childhood friends Bodie and Poot , on orders from Stringer Bell , after leaving his " secure " placement with relatives and returning to Baltimore . D 'Angelo Barksdale is eventually arrested transporting a kilo of uncut heroin , and learning of Wallace 's murder , is ready to turn in his uncle and Stringer . However , D 'Angelo 's mother convinces him to rescind the deal and take the charges for his family . The detail manages to arrest Avon on a minor charge and gets one of his soldiers , Wee @-@ Bey , to confess to most of the murders , some of which he did not commit . Stringer escapes prosecution and is left running the Barksdale empire . For the officers , the consequences of antagonizing their superiors are severe , with Daniels passed over for promotion and McNulty assigned out of homicide and into the marine unit . = = = Season 2 = = = The second season , along with its ongoing examination of the drug problem and its effect on the urban poor , examines the plight of the blue @-@ collar urban working class as exemplified by stevedores in the city port , as some of them get caught up in smuggling drugs and other contraband inside the shipping containers that pass through their port . In a season @-@ long subplot , the Barksdale organization continues its drug trafficking despite Avon 's imprisonment , with Stringer Bell assuming greater power . McNulty harbors a grudge against his former commanders for reassigning him to the marine unit . When thirteen unidentified young women are found dead in a container at the docks , McNulty successfully makes a spiteful effort to place the murders within the jurisdiction of his former commander . Meanwhile , police Major Stan Valchek gets into a feud with Polish @-@ American Frank Sobotka , a leader of the International Brotherhood of Stevedores , a fictional dockers ' union , over competing donations to their old neighborhood church . Valchek demands a detail to investigate Sobotka . Cedric Daniels is interviewed , having been praised by Prez , Major Valchek 's son @-@ in @-@ law , and also because of his work on the Barksdale case . He is eventually selected to lead the detail assigned just to investigate Sobotka ; when the investigation is concluded Daniels is assured he will move up to head a special case unit with personnel of his choosing . Life for the blue @-@ collar men of the port is increasingly hard and work is scarce . As union leader , Sobotka has taken it on himself to reinvigorate the port by lobbying politicians to support much @-@ needed infrastructure improvement initiatives . Lacking the funds needed for this kind of influence , Sobotka has become involved with a smuggling ring . Around him , his son and nephew also turn to crime , as they have few other opportunities to earn money . It becomes clear to the Sobotka detail that the dead girls are related to their investigation , as they were in a container that was supposed to be smuggled through the port . They again use wiretaps to infiltrate the crime ring and slowly work their way up the chain towards The Greek , the mysterious man in charge . But Valchek , upset that their focus has moved beyond Sobotka , gets the FBI involved . The Greek has a mole inside the FBI and starts severing his ties to Baltimore when he learns about the investigation . After a dispute over stolen goods turns violent , Sobotka 's son Ziggy is charged with the murder of one of the Greek 's underlings . Sobotka himself is arrested for smuggling ; he agrees to work with the detail to help his son , finally seeing his actions as a mistake . However , the Greek learns about this through his mole inside the FBI and has Sobotka killed . The investigation ends with the fourteen homicides solved but the perpetrator already dead . Several drug dealers and mid @-@ level smuggling figures tied to the Greek are arrested , but he and his second @-@ in @-@ command escape uncharged and unidentified . The Major is pleased that Sobotka was arrested ; the case is seen as a success by the commanding officers , but is viewed as a failure by the detail . Across town , the Barksdale organization continues its business under Stringer while Avon and D 'Angelo Barksdale serve prison time . D 'Angelo decides to cut ties to his family after his uncle organizes the deaths of several inmates and blames it on a corrupt guard to shave time from his sentence . Eventually Stringer covertly orders D 'Angelo killed , with the murder staged to look like a suicide . Avon is unaware of Stringer 's duplicity and mourns the loss of his nephew . Stringer also struggles , having been cut off by Avon 's drug suppliers and left with increasingly poor @-@ quality product . He again goes behind Avon 's back , giving up half of Avon 's most prized territory to a rival named Proposition Joe in exchange for a share of his supply . Avon , unaware of the arrangement , assumes that Joe and other dealers are moving into his territory simply because the Barksdale organization has too few enforcers . He contracts a feared assassin named Brother Mouzone . Stringer deals with this by tricking his old adversary Omar into believing that Mouzone was responsible for the vicious killing of his partner in their feud in season one . Seeking revenge , Omar shoots Mouzone but , realizing Stringer has lied to him , calls 9 @-@ 1 @-@ 1 . Mouzone recovers and leaves Baltimore , and Stringer ( now with Avon 's consent ) is able to continue his arrangement with Proposition Joe . = = = Season 3 = = = In the third season , the focus returns to the street and the Barksdale organization . The scope , however , is expanded to include the city 's political scene . A new subplot is introduced to explore the potential positive effects of de facto " legalizing " the illegal drug trade , and incidentally prostitution , within the limited boundaries of a few uninhabited city blocks — referred to as Hamsterdam . The posited benefits , as in Amsterdam and other European cities , are reduced street crime city @-@ wide and increased outreach of health and social services to at @-@ risk populations . These are continuations of storylines hinted at earlier . The demolition of the residential towers that had served as the Barksdale organization 's prime territory pushes their dealers back out onto the streets of Baltimore . Stringer Bell continues his reform of the organization by cooperating with other drug lords , sharing with one another territory , product , and profits . Stringer 's proposal is met with a curt refusal from Marlo Stanfield , leader of a new , growing crew . Against Stringer 's advice , Avon decides to take Marlo 's territory by force , and the two gangs become embroiled in a bitter turf war with multiple deaths . Omar Little continues to rob the Barksdale organization wherever possible . Working with his new boyfriend , Dante , and two women , he is once more a serious problem . The violence related to the drug trade makes it an obvious choice of investigation for Cedric Daniels ' now @-@ permanent Major Crimes Unit . Councilman Tommy Carcetti begins to prepare himself for a mayoral race . He manipulates a colleague into running against the mayor to split the black vote , secures a capable campaign manager and starts making headlines for himself . As he approaches the end of his career , Major Howard " Bunny " Colvin of Baltimore 's Western District wants to effect some real change in the troubled neighborhoods for which he has long been responsible . Without the knowledge of central command , Colvin sets up areas where police would monitor , but not punish , the drug trade . The police crack down severely on violence in these areas , and also on drug trafficking elsewhere in the city . For many weeks , Colvin 's experiment works , and crime is reduced in his district . However , Colvin ' superiors , the media , and city politicians eventually find out about the arrangement , and the " Hamsterdam " experiment ends . With top brass outraged , Colvin is forced to cease his actions , accept a demotion , and retire from the police department on a lower @-@ grade pension . Tommy Carcetti uses the scandal to make a grandstanding speech at a weekly Baltimore city council meeting . Dennis " Cutty " Wise , once a drug dealer 's enforcer , is released from prison alongside Avon . His struggles to adapt to life as a free man show an attempt at personal reform . Cutty tries to work as a manual laborer and then flirts with his former life , going to work for Avon . Finding he no longer has the heart for murder , he eventually uses funding from Avon to purchase new equipment for his nascent boxing gym . The Major Crimes Unit learns that Stringer has been buying real estate and developing it to fulfill his dream of being a successful legitimate businessman . Believing that the bloody turf war with Marlo is poised to destroy everything the Barksdale crew had worked for , Stringer gives Major Colvin information on Avon 's weapons stash . But Stringer is himself being betrayed by Avon : Brother Mouzone had returned to Baltimore and tracked down Omar to join forces . Mouzone tells Avon that his shooting must be avenged . Avon , remembering how Stringer disregarded his order which resulted in Stringer attempting to have Brother Mouzone killed , possibly still furious over D 'Angelo 's murder ( Stringer having finally confessed the truth ) , and fearing Mouzone 's ability to harm his reputation outside of Baltimore , informs Mouzone of Stringer 's upcoming visit to his construction site . There , Mouzone and Omar corner him and shoot him to death . Colvin tells McNulty about Avon 's hideout , and armed with the information gleaned from selling the Barksdale crew pre @-@ wiretapped disposable cell phones , the detail stages a raid , arresting Avon and most of his underlings . Barksdale 's criminal empire lies in ruins , and Marlo 's young crew simply moves into their territory . The drug trade in West Baltimore continues with little change . = = = Season 4 = = = The fourth season expanded its scope again to include an examination of the school system . Other major plots include the mayoral race that continues the political storyline begun in season three , and a closer look at Marlo Stanfield 's drug gang , which has grown to control most of western Baltimore 's trafficking . The show introduces Dukie , Randy , Michael , and Namond , four boys from West Baltimore , as they enter the eighth grade . At the same school , Prez has begun a new career as a math teacher . Despite mentorship from the more seasoned faculty , Namond , and later Michael , work as drug runners for Bodie , who has had middling success selling Proposition Joe 's product independently . The cold @-@ blooded Marlo has come to dominate the streets of the west side , using murder and intimidation to make up for his weak @-@ quality drugs and lack of business acumen . His enforcers Chris Partlow and Snoop conceal their numerous victims in abandoned and boarded @-@ up row houses where the bodies will not be readily discovered . The disappearances of so many known criminals come to mystify both the major crimes unit investigating Marlo and the homicide unit assigned to solve the presumed murders . Marlo coerces Bodie into working under him . McNulty has found peace working as a patrolman and living with Beadie Russell , and refuses promotions from Daniels , now a major commanding the Western District . Detectives Kima Greggs and Lester Freamon , as part of the major crimes unit , investigate Avon Barksdale 's political donations and serve several key figures with subpoenas . Their work is shut down by Commissioner Ervin Burrell at Mayor Clarence Royce 's request , and after being placed under stricter supervision within their unit , both Greggs and Freamon request and receive transfer to the homicide division . Meanwhile , the city 's mayoral primary race enters its closing weeks . Royce initially has a seemingly insurmountable lead over challengers Tommy Carcetti and Tony Gray , with a big war chest and major endorsements . Royce 's lead begins to fray , however , as his own political machinations turn against him and Carcetti starts to highlight the city 's crime problem . Carcetti is propelled to victory in the primary election . Howard " Bunny " Colvin joins a research group attempting to study potential future criminals in the middle school population . Dennis " Cutty " Wise continues to work with boys in his boxing gym , and accepts a job at the school rounding up truants . Bubbles takes a homeless teenager named Sherrod under his wing . He encourages the boy to attend class , which he fails to do . Prez has a few successes with his students , but some of them start to slip away . Disruptive Namond is removed from class and placed in the research group , where he gradually develops affection and respect for Colvin . Randy , in a moment of desperation , reveals knowledge of a murder to the assistant principal , leading to his being interrogated by police . Proposition Joe engineers a conflict between Omar Little and Marlo to convince Marlo to join the New Day Co @-@ Op. After Omar robs Marlo , Marlo frames Omar for a murder and attempts to have him murdered in jail , but Omar manages to beat the charge with the help of Bunk . Omar learns Marlo set him up , and gets revenge on him and Proposition Joe by robbing the entire shipment of the Co @-@ Op. Meanwhile , the co @-@ op members , including Marlo , are furious at Joe for allowing the shipment to be stolen . Marlo demands satisfaction , and as a result , Joe sets up a meeting between him and Spiros Vondas , who assuages Marlo 's concerns . Having gotten a lead on Joe 's connection to the Greeks , Marlo begins investigating them to learn more about their role in bringing narcotics into Baltimore . Freamon discovers the bodies Chris and Snoop had hidden . Bodie offers McNulty testimony against Marlo and his crew , but is shot dead on his corner by O @-@ Dog , a member of Marlo 's crew . Sherrod dies after snorting a poisoned vial of heroin that , unbeknownst to him , Bubbles had prepared for their tormentor . Bubbles turns himself in to the police and tries to hang himself , but he survives and is taken to a detox facility . Michael has now joined the ranks of Marlo 's killers and runs one of his corners , with Dukie leaving high school to work there . Randy 's house is firebombed by school bullies for his cooperation with the police , leaving his caring foster mother hospitalized and sending him back to a group home . Namond is taken in by Colvin , who recognized the good in him . The major crimes unit from earlier seasons is largely reunited , and they resume their investigation of Marlo Stanfield . = = = Season 5 = = = The fifth season focuses on the media and media consumption . The show features a fictional depiction of the newspaper The Baltimore Sun , and in fact elements of the plot are ripped @-@ from @-@ the @-@ headlines events ( such as the Jayson Blair New York Times scandal ) and people at the Sun . The season , according to David Simon , deals with " what stories get told and what don 't and why it is that things stay the same . " Issues such as the quest for profit , the decrease in the number of reporters , and the end of aspiration for news quality would all be addressed , alongside the theme of homelessness . John Carroll of The Baltimore Sun was the model for the " craven , prize hungry " editor of the fictional newspaper . Fifteen months after the fourth season concludes , Mayor Carcetti 's cuts in the police budget to redress the education deficit force the Marlo Stanfield investigation to shut down . Cedric Daniels secures a detail to focus on the prosecution of Senator Davis for corruption . Detective McNulty returns to the Homicide unit and decides to divert resources back to the police department by faking evidence to make it appear that a serial killer is murdering homeless men . The Baltimore Sun also faces budget cuts and the newsroom struggles to adequately cover the city , omitting many important stories . Commissioner Burrell continues to falsify crime statistics and is fired by Carcetti , who positions Daniels to replace him . Marlo Stanfield lures his enemy Omar Little out of retirement by having Omar 's mentor Butchie murdered . Proposition Joe teaches Stanfield how to launder money and evade investigation . Once Joe is no longer useful to him , Stanfield has Joe killed with the help of Joe 's nephew Cheese Wagstaff and usurps his position with the Greeks and the New Day Co @-@ Op. Michael Lee continues working as a Stanfield enforcer , providing a home for his friend Dukie and younger brother Bug . Omar returns to Baltimore seeking revenge , targeting Stanfield 's organization , stealing and destroying money and drugs and killing Stanfield enforcers in an attempt to force Stanfield into the open . However , he is eventually shot and killed by Kenard , a young Stanfield dealer . Baltimore Sun reporter Scott Templeton claims to have been contacted by McNulty 's fake serial killer . City Editor Gus Haynes becomes suspicious , but his superiors are enamored of Templeton . The story gains momentum and Carcetti spins the resulting attention on homelessness into a key issue in his imminent campaign for Governor and restores funding to the police department . Bubbles is recovering from his drug addiction while living in his sister 's basement . He is befriended by Sun reporter Mike Fletcher , who eventually writes a profile of Bubbles . Bunk is disgusted with McNulty 's serial killer scheme and tries to have Lester Freamon reason with McNulty . Instead , Freamon helps McNulty perpetuate the lie and uses resources earmarked for the case to fund an illegal wiretap on Stanfield . Bunk resumes working the vacant house murders , leading to a murder warrant against Partlow for killing Michael 's stepfather . Freamon and Leander Sydnor gather enough evidence to arrest Stanfield and most of his top lieutenants , seizing a large quantity of drugs . Stanfield suspects that Michael is an informant , and orders him killed . Michael realizes he is being set up and kills Snoop instead . A wanted man , he leaves Bug with an aunt and begins a career as a stick @-@ up man . With his support system gone , Dukie lives with drug addicts . McNulty tells Kima Greggs about his fabrications to prevent her wasting time on the case . Greggs tells Daniels , who , along with Rhonda Pearlman , takes this news to Carcetti , who orders a cover @-@ up because of the issue 's importance to his campaign . Davis is acquitted , but Freamon uses the threat of federal prosecution to blackmail him for information . Davis reveals Maurice Levy has a mole in the courthouse from whom he illegally purchases copies of sealed indictments . Herc tells Levy that the Stanfield case was probably based on an illegal wiretap , something which would jeopardize the entire case . After Levy reveals this to Pearlman , she uses Levy 's espionage to blackmail him into agreeing to a plea bargain for his defendants . Levy ensures Stanfield 's release on the condition that he permanently retires , while his subordinates will have to accept long sentences . Stanfield sells the connection to The Greeks back to the Co @-@ Op and plans to become a businessman , although he appears unable or unwilling to stay off the corner . As the cover @-@ up begins , a copy @-@ cat killing occurs , but McNulty quickly identifies and arrests the culprit . Pearlman tells McNulty and Freamon that they can no longer be allowed to do investigative work and warns of criminal charges if the scandal becomes public . They opt to retire . Haynes attempts to expose Templeton but the managing editors ignore the fabrications and demote anyone critical of their star reporter . Carcetti pressures Daniels to falsify crime statistics to aid his campaign . Daniels refuses and then quietly resigns rather than have his FBI file leaked . In a final montage , McNulty gazes over the city ; Freamon enjoys retirement ; Templeton wins a Pulitzer ; Carcetti becomes Governor ; Haynes is sidelined to the copy desk and replaced by Fletcher ; Campbell appoints Valchek as commissioner ; Carcetti appoints Rawls as Superintendent of the Maryland State Police ; Dukie continues to use heroin ; Michael becomes a stickup boy ; Pearlman becomes a judge and Daniels a defense attorney ; Bubbles is allowed upstairs where he enjoys a family dinner ; Chris serves his life sentence alongside Wee @-@ Bey ; the drug trade continues ; and the people of Baltimore go on with their lives . = = = Prequel shorts = = = During the fifth season , HBO produced three short prequels depicting moments in the history of characters in The Wire . The three prequels depict the first meeting between McNulty and Bunk ; Proposition Joe as a slick business kid ; and young Omar . The shorts are available on the complete series DVD set . = = Reception = = = = = Critical response = = = All seasons of The Wire have received positive reviews from many major television critics , several naming it the best contemporary show and one of the best drama series of all time . The first season received mainly positive reviews from critics , some even calling it superior to HBO 's better @-@ known " flagship " drama series such as The Sopranos and Six Feet Under . On the review aggregation website Metacritic , the first season scored 78 out of 100 based on 22 reviews . One reviewer pointed to the retread of some themes from HBO and David Simon 's earlier works , but still found it valuable viewing and particularly resonant because it parallels the war on terror through the chronicling of the war on drugs . Another review postulated that the series might suffer because of its reliance on profanity and slowly drawn @-@ out plot , but was largely positive about the show 's characters and intrigue . Despite the critical acclaim , The Wire received poor Nielsen ratings , which Simon attributed to the complexity of the plot ; a poor time slot ; heavy use of esoteric slang , particularly among the gangster characters ; and a predominantly black cast . Critics felt the show was testing the attention span of its audience and that it was mistimed in the wake of the launch of the successful crime drama The Shield on FX . However , anticipation for a release of the first season on DVD was high at Entertainment Weekly . After the first two shows of season two , Jim Shelley ( a British TV critic writing for The Guardian ) called The Wire the best show on TV , praising the second season for its ability to detach from its former foundations in the first season . Jon Garelick with the Boston Phoenix was of the opinion that the subculture of the docks ( second season ) was not as absorbing as that of the housing projects ( first season ) , but he went on to praise the writers for creating a realistic world and populating it with an array of interesting characters . The critical response to the third season remained positive . Entertainment Weekly named The Wire the best show of 2004 , describing it as " the smartest , deepest and most resonant drama on TV . " They credited the complexity of the show for its poor ratings . The Baltimore City Paper was so concerned that the show might be cancelled that it published a list of ten reasons to keep it on the air , including strong characterization , Omar Little , and an unabashedly honest representation of real world problems . It also worried that the loss of the show would have a negative impact on Baltimore 's economy . At the close of the third season , The Wire was still struggling to maintain its ratings and the show faced possible cancellation . Creator David Simon blamed the show 's low ratings in part on its competition against Desperate Housewives and worried that expectations for HBO dramas had changed following the success of The Sopranos . As the fourth season was about to begin , almost two years after the previous season 's end , Tim Goodman of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote that The Wire " has tackled the drug war in this country as it simultaneously explores race , poverty and ' the death of the American working class , ' the failure of political systems to help the people they serve , and the tyranny of lost hope . Few series in the history of television have explored the plight of inner @-@ city African Americans and none — not one — has done it as well . " Brian Lowry of Variety wrote at the time , " When television history is written , little else will rival ' The Wire . ' " The New York Times called the fourth season of The Wire " its best season yet . " Doug Elfman of the Chicago Sun @-@ Times was more reserved in his praise , calling it the " most ambitious " show on television , but faulting it for its complexity and the slow development of the plotline . The Los Angeles Times took the rare step of devoting an editorial to the show , stating that " even in what is generally acknowledged to be something of a golden era for thoughtful and entertaining dramas — both on cable channels and on network TV — The Wire stands out . " TIME magazine especially praised the fourth season , stating that " no other TV show has ever loved a city so well , damned it so passionately , or sung it so searingly . " The website Metacritic , which gathers reviews from news sources and translates them into a percentage score , assigned The Wire 's fourth season a weighted average score of 98 % , the second highest score for any television season in Metacritic history ( with the fifth season of Breaking Bad being the first ) . Several reviewers have called it the best show on television , including TIME , Entertainment Weekly , the Chicago Tribune , Slate , the San Francisco Chronicle , the Philadelphia Daily News and the British newspaper The Guardian , which ran a week @-@ by @-@ week blog following every episode , also collected in a book , The Wire Re @-@ up . Charlie Brooker , a columnist for The Guardian , has been particularly enthusiastic in his praise of the show , both in his " Screen Burn " column and in his BBC Four television series Screenwipe , calling it possibly the greatest show of the last 20 years . In 2007 , TIME listed it among the one hundred best television series of all @-@ time . In 2013 , the Writers Guild of America ranked The Wire as the ninth best written TV series . In 2013 , TV Guide ranked The Wire as the sixth greatest show of all time . In 2013 , Entertainment Weekly listed the show at # 6 in their list of the " 26 Best Cult TV Shows Ever , " describing it as " one of the most highly praised series in HBO history " and praising Michael K. Williams 's acting as Omar Little . Entertainment Weekly also named it the number one TV show of all @-@ time in a special issue in 2013 . Critics have often described the show in literary terms : the New York Times calls it " literary television ; " TV Guide calls it " TV as great modern literature ; " the San Francisco Chronicle says the series " must be considered alongside the best literature and filmmaking in the modern era ; " and the Chicago Tribune says the show delivers " rewards not unlike those won by readers who conquer Joyce , Faulkner or Henry James . " ' The Wire Files ' , an online collection of articles published in darkmatter Journal , critically analyzes The Wire 's racialized politics and aesthetics of representation . Entertainment Weekly put it on its end @-@ of @-@ the @-@ decade , " best @-@ of " list , saying , " The deft writing — which used the cop @-@ genre format to give shape to creator David Simon 's scathing social critiques — was matched by one of the deepest benches of acting talent in TV history . " President of the United States Barack Obama has said that The Wire is his favorite television series . The 2010 Nobel Prize in Literature Laureate , Mario Vargas Llosa , wrote a very positive critical review of the series in the Spanish journal El País . The comedian turned mayor of Reykjavík , Iceland , Jón Gnarr , has gone so far as to say that he would not enter a coalition government with anyone who has not watched the series . Robert Kirkman , creator of The Walking Dead , is a strong follower of The Wire ; he has tried to cast as many actors from it into the television series of the same name as possible , so far having cast Chad Coleman , Lawrence Gilliard , Jr . , and Seth Gilliam . = = = Awards = = = The Wire was nominated for , and won a wide variety of awards , including nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series for " Middle Ground " and " – 30 – " , nominations for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Drama Series in each of its five seasons ; and nominations for the Television Critics Association Awards ( TCA ) , and Writers Guild of America Awards ( WGA ) . Most of the awards the series won were in seasons 4 and 5 . These included TCA 's Heritage Award for season 5 and WGA 's Award for Best Dramatic Series for season 4 , plus Crime Thriller , Eddie , Edgar , Directors Guild of America , and Irish Film and Television awards . The series also won ASCAP , Peabody and Artios awards for season 2 . The series won the Broadcasting & Cable critics poll for Best Drama ( season 4 ) and won Time 's critics choice for top television show for seasons 1 and 3 . Despite the above mentioned awards and unanimous critical approval , The Wire never won a Primetime Emmy Award nor received any major nominations . Several critics recognized its lack of recognition by the Emmys . According to a report by Variety , anonymous Emmy voters cited reasons such as the series ' dense and multilayered plot , the grim subject matter , and the series ' lack of connection with California , as it is set and filmed in Baltimore . = = = Academia = = = In the years following the end of the series ' run , several colleges and universities such as Johns Hopkins , Brown University , and Harvard College have offered classes on The Wire in disciplines ranging from law to sociology to film studies . Phillips Academy , a boarding high school in Massachusetts , offers a similar course as well . University of Texas at San Antonio offers a course where the series is taught as a work of literary fiction . In an article published in The Washington Post , Anmol Chaddha and William Julius Wilson explain why Harvard chose The Wire as curriculum material for their course on urban inequality : " Though scholars know that deindustrialization , crime and prison , and the education system are deeply intertwined , they must often give focused attention to just one subject in relative isolation , at the expense of others . With the freedom of artistic expression , The Wire can be more creative . It can weave together the range of forces that shape the lives of the urban poor . " University of York 's Head of Sociology , Roger Burrows , said in The Independent that the show " makes a fantastic contribution to their understanding of contemporary urbanism " , and is " a contrast to dry , dull , hugely expensive studies that people carry out on the same issues " . The series is also studied as part of a Master seminar series at the Paris West University Nanterre La Défense . In February 2012 , Slovenian philosopher Slavoj Žižek gave a lecture at Birkbeck , University of London titled The Wire or the clash of civilisations in one country . In April 2012 , Norwegian academic Erlend Lavik posted online a 36 @-@ minute video essay called " Style in The Wire " which analyzes the various visual techniques used by the show 's directors over the course of its five seasons . The Wire has also been the subject of growing numbers of academic articles by , amongst others , Fredric Jameson ( who praised the series ' ability to weave utopian thinking into its realist representation of society ) ; and Leigh Claire La Berge , who argues that although the less realistic character of season five was received negatively by critics , it gives the series a platform not only for representing reality , but for representing how realism is itself a construct of social forces like the media ; both commentators see in The Wire an impulse for progressive political change rare in mass media productions . While most academics have used " The Wire " as a cultural object or case study , Benjamin Leclair @-@ Paquet has instead argued that the " creative methods behind HBO 's The Wire evoke original ways to experiment with speculative work that reveal the merit of the imaginary as a pragmatic research device . " This author posits that the methods behind The Wire is particularly relevant for contentious urban and architectural projects . = = Broadcasters = = HBO aired the five seasons of the show in 2002 , 2003 , 2004 , 2006 , and 2008 , respectively . New episodes were shown once a week , occasionally skipping one or two weeks in favor of other programming . Starting with the fourth season , subscribers to the HBO On Demand service were able to see each episode of the season six days earlier . American basic cable network BET also aired the show . BET adds commercial breaks , blurs some nudity , and mutes some profanity . Much of the waterfront storyline from the second season is edited out from the BET broadcasts . The series was remastered in 16 : 9 HD in late 2014 , and the HD remasters debuted on HBO Signature , airing the entire series consecutively , and on HBO GO on December 26 , 2014 . The HD versions became available for purchase on various digital platforms on January 5 , 2015 , and was released on Blu @-@ ray on June 2 , 2015 . In the United Kingdom , the show has been broadcast on FX , and aired on terrestrial television on BBC Two . Although controversially it was broadcast at 11 : 20 pm and had no BBC iPlayer catchup available . In a world first , British newspaper The Guardian made the first episode of the first season available to stream on its website for a brief period . In Ireland , all episodes were aired on public service channel TG4 approximately 6 months after the original air dates on HBO . The series became available in Canada in a remastered 16 : 9 HD format on streaming service CraveTV in late 2014 . = = Home media releases = = The DVD sets have been favorably received , though some critics have faulted them for a lack of special features . The series was remastered in 16 : 9 HD in late 2014 , became available on iTunes , and was released as a complete series Blu @-@ ray box set on June 2 , 2015 .
= Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria = Ivan Alexander ( Bulgarian : Иван Александър , transliterated Ivan Aleksandǎr ; pronounced [ iˈvan alɛkˈsandər ] ; original spelling : ІѠАНЪ АЛЄѮАНдРЪ ) , also sometimes Anglicized as John Alexander , ruled as Emperor ( Tsar ) of Bulgaria from 1331 to 1371 , during the Second Bulgarian Empire . The date of his birth is unknown . He died on 17 February 1371 . The long reign of Ivan Alexander is considered a transitional period in Bulgarian medieval history . Ivan Alexander began his rule by dealing with internal problems and external threats from Bulgaria 's neighbours , the Byzantine Empire and Serbia , as well as leading his empire into a period of economic recovery and cultural and religious renaissance . However , the emperor was later unable to cope with the mounting incursions of Ottoman forces , Hungarian invasions from the northwest and the Black Death . In an ill @-@ fated attempt to combat these problems , he divided the country between his two sons , thus forcing it to face the imminent Ottoman conquest weakened and divided . = = Early rule = = Ivan Alexander was the son of the despotēs Sracimir of Kran by Petrica , a sister of Michael Asen III of Bulgaria . Therefore , Ivan Alexander was a nephew of Michael Asen III . Paternally , Ivan Alexander descended from the Asen dynasty . By 1330 Ivan Alexander was himself a despotēs and governed the city of Lovech . Together with his father and his father @-@ in @-@ law Basarab of Wallachia , Ivan Alexander fought in the Battle of Velbazhd against the Serbs at modern @-@ day Kyustendil in 1330 , in which Bulgaria suffered defeat . The defeat , combined with the worsening relations with the Byzantine Empire , precipitated an internal crisis , which was exacerbated by an invasion of the Byzantines . A coup d 'état drove Ivan Stefan out of the capital Tarnovo in 1331 , and the conspirators placed Ivan Alexander on the throne . The new ruler set about consolidating his position by regaining territories recently lost to the Byzantine Empire . In 1331 Ivan Alexander campaigned around Adrianople and reconquered northeastern Thrace . Meanwhile , Stefan Uroš IV Dušan deposed his father Stefan Uroš III Dečanski and became Serbian king in 1331 . This helped normalize the previously tense relations between the two countries . Ivan Alexander and Stefan Uroš IV Dušan concluded an alliance , which was cemented by the marriage of the Serbian king to Helena of Bulgaria , a sister of Ivan Alexander , on Easter 1332 . At about the same time , Belaur , a brother of Michael Asen III , rebelled in Vidin , probably in support of his deposed nephew Ivan Stefan 's claim to the throne . The advance of the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos III Palaiologos against Bulgaria in the summer of 1332 protracted military operations against the rebels . The Byzantines overran Bulgarian @-@ controlled northeastern Thrace , but Ivan Alexander rushed southward with a small army and swiftly caught up with Andronikos III at Rusokastro . After giving the impression that he wished to negotiate , Ivan Alexander , reinforced by Mongol cavalry , overwhelmed the smaller but better organized Byzantine army in the Battle of Rusokastro . The contested cities surrendered to Ivan Alexander , while Andronikos III sought refuge within the walls of Rusokastro . The war ended with Ivan Alexander meeting Andronikos and agreeing a peace based on the status quo . To seal the alliance , he betrothed his eldest son , Michael Asen IV , to Andronikos 's daughter Maria ( Eirene ) , the marriage eventually taking place in 1339 . The Bulgarian emperor was now free to turn his attentions to Belaur , but it was not until 1336 or 1337 that the rebellion in the northwest was put down . In about 1332 Ivan Alexander had crowned his eldest son Michael Asen IV co @-@ emperor , perhaps to safeguard possession of the throne by his own family . He followed up this traditional association with the coronation of his younger sons Ivan Sracimir and Ivan Asen IV in 1337 . Ivan Alexander may have intended the creation of two younger co @-@ emperors to establish immediate control over important cities and regions , as Ivan Sracimir was eventually based in Vidin , and Ivan Asen IV perhaps in Preslav . Nevertheless , this was a marked departure from Byzantine practice , in which younger sons of the sovereign were made despotēs , whether they were charged with a territorial administration or not . = = Relations with the Byzantine Empire = = In the early 1340s relations with the Byzantine Empire temporarily deteriorated . Ivan Alexander demanded the extradition of his cousin Šišman , one of the sons of Michael Asen III , threatening the Byzantine government with war . Ivan Alexander 's show of force backfired , as the Byzantines managed to see through his intentions and sent against him the fleet of their ally , the Turkish emir of Smyrna Umur Beg . Landing in the Danube Delta , they pillaged the countryside and attacked nearby Bulgarian cities . Forced to restrain his demands , Ivan Alexander invaded the Byzantine Empire again at the end of 1341 , claiming that he was summoned by the people of Adrianople . However , Ivan Alexander 's troops were defeated twice by Turkish allies of the Byzantines near the city . In 1341 – 1347 the Byzantine Empire was plunged into a protracted civil war between the regency for Emperor John V Palaiologos under Anna of Savoy and his intended guardian John VI Kantakouzenos . The neighbours of the Byzantines took advantage of the civil war , and while Stefan Uroš IV Dušan of Serbia sided with John VI Kantakouzenos , Ivan Alexander backed John V Palaiologos and his regency . Although the two Balkan rulers picked opposite sides in the Byzantine civil war , they maintained their alliance with each other . As the price for Ivan Alexander 's support , the regency for John V Palaiologos ceded him the city of Philippopolis ( Plovdiv ) and nine important fortresses in the Rhodope Mountains in 1344 . This peaceful turnover constituted the last major success of Ivan Alexander 's foreign policy . = = Rise of Serbia and the Ottoman threat = = During the same period , the Serbian king took advantage of the Byzantine civil war to take possession of what is now Macedonia , and of most of Albania and northern Greece . In 1345 he began to call himself " Emperor of Serbs and Greeks " , and in 1346 he was crowned as such by the newly created Serbian Patriarch . These actions , which the Byzantines received with indignation , appear to have been supported by Bulgaria , as the Patriarch of Bulgaria Simeon had participated in both the creation of a Serbian Patriarchate and the imperial coronation of Stefan Uroš IV Dušan . By the second half of the 1340s , little remained of Ivan Alexander 's initial successes . John VI Kantakouzenos ' Turkish allies pillaged parts of Bulgarian Thrace in 1346 , 1347 , 1349 , 1352 and 1354 , to which were added the ravages of the Black Death . The Bulgarians ' attempts to repel the invaders met with repeated failure , and Ivan Alexander 's third son and co @-@ emperor , Ivan Asen IV , was killed in battle against the Turks in 1349 , as was his older brother Michael Asen IV in 1355 or a little earlier . By 1351 the Byzantine civil war was over , and John VI Kantakouzenos had realized the threat posed by the Ottomans to the Balkan Peninsula . He appealed to the rulers of Serbia and Bulgaria for a united effort against the Turks and asked Ivan Alexander for money to construct warships , but his appeals fell on deaf ears as his neighbours distrusted his intentions . A new attempt for cooperation between Bulgaria and the Byzantine Empire followed in 1355 , after John VI Kantakouzenos had been forced to abdicate and John V Palaiologos had been established as supreme emperor . To cement the treaty , Ivan Alexander 's daughter Keraca Marija was married off to the future Byzantine Emperor Andronikos IV Palaiologos , but the alliance failed to produce concrete results . = = Further stability problems and external conflicts = = At home Ivan Alexander compromised the internal stability of his realm by divorcing his first wife Theodora of Wallachia ( in about 1349 ) and marrying a converted Jew , also named Theodora . The new marriage produced new sons , whom Ivan Alexander proceeded to crown co @-@ emperors , Ivan Šišman in about 1356 and Ivan Asen V by 1359 . Ivan Alexander 's last surviving son from his first marriage , the co @-@ emperor Ivan Sracimir , became effectively independent around 1356 ; and Ivan Alexander 's control over other powerful vassals , such as the rulers of Wallachia and Dobruja , who pursued their own foreign policies , was hardly stronger . From the middle of the 14th century , Bulgaria fell prey to the aspirations of the Angevin king Louis I of Hungary , who annexed Moldavia in 1352 and established a vassal principality there , before conquering Vidin in 1365 , and taking Ivan Sratsimir and his family into captivity . In the meantime Bulgarians and Byzantines had clashed again in 1364 . In 1366 , when Emperor John V Palaiologos was returning from his trip to the west , the Bulgarians refused to let him pass through Bulgaria . This stance backfired , as another Byzantine ally , Count Amadeus VI of Savoy , leading the Savoyard crusade , captured several Bulgarian maritime cities in retaliation , including Ankhialos ( Pomorie ) and Mesembria ( Nesebǎr ) , though he failed to take Varna . Outmanoeuvred , Ivan Alexander was forced to make peace . The captured cities were turned over to the Byzantine Empire , while Emperor John V Palaiologos paid the sum of 180 @,@ 000 florins to Ivan Alexander . The Bulgarian emperor used this sum and territorial concessions to induce his at least de jure vassals Dobrotica of Dobruja and Vladislav I of Wallachia to reconquer Vidin from the Hungarians . The war was successful , and Ivan Sracimir was reinstalled in Vidin in 1369 , although the Hungarian king forced him to acknowledge his overlordship . The relatively successful resolution of the crisis in the northwest did nothing to help recover the losses in the southeast . To make matters worse , in 1369 ( the date is disputed ) , the Ottoman Turks under Murad I conquered Adrianople ( in 1363 ) and made it the effective capital of their expanding state . At the same time , they also captured the Bulgarian cities of Philippopolis and Boruj ( Stara Zagora ) . As Bulgaria and the Serbian princes in Macedonia prepared for united action against the Turks , Ivan Alexander died on February 17 , 1371 . He was succeeded by his sons Ivan Sracimir in Vidin and Ivan Šišman in Tǎrnovo , while the rulers of Dobruja and Wallachia achieved further independence . = = Culture and religion = = During Ivan Alexander 's rule , the Second Bulgarian Empire entered a period of cultural renaissance , which is sometimes referred to as the " Second Golden Age of Bulgarian culture " , the original one being the rule of Simeon the Great . A large number of Bulgarian monasteries and churches were constructed or renovated on the order of Ivan Alexander . Mural portraits of him as a donor can be seen in the Bachkovo Monastery 's ossuary and in the Rock @-@ hewn Churches of Ivanovo . Donor 's deeds of Ivan Alexander prove that the monasteries of the Holy Mother of God Eleoussa and St Nicholas in Nesebǎr were reconstructed during that period , as was the St Nicholas monastery near Pernik , according to a Hilandar monastery deed . In addition , the tsar also initiated the construction of the Dragalevci and Kilifarevo monasteries . Literary activity also flourished during the reign of Ivan Alexander . Several important literary works were created in the period , such as the Middle Bulgarian translation of the Manasses Chronicle ( 1344 – 1345 ) , currently preserved in the Vatican Secret Archives in Rome , the richly illustrated Tetraevangelia of Ivan Alexander ( 1355 – 1356 ) , now exhibited in the British Library , the Tomić Psalter ( 1360 ) , today in Moscow , and the Sofia Psalter ( 1337 ) . Ivan Alexander 's rule was also marked by efforts to strengthen the position of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church by pursuing heretics and Jews . He organized two anti @-@ heretical church councils , in 1350 and 1359 – 1360 , that condemned various sects such as the Bogomils , the Adamites and the Judaizers . The spiritual practice of hesychasm , a form of incantatory prayer , deeply influenced certain areas of the Eastern Orthodox world of the 14th century . A notable Bulgarian representative of the movement during Ivan Alexander 's reign was Theodosius of Tǎrnovo . During this time , the Bulgarian Empire had trade relations with the Mediterranean maritime powers Venice , Genoa and Ragusa . In 1353 , Ivan Alexander issued a charter allowing Venetian merchants to buy and sell goods throughout Bulgaria after Doge Andrea Dandolo assured him they would observe the prior treaties between the two countries . In modern times , the rule of Ivan Alexander inspired Bulgarian national writer Ivan Vazov to write the novelette Ivan @-@ Aleksandǎr and the drama Kǎm propast ( Towards an Abyss ) , in both of which the tsar is the main character . A piece of a garment signed by Ivan Alexander and interwoven with gold was discovered in a noble 's grave near Pirot in the 1970s ; today it is preserved in the National Museum of Serbia in Belgrade . It is the first find of its kind , demonstrating a medieval tradition attested in writing according to which Orthodox rulers would present their most eminent dignitaries with a piece of a garment they had worn . Ivan Alexander Point on Nelson Island in the South Shetland Islands , Antarctica is named after Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria . = = Family = = By his first wife Theodora of Wallachia ( nun Teofana ) , a daughter of Basarab of Wallachia , Ivan Alexander had several children , including Ivan Sracimir , who ruled as emperor of Bulgaria in Vidin 1356 – 1397 , associated emperors Michael Asen IV ( co @-@ ruled c . 1332 – 1354 / 5 ) and Ivan Asen IV ( co @-@ ruled 1337 – 1349 ) . By his second wife Sarah @-@ Theodora , Ivan Alexander had several other children , which included Keraca Marija , who married the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos IV Palaiologos , Ivan Šišman , who succeeded as emperor of Bulgaria in Tǎrnovo 1371 – 1396 , Ivan Asen V , associated as emperor of Bulgaria by 1359 – 1388 ? , a daughter called Thamar ( Kera Tamara ) , who was married first to the despotēs Constantine ( Konstantin ) , and then to Sultan Murad I of the Ottoman Empire , as well as two daughters named Desislava and Vasilisa . = = Timeline = =
= Marojejy National Park = Marojejy National Park is a national park in the Sava Region of northeastern Madagascar . It covers 55 @,@ 500 ha ( 214 sq mi ) and is centered on the Marojejy Massif , a mountain chain that rises to an elevation of 2 @,@ 132 m ( 6 @,@ 995 ft ) . Access to the area around the massif was restricted to research scientists when the site was set aside as a strict nature reserve in 1952 . In 1998 , it was opened to the public when it was converted into a national park . It became part of the World Heritage Site known as the Rainforests of the Atsinanana in 2007 . Despite its rugged terrain , poaching and selective logging are still persistent problems , particularly since the start of the 2009 political crisis in Madagascar . Mining , slash @-@ and @-@ burn agriculture , and wood collection also pose threats to the park and its wildlife . The wide range of elevations and rugged topography of the massif create diverse habitats that transition quickly with changes in altitude . Warm , dense rainforest can be found at lower elevations , followed by shorter forests at higher elevations , followed still by cloud forest , and topped near the peaks with the only remaining undisturbed mountain scrub in Madagascar . Better growing conditions for plants can be found on the eastern side of the mountains , which receives more rain than the western side . This habitat diversity lends itself to high levels of biodiversity . At least 118 species of bird , 148 species of reptile and amphibian , and 11 species of lemur are known to occur within Marojejy National Park . One of the lemurs , the silky sifaka ( Propithecus candidus ) is listed among " The World 's 25 Most Endangered Primates " . The helmet vanga ( Euryceros prevostii ) is considered the iconic bird species of the park . One path leads from the entrance of the park to the summit . There are three camps along the route : Camp Mantella at 450 m ( 1 @,@ 480 ft ) in elevation in lowland rainforest , Camp Marojejia at 775 m ( 2 @,@ 543 ft ) at the transition between lowland and montane rain forest , and Camp Simpona at 1 @,@ 250 m ( 4 @,@ 100 ft ) in the middle of the montane rainforest . Camp Simpona acts as a base camp for the trek to the summit , a route that stretches 2 km ( 1 @.@ 2 mi ) and can take up to four or five hours to traverse . = = History = = Marojejy National Park is located in the northeast of Madagascar between the towns of Andapa and Sambava and extends approximately 32 km ( 20 mi ) from east to west and 22 km ( 14 mi ) from north to south . It is centered on the chain of mountains known as Marojejy Massif . Despite a scientific survey of some of the other mountains in the region by the 1929 Mission Zoologique Franco @-@ Anglo @-@ Américaine , Marojejy was not surveyed until 1937 when L.-J. Arragon of the Service Géographique de Madagascar ascended Marojejy Est . Arragon did not conduct any field research during his visit . The massif was not geologically described until after the French botanist Henri Jean Humbert from the National Museum of Natural History in Paris explored the mountains in 1948 . Humbert had previously explored numerous mountain ranges in continental Africa before going to Marojejy . Between November 1948 and November 1950 , he spent five months collecting 4 @,@ 039 dried plant ( herbarium ) specimens for study . After several expeditions , he published the book " A Marvel of Nature " in 1955 , in which he claimed the massif was the most impressive range in all of Madagascar because of its size , floral diversity , and pristine natural state . Marojejy was set aside as one of Madagascar 's strict nature reserves in 1952 largely due to Humbert 's enthusiasm and support . Under this protection , only research scientists were permitted to visit the site . In 1998 , Marojejy was converted into a national park and thus became open to visitors . Originally seen as a transitional zone between the eastern rainforests and the central highlands , Marojejy is now recognized as having its own unique features , with some of the richest biodiversity on the island . Several studies from the early 1970s through the 1990s surveyed the mountain ecosystems and inventoried the flora and fauna . In 2007 , Marojejy was listed as a World Heritage Site as part of the Rainforests of the Atsinanana . Due to illegal logging and trafficking of valuable hardwoods , and especially after the 2009 political crisis in Madagascar , the Rainforests of the Atsinanana was added to the list of World Heritage in Danger in 2010 . = = = Park boundaries and size = = = The boundaries of Marojejy National Park were originally established by approximation when the park was established in 1952 . With a second decree ( no . 66 @-@ 242 ) from the government of Madagascar in 1966 , the park 's status as a strict nature reserve was reaffirmed , and its boundaries were marked by 89 points . From these markers , the size of the park was estimated at 60 @,@ 150 ha ( 232 @.@ 2 sq mi ) . At the time , two families were living 450 m ( 1 @,@ 480 ft ) within the park boundaries , which initially was permitted under the conditions that they did not extend their cultivated land into the park or allow others to join them . The families were later expelled for violating these conditions . Many families from the local communities did not understand why such a large area so rich in resources and necessary for their survival was forbidden to them , and between the late 1980s and 1993 , they stopped honoring the status of the park . They began clearing the outer edges of the reserve to start plantations of vanilla and coffee . In 1993 , the World Wide Fund for Nature ( WWF ) and the Service des Eaux et Forêts renewed conservation efforts in the area , evicted the people living inside the reserve , and renegotiated the borders with the local community , based on the 1966 decree . Trails and posts were then used to clearly mark the edges of the reserve . In the years following these events , many communities living near the borders of the park have become more involved in forest surveillance , and deforestation has fallen off sharply to only a few hectares a year . In 1998 , the WWF requested that the government of Madagascar relax the restrictions on the reserve to allow for ecotourism , the revenue from which could benefit the people living in the periphery of the park . With a decree ( no . 98 @-@ 375 ) in May 1998 , the reserve became a national park . The boundaries were renegotiated , particularly in the western and northwestern regions of the park , and this time using clear natural landmarks , such as ridge crests , as markers . The size of the park was adjusted to 60 @,@ 050 ha ( 231 @.@ 9 sq mi ) , with some western communities gaining access to untouched forest zones while communities in the northwest lost agricultural land . Approximately 5 @,@ 000 ha ( 19 sq mi ) had been illegally cleared within the park and are still part of the park . There are now 91 boundary markers and the boundaries are georeferenced . Intermediate boundary markers are placed between existing markers to demarcate the edges of the park during disputes with the local community . During October 2005 , reports surfaced showing that boundary markers were being moved with the approval of park employees and that areas within the park were being cleared for agriculture . In January 2006 , the Park Logistics Coordinator was fired for moving boundary markers while employed as the Park Conservation Agent and selling the 9 ha ( 0 @.@ 035 sq mi ) of park land to a local farmer for 2 million Malagasy francs ( ~ US $ 200 ) . In 2010 , a new demarcation adjusted the size the park down to 55 @,@ 500 ha ( 214 sq mi ) . = = Topography and habitat = = Marojejy National Park covers 55 @,@ 500 ha ( 214 sq mi ) and protects almost the entire massif , which ranges in elevation from 75 to 2 @,@ 132 m ( 246 to 6 @,@ 995 ft ) at the summit . The massif is part of a mountain chain that stretches from Tsaratanana in the northwest to the Masoala Peninsula in the south . The crests of the massif form an east – west line with a series of distinct peaks along its irregular structure , which consists of parallel or divergent crest lines broken apart by steep and irregular slopes . Rising 2 @,@ 000 m ( 6 @,@ 600 ft ) over as little as 8 km ( 5 @.@ 0 mi ) , the Marojejy Massif has some of the most precipitous terrain in Madagascar . As a result of this sharp rise in elevation and rugged topography , it has a variety of microclimates and a visible change in habitat , making it one of the few places in the world where cloud @-@ covered rainforest rapidly transitions to high mountain shrubland over a distance that can be covered on foot . Also due to the rugged topography , the vegetative mosaic varies between the crests and slopes of the massif , even at the same elevations . For example , crests and adjoining slopes often have less than 20 % of their flowering plant species in common . Temperatures in the region are fairly constant , with both the daily temperature range and the seasonal range varying only slightly . February is the hottest month , averaging 25 ° C ( 77 ° F ) , while August is the coolest , averaging 19 ° C ( 66 ° F ) . Climbing the peaks , temperature decreases by 1 ° C per 200 m of increased altitude ( 1 ° F per 360 ft ) , and temperatures on the summit decline to 1 @.@ 5 ° C ( 34 @.@ 7 ° F ) in July . The relative humidity for the region hovers around 87 % throughout most of the year , although it rises to 97 % between March and April . Rain falls every month on the southern side of the mountain , with the region receiving at least 2 @,@ 300 mm ( 91 in ) of rain annually , making it one of the wettest areas in Madagascar . The northern side of the mountain is more tropical , with a 6 @-@ month dry season , and receives about 1 @,@ 500 mm ( 59 in ) of rain per year . The general region receives the most rainfall during the warm season , from November through April , when heavy rain and occasional cyclones are delivered from the northwest by monsoons . During the cooler season , between May and October , lighter rains are delivered by winds from the southeast . Both temperature and rainfall vary significantly by location within the park . Lower temperatures are found at higher elevations , and the eastern slopes of the massif receive the most of the rainfall , since the western slopes lie in the rain shadow of the mountain and consequently experience a prolonged dry period . The tops of the ridges experience strong winds and offer poor soil conditions . The effect can be seen in the plant life and their growth rates . The wide range in elevations and the rugged topography also play a crucial role in creation of the varied habitats distributed across the mountain slopes by affecting air temperature , fluctuations in temperature , and humidity levels . The interplay between these factors impacts the growth and development of plants , which form the foundation of the ecosystem . The result is an extremely varied and unevenly distributed forest that covers 90 % of the park . The mountains of both Marojejy and nearby Anjanaharibe @-@ Sud Special Reserve feed several drainage basins , including the Lokoho River , which is sourced from the western and southern slopes of Marojejy , and the Androranga River , which originates from the northern slopes of Marojejy . Both rivers travel towards Sambava and drain into the Indian Ocean . Marojejy is connected to the Anjanaharibe @-@ Sud Special Reserve by the Betaolana corridor , a narrow mid @-@ elevation strip of forest extending west and slightly south . = = = Geology = = = As with the rest of Madagascar , the rocks of Marojejy National Park were once part of the supercontinent of Gondwana , which began to break up 160 million years ago to form the southern continents . However , the bedrock of Marojejy formed over 500 million years ago during the Precambrian beneath an ancient mountain range that has since eroded away completely . The bedrock is composed mostly of granitic rocks , although it also contains a significant amount of gneiss , a high @-@ grade metamorphic rock that formed under high pressure and temperature deep beneath the ancient mountain range . In places where heat and pressure were highest , the rock melted completely and eventually recrystallized at depth as granite , an igneous rock . Later , veins of quartz formed in cracks in the bedrock ; these are the source of the quartz and amethyst crystals mined in the region today . In more recent geological times , the area 's abundant quartzite formed when quartz @-@ rich sands were deposited on the bedrock , and were then buried and recrystallized ( metamorphosed ) . The soil pH is expected to be acidic to neutral . The highest , most rugged peaks of Marojejy owe their form to the gneiss from which they are made . The gneiss consists of alternating bands of light and dark colored minerals . The light minerals , consisting mostly of quartz and feldspar , are the hardest and most resistant , whereas the dark minerals , which are mostly biotite mica and hornblende , are softer and weather out faster . This layered composition , in combination with the north @-@ facing 45 @-@ degree angle at which the rocks are tilted , accounts for the asymmetric character of the peaks . The northern slopes dip moderately , while the southern faces are typically near @-@ vertical cliffs where the rocks fractured counter to the layered grain . The cliff named Ambatotsondrona , with its sheer , south @-@ facing rock wall , is an example . = = Biodiversity = = Marojejy National Park is noted for its rich biodiversity , which can appeal to both scientist and ecotourist . There are a wide range of habitats within the park , and many of its plants and animals are endemic to the area . Scientific expeditions regularly discover species that are either not previously documented in Marojejy , or in some cases , completely new to science . Some new species are highly endangered . In the case of many large groups , such as invertebrates , very little is known and much remains to be discovered . = = = Flora = = = The vegetation of Marojejy National Park is extremely diverse due to the various microclimates . The microclimates also affect plant growth rates , with the wet eastern slopes showing faster plant growth , the dry western slopes exhibiting slower plant growth , and the plants on the ridge tops hindered by high winds and poor soils . More than 2 @,@ 000 species of flowering plants ( angiosperms ) have been discovered at the park so far . At least four plant families are found at all elevations : Clusiaceae and Poaceae are generally common , while Myrsinaceae and Elaeocarpaceae are rare . There are four basic types of forest found at Marojejy : Lowland rainforest : Below 800 m ( 2 @,@ 600 ft ) , species diversity is the highest due to abundant rainfall , consistently warm weather , and protection from strong winds . The canopy of the primary forests is dense with tall trees reaching heights of 25 – 35 m ( 82 – 115 ft ) . Many tree trunks measure over 30 cm ( 12 in ) in diameter . A great variety of palms , epiphytes , and ferns are also present , with 130 species of fern known from this zone . Secondary growth , which primarily includes bamboo , wild ginger or longoza ( genus Aframomum ) , and traveller 's palm ( Ravenala madagascariensis ) , is found in disturbed areas . The most common families of flowering plant are Sapotaceae , Rubiaceae , Euphorbiaceae , and Myrsinaceae . The most common families of plants in the light groundcover are Poaceae , Labiaceae , Acanthaceae , Gesneriaceae , Melastomataceae , and Balsaminaceae . The lowland rainforest region covers 38 % of the surface area of the park . Moist montane rainforest : Between 800 and 1 @,@ 400 m ( 2 @,@ 600 and 4 @,@ 600 ft ) and also covering 38 % of the surface area of the park , trees and shrubs become increasingly smaller due to lower temperatures and poorer soils , and tree ferns become more abundant as elevation increases . The lower temperatures cause moisture to condense onto surfaces without forming mist . The transition between the lowland rainforests and the mid @-@ altitude rainforest is gradual . The canopy reaches heights of 18 – 25 m ( 59 – 82 ft ) , and sun @-@ loving epiphytes , shrubs , and other forest floor species take advantage of the elevated light levels . The increased humidity also favors mosses and ferns . The families Rubiaceae , Euphorbiaceae , Myrtaceae , Arecaceae , Pandanaceae , and Burseraceae are the most common in this zone . Sclerophyllous montane cloudforest : At 1 @,@ 400 to 1 @,@ 800 m ( 4 @,@ 600 to 5 @,@ 900 ft ) and covering 11 @.@ 5 % of the surface area of the park , the trees are significantly shorter , gnarled and stunted , with the canopy extending to a maximum height of only 10 or 15 m ( 33 or 49 ft ) . The most common plant families are Lauraceae , Rubiaceae , Clusiaceae , and Araliaceae . The ground layer in the cloud forest is rich , and moss and lichen drape the branches of the trees . At least 122 species of fern are found in this zone . Temperatures are lower , and heavy clouds brought in by eastern winds blanket the forest . Endemism is very high at this altitude , particularly between the various peaks due to long isolation . The area is also highly susceptible to fire due to its thick layer of humus . Montane scrub : Above 1 @,@ 800 m ( 5 @,@ 900 ft ) on only 1 @.@ 5 % of the surface area of the park , the last remaining mountain scrub in Madagascar can be found . Unlike all other high mountain scrub on the island , it has not been altered by fire . The region has an open , tundra @-@ like cover , over thin , rocky soils . Soil conditions , along with the cool temperatures , windy conditions , and low rainfall limits the vegetation , which reaches a maximum height of 2 m ( 6 @.@ 6 ft ) . Low , dense thickets of shrubs dominate , although terrestrial orchids and miniature palms and bamboos are also present . The dominant families of plant are Poaceae , Ericaceae , Asteraceae , Balsaminaceae , Cunoniaceae , and Clusiaceae . Of the many plant species found in Marojejy , 35 are palms , several of which are critically endangered and have extremely low populations . Only three of these palm species can be found outside of Madagascar , and seven can only be found at Marojejy . More than 275 fern species are present in the rainforests of the massif , 18 of which are tree ferns and seven are found only at Marojejy . Many of these fern species are very rare and have highly restricted distributions . Marojejy also contains several types of rare rosewood and palisandre ( genus Dalbergia ) , all of which are endemic to Madagascar . Rosewood , or andramena in Malagasy , is a type of hardwood with a lustrous deep red color , while palisandre , such as Dalbergia madagascariensis , lacks the red color . Of the three species of Dalbergia found in Marojejy , D. madagascariensis and D. baronii are listed as " vulnerable " on the IUCN Red List , while D. louvelii is listed as " endangered . " The park has few large specimens of the former two due to overexploitation , and specimens are rarely found in the surrounding 5 km ( 3 @.@ 1 mi ) surrounding the park . The latter , D. louvelii , is not found outside of the park . = = = Fauna = = = Marojejy National Park is best known for its two iconic species , the helmet vanga ( Euryceros prevostii ) and the critically endangered silky sifaka or simpona ( Propithecus candidus ) . The silky sifaka has been listed as one of " The World 's 25 Most Endangered Primates " since the inception of the list in 2000 . According to estimates , fewer than 1 @,@ 000 individuals of this species remain , and none exist in captivity . The wealth of species of well @-@ known groups of animals demonstrates the depth of the biodiversity found at Marojejy National Park . For example , 75 of the 118 species of birds ( 64 % ) found in or around Marojejy are forest @-@ dwelling birds , a total that surpasses any other mountain site in Madagascar . All of these forest @-@ dependent bird species are endemic to Madagascar and utilize the forest for some portion of their life @-@ cycle . One of these birds is the Madagascar serpent @-@ eagle ( Eutriorchis astur ) , which prior to being reported in 1990 , had not been seen by ornithologists since 1932 . In addition to the silky sifaka , Marojejy is home to 10 other species of lemur , several of which are also endangered due mainly to habitat loss . The nocturnal aye @-@ aye has only been seen once at the park , although one old nest and traces of its feeding have been found at various elevations . Other mammals include at least 15 species of tenrec , seven species of native rodent , the fossa ( Cryptoprocta ferox ) , and the Madagascar sucker @-@ footed bat ( Myzopoda aurita ) The reptile and amphibian diversity at Marojejy is also rich , higher than any other protected area in Madagascar . A total of 148 species have been inventoried , and 17 of these are found only in Marojejy , including Brookesia karchei and Chamaeleo peyrieresi , two species of several chameleons found there . The panther chameleon ( Furcifer pardalis ) , leaf @-@ tailed geckos ( genus Uroplatus ) , and many species of frogs are also reported from this locality . Invertebrates include large millipedes , spiders , and an abundance of small leeches . = = Camps and accommodations = = Marojejy National Park is open all year , with Bradt Travel Guides recommending April to May and September to December as the best times to visit due to less rainfall . The park is one of the only national parks in Madagascar offering wooden chalets or bungalows , in addition to having a kitchen and toilet facilities at each of its three main camps inside a primary rainforest . The housing provides beds and basic bedding , while the kitchen and eating areas are covered and offer basic cooking utensils . These three camps have basic tent sites for campers . Tent campsites are also offered outside the park , while the only other overnight accommodations outside the park are in Andapa and Sambava . The park is unable to accommodate large groups . Because of the rugged terrain and variable temperatures , the Bradt Travel Guide also recommended advanced planning for visiting the park . Payment of the entrance fees , renting of the facilities , and hiring of guides , cooks , and porters are handled at either the park headquarters in Andapa or the Park Visitor Center in Manantenina , which is along the main Andapa @-@ Sambava road , 66 km ( 41 mi ) from Sambava and 40 km ( 25 mi ) from Andapa . The park has a single trail that leads from the information center in Manantenina to the highest peak . The path into the rain forest is divided into three treks that vary in length and lead to each of the three main camps , each of which is situated at different altitudes and offer views of their own distinctive flora and fauna . The first section of the path , known as the Mantella Trek , takes visitors just inside the park entrance , and leads to a picnic area after the first 2 @.@ 5 km ( 1 @.@ 6 mi ) . The first camp , Camp Mantella , is 4 @.@ 5 km ( 2 @.@ 8 mi ) further along the path . The camp is in the lowland rain forest above the Manantenina River at an elevation of 450 m ( 1 @,@ 480 ft ) . The camp is 800 m ( 2 @,@ 600 ft ) from the Humbert waterfalls , and offers opportunities to see lemurs , such as the northern bamboo lemur ( Hapalemur occidentalis ) ; many species of bird , such as the helmet vanga ; as well as a variety of amphibians and reptiles , such as leaf @-@ tailed geckos , leaf chameleons ( genus Brookesia ) , and many types of frogs . The next 2 km ( 1 @.@ 2 mi ) along the path is known as the Simpona Trek ; the name comes from the Malagasy name for the silky sifaka , which is found in the area . The trail leads to Camp Marojejia , located at an elevation of 775 m ( 2 @,@ 543 ft ) at the transition between lowland and montane rain forest . The camp sits on a mountainside , and its dining area overlooks a forested outcrop of rock , which includes the peak named Ambatotsondrona , or " Leaning Rock " . This camp is reported to be the best location for spotting the silky sifaka , although the staff recommend that visitors hire a specialist tracker to aid in the search . The Marojejy Summit Trek continues up the mountain for another 2 km ( 1 @.@ 2 mi ) to Camp Simpona , which is in the middle of the moist montane forest at an elevation of 1 @,@ 250 m ( 4 @,@ 100 ft ) . There is a ridge with a viewing platform built on it near the camp . Despite the stunted height of the trees in this high @-@ altitude region , silky sifakas can occasionally be spotted from the bungalows . The rufous @-@ headed ground @-@ roller ( Atelornis crossleyi ) and yellow @-@ bellied sunbird @-@ asity ( Neodrepanis hypoxantha ) can be seen here , and a nearby stream teems with a diverse collection of frog species . Camp Simpona also serves as a basecamp for the steep climb to the summit of Marojejy Massif , one of Madagascar 's highest but most accessible peaks . The climb to the peak stretches 2 km ( 1 @.@ 2 mi ) and takes four to five hours . = = Local people = = The Andapa Basin , surrounded by the high , rugged mountains of Marojejy and Anjanaharibe @-@ Sud , was extremely remote and difficult to access until relatively recently . As a consequence , the area was not permanently settled until the mid @-@ 1800s , when refugees fled the Merina Kingdom . Nearly half a century later , another wave of refugees settled in the area , this time fleeing from French colonists . The population in the region , however , remained relatively small , despite a last small wave of immigration following World War I when people from Réunion came to the region to grow vanilla . The population did not increase noticeably until the early 1970s when construction of the Andapa – Sambava road was completed , connecting the region to the coast . This improved transportation route encouraged agricultural development and spawned another wave of immigration . Over the next 30 years , it was estimated that the population tripled , with more than 100 @,@ 000 people living in the region by 2003 . With 37 villages surrounding Marojejy , the population density is one of the highest in Madagascar and it continues to grow . The dominant ethnic groups in the region are the Tsimihety ( the first settlers ) and the Betsimisaraka , although other groups from the southern part of the island have also established themselves . The local people have traditionally utilized material from the forest , whether for use in their architecture , to make pirogues ( dugout canoes ) , to provide fiber for weaving , to provide firewood , to gather leaves for traditional medicine , or to flavor their drinks . Most of the residents are subsistence rice farmers who cultivate irrigated paddies in valleys or who plant on hillsides that have been cleared and burned ( slash and burn agriculture , known locally as tavy ) . The swamps which formerly covered vast areas of Andapa Basin have been converted to rice paddies which are intensively cultivated ; however the Tsimihety traditionally practice slash and burn techniques on the hillsides in preference to irrigated rice fields . Coffee was an important cash crop before market prices fell in the 1970s , but vanilla remains an important crop for the area . Until the mid @-@ 2000s , vanilla prices were high , but they have since fallen off significantly . The crash of vanilla prices , along with a rapidly growing population and steady decrease in cultivatable land , has resulted in widespread and extreme poverty . Between January and April , before the main rice harvest , many people in the region do not receive enough food to eat . The SAVA Region , which includes Marojejy , is the poorest region in Madagascar , and in 2011 , continued rises in global food prices — particularly that of imported rice — has made obtaining food more difficult for rural families . Not only have international environmental organizations ( such as Conservation International , Wildlife Conservation Society , World Wide Fund for Nature , and Care International ) established programs to help local residents , many local people work to improve their situation through environmental and health education programs . An increase in sustainable agriculture , silviculture , conservation awareness , and improved education and health care have also furthered the goal of protecting the environment and promoting livelihoods centered on the remaining forest . Limited and responsible ecotourism is also seen as a long @-@ term alternative to continued deforestation . = = Conservation concerns = = The protections normally afforded to national parks have not halted the degradations of Marojejy National Park . The hunting of lemurs , including the silky sifaka , is a persistent problem , as is the harvesting of precious hardwoods , such as rosewood and palissandre . Semi @-@ precious gemstones , such as amethyst , are still mined within the boundaries of the park , while slash and burn agriculture and wood collection for firewood and construction continue to cause the periphery to recede . These pressures are growing strong as the population in the region continues to increase . In 2003 , approximately 200 @,@ 000 people lived within 40 km ( 25 mi ) of the park , 80 % of whom were farmers that were still dependent upon the forest for agricultural land and various products , such as honey , firewood , and plant fibers , as well as tree bark from plants of the family Rutaceae ( primarily genus Evodia ) used to ferment betsabetsa , a local sugarcane spirit . Additionally , inappropriate use of the park or excessive visitation by guests could also pose a threat to the fragile high @-@ altitude scrub . = = = Illegal logging = = = Madagascar 's northeastern rain forests are severely threatened by illegal logging of precious hardwood , which not only dries out the forest ( making it susceptible to fire ) , introduces invasive species , degrades habitat , and reduces genetic diversity , but also violates local taboos and traditions . Additional species , such as species of Dombeya , are typically cut to make rafts for floating the heavier hardwoods down rivers and out of the parks . Rosewood trees are cut into multiple logs for easier transport , and five or more high @-@ buoyancy trees are cut per hardwood log . To tie the rafts together , the loggers cut thousands of lianas or vines , which are used by 75 % of the forest fauna as avenues for moving around in the canopy . The logging activities are labor @-@ intensive and dangerous . The labor employs the impoverished local population , but the officials who facilitate the process primarily benefit . In 2005 , illegal logging of rosewood was reported to have occurred more than 20 times . In 2007 at the port cities of Vohémar , Antalaha , and Toamasina , authorities confiscated thousands of logs valued at millions of dollars ( US $ ) . Some of this material was reportedly logged from eastern and northeastern parts of the park . At the start of the Malagasy political crisis in March 2009 , thousands of woodcutters intensely logged precious hardwoods for six to eight weeks in the SAVA Region . An estimated 52 @,@ 000 tons of rosewood lumber , or nearly 100 @,@ 000 trees , were logged that year , with one @-@ third of the total coming from Marojejy National Park and the remainder from nearby Masoala National Park . As a result , the park was closed briefly , but reopened in May 2009 . In 2010 , the situation improved in Marojejy , but illegal logging intensified in Masoala and the Makira Protected Area . Illegal logging has been facilitated by insufficient governance , unclear forest regulation , and undermined judicial control while the exportation of the acquired logs ( in 1992 , 2006 , and 2009 – 2010 ) has been permitted by government decrees that either precede elections or are issued during periods of political instability . The trade is organized and operated by high @-@ ranking officials and influential businessmen . Additionally , the trade in Malagasy rosewood is not regulated under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species ( CITES ) .
= Oliver Evans = Oliver Evans ( September 13 , 1755 – April 15 , 1819 ) was an American inventor , engineer and businessman . A pioneer in the fields of automation , materials handling and steam power , Evans was one of the most prolific and influential inventors in the early years of the United States . He left behind a long series of accomplishments , most notably designing and building the first fully automated industrial process ; America 's first high @-@ pressure steam engine ; and the first ( albeit crude ) amphibious vehicle and American automobile . Born in Newport , Delaware , Evans received little formal education and in his mid @-@ teens was apprenticed to a wheelwright . Going into business with his brothers , he worked for over a decade designing , building and perfecting an automated mill with devices such as bucket chains and conveyor belts . In doing so Evans designed a continuous process of manufacturing that required no human labor . This novel concept would prove critical to the Industrial Revolution and the development of mass production . Later in life Evans turned his attention to steam power , and built the first high @-@ pressure steam engine in the United States in 1801 , developing his design independently of Richard Trevithick , who built the first in the world a year earlier . Evans was a driving force in the development and adoption of high @-@ pressure steam engines in the United States . Evans dreamed of building a steam @-@ powered wagon and would eventually construct and run one in 1805 . Known as the Oruktor Amphibolos , it was the first automobile in the country and the world 's first amphibious vehicle , although it was too primitive to be a success as either . Evans was a visionary who produced designs and ideas far ahead of their time . He was the first to describe vapor @-@ compression refrigeration and propose a design for the first refrigerator in 1805 , but it would be three decades until his colleague Jacob Perkins would be able to construct a working example . Similarly , he drew up designs for a solar boiler , machine gun , steam @-@ carriage gearshift , dough @-@ kneading machine , perpetual baking oven , marine salvage process , quadruple @-@ effect evaporator and scheme for urban gas lighting ; ideas and designs which would not be made reality until some time after his death . Evans had influential backers and political allies , but lacked social graces and was disliked by many of his peers . Disappointed and then angry at the perceived lack of recognition for his contributions , Evans became combative and bitter in later years , which damaged his reputation and left him isolated . Despite the import of his work , his contributions were frequently overlooked ( or attributed to others after his death ) so he never became a household name alongside the other steam pioneers of his era . = = Early life , 1755 – 83 = = Oliver Evans was born in Newport , Delaware on September 13 , 1755 to Charles and Ann Stalcop Evans . His father was a cordwainer by trade , though he purchased a large farm to the north of Newport on the Red Clay Creek and moved his family there when Oliver was still in his infancy . Oliver was the fifth of twelve children ; he had four sisters and seven brothers . Little else is known of Evans 's early life , and surviving records provide few details as to his formative years . The nature and location of his early education has not been preserved , however his literacy was demonstrably strong from a young age , both as a writer and an avid reader on technical subjects . Aged 17 , Evans was apprenticed to a wheelwright and wagon @-@ maker in Newport . An anecdote from the period recalls that his master , an illiterate and extremely frugal man , forbade Evans the use of candles to illuminate his reading in the evenings . Evans found another way by collecting scraps and shavings of wood from his work during the day to serve as fuel for small fires . The Revolutionary War began when Evans was 19 . He enlisted in a Delaware militia company , but saw no active service during the war . By the age of 22 , Evans moved out of wheel @-@ making and became a specialist in forming the fine wire used in textile cards , which were used to comb fibers in preparation for the spinning process to make thread or yarn . A desire to increase the efficiency of this process led him to his first invention — a machine which would bend wire into teeth and cut them off rapidly to aid the assembly of cards . George Latimer , then a justice of the peace in Newport , saw its potential and tasked a blacksmith with creating the machine , which became one of Evans 's early successes when it was introduced in 1778 . Evans wished to go further in mechanizing the production of textile cards by developing a machine which could puncture the leather into which the wire teeth were inserted . His invention greatly speeded the card manufacturing process , producing around 1 @,@ 500 teeth every minute , though Evans himself was unable to find financial backing to commercialize his invention . Nevertheless , over the next two decades card manufacturing innovations inspired by Evans 's led to the development of automated textile card production , then in great demand due to the growth of the Southern cotton industry . Early pioneers of mechanized textile @-@ card production , including Giles Richards and Amos Whittemore , are thought to have borrowed heavily from his original designs . Evans also began experimenting in this period with steam power and its potential for commercial application . His early ideas culminated in a Delaware state patent application in 1783 for a steam @-@ powered wagon , but it was denied as Evans had yet to produce a working model . That same year , aged 27 , Evans married Sarah Tomlinson , daughter of a local farmer , in Old Swedes ' Episcopal Church in Wilmington . = = Developing the automatic flour mill , 1783 – 90 = = Evans 's attention turned to flour milling in the early 1780s , an industry which was booming in rapidly industrializing northern Delaware . In this era , the operation of grist mills was labor @-@ intensive . Although the stages of the milling process — grinding , cooling , sifting and packing — were beginning to be mechanized to various degrees , gravity or manual labor was required to move grain from one stage to the next . Additionally , some stages ( particularly cooling ) were slow and inefficient , creating significant production process bottlenecks . Mills were becoming commonplace in populated areas and those with ready access to waterways for power , but the bulk of milling in the 1780s was done in the home through hand milling . Furthermore , the quality of milled wheat was poor in colonial America . Hard wheat varieties were insufficiently ground and sifted by mills , leaving a flour that was coarse and brown . Cross @-@ contamination was a major problem : mill processes were not well @-@ partitioned ; the many people moving about the mill contaminated the flour with dirt , grain and other impurities . The end result , Evans recognized , was a low quality product that took too many laborers to make . In 1783 , two of Evans 's brothers began building a mill in Newport on part of the family 's farm estate which they purchased from their father , and Evans was recruited to oversee its construction on the Red Clay Creek . When the mill opened in 1785 it was of a conventional design , but over the next five years Evans began to experiment with inventions to reduce the reliance upon labor for milling . Moving wheat from the bottom to the top of the mill to begin the process was the most onerous task of all in contemporary mills . Evans 's first innovation was a bucket elevator to facilitate this process . Chains of buckets to raise water was a Roman technology had been used in various guises since antiquity . Evans had seen diagrams of their use for marine applications and realized with some modification and careful engineering they could be used to raise grain , so a series of bucket elevators around a mill could move grain and flour from one process to the next . Another labor @-@ intensive task was that of spreading meal . This came out of the grinding process warm and moist , needing cooling and drying before it could be sifted and packed . Traditionally the task was done by manually shoveling meal across large floors . In response , Evans developed the " hopper boy " , a device which gathered meal from a bucket elevator and spread it evenly over the drying floor — a mechanical rake would revolve around the floorspace . This would even out newly deposited meal for cooling and drying , while a gentle incline in the design of the rake blades would slowly move the flour towards central chutes , from which the material would be sifted . Used in conjunction , the two innovations saved many hours of labor and greatly reduced the risk of contamination . Despite their technical complexity , neither device was revolutionary by the standards of the time . However , the total vision of their design was . Evans was attempting a radical shift in thinking about the manufacturing process , treating it as a continuous integrated whole rather than a series of isolated processes . Thus , manufacturing could be a fully automated production line . The missing link was materials handling , and Evans 's mill designs sought to feed materials continuously through a system without the need for any human intervention . This was the first fully automated industrial process , and the idea of continuous production was proved to be a critical ingredient of the industrial revolution , and would ultimately lay the foundation for modern mass production . Constructing the machinery to realize this vision was complicated . Evans struggled to find the money to pay the highly skilled carpenters needed to construct his complex machines . The nearby flour milling industry on the Brandywine River was large , but dominated by the Quaker millers of Wilmington who saw little potential in Evans 's designs . James Latimer , a Newport flour merchant upon hearing Evans 's ideas exclaimed " Ah ! Oliver , you cannot make water run uphill , you cannot make wooden millers ! " Latimer 's son , George , however once more saw the promise in Evans 's ideas and helped him to secure patent protection over the inventions throughout 1787 and 1788 . By this time Evans converted his brothers ' mill at Red Clay Creek into a fully automated prototype based on his perfected designs , and the Evans brothers sent handbills and diagrams to the major milling centers of the United States offering free licensing of the designs for the first miller in each county who would commission Evans to refit their mills . Yet this campaign was to prove a major disappointment , and little commercial interest materialized . Evans lacked patience however , and coupled with a prickly disposition , was prone to display frustration and bewilderment towards those who could not immediately see the value of his ideas . His ideas and designs were often far ahead of their time , and the idea of a fully automated production process was difficult for contemporaries to comprehend . Evans recalled when some Brandywine millers happened to visit the Red Clay Creek mill in the early years of its operation after it was fully automated . He was alone at the mill that day and making hay in a nearby field , and purposely stayed out of sight so his visitors could observe the mill running independently without human supervision . Evans then appeared and at great length explained how the feat they witnessed was possible , and was convinced that the chance visit would bring about a breakthrough with the Brandywine millers . However , he was frustrated at reports that the millers returned to Wilmington and reported that the Evans mill was " a set of rattletraps , unworthy the notice of any man of sense " . Disinterest continued even after Evans convinced a Brandywine miller to have his mill converted . After years of persistence and attempts at marketing , Evans 's designs were finally given a trial on larger scales and adopted elsewhere . A breakthrough came in 1789 when the Ellicotts , a progressively minded Quaker family in Baltimore , invited Evans to refit their mills on the Patapsco River . The refits proved a success , and Evans worked with Jonathan Ellicott to develop a modified form of Archimedean screw that could act as a horizontal conveyor to work alongside the vertically orientated bucket elevators . He added a rake @-@ drill and conveyor belt to his designs , and now possessed a full complement of materials handling machines for just about every possible configuration . In 1790 , Evans moved from Newport to Wilmington and constructed a working model of his designs in the town . Evans 's inventions were given a major boost when leading miller Joseph Tatnall converted his mills to the Evans system , and estimated that in one year the changes saved his operation a small fortune amounting to $ 37 @,@ 000 . Local millers quickly followed suit , and Brandywine Village was soon a showcase for Evans 's milling technology . After almost a decade , the Brandywine millers were finally convinced , and within a short period automated mills began to spread across the eastern seaboard . In 1790 , upon introduction of federal patent law , Evans immediately applied for protection for his milling designs and was granted the third US patent , with his application personally examined and approved by Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson , Secretary of War Henry Knox , and Attorney @-@ General Edmund Randolph . = = Writer and merchant , 1790 – 1801 = = Having secured patent protection for his designs and general adoption by the Brandywine millers , Evans now turned his attention outside Delaware . His brother Joseph travelled widely to promote Evans 's work , and according to some sources , by 1792 over one hundred mills were operating Evans machinery . When George Washington called upon Joseph Tatnall in 1790 to thank him for the flour he provided to feed the Continental Army during the War of Independence , he saw Evans 's technology at work in the mills in Brandywine Village and was so impressed that had his own gristmill at Mount Vernon converted to the Evans system in 1791 , the completion of which was overseen by Evans 's brothers . In 1793 , Evans sold his share in the Red Clay Creek mill and moved his family from Wilmington to Philadelphia , where he opened a store for milling supplies . His early years in Philadelphia though were dominated by writing . Initially Evans intended to write a pamphlet to assist millers in the construction of milling machinery , as well as promoting his own automated designs . However , Evans became so engrossed in the project that he ultimately devoted several years to writing a comprehensive book on milling technology that included long chapters on the basic principles of physics , hydraulics and mechanics ; at times neglecting his family 's financial security in order to complete it . The Young Mill @-@ wright and Miller 's Guide when it appeared consisted of five parts : ' Principles of Mechanics and Hydraulics ' , ' Of the different Kinds of Mills ' , ' Description of the Author 's Improvements ' , ' On the Manufacturing of Grain into Flour ' , ' Ellicott 's Plans for Building Mills ' , and a lengthy appendix in which Evans detailed various ideas for other inventions , such as a hot @-@ air system of central heating . Thomas Ellicott , whose family were early adopters of Evans 's designs in Baltimore , contributed a section on mill construction . Much of the theoretical work of the book was based on earlier scientific work on mechanical principles , yet Evans insisted that theoretical sections align with observations in the practical sections , and hence often revised standing theories to comport with experiments he conducted and observations he made . For example , he found what was written on the theoretical mechanical principles of waterwheels did not match what he could replicate in practice , so he revised them based on observation to form a " true theory " and concluded that " neither the old or new theories agree with practice , therefore we must suspect that they are founded on error . But if , what I call the true theory , should continue to agree with practice , the practitioner need not care on what it is founded . " The guide 's list of subscribers was topped by George Washington , Thomas Jefferson and Edmund Randolph when the first edition appeared in print in 1795 . The book proved very popular and remained a staple manual for millers for over half a century , undergoing several revisions and fifteen printed editions between 1795 and 1860 . The book 's popularity rested on its detailed practical explanations of mill design and construction , and as the principal guidebook for American milling it would not be superseded until after the Civil War . After the publication of the Guide , Evans concentrated on his work as a milling supply merchant and gaining financial security through licensing his patented designs . With enough millers now using Evans 's machinery , adoption began to accelerate rapidly after 1800 , as did his considerable wealth from the license fees . In these years Evans concentrated on growing his commercial operations in Philadelphia , expanding his store several times , becoming an agent for English imports , and taking on blacksmiths to complete more complicated metal work for mills . All the while Evans continued to refine various elements of mill design , including patenting a new process for making millstones and developing a screw mill for grinding plaster of Paris , which was in great demand in Philadelphia for stucco work . Evans and his younger brother Evan , along with blacksmith Thomas Clark , developed a device for packing flour barrels using a wooden disc operating by a compound lever and a toggle joint . = = Developing the high @-@ pressure steam engine , 1801 – 06 = = Steam engines appeared in the United States as a source of power in the late 18th century , and living in Delaware and Philadelphia meant Evans was exposed to early examples of their application there . John Fitch had launched the first rudimentary steamboat onto the Delaware River in the late 1780s , and the Philadelphia waterworks was by 1802 operating two low @-@ pressure steam engines to pump water from the Schuylkill River , but these were rare examples and most instances of this new technology were to be found in Europe . Much of the development of steam power had occurred in Great Britain , with Thomas Newcomen and James Watt instrumental in developing and commercializing steam power there and elsewhere in Europe , with several hundred of machines operating there in industrial and labor @-@ saving applications by 1800 . Evans had first begun to consider the potential applications of steam power for transportation while still an apprentice in the 1780s , and had developed rudimentary designs for ' steam carriages ' in the 1790s . In 1801 , Evans definitively began work on making his long @-@ held dream of a steam carriage into reality . Early steam engineers , most notably Watt contemporary William Murdoch , had developed plans for a steam @-@ propelled carriage incorporating a heavy flywheel , in which pressure was converted directly to rotary power , however it became apparent in experimentation that a low @-@ pressure , rotary steam engine would never be powerful enough to propel a carriage of any weight forward . Evans 's attention thus turned to a reciprocating engine , not only for his steam carriage ideas , but also for industrial application . Importantly , Evans became an early proponent of ' strong steam ' or high @-@ pressure engines , an idea long resisted by Watt and earlier steam pioneers because the necessary iron making and metal working technology was lacking . Evans recognized that a high @-@ pressure steam engine would be essential to the development of a steam carriage because they could be built far smaller while providing similar or greater power outputs to low @-@ pressure equivalents . Some experiments with high @-@ pressure steam engines had been made in Europe , most notably an unsuccessful steam tractor developed by Nicolas @-@ Joseph Cugnot . However the prevailing fear of early steam engineering was that no boiler could safely contain high @-@ pressure steam . Evans ignored potential drawbacks , and developed radically different designs which called for engines operating at high @-@ pressure and the elimination of the condenser — a central component of conventional designs . His designs also incorporated a grasshopper beam , a double @-@ acting cylinder , and four steam valves . Each valve was independently operated by one of four cams . The resulting design was a high @-@ pressure steam engine that had a higher power @-@ to @-@ weight ratio that prevailing designs , making locomotives and steamboats practical . It was also mechanically simpler than condensing engines , making it less costly to build and maintain , and did not require large volumes of condensing water . These features would make it similarly suited for a variety of industrial applications . As with the automated mill , Evans 's ideas were harshly criticized by other engineers — most notably some of the Philadelphia engineering community including the influential Benjamin Latrobe . As it happened , Cornish engineer Richard Trevithick had simultaneously developed similar ideas in favor of high @-@ pressure engines and begun to experiment with them in developing the first locomotives , but neither knew of the other 's work . Constructing his designs proved far more difficult than Evans initially envisaged — with just six working steam engines in the United States at this time , and a handful of workshops with any experience making them , it took Evans much of his savings and two years to yield a working example to display to the public in 1803 . This first engine was powered by a double @-@ acting cylinder six inches in diameter and with a piston stroke length of eighteen inches . Many components , such as the flywheel and crosshead , were made of wood in order to simplify construction . The boiler , the engineering of which was critical to the safe operation of the engine , consisted of a large copper shell encased in wood and cast iron rings in order to contain the pressure . The output of the machine was approximately five horsepower . This work output was modest by contemporary standards — the low @-@ pressure engine of the nearby waterworks produced about twelve horsepower . But his steam engine was just a fraction of the size of pre @-@ existing machines — the waterworks machine was over twenty @-@ five times larger in volume . Evans unveiled his engine at his store and put it to work crushing plaster of Paris and , more sensationally , sawing slabs of marble . The showmanship paid off , and thousands came to see the machine in operation , while the Philadelphia newspaper Aurora declared " a new era in the history of the steam engine . " = = = Oruktor Amphibolos = = = Evans received a patent for his new steam engine in 1804 , and set about looking for commercial applications . The first of his proposals was for the Lancaster Turnpike Company . He proposed to construct a steam wagon with the capacity to carry 100 barrels of flour between Philadelphia and Lancaster in two days , which by his estimation would greatly increase profits compared to the equivalent five horse wagons , for whom the trip took three days . Evans declared in his proposal that " I have no doubt but that my engines will propel boats against the current of the Mississippi , and waggons [ sic ] on turnpike roads with great profit . " With the company unsure of the reliability and cost of the technology , the proposal was rejected . Despite this setback , within a year Evans had found a client . The Philadelphia Board of Health was concerned with the problem of dredging and cleaning the city 's dockyards and removing sandbars : in 1805 Evans convinced them to contract him to develop a steam @-@ powered dredge . The result was the Oruktor Amphibolos , or " Amphibious Digger " . The vessel consisted of a flat @-@ bottomed scow with bucket chains to bring up mud and hooks to clear away sticks , stones and other obstacles . Power for the dredging equipment and propulsion was supplied by a high @-@ pressure Evans engine . The end result was a craft nearly thirty feet long , twelve feet wide and weighing some seventeen tons . To move this ungainly hulk to the waterfront , as well to give a demonstration of his long @-@ held beliefs in the possibility of land @-@ based steam transportation , Evans mounted the hull on four wheels ( twice , as the first set collapsed under the weight ) and connected the engine to them in order to drive the Oruktor from his workshop through the Philadelphia streets on the way to the Schuylkill River on July 13 , 1805 . The Oruktor Amphibolos is thus believed to have been the first automobile in the United States , and the first motorized amphibious craft in the world . However , very few contemporary accounts of the craft survive , and Evans 's tendency to exaggerate its success in his own annals make verification of its performance difficult . Although Evans himself claimed it proceeded successfully around Philadelphia ( and circled his erstwhile rival Benjamin Latrobe 's Philadelphia waterworks ) before launching into the river and paddling at speed to Philadelphia harbor ; the great weight of the craft make land @-@ propulsion based on its limited engine capacity and jury @-@ rigged power train fairly improbable over any significant distance . It is similarly unknown how well , if at all , the Oruktor functioned as a steamboat , and Evans 's claims on this point vary significantly over the years . Nevertheless , it is known that the invention proved ineffective for its ostensible purpose as a dredger , and it was scrapped for parts by the Board of Health in 1808 . Nevertheless , Evans 's ideas of steam carriages were not an impossible dream . Evans would continue to promote the idea . In 1812 he published a futuristic description of a world connected by a network of Shipping lines railroad tracks and steam locomotives , accurately describing what will happen in the future. long before any such potential could be realized : " The time will come when people will travel in stages moved by steam engines , from one city to another , almost as fast as birds fly , fifteen or twenty miles in an hour " = = = Steam Engineer 's Guide = = = Evans frequently quarrelled with fellow inventors and engineering peers over steam technology in the mid @-@ 1800s . His increasing frustration led to his premature publication of what he had hoped would be the equivalent of his earlier manual for millers — the petulantly titled The Abortion of the Young Steam Engineer 's Guide . The Steam Engineer 's Guide was significantly shorter than this first book and less structured in its approach . A third of the book is devoted to an ongoing argument between Evans and John Stevens ( another prominent steam engineer of the day ) , much of which had previously appeared in the journal The Medical Repository and to which now Evans added various additional criticisms of Stevens ' contentions . Evans concludes his book by renouncing inventing and any further work on his designs , complaining of the ingratitude of the public and the unprofitability of the endeavour , although this would prove to be just one of many such assertions by Evans over the coming years . Regardless , the Steam Engineer 's Guide proved to be a popular work , though not on the same scale as his guide to milling , however it was the first book in the United States to make accessible to anyone ideas and techniques for steam engineering . The book begins with an introductory discussion of the principles of steam engines and the relevant physical principles , as well as designs for the Evans high @-@ pressure steam engine , boilers , screw @-@ mills and others . Evans developed a similar suite of tools and tables for potential steam engineers as he had for potential millers , such as tables itemizing the heat and pressure tolerances of various metals , instructions for assembling the basic components of a steam @-@ powered system , and schematics for useful components such as valves and boilers . Evans also used the book to justify the safety of high @-@ pressure steam engines if properly constructed , despite the fact that by this time Evans himself had experienced several boiler explosions in his workshop . However , thermodynamics were little understood in his time . As such , many of Evans 's theoretical contentions , including the ' grand principle ' of steam he develops to guide the mathematical modelling of pressure and fuel in steam engines , were substantially flawed . Although Evans was to be quite successful in the development of high @-@ pressure steam engines ( and his designs were widely used ) , his theoretical understanding of them was limited and he was generally unable to accurately predict the inputs and outputs of his machines . The guide also indulged in a far wider range of topics of interest to Evans , including a compendium of inventions from others which he deemed to be worthy of further circulation — such as a straw @-@ cutter and flour press developed by his brother Evan , and a horse @-@ drawn scraper and earth mover invented by Gershom Johnson . Evans also used the opportunity to encourage government sponsorship of research : " If government would , at the expense of uncertainty , employ ingenious persons , in every art and science , to make with care every experiment that might lead to the extension of our knowledge of principles , carefully recording the experiments and results so that they might be fully relied on , and leaving readers to draw their own inferences , the money would be well expended ; for it would tend greatly to aid the progress of improvement in the arts and sciences . " This suggestion stemmed from the observation that many engineers relied on the basic principles of physics and mechanics to guide their work , and yet this often required inventors and engineers to become scientists as well to obtain experimental data — something that they were rarely qualified or resourced to do . Short of government funding of such research , Evans also attempted to create in the aftermath of the Steam Engineer 's Guide what he called ' The Experiment Company ' , which would be a private research consortium to conduct reliable experiments and gather data for the benefits of subscribed members . The venture failed and Evans could find no paying stockholders to launch it , possibly due to Evans committing the new venture to developing a steam wagon of his own design . The Franklin Institute would be founded in Philadelphia a few years after Evans 's death on similar principles . = = = Refrigeration = = = Despite an incomplete understanding of the principles behind them , in some ways Evans 's thinking about the potential for steam engines was once again far ahead of its time . In the postscript of the Steam Engineer 's Guide , Evans noted that drawing a vacuum on water reduces its boiling point and cools it . He further observed that a vacuum would have the same effect upon ether , and the resulting cooling should be sufficient to produce ice . He went on to describe a piston vacuum pump apparatus to produce this effect , and also showed that a compression cylinder , or the compression stroke of the vacuum pump , should produce heat in a condenser . Thus Evans had produced the first detailed and theoretically coherent design for a vapor @-@ compression refrigerator , identifying all the major components ( expander , cooling coil , compressor and condenser ) of a refrigeration cycle , leaving some to credit him as the ' grandfather of refrigeration ' . Although Evans never developed a working model of his designs , and there is no evidence that he ever attempted to , Evans in his later life worked and associated extensively with fellow inventor Jacob Perkins on steam engines and the potential for refrigeration . Perkins would later develop and build a refrigeration device for which he received patents in 1834 – 1835 , employing much the same principles originally put forward by Evans . = = Mars Works , 1806 – 12 = = Having , in his view , perfected many of his ideas and designs for steam engines , Evans turned his attention once more to the commercial propagation of his inventions . His first steam engines had been constructed on an ad @-@ hoc basis , often with improvised tools and workers , and he had relied heavily on blacksmiths and other metal @-@ working shops in Philadelphia with little experience in the more precise metal @-@ work required to build steam engines . In particular , Evans soon realized that unlike his milling machines of wood and leather he would need specialist skills , precision tools and a large foundry in order to build steam machines on a commercial basis . Thus , Evans constructed the Mars Works on a large site a few blocks north of his store in Philadelphia . The choice of name , after the Roman god of war , is thought to have been aspirational and a challenge to the Soho Foundry near Birmingham in the United Kingdom , famous for building the Watt and Boulton engines . Indeed , the completed Mars Works was one of the largest and best equipped outfits of its kind in the United States — by contemporary accounts it featured a substantial foundry , moldmaker 's shop , blacksmith 's shops , millstone maker , a steam engine works and a large steam engine of its own to grind materials and work wrought iron . With over thirty @-@ five staff , the Mars Works produced a wide range of manufactures ranging from working steam engines to cast iron fittings , as well as milling and farming machines for Evans 's now well @-@ established agricultural clientele . Steam engine orders alone proved insufficient to support the extensive business costs ; hence the works became highly experienced in producing all kinds of heavy machinery , contributing to Philadelphia 's emergence as a leading center for such work in the 19th century . Indeed , the works even received military orders , casting naval cannons during the War of 1812 . Evans also proved highly innovative in designing steam power solutions for his clients . In one example where the Mars Works was commissioned to build engines for wool processing factories in Middletown , Connecticut , Evans designed a network of accompanying pipes with radiators to heat the factory with engine exhaust . Although there are no records as to the designs of the early steam engines produced by the Mars Works , Evans 's most famous engine design appeared around 1812 . Called the Columbian Engine as a patriotic gesture , it would prove to be the most advanced and successful steam engine design created by Evans — he brought to bear his now extensive experience in designing and building high @-@ pressure steam engines . This horizontally oriented engine allowed the crankshaft and piston rod to work closely together at one end of the machine , thus reducing the need for a heavy working beam like those required for conventional engines . The piston rod itself was kept working to a straight line while by a new type of linkage wherein two sets of pivoted bars guided the movements of the working bar . This linkage is still known as the Evans straight @-@ line linkage , though it was superseded within a few years by more precise straight line mechanisms . The Columbian was also the culmination of the grasshopper @-@ style of steam engine . Perfected designs like the Columbian saw a popularization of the grasshopper @-@ style and its wide use in a range of applications . In 1813 he made the decision to introduce a condenser to the Columbian design . This significantly cut the running cost to the engine , and at this point his engines were as efficient and powerful as low @-@ pressure Watt @-@ Boulton designs , yet far cheaper to build and smaller in size . Within a year 27 Columbian engines were operating or under construction in applications ranging from sawmilling and grain milling to the manufacturing of paper , wire and wool . = = = Pittsburgh Steam Engine Company = = = As the reputation of the Mars Works grew , so too did the demand for its products . After a few years the Mars Works began exporting its engines inland . Oliver Evans 's son George was the first such order , having moved to Pittsburgh in 1809 to operate the Pittsburgh Steam Flour Mill . George and the mill were highly successful , and generated a great deal of interest in Evans 's engines across the interior . However exporting engines to western Pennsylvania , Kentucky or Ohio was challenging and expensive from a logistical perspective . In 1811 Evans and George , as well as another successful steam miller and engineer Luther Stephens , founded the Pittsburgh Steam Engine Company , which in addition to engines would , like the Mars Works , produce heavy machinery and castings in Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania . With high demand for industrial products and relatively little industrial capacity , the Pittsburgh works added to its repertoire the capacity for brasswork , as well as producing finer products for domestic purposes like hinges and fittings . The location of the Pittsburgh factory in the Mississippi River watershed was important in the development of high @-@ pressure steam engines for the use in steamboats , and the new company began to promote its engines for river transport . Evans had long been a believer in the application of steam engines for maritime purposes . In his book of 1805 , Evans had stated : " The navigation of the river Mississippi , by steam engines , on the principles here laid down , has for many years been a favorite subject of the author , and among the fondest wishes of his heart " Evans had long been an acquaintance of John Fitch , the first to build a steamboat in the United States , and the two had worked together on steam projects . The Oruktor Amphibolos was Evans 's lone attempt at building his own steamboat powered by a high @-@ pressure engine and Evans himself was often vague in appraising its capabilities . Yet Robert Fulton had found success with the North River Steamboat on the Hudson River in 1807 , and thereafter steamboats became a reality . Although he used low @-@ pressure engines , Fulton had in 1812 contacted Evans about the possibility of using Evans 's engines , though that correspondence did not lead to the implementation of any of Evans 's designs for Fulton 's steamships . The Mississippi and tributaries experienced far stronger currents than eastern counterparts , and low @-@ pressure steamboats lacked the power to counteract these . The Enterprise was the first viable steamboat to run on these rivers , and its designer Daniel French employed an adapted Evans ' engine for the purpose . High @-@ pressure engines became the standard on the Mississippi , though relatively few of those were actually built by the Pittsburgh works as Evans ' patent on high @-@ pressure engines was not widely enforced , and many other engine shops opened on the Mississippi that freely adapted Evans ' designs for their own purposes . Notable examples of river steamboats that were constructed by the Pittsburgh and Mars Works include the Franklin , the Aetna and the Pennsylvania . Another , christened the Oliver Evans but renamed the Constitution by its eventual owners , was lost along with the eleven crew members when its boiler exploded near Point Coupee , Louisiana . Evans was deeply distressed by the news , although he defended the safety of high @-@ pressure engines and cited any explosions as an extremely rare occurrences . = = = Patent battles = = = Evans found himself in battles to protect his intellectual property many times throughout his career , but he pursued the cause most doggedly during his latter years . His first and most successful patents concerning flour @-@ milling proved the most problematic to defend , and Evans ' battles proved influential in setting precedent for the newly established area of federal patent law . His original patent for his automated flour @-@ mill expired in January 1805 , but Evans believed that the fourteen year patent term was too brief and petitioned the Congress to extend it . In January 1808 An Act for the Relief of Oliver Evans was passed and signed by President Jefferson , a long @-@ time admirer of Evans 's work . The act took the extraordinary step of reviving to Evans his expired patent and giving it another fourteen year term — Evans was delighted , but the move was to highly problematic , particularly regarding those who had implemented Evans 's designs in the intervening three year period between the patent terms , as many millers had waited for Evans 's patent to expire before upgrading their mills . Evans and his agents set about aggressively collecting royalties from those using his designs . Furthermore , Evans significantly raised the license fees for his use of his patented technology , raising claims of extortion from those being asked to pay , and a great many cases ended up in court . The 1808 act had indemnified those who had adopted Evans 's technologies from 1805 to 1808 , but did not specify whether this indemnity was perpetual ( as defendants argued ) or whether it was only for the three years in question ( as Evans argued ) . Evans by this stage of his life had also established a poor reputation for himself amongst the milling community , and his abrasive and often petty pursuit of patent rights stiffened resistance . Several major legal cases questioned whether laws to extend private patents in this manner were even constitutional , but Evans ultimately prevailed in each case . The most bitter legal battle began in 1809 . Evans sued Samuel Robinson — a miller near Baltimore who was using Evans 's improvements without a license to produce a very modest amount of flour — for damages of $ 2 @,@ 500 . That sum was deemed unjustifiably high and harsh by many , and Evans 's actions rallied the Baltimore community against him , and when the case was finally heard in 1812 many appeared in support of the defendant . Evans 's detractors presented evidence and witnesses at the trial to press the argument that Evans did not truly invent much of what his patents protected . Although the hopper @-@ boy was undoubtedly original , the use of bucket chains and Archimedean screws had been used since ancient times and Evans had only modified some of their features and adapted them for use in a milling context . A now retired Thomas Jefferson weighed into the debate in letters to both Evans and his detractors , questioning the philosophy of patent law and what truly defined ' invention ' and ' machine ' ( and to some extent the validity of his claims ) but ultimately defended the purpose of patent law , which was to incentivize innovation by rewarding inventors for their development and sharing of new technology . And Jefferson noted that though Evans 's designs consisted of devices that had long existed beforehand , everyone had access to these and yet only Evans had thought to modify and use them in conjunction to build an automatic mill . Ultimately the jury found in favor of Evans , but it was a pyrrhic victory as Evans had put most of the milling community offside in the process , and ultimately reduced his claim against Robinson to $ 1 @,@ 000 . In response , prominent Evans critic Isaac McPherson , made submission to Congress in the wake of the trial entitled Memorial to the Congress of Sundry Citizens of the United States , Praying Relief from the Oppressive Operations of Oliver Evans ' Patent , seeking to limit the compensation Evans could seek for his patent 's use or for Congress to void it altogether . Although the Senate drafted a bill that would roll @-@ back some of Evans 's patent rights , it did not pass , and he continued to vigorously pursue his patent fees . It would not be until the Patent Act of 1836 that many of these issues , including what constituted originality in the context of a patent , would be addressed . = = Later life and death , 1812 – 19 = = Although Evans had always suffered from bouts of depression , and bitterness towards those he felt did not appreciate his inventions , such sentiments seemed to peak in his later years . During one of his many legal battles in 1809 , comments from the presiding judge sent Evans into a particular fury in which he dramatically incinerated many schematics and papers regarding his inventions , both prior and future . Evans declared at the time that inventing had led only to heartache , disappointment and under @-@ appreciation ; and committed himself to business and material acquisition for the sake of his family . Ultimately what was burned represents only a small proportion of what survives from Evans , and he did continue his interest in inventing , but the tone of Evans 's later life was undoubtedly one of hostility and disappointment . Evans gradually withdrew from the operations of his workshops , with his son George managing operations in Pittsburgh and his sons @-@ in @-@ law James Rush and John Muhlenberg likewise in Philadelphia . The Mars Works was by now an established entity , receiving prestigious commissions such as the engines for the Philadelphia Mint in 1816 . Records indicate the Mars Works would turn out more than one hundred steam engines by the time of Evans death . In retirement Evans became increasingly consumed with pursuing his patent dues from those using his technology , which was now widespread . In 1817 he stated that his time was " wholly engrossed by law suits " . Evans had become somewhat obsessed and took on a siege mentality , penning to his numerous lawyers ( at its height he had fifteen working on his various cases across the United States ) his final work , known as Oliver Evans to His Counsel : Who are Engaged in Defence of His Patent Rights , for the Improvements He Has Invented : Containing a Short Account of Two Out of Eighty of His Inventions , Their Rise and Progress in Despite of All Opposition and Difficulties , and Two of His Patents with Explanations . Evans undertook travel to distant areas of the country in order to find offenders . On a trip to Vermont , Evans visited various mills and then promptly engaged a lawyer there to press charges against twenty @-@ two of them for perceived breeches of his patent rights . In his last years Evans compiled a list , since lost , of all his inventions — eighty in total , as alluded to in the title of his last publication to his lawyers . Some of his unfinished ideas that are known include a scheme for the gas lighting of cities in the United States , a means for raising sunken ships , a machine gun , a self @-@ oiling shaft bearing , various types of gearshift for steam carriages , a dough @-@ kneading machine and a perpetual baking oven . In one proposal in 1814 , as the British Navy threatened Washington , D.C. during the War of 1812 , Evans ventured to build a steam @-@ powered frigate , but the scheme didn 't get far . In 1816 his wife Sarah died , although the cause is unrecorded . Evans remarried two years later in April 1818 to Hetty Ward , who was many years his junior and the daughter of the New York innkeeper . In these last years Evans lived in New York with his new wife . In early 1819 Evans developed an inflammation of the lungs and after a month of illness , died on April 15 , 1819 . Just four days prior , on April 11 , news had reached him in New York that the Mars Works in Philadelphia had burned down , though his sons @-@ in @-@ law were committed to re @-@ establishing the business and did so further outside of the city . Evans was buried at Zion Episcopal Church in Manhattan , but when that church was sold his body was moved several times until finally resting in 1890 in an unmarked common grave at Trinity Cemetery , Broadway at 157th Street , New York City . = = Legacy = = Undoubtedly , Evans ' contributions to milling were profound and the most rapidly adopted . Within his lifetime American milling had undergone a revolution , and his designs allowed mills to be built on industrial @-@ scales with far greater efficiency . Now a more profitable enterprise , the number of mills increased dramatically across the United States . The price of flour fell significantly , availability increased , and the automated drying and bolting processes increased the quality and fineness of flour . In turn this led to major shift in bread making — cheaper and better quality flour lowered the cost of bread production and within a generation the majority of bread consumption shifted from the home @-@ made to store @-@ bought . The revolution was even more far @-@ reaching in Europe where the so @-@ called " American System " was quickly adopted by the milling industry and triggered major increases in food production — sorely needed in a period of almost continual warfare at the turn of the 18th century . Although several key elements of Evans 's designs — such as bucket elevators and Archimedean screws — were merely modified rather than invented by him , the combination of many machines into an automated and continuous production line was a unique idea that would prove pivotal to both the Industrial Revolution and the development of mass production . Scientific and technical historians now generally credit Evans as the first in a line of industrialists that culminated with Henry Ford and the modern assembly line . His concept of industrial automation was far ahead of its time , and the paradigm shift within manufacturing towards that concept would take more than a century to be fully realized . However continuous process manufacturing would spread from Evans 's milling designs , first to related industries such as brewing and baking , then eventually to a wide variety of products , as technology and prevailing opinion caught up . Evans contributions were later deemed to be so important that eminent industrial historian Sigfried Giedion would conclude that in this respect , Evans " opens a new chapter in the history of mankind " . Evans ' contributions to steam were not as ground @-@ breaking as his earlier work in milling but he played a critical role by inventing and propagating the high @-@ pressure steam engine in the United States . Evans ' engines , particularly the Columbian , were highly influential in early steam @-@ power applications in United States ( particularly in the evolution of steamboats and steam @-@ powered industrial processes ) . Yet once more Evans was ahead of the curve with many of his ideas , and his death during steam 's infancy in the United States meant that it would be some time before many of his ideas would come to fruition . For example , although a leading advocate for high @-@ pressure engines , it would not be until the 1830s that such engines definitively replaced low @-@ pressure designs . And Evans ' dream of a steam wagon , notwithstanding the brave attempt of the Oruktor Amphibolos , would not see widespread adoption until even later . And unlike his earlier contributions , Evans was just one of many brilliant minds in steam technology . It would be another inventor , Richard Trevithick , working totally independently of Evans who would develop the high @-@ pressure engine that would make that dream possible . And yet despite his formidable record and undoubted importance in the history of technology , Evans never became a household name . In this respect Evans was his own worst enemy . He was deeply affected by a perceived lack of recognition and appreciation from his peers for his work , and his bouts of depression would lead him to act in the extreme , prematurely ending projects and vowing to give up inventing many times over the course of his life . In time these feelings turned to bitterness and vengeance towards those who criticized or doubted him , and led him to become notoriously bombastic and combative , often aggrandizing his accomplishments and fiercely denouncing critics ( such as the wild exaggerations as to the success of the Oruktor Amphibolos at the end of his life ) . While his relentless pursuit of patent rights did indeed force people to pay him his due , the process badly damaged his reputation and made him many enemies . A leading Philadelphia merchant summed it up in 1802 , stating " few if any [ millers ] are inclined to give pompous blockhead , Oliver Evans , the credit of inventing any of the useful contrivances in milling for which he now enjoys patents . " And yet in spite of his anguish and the weight of his detractors , Evans was steadfastly persistent in the pursuit of his ideas , a quality which Evans felt would ultimately see him triumph . The French translator of the Young Steam Engineer 's Guide agreed , concluding " posterity will place his name among those who are most truly distinguished for their eminent services rendered to their country and to humanity . "
= Saint @-@ Inglevert Airfield = Saint @-@ Inglevert Airfield is a general aviation airfield at Saint @-@ Inglevert , Pas @-@ de @-@ Calais , [ Note 1 ] France . In the First World War an airfield was established near Saint @-@ Inglevert by the Royal Flying Corps , later passing to the Royal Air Force on formation and thus becoming RAF Saint Inglevert . In 1920 , a civil airfield was established on a different site which was a designated customs airfield . During the Second World War , Saint @-@ Inglevert was occupied by the Royal Air Force and the Armée de l 'Air . The airfield was captured by the Germans towards the end of the Battle of France and occupied by the Luftwaffe . It was abandoned in 1941 , but in 1943 field artillery units were based around the airfield as part of the Atlantic Wall . Although civil flying returned to Saint @-@ Inglevert post @-@ war , the airfield was abandoned in 1957 and returned to agriculture . It was reopened by l 'aéroclub du Boulonnais ( English : Boulogne Aero Club ) in 1986 . = = Location = = Saint @-@ Inglevert airfield is located on a 130 @-@ metre @-@ high ( 430 ft ) hill to the north west of the village of Saint @-@ Inglevert , and east of Hervelinghen . It lies 13 kilometres ( 8 mi ) south west of Calais . = = History = = = = = First World War = = = There was a Royal Flying Corps airfield at Saint @-@ Inglevert during the First World War , but not on the site of the current airfield . In April 1918 , No. 21 Squadron Royal Air Force ( RAF ) were based at Saint @-@ Inglevert , flying Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8 aircraft . From 29 June to 23 October , No. 214 Squadron RAF were based there flying Handley Page O / 400s , and in November , they were replaced by No. 115 Squadron RAF , who were flying the same type of aircraft . Two more squadrons , No. 97 Squadron RAF and No. 100 Squadron RAF , were based there from 17 November , to be joined by two squadrons of the United States Navy in 1918 , flying Sopwith Camels . All Royal Air Force squadrons departed from Saint @-@ Inglevert on 4 March 1919 . = = = Between the wars = = = In 1920 , an airfield was established at Saint @-@ Inglevert on a different site to the former military airfield . Facilities developed over the years to include two hangars , customs facilities and ultra short wave radio . In March 1920 , a Notice to Airmen was issued stating that Saint @-@ Inglevert was open and fuel , oil and water were available , but there were no hangars or repair facilities . A proposal to designate Saint @-@ Inglevert as a customs airfield in order to relieve Le Bourget of some of its workload was made in April 1920 . Facilities then in existence included hangars , repair facilities and a radio station . Later that month , it was notified [ Note 2 ] that an aerial lighthouse had been installed at the airfield , flashing the Morse letter A , and Saint @-@ Inglevert became a customs airport on 20 May . By July , the provision of ground signals at Saint @-@ Inglevert had begun . A 10 @-@ metre @-@ long ( 33 ft ) arrow was displayed indicating the wind direction . In August , it was reported that Saint @-@ Inglevert was sending weather report by radio seven times a day to Le Bourget . By October , aids available included a windsock and a landing T. Requirements for aircraft to perform clockwise or anticlockwise circuits when landing were indicated by the flying of a red or white flag respectively . The aerial lighthouse was reported to be out of action in November 1920 . It was notified that the road forming the eastern boundary of the airfield was to be marked by a series of posts 1 m ( 3 ft 3 in ) high , surmounted by vertical white discs 50 cm ( 20 in ) in diameter , in January 1921 , and the following month , a Notice to Airmen issued in the United Kingdom stated that radio communication with Saint @-@ Inglevert was to be in French . As part of a series of trials to assess the viability of civil aviation in France , a Farman F.60 Goliath flew a 4 @,@ 500 @-@ kilometre ( 2 @,@ 800 mi ) test flight carrying 2 @,@ 250 kg ( 4 @,@ 960 lb ) of cargo on 1 May . Three laps of a circuit Paris - Orléans - Rouen - Saint @-@ Inglevert - Metz - Dijon - Paris were flown . Saint @-@ Inglevert was one of the designated landing places for the 1921 Coupe Michelin , an aerial circuit of France with a ₣ 20 @,@ 000 prize . In November , a Compagnie des Messageries Aériennes aircraft called at Saint @-@ Inglevert to collect a cargo of six 18 @-@ pounder and three 4 @.@ 5 – inch live shells for onward transmission to Croydon Airport in Surrey , United Kingdom . In a paper read to the Royal Aeronautical Society on 17 November , Colonel Frank Searle , managing director of Daimler Airway , criticized the organization of Saint @-@ Inglevert and Le Bourget . In or about March 1922 , the wireless station at Saint @-@ Inglevert was destroyed in a fire . A meeting of airlines and the British Air Ministry in April following the first mid @-@ air collision of airliners on 7 April at Thieuloy @-@ Saint @-@ Antoine , Oise resulted in a number of resolutions being passed with the intention of improving the safety of aviation , one of which was that the Saint @-@ Inglevert wireless station should be replaced . The aerial lighthouse at Saint @-@ Inglevert was in operation again by 11 April , when a test flight was flown at night on the British part of the London - Paris air route . The aircraft flew as far as Saint @-@ Inglevert before turning back and landing at Lympne , Kent . In December , a Notice to Airmen stated that a portable searchlight was in operation at Saint @-@ Inglevert by prior arrangement for aircraft landing at night , and that the " T " was illuminated at night . In April 1923 , a ₣ 25 @,@ 000 prize ( then worth £ 360 ) was offered by the daily newspaper Le Matin for the first French aviator to fly from Saint @-@ Inglevert to Lympne and back in one day in an aircraft of French design and construction , with an engine capacity of less than 1 @,@ 100 cubic centimetres ( 67 cu in ) . Georges Barbot won the prize when he completed the journey during the evening of 6 May in a Dewoitine aircraft fitted with a Clerget engine . It took him 2 hours and 25 minutes , including a 40 @-@ minute stop at Lympne while one of the struts supporting the undercarriage was repaired . Imperial Airways were operating cross @-@ channel services using Armstrong Whitworth Argosy aircraft in 1924 , with the first stop in France at Saint @-@ Inglevert . When an aircraft departed from Lympne for St Inglevert , the destination airfield was advised , and if arrival was not notified within two hours , the British coastguard was informed . Communication between the airfields used Carmichael Microway UHF transmitters . A new system was introduced for non @-@ radio aircraft crossing the English Channel in August . Aircraft crossing from Lympne to Ostend , Belgium had to make a circuit of the airfield at an altitude of 1 @,@ 000 ft ( 300 m ) , while two circuits were made if departing for Saint @-@ Inglevert . The destination was then informed by radio of the departure . Arrival was confirmed by the aircraft flying another circuit , and was then reported back to Lympne by radio . If the aircraft had not arrived within an hour of departure , it would be considered as missing . A similar arrangement applied for aircraft flying in the reverse direction . In September , Saint @-@ Inglevert was one of the landing points for an aerial " Tour de France " , in which a specified route had to be flown on a 2 @,@ 120 @-@ kilometre ( 1 @,@ 320 mi ) course . Sixteen aircraft competed in four classes . The airfield has been involved in several aviation records . On 18 September 1928 , Juan de la Cierva completed the first cross @-@ Channel flight in an autogyro when he landed there after departing from Lympne in a Cierva C.8. Lissant Beardmore completed the first cross @-@ Channel flight in a glider on 19 June 1931 . He took off from Lympne and was towed by an aircraft to an altitude of 14 @,@ 000 ft ( 4 @,@ 300 m ) , landing at Saint @-@ Inglevert after a flight of one and a half hours to the surprise of the airfield manager . The first double crossing of the Channel in a glider was made by Austrian Robert Kronfeld on 20 June . In a glider called Wien , he took off from Saint @-@ Inglevert by means of an aero @-@ tow to an altitude of 5 @,@ 000 ft ( 1 @,@ 500 m ) , and landed at the former RAF Swingfield airfield near Dover , Kent . From Swingfield , another aero @-@ tow to an altitude of 10 @,@ 000 ft ( 3 @,@ 000 m ) enabled him to return to Saint @-@ Inglevert . Kronfeld received a £ 1 @,@ 000 prize from the Daily Mail for his flights , which were verified by the British Gliding Association . On 10 September 1929 , Charles Fauvel departed from Saint @-@ Inglevert in a Mauboussin aircraft fitted with an ABC Scorpion engine . The 848 @-@ kilometre ( 527 mi ) flight to Pau set a new Fédération Aéronautique Internationale world record for distance flown by a single seat aircraft weighing less than 200 kg ( 440 lb ) . In November 1932 , it was reported that new radio equipment was to be installed at Lympne and St Inglevert operating on the 15 centimetre waveband at 2 @,@ 000 MHz , which would be used for the announcement of departures of non @-@ radio aircraft across the Channel . Messages sent by radio were also printed out by a teleprinter , providing a record of the communication . The British Air Ministry and the French Ministère de l 'Air co @-@ operated in the arrangements for setting up the system , which was scheduled to come into operation in Spring 1933 . It proved its effectiveness on 7 March 1933 , when a non @-@ radio de Havilland DH.60 Moth of British Air Transport failed to arrive at Lympne . The aircraft had ditched in the Channel and both occupants were rescued by a steamship bound for Amsterdam , the Netherlands . A new short @-@ wave radio system came into operation on 16 January 1934 , using equipment manufactured by Le Matériel Téléphonique , Paris . In the mid @-@ 1930s , a number of notable people used Saint @-@ Inglevert Airfield . King Edward VIII made three visits , the first on 4 February 1935 , while still the Prince of Wales , when he arrived from Fort Belvedere , Surrey on the first part of a journey to take a holiday at Kitzbühel , Austria . As king , he departed on 26 July 1936 to RAF Hendon on his return from the ceremony to unveil the Canadian National Vimy Memorial , and flew in from the Great West Aerodrome , Harmondsworth , UK on 8 August , in order to catch the Orient Express at Calais , as part of a holiday in Yugoslavia . Henri Mignet flew from Saint @-@ Inglevert to Lympne on 13 August 1935 , in his Flying Flea , then the world 's smallest aircraft . = = = Second World War = = = Following the outbreak of the Second World War , Saint @-@ Inglevert was taken over by the Armée de l 'Air in December 1939 . Groupe Aérien d 'Observation 516 ( GAO 516 ) of the 16ème Corps d 'Armée ( English : Air Observation Group 516 of the 16th Army Corps ) were based here , operating five Potez 63 @-@ 11 and five Breguet 27 aircraft , and carrying out air reconnaissance over the Nord @-@ Pas de Calais region . " B " Flight , No. 615 Squadron RAF was stationed at Saint @-@ Inglevert in the early months of 1940 , equipped with Gloster Gladiator II aircraft . [ Note 3 ] Following the discovery of a dismantled Morane @-@ Saulnier MS.138 in one of the hangars , a wager was made between the British and French as to whether or not the aircraft could be returned to the air . With the aid of materials supplied by the French , the aircraft was made flyable , but when 615 Squadron received orders to relocate to Vitry @-@ en @-@ Artois , an attempt to fly the aircraft to the new base was unsuccessful , and a forced landing had to be made in a field . On 10 May 1940 , the airfield was attacked by the Luftwaffe , with over 110 bombs being dropped , resulting in a Breguet being destroyed , another Breguet and a Potez being severely damaged and the radio facilities being temporarily put out of action . During April 1940 , No. 607 Squadron RAF was based at Saint @-@ Inglevert , flying Gloster Gladiator Mk II HR aircraft . The military commander General Maxime Weygand visited the airfield on 21 May , and ordered 516 GAO to prepare to evacuate as the Germans were in the neighbouring Somme department . The following day , the order came to evacuate to Boos airfield , Rouen , Haute @-@ Normandie , but only four of the ten aircraft that departed from Saint @-@ Inglevert arrived safely at Boos . All aircraft carried as many passengers as could be accommodated . Two Potez 63 @-@ 11 's and a Bloch MB.152 were abandoned at Saint @-@ Inglevert , and were destroyed to prevent their use by the enemy , as were supplies of fuel . Personnel from 516 GAO were evacuated from Dunquerque on the French destroyer Bourrasque , although nineteen of them were killed when the ship struck a mine and sank . Saint @-@ Inglevert was captured by the Luftwaffe towards the end of the Battle of France . 1 Gruppe , Lehrgeschwader 2 moved in on 20 June , equipped with Messerschmitt Bf 109 aircraft . They departed for Jever , Germany , on 12 July , and were replaced by 1 Gruppe , Jagdgeschwader 51 , also equipped with Bf 109s . From August until November Stab JG 51 were in occupation , and Aufklärungsgruppe 32 ( H ) aircraft were also based at Saint @-@ Inglevert during this period , with the unit operating Henschel Hs 126 parasol monoplanes . On 30 July 1940 , Saint @-@ Inglevert was bombed by the Royal Air Force , who claimed that hangars and aircraft were damaged , and a subsequent raid on 19 August resulted in a fire , smoke from which could be seen in Kent . From 24 September to 5 November , 2 Gruppe , Jagdgeschwader 27 were based there . Facilities at the airfield were improved , by erecting new hangars and constructing a new 600 @-@ by @-@ 50 @-@ metre ( 1 @,@ 970 ft × 160 ft ) concrete runway . On 27 December 1940 , Saint @-@ Inglevert was again bombed by the Royal Air Force . The airfield was largely abandoned by 1941 , with occasional use by Junkers 52s as a refuelling station . In 1943 , the airfield was designated as Stützpunkt 134 Paderborn , housing defence units as part of the Atlantic Wall coastal fortifications . The units were equipped with 10 @.@ 5 cm leFH 18 howitzers . During the winter of 1943 @-@ 44 , 10 @.@ 5 cm leFH 324 ( f ) howitzers replaced the leFH 18s . A number of concrete bunkers were constructed to house the guns , which were still standing around the airfield in October 2007 . Following Operation Overlord at the start of the Allied invasion of western Europe , the Germans committed various acts of sabotage on departure from Saint @-@ Inglevert . = = = Post @-@ war = = = Post @-@ war , the airfield was restored to operational condition and civil flying returned . On 10 April 1957 , a report was published which resulted in the abandonment of Saint @-@ Inglevert in favour of an airport 6 km ( 4 mi ) east of Calais . The airfield was returned to agriculture . In 1986 , l 'aéroclub du Boulonnais took over Saint @-@ Inglevert following closure of their previous base at Ambleteuse . Since its closure , the runway had been used as a dump for old tyres and scrap vehicles , and it took three years to restore the airfield , which reopened on 30 July 1989 . On the night of 5 – 6 April 2010 , a fire in a hangar at Saint @-@ Inglevert destroyed the hangar and eight aircraft . The destroyed aircraft were replaced by a Robin DR300 , a Robin DR400 , a Piel Emeraude CP3005 and a Jodel D195 . A Piper PA @-@ 28 was also acquired which needed restoration to make it airworthy . The replacement aircraft were housed in a 10 @-@ by @-@ 10 @-@ metre ( 33 ft × 33 ft ) tent hangar erected on the airfield , or temporarily outstationed at Calais or Le Touquet . A new 30 @-@ by @-@ 20 @-@ metre ( 98 ft × 66 ft ) hangar , replacing the one destroyed by the fire , was officially opened on 30 March 2012 , and can accommodate ten aircraft . Following the fire , a NOTAM was issued temporarily restricting the use of the airfield until 15 November 2010 to aircraft based there . On 26 August 2010 , Saint @-@ Inglevert was given the ICAO identifier LFIS , allowing it to be classed as a public airfield instead of a private one . This had taken ten years to achieve . = = Accidents and incidents = = On 1 September 1922 , A Farman F.60 Goliath on a flight from Croydon Airport to Paris , suffered a severely damaged propeller after flying through torrential rain whilst crossing the English Channel . The engine was shut down and a precautionary landing was made at Saint @-@ Inglevert where the propeller was changed in 15 minutes . The aircraft then departed for Le Bourget , where arrival was only 12 minutes later than scheduled . In February 1923 , an aircraft belonging to Instone Air Line was damaged in an accident at Saint @-@ Inglevert .
= Soaring Stones = Soaring Stones , also known as Rouse Rocks , Soaring Rocks , and Stones on Sticks , is a 1990 granite @-@ and @-@ steel sculpture by John T. Young . It was first installed in the Transit Mall of Portland , Oregon , and was later sited as Soaring Stones # 4 at Whitman College in Walla Walla , Washington . The sculpture was commissioned for $ 100 @,@ 000 to replace a fountain that was removed during construction of Pioneer Place . During the construction of the MAX Light Rail in 2006 , it was removed and returned to Young , who then donated the work to Whitman College . The sculpture is intended to represent the " interface between man and nature " ; it features six irregular Washington granite rock forms installed in a row , in order of ascending height . The work inspired David Glenn , professor of music at Whitman College , to compose a piano quintet piece titled " Sculpture Garden for Piano Quintet " for the 2009 Walla Walla Chamber Music Festival . = = History = = John T. Young 's Soaring Stones was commissioned in 1989 for $ 100 @,@ 000 as a gift to city residents by Pioneer Place , Ltd . , an affiliate of Rouse @-@ Portland , Inc . , to replace a fountain that was removed during construction of the Pioneer Place mall . The sculpture was completed and installed at Southwest 5th Street between Taylor Street and Yamhill Street in downtown Portland 's Transit Mall in 1990 . The sculpture was surveyed and deemed as " treatment needed " by the Smithsonian 's " Save Outdoor Sculpture ! " program in October 1993 , and was administered by Rouse @-@ Portland , Inc . , Pioneer Place , Ltd. at that time . In 2006 , the sculpture was removed and returned to its owner due to construction of the MAX Light Rail . The University of Washington 's Architectural Commission considered moving the work to a " very unique site " because of its design and size . Young was a professor of art at the institution . In 2007 , Young donated the work to Whitman College in Walla Walla , Washington , where it was installed outside Cordiner Hall as Soaring Stones # 4 . = = Description = = According to Young , Soaring Stones represents the " interface between man and nature " . It consists of six irregularly shaped pieces of Washington granite that were quarried from the Cascade Range , displayed in a row in ascending height . While installed in Portland , the first stone was sunk into the pavement . The rest were set on polished stainless steel pedestals , the tallest of which reached 11 @.@ 5 ft ( 3 @.@ 5 m ) . Elevated boulders had recessed lighting . The Smithsonian Institution described the sculpture as " reminiscent of the Cascade Mountain Range from which the media came " , and categorized it as abstract and allegorical of nature . Alongside the sculpture was a plaque that said , " SOARING STONES " / BY JOHN T. YOUNG , SEATTLE , WA / © 1990 / SPONSORED BY PIONEER PLACE LTD . Installed at the Whitman College campus , Soaring Stones # 4 spans 150 ft ( 46 m ) and the highest of its rocks reaches 12 ft 4 in ( 3 @.@ 76 m ) tall . = = Reception = = In 1990 , The Seattle Times said Soaring Stones ' ascending pieces looked " as if they were taking off into flight ... [ r ] ather like Young 's career " . The sculpture was included in at least one published walking tour of Portland and in another by Whitman College about art on the campus . David Glenn , professor of music at Whitman College , took inspiration from Soaring Stones # 4 and other art pieces on the campus for his composition " Sculpture Garden for Piano Quintet " , a piano quintet commissioned for the opening concert of the 2009 Walla Walla Chamber Music Festival . Glenn based his work on a September 2008 walk through the campus ; he used Young 's sculpture as inspiration for the quintet 's final movement . He said of the sculpture 's influence : Since there are six boulders used in the sculpture , I based this movement in the time signature of 6 / 4 , with a sub @-@ division of four and two ( four on pedestals ; two on ground ) . I also used a six @-@ note melodic theme that rises six times , descends six times and then rises again six times . The rising and falling represent different perspectives the viewer of the sculpture can have — either looking from right to left or left to right .
= Axl Rose = W. Axl Rose ( born William Bruce Rose , Jr . ; raised as William Bruce Bailey ; February 6 , 1962 ) is an American singer , songwriter and musician . He is the lead vocalist of the hard rock band Guns N ' Roses , a position he has held since its inception in 1985 . Due to his powerful and wide vocal range and energetic live performances , Rose has been named one of the greatest singers of all time by various media outlets , including Rolling Stone and NME . Born and raised in Lafayette , Indiana , Rose moved to Los Angeles in the early 1980s , where he became active in the local hard rock scene and joined several bands , including Hollywood Rose and L.A. Guns . In 1985 , he co @-@ founded Guns N ' Roses , with whom he had great success and recognition in the late 1980s and early 1990s . Their first album , Appetite for Destruction ( 1987 ) , has sold in excess of 30 million copies worldwide , and is the best @-@ selling debut album of all time in the U.S. with 18 million units sold . Its full @-@ length follow @-@ ups , the twin albums Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II ( 1991 ) , were also widely successful ; they respectively debuted at No. 2 and No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and have sold a combined 35 million copies worldwide . After 1994 , following the conclusion of their two @-@ and @-@ a @-@ half @-@ year Use Your Illusion Tour , Rose disappeared from public life for several years , while the band disintegrated due to personal and musical differences . As its sole remaining original member , he was able to continue working under the Guns N ' Roses banner because he had legally obtained the band name . In 2001 , he resurfaced with a new line @-@ up of Guns N ' Roses at Rock in Rio 3 , and subsequently played periodic concert tours to promote the long @-@ delayed Chinese Democracy ( 2008 ) , which undersold the music industry 's commercial expectations despite positive reviews upon its release . In 2012 , Rose was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Guns N ' Roses , though he declined to attend the event and requested exclusion from the HoF . = = Early life = = Axl Rose was born William Bruce Rose , Jr. in Lafayette , Indiana , the oldest child of Sharon E. ( née Lintner ) , then 16 years old and still in high school , and William Bruce Rose , then 20 years old . His father has been described as " a troubled and charismatic local delinquent , " and the pregnancy was unplanned . His parents separated when Rose was approximately two years old , prompting his father to abduct and allegedly molest him before disappearing from Lafayette . His mother remarried to Stephen L. Bailey , and changed her son 's name to William Bruce Bailey . He has two younger siblings — a sister , Amy , and a half @-@ brother , Stuart . Until the age of 17 , Rose believed that Bailey was his natural father . He never met his biological father as an adult ; William Rose , Sr. was murdered in Marion , Illinois , in 1984 by a criminal acquaintance who was convicted even though the body was never recovered . Rose did not learn about the murder until years later . The Bailey household was very religious ; Rose and his family attended a Pentecostal church , where he was required to attend services three to eight times per week and even taught Sunday school . Rose later recalled an oppressive upbringing , stating , " We 'd have televisions one week , then my stepdad would throw them out because they were Satanic . I wasn 't allowed to listen to music . Women were evil . Everything was evil . " He accused his stepfather of physically abusing him and his siblings and sexually abusing his sister . Rose found solace in music from an early age . He sang in the church choir from the age of five , and performed at services with his brother and sister under the name the Bailey Trio . At Jefferson High School , he participated in the school chorus and studied piano . A second baritone , Rose began developing " different voices " during chorus practice to confuse his teacher . He eventually formed a band with his friends , one of whom was Jeff Isbell , later known as Izzy Stradlin . At the age of 17 , while going through insurance papers in his parents ' home , Rose learned of his biological father 's existence , and he unofficially readopted his birth name . However , he referred to himself only as W. Rose , because he did not want to share a first name with his biological father . Following the discovery of his true family origins , Rose became the local juvenile delinquent in Lafayette ; he was arrested more than 20 times on charges such as public intoxication and battery , and served jail terms up to three months . After Lafayette authorities threatened to charge him as a habitual criminal , Rose moved to Los Angeles , California , in December 1982 . After moving to Los Angeles , he became so engrossed in his band AXL that his friends suggested he call himself Axl Rose ; he legally changed his name to W. Axl Rose prior to signing his contract with Geffen Records in March 1986 . = = Career = = = = = 1983 – 86 : Early years = = = Shortly after his arrival in Los Angeles , Rose met guitarist Kevin Lawrence outside The Troubadour in West Hollywood and joined his band Rapidfire . They recorded a four @-@ song demo in May 1983 , which , after years of legal action , was released as an EP , Ready to Rumble , in 2014 . After parting ways with Lawrence , he formed the band Hollywood Rose with his childhood friend Izzy Stradlin , who had moved to Los Angeles in 1980 , and sixteen @-@ year @-@ old guitarist Chris Weber . In January 1984 , the band recorded a five @-@ song demo featuring the tracks " Anything Goes " , " Rocker " , " Shadow of Your Love " , and " Reckless Life " , which was released in 2004 as The Roots of Guns N ' Roses . Guitarist Slash and drummer Steven Adler , future members of Guns N ' Roses , joined Hollywood Rose before the band 's dissolution . Rose then joined the first line @-@ up of L.A. Guns . While struggling to make an impact on the Hollywood music scene , Rose held down a variety of jobs , including the position of night manager at the Tower Records location on Sunset Boulevard . Rose and Stradlin also smoked cigarettes for a scientific study at UCLA for the reported wages of $ 8 per hour . In March 1985 , Rose and his former band mate Tracii Guns formed Guns N ' Roses by merging their respective bands Hollywood Rose and L.A. Guns . By June , after several line @-@ up changes , the band consisted of Rose , lead guitarist Slash , rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin , bassist Duff McKagan , and drummer Steven Adler . The line @-@ up debuted at The Troubadour and proceeded to play the L.A. club circuit , eventually building a devoted fan following . The band attracted the attention of several major record labels , before signing with Geffen Records in March 1986 . The following December , they released the four @-@ song EP Live ? ! * @ Like a Suicide on the Geffen imprint UZI Suicide . = = = 1987 – 89 : Breakthrough with Appetite for Destruction = = = In July 1987 , Guns N ' Roses released its debut album Appetite for Destruction . Although the record received critical acclaim , it experienced a modest commercial start , selling as many as 500 @,@ 000 copies in its first year of release . However , fueled by the band 's relentless touring and the mainstream success of the single " Sweet Child o ' Mine " — Rose 's tribute to his then @-@ girlfriend Erin Everly — the album rose to the No. 1 position on the Billboard 200 in August 1988 , and again in February 1989 . To date , Appetite for Destruction has sold over 30 million copies worldwide , 18 million of which sold in the United States , making it the best @-@ selling debut album of all time in the U.S. During the band 's performance at the Monsters of Rock festival in Castle Donington , England , in August 1988 , two fans were crushed to death when many in the crowd of 107 @,@ 000 began slam @-@ dancing to " It 's So Easy " . Rose had halted the show several times to calm the audience . From then on , he became known for personally addressing disruptive fans and giving instructions to security personnel from the stage , at times stopping concerts to deal with issues in the crowd . In 1992 , Rose stated , " Most performers would go to a security person in their organization , and it would just be done very quietly . I 'll confront the person , stop the song : ' Guess what : You wasted your money , you get to leave . ' " As a result of the deaths at Monsters of Rock , the festival was canceled the following year . In November 1988 , Guns N ' Roses released the stopgap album G N ' R Lies , which sold more than five million copies in the U.S. alone . The band – and Rose in particular – were accused of promoting racist and homophobic attitudes with the song " One in a Million " , in which Rose warns " niggers " to " get out of my way " and complains about " faggots " who " spread some fucking disease . " During the controversy , Rose defended his use of the racial slur by claiming that " it 's a word to describe somebody that is basically a pain in your life , a problem . The word nigger doesn 't necessarily mean black . " In 1992 , however , he conceded that he had used the word as an insult towards black people , stating , " I was pissed off about some black people that were trying to rob me . I wanted to insult those particular black people . I didn 't want to support racism . " In response to the allegations of homophobia , Rose stated that he considered himself " pro @-@ heterosexual " and blamed this attitude on " bad experiences " with gay men , citing an attempted rape in his late teens and the alleged molestation by his biological father . The controversy led to Guns N ' Roses being dropped from the roster of an AIDS benefit show in New York organized by the Gay Men 's Health Crisis . With the success of Appetite for Destruction and G N ' R Lies , Rose found himself lauded as one of rock 's most prominent frontmen . By the time he appeared solo on the cover of Rolling Stone in August 1989 , his celebrity was such that the influential music magazine agreed to his absolute requirement that the interview and accompanying photographs would be provided by two of his friends , writer Del James and photographer Robert John . MTV anchorman Kurt Loder described Rose as " maybe the finest hard rock singer currently on the scene , and certainly the most charismatic . " = = = 1990 – 93 : International success with Use Your Illusion = = = In early 1990 , Guns N ' Roses returned to the studio to begin recording the full @-@ length follow @-@ up to Appetite for Destruction . Recording sessions initially proved unproductive due to Steven Adler 's struggle with drug addiction , which made him unable to perform and caused sessions to abort for several days at a time . Adler was fired the following July and replaced by Matt Sorum of The Cult . Keyboardist Dizzy Reed also joined the band that year at Rose 's insistence . Sorum and Reed played their first show with Guns N ' Roses at Rock in Rio 2 in January 1991 . The group fired its long @-@ time manager , Alan Niven , in May of that year ; Rose reportedly forced the dismissal of Niven against the wishes of his band mates by refusing to complete the new album until Niven was gone . He was replaced by roadie Doug Goldstein , whom Izzy Stradlin described as " the guy who gets to go over to Axl 's at six in the morning after he 's smashed his $ 60 @,@ 000 grand piano out of the picture window . " In May 1991 , still without an album to promote , the band embarked on the two @-@ and @-@ a @-@ half @-@ year Use Your Illusion Tour , which became known for its financial success and myriad controversial incidents that occurred during shows , including late starts , on @-@ stage rantings and even riots . Rose received much criticism for his late appearances at concerts , sometimes taking the stage hours after the band was scheduled to perform . In July 1991 , 90 minutes into a concert at the Riverport Amphitheater near St. Louis , after on @-@ stage requests from Rose for security personnel to confiscate a fan 's video camera , Rose himself dived into the crowd to seize the contraband item . After being pulled back on stage , he announced , " Thanks to the lame @-@ ass security , I 'm going home ! " and departed , following which some 2500 fans staged a riot , resulting in an estimated $ 200 @,@ 000 in damages . In September 1991 , with enough material completed for two albums , Guns N ' Roses released Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II , which debuted at No. 2 and No. 1 respectively on the Billboard 200 , a feat not achieved by any other group . By the albums ' release , however , Rose 's relationships with his bandmates had become increasingly strained . His childhood friend Izzy Stradlin abruptly left the group in November 1991 ; he was replaced by Gilby Clarke of Kill For Thrills . Of his reasons for leaving , Stradlin said , " I didn 't like the complications that became such a part of daily life in Guns N ' Roses , " citing the riot and Rose 's chronic lateness as examples , as well as his new @-@ found sobriety making it difficult to be around other bandmates continued alcohol and substance abuse . At some point during the remainder of the tour , Rose reportedly demanded , and received , sole ownership of the Guns N ' Roses name from Slash and Duff McKagan ; Rose allegedly issued an ultimatum — they had to sign the name over to him or he would not perform . ( In 2008 , however , Rose stated that these reports were false and that the alleged coercion would have rendered the contract legally untenable . ) Another riot occurred in August 1992 at Montreal 's Olympic Stadium , during a co @-@ headlining tour with Metallica . Prior to Guns N ' Roses ' appearance , Metallica 's set was cut short after singer @-@ guitarist James Hetfield suffered second @-@ degree burns in a pyrotechnics accident . However , Guns N ' Roses was unable to go on stage early , because Rose once again was late arriving at the venue . Nearly an hour into their show , Rose complained of voice problems before walking off stage , following which a riot erupted in downtown Montreal , resulting in an estimated $ 400 @,@ 000 in damages . In November of that year , Rose was convicted of property damage and assault in relation to the Riverport riot ; he was fined $ 50 @,@ 000 and received two years ' probation . Guns N ' Roses played its final show of the Use Your Illusion Tour on July 17 , 1993 at River Plate Stadium in Buenos Aires ; it proved to be Rose 's last live performance with the band for seven and a half years . The following August , Rose testified in court against Steven Adler , who had filed a lawsuit contending that he had been illegitimately fired . When the judge ruled against Rose , he agreed to an out @-@ of @-@ court settlement of $ 2 @,@ 500 @,@ 000 and 15 % of the royalties for everything Adler recorded prior to his departure . In November of that year , Guns N ' Roses released " The Spaghetti Incident ? " a cover album of mostly punk songs , which proved less successful than its predecessors . Rose had included the hidden track " Look at Your Game , Girl " , a song written by convicted murderer Charles Manson , which he intended as a personal message to his ex @-@ girlfriend Stephanie Seymour . Controversy ensued , and the band subsequently pledged to donate any royalties to the son of one of Manson 's victims . = = = 1994 – 2000 : Hiatus = = = Without consultation from his band mates , Rose did not renew Gilby Clarke 's contract with the band in June 1994 , as he claimed Clarke to be only a " hired hand . " Tension between Rose and Slash reached a breaking point after the latter discovered that Rose had hired his childhood friend Paul " Huge " Tobias as Clarke 's replacement . Although the band recorded material during this time , it was ultimately not used because , according to Rose , their lack of collaboration prevented them from producing their best work . Slash finally left Guns N ' Roses in October 1996 due to his differences with Rose , while Matt Sorum was fired in June 1997 after an argument over Tobias 's involvement in the band . Duff McKagan departed the band in August of that year , leaving Rose and Dizzy Reed as the only remaining band members of the Use Your Illusion era . As the stability of Guns N ' Roses collapsed , Rose withdrew from public view . The band never officially broke up , although it did not tour or perform for several years and no new material was released . Rose continued to recruit new musicians to replace band members who either left or were fired . By the late 1990s , he was considered to be a recluse , rarely making public appearances and spending most of his time in his mansion in Malibu . In various media reports , he was referred to as the " Howard Hughes of rock " and " rock 's greatest recluse . " Rose was said to spend his nights rehearsing and writing with the various new lineups of Guns N ' Roses , working on the band 's next album , Chinese Democracy . = = = 2001 – 11 : Touring in support of Chinese Democracy = = = In January 2001 , Rose resurfaced with Guns N ' Roses at Rock in Rio 3 to commence the decade @-@ long Chinese Democracy Tour , though the majority of its scheduled concerts over the next two years did not take place . A critically panned surprise appearance at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards was followed by an incident in November when a riot erupted at Vancouver 's General Motors Place after Rose failed to show up for a scheduled concert . When venue staff announced the cancellation , a riot broke out , resulting in an estimated $ 100 @,@ 000 in damages . As the band 's line @-@ up continued to evolve , his constant band mates were guitarist Richard Fortus , bassist Tommy Stinson , and keyboardists Dizzy Reed and Chris Pitman . After the tour was cancelled by the promoter , Rose again withdrew from the public view . During this time , he joined Slash and Duff McKagan in a lawsuit against Geffen Records in an unsuccessful attempt to block the release of the Greatest Hits compilation album , and lent his voice to the 2004 video game Grand Theft Auto : San Andreas . In a rare interview in January 2006 , Rose stated that " people will hear music this year . " While Guns N ' Roses toured extensively throughout 2006 and 2007 , with several guest appearances by Izzy Stradlin , Chinese Democracy again failed to materialize . Rose did collaborate with his friend Sebastian Bach on his album Angel Down . Fifteen years after its last album , in November 2008 , Guns N ' Roses released Chinese Democracy exclusively via the electronics retailer Best Buy . Rose did not contribute to the album 's promotion ; by December , he had reportedly been missing for at least two months and had not returned phone calls or other requests from his record label . In a subsequent interview , Rose stated that he felt he had not received the necessary support from Interscope Records . A year after the album 's release , in December 2009 , Guns N ' Roses embarked on another two @-@ and @-@ a @-@ half years of touring , including a headlining performance at Rock in Rio 4 . Rose was subsequently sued by former band manager Irving Azoff , who sought $ 1 @.@ 87 million in unpaid fees related to the tour . In a countersuit , Rose alleged Azoff had deliberately mismanaged the band and their album 's promotion to force him to join his former band mates for a reunion tour . Both cases were settled . According to Rose in 2011 , part of the settlement agreement dictated that Rose and the current Guns N ' Roses had to do a number of performances with Azoff 's company Live Nation as the promoter . In November 2010 , Rose sued Activision , the producers of the video game Guitar Hero , for $ 20 million , claiming that Activision had violated an agreement with him to not include any reference to Slash or his band Velvet Revolver in the game in return for a license to use the song " Welcome to the Jungle " . Instead , Rose noted that an image of Slash was used on the game 's front cover . Rose 's claim was summarily dismissed in February 2013 , when the judge ruled that Rose had not brought suit on the contract , which relied on oral promises , within the two @-@ year statute of limitations that began with the game 's October 2007 release . = = = 2012 – present : Hall of Fame and regrouping ; AC / DC = = = Together with the other members of Guns N ' Roses ' classic lineup , Rose was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012 , their first year of eligibility . He did not attend the induction ceremony in April , however , as he had announced in an open letter three days prior . Rose , who had long been on bad terms with several of his former band mates , wrote that the ceremony " doesn 't appear to be somewhere I 'm actually wanted or respected . " He subsequently joined his band in residencies at The Joint in Las Vegas in 2012 and 2014 , as part of the Appetite for Democracy Tour celebrating the anniversaries of Appetite for Destruction and Chinese Democracy . By mid @-@ 2014 , the group 's new album , recorded concurrently with Chinese Democracy , and a remix album were completed and pending release , but no new material emerged . In response to an informal study that named him the ' World 's Greatest Singer " based on a study of vocal ranges , Rose told Spin in 2014 , " If I had to say who I thought the best singers were , I 'd say first that I don 't know there 's a definitive answer as in my opinion it 's subjective , and second that my focus is primarily rock singers . That said , I enjoy Freddie Mercury , Elvis Presley , Paul McCartney , Dan McCafferty , Janis Joplin , Michael Jackson , Elton John , Roger Daltrey , Don Henley , Jeff Lynne , Johnny Cash , Frank Sinatra , Jimmy Scott , Etta James , Fiona Apple , Chrissie Hynde , Stevie Wonder , James Brown and a ton of others ( predominantly Seventies rock singers ) and would rather hear any of them anytime rather than me ! " Rose and Slash reunited for the Not in This Lifetime ... Tour , one of the most @-@ anticipated reunion tours in rock history . Alongside Dizzy Reed and returning member Duff McKagan , who had previously made guest appearances with the band , they comprised two @-@ thirds of the band 's Use Your Illusion @-@ era line @-@ up , with Chinese Democracy @-@ era members Richard Fortus and Frank Ferrer joining new member Melissa Reese to fill out the rest of the lineup . Rose shared a stage with Slash for the first time in nearly 23 years during the group 's surprise performance at The Troubadour in April 2016 , ahead of its headlining shows at Coachella . He additionally joined Australian hard rock band AC / DC to perform as lead singer for the remainder of the band 's Rock or Bust World Tour , after long @-@ time lead vocalist Brian Johnson had to stop touring due to hearing problems . = = Personal life = = = = = Health issues = = = During Rose 's late teens , a psychiatrist concluded that his delinquent behavior was evidence of psychosis . In addition , he made note of his high IQ . By the age of 26 , Rose had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder . Although he was prescribed lithium to combat the disorder , he stated it was ineffective and claimed to be in control of his moods . In a subsequent interview , he questioned the diagnosis altogether , stating , " I went to a clinic , thinking it would help my moods . The only thing I did was take one 500 @-@ question test — ya know , filling in the little black dots . All of sudden I 'm diagnosed manic @-@ depressive . ' Let 's put Axl on medication . ' Well , the medication doesn 't help me deal with stress . The only thing it does is help keep people off my back because they figure I 'm on medication . " In contrast to his public image , Rose was not a heavy drug user , though he did not disavow the use of illicit substances entirely . In the early 1990s , Rose became a staunch believer in homeopathic medicine , and began regularly undergoing past life regression therapy . He went public with his " uncovered memories " of being sexually abused by his biological father at the age of two , which he said had stunted his emotional growth : " When they talk about Axl Rose being a screaming two @-@ year @-@ old , they 're right . " His dislike of touring was caused in part by the various illnesses he contracted over time due to hotel and airplane air conditioning , including a mutated form of polio , a mutated form of rubella , swine flu , scarlet fever , and strep throat in his heart . He expressed his belief that these health problems were caused by him unconsciously lowering his own resistance as a form of " self @-@ punishment " . = = Discography = = = = = With Guns N ' Roses = = = Appetite for Destruction ( 1987 ) G N ' R Lies ( 1988 ) Use Your Illusion I ( 1991 ) Use Your Illusion II ( 1991 ) " The Spaghetti Incident ? " ( 1993 ) Chinese Democracy ( 2008 ) = = = With Hollywood Rose = = = The Roots of Guns N ' Roses ( 2004 ) = = = With Rapidfire = = = Ready to Rumble ( 2014 ) = = = Guest appearances = = = The Decline of Western Civilization Part II : The Metal Years – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack by various artists ( 1988 ; " Under My Wheels " ft . Alice Cooper ) The End of the Innocence by Don Henley ( 1989 ; " I Will Not Go Quietly " ) Fire and Gasoline by Steve Jones ( 1989 ; " I Did U No Wrong " ) Pawnshop Guitars by Gilby Clarke ( 1994 ; " Dead Flowers " ) Anxious Disease by The Outpatience ( 1996 ; " Anxious Disease " ft . Slash ) Angel Down by Sebastian Bach ( 2007 ; " Back in the Saddle , " " ( Love Is ) a Bitchslap , " " Stuck Inside " ) = = Filmography = =
= Millennium Group = The Millennium Group is a fictional secret society featured in the crime thriller television series Millennium . Having begun life as a Christian sect at the end of the 1st century AD , the Group grew into a far @-@ reaching network which , as the 3rd millennium approached , presented itself as a private investigative firm liaising with law enforcement organizations . Despite being fraught with internal schisms , the Group tried on several occasions to artificially instigate the end of the world as the year 2000 approached . The Millennium Group 's role as an investigative organization was based on the real @-@ life Academy Group , a society of retired law enforcement agents in the United States . The presentation of the Group varied as the series progressed , with its role changing from that of a benevolent investigative group to an antagonistic mystic sect . The Millennium Group has met with negative responses , with its vacillating depiction being a focus of criticism both from critics and from series star Lance Henriksen . = = Fictional history = = The Millennium Group first started life as an early Christian sect around the year 100 AD . By the late 10th century , the Group had adopted the ouroboros as its symbol , and the phrase " this is who we are " as a motto . However , around this time schisms within the group began to form as members fought for control of an artifact — the preserved hand of a saint said to be capable of ultimately defeating the devil . Despite these internal rivalries , the group persisted into the 20th century . The Group 's modern organization stems from J. Edgar Hoover , the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation , who began the process of turning the Group 's attention to criminal investigation in order to monitor individuals and societal trends . As the 3rd millennium approached , the Group 's internal differences began to manifest into two factions — the " Roosters " , who believed in a religiously eschatological view of the end of the world , and the " Owls " , who believed the world would end with a secular natural disaster . Attempting to instigate the end of the world artificially , the Rooster faction began to develop a lethal virus ; in 1998 they released this virus in the Pacific Northwest , killing upwards of seventy people before the outbreak was contained . A year later , a vastly depleted Millennium Group staged one last attempt to trigger the apocalypse , resurrecting deceased members in order to create the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse ; when this plot was foiled by the FBI , it was believed to have caused the dissolution of the Group . = = Production = = The inspiration for the Millennium Group was a real @-@ life organization called the Academy Group , which consisted of retired law enforcement agents working as a private investigative firm . Millennium 's creator Chris Carter had come to know members of the Academy Group through contacts he had made with the Federal Bureau of Investigation while researching his earlier television series The X @-@ Files . The Academy Group focused on offender profiling , which shaped the main Millennium Group characters of Frank Black ( Lance Henriksen ) and Peter Watts ( Terry O 'Quinn ) . Describing his initial inception of the Group , Carter has stated " they believe that all this random violence we see these days , there may actually be some order in the chaos [ ... ] These guys think that , if they care enough , that they can stem the tide of this thing " . In the series ' second season , new executive producers Glen Morgan and James Wong began to explore a new direction for the Group , moving away from its investigative function and giving a more religious focus . The tone of the second season focused more on the supernatural , showing the Group dealing with demonic forces more than the serial killers of the first season . Producer Ken Horton felt that the increased focus on the Group in the second season arose as the first season 's use of serial killers as episodic antagonists had " overpowered " its storytelling , making it necessary to turn the show 's attention elsewhere instead ; the focus switched from external forces and villains to the internal workings of the Group . The introduction of schisms within the Group was inspired by Wong 's research into the Knights Templar and Freemasonry , as he considered these secretive organizations to have mirrored the way he wanted to present the Group , and he felt each contained factions or reactionary elements which he wanted to recreate . During the third season , the Millennium Group became the series ' chief villains , playing an antagonistic role against Frank Black rather than the supportive role they had previously played . Series star Lance Henriksen , who portrayed Black , felt that this change was unnecessary and damaged the series , as it discarded the work that had been done to " build up " the Group in previous seasons . Henriksen would later state his belief that the " idea of a cultish kind of Millennium Group [ ... ] just about destroyed the show " . = = Reception = = Critical opinions of the Millennium Group 's role within the series have generally been negative , tending to focus on their inconsistent presentation . Writing in the collection Back to Frank Black : A Return to Chris Carter 's Millennium , author Joseph Maddrey found that the changing nature of the Group 's aims and methods seemed contradictory , writing that " over the course of Seasons Two and Three , the Millennium Group appears to become more dedicated to promoting fear of the future than to fighting it " . In another essay in this collection , Gordon Roberts described the Group as " endlessly fascinating " , and compared the Group to an organized crime syndicate , likening its requirement of continued devotion to the family unit . Keith Uhlich , writing for Slant magazine , felt that the " reinvention of the Millennium Group from a criminal consulting firm to an ancient , protective sect " did not fit with Carter 's typical character development , which focussed on individuals and the careers that " define their existence " . The A.V. Club 's Zack Handlen felt that the third season 's focus on a villainous Group reduced them to " yet another cabal with seemingly limitless influence and power " , describing them as " just another one of Carter ’ s beloved shadowy conspiracies " .
= 1937 Social Credit backbenchers ' revolt = The 1937 Social Credit backbenchers ' revolt took place from March to June 1937 in the Canadian province of Alberta . It was a rebellion against Premier William Aberhart by a group of backbench ( not part of the cabinet ) members of the Legislative Assembly ( MLAs ) from his Social Credit League . The dissidents were unhappy with Aberhart 's failure to provide Albertans with C $ 25 monthly dividends through social credit as he had promised before his 1935 election . When the government 's 1937 budget made no move to implement the dividends , many MLAs revolted openly and threatened to defeat the government in a confidence vote . The revolt took place in a period of turmoil for Aberhart and his government : besides the dissident backbenchers , half of the cabinet resigned or was fired over a period of less than a year . Aberhart also faced criticism for planning to attend the coronation of George VI at the province 's expense and for stifling a recall attempt against him by the voters of his constituency . After a stormy debate in which the survival of the government was called into question , a compromise was reached whereby Aberhart 's government relinquished considerable power to a committee of backbenchers . This committee , dominated by insurgents , recruited two British social credit experts to come to Alberta and advise on the implementation of social credit . Among the experts ' first moves was to require a loyalty pledge from Social Credit MLAs . Almost all signed , thus ending the crisis , though most of the legislation the experts proposed was ultimately disallowed or struck down as unconstitutional . = = Background = = In the midst of the Great Depression , Calgary schoolteacher and radio evangelist William Aberhart became a convert to a British economic theory called social credit . Believing it could end the depression and restore prosperity , he began to promote it around Alberta . When the provincial government proved resistant to adopting it , Aberhart resolved to field social credit candidates in the 1935 provincial election . These candidates won 56 of the province 's 63 seats , and Aberhart became Premier of Alberta . In the runup to the campaign , Aberhart promised to increase Albertans ' purchasing power by providing monthly dividends to all citizens in the form of non @-@ negotiable " credit certificates " . While he did not commit to any specific dividend amount , he cited $ 20 and , later , $ 25 per month as reasonable figures . Though he noted that these figures were given " only for illustrative purposes " , he repeated them so often that , in the assessment of his biographers David Elliott and Iris Miller , " it would have been impossible for any regular listener not to have gained the impression that Aberhart was promising him $ 25 a month if Social Credit should come to power . " Aberhart had been in some conflict with C. H. Douglas , social credit 's British originator . Douglas , while assiduously avoiding specific comment on the Albertan proposals , submitted them to his Social Credit Secretariat for review ; it found them to be " fallacious from start to finish . " By the end of 1936 , Aberhart 's government had made no progress towards the promised dividends , leaving many Albertans disillusioned and frustrated . These Albertans included some of Aberhart 's own Social Credit MLAs , who had been elected on the promise of dividends and were angry at Aberhart 's failure to follow through . Some of them felt that , while the idea of social credit was sound , Aberhart lacked a real understanding of Douglas 's theory and could not implement it . These MLAs wanted Douglas or somebody from his British organization to come to Alberta and deliver on Aberhart 's campaign promises . One such MLA , Samuel Barnes , had been expelled from the Social Credit caucus and from the Social Credit League for voicing these views . = = Genesis = = In December 1936 , John Hargrave , the leader of the Social Credit Party of Great Britain and Northern Ireland , visited Alberta . While he had been disowned by Douglas , many MLAs frustrated with Aberhart saw Hargrave as their saviour . On arrival in Alberta , he met with Aberhart and his cabinet , who told him that the Canadian constitution ( which made banking a matter of federal , rather than provincial , jurisdiction ) was an obstacle to their introducing social credit . Hargrave proposed a plan for implementing social credit in Alberta ; while he acknowledged that it was unconstitutional , he believed that the federal government would not dare enforce its jurisdiction in the face of broad popular support for social credit . After he presented his plan to a group of Social Credit MLAs , the news media began to report that Aberhart intended to implement a radical and unconstitutional set of laws . Aberhart immediately disavowed any " intention of drastic legislation " and , after studying Hargrave 's plan , announced that neither he nor his cabinet supported it . Despite this statement , the Social Credit caucus invited Hargrave to explain his plan , which he did to the approval of many caucus members . Attorney @-@ General John Hugill pointed out that the plan was unconstitutional , to which Hargrave replied that he was " not interested in legal arguments . " Two weeks later , Hargrave left the province , telling the press that he " found it impossible to co @-@ operate with a government which [ he considered ] a mere vacillating machine . " In this message , some MLAs found confirmation of their misgivings about Aberhart . A group of them , reported as numbering anywhere from five ( " soon joined by eight or ten others " ) to 22 , began to hold meetings in Edmonton 's Corona Hotel to , as Brian Brennan puts it , " plot Aberhart 's downfall " . Brennan identifies their leader as Pembina 's Harry Knowlton Brown , while T. C. Byrne names Ronald Ansley , Joseph Unwin , and Albert Blue . To make matters worse for Aberhart , Minister of Lands and Mines Charles Cathmer Ross resigned late in 1936 , followed by Provincial Treasurer Charles Cockroft on January 29 , 1937 . Neither minister 's resignation was directly related to the dissidents ' complaints : Ross resigned over disagreements with Aberhart on oil policy , while Cockroft left over a combination of ill health , clashes with Aberhart over the issue of a federal @-@ provincial loan council , government investment policies , and Aberhart 's approach to patronage . Nevertheless , the resignations were the public 's first clue of dissent in Social Credit 's ranks . Cockroft 's resignation was followed by that of his deputy , J. F. Perceval , and there were rumours that Hugill and Minister of Agriculture and Trade and Industry William Chant would soon follow . This left Minister of Health Wallace Warren Cross , Minister of Public Works and Railways and Telephones William Fallow , and Provincial Secretary Ernest Manning as Aberhart 's only indisputably loyal ministers , and Manning was away from the legislature , ill with tuberculosis . On February 19 , William Carlos Ives of the Supreme Court of Alberta dealt the government another blow when he struck down key provincial legislation , including one act reducing the interest paid on the province 's bonds by half ( though this was only a technical defeat , since the government had been defaulting on its bond payments since the previous April ) . On February 25 , a new session of the legislature opened with the speech from the throne , delivered by Chief Justice Horace Harvey in the absence of Lieutenant @-@ Governor Philip Primrose . Its commitment to social credit was limited to a vaguely worded promise to pursue " a new economic order when social credit becomes effective . " Three days later , on his weekly radio program , Aberhart acknowledged that he had been unable to implement the monthly dividends during the eighteen @-@ month period he had set as his deadline , and asked Social Credit constituency association presidents to convene meetings of all Social Credit members to decide whether he ought to resign . He suggested that , in light of poor spring road conditions in rural areas , these meetings be delayed until early June , during which time he would remain in office . = = Open dissent = = The media objected to Aberhart 's plan to place his government 's future in the hands of the 10 % of Albertans who were Social Credit members ; the Calgary Herald called for an immediate election . To many Social Credit MLAs , Aberhart 's greater offense was bypassing them , the people 's elected representatives . This was especially irksome in view of social credit 's political philosophy , which favoured technocratic rule and held that elected representatives ' only legitimate function was channelling the public desire ; by appealing directly to Social Credit members , Aberhart appeared to be denying the MLAs even this role . In the legislature , Conservative leader David Duggan called for Aberhart 's resignation ; in a move that Brennan reports shocked the assembly , his call was endorsed by Social Credit backbencher Albert Blue . On March 11 or 12 , Cockroft 's replacement as Provincial Treasurer , Solon Low , introduced the government 's budget . It included no implementation of social credit , and was attacked by the opposition parties as " the default budget " and by insurgent Social Crediters as a " banker 's budget " ( a harsh insult given Social Credit 's dim view of the banking industry ) . Ronald Ansley rose immediately to attack it as containing " not one single item that even remotely resembled Social Credit . " Blue , again echoing Duggan , threatened on March 16 to vote against the government 's interim supply bill , the defeat of which , under the conventions of the Westminster parliamentary system , would force the government 's resignation . In response , Aberhart praised Blue 's courage in speaking his mind , and called him a worthy Social Crediter . Surprised by Aberhart 's refusal to be drawn into open conflict , the insurgents needed time to reassess their strategy . They got that time when , on March 17 , Lieutenant @-@ Governor Primrose died , necessitating a five @-@ day adjournment while the federal government selected a replacement . When the legislature reconvened March 22 or 23 , the dissidents filibustered against the budget . Albert Bourcier opened debate , and was followed by , among others , Edith Rogers , Ansley , and Wilson Cain . On March 24 , Harry Knowlton Brown moved an adjournment , which was carried over the government 's objections by a vote of 27 to 25 . Though the insurgents considered this a vote of non @-@ confidence in Aberhart 's government , he refused to resign ; he acknowledged , however , that he would do so if the budget itself was defeated . = = Coronation and recall petition = = Though the bulk of the revolt took place in and around the legislature over the issue of social credit and government fiscal policy , Aberhart was also under attack on other fronts . He had been invited to attend the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth , set for May 1937 in London , and planned to go . Douglas , challenged by Hargrave for the leadership of the social credit movement and under attack by some of his own followers for his lack of cooperation with the world 's first social credit government , offered to host Aberhart , and a member of Douglas 's social credit secretariat was planning a speaking tour for Aberhart . In the same speech in which he threatened to bring down the government on the supply motion , Blue attacked the trip as an extravagance that depression @-@ ridden Alberta could ill afford . Faced with a political insurgency at home , Aberhart reluctantly decided at the end of March to cancel his trip , inaccurately claiming that he had never definitely decided to go . Such a retreat was not an option in the face of another of Aberhart 's troubles . One of Social Credit 's 1935 promises had been the introduction of recall for MLAs , which they had implemented with their first legislative act . As Aberhart 's popularity fell , the residents of his own Okotoks @-@ High River riding , where he had been elected in a by @-@ election shortly after the general election ( in which he had not run ) , availed themselves of the legislation . On April 9 their petition was endorsed by the riding 's Social Credit constituency association , and by fall it had gathered the signatures of the required two thirds of the electorate . In response , the Social Crediters repealed the Recall Act retroactive to its date of origin ; Aberhart claimed that oil companies active in his riding had intimidated their workers into signing the petition , and that some of the signatories had moved to the area specifically to sign . = = Manoeuvring and negotiation = = On March 29 , in the aftermath of the insurgent victory on Brown 's adjournment motion , Aberhart gave notice of closure on the budget debate . Belatedly realizing that this move would be risking his government in a vote that he might very well lose , he then announced that he would seek the consent of the legislature to withdraw his closure motion and move an interim supply motion instead . The unanimous consent needed to withdraw the closure motion was refused , and the motion itself was defeated . That evening , Aberhart negotiated with the insurgents for four hours until a compromise was accepted : the insurgents would support the supply bill , in exchange for which the cabinet would introduce a bill amending the Social Credit Measures Act to establish a board of MLAs empowered to appoint a commission of " experts " to implement social credit . On March 31 the insurgents kept their part of the agreement by allowing the supply bill to be passed on second reading and the budget to be hoisted for ninety days . However , when the cabinet introduced its promised bill , the insurgents claimed that it was not as agreed and refused to support it . Instead , they demanded Aberhart 's resignation and announced that they were prepared to take over the government within 24 hours . A delegation put this demand to Aberhart in the evening of March 31 ; according to them , he agreed to resign if they allowed the supply bill to pass a third reading . They did so , but Aberhart denied that he had agreed to resign and refused to do so unless he was defeated in a general election . The insurgents , leery of Aberhart 's oratorical powers and the reach of his weekly radio show , wanted to avoid an election . Even so , they rejected a motion by Low to raise their pay for the session by $ 200 , seeing it as a crass bribe . On April 8 or 12 , the government capitulated . Low 's Alberta Social Credit Act delivered what the insurgents wanted , including the creation of " Alberta credit " in the amount of " the unused capacity of industries and people of Alberta to produce wanted goods and services " , the establishment of " credit houses " to distribute this credit , and the creation of a Social Credit Board . The bill was passed , and the insurgents were placated , though Brown warned during a cross @-@ province speaking tour that they were determined to see social credit implemented , and " if anyone gets in our way , he 's going to get into trouble ... we must choose between principles and party , between Social Credit and Premier Aberhart . " = = Social Credit Board and commission = = The Social Credit Board comprised five backbenchers . Insurgent Glenville MacLachlan was chair , and Aberhart loyalist Floyd Baker was secretary . The other three members were insurgents Selmer Berg , James L. McPherson , and William E. Hayes . The Board was empowered to appoint a commission of between three and five experts to implement social credit ; the commission was to be responsible to the Board . Historians have taken different approaches to analyzing the effect of the Board on traditional Westminster parliamentary governance . C. B. MacPherson emphasized " the extent to which the cabinet had abdicated in favour of a board composed of a few private members of the legislature " , Byrne agrees that " in some respects , the powers granted to the board superseded those of the Executive Council " but notes that " Aberhart was permitted to carry on with regular government operations . " Elliott and Miller take a similar approach to MacPherson 's , suggesting that " Aberhart and his cabinet ... were in a position , strange in a cabinet system of government , of being ruled in the matter of economic policy by a board of private members that would be under the influence of Social Credit ' experts ' . " Barr disagrees , arguing that the Board was " still under the control of cabinet " and pointing out that " the cabinet was left with the power " , through its privileged position in introducing legislation , " to supplement or alter the provisions of the Alberta Social Credit Act " under which terms the board was constituted . Whatever the relative influence of the Board and cabinet , the latter disavowed any ownership of the act that established the former . Though it was a government bill , sponsored by Solon Low , the Provincial Treasurer explained that he took no responsibility for it , as it was drawn up by a committee of insurgents " without the interference of the cabinet " . Though some insurgents complained that the version of the bill introduced by the government was different than that drafted by the committee , MacLachlan insisted that there had been no material changes . The bill was passed April 13 , and the legislature adjourned the following day . Immediately after , MacLachlan invited Douglas to come to Alberta and take the head of the expert commission . Douglas suggested that MacLachlan come to London to discuss the matter ; MacLachlan left April 29 , arrived in London May 9 , and proceeded to meet with Douglas at his fishing lodge . Douglas refused to come to Alberta himself , but provided two of the " experts " the Board was charged with finding . The first was L. D. Byrne , who was in the insurance business , was an expert on social credit , and was appointed to do most of the substantive work . The second , tire salesman George Frederick Powell , was expected to handle the commission 's public relations . Powell arrived in Edmonton June 10 with MacLachlan , while Byrne followed several weeks later . While MacLachlan was in England finding his experts , feuding continued in Alberta . Aberhart fired William Chant , a known Douglasite , from his cabinet after he refused to resign . Both sides accused one another of subservience to the banking industry , the Social Credit League 's sworn enemy . Baker , the board 's sole Aberhart loyalist , travelled the province defending his premier ; at one 4 @,@ 000 person meeting in Calgary , he was shouted down by angry supporters of the insurgency . A petition calling for Aberhart 's resignation circulated among backbenchers , and proved to be a plant by the cabinet to test MLAs ' loyalty . Outwardly , however , the Social Crediters showed a united front as they awaited the promised experts ; in the first recorded vote after the legislature reconvened June 7 , all insurgents present voted with the government , though 13 were absent . One of Powell 's first actions on arriving in Edmonton was to prepare a " loyalty pledge " committing its signatories " to uphold the Social Credit Board and its technicians . " Most Social Credit MLAs signed , and the six who did not wrote to Powell assuring him of their loyalty to Douglas 's objectives ( though one , former Provincial Treasurer Cockroft , later left the Social Credit League and unsuccessfully sought re @-@ election as an " Independent Progressive " ) . The insurgency was over . = = Aftermath = = Byrne and Powell prepared three acts for the implementation of social credit : the Credit of Alberta Regulation Act , the Bank Employees Civil Rights Act , and the Judicature Act Amendment Act . The first required all bankers to obtain a license from the Social Credit Commission and created a directorate for the control of each bank , most members of which would be appointed by the Social Credit Board . The second prevented unlicensed banks and their employees from initiating civil actions . The third prevented any person from challenging the constitutionality of Alberta 's laws in court without receiving the approval of the Lieutenant @-@ Governor in Council . All three acts were quickly passed . New Lieutenant @-@ Governor John C. Bowen , asked to grant royal assent , called Aberhart and Attorney @-@ General Hugill to his office . He asked Hugill if , as a lawyer , he believed that the proposed laws were constitutional ; Hugill replied that he did not . Aberhart said that he would take responsibility for the bills , which Bowen then signed . As they left the meeting , Aberhart asked Hugill for his resignation , which he received . Shortly after , the federal government disallowed all three acts . Powell was not discouraged , stating that the acts " had been drawn up mainly to show the people of Alberta who were their real enemies , and in that respect they succeeded admirably . " Soon after the bills were introduced , Social Credit MLAs were subjected to a new loyalty pledge , this one shifting the target of their loyalty from the Social Credit Board to the cabinet . Six MLAs — including former cabinet ministers Chant , Cockroft , and Ross — refused to sign , and were ejected from caucus . In the fall , Aberhart re @-@ introduced the three disallowed acts in altered form , along with two new acts . The Bank Taxation Act increased provincial taxes on banks by 2 @,@ 230 % , while the Accurate News and Information Act gave the chairman of the Social Credit Board a number of powers over newspapers , including the right to compel them to publish " any statement ... which has for its object the correction or amplification of any statement relating to any policy or activity of the Government or Province " and to require them to supply the names of sources . It also authorized cabinet to prohibit the publication of any newspaper , any article by a given writer , or any article making use of a given source . Bowen reserved approval of the bills until the Supreme Court of Canada could comment on them ; all were ruled unconstitutional in Reference re Alberta Statutes . During the fall session in which the offending bills were proposed , police raided an Edmonton office of the Social Credit League and confiscated 4 @,@ 000 copies of a pamphlet called " The Bankers ' Toadies " , which urged its readers as follows : " My child , you should NEVER say hard or unkind things about Bankers ' Toadies . God made snakes , slugs , snails and other creepy @-@ crawly , treacherous and poisonous things . NEVER , therefore , abuse them — just exterminate them ! " The pamphlet also listed eight alleged toadies , including Conservative leader Duggan , former Attorney @-@ General John Lymburn , and Senator William Antrobus Griesbach . Powell and Social Credit whip Joe Unwin were charged with criminal libel and counsel to murder . Both were convicted of the former charge . Unwin was sentenced to three months hard labour ; Powell was sentenced to six months and deported . Aberhart 's government was re @-@ elected in the 1940 election with a reduced majority of 36 of 63 seats . Among the defeated incumbents were dissident leader Brown , the convicted Unwin , the expelled Barnes , and the Provincial Treasurer Low . Aberhart won re @-@ election by running in Calgary ; his replacement as Social Credit candidate in Okotoks – High River was soundly defeated . Aberhart died in 1943 and was replaced as Premier by Ernest Manning , who steered the Social Credit League in a more conservative and conventional direction until his 1968 retirement . Though the disallowance of banking bills put an end to any real chance of social credit being implemented at the provincial level , the Social Credit Board persisted until 1948 , when it was dissolved in response to a number of its anti @-@ semitic pronouncements and its suggestion that the secret ballot and political parties be eliminated .
= Baldwin of Forde = Baldwin of Forde or Ford ( c . 1125 – 19 November 1190 ) was Archbishop of Canterbury between 1185 and 1190 . The son of a clergyman , he studied canon law and theology at Bologna and was tutor to Pope Eugene III 's nephew before returning to England to serve successive bishops of Exeter . After becoming a Cistercian monk he was named abbot of his monastery at Forde and subsequently elected to the episcopate at Worcester . Before becoming a bishop , he wrote theological works and sermons , some of which have survived . As a bishop , Baldwin came to the attention of King Henry II of England , who was so impressed he insisted that Baldwin become archbishop . In that office , Baldwin quarrelled with his cathedral clergy over the founding of a church , which led to the imprisonment of the clergy in their cloister for more than a year . Baldwin spent some time in Wales with Gerald of Wales , preaching and raising money for the Third Crusade . After the coronation of King Richard I , the new king sent Baldwin ahead to the Holy Land , where he became embroiled in the politics of the Kingdom of Jerusalem . Baldwin died in the Holy Land while participating in the crusade ; his long @-@ running dispute with his clergy led one chronicler to characterise Baldwin as more damaging to Christianity than Saladin . = = Ecclesiastical career = = Born in Exeter around 1125 , Baldwin was the son of Hugh d 'Eu , Archdeacon of Totnes , and a woman of unknown name who later became a nun . Gervase of Canterbury 's story that he was from an even humbler background has been shown by modern scholarship to stem from bias on the medieval chronicler 's part . It is possible that he studied at Bologna in the 1150s with the future Pope Urban III . Robert Warelwast , who was Bishop of Exeter from 1138 to 1155 , had sent Baldwin to Italy to study law . Baldwin was also said to have taught at Exeter , although this is not substantiated by any contemporary record . In 1150 or 1151 Pope Eugene III appointed him tutor to Eugene 's nephew . By 1155 Baldwin seems to have returned to England , where he joined the household of Robert of Chichester , Bishop of Exeter . Baldwin attracted the attention of Bartholomew Iscanus , Bishop of Exeter , who made him archdeacon at Totnes in about 1161 , after Baldwin 's father 's death . Baldwin was known as a canon lawyer during his holding of Totnes . He received a letter from John of Salisbury in 1167 , complaining about Bartholomew 's conduct during the Becket controversy . John accused Bartholomew of not properly supporting Thomas Becket the Archbishop of Canterbury in his dispute with the king , urging Baldwin to influence the bishop to increase his support , and not to sign any appeal by the English bishops against Becket . Other letters from John dealt with rumours concerning Roger , the Bishop of Worcester , who John had heard was speaking badly of Becket . John 's purpose seems to have been to have Baldwin pass along a warning from Becket to Roger about his behaviour ; John was a supporter of Becket 's during the latter 's exile . In 1169 Baldwin was once again peripherally involved in the Becket dispute , when he objected to Becket 's excommunication of a number of noblemen and clergy for opposing Becket 's cause . Baldwin 's objection was not so much that they were excommunicated , but that no warning had been given that such an action was contemplated . Baldwin became a monk in about 1170 , and then abbot of the Cistercian monastery of Forde . He was well known as a canonist , and often acted as a judge @-@ delegate for the papacy , hearing cases that had reached the Roman Curia and been remanded to local experts for decision . In 1166 , Baldwin was the addressee of a work by John of Salisbury , Expectiatione longa , which was one of the tracts written during the Becket controversy . It was probably at this time that Baldwin wrote De sacramento altaris . In 1175 he served with his old bishop , Bartholomew , as joint papal judge in a dispute between Malmesbury Abbey and Josceline de Bohon , the Bishop of Salisbury . In 1178 he was recommended to Pope Alexander as a possible candidate for a cardinalship , but this never occurred . Baldwin became Bishop of Worcester on 10 August 1180 . While at Worcester , he impressed King Henry II by intervening in a secular case to prevent a hanging on a Sunday . Although the medieval writer Walter Map said that Baldwin was determined to continue writing even after his election to the bishopric , none of Baldwin 's writings can be dated to his time as bishop except for one sermon . = = Archbishop of Canterbury = = Baldwin was translated from the see of Worcester to the see of Canterbury in December 1184 , after Henry II let it be known that he would accept only Baldwin at Canterbury ; the previous incumbent , Richard of Dover , had died in April that year . The monks put forward three candidates from within Christ Church Priory : Odo , who had been prior of Christ Church and was then Abbot of Battle Abbey , Peter de Leia , a Cluniac prior of Wenlock Priory and later Bishop of St David 's , and Theobald , Abbot of Cluny , but none of them found favour with the English bishops . Instead , the prelates selected the king 's choice , Baldwin . The selection of Baldwin took place only after a dispute between the members of the cathedral chapter of Canterbury and the suffragan bishops of Canterbury , both of whom claimed the right to elect the new archbishop . Baldwin received his pallium from Pope Lucius III along with Lucius ' approval of his translation . Baldwin was named a papal legate in 1185 , although his authority was limited to his own archdiocese and did not extend into the Archdiocese of York . = = = Dispute with Christ Church Priory = = = During his time as archbishop there was a dispute with the monks of Christ Church Priory in Canterbury , who resented Baldwin 's attempts to impose stricter control over them and disputed the legitimacy of Baldwin 's election . For his part , Baldwin did not approve of the luxurious and pampered life the monks of Christ Church lived , and felt that they profited too much from the cult of Thomas Becket . The dispute escalated when Baldwin deprived the monks of some of the revenues of their monastic estates . After that , Baldwin proposed to establish a church dedicated to Becket in Canterbury itself , staffed by secular rather than monastic clergy . The monks of the cathedral chapter saw this proposed foundation as the first step in an attempt to change the see of Canterbury from a monastic cathedral chapter , a peculiarity of the English Church , to the more normal pattern of secular clergy . It is not clear if Baldwin himself intended such a plan , but the other bishops supported the effort , as contemporary writers made clear . Baldwin sought the advice of Hugh , the Bishop of Lincoln , who advised Baldwin to abandon the plan as it would only cause distress to all parties . The controversy was long and involved and , at one point , the monks were imprisoned within their own buildings for a year and a half , from January 1188 to August 1189 . This led to the suspension of the liturgy in the cathedral . Eventually all the prominent ecclesiastics and monastic houses of Europe were forced into choosing sides in the dispute . In October 1189 , in an attempt to gain control , Baldwin appointed Roger Norreys as the chapter 's prior , an appointment widely acknowledged by contemporaries as putting a useless individual into the office . His plan for financing the church involved soliciting contributions from donors by promising a one @-@ third reduction in penances for annual donations . = = = Service to King Henry = = = In 1188 King Henry II of England called for a tax to support the Third Crusade , following the fall of Jerusalem to Saladin in 1187 . It was collected at the rate of a tenth of all the property and income of any person not vowing to go on crusade . It was popularly known as the " Saladin tithe " and was the most extensive tax ever collected in England up to that point . Being a tithe and not a secular tax , it was collected by dioceses rather than by shires . Baldwin especially was blamed for its harshness , although in February , along with his advisor Peter of Blois , he was in Normandy with the king . Baldwin took the cross , or vowed to go on crusade , along with King Henry and many others in January 1188 , or when he began his preaching campaign on 11 February 1188 to drum up support for the Third Crusade . In April 1188 , Baldwin was in Wales on a tour attempting to secure support for the king 's crusade , and was forcing his servants and followers to exercise on foot up and down hills in preparation for the journey to the Holy Land . He spent most of the year in Wales , preaching the crusade , accompanied by the chronicler Gerald of Wales . Gerald claimed about 3000 recruits for the crusade from his and Baldwin 's efforts in Wales , although he also suggested that Baldwin mainly embarked on the tour to avoid his dispute with the Canterbury monks . A side effect of Baldwin 's tour of Wales was the implied assertion of royal authority in a section of Henry 's domains that had always been somewhat fractious . Baldwin was also asserting his ecclesiastical authority over the Welsh bishops , especially when he made a point of celebrating mass at every Welsh cathedral ; he was the first Archbishop of Canterbury to celebrate mass at St Asaph 's Cathedral . Baldwin excommunicated the only Welsh prince who refused to appear before him and take the cross , Owain Cyfeiliog . Baldwin was with King Henry shortly before the latter 's death , taking part in unsuccessful efforts to negotiate a truce with Henry 's heir , Prince Richard , who had rebelled against his father . After Henry 's death , Richard sought and obtained absolution for the sin of disobedience to his father from both Baldwin and Walter de Coutances , Archbishop of Rouen . Baldwin , along with Coutances , was with Richard on 20 July 1189 at Rouen when the king was invested with the Duchy of Normandy . Baldwin crowned Richard at Westminster Abbey on 13 September 1189 in the first English coronation for which a detailed description survives . = = = Under Richard = = = After the death of Henry II , and the accession of Richard as king , the monks of Christ Church Priory petitioned Richard to intercede in the long @-@ running dispute between them and the archbishop . In November 1189 , Richard and the whole court , including the Queen Mother Eleanor of Aquitaine , travelled to Canterbury in an attempt to end the controversy before the papacy become involved . Richard finally settled the dispute by persuading Baldwin to abandon his church @-@ building project and to dismiss Norreys . Soon after this , Richard left England and Baldwin declared that he was going to found the proposed church at Lambeth , and then join Richard on crusade . Both Richard and Baldwin agreed to appoint Norreys to Evesham Abbey , as the previous abbot of Evesham , Adam of Evesham , had recently died . This appointment eventually led , after Baldwin 's death , to the Case of Evesham . In August 1189 Baldwin objected to the marriage of Prince John , later King John , to Isabel of Gloucester , on the grounds of consanguinity . John promised to obtain a papal dispensation , but never did so . Baldwin laid John 's lands under interdict , but it was lifted by a papal legate who declared the marriage legal . Richard also restored to the archbishops of Canterbury the right to operate a mint , staffed by three moneyers . = = Third Crusade = = In April 1190 Baldwin left England with Richard on the Third Crusade . Leading the English advance guard , Baldwin left Marseilles ahead of Richard together with Hubert Walter and Ranulf de Glanvill . The group sailed directly to Syria on 5 August 1190 . Baldwin delegated the administration of his spiritualities and temporalities to Gilbert Glanvill , the Bishop of Rochester , but entrusted any archiepiscopal authority to Richard FitzNeal , the Bishop of London . The custom of giving the archiepiscopal authority to London had originated in Archbishop Lanfranc 's time . Baldwin continued to conduct some ecclesiastical business however , dealing with the suspended Hugh Nonant , the Bishop of Coventry . Baldwin had suspended Nonant in March 1190 for holding secular office as sheriff , but Baldwin wrote to FitzNeal after his departure that Nonant had agreed to relinquish his secular offices . Baldwin and his group arrived at Tyre on 16 September 1190 . Richard did not arrive in Syria until 1191 . It is unclear exactly why they were sent ahead of the king ; perhaps it was to look out for the king 's interests while Richard took a more leisurely route , or perhaps to rid the king 's entourage of a family grouping around Glanvill that the king did not trust . Baldwin was not a member or close associate of the Glanvill faction , so most likely he was sent ahead to look after the king 's interests , whatever the reasons for the inclusion of his companions . Another concern may have been to get help to the Kingdom of Jerusalem as quickly as possible after the king learned of Frederick Barbarossa 's death on the way to the Holy Land . When Baldwin arrived at Acre on 12 October 1190 , the Muslim forces in the city were under siege by the Frankish forces led by King Guy of Lusignan and Queen Sibylla of Jerusalem , who in turn were being besieged by Saladin . Soon after Baldwin 's arrival , there was a succession crisis in the Kingdom of Jerusalem . Sibylla , a first cousin of Henry II , and her two young daughters all died in July from an epidemic ravaging the siege camp where they were living . This left Guy without a legal claim to the kingdom as he had held the kingship through his wife . The heiress to the kingdom was Sibylla 's half @-@ sister Isabella ; she was already married to Humphrey IV of Toron , but he was loyal to Guy and seems to have had no ambition to be king . A more promising candidate for the throne was Conrad of Montferrat , uncle of the last undisputed king , Baldwin V. Conrad had saved the kingdom from destruction by leading the successful defence of Tyre , and had the support of Isabella 's mother Maria Comnena and stepfather Balian of Ibelin . Maria and Balian abducted Isabella from Humphrey , and compelled her to seek an annulment , so that she could be married to Conrad and enable him to claim the kingship . Baldwin supported Guy 's claim , but Ubaldo , Archbishop of Pisa , Philip of Dreux , Bishop of Beauvais , and Eraclius , Patriarch of Jerusalem , supported Conrad . Isabella and Humphrey 's marriage was forcibly annulled . Baldwin , already ailing , attempted to excommunicate everyone involved in the annulment , but he died on 19 November 1190 . He wrote his will shortly before his death , and died surrounded by his followers on the crusade . Hubert Walter assumed the leadership of the English forces , and also became Baldwin 's executor . Walter paid the wages of some soldiers and knights from Baldwin 's estate , and distributed the rest of the money to the poor . = = Writings and studies = = De sacramento altaris , dealing with the eucharist and passover , is Baldwin 's longest surviving work , in 12 manuscripts . It also includes a discussion of martyrdom that reads much like a vindication of Becket 's status as a martyr . It was first printed in 1662 , and has more recently been edited and published in the series Sources Chrétiennes , as volumes 93 and 94 , in 1963 . Others works include 22 sermons , and a work on faith , De commendatione fidei , that only survives in two manuscripts , although another five are known to have existed . One of the missing manuscripts survived until at least the mid @-@ 1600s , as it formed the basis of the first printed edition of De commendatione fidei in 1662 . The modern critical edition of De commendatione was published , along with the sermons , in 1991 as Balduini de Forda Opera : Sermones , De Commendatione Fidei. with the De commendatione fidei translated into English in 2000 . Renowned for his preaching , Baldwin 's surviving sermons show that interest in them continued after his death . His sermons were first published in 1662 ; the modern edition includes two more ( titled de obedientia and de sancta cruce ) that were not in the original publication . It appears that originally there were 33 sermons , with the others now lost . The sermons survive in 12 manuscripts , although only 5 are collections of substantial numbers of the works . None of the surviving manuscripts has a complete collection of the 22 sermons . Baldwin also collaborated with Bartholomew Iscanus on a Liber penitentialis , which is jointly ascribed to both of them in a Lambeth Palace manuscript , MS 235 . Another work often attributed to Baldwin , the Ad laudem Bartholomaei Exoniensis episcopi de coloribus rhetoricis , survives in three manuscripts and a fragment of a fourth . A number of other works are known to have been authored by Baldwin , but do not survive . These include Carmen devotionis , which was seen by John Bale at Glastonbury Abbey in the 16th century . Other lost works were a commentary on the biblical books of Samuel and Kings , De sectis haereticis which existed at Christ Church Priory in the 13th century , and De orthodoxis fidei dogmatibus , which was seen by John Leland at Christ Church in the 16th century . Some of Baldwin 's letters existed in manuscript form , although they appear never to have circulated as a collection , but they are no longer extant . One of his letters is mentioned in a Rievaulx Abbey catalogue , and Leland mentions others in his works . Besides Baldwin 's own writings , there is a decretal collection known as the Collectio Wigorniensis , still extant in manuscript ( MS ) form . It now resides in the British Library as Royal MS 10.A.ii. This collection may have belonged to Baldwin . It was probably compiled at Worcester Cathedral before December 1184 , when Baldwin went to Canterbury , and besides a basic collection of Pope Alexander III 's decretals it includes a number of letters from the papacy addressed to Baldwin as Bishop of Worcester and as Archbishop of Canterbury . Although the main contents are unexceptional , the compiler of the work numbered the books and capitula into which the work was divided , an innovation that allowed for much more efficient use of the collection . It is likely that the compiler was one of Baldwin 's clerks , and that this testified to Baldwin 's continuing interest in canon law . The manuscript itself was likely owned either by Baldwin himself or a member of his household . The historian Frank Barlow stated that Baldwin was " one of the greatest English decretalists " . His work was more influential in his inspiration and support for the development of decretal collections , rather than in terms of the actual influence of his judicial decisions themselves . Another collection of writings associated with Baldwin is the correspondence relating to his dispute with the Christ Church monks . The documents relating to this dispute , which dragged on into the archbishopric of Hubert Walter , are published in one whole volume of the Rolls Series , which was edited by the Victorian historian William Stubbs . = = Reputation = = Baldwin 's long @-@ running dispute with his cathedral chapter caused the chronicler Gervase of Canterbury to characterise him as " a greater enemy to Christianity than Saladin . " Another contemporary , Gerald of Wales , praised Baldwin as " distinguished for his learning and religion " , but also claimed that he was gloomy and nervous . Herbert of Bosham dedicated his History of Thomas , a story of Thomas Becket , to the archbishop in the late 1180s . The historian A. L. Poole called Baldwin a " distinguished scholar and deeply religious man , [ but he ] was injudicious and too austere to be a good leader . " Baldwin was also known as a theologian , as well as being a canon lawyer . His clerk and nephew , Joseph of Exeter , accompanied Baldwin on the crusade , and wrote two works after his return to England : Antiocheis , an epic poem about King Richard on crusade , and De Bello Trojano , a rewriting of the Trojan War .
= Battle of Radzymin ( 1920 ) = The Battle of Radzymin ( Polish : Bitwa pod Radzyminem ) took place during the Polish – Soviet War ( 1919 – 21 ) . The battle occurred near the town of Radzymin , some 20 kilometres ( 12 mi ) north @-@ east of Warsaw , between August 13 and 16 , 1920 . Along with the Battle of Ossów and the Polish counteroffensive from the Wieprz River area , this engagement was a key part of what later became known as the Battle of Warsaw . It also proved to be one of the bloodiest and most intense battles of the Polish @-@ Soviet War . The first phase of the battle began on August 13 with a frontal assault by the Red Army on the Praga bridgehead . The Soviet forces captured Radzymin on August 14 and breached the lines of the 1st Polish Army , which was defending Warsaw from the east . Radzymin changed hands several times in heavy combat . Foreign diplomats , with the exception of the British and Vatican ambassadors , hastily left Warsaw . The plan for the battle was straightforward for both sides . The Russians wanted to break through the Polish defences to Warsaw , while the Polish aim was to defend the area long enough for a two @-@ pronged counteroffensive from the south , led by General Józef Piłsudski , and north , led by General Władysław Sikorski , to outflank the attacking forces . After three days of intense fighting , the corps @-@ sized 1st Polish Army under General Franciszek Latinik managed to repel a direct assault by six Red Army rifle divisions at Radzymin and Ossów . The struggle for control of Radzymin forced General Józef Haller , commander of the Polish Northern Front , to start the 5th Army 's counterattack earlier than planned . Radzymin was recaptured on August 15 , and this victory proved to be one of the turning points of the battle of Warsaw . The strategic counteroffensive was successful , pushing Soviet forces away from Radzymin and Warsaw and eventually crippling four Soviet armies . = = Background = = Following the failure of the Kiev Offensive , the Polish armies retreated westwards from central Belarus and Ukraine . Although the Bolshevik forces failed to surround or destroy the bulk of the Polish Army , most Polish units were in dire need of fresh reinforcements . The Polish command hoped to halt the advancing Russian forces in front of Warsaw , the capital of Poland . At the same time General ( later Marshal of Poland ) Józef Piłsudski was to lead a flanking manoeuvre from the area of the Wieprz River , while General Władysław Sikorski 's 5th Army was to leave the Modlin Fortress and head north @-@ east , to cut off the Soviet forces heading westwards , to the north of the bend of the Vistula and Bugonarew and on towards Pomerania . However , for this plan to succeed , it was vital that Polish forces hold Warsaw . = = = Prelude = = = The defence of Warsaw was organised by the 1st Polish Army under General Franciszek Latinik and by a part of the Northern Front under General Józef Haller . The army consisted of four understrength infantry divisions : the 8th , 11th , and 15th , with the 1st Lithuanian @-@ Belarusian Division in reserve . In addition , it had at its disposal the battle @-@ weary 10th Infantry Division , two Air Groups ( four escadrilles in total ) , 293 pieces of artillery and three armoured trains . The city was to be surrounded by four lines of defence . The outermost ran some 24 kilometres ( 15 mi ) to the east of Warsaw : to the east of Zegrze Fortress , then along the river Rządza to Dybów and south through Helenów , Nowa Czarna and the Białe Błota marshes east of Wołomin . From there it ran through Leśniakowizna , dense forests occupied by artillery training grounds , and then along the Okuniew – Wiązowna – Vistula line . The second line ran a mile closer to Warsaw , along the lines of partially preserved First World War @-@ era trenches built by German and Russian armies in 1915 , separated by a no man 's land . It ran from the banks of the river Bugonarew at Fort Beniaminów , along the Struga – Zielonka – Rembertów @-@ Zakręt – Falenica line . The two most prominent pivots of this line were the towns of Radzymin and Wołomin . The third line of defence ran in the immediate vicinity of the right @-@ bank borough of Praga , while the Vistula River bridgeheads formed the final fourth line . The 11th Polish Infantry Division was dispatched to Radzymin on August 8 in order to prepare the city 's defences for the expected arrival of Bolshevik forces . While the unit 's core was formed around veterans of the 2nd Polish Rifle Division of the French @-@ equipped and trained Blue Army , it had been recently reinforced with fresh , but raw , recruits . The Poles set up defences in front of the town , utilising some earlier German and Russian First World War trenches and digging new positions . The Polish line ran some 2 kilometres ( 1 @.@ 2 mi ) in front of the town , from the unfinished 1909 Fort Beniaminów at the banks of the river Bugonarew through Mokre to Dybów . The following day the 6th Russian Rifle Division captured Wyszków some 30 kilometres ( 19 mi ) to the north @-@ east . On August 12 the Polish 1st Lithuanian – Belarusian Division abandoned the first line of defence and withdrew through Radzymin towards Warsaw . Radzymin now found itself at the front line ; by nightfall the first Russian forces appeared in front of Ruda and Zawady , two villages manned by the Polish 48th Infantry Regiment , and Russian artillery shelled Radzymin for the first time . = = = Battlefield = = = From the north , Warsaw , which spans the Vistula , was effectively shielded by the Vistula , Bug and Narew rivers . The Red Army 's lack of modern engineering equipment for the river crossings inhibited a flanking attack of Warsaw from the west , which had been Russia 's historical path of attack , towards Płock , Włocławek and Toruń , where their forces could cross the Vistula and strike Warsaw from the west and north @-@ west over permanent bridges there . While a ring of 19th- and early 20th @-@ century Russian @-@ built forts , part of the Warsaw Fortress , ran mostly along the western side of the Vistula , these fortifications lay in ruins ; Russian forces began demolition in 1909 and had destroyed most by the time of their withdrawal from Warsaw in 1915 , during the First World War . The most expedient approach for a large @-@ scale assault on Warsaw was from the east . Terrain was mostly flat ; numerous roads converged radially along an arc from the Modlin Fortress to the north ( where the Narew flows into the Vistula ) , to Legionowo , Radzymin , and Mińsk Mazowiecki directly to the east . Meanwhile , the only permanent defences in the area of Radzymin were the incomplete Fort Beniaminów and a line of First World War trenches west of Radzymin , neglected since their construction by Russians and Germans in 1915 . = = = Opposing forces = = = The first and second lines of Polish defences were manned by regular forces . These included three Polish infantry divisions : the 11th ( from the Bug River to Leśniakowizna ) , the 8th ( Leśniakowizna to Okuniew ) and the 15th ( Okuniew to the Vistula River ) . The 1st Army also held the newly arrived 1st Lithuanian @-@ Belarusian Division in reserve ( Marki – Kobyłka ) , while the Northern Front 's headquarters reserves consisted of the 10th Infantry Division and some smaller units . The third line was manned by units of mobilised State Police and a variety of volunteer units of low combat value . Out of those units , initially only the 11th Division under Colonel Bolesław Jaźwiński took part in the fight . Its 48th Kresy Rifles Regiment ( Colonel Łukowski ) manned the Bugonarew @-@ Mokre line , the 46th Kaniów Rifles Regiment ( Colonel Krzywobłocki ) manned the Mokre @-@ Czarna perimeter , and the 47th Kresy Rifles Regiment ( Lt. Colonel Szczepan ) manned the Czarna – Leśniakowizna line . To the south of the 11th Division were positions around Wołomin manned by the 8th Infantry Division , consisting of the 36th , 21st and 33rd Infantry Regiments , as well as the 13th Infantry Regiment held in reserve , which later took part in the Battle of Ossów . The combat value of Polish units is difficult to assess as they included fresh recruits of the so @-@ called Volunteer Army , veterans of First World War , battle @-@ hardened soldiers who fought in earlier stages of the Polish @-@ Bolshevik War , and civilians with virtually no combat training . Prior to the battle the 46th Regiment received 700 reinforcements : mostly deserters from various formations , a battalion of volunteer sentry guards and march companies of sappers . The 11th Infantry Division , nominally 9000 men strong , in practice had only 1500 soldiers in first @-@ line units . The situation for the Polish Army was so dire that some of the soldiers sent as reinforcements had reportedly " never seen a rifle in their lives " . In addition , most units to make a stand at Radzymin were exhausted after surviving a 600 @-@ kilometre ( 370 mi ) retreat from Belarus . However , the Polish side had superior intelligence and aerial superiority . The two Russian divisions assaulting Radzymin were battle @-@ hardened Siberian divisions led by experienced front @-@ line commanders . Both divisions were as exhausted as their opponents , whom they had chased all the way from Belarus . However , prior to the battle both divisions received reinforcements from other units , instead of fresh recruits , and were much superior in manpower to other Russian units on the Polish front . Later , in his monograph on the war , Marshal of Poland Józef Piłsudski remarked that the commanding officer of the 27th Rifle Division had achieved what was unheard of in the Polish Army despite numerous attempts : putting rear echelons and stragglers of his division into front @-@ line service . This was indeed a problem for both armies , as the number of " bayonets and sabres " , or soldiers fighting in the first line , was at all times smaller than the number of second echelon troops . On August 15 Polish intelligence reported the strength of the Russian forces as " three to four standard Russian divisions " . Even post @-@ war memoirs by General Żeligowski mention " [ t ] hree Russian infantry divisions , that is 27 battalions , though admittedly understrength , against one of our own " , though in fact the Russian forces only had two divisions . = = Battle = = = = = August 13 = = = Both Polish and Russian planners expected an attack on Warsaw — and Radzymin in particular — from the east . Yet the first fights started to the north @-@ east of the Polish capital . Warsaw was to be assaulted from the east by the 16th Red Army . At the same time the 14th Red Army ( under Ieronim Uborevich ) captured Wyszków and started a fast march westwards , towards Toruń . It was then to cross the lower Vistula and assault Warsaw from the north @-@ west . However , its 21st Rifle Division remained on the south side of the Bug River and headed for Warsaw directly , under orders from Russia 's Commissar of War Leon Trotsky . Aided by the Russian 27th Rifle Division , it came into contact with the Polish forces at Radzymin on August 12 , and prepared for an assault the following morning . The Soviet probing attack began at 07 : 00 hours , but the 21st Rifle Division achieved no breakthrough . After the Soviets had been repelled , the defending 11th Infantry Division received some artillery reinforcements . The artillery commanders wanted to use the church tower of Radzymin as an observation post and to move the batteries forward , closer to the front line . However , before the relocation of the artillery was complete , a new Soviet attack began at around 17 : 00 , this time carried out by four brigades of the 21st and 27th Rifle Divisions , reinforced with 59 artillery pieces . The Russians achieved a 3 : 1 superiority in firepower . Deprived of artillery support , the inexperienced and overstretched 1 / 46th Infantry Regiment , defending the village of Kraszew , broke , and the Soviets gained entry to Radzymin . The Polish unit withdrew in panic , and soldiers left their arms and backpacks behind . One of the artillery officers noted that the Russians achieved complete tactical surprise : " I ordered my dinner prepared when my aide came shouting ' Lieutenant Sir , the Reds are in the city ' " . The retreat was made even more serious by the fact that the gendarmes , tasked with stabilising the front and catching deserters , also fled in panic . The town itself was badly damaged , and the commanding officer of the 46th Regiment , Colonel Bronisław Krzywobłocki , was forced to order the retreat of the remainder of his forces south @-@ west from the town . The rest of the division had no option but to fall back to the line of First World War trenches . During the chaotic withdrawal all the artillery sub @-@ units got lost . By 19 : 00 hours the town was in Russian hands . Although the Polish division was defeated , the Russian forces did not pursue . This allowed the Poles to mount a night counterattack . A single machine gun battalion attacked a position behind Radzymin . While ultimately unsuccessful , the battalion forced the Russian troops to remain stationary overnight , giving the Poles badly needed time to regroup and receive reinforcements , which came in the form of a single regiment from the 1st Lithuanian @-@ Belarusian Division . Instead of retreating to the third line of defences , the Poles remained outside the town , hoping to retake it the following day . News of the defeat at Radzymin reached Warsaw the same day , causing panic among both the government and ordinary people . The following day the battlefield was visited by , among others , Prime Minister Wincenty Witos , papal nuncio Achille Ratti ( the future Pope Pius XI ) , Maciej Rataj and General Józef Haller , the commanding officer of the Northern Front . General Haller 's dispatch of 01 : 00 hours the same night called the Polish defeat at Radzymin " ignominious " , and ordered the commanding officers of the 46th Infantry Regiment and divisional artillery to be immediately court @-@ martialled . The commanding officer of the 46th Regiment was immediately relieved of command and replaced with Major Józef Liwacz . The gravity of the situation was well @-@ understood by the Polish Commander @-@ in @-@ Chief Józef Piłsudski , who remarked that all the battle plans for his counteroffensive were based on the assumption that Warsaw would hold , and suggested to General Tadeusz Rozwadowski that he reinforce the Radzymin area with any forces available , including an " en masse tank attack " . Despite this suggestion , out of 49 tanks of the 1st Tank Regiment available in Warsaw at that time , only about six took part in the battle . The loss of Radzymin also forced General Władysław Sikorski 's 5th Army , fighting north of the Bug River and along the Vistula , to start a counteroffensive from the Modlin Fortress earlier than planned . Rozwadowski and General Maxime Weygand , a member of the French Military Mission to Poland , even suggested that Piłsudski also hasten his preparations for a counteroffensive , but he refused and decided to follow the original plans . The Russians considered the capture of Radzymin a crucial accomplishment . The Polish intelligence intercepted and decrypted a euphoric , but completely untrue , report by the Revolutionary Military Committee of the 3rd Army dispatched to Moscow , informing the Russian government that " the brave units of the 3rd Army have captured the town of Radzymin on August 13th , at 23 : 00 hours . In pursuit of the enemy , they are not further than 15 versts from Praga . ( ... ) The workers of Warsaw can already sense that their liberation is near . The revolution in Warsaw is ripe . Workers demand that the city be handed over to the Red Army without a fight , threatening to prevent armed soldiers from leaving the city [ for the front ] . The White Poland is dying " . The commanding officer of the Russian 3rd Army , Vladimir Lazarevich , informed Tukhachevsky that " Poland is now on fire . Only one more push is needed and the Polish fracas will be over " . To counter the threat of a Russian breakthrough , General Latinik ordered General Jan Rządkowski to assault the town the following day with all available forces . To strengthen the assault , the 11th Infantry Division ( under Colonel Bolesław Jaźwiński ) was drawn from the reserves and dispatched to join the assault which was scheduled for 05 : 00 hours the following morning . However , the Polish forces were far from sufficient for the task . Rządkowski argued that he had been promised substantial reinforcements which did not arrive . The battle @-@ hardened Siberian Brigade was at that time tied down in the Modlin Fortress , although the promised cavalry units did arrive — but without their ammunition trains . = = = August 14 = = = The plans for the Polish assault had to be changed due to unexpected Russian actions . The Polish forces expected heavy opposition from at least two Russian divisions . However , in the morning the Russian 21st Division resumed its advance along the Białystok – Warsaw road towards Marki and Warsaw , while the 27th started its march towards Jabłonna . The 21st Division achieved some early successes when its 5th and 6th Rifle Brigades pushed the Poles back from the Czarna River some 3 kilometres ( 1 @.@ 9 mi ) to the west . However , at the same time it was advancing right in front of Polish forces which were preparing to assault Radzymin . At 10 : 15 hours the Polish 81st and 85th Infantry Regiments from the 1st Lithuanian @-@ Belarusian Division assaulted the left flank of the unsuspecting Russians , continued along the Warsaw – Białystok road , and broke through to the town . The attack was led by Lieutenant Colonel Kazimierz Rybicki , who had personally witnessed the defeat of the 46th Regiment the previous day , on his day off . This time spirits were high and the Polish infantry advanced in order , with officers in the first line and the soldiers singing Dąbrowski 's Mazurka . By noon the town was liberated . The success did not last long , as the Russian 27th Rifle Division turned around and arrived at Radzymin just in time for its 81st Brigade to push the exhausted Polish forces back towards the village of Słupno . Threatened by further attacks from Słupno and Wieliszew , the 85th Regiment retreated after suffering heavy casualties , including the commanding officer of the 1st Battalion , Captain Ryszard Downar @-@ Zapolski . This time the Soviet 81st Rifle Brigade ( 27th Rifle Division ) pursued the Poles and managed to pierce Polish defences near Wólka Radzymińska and Dąbkowizna , breaking through the second line of defences , which were the last before the city limits . The Polish headquarters at Warsaw was " petrified to hear of the complete destruction of the 19th [ Lithuanian @-@ Belarusian ] Division " , a report that fortunately for the Poles proved to be false . The threat to the northern flank was halted , with heavy casualties on both sides , thanks to the intervention of the division 's commanding officer Jan Rządkowski , as well as Front commanding officer Józef Haller , who arrived on the battlefield to personally organise an ad @-@ hoc line of defence west of Wólka Radzymińska , with Polish artillery units shelling the advancing Russians with direct fire . The Soviet advance was halted , and this time chaos in the Polish ranks was avoided , but again lack of reinforcements behind the main line of defences proved a serious problem . In the evening Generals Lucjan Żeligowski , Józef Haller , Jan Rządkowski and Franciszek Latinik met in Jabłonna and again in Struga to prepare a plan for retaking Radzymin once again . It was decided that , since the Soviet 27th Division was bogged down around Radzymin and had not resumed its march towards Jabłonna , the Polish 10th Infantry Division was no longer needed in that sector , and instead could be used to achieve a breakthrough at Radzymin . The division was relocated to Nieporęt , where General Rządkowski discovered the artillery units that were believed to have been destroyed by the Russians the previous day . A single battalion from the 28th Kaniów Rifles Regiment from the 10th Division , led by 1st Lieutenant Stefan Pogonowski , was ordered to entrench in a forest near Wólka Radzymińska and organise an ambush . The rest of the Polish forces were to start an all @-@ out assault at 05 : 00 hours the following morning , with General Żeligowski in command over the ad @-@ hoc corps . The forces amassed for the assault had a nominal strength of 17 @,@ 000 infantry , 109 artillery pieces , and 220 machine guns . In the evening the 5th Army , operating north of the Bug and Narew rivers with its base of operations in the Modlin Fortress , started a limited counteroffensive with the aim of lessening the pressure on the Polish forces at Radzymin . Grossly outnumbered , the 5th Army could not break through the Russian lines , and got bogged down in intense fights along the Wkra river . However , although initially unsuccessful , the Polish attack prevented the Soviet 5th , 15th and 16th Armies from reinforcing the two divisions already committed to Radzymin . Only the 4th Red Army , the furthest from the battlefield , operating in the north along the East Prussian border and moving towards Toruń , kept advancing almost unopposed . This however did not pose an immediate threat to the defenders of Warsaw , as its advance was finally halted at the outskirts of Włocławek , and it was forced to start a hasty retreat eastwards . = = = August 15 = = = In the early hours of August 15 the Russian forces resumed their attacks on the Polish lines , intending to break through the second line of defences to the area of Nieporęt and Jabłonna . However , as they bypassed a small forest outside Wólka Radzymińska , they were assaulted from the rear by the 1st Battalion of the 28th Infantry Regiment , which had been concealed there earlier . Simultaneously , the remainder of the 28th Regiment began a badly coordinated and half @-@ hearted attack from Nieporęt . Both Polish assaults were bloodily repelled , with the casualties including Lieutenant Pogonowski who was posthumously awarded the Virtuti Militari medal for his bravery leading the charge , but they did force the Russians to retreat to their initial positions . When the front @-@ line stabilised , the Polish headquarters threw all its reserves into a counterattack . Beniaminów was reinforced with the 29th Infantry Regiment . The Polish attack began around 05 : 30 , after a 20 @-@ minute artillery barrage . Soon the entire 10th Infantry Division started a push along the southern bank of the Bugonarew river in order to outflank the Russian forces from the north , while the 1st Lithuanian @-@ Belarusian Division pushed directly towards the town . Although the Russian side had superior artillery and brought several Austin @-@ Putilov armoured cars , this time the Polish assault was supported by five Renault FT tanks and numerous aircraft . Despite suffering from mechanical failures , the tanks successfully broke through the Russian lines , and the infantry of the 85th " Wilno Rifles " Regiment from the 1st Lithuanian @-@ Belarusian Division followed them into the town . After a short struggle the Polish forces once again controlled the town . However , as soon as it was taken , General Żeligowski decided to reorganise his division and could not support the 85th Regiment with fresh forces . Yet another successful counterattack by the Russian 61st and 62nd Infantry Brigades forced the Polish 1st Division to retreat back to its initial positions . At the same time , on the northern flank , the 10th Division was much more successful . Instead of waiting for orders from General Żeligowski , the commanding officer of the 10th Division , Lieutenant Colonel Wiktor Thommée , started a push along the southern bank of the Bugonarew . The 28th and 29th Kaniów Rifles Infantry Regiments managed to reach the village of Mokre , on a small hill overlooking Radzymin and the Białystok @-@ Warsaw road , directly behind the Russian lines . The Russians tried to push the Poles back from that position , but ultimately failed . Their assault on the village of Wiktorów also ended in failure . Soon the Polish positions in Mokre were secured , and further reinforced with the remainder of the 1st Battalion , 28th Regiment . With the northern flank safely in Polish hands , General Lucjan Żeligowski ordered his Lithuanian @-@ Belarusian Division to complete the encirclement of Radzymin . The division reached a position a few hundred metres from Radzymin by way of the village of Ciemne to the south of the town . Fearing envelopment , the Soviets abandoned the town and withdrew east . A single company from the 30th Kaniów Rifles Regiment entered Radzymin unopposed . The town was completely empty ; both the civilians and the Russian soldiers had fled , and one officer remarked that " not a stray dog was left behind in the ruined city " . = = = Aftermath : August 16 and the following days = = = Although the battle was over and Radzymin was secure , the Soviet forces continued to threaten the Polish northern flank . In the early hours of August 16 the Russians mounted yet another assault on Radzymin , reinforced by several armoured cars and led personally by the commanding officer of the 27th Rifle Division , Vitovt Putna . However , by this time the morale of the 27th Division was already broken , and the assault was easily thwarted by the Polish infantry and the three remaining operational FT tanks . The armoured cars withdrew as soon as the Polish tanks opened fire , and the Russian infantry followed . Other Russian forces were more successful to the north of the town , where they managed to capture the village of Mokre from the 28th Regiment . The regiment counter @-@ charged the village , but was initially driven off . However , approximately 80 pieces of emplaced Polish artillery laid a 30 @-@ minute barrage on the village . It was the greatest concentration of artillery fire in the war up to that point , and had a tremendous effect on the morale of the Russian defenders . After the barrage ended Lieutenant Colonel Wiktor Thommée personally led his forces in a bayonet charge ; the regiment re @-@ entered Mokre at noon and the Russians fled . The entire 13th Red Army stalled because of its defeat at Radzymin . After that success the Poles slowly but steadily pushed the Soviets back beyond the first line of defences that had been overrun several days before . By the end of 16 August , the 28th and 30th Infantry Regiments manned most of the trench line along the Rządza River , near the village of Dybów . Although initially the Russian command wanted to use the outskirts of Radzymin as a pivot for a tactical withdrawal to the Radzymin – Brześć line , the following day the Soviet commander ordered a full retreat towards Wyszków and later Grodno . Meanwhile , Piłsudski 's 4th Army outflanked the surprised Russians and went as far north as the left wing of Nikolai Sollogub 's 16th Red Army , which at that time was constantly pressured from the front by the 10th and 15th divisions . This made existing Russian plans obsolete , and Polish forces started a pursuit that ended with the victorious Battle of the Niemen River in September . On the day of Polish victory the Soviets issued a propaganda poster in Moscow proclaiming : " Warsaw has fallen . With it the Poland of yesterday became history . It is nothing but a legend now while the truth of today is the red reality . Long live the Soviets ! Long live the invincible Red Army ! " = = Result and assessment = = The battle was a success for the Poles at both the tactical level ( the battle of Radzymin itself ) and the strategic level ( its role in the battle of Warsaw ) . After several days of constant fighting for the town of Radzymin and its immediate vicinity , the Russian attack was repelled and the Poles were able to mount a successful counteroffensive , forcing the Russian armies out of Poland and in the end destroying them completely . However , the conduct of the Polish forces and their commanders at Radzymin in the early part of the battle has been criticised by historians since the 1920s . It was noted by General Lucjan Żeligowski that the importance of the northern approach to Warsaw was poorly understood by the Polish commanders prior to the battle , and that the untested and relatively weak 10th Division was chosen for the task of defending Radzymin " out of sheer incompetence " . In his memoirs he also heavily criticised the commanding officers of the division , whose " military prowess and punctuality in carrying out orders was little more than irony " . Other post @-@ war authors argued that on August 13 , when the first Russian forces appeared in front of Radzymin , the 1st Army had more than enough time to reinforce the weak Polish forces there . Instead , it took several days to recapture what could have been held from the start . Despite the lack of strategic flair in the Polish defence of Radzymin , it was one of the cornerstones of the overall success in the Battle of Warsaw . Although it was Piłsudski 's Assault Group that defeated the Russians , the forces at Radzymin and Sikorski 's 5th Army were responsible for stopping them at the gates of Warsaw . Żeligowski noted in his memoirs that " Warsaw was saved thanks to Polish successes at Mokra , Wólka Radzymińska and Radzymin " . = = The battle in popular culture and the media = = As one of the crucial battles of the war of 1920 , the battle for Radzymin has been featured in novels , memoirs and historical monographs . It was also portrayed in the 2011 film Battle of Warsaw 1920 , although the battle of Radzymin sequence was shot mostly in Piotrków Trybunalski . Since 1998 a re @-@ enactment of the battle has been held annually on August 15 in Ossów and Radzymin , organised by various re @-@ enactment groups and a local powiat administration .
= Time and Eternity ( philosophy book ) = Time and Eternity - An Essay on the Philosophy of Religion ( 1st imp . Princeton New Jersey 1952 , Princeton University Press , 169 pp ) is a philosophy book written by Walter Terence Stace . At the time of writing , Stace was a professor of philosophy at Princeton University , where he had worked since 1932 after a 22 year career in the Ceylon Civil Service . Time and Eternity was one of his first books about the philosophy of religion and mysticism , after writing throughout most of the 1930s and 1940s that was influenced by phenomenalist philosophy . In his introduction Stace writes that Time and Eternity is an attempt to set out the fundamental nature of religion , and to deal with the conflict between religion and naturalism . He explains that the basic idea set out in the book is that all religious thought is symbolic , and that his influences include Rudolf Otto , especially his Mysticism East and West , and Immanuel Kant . He says he was motivated to write the book in an attempt to add to the " other half of the truth which I now think naturalism [ as espoused in his 1947 essay Man Against Darkness ] misses " . The book begins by looking at religion , specifically God as non @-@ being and as being , put by Stace as the negative and positive divine . Stace then defines two orders of being - time and eternity , which he says intersect in the moment of mystic illumination . He goes on to say that the nature of God or eternity is such that all religious language is symbolic and that it is necessarily subject to contradictions . = = Synopsis = = The first chapter asks what religion is , stating that religious thought is contradictory , is rooted in intuition , and that God is fundamentally a mystery . The second and third chapters look at the negative divine - the characterisation of God as void , silence or non @-@ being - which Stace maintains is an idea found in all religions . He maintains that mystical experience is shared by all mankind , it is only the theories about it that differ . On this point he says he is in agreement with Otto . In this experience the distinction between subject and object is overcome , indeed there is no difference between the experiencer and the experience . Stace then goes on to explain that all religions say that religious revelation is ineffable , because no words or concepts can be applied to God who is without qualities or predicates . Thus , God cannot be comprehended by the intellect , but is apprehended by intuition . " ... it is of the very nature of intellect to involve the subject @-@ object opposition . But in the mystic experience this opposition is transcended . Therefore the intellect is incapable of understanding it . Therefore it is incomprehensible , ineffable . " Stace then looks at the positive divine ; he asks how concepts can be applied to that which is above all concepts and finds that all propositions about God are symbolical . He defines religious and non @-@ religious symbolism as differing in two respects . Firstly , religious symbols cannot be translated into logical propositions because they refer to an ( ineffable ) experience rather than a proposition . Secondly , the relationship between the religious symbol and what is symbolised is one of evocation rather than " meaning " , as meaning refers to a concept , which is absent in the mystical experience . " Yet in some way this symbolic language evokes in us some glimpse , some hint , seen dimly through the mists and fogs which envelop us , of that being who stands above all human thought and conception . " He goes on to write that some of these symbols feel more appropriate than others ( e.g. God is love not hate ) . Next Stace explains that there are two orders of being : time ( or the world ) and eternity ( or God ) , and these intersect in the moment of mystic illumination . He maintains these orders are distinct , so one order cannot dictate to the other . Here he says that he agrees with Kant , who made a distinction between the world of phenomena and the noumenon , although he is critical of Kant ’ s disregard for mystical experience . Looking at symbolism in religion , Stace states that there are two types of predicates applied to God : first , the ethically @-@ neutral sort , such as God being mind , power or personhood . Secondly , the ethical kind , where he is love , mercy , or righteousness . He explains that the former qualities are justified by an appeal to a hierarchy of being , and the latter to a hierarchy of value . In both cases the more adequate symbol are those that are higher in each hierarchy . In rooting symbolism in hierarchies , Stace explicitly states he is in opposition to Otto who thought religious symbolism was based on analogy between the numen and qualities found in the natural world . Stace next looks at religion ’ s claims to truth . He draws an analogy between mystical illumination and aesthetic truth , as the truths of both rest on revelation rather than reason . " Either you directly perceive beauty , or you do not . And either you directly perceive God in intuition , or you do not . " Further , he maintains the arguments of both mystics and naturalists in denying each other ’ s positions are invalid , as they concern different realities . These separate spheres lead Stace to reflect on both proofs for God and acosmism . He writes that proofs and disproofs for God are equally false , as God is only accessible by intuition and not logic . " … the production by philosophers of proofs of the unreality of space , time , and the temporal world generally , is a direct result of their mistaking of their mystical propositions for factual propositions . " Further , proofs of God actually harm religion as they make him a part of the natural order - a point on which he says that he agrees with Kant . Conversely acosmism ( the denial of the reality of the world ) has its root in the mystical moment , within which there is no other truth , God is the supreme reality and there is no naturalistic world . However this is a symbolic truth , rather than a statement of fact . Its counterpart in naturalism is atheism , which denies the reality of God . In the final chapter Stace looks at mysticism and logic . He returns to the idea that theology and mystical philosophies ( he gives the examples of Vedanta , Spinoza , Hegel , and Bradley ) will always contain contradictions . Known as the doctrine of the Mystery of God , he maintains this is because the intellect is inherently incapable of understanding the Ultimate . All attempts to state the nature of the ultimate necessarily produce contradictions . = = Critical response = = Virgil C Aldrich reviewed the book alongside Religion and the Modern Mind and The Gate of Silence , also by Stace and published in 1952 . He points out that all three books mark a new direction for Stace who was previously best known as an empiricist and naturalist . For Aldrich this new intellectual interest results in a sharp dualism in both Stace ’ s personality and his thought . However , he writes that fortunately Stace ’ s philosophical background prevents him from supposing that scientific empiricism can confirm religious experience , indeed his religious philosophy is the sort “ that a Hume or a Kant can consort with . ” Aldrich argues that Stace ’ s intellectual sophistication is most evident in his ideas about the negative divine , but his thought is liable to all the standard objections where he proposes notions of the positive divine and religious intuition . Specifically , the notion that religious language is evocative of the mystical experience is problematic , because it is difficult to determine what language is adequate without resorting to literal or abstract ideas . Rudolf Otto ’ s notion of analogy , rejected by Stace , is more robust . Aldrich points out a contradiction in Stace ’ s reliance on hierarchies of being and values to more adequately refer to God , as this implies continuity between the world and eternity , which Stace denies . Julius Seelye Bixler reviewed the book twice , in 1952 and 1953 . In his first review he wrote that he believed Stace was trying to have his cake and eat it with regards to the truth of both naturalism and mysticism . Bixler also wonders whether the revelation of God can really be free of concepts and thus whether time and eternity are utterly unrelated as Stace maintains . He identifies points in Stace ’ s thought where there is continuity between these two states and mystical language does appear to refer to concepts . Finally he rejects the book ’ s analogy of mystical experience to the evocative power of art , maintaining that art must be somewhat related to logic . Nonetheless , Bixler does concur that the book is a fascinating confessio fidei and personal statement . A year later , he reviewed Time and Eternity alongside Religion and the Modern Mind . As well as reiterating the points he had made earlier , Bixler judges the second book more favourably and recommends reading the two together to better understand the problems they address . Stace was praised for his clarity and ambitious aims in Time and Eternity by Abraham Kaplan who believed the book was one of the best on the subject for many many years . He pointed out that the book ’ s distinction between the orders of time and eternity owed much to Kant ( which Stace himself acknowledged ) . Kaplan reflected that it was the book ’ s emphasis placed on mysticism and a universal religious intuition that would be of particular interest to students of “ Oriental and comparative philosophy ” . The central idea upon which Stace ’ s thought stands or falls , for Kaplan , is that religious language is evocative rather than descriptive . In this both religionists and naturalists will find problems . For the former , Stace can only account for the appropriateness of religious language by relying on ‘ nearness ’ to the divine rather than on resemblance , and this relies on ‘ a vague panpsychism ’ and levels of being in the manner of Samuel Alexander . While for the naturalist , Stace ’ s system of religious symbolism is doomed to remain mysterious , because it does not allow religious metaphors to be translated literally and neither can it be said how they evoke the experience to which they refer . Also noting the unachievable ambition of solving the conflict between naturalism and religion , Martin A Greenman , remarks that one must come to the book “ with a certain mood ” . Too critical a mood would blind the reader to its religious insights , while the sensitivity and depth of its philosophic insights would be lost if one were to approach it in a too enthusiastically religious mood . Greenman finishes by justifying Stace ’ s philosophy to logical positivists by quoting from Wittgenstein 's Tractatus : “ My propositions are elucidatory in this way : he who understands me finally recognizes them as senseless , when he has climbed out through them , on them , over them … .He must surmount these propositions : then he sees the world rightly ” ( 6 . 54 . ) Dorothy M Emmet found issue with the notion that the mystical experience is the point of intersection between the temporal and eternal orders . She writes that there are difficulties in Stace defining these orders as two distinct “ orders of being ” , rather than just as a way of speaking , because this then means some statements about the temporal order are relevant to what is said about the eternal order and vice versa . Indeed , the interrelation between these two orders is difficult to maintain . She also questioned Stace ’ s characterisation of mystical consciousness as being the same everywhere . More recently , Maurice Friedman writes about the book in the context of the various attempts to find a universal essence - or perennial philosophy - within religion . He finds that Time and Eternity is a more systematic attempt at this than those proposed by Aldous Huxley or Ananda Coomaraswamy , but no more successful . For Friedman , the philosophy that Stace lays out in the book is derived from metaphysical speculation ( that , like the ideas of Huxley and Coomaraswamy , is influenced by Vedanta ) , rather than mystical experience . Central to Friedman ’ s critique is the notion that there is a vast gulf between the mystical experience which Stace defines as beyond thought , and his philosophical system built on this . He also mentions that mystics do not always agree on what experiences , symbols and philosophies are the closest to the divine . The book has received more positive support however . Robert C Neville called Time and Eternity “ the most sophisticated treatment of eternity and time in our century so far ” . In his Thought : A Very Short Introduction , Tim Bayne says the book contains a “ classic ” discussion of ineffability . American writer Arthur Goldwag has said that the phrase " that than which there is no other " that he encountered in Time and Eternity was one of a number of factors that contributed to him giving up praying .
= Rick Volk = Richard Robert Volk ( born March 15 , 1945 ) is a former American football player who played for the Baltimore Colts , New York Giants , and Miami Dolphins . He retired with 38 career interceptions and 13 fumble recoveries , and totaled 574 yards on interception returns and 548 yards on punt returns . Volk played college football for the University of Michigan from 1964 to 1966 and was a member of the 1964 team that won the Big Ten Conference championship and defeated Oregon State in the 1965 Rose Bowl . He played as a defensive back for Michigan 's defensive unit and as a halfback and quarterback for the offensive unit . Volk was also selected by the Sporting News as a first @-@ team All @-@ American in 1967 . In 1989 , he was inducted into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor ; Volk and Ron Johnson were the first two football players from the 1960s to be so honored . Volk went on to a successful 12 @-@ year career as a safety in the National Football League . He played nine years with the Baltimore Colts from 1967 to 1975 . He was a member of the Colts ' teams that lost Super Bowl III to the New York Jets and won Super Bowl V against the Dallas Cowboys . Volk was selected as an NFL All @-@ Pro four times ( 1968 – 1971 ) and played in three Pro Bowls ( 1967 , 1969 , 1971 ) . After being released by the Colts in April 1976 , Volk concluded his playing career with the New York Giants in 1976 and the Miami Dolphins from 1977 to 1978 . In 1977 , Volk was selected by Baltimore fans as a starter for the Colts ' 25th anniversary team . = = Early years = = Volk was born in Toledo , Ohio , in 1945 . He attended Wauseon High School in Wauseon , Ohio , where he was a three @-@ sports star . He was an all @-@ league basketball and baseball player and also played quarterback on the football team . = = University of Michigan = = Volk enrolled at the University of Michigan in 1963 . His decision to attend Michigan rather than Ohio State was influenced by family ties , including Bob Chappuis , who was Volk 's uncle and finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting while playing for the undefeated 1947 Wolverines . Volk noted : " I had all these stories growing up . He [ Bob Chappuis ] was my hero , so I always wanted to go to Michigan . ... And I didn 't like Woody [ Hayes ] anyway . It was just my Grandpa telling me because he didn 't like Woody , and he hoped Woody would choke on his Thanksgiving turkey . ... Because of Uncle Bob going to Michigan , that 's where I wanted to go . You know , I loved the helmets , loved the uniforms . I said ' Hey , if I could just sit on the bench , that 's all I care about . ' " At Michigan , Volk was a three @-@ year starter from 1964 to 1966 . Prior to the start of the 1964 season , he was given jersey no . 49 , the same number worn by his uncle when he played for Michigan . During the 1964 season , Volk played at the halfback position on both offense and defense and also served as a backup at quarterback to Bob Timberlake . In his first game for the Wolverines , he intercepted a pass in the end zone against Air Force . In his second game , he helped the Michigan defense hold scoreless a high @-@ scoring Navy team led by Hall of Fame quarterback Roger Staubach . He also threw a 33 @-@ yard touchdown pass against Northwestern in October 1964 . In a close victory over Minnesota , after the Golden Gophers had cut Michigan 's lead to five points and advanced the ball to Michigan 's 7 @-@ yard line , Volk " smashed through to down the Gopher ball carrier , and save the game on fourth down . " Volk was described by sports writer Joe Hendrickson as " instinctive — usually in the right place to mess things up for the opposition . " Volk helped the 1964 Michigan team win the Big Ten Conference championship and defeat Oregon State in the 1965 Rose Bowl by a score of 34 – 7 . As a junior in 1965 , Volk started all 10 games for Michigan at cornerback and also started four games on offense as the left halfback . He was selected by both the Associated Press and the United Press International as a first @-@ team All @-@ Big Ten defensive back at the end of the 1965 season . As a senior in 1966 , Volk started all 10 games at safety and also started 2 games at fullback , and even started one game as quarterback . At the conclusion of the 1966 season , he was selected as a first @-@ team All @-@ American by the Sporting News . At the conclusion of his college football career at Michigan , the Newspaper Editors Association distributed a feature story on Volk , describing him as follows : " Rick Volk is a safety man who conjures up an image of homemade apple pie and pancakes smothered in maple syrup , Saturday night movies and picnics in a wooded grove . He is clear @-@ eyed and smooth @-@ cheeked , with a short tilted nose and a smile that shows white . He couldn 't be more pure mid @-@ Americana if he were framed by a billboard . " Volk was invited to play on the College All @-@ Star team following his senior year . At the camp for the All @-@ Star team , he was rated by the scouts as " the best all @-@ around athlete among the high @-@ priced talent preparing for pro debuts . " In 1989 , Volk was inducted into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor . He joined his uncle , Bob Chappuis , who was inducted into the Hall of Honor five years earlier in 1984 . Volk and Ron Johnson , both inducted in 1989 , were the first two football players from the 1960s to be inducted into the Hall of Honor . = = Professional football = = = = = Baltimore Colts = = = Volk played as a free safety for twelve seasons in the NFL . He was selected four times as an NFL All @-@ Pro ( 1968 @-@ 1971 ) and played three times in the Pro Bowl ( 1967 , 1969 , 1971 ) . Volk also played in the Super Bowl twice for the Baltimore Colts as a member of the Super Bowl III team and the Super Bowl V winning team . He made a name for himself as a rookie in 1967 by recovering an onside kick to help the Colts defeat the Packers . He also set a Colts team record for the longest interception runback with a 94 @-@ yard touchdown return against Chicago in November 1967 . Volk 's interception of the pass intended for Brian Piccolo was his third interception in four games . For his performance against the Bears , he was named the NFL 's Defensive Player of the Week . At the end of his rookie season , Volk was chosen to play in his first Pro Bowl game . In his second season with the team , Volk intercepted 6 passes and totaled 154 yards on interception returns . He also returned 25 punts for 198 yards ( 6th best in the NFL ) in 1968 . He was selected as a first @-@ team NFL All @-@ Pro player at the end of the 1968 NFL season by the Pro Football Writers , the Newspaper Ent . Association , and the United Press International . The Colts won the NFL championship in 1968 and played Joe Namath 's AFL champion New York Jets in Super Bowl III . Volk was knocked unconscious during Super Bowl III when he collided helmet @-@ to @-@ helmet with Jets fullback Matt Snell . Volk was rushed to the hospital after he went into convulsions . He was put in the intensive care ward for two days and moved to a regular room on the Tuesday after the game . In 1970 , Volk helped lead the Colts to another Super Bowl appearance , but were now representing the AFC following the merger of the two leagues ( NFL and AFL ) that year . This time , the Colts defeated the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl V. Volk was responsible for covering Pro Football Hall of Famers Bob Hayes and Mike Ditka in the Super Bowl , and he played a key role in the Colts ' victory . In the fourth quarter , the Colts trailed the Cowboys 13 – 6 . Volk intercepted a pass by Cowboys quarterback Craig Morton at the Dallas 33 @-@ yard line and returned it 30 yards to the 3 @-@ yard line to set up the tying touchdown . Baltimore quarterback Earl Morrall later referred to Volk 's interception as the play of the game . Interviewed in 2009 , Volk cited Super Bowl V as his fondest memory of playing in Baltimore . He recalled team owner Carroll Rosenbloom flying the whole team , families included , to the Bahamas the day after the game : " The next day we all got on the plane and flew over to the Bahamas . He took the whole family – my wife and one kid , at the time . I remember we were on the beach , Tom Mitchell and I , and we got the paper to make sure it was really true - that we did win . Because this was like a dream come true on the sand beaches in the Bahamas . " Volk had his best season in 1971 when he was picked as a first @-@ team NFL All @-@ Pro by the Associated Press , Pro Football Writers , and the Newspaper Ent . Association . He remained with Colts for nine years and was one of the last players from the Super Bowl V champions to remain with the team . In 1974 , one Maryland sports writer noted that Volk remained a solid performer : " Although the Colts suffered through an overall dismal campaign in 1973 , Volk remained one of the few solid performers in an otherwise lackluster season . " In June 1975 , Volk prepared for his ninth season with the Colts as one columnist wrote : " Rick Volk has seen both ends of the rainbow in his tenure with the Baltimore Colts . The personable veteran defensive back has known the sweet taste of success , attested by the Super Bowl ring he often wears , and also has survived the agony of defeat — especially after people like Don Shula , John Unitas , Bubba Smith and Tom Matte were no longer wanted or appreciated in the Monumental City . " Volk was placed on waivers by the Colts in April of 1976 ; he was picked up by the Denver Broncos one week later . With Volk 's departure , punter David Lee was the sole remaining player on the Baltimore roster from the 1970 Super Bowl team . In October 1977 , Volk was selected as a starter on the Colts ' 25th anniversary team . The team was selected by the fans in Baltimore , and the only players at any position to receive more votes than Volk were David Lee , Johnny Unitas , Raymond Berry , Alan Ameche , Gino Marchetti , John Mackey , Mike Curtis , Art Donovan , Alex Sandusky , Jim Parker and Bobby Boyd . = = = New York Giants = = = Volk was cut by the Broncos in August 1976 and signed by the Miami Dolphins two weeks later . He did not play for the Dolphins in 1976 and was signed mid @-@ season by the New York Giants . Volk played in 8 games for the Giants in 1976 and tallied 2 interceptions and a fumble recovery . Volk was cut by the Giants in early September 1977 , shortly before the start of the regular season . Volk recalled the disappointment at being cut by the Giants at age 32 : " I felt I should have been in New York , but they went with younger people . I was very disappointed , especially to get cut at the end of training camp . I 'd done all the hard training and was ready for the season – the fun time . " He returned to his home in Baltimore and worked during the fall as a manufacturer 's representative . = = = Miami Dolphins = = = Volk signed with the Miami Dolphins for the final month of the 1977 NFL season . He played in three games for the 1977 Miami Dolphins and had one interception ( off Buffalo Bills quarterback Joe Ferguson ) . Miami head coach Don Shula , who had worked with Volk in Baltimore , said , " We got him in the last four games , and he showed us some great hitting . He also didn 't seem to have lost any speed . " During the 1978 NFL season , Volk appeared in all 16 games for the Dolphins , 13 of them as a starter . Volk started the season strong , intercepting a pass in the season opener against the New York Jets . In the second game of the season , the Dolphins played the Colts in Baltimore . Volk intercepted two passes against Baltimore quarterback Bill Troup and helped the Dolphins to a 42 – 0 win . After the game , Volk told reporters , " I wanted to have a good game in Baltimore , and I couldn 't have asked for anything better than the way it turned out . " While Volk began the 1978 season as a starter , he was replaced by Charlie Babb for the final four games . After the Dolphins lost the AFC wildcard game to the Oilers , Volk announced his retirement . Volk told reporters he had wanted to end his career with a championship team and added , " When the game 's over , you can 't worry about it . For most of the guys , there 'll be another season . For me , this is it . " = = Later years = = Volk began working as a manufacturer 's representative while still playing football , and continued in that business after retiring from the game . Interviewed in 2009 , Volk was selling industrial equipment to steel mills .
= Ring Off ( song ) = " Ring Off " is a song by American singer Beyoncé , taken from the reissue of her fifth studio album Beyoncé ( 2013 ) , subtitled More Only ( 2014 ) . The song was released on November 28 , 2014 to contemporary hit radio in Italy and urban adult contemporary in the United States as the second single from the reissue . A midtempo reggae @-@ tinged ballad which is built around a slight dancehall rhythm and dubstep @-@ influenced beats , " Ring Off " addresses the end of a marriage between Beyoncé 's parents . It was written in a form of open letter of encouragement for her mother Tina Knowles . Upon the release of the Platinum Edition , " Ring Off " received mostly favorable reviews from music critics , who deemed it as one of the most personal songs ever released by Beyoncé . Commercially , the single appeared on a few record charts , including the US Bubbling Under Hot 100 , where it peaked at number 5 . It also charted in several European countries including France , the Netherlands and the United Kingdom . = = Background = = On November 4 , 2014 it was announced through a press release by Parkwood Entertainment that Beyoncé would release a platinum edition of her self @-@ titled fifth studio album on November 24 , 2014 , containing a disc on the album titled Beyoncé : More Only which would include two new songs titled " 7 / 11 " and " Ring Off " . On November 19 , 2014 , 30 @-@ second snippets of the two songs appeared online along with reports that " 7 / 11 " would impact radio stations on November 25 . The following day , the full versions of both songs surfaced on the Internet . " Ring Off " was released on November 28 , 2014 to Italian contemporary hit radio , alongside " 7 / 11 " . " Ring Off " also impacted urban adult contemporary radio in the United States . = = Composition = = " Ring Off " was written by Beyoncé , Mike Caren , William Lobban @-@ Bean , Geoff Early , Charles Hinshaw , Adam Amezaga , Dixie , Stephen Bishop , Chauncey Hollis , Mike Dean , and Sidney Swift . It is a midtempo ballad which runs at a duration of three minutes . It was described as a reggae @-@ tinged track by Gerrick Kennedy from the Los Angeles Times . Meanwhile , the New York Post 's Hardeep Phull opined that the song was built around a slight dancehall rhythm . Additionally , Allan Raible writing for ABC News noted the slightly dubstep @-@ influenced beats on " Ring Off " . Lyrically , the song addresses the end of a marriage between Beyoncé 's parents Tina Knowles and Mathew Knowles . The lyrics are written in a form of an " open letter " in which the singer praises her mother 's courage for ending a dysfunctional marriage . At the beginning of the song , Beyoncé sings , " Mama , I understand your many sleepless nights / When you think about father / and how you tried to be the perfect wife ... I wish you didn ’ t hurt at all . " Alex Frank of Vogue noted how the song was thematically " an enlightened follow @-@ up " to " Single Ladies " , discussing a similar private subject matter for the singer . He further opined that the lyrics apply to other women who are part of toxic relationships . The last part of " Ring Off " contains lyrics in which Beyoncé declares to her mother that " it 's your time to put your love on top " , encouraging her " to put herself and her own happiness first " ; these lyrics were noted to be a " witty " rework of the singer 's own song " Love on Top " ( 2011 ) . The song ends with portions of a speech delivered by Tina Knowles from the 2014 Texas Women 's Empowerment Foundation Leadership Luncheon . = = Reception = = = = = Critical reception = = = Jim Farber from New York Daily News wrote that " Ring Off " is " very much worth downloading . " Robert Christgau named the track a " sisterly , daughterly " song . ABC News ' Allan Raible wrote that " Ring Off " was " the counterpoint " to Beyoncé 's previous song " Single Ladies ( Put a Ring on It ) " ( 2008 ) : " While that song is about settling down , this is an ode to ' starting over again . ' " On behalf of USA Today , Patrick Ryan labelled the track as a hybrid of " anthemic " sound of " XO " and " Caribbean vibes " of " Standing on the Sun " and " Grown Woman " . Lindsay Zoladz , a reviewer from Vulture , said that " Ring Off " " isn ’ t anything special " musically and likened the song 's style to that of Beyoncé 's previous songs " Schoolin ' Life " ( 2011 ) and " XO " ( 2013 ) . However , Zoladz complimented on the song 's lyrics , calling it " one of the most candidly personal songs Beyoncé ’ s ever released . " Vogue editor Alex Frank praised " Ring Off " for being an " epically good track , but more importantly , one of the most personal , profound songs she has ever released " . Daniel D 'Addario from Time magazine praised " Ring Off " as a " big step forward " in the singer 's music career , noting that it amplified the album 's theme with " an examination of the circumstances under which it ’ s better to be alone " . In 2014 , the song was placed at number 537 on the annual Pazz & Jop poll complied by The Village Voice . = = = Chart performance = = = " Ring Off " appeared on the French SNEP Singles Chart at number 110 on December 6 , 2014 , and remained for one week . In the Netherlands , the single debuted at number 84 on the Single Top 100 chart on December 6 , 2014 . The following week , it dropped to number 93 . The song also peaked at number 5 on the US Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart , a chart which acts as a 25 @-@ song extension to the Billboard Hot 100 . It had a better performance on the US Hot R & B / Hip @-@ Hop Songs chart where it peaked at number 31 . In the United Kingdom , " Ring Off " debuted at number 81 on the UK Singles Chart in the chart issue dated December 6 , 2014 ; this placement also became its peak position in that country . = = Credits and personnel = = Credits are adapted from the singer 's official website and the album 's liner notes . Song credits Writing — Beyoncé Knowles , Mike Caren , William Lobban @-@ Bean , Geoff Early , Charles Hinshaw , Adam Amezaga , Dixie , Stephen Bishop , Chauncey Hollis , Mike Dean , Sidney Swift Production — Caren , Knowles Additional production — Hit @-@ Boy , Hazebanga , Preach Bal4 , Mike Dean Vocals production — Knowles Recording — Caren ; Mike 's House and Cook Classics at the Caryle , Los Angeles Second engineering — Ramon Rivas , John Schacter Audio mixing — Tony Maserati , Stuart White , Mirrorbal Studios , North Hollywood and Le Royal Monceau , Paris Mix engineering — James Krause , Justin Hergett Mix consulting — Derek Dixie Mastering — Dave Kutch , The Mastering Palace , New York City = = Weekly charts = =
= The Nightmare Before Christmas = The Nightmare Before Christmas , often promoted as Tim Burton 's The Nightmare Before Christmas , is a 1993 American stop motion dark fantasy musical film directed by Henry Selick , and produced and conceived by Tim Burton . It tells the story of Jack Skellington , a character from " Halloween Town " who stumbles through a portal to " Christmas Town " and decides to celebrate the holiday , with some dastardly and comical consequences . Danny Elfman wrote the film score and voiced the singing role of Jack . The principal voice cast also includes Chris Sarandon , Catherine O 'Hara , William Hickey , Ken Page , Paul Reubens and Glenn Shadix . The Nightmare Before Christmas originated in a poem written by Tim Burton in 1982 , while he was working as an animator at Walt Disney Feature Animation . With the success of Vincent in the same year , Walt Disney Studios began to consider developing The Nightmare Before Christmas as either a short film or 30 @-@ minute television special . Over the years , Burton 's thoughts regularly returned to the project , and in 1990 , he made a development deal with Disney . Production started in July 1991 in San Francisco . Disney released the film through the Touchstone Pictures banner because the studio believed the film would be " too dark , and scary for kids . " The Nightmare Before Christmas was met with both critical and financial success . The film has since been reissued by Walt Disney Pictures and re @-@ released annually in the Disney Digital 3 @-@ D format from 2006 until 2009 , making it the first stop @-@ motion animated feature to be entirely converted to 3D . = = Plot = = The story starts in a forest called Holiday Woods with seven trees containing doors leading to towns representing various holidays : Valentine 's Day , St. Patrick 's Day , Easter , Thanksgiving , Christmas , Halloween and Independence Day . Halloween Town is a fantasy world filled with citizens such as deformed monsters , ghosts , ghouls , goblins , vampires , werewolves and witches . Jack Skellington , a skeleton known as The Pumpkin King , leads them in organizing the annual Halloween holiday ( " This is Halloween " ) . However , in a monologue , Jack reveals he has grown weary of the same routine year after year , and wants something more ( " Jack 's Lament " ) . Wandering dejectedly in the woods , he stumbles across the seven holiday doors and accidentally opens a portal to Christmas Town , whose residents are charged with organizing the annual Christmas holiday ( " What 's This ? " ) . Impressed by the bright and cheery feeling and style of Christmas , Jack presents his findings and his understanding of Christmas , to the Halloween Town residents . However , they fail to grasp his meaning and compare everything to their ideas of Halloween , although there is one Christmas character they can relate to : the fearsome lobster @-@ like king of Christmas Town who flies at night , named " Sandy Claws " ( " Town Meeting Song " ) . Jack is dismayed that no one understands the feeling of Christmas , obsessively tries to study the holiday but fails to grasp any further explanation of it . He ultimately decides that it 's unfair for Christmas Town alone to enjoy the feeling and there 's no reason why he shouldn 't be able to , and announces that the citizens of Halloween Town will take over Christmas this year ( " Jack 's Obsession " ) . Jack 's obsession with Christmas leads him to usurp the role of Santa . Every resident is assigned a task , while Sally , a beautiful rag doll woman created by the town 's mad scientist , starts falling in love with Jack ( " Making Christmas " ) . However , after a vision of a burning Christmas tree , she alone realizes that his plans to run Christmas will become disastrous , but has no luck convincing him . Jack assigns Lock , Shock and Barrel , a trio of mischievous children , to abduct Santa and bring him back to Halloween Town ( " Kidnap The Sandy Claws " ) . Against Jack 's wishes and largely for their amusement , the trio deliver Santa to Oogie Boogie , a gambling @-@ addict bogeyman who plots to play a game with Santa 's life at stake ( " Oogie Boogie 's Song " ) . Christmas Eve arrives and Sally attempts to stop Jack with fog , but fails to do so thanks to Jack 's ghost dog Zero and his glowing nose allowing Jack to embark into the sky on a coffin @-@ like sleigh pulled by skeletal reindeer , guided by Zero . Down on the ground , Sally prays that her premonition does not come true ( " Sally 's Song " ) . Jack begins to deliver presents to children around the world , but the gifts ( shrunken heads , Christmas tree @-@ eating snakes , pumpkin jack @-@ in @-@ the @-@ boxes , vampire teddy bears , toy ducks with sharp teeth , man @-@ eating wreaths , bats , etc . ) only terrify the recipients . The children alert their parents , who call the police , who call the military . The air raid siren is activated , and Jack is spotted with search lights , after which he is then shot at by air raid artillery cannons . Initially mistaking the firing for a celebration , he simply flies higher . However , after a reindeer is hit , and his sleigh is grazed , he realizes that he is being targeted , but the next cannon destroys the sleigh , and Jack falls from the sky to Earth , devastating Halloween Town 's citizens . Thought to have been dead by the attack , Jack crash @-@ lands in a cemetery unharmed . Although he is depressed by the failure of his plan , he quickly regains his old spirit , having come up with new ideas for next Halloween . He then rushes back home to rescue Santa and put things right ( " Poor Jack " ) . Meanwhile , Sally attempts to free Santa , but is captured by Oogie . Jack slips into the lair and frees them , then angrily confronts Oogie . Almost immediately , Oogie springs several traps on Jack , who manages to dodge them , and Oogie attempts to flee . However , Jack pulls one of Oogie 's loose threads , revealing him to be nothing more than a collection of snakes and insects , which are all incinerated , save for the last one , which Santa squashes with his boot . Jack apologizes to Santa for his actions , and Santa , while still annoyed with Jack for attempting to take over his job , assures him that he can fix things , and leaves to get rid of the evil toys and deliver the right presents to the world 's children . After Jack returns to Halloween Town , the townspeople celebrate that he 's alive , and Santa , after fixing Christmas , returns and makes snow fall over Halloween Town in reconciliation between himself and Jack . The townspeople are confused by the snow at first , but soon begin to play happily in it , finally realizing what Christmas is about . Jack spies Sally heading to the graveyard , and follows her . Atop the graveyard 's big hill , Jack admits that he reciprocates Sally 's romantic feelings for him , and they declare their new found love , and kiss on the hill ( " Finale / Reprise " ) . = = Cast and characters = = Chris Sarandon ( speaking voice ) and Danny Elfman ( singing voice ) as Jack Skellington : A skeleton known as the " Pumpkin King " of Halloween Town . He owns a ghost dog named Zero , who has a small , glowing jack @-@ o ' -lantern nose . Danny Elfman also voices Barrell , one of the trick @-@ or @-@ treaters working for Oogie Boogie . Catherine O 'Hara as Sally : A rag doll @-@ like creation of Finklestein , and the growing love interest of Jack . She is an amateur toxicologist that uses various types of poison to liberate herself from the captivity of Finklestein . O 'Hara also voices Shock , one of the trick @-@ or @-@ treaters working for Oogie Boogie . She had previously co @-@ starred in Burton 's Beetlejuice ( 1988 ) . William Hickey as Doctor Finklestein : A mad scientist , and the " father " of Sally . Glenn Shadix as Mayor of Halloween Town : An enthusiastic leader who conducts town meetings . His wild mood swings from happy to distraught cause his head to spin between a " happy " and " sad " face ; where some career politicians are figuratively two @-@ faced , the Mayor is literally so . Burton and Shadix previously worked on Beetlejuice . Ken Page as Oogie Boogie : A villainous bogeyman in Halloween Town , who has a passion for gambling . Ed Ivory as Santa Claus : The leader of Christmas Town . Santa Claus is responsible for the annual celebration of Christmas , at which time he delivers presents to children around the world . Ivory also does the brief narration at the start of the film . Paul Reubens as Lock . Reubens and Burton previously worked on Pee @-@ wee 's Big Adventure ( 1985 ) and Batman Returns ( 1992 ) . Danny Elfman as Barrel . Elfman also does the singing voice of Jack Skellington . The cast also features Kerry Katz , Carmen Twillie , Randy Crenshaw , Debi Durst , Glenn Walters , Sherwood Ball , and Greg Proops voicing various characters . Patrick Stewart recorded narration for a prologue and epilogue . While not used in the final film , the narration is included on the soundtrack album . = = Production = = As writer Tim Burton 's upbringing in Burbank , California was associated with the feeling of solitude , the filmmaker was largely fascinated by holidays during his childhood . " Anytime there was Christmas or Halloween , [ ... ] it was great . It gave you some sort of texture all of a sudden that wasn 't there before " , Burton would later recall . After completing his short film Vincent in 1982 , then @-@ Disney animator Burton wrote a three @-@ page poem titled The Nightmare Before Christmas , drawing inspiration from television specials of Rudolph the Red @-@ Nosed Reindeer , How the Grinch Stole Christmas ! and the poem A Visit from St. Nicholas . Burton intended to adapt the poem into a television special with the narration spoken by his favorite actor , Vincent Price , but also considered other options such as a children 's book . He created concept art and storyboards for the project in collaboration with Rick Heinrichs , who also sculpted character models ; Burton later showed his and Heinrichs ' works @-@ in @-@ progress to Henry Selick , also a Disney animator at the time . After the success of Vincent in 1982 , Disney started to consider developing The Nightmare Before Christmas as either a short film or 30 @-@ minute holiday television special . However , the project 's development eventually stalled , as its tone seemed " too weird " to the company . As Disney was unable to " offer his nocturnal loners enough scope " , Burton was fired from the studio in 1984 , and went on to direct the commercially successful films Beetlejuice and Batman . Over the years , Burton regularly thought about the project . In 1990 , Burton found out that Disney still owned the film rights . He and Selick committed to produce a full @-@ length film with the latter as director . Disney was looking forward to Nightmare " to show capabilities of technical and storytelling achievements that were present in Who Framed Roger Rabbit . " Nightmare marked Burton 's third film in a row to have a Christmas setting . Burton could not direct because of his commitment to Batman Returns and he did not want to be involved with " the painstakingly slow process of stop motion " . To adapt his poem into a screenplay , Burton approached Michael McDowell , his collaborator on Beetlejuice . McDowell and Burton experienced creative differences , which convinced Burton to make the film as a musical with lyrics and compositions by frequent collaborator Danny Elfman . Elfman and Burton created a rough storyline and two @-@ thirds of the film 's songs , while Selick and his team of animators began production in July 1991 in San Francisco , California with a crew of over 120 workers , utilizing 20 sound stages for filming . Joe Ranft was hired from Disney as a storyboard supervisor , while Eric Leighton was hired to supervise animation . At the peak of production , 20 individual stages were simultaneously being used for filming . In total , there were 109 @,@ 440 frames taken for the movie . Elfman found writing Nightmare 's 11 songs as " one of the easiest jobs I 've ever had . I had a lot in common with Jack Skellington . " Caroline Thompson still had yet to be hired to write the screenplay . With Thompson 's screenplay , Selick stated , " there are very few lines of dialogue that are Caroline 's . She became busy on other films and we were constantly rewriting , reconfiguring and developing the film visually . " The work of Ray Harryhausen , Ladislas Starevich , Edward Gorey , Charles Addams , Jan Lenica , Francis Bacon and Wassily Kandinsky influenced the filmmakers . Selick described the production design as akin to a pop @-@ up book . In addition , Selick stated , " When we reach Halloween Town , it 's entirely German Expressionism . When Jack enters Christmas Town , it 's an outrageous Dr. Seuss @-@ esque setpiece . Finally , when Jack is delivering presents in the ' Real World ' , everything is plain , simple and perfectly aligned . " On the direction of the film , Selick reflected , " It 's as though he [ Burton ] laid the egg , and I sat on it and hatched it . He wasn 't involved in a hands @-@ on way , but his hand is in it . It was my job to make it look like ' a Tim Burton film ' , which is not so different from my own films . " When asked on Burton 's involvement , Selick claimed , " I don 't want to take away from Tim , but he was not in San Francisco when we made it . He came up five times over two years , and spent no more than eight or ten days in total . " Walt Disney Feature Animation contributed with some use of second @-@ layering traditional animation . Burton found production somewhat difficult because he was directing Batman Returns and in pre @-@ production of Ed Wood . = = = Character design = = = The filmmakers constructed 227 puppets to represent the characters in the movie , with Jack Skellington having " around four hundred heads " , allowing the expression of every possible emotion . Sally 's mouth movements " were animated through the replacement method . During the animation process , [ ... ] only Sally 's face ' mask ' was removed in order to preserve the order of her long , red hair . Sally had ten types of faces , each made with a series of eleven expressions ( e.g. eyes open and closed , and various facial poses ) and synchronised mouth movements . " The stop motion figurine of Jack Skellington was reused in James and the Giant Peach ( also directed by Selick ) as Captain Jack . = = = Marketing = = = The owners of the franchise have undertaken an extensive marketing campaign of these characters across many media . In addition to the Haunted Mansion Holiday at Disneyland featuring the film 's characters , Jack Skellington , Sally , Pajama Jack , and the Mayor have been made into Bendies figures , while Jack and Sally even appear in fine art . Moreover , Sally has been made into an action figure and a Halloween costume . A Jack Skellington figurine is available for the Disney Infinity video game , allowing the character to be playable in the game 's " Toy Box Mode " . Jack is also the titular character in the short story " Tim Burton 's The Nightmare Before Christmas : Jack 's Story " . Jim Edwards contends that " Tim Burton 's animated movie The Nightmare Before Christmas is really a movie about the marketing business . The movie 's lead character , Jack Skellington , the chief marketing officer ( CMO ) for a successful company , decides that his success is boring and he wants the company to have a different business plan . " = = Soundtracks = = The film 's soundtrack album was released in 1993 on Walt Disney Records . For the film 's 2006 re @-@ release in Disney Digital 3 @-@ D , a special edition of the soundtrack was released , featuring a bonus disc which contained covers of five of the film 's songs by Fall Out Boy , Panic ! at the Disco , Marilyn Manson , Fiona Apple , and She Wants Revenge . Four original demo tracks by Elfman were also included . On September 30 , 2008 , Disney released the cover album Nightmare Revisited , featuring artists such as Amy Lee , Flyleaf , Korn , Rise Against , Plain White T 's , The All @-@ American Rejects , and many more . American gothic rock band London After Midnight featured a cover of " Sally 's Song " on their 1998 album Oddities . LiLi Roquelin did a French cover of " Sally 's Song " which was released on her album Will you hate the rest of the world or will you renew your life ? in 2010 . Another soundtrack released in 2003 was the Disneyland Haunted Mansion Holiday CD . Although most were not original songs from the movie , one song provided on the CD is a medley of " Making Christmas " , " What 's This ? " , and " Kidnap the Santy Claws " . Other songs included are original holiday songs changed to incorporate the theme of the movie . The last song on the list , however , is the soundtrack for the Disneyland Haunted Mansion Holiday ride . The film was also one of the inspiration for Blink @-@ 182 's " I Miss You " , with its grim mood and lyrical references like " have Hallowe 'en on Christmas " and " Jack and Sally " . = = Release = = Disney decided to release the film under their Touchstone Pictures banner because they thought the film would be " too dark and scary for kids " , Selick remembered . " Their biggest fear , and why it was kind of a stepchild project , [ was ] they were afraid of their core audience hating the film and not coming . " To help market the film , " It was released as Tim Burton 's The Nightmare Before Christmas , " Burton explained . " But it turned more into more of a brand @-@ name thing , it turned into something else , which I 'm not quite sure about . " The film premiered at the New York Film Festival on October 9 . = = = Home media = = = With successful home video sales , Nightmare achieved the ranks of a cult film . Touchstone Home Video first released the film on VHS on September 30 , 1994 , and on DVD on December 2 , 1997 . The DVD release contained no special features . Nightmare was released a second time on October 3 , 2000 as a special edition . The release included an audio commentary by Selick and cinematographer Pete Kozachik , a 28 @-@ minute making @-@ of documentary , a gallery of concept art , storyboards , test footage and deleted scenes . Burton 's Vincent and Frankenweenie were also included . Both DVDs were non @-@ anamorphic widescreen releases . Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment released the film on DVD again ( this time with an anamorphic transfer ) and on Blu @-@ ray Disc ( for the first time ) in August 2008 as a two @-@ disc digitally remastered " collector 's edition " , but still containing the same special features . Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment released The Nightmare Before Christmas on Blu @-@ ray 3D on August 30 , 2011 . The release is a 3 @-@ disc combo pack including a Blu @-@ ray 3D disc , Blu @-@ ray Disc and a DVD that includes both a DVD and digital copy of the film . = = Reception = = = = = Critical response = = = The film initially received positive reviews from critics ; it has since gone on to receive widespread critical acclaim . On Rotten Tomatoes , the film holds a rating of 94 % , based on 88 reviews , with an average rating of 8 @.@ 2 / 10 . The site 's consensus reads , " The Nightmare Before Christmas is a stunningly original and visually delightful work of stop @-@ motion animation . " On Metacritic the film has a score of 77 out of 100 , based on 16 critics , indicating " generally favorable reviews " . Roger Ebert gave a highly positive review for Nightmare . Ebert believed the film 's visual effects were as revolutionary as Star Wars , taking into account that Nightmare was " filled with imagination that carries us into a new world " . Peter Travers of Rolling Stone called it a restoration of " originality and daring to the Halloween genre . This dazzling mix of fun and fright also explodes the notion that animation is kid stuff . ... It 's 74 minutes of timeless movie magic . " James Berardinelli stated " The Nightmare Before Christmas has something to offer just about everyone . For the kids , it 's a fantasy celebrating two holidays . For the adults , it 's an opportunity to experience some light entertainment while marveling at how adept Hollywood has become at these techniques . There are songs , laughs , and a little romance . In short , The Nightmare Before Christmas does what it intends to : entertain . " Desson Thomson of The Washington Post enjoyed stylistic features in common with Oscar Wilde , German Expressionism , the Brothers Grimm and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari . Michael A. Morrison discusses the influence of Dr. Seuss ' How the Grinch Stole Christmas ! on the film , writing that Jack parallels the Grinch and Zero parallels Max , the Grinch 's dog . Philip Nel writes that the film " challenges the wisdom of adults through its trickster characters " , contrasting Jack as a " good trickster " with Oogie Boogie , whom he also compares with Dr. Seuss ' Dr. Terwilliker as a bad trickster . Entertainment Weekly reports that fan reception of these characters borders on obsession , profiling Laurie and Myk Rudnick , a couple whose " degree of obsession with [ the ] film is so great that ... they named their son after the real @-@ life person that a character in the film is based on . " This enthusiasm for the characters has also been profiled as having spread beyond North America to Japan . Yvonne Tasker notes " the complex characterization seen in The Nightmare Before Christmas " . Most recently , the film ranked # 1 on Rotten Tomatoes ' " Top 25 Best Christmas Movies " list . Danny Elfman was worried the characterization of Oogie Boogie would be considered racist by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People ( NAACP ) . Elfman 's predictions came true ; however , director Henry Selick stated the character was inspired by the Betty Boop cartoon The Old Man of the Mountain . " Cab Calloway would dance his inimitable jazz dance and sing ' Minnie the Moocher ' or ' Old Man of the Mountain ' , and they would rotoscope him , trace him , turn him into a cartoon character , often transforming him into an animal , like a walrus , " Selick continued . " I think those are some of the most inventive moments in cartoon history , in no way racist , even though he was sometimes a villain . We went with Ken Page , who is a black singer , and he had no problem with it " . Nightmare has inspired video game spin @-@ offs , including Oogie 's Revenge and The Pumpkin King , and is among the many Disney @-@ owned franchises that contribute to the mythology of the Kingdom Hearts series . A trading card game is also available . Since 2001 , Disneyland has held a Nightmare Before Christmas theme for its Haunted Mansion Holiday attraction . = = = Box office = = = Around the release of the film , Disney executive David Hoberman was quoted , " I hope Nightmare goes out and makes a fortune . If it does , great . If it doesn 't , that doesn 't negate the validity of the process . The budget was less than any Disney blockbuster so it doesn 't have to earn Aladdin @-@ sized grosses to satisfy us . " Tim Burton 's The Nightmare Before Christmas was given a limited release on October 15 , 1993 , before being wide released on October 29 . The film earned $ 50 million in the United States on its first theatrical run . On October 20 , 2006 , Walt Disney Pictures reissued Nightmare ( no longer under Touchstone ) with conversion to Disney Digital 3 @-@ D. Industrial Light & Magic assisted in the process . It made a further $ 8 @.@ 7 million in box office gross . Subsequently , the 3 @-@ D version of Nightmare has been re @-@ released annually in October . The 2007 and 2008 reissues earned $ 14 @.@ 5 million and $ 1 @.@ 1 million , respectively , increasing the film 's total box office gross to $ 75 million . The El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood , California has been showing the film in 4 @-@ D screenings annually in October , ending on Halloween , since 2010 . The reissues have led to a reemergence of 3 @-@ D films and advances in RealD Cinema . = = = Accolades = = = The film was nominated for both the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects and the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation . Nightmare won the Saturn Award for Best Fantasy Film , while Elfman won Best Music . Selick and the animators were also nominated for their work . Elfman was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score . The American Film Institute nominated The Nightmare Before Christmas for its Top 10 Animated Films list . = = Possible sequel = = In 2001 , Walt Disney Pictures began to consider producing a sequel , but rather than using stop motion , Disney wanted to use computer animation . Burton convinced Disney to drop the idea . " I was always very protective of Nightmare not to do sequels or things of that kind , " Burton explained . " You know , ' Jack visits Thanksgiving world ' or other kinds of things just because I felt the movie had a purity to it and the people that like it ... Because it 's a mass @-@ market kind of thing , it was important to kind of keep that purity of it . " The 2005 video game The Nightmare Before Christmas : Oogie 's Revenge did continue the story of the film , with Capcom 's crew of developers going after Tim Burton for advice , and having the collaboration of the film 's art director , Deane Taylor . In 2009 , Selick said he would do a film sequel if he and Burton could create a good story for it . Characters from The Nightmare Before Christmas have also had cameos in Disney and Square Enix 's role @-@ playing game series , Kingdom Hearts . In the majority of these games , Jack acts as a partner to the main character . In the first game , Jack attempts to liven up Halloween by giving a heart created by Dr. Finklestein to a Heartless , but the experiment goes wrong and the heart soon is taken by Oogie Boogie . In Kingdom Hearts : Chain of Memories , he tries to help the protagonist , Sora , regain his memories . In Kingdom Hearts II , Halloween Town and its inhabitants are seen , while Jack rekindles his notion of taking over Santa 's job . In the prequel game Kingdom Hearts 358 / 2 Days , Jack seeks inspiration for livening up his Halloween by paying attention to the actions of the protagonist , Roxas . In September 2001 , Disneyland 's Haunted Mansion attraction was redesigned with characters , decorations and music from the movie . This attraction is called the Haunted Mansion Holiday , and remains in operation through the Christmas season . It takes ride goers on a what @-@ if adventure of if Jack , as " Sandy Claws , " had visited the Haunted Mansion on Christmas Eve , leaving holiday chaos in his wake . = = Related media = = A video game developed by Capcom , The Nightmare Before Christmas : Oogie 's Revenge , was released for PlayStation 2 and Xbox on October 21 , 2004 in Japan , September 30 , 2005 in Europe and October 10 , 2005 in North America . Set after the events of the film , the player controls Jack as he fights against Oogie Boogie , who is revived and takes over Halloween Town and plots to take over all of the Holiday Worlds . Another game ( a prequel this time ) , The Nightmare Before Christmas : The Pumpkin King , was developed by Tose Co . , Ltd. and was released for the Game Boy Advance in 2005 . A Jack Skellington figure was released for Disney Infinity in October 2013 . A collectible card game based on the film called The Nightmare Before Christmas TCG was released in 2005 by NECA . The game was designed by Quixotic Games founder Andrew Parks and Kez Shlasnger . It consists of a Premiere set and 4 Starter Decks based on four characters , Jack Skellington , the Mayor , Oogie Boogie , and Doctor Finklestein . Each Starter Deck contains a rule book , a Pumpkin King card , a Pumpkin Points card , and a 48 @-@ card deck . The game has four card types : Characters , Locales , Creations , and Surprises . The Cards ' rarities are separated into four categories : Common , Uncommon , Rare , Ultra Rare . Quixotic Games also developed The Nightmare Before Christmas Party Game that was released in 2007 by NECA . A collector 's edition The Nightmare Before Christmas @-@ themed Jenga game was issued with orange , purple and black blocks with Jack Skellington heads on them . The set comes in a coffin @-@ shaped box instead of the normal rectangular box . A 168 @-@ card Munchkin Tim Burton 's The Nightmare Before Christmas @-@ themed Munchkin was developed by USAopoly featuring the citizens of Halloween Town such as Jack Skellington , Oogie Boogie , Doctor Finklestein and Lock , Shock and Barrel . The game comes with a custom die similar to the ones used by Oogie Boogie in the film .
= The Show Where Sam Shows Up = " The Show Where Sam Shows Up " is the 16th episode of the second season of the American sitcom Frasier . This episode originally aired on Tuesday , February 21 , 1995 , on NBC , intended as part of a February ratings sweep by the network . It features a central guest appearance of Ted Danson as Sam Malone , a recovering sex addict , bartender and ex @-@ baseball player . In this episode Sam arrives to Seattle to see his old friend Frasier , and then is introduced to Frasier 's family at a dinner in Frasier 's home . During the visit , it 's discovered that Sam was to get married to a woman named Sheila , who previously had a one @-@ night stand with Frasier . Then Sam finds out about Sheila 's dalliance with other men rather than with Frasier , much to Frasier 's relief , which ends Sam 's relationship with her . Danson 's appearance in this episode has received mixed reviews , and the positive highlight about it is his interaction with the cast of Frasier . = = Plot = = = = = Act One = = = Bartender and ex @-@ baseball player Sam Malone ( Ted Danson ) from Cheers arrives in Seattle to see his psychiatrist friend Frasier Crane at the KACL @-@ FM radio station , and then Frasier becomes very happy and overjoyed by his arrival . According to Sam , after the 1993 Cheers finale , " One for the Road " , lives have changed since Frasier left Boston . Former bar manager of Cheers , Rebecca Howe , was dumped by her plumber husband Don Santry , who became rich after a successful plumbing invention , and then she settled her life back into the bar without intent to work there again . Bartender Woody Boyd and his wife , Kelly Gaines @-@ Boyd , have a son , who is smarter than his parents . A bar regular patron and postman Cliff Clavin still lives with his mother , stops attending the bar , and has not left home after he read information about a flesh @-@ eating bacteria . = = = " Martin Rises from the Dead " = = = Then Frasier brings Sam home for dinner and introduces him to his family : his father Martin ( John Mahoney ) who is an ex @-@ cop and a baseball fan of Sam Malone , his brother Niles ( David Hyde Pierce ) who is also a psychiatrist , and his housekeeper Daphne Moon ( Jane Leeves ) . During the family introduction , Sam explains that , as mentioned in Cheers , Frasier 's father was supposed to be a dead scientist and that Frasier is supposed to be the only child , much to dismay of Frasier 's family . Frasier explains the inconsistency , indicating that he had an argument with Martin , which motivated him into making up the " dead scientist father " story . Then Daphne becomes charmed by Sam 's flirts on her , as well , which enrages Niles , who has a secret crush on Daphne . Frasier tells Niles that Sam has a sexual addiction and assures Niles that Sam still attends group meetings of sexual addicts , recommended by Frasier in the Cheers episode " The Guy Can 't Help It " ( 1993 ) . Meanwhile , Sam and Martin enjoy their conversation together , and Frasier learns that Sam was supposed to marry a woman named Sheila " yesterday " . After joyous family gathering , with Frasier and Sam alone in the living room , Sam confesses to Frasier that he has a relationship with Sheila for six months and that Sam left her at the wedding altar . Frasier assures Sam that Sam has wedding jitters and that Sam is ready to leave his old empty sex life behind in favor of a committed relationship . Frasier advises him to continue this relationship and to be always honest to her , especially about leaving her at the altar . = = = " A Dirty Little Secret " = = = At the café , Sam introduces his fiancée Sheila ( Téa Leoni ) to Frasier . After short conversation , Frasier realizes that Sheila is the woman with whom he slept three months ago . Then Frasier goes to the hotel room , at where she and Sam are staying . Sheila explains that she is also a sex addict , like Sam , and that Sam and she met for the first time at one of group meetings of sexual addicts . Frasier begs her not to tell Sam about their short @-@ time affair . Suddenly , Sam arrives into the room and then , in order to be honest to her , confesses to Sheila that , at the day of their engagement , Sam slept with another woman twice . Then Sheila confesses that she slept with other two regular patrons : Paul ( " short , bald , fat " ) and then Cliff Clavin . Though he forgives her dalliance with Paul , Sam is disgusted to learn about Cliff and breaks off his relationship with Sheila . ( When she turns to Frasier for help , he is equally disgusted about Cliff . ) At Frasier 's car , Sam , at Frasier 's relief and hesistance to confess , still does not find out about his fling with Sheila , yet Sam is bothered that Cliff and she made a fling together , and is relieved to go back to Boston . Frasier assures Sam that Sam has proven himself to be competent for a " meaningful " committed relationship , even if Sheila is " not the one " . However , Frasier begins to frown by Sam 's plans to pursue a cocktail waitress at an airport bar . = = Reception = = This episode originally aired on NBC on Tuesday , February 21 , 1995 , at 9 : 00 pm ( Eastern ) / 8 : 00 pm ( Central ) as part of the February ratings sweep , rivaling against ABC 's Home Improvement , CBS 's television movie Falling for You , and Fox 's broadcast of the 1992 film Housesitter , and landed on No. 6 with an 18 @.@ 8 rating and a 27 share . Mike Drew from Milwaukee Journal Sentinel rated this episode three and a half stars out of four and praised Cheers character Sam Malone 's guest appearance in this episode , even if he disdained Sam 's sexual escapades . John Martin , a syndicate writer from The New York Times , found Sam 's interaction with characters of Frasier brilliant , especially Daphne Moon . Ginny Holbert from Chicago Sun @-@ Times rated this episode , three and a half stars out of four , as well , and called it a must for Cheers fans and trivia buffs who wanted inconsistencies of Frasier 's family background " [ cleared ] up " . Dusty Saunders from Rocky Mountain News was marveled by the comparison between " the macho Sam and the unathletic Niles " and presented blend of " the macho , rakish spirit of Cheers and the neurotic , off @-@ the @-@ wall style of Frasier . " Rick Kushman from The Sacramento Bee praised a reunion between two friends , Sam Malone and Frasier Crane , even when they are different from each other . On the other hand , Donna Callea from The Daytona Beach News @-@ Journal found this episode disappointing , called Ted Danson 's guest reprisal as Sam Malone a ratings ploy , considered Danson 's performance apathetic and uncomforting , and saw a reunion between Sam and Frasier Crane not well @-@ executed . Frazier Moore from The Associated Press called Sam 's appearance a ratings ploy , as well , but a must @-@ see for a Cheers fan and any other viewer who lacks interest on the show Frasier . Elaine Liner from Corpus Christi Caller @-@ Times found Sam Malone " sheepish " in this episode . Scott D. Pierce from Deseret News found this episode not as good as previous Frasier episodes that featured Frasier 's ex @-@ wife , Lilith Sternin ( Bebe Neuwirth ) , Sam " old and [ tiring ] " in Frasier , and Danson 's performance " lethargic " , but Sam D. Pierce found some of its moments funny , especially from " fresh " Niles . Reviews from Frasier Online , a fan dedication website for the show Frasier , were mixed . Some liked Sam 's interaction with Frasier 's family but found a romantic story and its scenes between Ted Danson and Téa Leoni poorly executed . One found Cheers references not suitable for viewers not familiar with the show 's predecessor Cheers , especially ones used for humor .
= L.A. Takedown = L.A. Takedown , also called L.A. Crimewave and Made in L.A. , is a 1989 crime thriller . Originally filmed as an unsuccessful pilot for an NBC television series , it was reworked and aired as a stand @-@ alone TV film . The film was later released on VHS and , in Region 2 , on DVD . L.A. Takedown was written and directed by Michael Mann and its ensemble cast includes Scott Plank , Alex McArthur , Michael Rooker , Daniel Baldwin , and Xander Berkeley . Scott Plank starred as Vincent Hanna , a detective on the hunt for professional criminal Patrick McLaren , played by McArthur ; the story was based on the real @-@ life investigation of Chicago criminal Neil McCauley . The film is best known as the basis for the 1995 film Heat . The film was moderately well received in retrospective reviews , but remains overshadowed by its remake . = = Synopsis = = Los Angeles robbery @-@ homicide sergeant Vincent Hanna ( Plank ) is on the trail of a gang of ruthless professional criminals , led by the methodical Patrick McLaren ( McArthur ) , whose only mistake in the last heist was the killing of armored car guards by the new recruit , Waingro ( Berkeley ) , who is a loose cannon . But Hanna is soon surprised when he discovers that he and McLaren have quite a lot in common . While McLaren and his gang plan another heist , Hanna and his colleagues keep surveillance . Hanna is facing a personal problem , as the police work is straining his relationship with his wife , Lillian ( Pouget ) . Moreover , McLaren is also facing a similar problem when he finds himself falling in love with Eady ( Harrington ) , which he personally condemns due to the commitment required to his profession . Things then take a turn for the very worst , as McLaren unsuccessfully attempts to kill Waingro , who in turn betrays the team to the police . When Hanna arrives on the scene unexpectedly with the police , McLaren and his crew engage them in a mid @-@ street shootout , in which most of McLaren 's crew are killed . After making an unlikely escape , McLaren is presented with an opportunity to leave Los Angeles for a new life with Eady , but he decides to first take revenge for Waingro 's betrayal . However , after McLaren tracks down Waingro in a hotel room , he is ambushed by Hanna and his team . Waingro takes advantage of the confusion to shoot McLaren through a closed door . In retaliation for McLaren 's murder , Hanna kills Waingro . In the final sequences of the film , Hanna is reunited with his wife . = = Cast = = Scott Plank as Vincent Hanna , sergeant of detectives working for the Los Angeles Police Department Robbery @-@ Homicide division . Alex McArthur as Patrick McLaren , professional robber , head of his own gang of criminals . Michael Rooker as Detective Bosko , Hanna 's second @-@ in @-@ command . Ely Pouget as Lillian Hanna , Vincent Hanna 's estranged wife . Vincent Guastaferro as Michael Cerrito . Victor Rivers as Detective Arriaga . Richard Chaves as Detective Lou Casals . Laura Harrington as Eady , McLaren 's love interest . Peter Dobson as Chris Sheherlis . Xander Berkeley as Waingro , a new recruit to McLaren 's gang . Daniel Baldwin as Detective Bobby Schwartz . R. D. Call as Harry Dieter . Juan Fernández as Harvey Torena . Clarence Gilyard , Jr. as Mustafa Jackson . Cary @-@ Hiroyuki Tagawa as Hugh Benny . The majority of the main cast appeared as guest stars in episodes of one or both of Michael Mann 's two shows produced in the 1980s , Miami Vice and Crime Story . = = Background and production = = The origins of L.A. Takedown lay in real life . Michael Mann , the film 's producer and screenwriter , cited producer , screenwriter and Chicago ex @-@ police officer Chuck Adamson as an inspiration for the character of Vincent Hanna . Mann , who collaborated with Adamson on Miami Vice and Crime Story and several minor projects , was told of an investigation Adamson partook in . In 1963 , he was investigating Neil McCauley , a professional robber . According to Mann , " one day they simply bumped into one another . [ Adamson ] didn 't know what to do : arrest him , shoot him or have a cup of coffee . " Adamson later killed McCauley in a stand @-@ off after a failed robbery . In 1979 , Mann wrote an early 180 @-@ page draft for the screenplay . After making his first feature film , Thief , he re @-@ wrote the draft . In a 1983 interview , he mentioned he was planning to make a film based on the draft , and was looking for someone to direct it . He later offered the director position to Walter Hill , but Hill refused . In the late 1980s , NBC commissioned Mann to produce a new television series . Mann felt the draft would make a good pilot episode , but decided to set the story in Los Angeles , deeming the L. A. Robbery – Homicide Division a better basis for a TV show . He took the 180 @-@ page screenplay and edited out roughly 110 pages to make room for a 90 @-@ minute pilot . However , the new series was not picked up by the network . Instead , it was released as a television film entitled L.A. Takedown . The pilot was shot in nineteen days , with ten days of pre @-@ production , which was noted atypically fast for Mann . The film score was written by Tim Truman , and cinematography done by Ron Garcia . The soundtrack also featured the song " L.A. Woman " performed by Billy Idol . = = Release and reception = = Mann had cast Scott Plank in the role of Hanna , which was not well received by NBC . They expressed interest in buying the series on the condition of finding a new lead actor , but Mann refused , leading to NBC 's rejecting the show . The unsuccessful pilot was , however , aired as a television film on NBC on August 27 , 1989 at 9 : 00 pm . In 1990 , it was released on VHS in Finland , with several other European countries following in the early 1990s . On March 19 , 2008 , a DVD of the movie was released in Germany , featuring several scene selections as bonus content . L.A. Takedown received mixed @-@ to @-@ positive reviews from film critics , with its acting being the most poorly received . On its first airing , The Globe and Mail gave the film a two star rating . Hal Erickson of AllRovi compared the film to Mann 's cult TV series Miami Vice , but felt it emphasized style over substance . Dragan Antulov for Movie Reviews in Croatian ( Croatian : Filmske recenzije na hrvatskom ) , in comparing the film with its remake , Heat , praised Mann 's choice to hire unknown actors for L.A. Takedown , which contrasted with big stars in Heat . Although he derided Berkeley 's performance as Waingro , he concluded that it was " a fine companion piece to Heat . " A reviewer from Lexikon des Internationalen Films of Germany was less enthusiastic , citing routine action sequences and a confusing plot due to the overly large cast . Lol Frost of Empire gave L.A. Takedown two out of five stars , acknowledging the worthiness of the plot , but citing lack of Mann 's typical filming style . Frost concluded that the film was " a bit of a dud , but a noble effort . " = = Remake = = After directing The Last of the Mohicans , Mann decided to remake L.A. Takedown into a wide release cinema feature . He viewed the film as a dry run for the original story , which was a complex , multi @-@ layered crime drama axed for the television film . He consulted a longer 1986 draft to work on the remake . Having made L.A. Takedown , Mann felt he had a much better idea of how he wanted to structure the remake , saying : " I charted the film out like a 2 hr 45 min piece of music , so I 'd know where to be smooth , where not to be smooth , where to be staccato , where to use a pulse like a heartbeat . " On April 5 , 1994 , Mann was reported to have abandoned an earlier plan to produce a James Dean biographical film in favor of the L.A. Takedown remake , entitled Heat . Heat was made on a US $ 60 million budget with an all @-@ star cast , and released in 1995 . It featured Al Pacino as Vincent Hanna , Robert De Niro in the role of Patrick McLaren , now renamed Neil McCauley , Val Kilmer as Chris Shiherlis , Mykelti Williamson as Arriaga , now renamed Drucker , Diane Venora in the role of Lillian , now renamed Justine , and Ted Levine as Schwartz , now renamed Bosko . The film was met with critical acclaim and grossed US $ 187 million , becoming a financial success . Not only featuring a bigger budget and well @-@ known actors , Heat also had significant storyline differences compared to L.A. Takedown . Among other things , the remake included Chris Shiherlis ' gambling addiction , the subplot concerning Roger Van Zant and his attempt to double @-@ cross the crew ( in this film Waingro plots against the crew by himself ) , and Hanna 's troubled stepdaughter — plot elements not present in the original film . Because of this , Heat runs nearly twice the length of L.A. Takedown . Nowadays , L.A. Takedown is best known for being the basis of Heat , and is often compared to it in an unfavorable light .
= German destroyer Z7 Hermann Schoemann = Z7 Hermann Schoemann was a Type 1934A @-@ class destroyer built for Nazi Germany 's Kriegsmarine in the mid @-@ 1930s . The ship was plagued by machinery problems for most of her life and was under repair when World War 2 began in September 1939 . She covered her sister ships over the next few months as they laid offensive minefields in English waters in late 1939 – early 1940 . Hermann Schoemann played a minor role in the Norwegian Campaign as engine problems limited her availability throughout 1940 and for most of 1941 . She was transferred to France in early 1942 to escort two battleships and a heavy cruiser home to Germany through the English Channel in the Channel Dash . The ship was then transferred to Norway where she participated in Operation Sportpalast ( Sports Palace ) , an unsuccessful attempt to intercept Convoy QP 8 returning from Russia . Another unsuccessful intercept was made in early April before the Germans were successful with Convoy QP 11 at the end of the month . The convoy 's escorts conducted a skillful defense and prevented Hermann Schoemann and the other two destroyers from sinking more than a single Soviet freighter . The German commander broke off the action in the hopes of locating the crippled light cruiser HMS Edinburgh . They found the cruiser and her escorting destroyers on 2 May ; Edinburgh disabled Hermann Schoemann before she could fire any torpedoes and her captain was forced to scuttle her shortly afterwards . The destroyer had 8 men killed and 45 wounded in the engagement . = = Design and description = = Hermann Schoemann had an overall length of 119 meters ( 390 ft 5 in ) and was 114 meters ( 374 ft 0 in ) long at the waterline . The ship had a beam of 11 @.@ 30 meters ( 37 ft 1 in ) , and a maximum draft of 4 @.@ 23 meters ( 13 ft 11 in ) . She displaced 2 @,@ 171 long tons ( 2 @,@ 206 t ) at standard load and 3 @,@ 110 long tons ( 3 @,@ 160 t ) at deep load . The two Wagner geared steam turbine sets , each driving one propeller shaft , were designed to produce 70 @,@ 000 PS ( 51 @,@ 000 kW ; 69 @,@ 000 shp ) using steam provided by six high @-@ pressure Wagner boilers . The ship had a designed speed of 36 knots ( 67 km / h ; 41 mph ) and she reached a maximum speed of 36 @.@ 8 knots from 66 @,@ 000 shp ( 49 @,@ 000 kW ) while testing various propellers . Hermann Schoemann carried a maximum of 752 metric tons ( 740 long tons ) of fuel oil which was intended to give a range of 4 @,@ 400 nautical miles ( 8 @,@ 100 km ; 5 @,@ 100 mi ) at a speed of 19 knots ( 35 km / h ; 22 mph ) , but the ship proved top @-@ heavy in service and 30 % of the fuel had to be retained as ballast low in the ship . The effective range proved to be only 1 @,@ 530 nmi ( 2 @,@ 830 km ; 1 @,@ 760 mi ) at 19 knots . The crew numbered 10 officers and 315 enlisted men , plus an additional four officers and 19 enlisted men if serving as a flotilla flagship . The ship carried five 12 @.@ 7 @-@ centimeter ( 5 in ) SK C / 34 guns in single mounts with gun shields , two each superimposed , fore and aft . The fifth gun was carried on top of the aft superstructure . Her anti @-@ aircraft armament consisted of four 3 @.@ 7 @-@ centimeter ( 1 @.@ 5 in ) SK C / 30 guns in two twin mounts abreast the rear funnel and six 2 @-@ centimeter ( 0 @.@ 8 in ) C / 30 guns in single mounts . Hermann Schoemann carried eight above @-@ water 53 @.@ 3 @-@ centimeter ( 21 @.@ 0 in ) torpedo tubes in two power @-@ operated mounts . A pair of reload torpedoes were provided for each mount . Four depth charge throwers were mounted on the sides of the rear deckhouse and they were supplemented by six racks for individual depth charges on the sides of the stern . Enough depth charges were carried for either two or four patterns of 16 charges each . Mine rails could be fitted on the rear deck that had a maximum capacity of 60 mines . A system of passive hydrophones designated as ' GHG ' ( Gruppenhorchgerät ) was fitted to detect submarines and the S @-@ Gerät active sonar system was scheduled to be installed during March 1940 . = = Construction and career = = Z7 Hermann Schoemann , named after Lieutenant ( Kapitänleutnant ) Hermann Schoemann , was ordered on 9 January 1935 and laid down at DeSchiMAG , Bremen on 7 September 1935 as yard number W901 . She was launched on 16 July 1936 and completed on 9 September 1937 under the command of Lieutenant Commander ( Korvettenkapitän ) Erich Schulte Mönting . The ship participated in the late 1937 naval maneuvers as part of the 2nd Destroyer Division ( 2 . Zerstörer @-@ Division ) . Hermann Schoemann hosted Adolf Hitler and his retinue for a short cruise from Kiel to Eckernförde in July 1938 and participated in the August Fleet Review and the following fleet exercise . Korvettenkapitän Theodor Detmers relieved Schulte @-@ Mönting in October . The division accompanied the heavy cruiser Admiral Graf Spee on her voyage to the Mediterranean in October where they visited Vigo , Tangiers , and Ceuta before returning home . The destroyer had a lengthy refit at Wilhelmshaven from February 1939 to October . Hermann Schoemann patrolled the Skagerrak to inspect neutral shipping for contraband goods in October . The ship attempted to lay a minefield off the British coast on the night of 12 / 13 November , with two of her sisters , but had to turn back after she and Z6 Theodor Riedel suffered machinery breakdowns . She made another attempt on the night of 18 December to mine the Humber estuary , together with two other destroyers , but the German ships had to abandon the sortie when they could not pinpoint their location with the required degree of precision . While patrolling in the Jade estuary on 23 December , she collided with her sister Z15 Erich Steinbrinck in a heavy fog . Hermann Schoemann covered minelaying sorties in January and February 1940 , but spent most of March under repair for machinery problems . The ship was allocated to Group 2 for the Norwegian portion of Operation Weserübung . The group 's task was to transport the 138th Mountain Infantry Regiment ( 138 . Gebirgsjäger Regiment ) of the 3rd Mountain Division to seize Trondheim together with Admiral Hipper , but her machinery broke down again before the troops were loaded and she was replaced by Friedrich Eckoldt . As part of the post @-@ Narvik reorganization of the Kriegsmarine 's destroyer forces , Hermann Schoemann was assigned to the 6th Destroyer Flotilla ( 6 . Zerstörer Flotille ) . In June the flotilla was tasked to escort the battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau , as well as the heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper in Operation Juno , a planned attack on Harstad , Norway , to relieve pressure on the German garrison at Narvik . The ships sortied on 8 June and sank the troop transport Orama , the oil tanker Oil Pioneer and the minesweeping trawler Juniper en route . The German commander , Admiral Wilhelm Marschall , then ordered the Admiral Hipper and all four destroyers to Trondheim because of the heavy weather , where they arrived in the morning of 9 June . The two battleships continued the sortie and sank the aircraft carrier Glorious and her two escorting destroyers , although Scharnhorst was badly damaged by a torpedo from the destroyer Acasta in the engagement . The battleship was escorted home by the destroyers Steinbrinck , Z10 Hans Lody and Hermann Schoemann for repairs . On 25 June , Hermann Schoemann began a lengthy refit that lasted until 15 February 1941 , although her machinery continued to be problematic . = = = 1942 = = = She was declared operational in June and transferred to Kirkenes , Norway , the following month . However , continued machinery problems forced her return to Germany in August and repairs that lasted until January 1942 . Now assigned to the 5 . Zerstörer Flotille , Hermann Schoemann sailed from Kiel on 24 January for France as part of the preparations for the Channel Dash . On the evening of 25 January , Z8 Bruno Heinemann struck two mines laid by HMS Plover off the Belgian coast and sank . The survivors were put ashore at Le Havre before the flotilla reached Brest on the 26th . The German ships departed on the evening of 11 February and the nighttime and morning portion of the transit through the English Channel was uneventful . In the afternoon , however , Hermann Schoemann twice drove off British Motor Torpedo Boats , together with her sister Z14 Friedrich Ihn . British aircraft began to make their presence know with repeated attacks on the German ships . Hermann Schoemann was undamaged by British aircraft , but was repeatedly struck in the stern by 20 mm cannon shells from the defending German fighters . Later that afternoon , Vice Admiral ( Vizeadmiral ) Otto Ciliax , commander of the battleship flotilla , was transferred to the ship after his temporary flagship , the destroyer Z29 , was disabled by a premature detonation in one of her guns that sent shrapnel into the machinery spaces . Shortly afterwards , Hermann Schoemann joined four other destroyers in escorting the heavy cruisers Prinz Eugen and Admiral Scheer to Trondheim . Heavy weather forced three of the destroyers to return to port before reaching Trondheim and Prinz Eugen was torpedoed and badly damaged by the submarine HMS Trident on 23 February after their separation . On 6 March , the battleship Tirpitz , escorted by Hermann Schoemann and three other destroyers , sortied from Trondheim to attack the returning convoy QP 8 and the Russia @-@ bound PQ 12 as part of Operation Sportpalast . The following morning , Ciliax ordered the destroyers to search independently for Allied ships and they stumbled across the 2 @,@ 815 @-@ gross register ton ( GRT ) Soviet freighter Ijora , a straggler from QP 8 , later that afternoon and sank her . Tirpitz rejoined them shortly afterwards and they continued to fruitlessly search for Allied shipping until they sailed for the Vestfjorden on the 9th . On 9 April , the ship was transferred to the 8 . Zerstorer Flotille in Kirkenes . Together with the destroyers Z24 and Z25 , Hermann Schoemann sortied to intercept Convoy QP 14 two days later , but failed to locate any Allied ships in heavy snow and low visibility . The trio sortied again on 30 April to intercept the westbound Convoy QP 11 and the crippled light cruiser HMS Edinburgh , torpedoed earlier by the German submarine U @-@ 456 . They found the convoy the next day , but they only managed to sink a Soviet 2 @,@ 847 @-@ GRT freighter as the convoy 's four escorting destroyers repeatedly rebuffed attempts to reach the convoy 's ships . Despite a significant firepower advantage , the Germans only moderately damaged HMS Amazon in the day 's engagements . Captain ( Kapitän zur See ) Alfred Schulze @-@ Hinrichs , commander of the flotilla , broke off the battle in the late afternoon and decided to search for the cruiser , his original objective . They found Edinburgh and her escorts on the morning of 2 May and closed to attack with torpedoes . The cruiser opened fire first and disabled Hermann Schoemann with her second salvo with hits in both engine rooms . The destroyer turned away and dropped smoke floats to create a smoke screen behind which she could hide . The damage was too severe to return to base and , as the crew prepared to abandon ship , Hermann Schoemann was attacked by the British destroyers who hit her at least three more times . Z24 and Z25 took off about 223 survivors before the ship was scuttled by her crew at coordinates 72 ° 20 ′ N 35 ° 05 ′ E. Another 56 men were rescued by U @-@ 88 after the German destroyers broke off the engagement . During the battle 8 men were killed and another 45 wounded .
= Percy Shaw Jeffrey = Percy Shaw Jeffrey , FRGS ( 14 March 1862 Cheltenham , England – 22 February 1952 ) was a respected English schoolmaster and author of several books on a range of topics , including significant contributions towards the teaching of phonetics in schools . Jeffrey taught at a variety of schools before spending sixteen years as headmaster at Colchester Royal Grammar School . With his wife , Alice , he retired first to South Africa , then to the town of Whitby , North Yorkshire , in 1916 , where he spent his time between numerous trips to countries around the world . = = Early life = = Percy Shaw Jeffrey grew up with his parents , Thomas Ashby Jeffrey , a chemist , and Mary Helen Jeffrey ( née Sparrow ) , in Cheltenham , Gloucestershire , and with his younger siblings Ada Constance , Russell Henry , Ethel Maude and Amy Louise . For three years from 1875 , he attended Trent College , Long Eaton , where he rose to become " Head of the School , proxime accessit [ runner up ] for the Duke of Devonshire 's Gold Medal , with first @-@ class honours in the Cambridge Local , third in the list in Latin and distinguished in French " . = = Early teaching career = = Whilst reading for a maths scholarship at the University of Marburg , he was offered the chance to work at Trent College , unofficially , as first the headmaster 's private secretary , and then as a teacher . Unfortunately , he was unable to win the Marburg scholarship in 1881 , and , left unemployed after the death of the Headmaster the year after , he took up a post as a junior master at Emanuel School , Wandsworth , soon after its move to new premises . On 30 January 1884 , he matriculated into the University of Oxford as a member of The Queen 's College , where he completed a Bachelor of Arts in 1887 and was granted his MA in 1890 . He was disappointed to receive a degree with only third @-@ class honours , however , and was advised to put any ambition of teaching on hold — advice which he did not follow . After a brief spell teaching at Christ 's College , Finchley , for six months during 1887 , Jeffrey became an assistant mathematics and science master at The Skinners ' School , Royal Tunbridge Wells , whilst simultaneously studying for an Inter Bachelor of Science , with first class honours . Whilst at Skinners ' he published words he had written for the school song , set to music by Cuthbert H. Cronk , which persist to the present day . Although it was not his initial intention , in 1893 he took up a post as private tutor to a student he had been coaching at The Skinners ' School and travelled to Florida with him . Upon his return and owing to a shortage of officers , a short diversion from his teaching duties during 1893 saw Shaw Jeffrey join the Volunteer battalion of the Royal West Kent Regiment . Unable to afford a new uniform ( then costing £ 80 ) , after a change in regiment apparel to a much more popular red @-@ with @-@ light @-@ blue colour scheme , he was forced to resign his commission later that year . In 1894 he took up another post , this time to become a holiday modern @-@ languages tutor ( a well paid position ) to the son of Sir Thomas and Lady Glen @-@ Coats , Thomas Glen @-@ Coats , later to compete at the 1908 Olympics . Putting his schoolmaster plans aside , he travelled with them to France , and the next year to Germany , where both enrolled at the University of Marburg . Once Glen @-@ Coats was " safely ... installed at Merton College , Oxford , " Shaw Jeffrey returned to the university to study for a Phil.Doc. , but , shortly before completing the degree in 1897 , he was persuaded by the Dean of Queen 's College to take up a position at Clifton College , Bristol . = = Headmaster at Colchester Royal Grammar School = = Having been an assistant master at the Clifton College for three years , he was offered a position as headmaster at a new school which was to be founded in Argentina by the educationalist Michael Ernest Sadler , but could not get the funding to travel there , instead he assumed the role of headmaster at Colchester Royal Grammar School ( known locally as CRGS ) . It is unclear exactly what date he can be said to have joined the school , because although agreement between the school and the governing legislature was reached in May 1899 , the process of finding a new headmaster went on under the guidance of an interim one . Certainly , his official term as headmaster started on 1 September 1900 and by the end of 1900 he had already made his mark on the school — achievements included the introduction of a new school song , " Carmen Colcestriense " , which used the same tune as , and a variation of the lyrics for , the school song of The Skinners ' School . He retired his post as headmaster in 1916 , but kept a lasting interest in the school . During his 16 @-@ year stay at CRGS , student numbers increased from 29 to 180 boys under his guidance , particularly through the introduction of day pupils . Shaw Jeffrey is also credited with the introduction of many changes at the school , including the introduction of purple blazers , the setting up of the Old Colcestrian Society for former boys ( and quite often honoured former masters ) , a preparatory school , a cadet corps , an orchestra , a bugle band and a series of school entertainments and theatrical performances , and the acquisition of several buildings on behalf of the school . He was a national pioneer of the teaching of modern European languages through phonetics , employed language teachers from Germany and France , and set up arrangements for foreign study during holidays . Whilst at CRGS he founded the school magazine , The Colcestrian , designed to relay information about the school to students , ex @-@ students and parents on a regular basis . This ran for over sixty consecutive years , and has recently been restarted in a similar style . Even after he left the school , he wrote into the magazine , adding his own memories , thoughts and opinions on articles of news published . He often signed himself off as " J " , " an abbreviation that was and is commonly used in reference to him " throughout his time at CRGS and as synonymous with the man himself that it could be used for an article about his death in the local newspaper . In recognition of his achievements at the school , a school house was named after him in 1950 . The change from School House to Shaw Jeffrey 's House completed a quartet that had featured three other notable headmasters of the school since Shaw Jeffrey himself introduced the four @-@ house system in 1908 . The house is still informally known by students as " J 's " . Another tribute , a painting of him by Frank Daniell , a Colchester artist , was presented to him on his retirement by the governors of CRGS and members of the Old Colcestrian Society and a replica was initially to be hung in the school hall ; . it was , however , the replica that was taken by Shaw Jeffrey and the original hung in the school , where it remains . = = Visits to Borley Rectory = = Jeffrey was the first known witness of what was later deemed to be paranormal activity at Borley Rectory . In 1885 he spent time at the rectory with his friend Henry " Harry " Bull with whom he was studying at Oxford , during which he experienced " lots of small adventures at the Rectory . Stones falling about , my boots found on top of the wardrobe , etc . " He also stated that he had seen the nun who was reputed to haunt the rectory several times and had often heard the ghostly coach during the night . In his view , however , the most striking of the phenomena , which he later recounted to the researcher and author on the subject Harry Price , was the loss of a French dictionary which was later thrown on the floor of his bedroom in the night . Price regarded Jeffrey 's testimonies as an " important contribution to the evidence for the early haunting of Borley Rectory " , and used them in many of the studies which made the rectory famous in 1937 . However , due to the time difference been events and their reporting over 50 years later , they have been challenged as unreliable . = = Publications = = Jeffrey was particularly at home with modern languages , having become fluent in both French and German in the 1890s , and lectured on the topic and how it should be taught – phonetically , in his opinion . Later on , he authored more works relating to education , including the Work and Progress Record Book ( Arnold ) and The Schools of England ( Ed . J. Burrow ) . He was also a contributor to the Argosy and other London periodicals , including the English Illustrated Magazine , Longmans and the Boy 's Own Paper . His first book , however , came with Useful Facts in Physiology ( Educational Supply Association ) in 1889 . Later , having settled down at CRGS , he used his spare time to publish Elementary German Words and Phrases for Red Cross Workers and Elementary French Words and Phrases for Red Cross Workers ( both Hachette ) in 1914 . They were endorsed by Queen Alexandra and spawned over 50 @,@ 000 copies . Over the course of his life he adapted and authored several foreign @-@ language works for English audiences , namely : The Study of Colloquial and Literary French , With notes on the present state of modern language teaching , etc . A joint work with his professor at the University of Marburg , Eduard Koschwitz ; Ausgewaelte Marchen ( Published 1902 , by Whittaker ) , an adaptation of a story from Ludwig Bechstein 's Deutsches Märchenbuch , with added introduction and notes . Au Pôle en ballon from the French original by Victor Patrice ; Poucinet . ( Conte finlandais ) from the French original by Édouard René and Lefebvre Laboulaye . Short passages for translation into French and German ( Oxford University Press ) In 1923 he published another non @-@ fiction book , Whitby Lore and Legend , having retired to Whitby via South Africa . A Schoolmaster 's Apologia : Memories of Eighty Years was his collection of memoirs , published by Abbey Press , Whitby , in 1948 . His time at CRGS is documented in his 1948 collaboration , Some Chapters in the History of the Royal Grammar School Colchester , with the one time Mayor of Colchester , Sir William Gurney Benham , who was a personal friend of Jeffrey and first president of the Old Colcestrian Society . After retirement , Jeffrey could also give time to his love of travelling , and authored a number of related titles . Round the World with an Empress and Round the world with the ' Empress of Britain ' ( both Ed . J. Burrow ) were accounts of the trips he made while lecturing on board the liners of Canadian Pacific Railway during the British winter ; a series dubbed The Little Travel Books ( Horne ) documented others of his travels , and grew out of articles he wrote for the Whitby Gazette . They included : Black and White in South Africa Sunshine on the Waters ( Australia and New Zealand ) Eastward to the Cape . Sidelights @-@ South African Roundabout . Third Time Lucky ( South Africa ) . Columbus Calling ( West Indies ) . A selection of these books he later sent to Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret , who were said to have enjoyed them . = = Later life and death = = On 13 August 1901 , only shortly after becoming headmaster at CRGS , Jeffrey married his wife Alice , whom he had met on a Mediterranean cruise , and who stayed at the school throughout his time there . On his retirement , they moved to South Africa , where he did " valuable works on the Press for the Allied cause " . From 1914 onwards they also had possession of Whitby 's Bagdale Old Hall , built in 1530 , as a residence , and eventually took residence there on his return from South Africa , though they were often away travelling . Despite retirement from any sort of career , Shaw Jeffrey maintained that he " had no intention of leading an idle life " and was variously an inspector and examiner for both the University of Cambridge and the University of London and an assessor for all of Cambridge 's French papers for five years after the introduction of the higher certificate . He was also an occasional inspector in modern languages for the Board of Education and deputised as professor of French at the University of Durham while the professor himself was incapacitated due to illness . He was an assessor of all modern language papers set at Durham for five years . He continued to fill in positions inspecting in Spanish and Italian , despite only having learned the languages during his travels . Although he spent barely 10 or 12 weeks in any one year in Whitby , he was still attached to it . Shortly before his death he published A Haunt of Ancient Peace , a history of Bagdale Old Hall ( with Sir D 'Arcy Power , KBE ) , and also made several large donations : £ 3000 to Whitby Parish Church , £ 2000 to the museum and £ 500 to the Whitby Literary and Philosophy Society . Jeffrey died on 22 February 1952 , leaving Alice as a widow . The couple had just celebrated their golden wedding anniversary , a fact reported in the Essex County Standard , along with a short obituary , and an overview of the latest Old Colcestrian annual meeting ( held only a day after his death ) , at which a variety of tributes had been paid . The article describes him as " one of Colchester 's most famous headmasters " and one with " tons of personality " . His death was particularly poignant for members of CRGS , for it came two days before a World War Two war memorial , for which he and his wife had contributed the majority of the money , was to be unveiled and dedicated . On her death , his wife left their house in Whitby to the Whitby Literary and Philosophy Society , though efforts to turn it into a museum were ultimately unsuccessful .
= Paranoid ( Ty Dolla Sign song ) = " Paranoid " is a song by American rapper Ty Dolla $ ign , released on September 10 , 2013 , as the first single from his debut EP , Beach House EP ( 2014 ) . The song , produced by DJ Mustard , features a guest appearance from B.o.B. The song was written by Tyrone Griffin , Bobby Simmons and Dijon McFarlane . " Paranoid " is a hip hop song that lyrically describes being in fear of getting caught cheating . " Paranoid " received overall favorable reviews from music critics . The song peaked at number 29 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and reached number nine on the US Billboard Hot R & B / Hip @-@ Hop Songs chart . An accompanying music video premiered through Revolt and YouTube on October 22 , 2013 that features both Ty and B.o.B being tortured by their girlfriends . = = Development and release = = " Paranoid " is a hip hop song backed by a synthesizer @-@ driven production created by DJ Mustard . The song was originally recorded by Ty Dolla Sign and his frequent collaborator Joe Moses , and it was included on DJ Mustard 's Ketchup mixtape . It was then released again on Ty 's July 2013 mixtape , Beach House 2 . Then , when the song was officially released and pushed as a single later in the year , Moses ' verse had been replaced by Ty 's Atlantic Records label @-@ mate B.o.B .. It was rumored that Moses had been replaced by B.o.B due to Moses ' comments in his verse about T.I. ' s wife Tameka Cottle , however Ty denied the rumor and deemed it " hilarious . " On the song , Ty croons about him juggling a relationship between two different women , and being worried about one of them finding out about the other . Overall , the two artists detail multiple girls attempting to catch them in the act cheating , causing them to be on edge . The song premiered on Rap Radar on August 28 , 2013 , where it was announced that it would be released as a single on September 10 , 2013 . As promised , on September 10 , 2013 , the song was released for digital download as the first single from Ty 's debut EP Beach House EP on Amazon.com. On December 15 , 2013 , Ty performed the song during Power 106 's Cali Christmas and was backed by DJ Mustard on the turntables as he performed . On December 17 , 2013 , Ty performed the song for the first time on national television on DJ Skee 's Skee Live via AXS TV . He was accompanied by Joe Moses who performed his verse on the studio version of the song . On January 27 , 2014 , Ty performed " Paranoid " along with DJ Mustard on The Arsenio Hall Show . Then on March 15 , 2014 , Ty performed the song during Taylor Gang 's set at SXSW . On March 21 , 2014 , Ty performed " Paranoid " accompanied by The Roots on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon . The song 's official remix was also featured on the Beach House EP . It featured new guest appearances by Trey Songz , French Montana and DJ Mustard . On January 13 , 2014 , the remix premiered via SoundCloud and on the following day , it was released to iTunes . The remix was serviced to mainstream urban radio in the United States on February 12 , 2014 . = = Reception = = " Paranoid " was met with generally positive reviews from music critics . Vibe referred to the song as Ty 's introduction to the masses and said he " has a hit on his hands . " Christopher Weingarten of Rolling Stone said , it features " frank lines delivered with Casanova charm and a thin layer of computer love . " Matt Aceto of HotNewHipHop called it one of the better songs on the tape , giving credit to the chorus and Joe Moses ' verse . Chris Jenkins of Pitchfork Media praised Joe Moses ' verse on the original song , but he called B.o.B 's a " tryhard verse . " Overall , he said the song 's economy is its greatest strength . Grant Jones of RapReviews credited Trey Songz for upstaging Ty and called French Montana 's verse on the remix " entertaining " but found Ty 's performance on the song to be " an age @-@ old example of limited ability . " In February 2014 , Complex named it the fourth best song that DJ Mustard had produced . " Paranoid " debuted at number 97 on US Billboard Hot 100 for the week of January 4 , 2014 . Ten weeks later , it peaked at number 29 and spent a total of twenty weeks on the chart . It peaked at number nine on the Hot R & B / Hip @-@ Hop Songs chart . On November 19 , 2015 , " Paranoid " was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America ( RIAA ) , denoting sales of over 1 @,@ 000 @,@ 000 units in the country . = = Music video = = On October 22 , 2013 , the Ethan Lader @-@ directed music video premiered via rap mogul Diddy 's television network Revolt . The video shows an overly intoxicated Ty Dolla Sign and B.o.B drugged with paranoia about their various women . Ty is hunted down by his two female lovers when they discover that he has been cheating on them . They team up to get revenge , chasing him through the streets and attacking him at home . By the end of the night , Ty finds himself bleeding out on the middle of his kitchen floor , from a stab wound courtesy of his two lovers . Meanwhile , B.o.B suffers a similar fate via a drugged drink given to him by a seductive , promiscuous woman . Ty 's body is then taken away in the trunk of a car . = = Chart performance = = = = Certifications = = = = Release history = =
= The Documentary = The Documentary is the debut studio album by American rapper The Game . It was released on January 18 , 2005 , by Aftermath Entertainment , G @-@ Unit Records and Interscope Records . It serves as his major @-@ label debut , preceded by the release of his independently @-@ released debut , Untold Story ( 2004 ) . In 2001 , after The Game recovered from a shooting , he began to embark his rap career . He was then discovered by Dr. Dre ( who signed him to his Aftermath Entertainment label ) . The album includes the production from high @-@ profile producers such as Dr. Dre , Kanye West , Scott Storch and Timbaland , among others . The album features guest appearances from 50 Cent , Eminem , Nate Dogg and Faith Evans , among others . This would be The Game 's only album on Aftermath and G @-@ Unit Records , as he left the label after a feud began to occurred between him and fellow G @-@ Unit label @-@ mate 50 Cent . The Documentary debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 , selling 586 @,@ 000 units in the first week . In March 2005 , the Recording Industry Association of America certified the album two times platinum and it sold over five million copies worldwide . Upon its release , The Documentary received generally positive reviews , with critics praising the album 's production . Since the album 's release , The Game has been credited as a driving force in reviving the West Coast hip hop scene , which had been overshadowed by artists from the East , Midwest and South . It remains as The Game 's best @-@ selling album to date . On June 16 , 2014 , the sequel to the album was announced , called The Documentary 2 , and it was released on October 9 , 2015 and followed up shorty after by The Documentary 2 @.@ 5 . = = Recording = = After The Game signed with the G @-@ Unit . He completed the recording of his nine songs with a fellow American rapper 50 Cent in his home studio in Farmington , Connecticut . He then went back to Los Angeles , California to finish it up the album with Dr. Dre . While continuing the recording sessions for the album , he began working with a fellow rapper and record producer Kanye West on a song , where Kanye did the chorus . However , the song have been left on the cutting room floor . The Game also have been working on the album with his inspiration goals on reviving on what it would be like to be involved in this hip hop scene for the West Coast , which it has been overshadowed over the past few years by these artists between for the east coast to the south coast . In 2005 , in the interview with Vibe magazine , 50 Cent stated that he was brought in by the Interscope Records to work on the album , which he claimed that was on the verge of being shelved and The Game was being dropped from the label . However , in an interview with Funkmaster Flex , The Game said that his status was never uncertain nor he was close to being dropped . 50 Cent also claimed that he wrote six of The Documentary 's eighteen tracks — " Hate It or Love It " , " How We Do " , " Church for Thugs " , " Special " , " Higher " , and " Westside Story " — and was not receiving proper credit for his work . The Game denied those claims , saying that 50 Cent only helped him write two songs . = = Music = = = = = Lyrics = = = The Game recorded tracks based on his life experiences from his childhood to his success as a rapper . When asked about the album , he stated : I grew up in a boys home and I was taken away from my parents when I was like 8 years old ... Here I am , 24 . When my album drops I will be 25 so that 's 17 years I have been going through my struggle by myself . There are 17 tracks on my album and every track sheds light on a different situation I went through the last 17 years . The rapper commented on the album 's perception before its release , saying , " I know everybody was expecting gang @-@ bang , 40 @-@ ounce , low @-@ rider music , but that 's not what I gave them ... I 'm telling a real story , and maybe there are people out there who can relate to my experiences . " Rolling Stone observed that " every song has a well @-@ massaged hook and some immediate appeal , and verses that don 't waste a lot of time getting to the point . " = = = Production = = = The Documentary 's big budget production from high profile hip hop producers was well received from critics . The first half of the album contains " upbeat , gangsta boogie " tracks with the other half relegating " smoothed out R & B maneuvers " . At seven tracks , Dr. Dre co @-@ executive produced the album with his " stripped @-@ down cinematic " approach . " Westside Story " contains an " evil sounding piano plink " , " Dreams " has a " simultaneously smooth and eerie " beat , and " Hate It or Love It " unveils a " smoothed out R & B funk vibe " . " Higher " revolves around a pounding synth blast and " How We Do " contains syncopated hand claps with a beat described as " a hypnotic blast of sinister seduction powered by a deliciously primitive 808 pattern and a slinky synth . " " Don 't Need Your Love " samples Mary J. Blige 's " Not Gon Cry " and is one the album 's more soulful songs . " Church for Thugs " delivers a " sing @-@ song stylee over an accentuated sonic bed " and " Put You on the Game " is a club track containing " dark dirge [ s ] of synth " . Although " Start from Scratch " features R & B singer Marsha Ambrosius , the beat " eschews the traditional R & B vibes " for more " aural intimidation " . IGN called it " the most haunting inclusion on the album . " " The Documentary " features a " busy backing track " of " crashing symphonics and tinny flares of synth " , which one critic believed overshadowed the lyrics . " Runnin ' " is a " dark , Stygian tune augmented by tinges of R & B mellowness . " " No More Fun and Games " has a fast @-@ paced beat that takes inspiration from early 1990s production . " We Ain 't " , which samples Dr. Dre 's " The Watcher " , takes Eminem 's " chug laden synth gurgle " and is described as " one of the most menacingly catchy numbers on the entire album . " Nate Dogg features on two " smoothed out " tracks ; " Special " and the g @-@ funk @-@ inspired " Where I 'm From " . " Don 't Worry " is an R & B flavored track and despite its " minimal production " , one reviewer wrote the song " still hits hard . " The final track , " Like Father , Like Son " , is driven by a " melodramatic , string @-@ laden " beat . Originally , Brandy Norwood was supposed to be on " Don 't Worry " , but Jimmy Iovine did not want a gangsta rapper like The Game on a song with Brandy . = = = Title = = = The album 's title was initially called " Nigga Witta Attitude Vol . 1 " ( a reference to N.W.A ) , but was changed to " The Documentary " due to legal issues with an injunction filed at the request of Eazy @-@ E 's widow Tomica Woods @-@ Wright prevented him from using N.W.A 's name in the album title . = = Release and promotion = = The album was initially set for a late 2004 release , however , since the other high profile albums — including Eminem 's Encore — were to be released around the same time , it was pushed back to January 18 , 2005 . On September 28 , 2004 The Game released a promotional album entitled Westside Story through Aftermath Entertainment and G @-@ Unit Records . The album was used to promote his major @-@ label debut album , The Documentary . In October 2004 , The Game released his first independent album , titled Untold Story , through Get Low Recordz ( owned by JT the Bigga Figga ) . The album sold over 82 @,@ 000 copies within its first three months . The album featured artists such as Sean T , Young Noble ( of the Outlawz ) and JT the Bigga Figga . The Game also appeared on various mixtapes , which has been hosted by DJ 's such as DJ Kayslay , DJ Whoo Kid and DJ Clue ? . The Game also released a second mixtape You Know What It Is Vol . 2 through his own record label and appeared on the video game NBA Live 2004 on a song produced by Fredwreck called " Can 't Stop Me " . On November 15 , 2004 , The Game released a promotional mixtape , titled Charge It to the Game : The Mixtape , through Westside Records . The tape was also used to promote The Documentary . = = Singles = = " Westside Story " was the first official single to be released from The Documentary . The song features guest vocals from a fellow American rapper 50 Cent , with the production that was handled by Dr. Dre and Scott Storch . The single entered on the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 93 , charted at number 55 on the Hot R & B / Hip @-@ Hop Songs , and at number 29 on the Rhythmic Top 40 charts . Rolling Stone described it as " a kind of L.A. version of " In Da Club " with " a simple keyboard part , a spare 808 beat and strings that manage to sound both stressed @-@ out and catchy . " The Game has stated that this song is a tribute to Tupac Shakur , with a direct reference to him , saying " I got California love fuckin bitches to that Pac shit . " The Game also makes references to Tupac 's songs , California Love and Against All Odds . Other references includes , Nate Dogg , Tha Dogg Pound ( D.P.G. ) and their song New York , Westside Connection , Michael Jackson and his album Thriller , DJ Pooh , Kool G Rap . There is a remix featuring Snoop Dogg singing the hook and a version with both Snoop Dogg and 50 Cent on it . " How We Do " was the second official single to be released from The Documentary . The song features guest vocals from a fellow American rapper 50 Cent , with the production that was handled by Dr. Dre and Mike Elizondo . The single entered on the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 4 , and stayed for over four weeks . The single also charted at number 2 on the Hot R & B / Hip @-@ Hop Songs , at number 2 on the Hot Rap Tracks , at number one on the Rhythmic Top 40 , at number 3 on the Hot Digital Songs , at number 38 on the Latin Tropical Airplay , at number 11 on the Pop 100 , at number 14 on the Pop 100 Airplay , at number 14 on the Top 40 Mainstream , and at number 16 on the Top 40 Tracks charts . The single attained respectable international charting . In the United Kingdom the single entered on the UK Singles Chart at number 5 , in Germany the single entered on the German Singles Chart at number 9 , in the Republic of Ireland the single entered on the Irish Singles Chart at number 8 , and in Australia the single entered on the Australian Singles Chart at number 18 . The single was an instant hit with major air play . It was also moderately successful worldwide , reaching the top twenty in most countries . The music video was directed by Hype Williams " . The Recording Industry Association of America certified the single gold . " Hate It or Love It " was the third official single to be released from The Documentary . The song features guest vocals from a fellow American rapper 50 Cent , with the production that was handled by Cool & Dre . The single was the most popular single from the album . The single entered on the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 2 , charted at number one on the Hot R & B / Hip @-@ Hop Songs , at number one on the Hot Rap Tracks , at number 6 on the Hot Digital Songs , at number 39 on the Latin Tropical Airplay , at number 9 on the Pop 100 , at number 13 on the Pop 100 Airplay , at number one on the Rhythmic Top 40 , and at number 16 on the Top 40 Mainstream charts . The single attained respectable international charting . In the United Kingdom the single entered on the UK Singles Chart at number 4 , in Germany the single entered on the German Singles Chart at number 14 , in the Republic of Ireland the single entered on the Irish Singles Chart at number 5 , in Australia the single entered on the Australian Singles Chart at number 23 , and in Denmark the single entered the Danish Singles Chart at number 17 . The track uses a sample from the song " Rubber Band " performed by The Trammps on their album The Legendary Zing Album . At the 2006 Grammy Awards , it was nominated for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group and Best Rap Song . The music video , which was directed by the Saline Project , was nominated at the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards for Best Rap Video , but lost to Ludacris ' " Number One Spot " . The Recording Industry Association of America certified the single gold . " Dreams " was the fourth official single to be released from The Documentary . The single entered on the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 32 , charted at number 12 on the Hot R & B / Hip @-@ Hop Songs , at number 5 on the Hot Rap Tracks , at number 74 on the Hot Digital Songs , at number 62 on the Pop 100 , and at number 13 on the Rhythmic Top 40 . The single attained international charting . In the United Kingdom the single entered on the UK Singles Chart at number 8 , in Germany the single entered on the German Singles Chart at number 71 , in the Republic of Ireland the single entered on the Irish Singles Chart at number 11 , and in Australia the single entered on the Australian Singles Chart at number 42 . The song was produced by Kanye West . The track features a sample of " No Money Down " performed by Jerry Butler . Co @-@ Written by Jimmy " Henchmen " Rosemonds ' artist , " Beloved " . The song was dedicated to Yetunde Price who was shot dead in 2003 . One critic wrote The Game " sews together a soulful Martin Luther King Jr. type speech with the acerbic wit and hustler charm of Malcolm X. " Phillip Atwell directed the music video . The song is also known for having an incorrect lyric in ' I woke up from that coma 2001 , about the same time Dre dropped 2001 ' . This references the Dr. Dre album 2001 , actually released in 1999 . The song was placed 16th on about.com 's Best Hip @-@ Hop Songs of 2005 . And had singer Mýa Harrison in the music video . " Put You on the Game " was the fifth and final official single from The Documentary . The single was the lowest charting single from the album , reaching only at 96 on the Hot R & B / Hip @-@ Hop Singles & Tracks . The single attained respectable international charting . In the United Kingdom the single entered on the UK Singles Chart at number 46 , and in the Republic of Ireland the single entered on the Irish Singles Chart at number 22 . The single was produced by Timbaland and co @-@ produced by Danja . This was the first single released by The Game after his truce with 50 Cent fell apart and after The Game released You Know What It Is Vol . 3 . It was recently that a lawsuit has been filed from a Major India Record Company Saregama India , Timbaland , co @-@ producer Nate " Danja " Hills , The Game , Interscope Records , along with a few other Production companies are being sued for using an uncleared sample from artist . The music video features The Game with many appearances by his current and former Black Wall Street affiliates . The video shows various places in Los Angeles County ; including downtown to a Los Angeles , California and Compton , California . The music video showed these landmarks down at the Los Angeles such as Staples Center , The Watts Towers , and LAX . The Game refers to a number of artists , songs and albums in " Put You on The Game " ; including The Chronic , N.W.A , Makaveli , The Notorious B.I.G. , Public Enemy , Flavor Flav , G @-@ Unit , 50 Cent , Dr. Dre and his song " Let Me Ride " , Eve , and Snoop Dogg . During the DVD Stop Snitchin , Stop Lyin The Game watches the video for this song pausing at specific spots in the video which shows a dead man at on the ground blocked off by police tape . The Game then repeatedly states that he is wearing G @-@ Unit sneakers , a diss at 50 Cent saying his career is dead . Damon Johnson directed the music video . Entertainment Weekly called it a " club track so crunkalicious , it 's almost shocking that a California newbie — not a Ludacris — was the recipient of its deep @-@ fried Southern charms . " The song was placed 44th on about.com 's Best Hip @-@ Hop Songs of 2005 . = = Reception = = = = = Commercial performance = = = The Game is often credited as a driving force in bringing the West Coast hip hop scene back to recognition . Before its release , he expressed his desire to have high opening week sales , saying , " I want to sell a million albums in my first week . And if I only sell one album the following week , I 'm good . " He also admitted feeling nervous about not being able to live up to the industry expectations , saying , " Yeah , I 've got some butterflies . I 'm worried about my first @-@ week numbers , and I 'm worried about living up to the hype . " The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart , selling 586 @,@ 000 copies in the first week . The Recording Industry Association of America certified the album two times platinum on March 23 , 2005 , and it was the tenth best @-@ selling record of the year . The album has since sold over 2 @.@ 5 million units in the United States . The Documentary peaked at the top fifteen in most European charts it entered . It peaked at number seven on the UK Albums Chart and remained on the chart for thirty @-@ three weeks . It reached the top ten in the Netherlands , France , Ireland , Switzerland , and the top twenty in Belgium , Germany , and Norway . The album topped the Canadian Albums Chart for three weeks and on March 8 , 2005 , it was certified platinum with 1 @,@ 000 @,@ 000 units shipped . It has since sold over five million copies worldwide . = = = Critical response = = = Upon its release , The Documentary received generally positive reviews . On Metacritic , The Documentary received an aggregate score of 72 out of 100 based on 19 reviews . Pitchfork Media called it " the best West Coast street @-@ rap album since DJ Quik 's 2002 LP Under tha Influence " and described the production as " a rich , triumphant sonic tapestry " . Allmusic wrote the album was an " excellent debut " that " hints at a lot of potential " and observed the " most remarkable aspect of the Game is how he can be such a blatant product of gangsta rap ... and leave a mark so fast . " Rolling Stone noted The Game was " going for emotional impact rather than dazzling wordplay or laughs " and PopMatters described him as " a self @-@ conscious , malicious , nihilistic gangsta rapper with a heart and lyrical content " . On the other hand , Robert Christgau believed the album was " dull even when he isn 't describing his medical problems , this no @-@ talent is masscult rock at its most brazen " . The A.V. Club praised the production for being " a sonic classic of slow @-@ rolling G @-@ funk and glossy hyper @-@ soul " , but panned The Game for his name dropping , suggesting if he " cut all the references to rappers and albums ... it 'd be a good 15 to 20 minutes shorter — and probably a lot more compelling . " Billboard declared it " one of the best rap albums of the year " and Entertainment Weekly suggested " with the brightest hip @-@ hop stars aligning for him , the Game may have willed himself a popular masterpiece . " IGN criticized the large number of guest appearances , stating " the propensity of guest artists makes it hard to actually get a grasp on the rising star 's own voice . " MusicOMH observed " like many rap albums The Documentary is too long , but it maintains a high level of interest " and overall , it was " an impressive effort " that " introduces a strong presence to the West Coast " . Stylus Magazine wrote " no one disappoints " and despite the record being " so obviously and deeply grounded in marketing , it ’ s still an outstandingly solid and enjoyable " debut . The New York Times noted The Game 's " tough but straightforward rhyme style is appealing but not , usually , enthralling ... This is a rapper who almost never forgets himself , who almost never loses himself in syllables just for the fun of it . " The Village Voice criticized the rapper 's lyrical skills , saying , " the Game 's rhymes are about six degrees from totally artless " . Yahoo ! Music also panned the lyrics for " almost totally lacking in shock value , humour or insight " , but praised the production , writing that " musically , this is probably the greatest major label hip @-@ hop album of recent years – a near faultless succession of hi @-@ tech beats and ominously catchy hooks " . = = = Accolades = = = The album appeared on numerous music critics ' and publications ' end @-@ of @-@ year albums lists . Pitchfork Media placed the album at number 35 on their list of Top 50 Albums of 2005 . At the 48th Annual Grammy Awards , The Game was nominated with a total of two nominations , including Grammy Award for Best Rap Song and Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for the smash single " Hate It or Love It " . In 2012 Complex named the album one of the classic albums of the last decade . = = Track listing = = Sample credits Information taken from The Documentary 's liner notes . " Intro " contains a sample of " Down into the Magic " performed by Donald Kerr . " Dreams " contains a sample of " No Money Down " performed by Jerry Butler . " Hate It or Love It " contains a sample of " Rubberband " performed by The Trammps . " Don 't Need Your Love " contains a sample of " Not Gon Cry " performed by Mary J. Blige . " The Documentary " contains an audio excerpt from the 2003 's film Livin ' tha Life . " No More Fun and Games " contains a sample of " Gangsta , Gangsta " performed by N.W.A. " We Ain 't " contains a sample of " The Watcher " performed by Dr. Dre featuring Eminem , " One Day at a Time " performed by Tupac Shakur featuring Eminem and The Outlawz , and " Patiently Waiting " performed by 50 Cent featuring Eminem . " Where I 'm From " contains a sample of " Amanda " performed by Dionne Warwick . " Special " contains a sample of " Catherine Howard " performed by Rick Wakeman . " Like Father , Like Son " contains a sample of " Mariya " performed by The Family Circle . = = Personnel = = Credits for The Documentary adapted from Allmusic . = = Charts and certifications = = = = = Chart procession and succession = = =
= Battle of Cape Esperance = The Battle of Cape Esperance , also known as the Second Battle of Savo Island and , in Japanese sources , as the Sea Battle of Savo Island ( サボ島沖海戦 ) , took place on 11 – 12 October 1942 in the Pacific campaign of World War II between the Imperial Japanese Navy and United States Navy . The naval battle was the second of four major surface engagements during the Guadalcanal campaign and took place at the entrance to the strait between Savo Island and Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands . Cape Esperance ( 9 ° 15 ′ S 159 ° 42 ′ E ) is the northernmost point on Guadalcanal , and the battle took its name from this point . On the night of 11 October , Japanese naval forces in the Solomon Islands area — under the command of Vice Admiral Gunichi Mikawa — sent a major supply and reinforcement convoy to their forces on Guadalcanal . The convoy consisted of two seaplane tenders and six destroyers and was commanded by Rear Admiral Takatsugu Jojima . At the same time , but in a separate operation , three heavy cruisers and two destroyers — under the command of Rear Admiral Aritomo Gotō — were to bombard the Allied airfield on Guadalcanal ( called Henderson Field by the Allies ) with the object of destroying Allied aircraft and the airfield 's facilities . Shortly before midnight on 11 October , a U.S force of four cruisers and five destroyers — under the command of Rear Admiral Norman Scott — intercepted Gotō 's force as it approached Savo Island near Guadalcanal . Taking the Japanese by surprise , Scott 's warships sank one of Gotō 's cruisers and one of his destroyers , heavily damaged another cruiser , mortally wounded Gotō , and forced the rest of Gotō 's warships to abandon the bombardment mission and retreat . During the exchange of gunfire , one of Scott 's destroyers was sunk and one cruiser and another destroyer were heavily damaged . In the meantime , the Japanese supply convoy successfully completed unloading at Guadalcanal and began its return journey without being discovered by Scott 's force . Later on the morning of 12 October , four Japanese destroyers from the supply convoy turned back to assist Gotō 's retreating , damaged warships . Air attacks by U.S. aircraft from Henderson Field sank two of these destroyers later that day . As with the preceding naval engagements around Guadalcanal , the strategic outcome was inconsequential because neither the Japanese nor United States navies secured operational control of the waters around Guadalcanal as a result of this action . However , the Battle of Cape Esperance provided a significant morale boost to the US Navy after the disaster of Savo Island . = = Background = = On 7 August 1942 , Allied forces ( primarily U.S. ) landed on Guadalcanal , Tulagi , and Florida Islands in the Solomon Islands . The objective was to deny the islands to the Japanese as bases for threatening the supply routes between the U.S. and Australia , and secure starting points for a campaign to isolate the major Japanese base at Rabaul while also supporting the Allied New Guinea campaign . The Guadalcanal campaign would last six months . Taking the Japanese by surprise , by nightfall on 8 August , the Allied forces , mainly consisting of U.S. Marines , had secured Tulagi and nearby small islands , as well as an airfield under construction at Lunga Point on Guadalcanal ( later completed and named Henderson Field ) . Allied aircraft operating out of Henderson became known as the " Cactus Air Force " ( CAF ) after the Allied codename for Guadalcanal . In response , the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters assigned the Imperial Japanese Army 's 17th Army — a corps @-@ sized formation headquartered at Rabaul under Lieutenant @-@ General Harukichi Hyakutake — with the task of retaking Guadalcanal . On 19 August , various units of the 17th Army began to arrive on the island . Due to the threat of Allied aircraft , the Japanese were unable to use large , slow transport ships to deliver their troops and supplies to the island , and warships were used instead . These ships — mainly light cruisers or destroyers — were usually able to make the round trip down " The Slot " to Guadalcanal and back in a single night , thereby minimizing their exposure to air attacks . Delivering troops in this manner , however , prevented most of the heavy equipment and supplies , such as heavy artillery , vehicles , and much food and ammunition , from being delivered . In addition , they expended destroyers that were desperately needed for commerce defense . These high @-@ speed runs occurred throughout the campaign and were later called the " Tokyo Express " by the Allies and " Rat Transportation " by the Japanese . Due to the heavier concentration of Japanese surface combat vessels and their well positioned logistical base at Simpson Harbor , Rabaul , and their victory at the Battle of Savo Island in early August , the Japanese had established operational control over the waters around Guadalcanal at night . However , any Japanese ship remaining within range of American aircraft at Henderson field , during the daylight hours — about 200 mi ( 170 nmi ; 320 km ) — was in danger of damaging air attack . This persisted for the months of August and September 1942 . The presence of Admiral Scott 's task force at Cape Esperance represented the US Navy 's first major attempt to wrest night time operational control of waters around Guadalcanal away from the Japanese . The first attempt by the Japanese Army to recapture Henderson Field was on 21 August , in the Battle of the Tenaru , and the next , the Battle of Edson 's Ridge , from 12 – 14 September ; both failed . The Japanese set their next major attempt to recapture Henderson Field for 20 October and moved most of the 2nd and 38th Infantry Divisions , totalling 17 @,@ 500 troops , from the Dutch East Indies to Rabaul in preparation for delivering them to Guadalcanal . From 14 September @-@ 9 October , numerous Tokyo Express runs delivered troops from the Japanese 2nd Infantry Division as well as General Hyakutake to Guadalcanal . In addition to cruisers and destroyers , some of these runs included the seaplane carrier Nisshin , which delivered heavy equipment to the island including vehicles and heavy artillery other warships could not carry because of space limitations . The Japanese Navy promised to support the Army 's planned offensive by delivering the necessary troops , equipment , and supplies to the island , and by stepping up air attacks on Henderson Field and sending warships to bombard the airfield . In the meantime , Major General Millard F. Harmon — commander of United States Army forces in the South Pacific — convinced Vice Admiral Robert L. Ghormley — overall commander of Allied forces in the South Pacific — that the Marines on Guadalcanal needed to be reinforced immediately if the Allies were to successfully defend the island from the next expected Japanese offensive . Thus , on 8 October , the 2 @,@ 837 men of the 164th Infantry Regiment from the U.S. Army 's Americal Division boarded ships at New Caledonia for the trip to Guadalcanal with a projected arrival date of 13 October . To protect the transports carrying the 164th to Guadalcanal , Ghormley ordered Task Force 64 ( TF 64 ) , consisting of four cruisers ( San Francisco , Boise , Salt Lake City , and Helena ) and five destroyers ( Farenholt , Duncan , Buchanan , McCalla , and Laffey ) under U.S. Rear Admiral Norman Scott , to intercept and combat any Japanese ships approaching Guadalcanal and threatening the convoy . Scott conducted one night battle practice with his ships on 8 October , then took station south of Guadalcanal near Rennell Island on 9 October , to await word of any Japanese naval movement toward the southern Solomons . Continuing with preparations for the October offensive , Japanese Vice Admiral Gunichi Mikawa 's Eighth Fleet staff , headquartered at Rabaul , scheduled a large and important Tokyo Express supply run for the night of 11 October . Nisshin would be joined by the seaplane carrier Chitose to deliver 728 soldiers , four large howitzers , two field guns , one anti @-@ aircraft gun , and a large assortment of ammunition and other equipment from the Japanese naval bases in the Shortland Islands and at Buin , Bougainville , to Guadalcanal . Six destroyers , five of them carrying troops , would accompany Nisshin and Chitose . The supply convoy — called the " Reinforcement Group " by the Japanese — was under the command of Rear Admiral Takatsugu Jojima . At the same time but in a separate operation , the three heavy cruisers of Cruiser Division 6 ( CruDiv6 ) — Aoba , Kinugasa , and Furutaka , under the command of Rear Admiral Aritomo Gotō — were to bombard Henderson Field with special explosive shells with the object of destroying the CAF and the airfield 's facilities . Two screening destroyers — Fubuki and Hatsuyuki — accompanied CruDiv6 . Since U.S. Navy warships had yet to attempt to interdict any Tokyo Express missions to Guadalcanal , the Japanese were not expecting any opposition from U.S. naval surface forces that night . = = Battle = = = = = Prelude = = = At 08 : 00 on 11 October , Jojima 's reinforcement group departed the Shortland Islands anchorage to begin their 250 mi ( 220 nmi ; 400 km ) run down the Slot to Guadalcanal . The six destroyers that accompanied Nisshin and Chitose were Asagumo , Natsugumo , Yamagumo , Shirayuki , Murakumo , and Akizuki . Gotō departed the Shortland Islands for Guadalcanal at 14 : 00 the same day . To protect the reinforcement group 's approach to Guadalcanal from the CAF , the Japanese 11th Air Fleet , based at Rabaul , Kavieng , and Buin , planned two air strikes on Henderson Field for 11 October . A " fighter sweep " of 17 Mitsubishi A6M3 Zero fighters swept over Henderson Field just after mid @-@ day but failed to engage any U.S. aircraft . Forty @-@ five minutes later , the second wave — 45 Mitsubishi G4M2 " Betty " bombers and 30 Zeros — arrived over Henderson Field . In an ensuing air battle with the CAF , one G4M and two U.S. fighters were downed . Although the Japanese attacks failed to inflict significant damage , they did prevent CAF bombers from finding and attacking the reinforcement group . As the reinforcement group transited the Slot , relays of 11th Air Fleet Zeros from Buin provided escort . Emphasizing the importance of this convoy for Japanese plans , the last flight of the day was ordered to remain on station over the convoy until darkness , then ditch their aircraft and await pickup by the reinforcement group 's destroyers . All six Zeros ditched ; only one pilot was recovered . Allied reconnaissance aircraft sighted Jojima 's supply convoy 210 mi ( 180 nmi ; 340 km ) from Guadalcanal between Kolombangara and Choiseul in the Slot at 14 : 45 on the same day , and reported it as two " cruisers " and six destroyers . Gotō 's force — following the convoy — was not sighted . In response to the sighting of Jojima 's force , at 16 : 07 Scott turned toward Guadalcanal for an interception . Scott crafted a simple battle plan for the expected engagement . His ships would steam in column with his destroyers at the front and rear of his cruiser column , searching across a 300 degree arc with SG surface radar in an effort to gain positional advantage on the approaching enemy force . The destroyers were to illuminate any targets with searchlights and discharge torpedoes while the cruisers were to open fire at any available targets without awaiting orders . The cruiser 's float aircraft , launched in advance , were to find and illuminate the Japanese warships with flares . Although Helena and Boise carried the new , greatly improved SG radar , Scott chose San Francisco as his flagship . At 22 : 00 , as Scott 's ships neared Cape Hunter at the northwest end of Guadalcanal , three of Scott 's cruisers launched floatplanes . One crashed on takeoff , but the other two patrolled over Savo Island , Guadalcanal , and Ironbottom Sound . As the floatplanes were launched , Jojima 's force was just passing around the mountainous northwestern shoulder of Guadalcanal , and neither force sighted each other . At 22 : 20 , Jojima radioed Gotō and told him that no U.S. ships were in the vicinity . Although Jojima 's force later heard Scott 's floatplanes overhead while unloading along the north shore of Guadalcanal , they failed to report this to Gotō . At 22 : 33 , just after passing Cape Esperance , Scott 's ships assumed battle formation . The column was led by Farenholt , Duncan , and Laffey , and followed by San Francisco , Boise , Salt Lake City , and Helena . Buchanan and McCalla brought up the rear . The distance between each ship ranged from 500 to 700 yd ( 460 to 640 m ) . Visibility was poor because the moon had already set , leaving no ambient light and no visible sea horizon . Gotō 's force passed through several rain squalls as they approached Guadalcanal at 30 kn ( 35 mph ; 56 km / h ) . Gotō 's flagship Aoba led the Japanese cruisers in column , followed by Furutaka and Kinugasa . Fubuki was starboard of Aoba and Hatsuyuki to port . At 23 : 30 , Gotō 's ships emerged from the last rain squall and began appearing on the radar scopes of Helena and Salt Lake City . The Japanese , however , whose warships were not equipped with radar , remained unaware of Scott 's presence . = = = Action = = = At 23 : 00 , the San Francisco aircraft spotted Jojima 's force off Guadalcanal and reported it to Scott . Scott , believing that more Japanese ships were likely still on the way , continued his course towards the west side of Savo Island . At 23 : 33 , Scott ordered his column to turn towards the southwest to a heading of 230 ° . All of Scott 's ships understood the order as a column movement except Scott 's own ship , San Francisco . As the three lead U.S. destroyers executed the column movement , San Francisco turned simultaneously . Boise — following immediately behind — followed San Francisco , thereby throwing the three van destroyers out of formation . At 23 : 32 , Helena 's radar showed the Japanese warships to be about 27 @,@ 700 yd ( 25 @,@ 300 m ) away . At 23 : 35 , Boise 's and Duncan 's radars also detected Gotō 's ships . Between 23 : 42 and 23 : 44 , Helena and Boise reported their contacts to Scott on San Francisco who mistakenly believed that the two cruisers were actually tracking the three U.S. destroyers that were thrown out of formation during the column turn . Scott radioed Farenholt to ask if the destroyer was attempting to resume its station at the front of the column . Farenholt replied , " Affirmative , coming up on your starboard side , " further confirming Scott 's belief that the radar contacts were his own destroyers . At 23 : 45 , Farenholt and Laffey — still unaware of Gotō 's approaching warships — increased speed to resume their stations at the front of the U.S. column . Duncan 's crew , however , thinking that Farenholt and Laffey were commencing an attack on the Japanese warships , increased speed to launch a solitary torpedo attack on Gotō 's force without telling Scott what they were doing . San Francisco 's radar registered the Japanese ships , but Scott was not informed of the sighting . By 23 : 45 , Gotō 's ships were only 5 @,@ 000 yd ( 4 @,@ 600 m ) away from Scott 's formation and visible to Helena 's and Salt Lake City 's lookouts . The U.S. formation at this point was in position to cross the T of the Japanese formation , giving Scott 's ships a significant tactical advantage . At 23 : 46 , still assuming that Scott was aware of the rapidly approaching Japanese warships , Helena radioed for permission to open fire , using the general procedure request , " Interrogatory Roger " ( meaning , basically , " Are we clear to act ? " ) . Scott answered with , " Roger " , only meaning that the message was received , not that he was confirming the request to act . Upon receipt of Scott 's " Roger " , Helena — thinking they now had permission — opened fire , quickly followed by Boise , Salt Lake City , and to Scott 's further surprise , San Francisco . Gotō 's force was taken almost completely by surprise . At 23 : 43 , Aoba 's lookouts sighted Scott 's force , but Gotō assumed that they were Jojima 's ships . Two minutes later , Aoba 's lookouts identified the ships as American , but Gotō remained skeptical and directed his ships to flash identification signals . As Aoba 's crew executed Gotō 's order , the first American salvo smashed into Aoba 's superstructure . Aoba was quickly hit by up to 40 shells from Helena , Salt Lake City , San Francisco , Farenholt , and Laffey . The shell hits heavily damaged Aoba 's communications systems and demolished two of her main gun turrets as well as her main gun director . Several large @-@ caliber projectiles passed through Aoba 's flag bridge without exploding , but the force of their passage killed many men and mortally wounded Gotō . Scott — still unsure who his ships were firing at , and afraid that they might be firing on his own destroyers — ordered a ceasefire at 23 : 47 , although not every ship complied . Scott ordered Farenholt to flash her recognition signals and upon observing that Farenholt was close to his formation , he ordered the fire resumed at 23 : 51 . Aoba , continuing to receive damaging hits , turned to starboard to head away from Scott 's formation and began making a smoke screen which led most of the Americans to believe that she was sinking . Scott 's ships shifted their fire to Furutaka , which was following behind Aoba . At 23 : 49 , Furutaka was hit in her torpedo tubes , igniting a large fire that attracted even more shellfire from the US ships . At 23 : 58 , a torpedo from Buchanan hit Furutaka in her forward engine room , causing severe damage . During this time , San Francisco and Boise sighted Fubuki about 1 @,@ 400 yd ( 1 @,@ 300 m ) away and raked her with shellfire , joined soon by most of the rest of Scott 's formation . Heavily damaged , Fubuki began to sink . Kinugasa and Hatsuyuki chose turning to port rather than starboard and escaped the Americans ' immediate attention . During the exchange of gunfire , Farenholt received several damaging hits from both the Japanese and American ships , killing several men . She escaped from the crossfire by crossing ahead of San Francisco and passing to the disengaged side of Scott 's column . Duncan — still engaged in her solitary torpedo attack on the Japanese formation — was also hit by gunfire from both sides , set afire , and looped away in her own effort to escape the crossfire . As Gotō 's ships endeavored to escape , Scott 's ships tightened their formation and then turned to pursue the retreating Japanese warships . At 00 : 06 , two torpedoes from Kinugasa barely missed Boise . Boise and Salt Lake City turned on their searchlights to help target the Japanese ships , giving Kinugasa 's gunners clear targets . At 00 : 10 , two shells from Kinugasa exploded in Boise 's main ammunition magazine between turrets one and two . The resulting explosion killed almost 100 men and threatened to blow the ship apart . Seawater rushed in through rents in her hull opened by the explosion and helped quench the fire before it could explode the ship 's powder magazines . Boise immediately sheered out of the column and retreated from the action . Kinugasa and Salt Lake City exchanged fire with each other , each hitting the other several times , causing minor damage to Kinugasa and damaging one of Salt Lake City 's boilers , reducing her speed . At 00 : 16 , Scott ordered his ships to turn to a heading of 330 ° in an attempt to pursue the fleeing Japanese ships . Scott 's ships , however , quickly lost sight of Gotō 's ships , and all firing ceased by 00 : 20 . The American formation was beginning to scatter , so Scott ordered a turn to 205 ° to disengage . = = = Retreat = = = During the battle between Scott 's and Gotō 's ships , Jojima 's reinforcement group completed unloading at Guadalcanal and began its return journey unseen by Scott 's warships , using a route that passed south of the Russell Islands and New Georgia . Despite extensive damage , Aoba was able to join Kinugasa in retirement to the north through the Slot . Furutaka 's damage caused her to lose power around 00 : 50 , and she sank at 02 : 28 , 22 mi ( 19 nmi ; 35 km ) northwest of Savo Island . Hatsuyuki picked up Furutaka 's survivors and joined the retreat northward . Boise extinguished her fires by 02 : 40 and at 03 : 05 rejoined Scott 's formation . Duncan — on fire — was abandoned by her crew at 02 : 00 . Unaware of Duncan 's fate , Scott detached McCalla to search for her and retired with the rest of his ships towards Nouméa , arriving in the afternoon of 13 October . McCalla located the burning , abandoned Duncan about 03 : 00 , and several members of McCalla 's crew made an attempt to keep her from sinking . By 12 : 00 , however , they had to abandon the effort as interior bulkheads within Duncan collapsed causing the ship to finally sink 6 mi ( 5 @.@ 2 nmi ; 9 @.@ 7 km ) north of Savo Island . American servicemen in boats from Guadalcanal as well as McCalla picked up Duncan 's scattered survivors from the sea around Savo . In total , 195 Duncan sailors survived ; 48 did not . As they rescued Duncan 's crew , the Americans came across the more than 100 Fubuki survivors , floating in the same general area . The Japanese initially refused all rescue attempts but a day later allowed themselves to be picked up and taken prisoner . Jojima — learning of the bombardment force 's crisis — detached destroyers Shirayuki and Murakumo to assist Furutaka or her survivors and Asagumo and Natsugumo to rendezvous with Kinugasa , which had paused in her retreat northward to cover the withdrawal of Jojima 's ships . At 07 : 00 , five CAF Douglas SBD @-@ 3 Dauntless dive bombers attacked Kinugasa but inflicted no damage . At 08 : 20 , 11 more SBDs found and attacked Shirayuki and Murakumo . Although they scored no direct hits , a near miss caused Murakumo to begin leaking oil , marking a trail for other CAF aircraft to follow . A short time later , seven more CAF SBDs plus six Grumman TBF @-@ 1 Avenger torpedo bombers , accompanied by 14 Grumman F4F @-@ 4 Wildcats , found the two Japanese destroyers 170 mi ( 150 nmi ; 270 km ) from Guadalcanal . In the ensuing attack , Murakumo was hit by a torpedo in her engineering spaces , leaving her without power . In the meantime , Aoba and Hatsuyuki reached the sanctuary of the Japanese base in the Shortland Islands at 10 : 00 . Rushing to assist Murakumo , Asagumo and Natsugumo were attacked by another group of 11 CAF SBDs and TBFs escorted by 12 fighters at 15 : 45 . An SBD placed its bomb almost directly amidships on Natsugumo while two more near misses contributed to her severe damage . After Asagumo took off her survivors , Natsugumo sank at 16 : 27 . The CAF aircraft also scored several more hits on the stationary Murakumo , setting her afire . After her crew abandoned ship , Shirayuki scuttled her with a torpedo , picked up her survivors , and joined the rest of the Japanese warships for the remainder of their return trip to the Shortland Islands . = = Aftermath and significance = = Captain Kikunori Kijima — Gotō 's chief of staff and commander of the bombardment force during the return trip to the Shortland Islands after Gotō 's death in battle — claimed that his force had sunk two American cruisers and one destroyer . Furutaka 's captain — who survived the sinking of his ship — blamed the loss of his cruiser on bad air reconnaissance and poor leadership from the 8th fleet staff under Admiral Mikawa . Although Gotō 's bombardment mission failed , Jojima 's reinforcement convoy was successful in delivering the crucial men and equipment to Guadalcanal . Aoba journeyed to Kure , Japan , for repairs that were completed on February 15 , 1943 . Kinugasa was sunk one month later during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal . Scott claimed that his force sank three Japanese cruisers and four destroyers . News of the victory was widely publicized in the American media . Boise — which was damaged enough to require a trip to the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard for repairs — was dubbed the " one @-@ ship fleet " by the press for her exploits in the battle , although this was mainly because the names of the other involved ships were withheld for security reasons . Boise was under repair until 20 March 1943 . Although a tactical victory for the U.S. , Cape Esperance had little immediate strategic effect on the situation on Guadalcanal . Just two days later on the night of 13 October , the Japanese battleships Kongō and Haruna bombarded and almost destroyed Henderson Field . One day after that , a large Japanese convoy successfully delivered 4 @,@ 500 troops and equipment to the island . These troops and equipment helped complete Japanese preparations for the large land offensive , scheduled to begin on 23 October . The convoy of U.S. Army troops reached Guadalcanal on 13 October as planned and were key participants for the Allied side in the decisive land battle for Henderson Field that took place from 23 – 26 October . The Cape Esperance victory helped prevent an accurate U.S. assessment of Japanese skills and tactics in naval night fighting . The U.S. was still unaware of the range and power of Japanese torpedoes , the effectiveness of Japanese night optics , and the skilled fighting ability of most Japanese destroyer and cruiser commanders . Incorrectly applying the perceived lessons learned from this battle , U.S. commanders in future naval night battles in the Solomons consistently tried to prove that American naval gunfire was more effective than Japanese torpedo attacks . This belief was severely tested just two months later during the Battle of Tassafaronga . A junior officer on Helena later wrote , " Cape Esperance was a three @-@ sided battle in which chance was the major winner . "
= Tranz Am = Tranz Am is an action video game developed and published by Ultimate Play The Game that was released for the ZX Spectrum in July 1983 . The game is set in a post @-@ apocalyptic version of the United States and centres around a racing car driver on his quest to obtain the Eight Great Cups of Ultimate , which are scattered throughout the country . The game was written by Chris Stamper and graphics were designed by Tim Stamper . Tranz Am was one of the very few Spectrum games also available in ROM format for use with the Interface 2 , allowing " instantaneous " loading of the game ( the normal method of cassette loading could take several minutes ) . The game received mostly positive reviews upon release : praise was given to the game 's graphics and simple controls , while criticism was directed at its confusing interface . = = Gameplay = = The game is set in a post @-@ apocalyptic version of the United States in the year 3472 . Eight Great Cups of Ultimate are dispersed around America , and the player 's mission is to obtain all of them . Petrol is in short supply and the only way to re @-@ fuel vehicles is to find petrol pumps , scattered across the country . The game is presented in a top @-@ down perspective and involves driving around America to collect the eight trophies whilst avoiding natural hazards and kamikaze cars , which attempt to crash into the player . The player has a limited supply of petrol and must collect fuel at regular intervals by driving over petrol pumps . Obstacles include trees , boulders and destroyed buildings . The overworld has an invisible border which causes the player 's car to reverse automatically to ensure that they do not cross the game 's boundaries . The interface displays a list of comprehensive data : a map showing a list of key cities in the contiguous United States , petrol gauge , speedometer , remaining lives and engine temperature . Every key city in the game contains at least one petrol station . If the player drives too fast for too long , their car will overheat and eventually break down , thus losing a life . To save an overheating car , the player must slow down or stop entirely . = = Background = = Ashby Computers and Graphics was founded by brothers Tim and Chris Stamper , along with Tim 's wife , Carol , from their headquarters in Ashby @-@ de @-@ la @-@ Zouch in 1982 . Under the trading name of Ultimate Play The Game , they began producing video games for the ZX Spectrum throughout the early 1980s . Prior to founding Ultimate , the Stamper brothers had backgrounds in designing arcade machines , but no marketing experience in the video game sector . The company were known for their reluctance to reveal details about their operations and upcoming projects . Little was known about their development process except that they used to work in " separate teams " : one team would work on development whilst the other would concentrate on other aspects such as sound or graphics . Tranz Am was one of the few Spectrum games also available in ROM format for use with the Interface 2 , allowing " instantaneous " loading of the game when the normal method of cassette loading could take several minutes . The game used the common technique of placing planar sprites with image sprites atop another , which often created graphical errors and overlapped colours on the console . The game was also able to run on the 16K version of the Spectrum . = = Reception = = The game received a mostly positive reception upon release . Computer and Video Games praised the game 's controls and accessibility , stating that they were " easy to get into " upon the first try . A reviewer writing for Home Computing Weekly found the game to be " compulsive " overall , but noted that the game did not live up to the promises made by the description on the packaging . Simon Lane of Popular Computing Weekly praised the game 's graphics , sound and presentation , stating that they were of " a very high quality " and that Tranz Am was an " original game " in comparison with the other games released by Ultimate . Lane criticised the game 's interface , however , stating that he found it difficult to " concentrate on everything all at once " . Lane also added that the game did not reward the player enough for collecting all of the cups , displaying just a short congratulation message before inviting him or her to begin again . A reviewer writing for Your Computer magazine heralded the game as a program of " outstanding achievement " , considering that the game 's playing area was calculated at " 600 times more than the actual screen area " .
= Discipline ( Janet Jackson album ) = Discipline is the tenth studio album by American recording artist Janet Jackson , released by Island Records on February 26 , 2008 . It is her only album released on Island Records , after her five @-@ album deal with Virgin Records America was fulfilled with the release of 20 Y.O .. Jackson worked with producers such as Darkchild , Ne @-@ Yo , Shea Taylor , Stargate , Johntá Austin , Jermaine Dupri , Tricky Stewart , and The @-@ Dream on the album . Jackson 's long @-@ time producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis , did not contribute to the project . The album was executive produced by Island Urban president Dupri and Jackson . The album experimented with the electropop , house , and dance @-@ pop genres , and also contained R & B and hip hop orientated tracks . Four singles were released from the album ; the first , " Feedback " , was released as a digital download in December 2007 . The song reached number nineteen on the Billboard Hot 100 chart , becoming Jackson 's best @-@ charting single since 2001 's " Someone to Call My Lover " . The album 's later singles did not share the success of " Feedback " . The deluxe version of Discipline contained a DVD documenting the production and promotion of the album and music videos . The album received generally positive reviews , with critics arguing that it was an improvement on Jackson 's two previous albums . Despite positive reviews it became one of her least successful albums . It debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 , becoming her sixth to top the chart and it was her first album to reach number one in the United States after 2001 's All for You . However , sales of the album quickly fell , and by June the album 's promotion had officially ended . Jackson started her Rock Witchu Tour — with the support of Live Nation — in early September to positive reviews but by the end of that month Jackson parted with her record label due to the album 's commercial failure . = = Conception = = In July 2007 , it was announced that Jackson had signed a recording contract with Island Records , after her five @-@ album deal with Virgin Records America was fulfilled with the release of her album 20 Y.O. Jackson 's tenth studio album , Discipline , which was an acknowledgment of Jackson 's commitment , focus and dedication to her career , was released on February 26 , 2008 under the supervision of label head L. A. Reid . Jackson commented , " I wanted to name the album Discipline because it has a lot of different meanings for me but the most important would be work — to have done this for as long as I have ... And to have had the success that I 've had — not excluding God by any means — but it takes a great deal of focus . " Jackson worked with producers such as Rodney Jerkins ( who produced the lead single " Feedback " alongside D 'Mile ) , Jermaine Dupri , Ne @-@ Yo , Shea Taylor , Stargate , Johntá Austin , Tricky Stewart , and The @-@ Dream . Jackson 's long @-@ time producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis , did not contribute to the project . The album was executive produced by Island Urban president Jermaine Dupri and Jackson . She did not write or co @-@ write any songs on the album , a departure from her usual practice of co @-@ writing and producing all of the songs on her albums . The song " So Much Betta " contains sampled portions of the track " Daftendirekt " by the French house music duo Daft Punk . The deluxe edition included a DVD entitled The Making of Discipline . The DVD is split into five chapters that documents the production of the album , its promotion , and the " Feedback " music video . The first chapter entitled " Photo Shoots " , shows Jackson creating a new image for the album and adopting different looks for different markets . She spent two days working on photos for the cover and credit booklet , revealing that she still feels uncomfortable in front of the camera despite two decades in the music industry . In the second chapter , " The Studio " , Jackson expressed her opinion on recording work , stating that although she usually enjoyed the experience , it was , at times , tedious . She discusses further how her songs are built up in layers and parts , from melodies and background vocals or sounds . The third chapter , " Rehearsals " , shows the rehearsals of the dance routine for the " Feedback " music video . The DVD reveals that the eight dancers had been practicing for over a week before they started working with Jackson . The dancers then had three days to rehearse with Jackson and a further two days to complete the video . Jackson described the video as a metaphor for sexual tension . The fourth chapter , " Behind the Video " , shows the making of the video itself . Jackson told the director that she wanted a futuristic , moody concept , and he came up with the idea of jumping between planets . The final chapter is the lead music video in its entirety . On March 31 , 2008 an edition of Discipline in environmentally friendly packaging was released through Wal @-@ Mart stores as part of a green promotion . = = Singles and notable tracks = = The album 's first single " Feedback " , was released as a digital download in December 2007 . In the US , the song reached number nineteen on the Billboard Hot 100 chart , number thirty @-@ nine on the Hot R & B / Hip @-@ Hop Songs chart , and number twenty @-@ three on the Pop 100 , becoming Jackson 's best @-@ charting single since " Someone to Call My Lover " in 2001 . The song was also successful in Canada and South Africa where it peaked at number three and eight respectively . Due to a rushed release and no international promotion , the song failed to chart highly in European countries , peaking at number thirty @-@ six in Franceand thirty two in Ireland and reaching the top 5 in Greece . Subsequent singles were promoted and released primarily in the US . " Rock with U " , the second single , was released on February 5 , 2008 . A music video was released , with the song peaking at number twenty on the Billboard Dance Club Play Singles chart and at number 4 on the UK R & B charts . Following Jackson 's departure from Island Records two more promotional singles , " Luv " and " Can 't B Good " , were issued to select radio formats . " Luv " , the first promotional single , was released on February 11 , 2008 . It was not accompanied by a music video or promoted and peaked at number thirty @-@ four on the Billboard Hot R & B / Hip @-@ Hop Songs chart . A second promotional single , " Can 't B Good " , was released March 18 , 2008 to urban formats . The song " 2nite " was featured on the second part of the soundtrack to the film Sex and the City , entitled Sex and the City , Vol . 2 : More Music . = = Reception = = = = = Commercial = = = Discipline debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 for the issue dated ending March 15 with 181 @,@ 000 copies sold . While this was a higher chart position than Jackson 's two previous releases , it was a lower first @-@ week sales total compared to Damita Jo which opened with sales of 381 @,@ 000 and 20 Y.O. with sales of 296 @,@ 000 . Paul Grein of Yahoo ! Music observed that with six number one studio albums , Jackson had " surpasse [ d ] her brother Michael Jackson , who has amassed five [ number one ] albums . " With six number @-@ one albums , Jackson is now tied with Mariah Carey and Britney Spears in the US for the third most number @-@ one albums for a female artist , behind Madonna with eight and Barbra Streisand 's ten chart @-@ toppers . In its second week , US sales saw the album fall to number three with 57 @,@ 000 copies sold . In its third chart week , the album fell to number eight with sales of 38 @,@ 000 copies . In its fourth chart week , the album fell to number seventeen with sales of 34 @,@ 000 copies , achieving total US sales in its first month of 310 @,@ 000 copies . The album achieved moderate success in other countries , reaching number three in Canada ( with 6 @,@ 000 copies sold during its first week ) , number nine in Japan ( where it has been certified Gold for 100 @,@ 000 shipments ) , and number nine in Switzerland , but had low sales in most European markets . By June 2008 Island stopped promoting Discipline . The singer expressed open dissatisfaction with the promotion of the album , explaining that there would be no further single releases . The album failed in the UK charts , remaining just one week in position 63 with 3 @,@ 914 copies sold.but did manage to chart in the Top 5 of the UK R & B Album Chart . In France , Discipline debuted at number forty @-@ three with just 3 @,@ 000 copies sold . In Japan the album debuted higher , at number nine with 19 @,@ 839 copies sold . To date , the album has sold 456 @,@ 000 copies in the United States ; 100 @,@ 000 copies in Japan ; 9 @,@ 312 copies in the United Kingdom and over 1 million copies worldwide . = = = Critical = = = Discipline received mixed to positive reviews from most music critics . At Metacritic , which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics , the album received an average score of 61 , based on 14 reviews , which indicates " generally favorable reviews " . Music critic Keith Harris of Rolling Stone wrote , " Janet Jackson has abandoned the plastic R & B of 2006 's 20 Y.O. for a sexier brand of digitized megapop [ ... ] you can dismiss any images of the abusive Jackson clan that flit into your mind . Just lie back and enjoy the sensations as pure aural autoeroticism . " Andy Kellman of Allmusic gave a four @-@ out @-@ of @-@ five star rating , noting several tracks were " as innocent , universal , and inviting as anything else in Janet 's past " , and called the songs " Rock with U " and " 2Nite " " irresistible , grade @-@ A dancefloor tracks " . Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine described it as Jackson 's " most cohesive album in a while " , giving three @-@ out @-@ of @-@ five stars . Dan Gennoe of Yahoo ! Music UK gave it seven out of ten stars saying " Still , if not perfect , there 's plenty to like on Discipline , and while none of it is exactly vintage Janet , there 's enough here to keep the Jackson name on pop 's A @-@ list for a little while longer . " Carol Cooper of The Village Voice called Discipline " the most cohesive deep @-@ groove album from La Jackson since Control . " NOW Magazine reviewer Bryan Borzykowski called it " her most modern and club @-@ friendly " album , and commented saying " Jackson wouldn 't want us to call it a comeback , but it sure sounds like one . " Ann Powers of the Los Angeles Times gave it a three @-@ out @-@ of @-@ four rating , saying " Its 22 tracks should be two albums : The first , a club @-@ directed missile helmed by " Darkchild " Rodney Jerkins and Jackson 's beau , Jermaine Dupri , could reassert Jackson 's primacy among glamazon hit @-@ makers ; the second , a bedroom @-@ bound ladies ' favorite coauthored by soul dauphin Ne @-@ Yo , would remind fans of Jackson 's gift for creating truly tender smut . " The Boston Globe music critic Joan Anderman criticized the album saying " Jackson 's decision to recycle the nympho routine one more time is just boring [ ... ] A quarter @-@ century into her career , it was Jackson 's moment to take a breath , dig a little deeper , and make a bold - or at least a different - statement . Instead , she has trussed herself up in vinyl to coo another batch of digitized porn . " On a better note , she called the tracks " Rollercoaster " and " Luv " " engaging tracks " , describing them as a " sassy @-@ sweet side " and " a plump , crackling confection " , respectively . New York Times music critic Kelefa Sanneh commented saying " If anything , Discipline may be too subtle : a pretty , smartly produced collection that sometimes sounds like background music . " Michael Arceneaux of PopMatters called the album the " same old from her " , adding " These days her look and sound seem nothing more than a continuation of 2001 's All for You . " Entertainment Weekly 's Margeaux Watson wrote that Jackson 's lyrics " sound like the cheesy text messages of a lovesick adolescent " and gave a C- rating . Nick Levine of Digital Spy wrote that " Jackson 's attempts to play the uber @-@ nympho are beginning to sound very , very desperate " with " embarrassingly lewd lyrics " and gave the record 2 out of 5 stars . Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian described most tracks on the album as either boring or unmemorable . Robert Christgau gave the album a " dud " score as he had done with her previous album 20 Y.O. ( ) . = = Rock Witchu Tour = = Although the album promotion stopped in June , Jackson 's fifth concert tour — the North American Rock Witchu Tour , with the support of Live Nation — began on September 10 , 2008 . Amy O 'Brian of The Vancouver Sun described Jackson 's stage show at the GM Place as a " high @-@ voltage performance " . According to O 'Brian , " [ w ] ith an ear @-@ piercing blast of pyrotechnics , a fog of thick cloud and dancers that popped up out of the stage and runway , Jackson proved within the first minutes that she didn 't choose the low @-@ budget route for her Rock Witchu Tour . " Similarly , Jim Harrington of The Oakland Tribune offered a positive review , stating : " Like Jackson 's previous tours , ' Rock Witchu ' was a flashy , high @-@ budget extravaganza built on well @-@ choreographed dance routines and plenty of theatrics . " The initial response to the tour was very good , with sold out shows in Los Angeles and Las Vegas . Supporting acts for the show included LL Cool J and Donnie Klang . Jackson had to reschedule nine dates on the first leg of the tour due to vestibular migraines . However , on November 4 , 2008 , Jackson canceled 7 of the 9 shows which had been rescheduled , citing schedule conflicts as the main reason . On November 19 , it was announced on Japanese newspapers and websites that Jackson will bring the tour to Japan for a series of five shows in Saitama , Nagoya , Osaka , and Fukuoka in February 2009 . However , all five dates were canceled . = = Departure from record label = = On September 22 — while on the Live Nation @-@ supported tour of North America — Jackson parted company with her recording label Island ; their 14 @-@ month relationship was dissolved per a request by Jackson . The singer had previously expressed dissatisfaction with the label , first telling SOHH.com that they " stopped all promotion whatsoever on the album " after releasing the first single , " Feedback " . In early September she had stated , " I can 't say if we 'll be working with them in the future . I don 't know what the future holds between the two of us . " A spokesperson for Jackson added , " [ Jackson ] will have autonomy over her career , without the restrictions of a label system ... Always known to break new ground and set trends , Janet 's departure from Island Records makes her one of the first superstar artists to have the individual freedom to promote their work through a variety of avenues such as iTunes , mobile carriers and other diverse and innovative channels " . Jackson told Sister 2 Sister magazine , " There were some people who didn 't like the direction I took with this album . I love doing dance songs and I think my fans expect that of me . I have been getting more behind the scenes with film and television . I will probably continue to do music – and acting is still a strong passion of mine – but I really have been loving behind @-@ the @-@ scenes work : producing , directing and all the technical stuff " . A few months before the split , a spokesperson for the label told Billboard , " Unfortunately we haven 't experienced the results we would have liked with this new album . But we respect and support Janet " . = = Track listing = = Notes ^ [ a ] signifies a co @-@ producer = = Personnel = = = = Charts = =
= Macau Incident ( 1799 ) = The Macau Incident was an inconclusive encounter between a powerful squadron of French and Spanish warships and a British Royal Navy escort squadron in the Wanshan Archipelago ( or Ladrones Archipelago ) off Macau on 27 January 1799 . The incident took place in the context of the East Indies campaign of the French Revolutionary Wars , the allied squadron attempting to disrupt a valuable British merchant convoy due to sail from Qing Dynasty China . This was the second such attempt in three years ; at the Bali Strait Incident of 1797 a French frigate squadron had been driven off during an attack on that year 's China convoy . By early 1799 the French squadron had dispersed , with two remaining ships deployed to the Spanish Philippines . There the frigates had united with the Spanish Manila squadron and sailed to attack the British China convoy gathering at Macau . The British commander in the East Indies , Rear @-@ Admiral Peter Rainier was concerned about the vulnerability of the China convoy and sent reinforcements to support the lone Royal Navy escort , the ship of the line HMS Intrepid under Captain William Hargood . These reinforcements arrived on 21 January , only six days before the allied squadron arrived off Macau . Hargood sailed to meet the French and Spanish ships , and a chase ensued through the Wanshan Archipelago before contact was lost . Both sides subsequently claimed that the other had refused battle , although it was the allied squadron which withdrew , Hargood later successfully escorting the China convoy safely westwards . = = Background = = The East Indian trade was an essential component of the economy of Great Britain in the eighteenth century . Administered by the East India Company from British India , exotic trade goods were carried on large well @-@ armed merchant ships known as East Indiamen , which weighed between 500 and 1 @,@ 200 long tons ( 510 and 1 @,@ 220 t ) . Among the most valuable parts of the East India trade was an annual convoy from Macau , a Portuguese port in Qing Dynasty China . Early each year , a large convoy of East Indiamen would assemble at Macau in preparation for their six @-@ month journey across the Indian Ocean and through the Atlantic to Britain . The value of the trade carried in this convoy , nicknamed the " China Fleet " , was enormous : one convoy in 1804 was reported to be carrying goods worth over £ 8 million in contemporary values ( the equivalent of £ 600 @,@ 000 @,@ 000 as of 2016 ) . British interests in the East Indies were protected by a large but scattered Royal Navy squadron under the overall command of Rear @-@ Admiral Peter Rainier . By 1799 , Rainier 's command covered many thousands of square miles of ocean , including the strategically important ports of British India , Bombay , Madras and Calcutta and the coast of British Ceylon , as well as bases in the Red Sea , at Penang and in the Dutch East Indies . He also had to maintain a watch on hostile warships , particularly a French force at the remote island base of Île de France ( now Mauritius ) , the Dutch at Batavia ( now Djakarta ) and the Spanish at Manila . The French had been the greatest threat , with a powerful squadron assembled in 1796 under Contre @-@ amiral Pierre César Charles de Sercey menacing British shipping in the East Indies in 1796 and 1797 . On 28 January 1797 , Sercey 's force intercepted that year 's unescorted China Fleet in the Bali Strait , and in the ensuing Bali Strait Incident only quick thinking by the commodore , imitating Royal Navy warships in poor visibility , dissuaded Sercey from pressing his attack . Sercey 's force had subsequently broken up as it proved too expensive to maintain as a cohesive force . By late 1798 , Sercey was at anchor in Batavia with only two vessels , the 20 @-@ gun corvette Brûle @-@ Gueule and the 40 @-@ gun frigate Preneuse , which had arrived in Batavia from a diplomatic mission to the Kingdom of Mysore in a state of near @-@ mutiny ; Captain Jean @-@ Matthieu @-@ Adrien Lhermitte had been forced to execute five men for disobedience en route . Sercey also learned that two additional frigates , Forte and Prudente would not be joining him : his orders had been countermanded by Governor Malartic on Île de France and these frigates were now cruising independently against British trade in the Indian Ocean . Sercey decided to augment his forces by uniting them with the allied Spanish squadron at Manila in the Spanish Philippines , his frigates arriving on 16 October 1798 , although the admiral remained at Surabaya . The Spanish squadron had been severely damaged in a typhoon of April 1797 and repairs had taken nearly two years : when British frigates raided Manila in January 1798 not one Spanish ship was in a condition to oppose them . = = Incident at Macau = = News of the junction of the French and Spanish squadrons reached Rainier soon afterwards . With the assembling merchant ships at Macau were the frigates HMS Fox and HMS Carysfort and the 64 @-@ gun ship of the line HMS Intrepid , the escort commanded by Captain William Hargood . However Fox and Carysfort were detached with a local convoy in November 1798 , and Rainier , whose forces were largely committed to the Red Sea following the recent French invasion of Egypt , gave urgent orders for the frigates to be replaced by the 38 @-@ gun HMS Virginie and 74 @-@ gun HMS Arrogant . The reinforcements sailed through the Straits of Malacca and the South China Sea , arriving at Macau on 21 January 1799 . The Franco @-@ Spanish squadron , comprising the 74 @-@ gun ships of the line Europa and Montañés , and the frigates Maria de la Cabeya and Luisa , accompanied by Preneuse and Brûle @-@ Gueule , sailed from Manila on 6 January 1799 , under the command of Rear @-@ Admiral Ignacio Maria de Álava . Alava 's squadron crossed the South China Sea in three weeks , arriving in the Wanshan Archipelago near Macau on 27 January 1799 with the intention of attacking shipping at Macau and in the mouth of the Pearl River . Alava had been informed of the presence of Intrepid by Danish merchants but was unaware of the arrival of Rainier 's reinforcements . Hargood immediately sailed to confront Alava , both squadrons initially forming lines of battle and steering towards one another , Virginie at the head of the British line . What followed has been the subject of dispute . Hargood reported that the Franco @-@ Spanish squadron then turned and fled into the Wanshan Archipelago , where they anchored as darkness fell before withdrawing before dawn . He ascribes this to " their dread of a conflict that would in all probability have terminated in their disgrace " . Alava however reported in the Manila Gazette that it was Hargood who had retreated into the Wanshan Archipelago , pursued closely by Europa . Alava claimed that he would have pressed the attack but for damage to the rigging on Montañés that allowed Hargood to escape . He does not explain why his squadron then subsequently withdrew without attacking the apparently unprotected assembled China Fleet anchored in Macau . = = Aftermath = = In historian C. Northcote Parkinson 's assessment " It is perhaps fair to conclude that neither squadron was spoiling for a fight " , although he describes Lhermitte 's subsequent reaction as " disgust " and Sercey 's as " fury " . Richard Woodman considered that by this action the French threw " away at a stroke the chance not only of seizing a valuable convoy , but of establishing Franco @-@ Spanish dominance in Indo @-@ Chinese waters " . Alava retired to Manila , the French ships departing for Batavia and subsequently returning to Île de France . There Preneuse was intercepted at the Action of 11 December 1799 by a blockade squadron made up of HMS Tremendous and HMS Adamant , driven on shore and destroyed . Sercey subsequently returned to France , retired from the French Navy and became a planter on Île de France . Hargood sailed from Macau with the China Fleet on 7 February , passing unimpeded into the Indian Ocean . Alava did belatedly send Europa and frigate Fama back to Macau in May , but this achieved nothing . Rainier ensured that the 1800 China Fleet was well defended , but no further attacks were made on British shipping from China before the Peace of Amiens in 1802 . Early in the Napoleonic Wars , in 1804 , a powerful French squadron attacked the China Fleet at the Battle of Pulo Aura , but the East Indiamen succeeded in bluffing the French into withdrawing after a brief exchange of fire .
= Southern Area Command ( RAAF ) = Southern Area Command was one of several geographically based commands raised by the Royal Australian Air Force ( RAAF ) during World War II . It was formed in March 1940 , and initially controlled units based in Victoria , Tasmania , South Australia and southern New South Wales . Headquartered at Melbourne , Southern Area Command was primarily responsible for air defence , aerial reconnaissance and protection of the sea lanes within its boundaries . From 1942 its operational responsibilities excluded New South Wales . The area continued to operate following the end of the war , before being re @-@ formed in October 1953 as Training Command under the RAAF 's new functional command @-@ and @-@ control system . = = History = = = = = World War II = = = Prior to World War II , the Royal Australian Air Force was small enough for all its elements to be directly controlled by RAAF Headquarters in Melbourne . After war broke out in September 1939 , the RAAF began to decentralise its command structure , commensurate with expected increases in manpower and units . Its initial move in this direction was to create Nos. 1 and 2 Groups to control units in Victoria and New South Wales , respectively . Then , between March 1940 and May 1941 , the RAAF divided Australia and New Guinea into four geographically based command @-@ and @-@ control zones : Central Area , Southern Area , Western Area , and Northern Area . The roles of these area commands were air defence , protection of adjacent sea lanes , and aerial reconnaissance . Each was led by an Air Officer Commanding ( AOC ) responsible for the administration and operations of all air bases and units within his boundary . No. 1 Group , which had been established on 20 November 1939 , was re @-@ formed as one of the first two area commands , Southern Area , on 7 March 1940 . Headquartered in Melbourne , Southern Area Command was given control of all Air Force units in Victoria , Tasmania , South Australia and the southern Riverina district of New South Wales . Its inaugural AOC was Air Commodore Henry Wrigley , who had also led No. 1 Group . His senior administrative staff officer was Group Captain Joe Hewitt . Wrigley handed over command to Air Commodore Adrian " King " Cole , formerly AOC Central Area , in November 1940 . By August 1941 , the RAAF 's expanding instructional program necessitated the establishment of overarching training organisations on a semi @-@ functional , semi @-@ geographical basis . Accordingly , on 2 August 1941 , No. 1 ( Training ) Group was formed in Melbourne to assume responsibility for training units within Southern Area 's boundaries , while No. 2 ( Training ) Group was formed in Sydney to take over training units then under Central Area , which was disbanded ; control of other Central Area units was " divided as convenient " between Southern and Northern Area Commands . Air Commodore Frank Bladin held command of Southern Area from September to December 1941 . As of 20 April 1942 , operational authority over all RAAF combat infrastructure , including area commands , was invested in the newly established Allied Air Forces ( AAF ) Headquarters under South West Pacific Area Command ( SWPA ) . On 15 May , Southern Area , which by then was considered too large , yielded responsibility for operational and maintenance units within New South Wales to a new area command , Eastern Area . Control of maintenance units under Southern Area was transferred to the newly established No. 4 ( Maintenance ) Group in Melbourne on 14 September . September also saw the formation of RAAF Command , led by Air Vice Marshal Bill Bostock , to oversee the majority of Australian flying units in the SWPA . Bostock exercised control of air operations through the area commands , although RAAF Headquarters continued to hold overarching administrative authority over Australian units . By April 1943 , Southern Area was operating two combat units : No. 67 Squadron , flying maritime reconnaissance and anti @-@ submarine missions with Avro Ansons out of RAAF Station Laverton , Victoria ; and No. 86 Squadron , flying P @-@ 40 Kittyhawk fighters from Gawler , South Australia . Group Captain Ian McLachlan commanded the area from March 1944 until January 1945 , when he handed over to Group Captain Charles Eaton . The German submarine U @-@ 862 operated off southern Australia during the first months of 1945 , and the few combat units in Southern Area were heavily engaged in anti @-@ submarine patrols , attempting unsuccessfully to locate this and any other U @-@ boats in the vicinity . Eaton led the command through to the surrender of Japan in September , and into December 1945 . = = = Post @-@ war reorganisation = = = Following the end of the Pacific War in August 1945 , SWPA was dissolved and RAAF Headquarters again assumed full control of all its operational formations , including the area commands . In September 1946 , the Chief of the Air Staff , Air Vice Marshal George Jones , proposed reducing the five extant mainland area commands ( North @-@ Western , North @-@ Eastern , Eastern , Southern , and Western Areas ) to three : Northern Area , covering Queensland and the Northern Territory ; Eastern Area , covering New South Wales ; and Southern Area , covering Western Australia , South Australia , Victoria and Tasmania . The proposal was part of a much larger plan to restructure the post @-@ war RAAF ; the Federal government rejected the plan and the wartime area command boundaries essentially remained in place . RAAF College ( which became RAAF Academy in 1961 ) was established at RAAF Station Point Cook , Victoria , under Southern Area Command in August 1947 . The area 's later AOCs included Air Commodores Allan Walters , during 1948 – 50 , and Alan Charlesworth , the last officer to command the area , during 1951 – 53 . The Federal government retired Jones in 1952 and replaced him with Air Marshal Donald Hardman , RAF , who proceeded to re @-@ organise the RAAF command @-@ and @-@ control system along functional lines , establishing Home ( operational ) , Training , and Maintenance Commands . The first was re @-@ formed from the existing Eastern Area Command , which was considered a de facto operational organisation owing to the preponderance of combat forces within its sphere . The second was re @-@ formed from Southern Area Command , as it was already the hub of training services , controlling those in New South Wales and Queensland as well as Victoria and South Australia . The third and final functional command was formed from the extant Maintenance Group headquarters in Melbourne . The transition to a functional system was completed in February 1954 , when the three new commands assumed control of all operations , training and maintenance from Western , North @-@ Western , and North @-@ Eastern Area Commands . = = Aftermath = = The functional commands established in 1953 – 54 were revised in 1959 . Home Command was renamed Operational Command , and Training and Maintenance Commands merged to become Support Command . Operational Command was renamed Air Command in 1987 , and three years later Support Command split into Logistics Command and Training Command . Training Command was re @-@ formed as Air Force Training Group , a force element group under Air Command , in 2006 . = = Order of battle = = As at 30 April 1942 , Southern Area 's order of battle comprised :
= Raëlian beliefs and practices = Raëlian beliefs and practices are the concepts and principles of the religion founded by Claud Vorilhon , a former French auto racing journalist who changed his name to Raël . Followers of Raëlism are believers in an advanced race of extraterrestrials called Elohim who created life on earth . Raëlians are individualists who believe in sexual self @-@ determination . As advocates of the universal ethic and world peace , they believe the world would be better if geniuses had an exclusive right to govern in what Rael terms Geniocracy . As believers of life in outer space , they hope that human scientists will follow the path of the Elohim by achieving space travel through the cosmos and creating life on other planets . As believers in the resurrection of Jesus Christ through a scientific cloning process ( which includes memory transfer ) by the Elohim , they encourage scientific research to extend life through cloning , however critics outside are doubtful of its possibility . Active followers of Raëlianism have exhibited their sex @-@ positive feminism and anti @-@ war views through outdoor contacts such as parades . The major initiation rite in the Raëlian Church is the baptism or Transmission of the Cellular Plan and is enacted by upper @-@ level members in the Raëlian clergy known as guides . = = Beliefs = = = = = Structure of the Universe = = = Raël says that , " Everything is in everything . " Inside the atoms of living things , he says , are living things made of atoms which themselves have living things made of atoms , and so on , to the infinitely small . The universe itself is contained in an atom inside of another universe , and so on , to the infinitely large . Because of the difference of mass , the activity of life inside a living thing 's atoms would undergo many millennia before enough time passes for that living thing to take a single step . Raëlians believe the universe is infinite and thus lacks a center . Because of this , one could not imagine where an ethereal soul would go , due the universe 's infinite nature . They believe that infinity exists in time as well as in space , for all levels of life . Raëlians believe that humanity would be able to create life on other planets only if humanity is peaceful enough to stop war . In that case , humanity could travel the distances between stars and create life on another planet . Progress in terraforming , molecular biology , and cloning would enable these teams to create continents and life from scratch . Progress in social engineering would ensure that this creation would have a better chance of both surviving and having the potential to understand its creators . Research on how civilization would occur on another planet would allow scientists to decide what traces of their origin should be left behind so that their role in life creation would someday be revealed . The progress achieved by the science teams would ultimately sustain a perpetual chain of life . Raëlians do not believe in reincarnation as dictated by mystical writings because they do not believe that an ethereal soul exists free of physical confinement . Instead the Raëlians think that advanced supercomputers of the Elohim are right now recording the memories and DNA of human beings . When Elohim release this information for the coming resurrection , people would be brought back from the dead and the judgments upon them would be realized based on actions in their past life . People excluded from physical recreation would include those who achieved nothing positive but were not evil . Claude Vorilhon expressed an interest in cloning Hitler for war trials and retroactive punishment . Raël also mentioned cloning as the solution to terrorism by suicide attacks , as the perpetrators would not be able to escape punishment by killing themselves if the Elohim recreated them after their attacks . = = = Intelligent Design = = = = = = = Creation of life on Earth by extraterrestrials = = = = In his book The Message Given to me by Extraterrestrials ( now republished as Intelligent Design : Message from the Designers 2006 ISBN 2 @-@ 940252 @-@ 20 @-@ 3 ) , Vorilhon claims that on 13 December 1973 , he found a spacecraft shaped like a flattened bell that landed inside Puy de Lassolas , a volcano near the capital city of Auvergne . A 25 @,@ 000 @-@ year @-@ old human @-@ like extraterrestrial inside the spacecraft named Yahweh said that Elohim was the name that primitive people of Earth called members of his extraterrestrial race — who were seen as " those who came from the sky " . Yahweh explained that Earth was originally void of life , with thick clouds and shallow seas , but the Elohim came , broke apart the clouds , exposed the seas to sunlight , built a continent , and synthesized a global ecosystem . Solar astronomy , terraformation , nanotechnology , and genetic engineering allowed Elohim to adapt life to Earth 's thermal and chemical makeup . Yahweh gave materialistic explanations of the Garden of Eden , a large laboratory that was based on an artificially constructed continent ; Noah 's Ark , a spaceship that preserved DNA that was used to resurrect animals through cloning ; the Tower of Babel , a rocket that was supposed to reach the creators ' planet ; and the Great Flood , the byproduct of a nuclear missile explosion that the Elohim sent . After tidal wave floods following the explosions receded , Elohim scattered the Israelites and had them speak the language of other tribes . According to Vorilhon , Elohim contacted about forty people to act as their prophets on Earth , including Moses , Elijah , Ezekiel , Buddha , John the Baptist , Jesus , Muhammad , and Joseph Smith . The religions thought to be from Elohimic origins include Judaism , Buddhism , Christianity , Islam , and Mormonism . From the Raëlian point of view , religious texts indicate that the Elohim would return at the age of Apocalypse or Revelation ( unveiling of the truth ) . Humans from another world would appear to drop down from the sky and meet in the embassy they have asked Raël to build for them and share their advanced scientific knowledge with humanity . Thus , one of their stated main goals of the Raëlian movement is to inform as many people as possible about this extraterrestrial race . The controversy surrounding the origins of Raelian beliefs centers on the writings of several authors in the late 1960s . Jean Sendy , a French writer , translator , and author of books on the esoteric and UFOs wrote several novels detailing the creation of Earth by extraterrestrials . One of the best known researchers in this field is Erich van Däniken , the ' father ' of the Ancient Astronauts theory , which postulates that Earth might have been visited by extraterrestrials in the remote past . With the publication of Chariots of the Gods ? in 1968 , Erich von Däniken introduced the intervention theory to the general public . Von Däniken wrote that the technologies and religions of ancient civilizations were granted by extraterrestrials worshiped as gods . Von Däniken argued that only extraterrestrial intervention can explain the higher technological knowledge presumed to be essential for the production of ancient artifacts such as the Egyptian pyramids , Stonehenge and the Moai of Easter Island . Humans in ancient times considered this extraterrestrial high @-@ tech to be supernatural and the aliens themselves to be ' gods ' . One can find direct parallels to the messages that Vorilhon claimed to have received and written about in his books . Marie @-@ Hélène Parent , ex @-@ guide Raëlian priest , describes Sendy and Vorilhon meeting several times for drinks and conversation throughout the years of 1973 and 1974 , prior to Vorilhon 's claimed extraterrestrial encounter . = = = = Humanity 's chance of creating life on other planets = = = = Raëlians believe that humanity would be able to create life on other planets only if it is peaceful enough to stop war . If done , humanity could travel the distances between stars and create life on another planet . Progress in terraformation , molecular biology , and cloning would enable these teams to create continents and life from scratch . Progress in social engineering would ensure that this creation would have a better chance of both surviving as well as having the potential to understand its creators . Research on how globalization would occur on another planet would allow scientists to decide what traces of their origin should be left behind so that their role in life creation would someday be revealed . The progress achieved by the science teams would ultimately sustain a perpetual chain of life . = = = A coming judgement = = = Raëlians do not believe in reincarnation as dictated by mystical writings because they do not believe that an ethereal soul exists free of physical confinement . Instead the Raëlians think that advanced supercomputers of the Elohim are right now recording the memories and DNA of human beings . When Elohim release this information for the coming resurrection , people would be brought back from the dead and the judgments upon them would be realized based on actions in their past life . People excluded from physical recreation would include those who achieved nothing positive but were not evil . Vorilhon expressed an interest in cloning Hitler for war trials and retroactive punishment . Raël also mentioned cloning as the solution to terrorism by suicide attacks , as the perpetrators would not be able to escape punishment by killing themselves if the Elohim recreated them after their attacks . = = Practices = = = = = Initiation of new members = = = The major initiation rite in the Raëlian Church is the " baptism " or " transmission of the cellular plan " and is enacted by upper @-@ level members in the Raëlian clergy known as guides . Canadian sociologist Susan J. Palmer says that in 1979 , Raël introduced the " Act of Apostasy " as an obligation for those preparing for their Raëlian baptism . CTV Television Network states that apostasy from other religions is required for new Raëlian members . Joining the Raëlian Church through transmission of the cellular plan happens only in certain days of the year . There are four such days — marking anniversaries in the Raëlian calendar . The Raëlian baptism is known as transmission of the cellular plan where " cellular " refers to the organic cells of the body and the " plan " refers to the genetic makeup of the individual . This Raëlian baptism involves a guide member laying water onto the forehead of the new member . The practice began on " the first Sunday in April " of 1976 when Raël baptised 40 Raëlians . Raëlians believe that their genetic information is recorded by a remote computer and would become recognized during their final hour when they will be judged by the extraterrestrial Elohim . There is continuing debate on whether Raëlians can be identified as a cult . The government of France classifies the Raelian Movement as a " secte " ( French word for cult ) . However , according to Glenn McGee , the associate director of the Center for Bioethics at the University of Virginia , part of the sect is a cult while the other part is a commercial website that collects large sums of money from those interested in human cloning . The Bureau of Democracy , Human Rights , and Labor of the United States Department of State and sociologist Susan J. Palmer have classified the International Raëlian Movement as a religion . = = = Activism = = = Raëlians routinely advocate sex @-@ positive feminism and genetically modified food and actively protest against wars in addition to the Catholic Church . For example , a photographer of the Associated Press snapped a picture of half @-@ naked Raëlian women wearing pasties as part of an anti @-@ war demonstration in Seoul , Korea . A snapshot by Agence France @-@ Presse revealed Raëlians in white alien costumes with signs bearing the message " NO WAR ... ET wants Peace , too ! " . On 6 August 2003 , the first day of Raëlian year 58 AH , a tech article on the USA Today newspaper mentions an " unlikely ally " of the Monsanto Company , the Raëlian Movement of Brazil . The movement gave vocal support in response to the company 's support for genetically modified organisms particularly in their country . Brazilian farmers have been using Monsanto 's genetically engineered soy plant as well as the glyphosate herbicide to which it was artificially adapted . The Raëlians spoke against the Brazilian government 's ban on GMOs . = = = = Topless Rights of Women = = = = Several Raëlian groups in the United States have organized annual protests , claiming that women should have the same legal right to go topless in public , that men enjoy without fear of arrest for indecent exposure . Some have called this a publicity stunt designed to recruit members . Go Topless Day is their annual event , with women protesting topless except for nipple pasties to avoid arrest . It is held near 26 August , the anniversary of the day women were given the USA right to vote . In July 2001 , Raëlians on the streets attracted Italians and Swiss people as they gave leaflets in protest to over a hundred child molesters in existence among Roman Catholic clergy in France . They recommended that parents should not send their children to Catholic confession . The Episcopal vicar of Geneva sued the Raëlian Church for libel but did not win . The judge did not accept the charges for the reason that the Raëlians were not attacking the whole of the Catholic Church . In October 2002 , Raëlians in a Canadian anti @-@ clerical parade held handed out Christian crosses to high school students . They were invited to burn the crosses in a park not far from Montreal 's Mount Royal and to sign letters of apostasy from the Roman Catholic Church . The Quebec Association of Bishops called this " incitement to hatred " , and several school boards attempted to prevent their students from meeting Raëlians . = = Advocacy = = = = = Embassy for Extraterrestrials = = = Raëlians believe that life on earth — as well as many religions of the world — was the work of extraterrestrial influence . They believe these were scientists and that ancient people saw them as " gods " and gave the name " Elohim " . Raëlians believe that the Embassy for Extraterrestrials or " Third Temple " is to support an official contact with Extraterrestrial Elohim and their messengers of the main religions at the " New Jerusalem " . Writers who have influenced Raëlian beliefs include Zechariah Sitchin and Erich von Däniken . The International Raëlian Movement envisions having an entrance with an aseptic chamber leading to a conference room for twenty @-@ one people as well as a dining room of the same capacity . In the plan are seven rooms for the purpose of receiving human guests into the embassy . The embassy building , along with the swimming pool , would be in the center of a large park and protected from trespassing by a wall − a maximum of two stories @-@ to surround the entire complex 's circumference . Trees and bushes are to be planted in the outskirts of the wall 's area . The walls are to have a northern and southern entrance . The landing pad for the embassy should be able fit a spaceship of twelve meters of diameter or 39 ' 4 " on its terrace . The terrace is to be above the rooms in the torus , which are for extraterrestrials only . The seven rooms directly underneath the landing pad would be protected from occupants of other rooms with a thick metal door . Finally , the International Raëlian Movement wants to avoid military and radar surveillance of the airspace above the embassy . Buildings for administration , food and water provisions , and state @-@ of @-@ the @-@ art sanitation and communication systems are part of this vision . A nearby replica of the Raëlian Embassy for Extraterrestrials open to the public is expected to show visitors what it is like inside the real one . In February 1991 , the Raëlian Church modified their symbol to remove the swastika to help in negotiations with building the " Third Temple of Israel " . The official reason given was a telepathic request from extraterrestrials called Elohim to change the symbol in order to help in negotiations with Israel for the building of a Raëlian " embassy " or " third temple of Israel " to greet the anticipated coming of extraterrestrials and founders of past religions , although the country still denies their request . On 13 December 1997 , the leader of the International Raëlian Movement had decided to extend the possibility of building the embassy outside of Jerusalem and also allow that a significant portion of the embassy property be covered with water . The area of the proposed embassy property is still envisioned at a minimum of 3 @.@ 47 square kilometers , with a radius of at least 1 @.@ 05 kilometers . In 2005 , the Israeli Raëlian Guide Kobi Drori stated that the Lebanese government was discussing proposals by the Raëlian movement to build their " interplanetary embassy " in Lebanon . However , one condition was that the Raëlians did not display their logo on top of the building because it mixes a swastika and a Star of David . According to Drori , the Raëlians involved declined this offer , as they wished to keep the symbol as is . = = = Ideas how government and the economy should run = = = According to the book Geniocracy , creating a peaceful worldwide political union requires a form of government that favors intelligence over mediocrity . While having a democratic electoral apparatus , it differs from traditional liberal democracy by requiring members of the electorate to meet a minimum standard of intelligence . The thresholds proposed by the Raëlians are 50 % above average for a candidate and 10 % above average for a voter . Raëlians believe that a world government is only possible through establishing a global currency , a common language , and a transformation of militaries of the world into civil police . In Raël 's book , Extraterrestrials took me to their Planet , Raël claims that an extraterrestrial gave him the idea of Economic Humanitarianism . Under the establishment of Economic Humanitarianism , people would not have ownership of businesses or exploitable goods created by others . Instead , people would rent each of them for a period of 49 years . The founders would be able to receive the rents for up to 49 years or when they die , whichever is later . Any rents not inherited by relatives after 49 years would go to the State . By balancing inheritances , children would be born with enough financial means to forsake menial tasks for endeavors that may benefit the whole of humanity . Family houses could be inherited from generation to generation , free of rent . In his much later book , Maitreya , Raël says the road to a world without money is capitalism and globalisation , as opposed to communism . Capitalism would allow those who contribute much to society to also contribute to its scientific and technological development . Under capitalism , society would produce as much money as it can . The money would become important in the short run as nanotechnology quickly lowers the cost of goods while putting many people out of work . An anti @-@ cult organization called Info @-@ Cult argued that Geniocracy was a fascist ideology . However , Geniocracy is not a political party because it allows for differing political viewpoints . = = = Liberal sensuality = = = According to Vorilhon 's book Sensual Meditation , one should develop the ability to break free of habitual thoughts that prevent one from appreciating everyday phenomena . The book describes in detail six different meditations involving making full use of the lungs ' capacity to expand and contract , oxygenating the blood and the cells within , imagining heat travelling upwards from toe to the head , allowing the skin to feel under itself , and experiencing touch with another person 's body and examining their figure . According to the book Maitreya by Vorilhon , love involves experiencing different varieties and possibilities that allow one to break habits in order to make life more pleasant and interesting and that it is the only thing that can stop war and injustice that persists in today 's world . Raëlians believe in the right to form new religions or new political parties as long as they do not promote violence . As individualists , Raëlians believe that the one who gives the order to harm others is less at fault than the one who executes it . Raëlians say they encourage adult homosexual , bisexual , and heterosexual relationships and that society should recognize them legally . However , government authorities such as those in Switzerland fear that Raëlians are a threat to public morals for supporting liberalized sex education for children . The authorities believe that such liberalized sex education teaches youth how to obtain sexual gratification which would encourage sexual abuse of underage children . The Raëlians disagree with those fears and stated that sex education done properly would involve educating parents as well as children . Susan J. Palmer writes that in 1991 , a French journalist went to a Raëlian Seminar and taped couples having sexual intercourse in tents . These tapes gained widespread publicity — with news stories describing these practices as perverted and a form of brainwashing . Since 1991 , Raël 's teachings on sexual intercourse have caused controversy among other religious groups . The next year , Catholic schools in Montreal , Canada objected to a proposed condom vending machine as contrary to their mission . In response , Raëlian guides gave the Catholic students ten thousand condoms . The Commissioner of Catholic schools for Montreal said they could do nothing to stop them . Around this time , Raëlians dubbed the event " Operation Condom " . = = = Cloning of humans = = = In the scientific community , reproductive cloning refers only to the creation of a genetically identical living thing . " Genetically identical " does not mean altogether identical ; this kind of cloning does not reproduce a living thing 's memories or experiences , for example . However , in discussions of Raëlianism , cloning sometimes seems to refer not only to reproductive cloning , but also reproductive human cloning plus mind and / or brain transfer , or to a process of making adult clones . Raëlians take this even further and say that humanity can attain eternal life through the science of cloning . According to the book Yes to Human Cloning , the first stage of this extended cloning process is creating a human embryo through human cloning . Raëlian bishop and Clonaid CEO Brigitte Boisselier claimed that an American woman underwent a cloning procedure of this type that led to the birth of a girl named Eve on 26 December 2002 . Vorilhon told lawmakers that banning the development of human cloning was comparable to outlawing medical advances such as " antibiotics , blood transfusions , and vaccines . " The second stage of cloning , according to Raëlians , is causing the clone to mature faster than normal . Raël says that in the future , scientists will discover an " accelerated @-@ growth process " in which a process like guided self @-@ assembly of rapidly expanded cells or even nanotechnological assembly of a whole human body can form in a very short time . The third stage is the transfer of memory and personality from the original person to the mature clone . For the process to maintain one branch for personality and memory , as opposed to two , a recording of the individual 's mind would be required before the time of death , and would be transferred to an adult clone body after the original has died . In the final stages of development , hitherto unknown information contained within undamaged DNA would be enough to bring others back from the dead including their memories and personality . This would be done by taking a small sample from someone 's body and preserving it at the time when the level of the brain 's efficiency and knowledge is highest . On the day of death , a cell would be taken from the sample for the cloning to take place , and the memories and personality would be restored to their peak level . The Raëlian Church has close links with the controversial company Clonaid . Brigitte Boisselier , a Raëlian and chief executive of Clonaid , made a controversial and unverified claim that a human baby was conceived through cloning technology . Around this time , Clonaid 's subsidiary BioFusion Tech claimed to have in possession a cell fusion device that assisted the cloning of human embryos . The Vatican , however , says that experimenters expressed " brutal mentality " for attempting to clone human beings . Pope John Paul II criticized the experiment which he believed threatened the dignity of human life . In response , the leader of the Raëlian Church dismissed the Pope 's ethical concerns , calling them an " accumulation of religious prejudices . "
= Capture of Savannah = The Capture of Savannah , or sometimes the First Battle of Savannah ( because of a siege in 1779 ) , was an American Revolutionary War battle fought on December 29 , 1778 between local American Patriot militia and Continental Army units holding the city and a British invasion force under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell . The British seizure of the city led to an extended occupation and was the opening move in the British southern strategy to regain control of the rebellious Southern provinces by appealing to the strong Loyalist sentiment believed to be there . General Sir Henry Clinton , the commander @-@ in @-@ chief of the British forces based in New York City , dispatched Campbell and a 3 @,@ 100 man force from New York to capture Savannah , and begin the process of returning Georgia to British control . He was to be assisted by troops under the command of Brigadier General Augustine Prevost that were marching up from Saint Augustine in East Florida . After landing near Savannah on December 23 , Campbell assessed the American defenses , which were comparatively weak , and decided to attack without waiting for Prevost . Taking advantage of local assistance he successfully flanked the American position outside the town , captured a large portion of Major General Robert Howe 's army , and drove the remnants to retreat into South Carolina . Campbell and Prevost followed up the victory with the capture of Sunbury and an expedition to Augusta . The latter was only occupied by Campbell for a few weeks before he retreated back to Savannah , citing insufficient Loyalist and Indian support and the threat of Patriot forces across the Savannah River in South Carolina . The British held off a Franco @-@ American siege in 1779 , and held the city until late in the war . = = Background = = In March 1778 , following the defeat of a British army at Saratoga and the consequent entry of France into the American Revolutionary War as an American ally , Lord George Germain , the British secretary responsible for the war , wrote to Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton that capturing the southern colonies was " considered by the King as an object of great importance in the scale of the war " . Germain 's instructions to Clinton , framed as recommendations , were that he should abandon Philadelphia and then embark on operations to recover Georgia and the Carolinas , while making diversionary attacks against Virginia and Maryland . = = = British preparations = = = In June and July 1778 Clinton successfully removed his troops from Philadelphia back to New York . In November , after dealing with the threat of a French fleet off New York and Newport , Rhode Island , Clinton turned his attention to the south . He organized a force of about 3 @,@ 000 men in New York and sent orders to Saint Augustine , the capital of East Florida , where Brigadier General Augustine Prevost was to organize all available men and Indian agent John Stuart was to rally the local Creek and Cherokee warriors to assist in operations against Georgia . Clinton 's basic plan , first proposed by Thomas Brown in 1776 , began with the capture of the capital of Georgia , Savannah . Clinton gave command of the detachment from New York to Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell . The force consisted of two battalions ( the 1st and 2nd ) of the 71st Regiment of Foot , the Hessian regiments von Wöllwarth and von Wissenbach , and four Loyalist provincial units : one battalion from the New York Volunteers , two from DeLancey 's Brigade , and one from Skinner 's Brigade . Campbell sailed from New York on November 26 and arrived off Tybee Island , near the mouth of the Savannah River , on December 23 . = = = American defenses = = = The state of Georgia was defended by two separate forces . Units of the Continental Army were under the command of General Robert Howe , who was responsible for the defense of the entire South , while the state 's militia companies were under the overall command of Georgia Governor John Houstoun . Howe and Georgia authorities had previously squabbled over control of military expeditions against Prevost in East Florida , and those expeditions had failed . These failures led the Continental Congress to decide in September 1778 to replace Howe with Major General Benjamin Lincoln , who had successfully negotiated militia participation in events surrounding the British defeat at Saratoga . Lincoln had not yet arrived when word reached Howe that Clinton was sending troops to Georgia . During November 1778 British raids into Georgia became more and more threatening to the state 's population centers . Despite the urgency of the situation , Governor Houstoun refused to allow Howe to direct the movements of the Georgia militia . On November 18 , Howe began marching south from Charleston , South Carolina with 550 Continental Army troops , arriving in Savannah late that month . He learned that Campbell had sailed from New York on December 6 . On December 23 sails were spotted off Tybee Island . The next day , Governor Houstoun assigned 100 Georgia militia to Howe . A war council decided to attempt a vigorous defense of Savannah , in spite of the fact that they were likely to be significantly outnumbered , hoping to last until Lincoln 's troops arrived . Due the large number of potential landing points , Howe was forced to hold most of his army in reserve until the British had actually landed . = = Battle = = The place Campbell selected for landing was Girardeau 's Plantation , located about 2 miles ( 3 @.@ 2 km ) below the city . When word reached Howe that the landing had started on December 29 , he sent a company of Continentals to occupy the bluffs above the landing site . Campbell realized that the bluffs would need to be controlled before the majority of his forces could land , and dispatched two companies of the 71st Regiment to take control of them . The Continentals opened fire at about 100 yards ( 91 m ) ; the British , rather than returning fire , advanced rapidly with bayonets fixed , denying the Continentals a second shot . The Continentals retreated , having killed four and wounded five at no cost to themselves . By noon , Campbell had landed his army and began to proceed cautiously toward the city . Howe held a council that morning , and ground was chosen at which to make a stand . About one @-@ half mile ( 0 @.@ 7 km ) south of the city he established a line of defense in the shape of an open V , with the ends anchored by swampy woods . On the left Howe placed Georgia Continentals and militia under Samuel Elbert , while on the right he put South Carolina Continentals and militia under Isaac Huger and William Thomson . The line was supported by four pieces of field artillery , and light infantry companies guarded the flanks . Most of Howe 's troops , including the Continentals , had seen little or no action in the war . When Campbell 's advance companies spotted Howe 's line around 2 : 00 pm , the main body stopped short of the field and Campbell went to see what he was up against . He viewed Howe 's defenses as essentially sound , but a local slave told him that there was a path through the swamp on Howe 's right . Campbell ordered Sir James Baird to take 350 light infantry and 250 New York Loyalists and follow the slave through the swamp , while he arrayed his troops just out of view in a way that would give the impression he would attempt a flanking maneuver on Howe 's left . One of his officers climbed a tree to observe Baird 's progress . True to the slave 's word , the trail came out near the Continental barracks , which had been left unguarded ; the Continentals were unaware they had been flanked . When they reached position , the man in the tree signaled by waving his hat , and Campbell ordered the regulars to charge . The first sounds of battle Howe heard were musket fire from the barracks , but these were rapidly followed by cannon fire and the appearance of charging British and German troops on his front . He ordered an immediate retreat , but it rapidly turned into a rout . His untried troops hardly bothered to return fire , some throwing down their weapons before attempting to run away through the swampy terrain . Campbell reported that " It was scarcely possible to come up with them , their retreat was rapid beyond Conception . " The light infantry in the Continental rear cut off the road to Augusta , the only significant escape route , forcing a mad scramble of retreating troops into the city itself . The Georgia soldiers on the right attempted to find a safe crossing of Musgrove Creek , but one did not exist , and many of the troops were taken prisoner . Soldiers who did not immediately surrender were sometimes bayoneted . Colonel Huger managed to form a rear @-@ guard to cover the escape of a number of the Continentals . Some of Howe 's men managed to escape to the north before the British closed off the city , but others were forced to attempt swimming across Yamacraw Creek ; an unknown number drowned in the attempt . = = Aftermath = = Campbell gained control of the city at the cost to his forces of seven killed and seventeen wounded , not including the four men killed and five wounded during preliminary skirmishing . Campbell took 453 prisoners , and there were at least 83 dead and 11 wounded from Howe 's forces . When Howe 's retreat ended at Purrysburg , South Carolina he had 342 men left , less than half his original army . Howe would receive much of the blame for the disaster , with William Moultrie arguing that he should have either disputed the landing site in force or retreated without battle to keep his army intact . He was exonerated in a court martial that inquired into the event , although the tribunal pointed out that Howe should have made a stand at the bluffs or more directly opposed the landing . General Prevost arrived from East Florida in mid @-@ January , and shortly after sent Campbell with 1 @,@ 000 men to take Augusta . Campbell occupied the frontier town against minimal opposition , but by then General Lincoln had begun to rally support in South Carolina to oppose the British . Campbell abandoned Augusta on February 14 , the same day a Loyalist force en route to meet him was defeated in the Battle of Kettle Creek . Although Patriot forces following the British were ambushed in the March 3 Battle of Brier Creek , the Georgia backcountry remained in Patriot hands . Campbell wrote that he would be " the first British officer to [ rend ] a star and stripe from the flag of Congress " . The British held Savannah until July 11 , 1782 , when its troops were withdrawn . Savannah was used as a base to conduct coastal raids which targeted areas from Charleston , South Carolina to the Florida coast . In the fall of 1779 , a combined French and American siege to recapture Savannah failed with significant casualties . Control of Georgia was formally returned to its royal governor , James Wright , in July 1779 , but the backcountry would not come under British control until after the 1780 Siege of Charleston . Patriot forces recovered Augusta by siege in 1781 , but Savannah remained in British hands until 1782 .
= Eaton Hall , Cheshire = Eaton Hall is the country house of the Duke of Westminster . It is set within a large estate 1 mile ( 2 km ) south of the village of Eccleston , in Cheshire , England . The house is surrounded by formal gardens , parkland , farmland and woodland . The estate covers an area of about 10 @,@ 872 acres ( 4 @,@ 400 ha ) . The first substantial house was built in the 17th century . In the early 19th century it was replaced by a much larger house designed by William Porden . This in turn was replaced by an even larger house , with outbuildings and a chapel , designed by Alfred Waterhouse . Building started in 1870 and concluded about 12 years later . By 1960 the fabric of the house had deteriorated and , like many other mansions during this period , it was demolished , although the chapel and many of the outbuildings were retained . A new house was built but its design was not considered to be sympathetic to the local landscape , and in the late 1980s it was re @-@ cased and given the appearance of a French château . The house has been surrounded by formal gardens since the 17th century , the design of which has changed over the centuries in accordance with current ideas and fashions , as has the surrounding parkland . A variety of buildings are included in the estate , some decorative , others built for the business of the estate ; many of these are listed buildings . The house and estate are not normally open to the public , but the gardens are open on three days a year to raise money for charity , and some of the estate 's buildings can be hired for charitable purposes . = = Halls = = Eaton Hall has been the country house of the Grosvenor family since the 15th century . There is evidence of a two @-@ storey house on a moated site in the estate in a 17th @-@ century estate map and an 18th @-@ century engraving . A survey undertaken in 1798 showed that the building was still present . = = = Samwell Hall = = = The first substantial house was built for Sir Thomas Grosvenor , 3rd Baronet . He inherited the estate at the age of 19 when he succeeded his grandfather , Sir Richard Grosvenor , 2nd Baronet , who died in 1664 . The new owner commissioned the architect William Samwell to design the house . Building started in 1675 ; much of the stone used was brought from the ruined Holt Castle in north Wales . By 1683 the cost of building the house had risen to over £ 1 @,@ 000 ( equivalent to £ 530 @,@ 000 in 2015 ) . An engraving of the time shows it to have been a substantial square house with three storeys and dormers . The entrance front had nine bays and a portico . The engraving also shows the earlier moated house to the south of the new house . = = = Porden Hall = = = By the time that Robert Grosvenor , then the 2nd Earl Grosvenor , and later the 1st Marquess of Westminster , inherited the estate in 1802 , the Samwell Hall had become old @-@ fashioned and in need of renovation . Grosvenor appointed William Porden to plan the improvements . Building started in 1803 and Porden estimated it would take three years to build at a cost of £ 10 @,@ 000 ( equivalent to £ 530 @,@ 000 in 2015 ) . In the event it took just under 10 years and cost over £ 100 @,@ 000 ( equivalent to £ 530 @,@ 000 in 2015 ) . The previous house was encased and surrounded by " every possible permutation of the gothic style " ; including turrets , pinnacles , arched windows , octagonal towers , and buttresses ( both regular and flying ) . Two new wings were added in the first stage , and in the 1820s more wings were added , by this time under the direction of Benjamin Gummow . The interior of the house was as lavish as the exterior , with more Gothic detailing . The hangings for the state bed included 97 yards ( 89 m ) of purple damask and 103 yards ( 94 m ) of sarsenet ( fine silk ) trimmed with gold lace . When the future Queen Victoria visited in 1832 at the age of 13 , she wrote in her journal : " The house is magnificent " . Others described it as being " as extravagant and opulent as the very latest upholsterer @-@ decorators could make it " . A critic found it " the most gaudy concern I ever saw " and " a vast pile of mongrel gothic which ... is a monument of wealth , ignorance and bad taste " . Richard Grosvenor , 2nd Marquess of Westminster , succeeded his father in 1845 and commissioned the Scottish architect William Burn to make alterations to the house . Burn raised the centre of the south front to make it look like a tower , and changed some of the external Gothic features . The architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner described this house as a " spectacular Gothic mansion " . = = = Waterhouse Hall = = = The 2nd Marquess died in 1869 and was succeeded by his son Hugh Lupus Grosvenor , initially the 3rd Marquess and from 1874 the 1st Duke of Westminster . He appointed Alfred Waterhouse to design another new hall . Again the core of the previous hall was retained ; parts were refaced and re @-@ modelled , other parts were completely rebuilt . A private wing was built for the use of the family , and this was joined to the main part of the hall by a corridor . Waterhouse also designed the chapel and a clock @-@ house , and rebuilt most of the stabling . The work began in 1870 , took 12 years to complete , and cost £ 803 @,@ 000 ( £ NaN in 2016 ) . The library was 90 feet ( 27 m ) long , the dining room with its ante room was 105 feet ( 32 m ) long , and the octagonal great hall contained an organ . For the interior , Henry Stacy Marks painted a frieze of the Canterbury Pilgrims for the morning room , Gertrude Jekyll painted panels for the drawing room , and in other rooms were paintings by Gainsborough , Stubbs and Reynolds . Pevsner wrote that it " was an outstanding expression of High Victorian originality " , and added " this Wagnerian palace was the most ambitious instance of Gothic Revival domestic architecture anywhere in the country " . The Daily Telegraph described it as " one of the most princely and beautiful mansions that these islands contain " . During both World Wars , parts of the hall were used as a hospital . In 1943 , the Britannia Royal Naval College moved to the hall from Dartmouth when the college there was bombed . They moved back to Dartmouth in 1946 , after which the hall was used as an officer cadet training school until the end of National Service in 1958 . = = = Dennys Hall and the present hall = = = By 1960 the hall needed repair and decoration , and dry rot was found in the roof . Robert Grosvenor , 5th Duke of Westminster , decided to demolish the main part of the Waterhouse building and the private wing , retaining the chapel , clock tower and stables ; this took place in 1963 . A new building was commissioned by the Duke who appointed John Dennys , his wife 's brother @-@ in @-@ law , as architect . Dennys had earlier worked on Saighton Grange on the Eaton estate . The intention was to build a modern , manageable home . The result was a rectangular , flat @-@ roofed building , faced with white Travertine , its " whiteness [ being ] a stark contrast to the softness of the Cheshire landscape " . Its construction began in 1971 , it took less than 2 1 ⁄ 2 years to build , and cost £ 459 @,@ 000 ( £ NaN in 2016 ) . The exterior had a central porte @-@ cochère on the entrance front . The house followed an asymmetrical plan , with two storeys plus a basement containing a swimming pool . A central two @-@ storey hall gave access to the principal rooms , with the main reception rooms being on the first floor . The decor included wall coverings in silk and woodblock floors . As the hall was considered to be unsympathetic in appearance to the local countryside , it was decided to change its exterior . This was designed by the Percy Thomas Partnership . Work on recasing the Dennys Hall to make it look more like a French château began in 1989 and was completed in 1991 . = = = Associated structures = = = Adjacent to the hall are the remaining structures designed by Waterhouse . To the north is Eaton Chapel ; this , with its clock tower , is a Grade I listed building . The decorative scheme of the interior of the chapel is based on the ' Te Deum ' ; it involves stained glass and stone mosaic , and was developed by Frederic Shields . Immediately to the north of the chapel is the Stable Court ; this is listed at Grade II * . The buildings in the Stable Court are in brick , red stone , and half @-@ timbering , with red tile roofs . The west range has a half @-@ timbered upper storey with two gables , and a central gatehouse with turrets which are polygonal at the base and circular higher up and have conical roofs . On each side of the gatehouse are two @-@ storey arcades with gables above . In the courtyard is a statue of a horse by Joseph Boehm , which is listed at Grade II . At the southeast corner of the stable yard is a postillion 's house , dated 1873 and listed at Grade II * . In a lobby between the stable yard and the chapel is an artificial grotto , listed at Grade II . In the area around the Stable Court are further structures listed at Grade II . To the north is the Coachhouse Court , which consists of a coach @-@ house , a covered court and a riding school . These were designed in the 1870s for the 1st Duke . To the north of this are Eaton Hall Cottages , four attached cottages , which were designed about the same time . In the forecourt between the Coachhouse Court and the cottages is a lodge , with gates , piers and screens . Near to the cottages is the former engine shed of the Eaton Hall Railway . To the east of the stable yard is a chapel @-@ like sandstone game pantry dating from the 1870s . From 1896 until 1947 , the estate was served by the 15 in ( 381 mm ) gauge Eaton Hall Railway . The line ran from the hall to a depot at Balderton on the Chester @-@ Wrexham line , and a spur went to Cuckoo 's Nest , where there was a repair yard . Part of the old railway route was re @-@ opened in 1996 . = = Grounds = = The estate covers an area of about 10 @,@ 872 acres ( 4 @,@ 400 ha ) , within which about 1 @,@ 235 acres ( 500 ha ) of parkland and about 50 acres ( 20 ha ) of formal gardens . These are listed at Grade II * on the National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens . The boundaries of the estate generally follow field boundaries but on the east side they follow the line of the River Dee . = = = History = = = In the 17th century , formal gardens were created around the Samwell Hall ; these included such features as parterres and canals . However they were costly to maintain , and in the later part of the 18th century fashions changed to favour a more informal type of garden layout . Credit for designing the informal gardens at Eaton Hall has been given to Lancelot " Capability " Brown . Although one of Brown 's documents dated 1764 shows that payment was made to him by the estate , it also notes that a plan for the garden had been drawn up by William Emes . From this , Marion Mako concludes that , as Brown was an engineer as well as a landscape gardener , the payment was for an engineering project rather than for landscaping . Emes had been influenced by Brown , although he had not been his pupil . With his clerk of works , Thomas Leggett , Emes worked in the estate for the next 10 years . When Robert Grosvenor ( later the 1st Marquess ) inherited the estate at the beginning of the 19th century , it had become run @-@ down . The marquess appointed John Webb , a pupil of Emes , to improve the garden and the landscaping . Among Webb 's innovations were new terrace walls behind the house , the levelling of Belgrave Avenue and the planting of 130 @,@ 000 trees along it , and a serpentine lake to the east of the house alongside the River Dee . He also arranged for the construction of greenhouses and a kitchen garden . Fashions changed again , and in the 1820s William Andrews Nesfield was employed to design new parterres . He also built more terracing and a balustraded wall . Statues , stone urns and vases on pedestals were added to the garden . In 1852 the Camellia House was built ; this was extended in 1870 to its final size of 385 feet ( 117 m ) long , 10 feet ( 3 m ) wide , and 18 feet ( 5 m ) high . The present kitchen garden was created the same year ; this provided the food not only for the hall , but also for Grosvenor House in London . More greenhouses were built and , by about 1880 , 56 gardeners were employed . There were other building works in the grounds . Waterhouse created a grotto between the chapel and the stable yard , and designed the Parrot House and a loggia ( now known as the Temple ) . The Chester architect John Douglas designed the Dutch Tea House in the Tea Garden , and a number of service buildings in the estate . In 1897 – 98 Edwin Lutyens started to improve what had been known as the Italian Garden ( and is now the Dragon Garden ) . Work continued in the gardens and grounds during the 20th century . The 2nd Duke commissioned Detmar Blow , a pupil of Lutyens , to re @-@ design parts of the gardens . With Fernand Billerey , he removed the parterres , built a canal leading away from the house , added hedged compartments to the terraces , and a pond at the base of the terraces ( now the Lioness and Kudu Pond ) . During the Second World War , part of the parkland was requisitioned as an airfield , and in 1940 some of the garden buildings were damaged by a cluster of incendiary devices . After the war , improvement of the gardens did not resume until the 1960s , when the wives of the 4th and 5th Dukes worked with the designer James Russell . Since the early 1990s , the gardens have been further developed under the 6th Duke and his wife , Natalia , working with the garden designers Arabella Lennox @-@ Boyd and Vernon Russell Smith . = = = Formal gardens = = = To the east of the house a series of terraces leads down to the Fish Pond . The retaining walls at the southern end of the upper terrace are listed at Grade II , as are the retaining walls at the end of the upper terrace and the steps leading down to the middle terrace . Stretching along the middle terrace is a long rectangular pool containing a three fountains . The retaining walls of this pool are listed at Grade II , as are the railings on the north and the south side of the terrace . On each side of the pool are two compartments framed by yew hedges . Between these compartments , on each side , is a statue by Raymond Smith . Both of these were made in 1852 for the 2nd Marquess and are listed at Grade II . The one to the north depicts a stag at bay , and that to the south a hunter on a rearing horse . From the end of the pool , steps lead down to a smaller rectangular pool at right @-@ angles to the first . The steps and the retaining wall at the end of the terrace are listed at Grade II . The retaining walls of the pool are also listed at Grade II . This area contains two statues by Jonathan Kenworthy . From this pool a path , known as the Broad Walk , stretches to the north and the south . At each end of the Broad Walk is a building designed by Waterhouse for the 3rd Marquess . At the north end is the Parrot House , dating from 1881 – 83 , which is built in yellow terracotta . It is the form of a round colonnaded Ionic temple with a shallow domed roof . Above the colonnade and the inner drum are concentric balustrades . A flight of eleven steps leads up to the south entrance . The Parrot House is listed at Grade II . At the south end of the Broad Walk is a loggia , dating from about 1880 . This is built in buff and red sandstone . At its front are three arches between Ionic columns . The loggia was built to enclose a Roman altar which was found in 1821 at a spring near Boughton and brought to Eaton in 1822 . The loggia is listed at Grade II . To the east and west of the loggia are reconstructed Roman columns , each of which is listed at Grade II . South of the loggia is the Dutch Tea Garden , which was laid out by C. E. Mallows in about 1905 . The garden contains the Tea House which was designed by John Douglas . This has a cruciform plan and is a half @-@ timbered building on a sandstone plinth . The roof is of red tiles , and sweeps upwards to a small spire surmounted by a weathercock . It is listed at Grade II . In the centre of the garden is a statue of Mercury and in front of the Tea House are two stone Talbots . To the north of the Tea House , on the path leading to the Broad Walk , is a pair of wrought iron gates made in 1913 for the 2nd Duke . The gates and their overthrow are listed at Grade II . To the south of the hall is a formal garden known as the Italian Garden . This contains a pool at the centre of which is the Dragon Fountain . The fountain is listed at Grade II . In the Italian Garden are two statues , also listed at Grade II , which were taken from the old hall when it was demolished ; these are a statue of Joan of Eaton , and of the Norman Bishop Odo . Leading from the north of the house is the Spring Walk , leading to the Kitchen Garden , in which food is grown for the family . To the east of the Kitchen Garden is the Camellia Walk , a long greenhouse filled with camellias . This is 388 feet ( 118 m ) long and is believed to be the longest glass corridor in the world . It is listed at Grade II . Some of the gates in this garden are believed to have been designed by Lutyens , and are listed at Grade II . Other walls and gates around the garden were designed by Waterhouse in about 1870 , and are listed at Grade II * . To the east of the house is the forecourt , which has as its centrepiece a pool containing an equestrian statue of the 1st Duke . This depicts the Duke on horseback holding aloft a falcon . It is in bronze and was made between 1870 and 1879 for the Duke by G. F. Watts . It is listed at Grade II * . The retaining walls of the pond are listed at Grade II . To the west of the forecourt are the Golden Gates which , together with their screens and lodges , are listed at Grade I. The other listed building in the gardens is a large stone urn on the east side of the Fish Pool dating from about 1880 . This is richly carved , is 10 feet ( 3 m ) high , and stands on a circular pedestal which forms the final feature of the eastern view from the hall . It is listed at Grade II . = = = Other features = = = The grounds can be entered by a number of approaches , each of which contain structures of architectural importance . Belgrave Avenue , some 1 @.@ 75 miles ( 3 km ) long , is a straight drive which leads from the Wrexham Road ( B5445 ) to the Golden Gates and the forecourt on the east of the hall . Belgrave Lodge , on the south side of the avenue was built in 1899 to a design by John Douglas for the 1st Duke . It is built in red bricks with yellow stone plinths , bands and other dressings and is listed at Grade II . The associated lodge gates , piers and wing walls were designed at the same time by Douglas and are also listed at Grade II . Part way along the avenue , on its north side , is Upper Belgrave Lodge . This was also designed by Douglas for the 1st Duke , it is dated 1877 , and is Grade II listed . Further along the avenue is a Grade II listed obelisk in red sandstone with a copper cap , dated 1890 , designed by Douglas and Fordham . The Aldford Approach leads from the village of Aldford and crosses the River Dee by the Grade I listed Aldford Iron Bridge , which was built in 1824 by William Hazledine for the 1st Marquis . Iron Bridge Lodge , adjacent to this bridge , was designed by Douglas and Fordham in 1894 and is listed at Grade II . Also on this approach is Coachmore Hill Lodge which was designed in the 1880s by Douglas ; it is listed at Grade II . On the approach , near the Dutch Tea Garden are gates with an overthrow , and piers dating from about 1870 in Classic Revival style , listed at Grade II . From the north of the hall are two further approaches . The Eccleston Approach goes to the village of Eccleston , and slightly to the west , the Chester Approach bypasses the village , going through Eccleston Hill . Associated with these approaches are further listed buildings . Of these , the major structure is Eccleston Hill Lodge which was designed in 1881 – 82 by Douglas for the 1st Duke and is listed at Grade II * . This is a three @-@ storey gatehouse tower with multiple attached smaller towers and a steeply hipped roof . The other structures are listed at Grade II and comprise Eccleston Lodge which was designed by Douglas and Fordham in 1894 , its associated gates , piers and wing railings , a sandstone balustered causeway south of the lodge carrying the drive , a house called Eaton Boat , designed by Douglas about 1880 , Garden Lodge designed by Waterhouse in 1881 – 83 , a pair of gates , railings and screen walls adjoining the lodge dating from 1881 – 83 by Waterhouse , Stud Lodge storehouse and domestic offices , designed in 1883 by Douglas , the Stud Riding School , the Stud Stables , the house east of Stud , Eaton Estate Office , designed by Waterhouse in 1880 , the North Lodge of 1881 by Waterhouse , the North Lodge gate and post from about 1881 also by Waterhouse , the Garden House of 1893 by Douglas and Minshull , and gates and gate piers to the south of Garden House . = = Present day = = Eaton Hall is a private residence and is not open to the public , but the gardens are open on three days each year to raise money for charity . In the area of the Stable Court are a number of rooms which are used for exhibitions . The Carriage Museum holds the Westminster Collection of Carriages . The Exhibition Room houses a collection of items relating to the Grosvenor family , and the History Room contains items about the history of the family and illustrations of the hall at various stages in the past . The Stables include items relating to the family 's horses . In the garden , the Parrot House contains an exhibition of paintings by the Victorian artist Henry Stacy Marks . Some of the areas in the stable court are available for hire for charitable fund raising . The Long Room , which was refurbished in 1992 and now has the character of a large country house drawing room , can hold 150 people . The former saddle room is now a dining room . The carriage room and adjoining buildings have been converted into the Wolf Room , which has a movable stage and audio @-@ visual facilities . It can seat 200 people and contains eight black @-@ chalk pictures of birds by Joseph Wolf . The chapel is usually reserved for the family but in December each year it is used for carol concerts to raise money for charity .
= Poh Ern Shih Temple = Poh Ern Shih ( Chinese : 报恩寺 ; pinyin : bào 'ēnsì ; literally : " Temple of Thanksgiving " ) is located on a small hilltop at Chwee Chian Road , off Pasir Panjang Road , on Singapore 's southern coast . The Buddhist temple was built as a memorial to those who lost their lives during the Battle of Pasir Panjang in 1942 , villagers as well as Allied and Japanese soldiers . The temple 's first abbot , Sumangalo , an American Theravadin monk , was the first Westerner to be appointed abbot of a Buddhist temple in Singapore . Following a major development project which began in 2003 , Poh Ern Shih became the first religious building in the country to incorporate both eco @-@ friendly and elderly @-@ friendly features . Together with its partner , the Buddhist Fellowship , the temple conducts programmes such as Dharma talks , Sutta discussions and meditation courses in Chinese and English for the Buddhist community . = = History = = Poh Ern Shih is located on the top of Chwee Chian Hill , off Pasir Panjang Road , on Singapore 's southern coast . Facing the hilltop is Bukit Chandu ( ' Opium Hill ' in Malay ) , where the British East India Company had an opium factory to process raw opium from the Golden Triangle for sale to China and South East Asia in the 19th century . To protect its military facilities in the vicinity , the British colonial government placed heavy artillery guns on Chwee Chian Hill before the onset of the Second World War , in anticipation of seaborne attacks by the Japanese off the coast of Pasir Panjang . During the Battle of Pasir Panjang , Bukit Chandu was the last bastion of the 1st and 2nd Battalion Malay Regiment who , together with the 2nd Loyals Regiment , defended the western and southern parts of Singapore from 8 – 14 February 1942 . Despite running low on ammunition and food , the Malay Regiments put up strong resistance , inflicting a heavy toll on the Japanese invaders . Outnumbered , the defenders were finally overrun and massacred by reinforced Japanese forces . A Malay officer , Second Lieutenant Adnan Bin Saidi , was captured alive and tortured by the Japanese , before being executed . The story of his heroism became well known throughout Singapore . = = = Founder Lee Choon Seng = = = Based on the concept of liberating the spirits of the soldiers and civilians who were sacrificed during the Japanese invasion in World War II , the temple of Poh Ern Shih was constructed on the site of the bloodshed on Chwee Chian Hill . It was established in 1954 as a modest single storey temple by philanthropist Lee Choon Seng ( 1888 — 1966 ) , as one of the few Chinese Mahayana temples in Singapore dedicated to the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva . Lee was born in Yong Choon county , Fujian province , in China . He joined his father in Negri Sembilan in his youth , before moving to Singapore to set up his own property business . He was very successful , and achieved positions of leadership in the local Chinese community . He was widely known as one of the co @-@ founders of the Oversea @-@ Chinese Banking Corporation ( OCBC ) , and was its acting chairman during the Japanese Occupation . As one of the early Buddhist pioneers , Lee was also involved in the foundation of the Buddhist Publications Circulation Centre in 1933 , and the Singapore Buddhist Lodge ( 新加坡佛教居士林 ) in 1934 . = = = First Western abbot = = = Venerable Sumangalo ( 1903 — 1963 ) was born as Robert Stuart Clifton in Birmingham , Alabama in the United States in 1903 . After receiving his Doctorate in Literature , he lectured on Buddhism in the United States before moving to Asia to further his study of Buddhism . In 1957 , he joined the Theravada Order in Laos and received the monastic name Sumangalo , meaning " very auspicious " . He then left for Malaya and later visited Singapore on a Dharma tour in late 1959 with another American Buddhist monk , Venerable Susiddhi . Through his efforts , a number of Youth Circles and Sunday schools were set up locally . In January 1959 he was offered the honorary abbotship of Poh Ern Shih , thus becoming the first Westerner to be the abbot of a Buddhist temple in Singapore . While in Singapore , he assisted Pitt Chin Hui in her translation of the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Sutra from Chinese to English . He returned to Malaya and spent his later years at Penang Buddhist Association , where most of his Dharma lectures were held . His lectures were later compiled in English and Chinese and are still freely distributed . Venerable Sumangalo died on 6 February 1963 and was cremated in Penang . = = = Female Buddhist pioneer = = = Pitt Chin Hui ( 1906 — 1981 ) was born to a wealthy family in Guangzhou , China . She was the youngest child of the family , and was taken by her mother to Penang to receive her early education . In 1924 , she sat for the Senior Cambridge Examination , and while waiting for the examination results she became an English teacher at the Fujian Girls ' School . In 1927 , she left for further studies at the Zhongshan University in Guangzhou . However , she terminated her tertiary studies and returned to Penang when her mother became seriously ill . While in Penang , she attended Dharma lectures by Venerable Taixu and his disciple , Venerable Cihang , at the Kek Lok Si Temple . Pitt subsequently became one of Cihang 's disciples , and studied under him . She was responsible for setting up the Maha Bodhi School in Penang and Singapore ( 1946 ) , to promote Buddhist education to the young . Along with her school duties , Pitt was also an active voluntary worker in the Buddhist community . In December 1959 , Pitt embarked on the task of translating the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Sutra from Chinese to English at Poh Ern Shih , so that it would be accessible to the English @-@ educated . Venerable Sumangalo assisted Pitt in her translation tasks , as well as offering suggestions for improving the English version . In 1964 , Pitt was awarded the Public Service Star — BBM ( Bintang Bakti Masharakat ) — by Encik Yusof bin Ishak , the First President of the Republic of Singapore . In 1973 , she was appointed as Justice of the Peace by the Second President Dr. Benjamin Henry Sheares . Pitt Chin Hui was also a Vice @-@ President of the World Fellowship of Buddhists . She died in 1981 while on a trip in India . = = Building design = = To allow for expansion , the old premises were demolished . Reconstruction began in 2003 , and the office wing was completed in April 2007 , in phase 1 of the project . The new six @-@ storey building was designed by Lee Coo , who is also the architect behind the Venerable Hong Choon Memorial Hall of the Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Temple . Occupying a 46 @,@ 938 @-@ square @-@ foot ( 4 @,@ 360 @.@ 7 m2 ) freehold site , the new Poh Ern Shih is an architectural synthesis of classical features combined with modern eco @-@ friendly technology . = = = Civic consciousness = = = Conscious that a large percentage of its devotees were in their 60s , the Honorary President / Director of Poh Ern Shih , Lee Boon Siong , a retired lawyer , grandson of the temple 's founder , and its chief architect , strove to ensure that the temple was accessible to the elderly and those who use wheelchairs . A gentle driveway stretches from the gates to the upper levels of the temple , and every storey of the building has level flooring . The lavatory cubicles are fitted with easily reached " call @-@ for @-@ help " buttons , and the doors are designed so that they can be unlocked from the outside in the case of emergency . = = = Eco @-@ friendly features = = = The temple takes advantage of Singapore 's abundant sunlight by having three different kinds of solar energy cells on its rooftop . They are the poly @-@ crystalline silicon solar array , mono @-@ crystalline silicon solar array and amorphous silicon solar array . Poh Ern Shih 's water is heated by its solar panels , and its night lighting is powered by electricity converted from solar energy , With its breezy location , wind generators have also been erected to convert wind activity into electricity . The rainwater which falls on Poh Ern Shih is collected from surface run @-@ offs and rain gutters and used to irrigate the temple grounds , as well as to generate electricity used for charging the batteries of in @-@ house motorised wheelchairs . The electricity is produced by water from the highest floor of the temple passing through hydroelectric @-@ generators . A purification system is also being installed , so that the collected rainwater can be filtered and made potable . In line with the aim to make use of renewable resources , the furniture in Poh Ern Shih for its resident monastics is made from bamboo . Bamboo is considered to one of the most ecologically friendly materials for use in home furnishing and flooring , because it can be harvested without felling the entire tree . There is therefore no need for replanting , and the bamboo is allowed to regain its full height again over about five years , ready to be harvested again . The second phase of the temple was completed in late 2008 , featuring a new Main Ksitigarbha Prayer Hall as well as a Guanyin Meditation Hall with lapis lazuli statues and a 7 @-@ storey stupa . = = The temple today = = To reinvigorate itself and attract younger blood , Poh Ern Shih entered into a partnership with the Buddhist Fellowship , a non @-@ sectarian Buddhist organisation known locally for its revolutionary projects and activities intended to ensure that the Dharma is propagated in contemporary language and form . The Fellowship — whose more than 2 @,@ 000 members are mainly English @-@ speaking professionals , mostly under 45 years of age — initially rented space at Eton House in Paya Lebar . Lee Boon Siong contacted the Fellowship 's President , Angie Monksfield , a Chinese Singaporean married to an English Catholic , offering use of the temple premises . In early 2007 , Angie took up the offer after the rent for Eton House was raised by 57 per cent — a sum which was difficult for the fellowship to afford . The rent charged by the temple is the same as that which the Fellowship was paying before the increase demanded by its previous landlord . The Fellowship moved into its 4 @,@ 000 square feet ( 370 m2 ) of space in Poh Ern Shih on 29 May 2007 . The event was marked by an opening ceremony attended by Khaw Boon Wan , Minister for Health , and the Fellowship 's two spiritual patrons , Ajahn Brahm and Venerable Kwang Sheng , Abbot of Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Temple . The group conducts programmes such as Dharma talks , Sutta discussions and meditation courses led by visiting Sangha and notable lay Buddhist teachers such as Piya Tan , Dr. Ang Beng Choo and Prof. Tan Hun Tong and many more . The temple is open to the public daily , and admission is free .
= Zuo zhuan = The Zuo zhuan ( pronounced [ tsu ̯ ò ʈʂu ̯ ân ] ; Chinese : 左傳 ; Wade – Giles : Tso chuan ) , generally translated as Zuo Tradition or Commentary of Zuo , is an ancient Chinese narrative history that is traditionally regarded as a commentary on the ancient Chinese chronicle Spring and Autumn Annals ( Chunqiu 春秋 ) . It comprises thirty chapters covering a period from 722 to 468 BC , and focuses mainly on political , diplomatic , and military affairs from that era . The Zuo zhuan is famous for its " relentlessly realistic " style , and recounts many tense and dramatic episodes , such as battles and fights , royal assassinations and murder of concubines , deception and intrigue , excesses , citizens ' oppression and insurgences , and appearances of ghosts and cosmic portents . The Zuo zhuan was , for many centuries , the primary text through which the Chinese gained an understanding of their ancient history . Unlike the other two surviving Annals commentaries — the Gongyang and Guliang commentaries — the Zuo zhuan does not simply explain the wording of the Annals , but greatly expounds upon its historical background , and contains a large number of rich and lively accounts of Spring and Autumn period history and culture . The Zuo zhuan is the source of more Chinese sayings and idioms than any other classical work , and its concise , flowing style came to be held as a paragon of elegant Classical Chinese . Its tendency toward third @-@ person narration and portraying characters through direct speech and action became hallmarks of Chinese narrative in general , and its style was imitated by historians , storytellers , and ancient style prose masters for over 2000 years of subsequent Chinese history . Although the Zuo zhuan has long been regarded as " a masterpiece of grand historical narrative " , its early textual history is largely unknown , and the nature of its original composition and authorship have been widely debated . The " Zuo " of the title was traditionally believed to refer to one " Zuo Qiuming " — an obscure figure of the 5th century BC described as a blind disciple of Confucius — but there is little actual evidence to support this . Modern scholars now generally believe that the Zuo zhuan was originally an independent work composed during the latter half of the 4th century BC that was later rearranged as a commentary to the Annals . = = History = = Tracing the early history of the Zuo zhuan is complicated by the fact that there were originally two versions of it : one , known as the " modern script " ( jinwen 今文 ) version , which circulated during the early Han dynasty ( 206 BC – AD 220 ) ; and another , known as the " ancient script " ( guwen 古文 ) version , which was discovered in the Han imperial archives by scholar Liu Xin during the reign of Emperor Ai of Han ( r . 7 – 1 BC ) . The earliest known mention of the Zuo zhuan appears in Sima Qian 's Records of the Grand Historian ( Shiji 史記 ) , the first of China 's twenty @-@ four dynastic histories , which was completed about 94 BC . Like the other two surviving commentaries on the Spring and Autumn Annals ( Chunqiu 春秋 ) — the Gongyang and Guliang traditions — the Zuo zhuan originally existed in an independent format , with no direct references to the Annals . In the 3rd century AD , scholar Du Yu intercalated it with the Annals so that each Annals entry was followed by the corresponding narrative from the Zuo zhuan , which became the received format of the Zuo zhuan that exists today . Modern scholars now generally believe that the Zuo zhuan was originally an independent work composed during the latter half of the 4th century BC — though probably incorporating some even older material — that was later rearranged as a commentary to the Annals . = = = Authorship = = = The Records of the Grand Historian refers to the Zuo zhuan as " Master Zuo 's Spring and Autumn Annals " ( Zuoshi Chunqiu 左氏春秋 ) and attributes it to a man named " Zuo Qiuming " ( or possibly " Zuoqiu Ming " ) , traditionally assumed to be the Zuo Qiuming who briefly appears in the Analects of Confucius ( Lunyu 論語 ) when Confucius praises him for his moral judgment . Other than his brief mention in the Analects , nothing is concretely known of Zuo Qiuming 's life or identity , nor of what connection he might have with the Zuo zhuan . This traditional assumption that the title 's " Master Zuo " refers to the Zuo Qiuming of the Analects is not based on any specific evidence , and was challenged by scholars as early as the 8th century during the Tang dynasty . Even if he is the " Zuo " referenced in the Zuo zhuan 's title , this attribution is questionable because the Zuo zhuan describes events from the late Spring and Autumn period that the Zuo Qiuming of the Analects could not have known . Alternatively , some scholars have suggested that the Zuo zhuan was actually the product of one Wu Qi ( 吳起 ; d . 381 or 378 BC ) , a military leader who served in the State of Wei and who , according to the Han Feizi , was from a place called " Zuoshi " . = = = Commentary status = = = In the early 19th century , the Chinese scholar Liu Fenglu ( 1776 – 1829 ) initiated a long , drawn @-@ out controversy when he proposed , by emphasizing certain discrepancies between it and the Annals , that the Zuo zhuan was not originally a commentary on the Annals . Liu 's theory was taken much further by the noted scholar and reformer Kang Youwei , who argued that Liu Xin did not really find the " ancient script " version of the Zuo zhuan in the imperial archives , as historical records describe , but actually forged it as a commentary on the Annals . Kang 's theory was that Liu Xin — who with his father Liu Xiang , the imperial librarian , was one of the first to have access to the rare documents in the Han dynasty 's imperial archives — took the Discourses of the States ( Guoyu 國語 ) and forged it into a chronicle @-@ like work to fit the format of the Annals in an attempt to lend credibility to the policies of his master , the usurper Wang Mang . Kang 's theory was supported by several subsequent Chinese scholars in the late 19th century , but was contradicted by a large number of 20th @-@ century studies that examined it from many different perspectives . In the early 1930s , French sinologist Henri Maspero performed a detailed textual study of the issue , concluding the Han dynasty forgery theory to be untenable . The Swedish sinologist Bernhard Karlgren , based on a series of linguistic and philological analyses he carried out in the 1920s , concluded that the Zuo zhuan is a genuine ancient text " probably to be dated between 468 and 300 BC . " While Liu 's hypothesis that the Zuo zhuan was not originally an Annals commentary has been generally accepted , Kang 's theory of Liu Xin forging the Zuo zhuan is now considered discredited . = = = Manuscripts = = = The oldest surviving Zuo zhuan manuscripts are six fragments that were discovered among the Dunhuang manuscripts in the early 20th century by the French sinologist Paul Pelliot and are now held at the Bibliothèque Nationale de France . Four of the fragments date to the Six Dynasties period ( 3rd to 6th centuries ) , while the other two date to the early Tang dynasty ( 7th century ) . The oldest known complete Zuo zhuan manuscript is the " ancient manuscript scroll " preserved at the Kanazawa Bunko Museum in Yokohama , Japan . = = Content = = The Zuo zhuan recounts the major political , military , and social events of the Spring and Autumn period , and is famous " for its dramatic power and realistic details " . It contains a variety of tense and dramatic episodes : battles and fights , royal assassinations and murder of concubines , deception and intrigue , excesses , citizens ' oppression and insurgences , and appearances of ghosts and cosmic portents . Each Zuo zhuan chapter begins with the Spring and Autumn Annals ( Chunqiu ) entry for the year , which is usually terse and brief , followed by the Zuo zhuan content for that year , which often contains long and detailed narratives . The Zuo zhuan originally contained only its core content , without any content from or references to the Spring and Autumn Annals . In the 3rd century AD , the Chinese scholar Du Yu intercalated the Annals into the Zuo zhuan , producing the received format that exists today . = = Themes = = Though the Zuo zhuan was probably not originally a commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals ( Chunqiu 春秋 ) — a work which was traditionally viewed as a direct creation of Confucius — its basic philosophical outlook is also strongly Confucian in nature . Its overarching theme is that haughty , evil , and stupid individuals generally bring disaster upon themselves , while those who are good , wise , and humble are usually justly rewarded . The Confucian principle of " ritual propriety " or " ceremony " ( lǐ 禮 ) is seen as governing all actions , including war , and to bring bad consequences if transgressed . However , the observance of li is never shown as guaranteeing victory , and the Zuo zhuan includes many examples of the good and innocent suffering senseless violence . Much of the Zuo zhuan 's status as a literary masterpiece stems from its " relentlessly realistic portrayal of a turbulent era marked by violence , political strife , intrigues , and moral laxity " . The narratives of the Zuo zhuan are highly didactic in nature , and are presented in such a way that they teach and illustrate moral principles . The German Sinologist Martin Kern has stated : " Instead of offering authorial judgments or catechistic hermeneutics , the Zuo zhuan lets its moral lessons unfold within the narrative itself , teaching at once history and historical judgment . " Unlike the Histories of Herodotus or the History of the Peloponnesian War of Thucydides — with which it is roughly contemporary — the Zuo zhuan 's narration always remains in the third person perspective , and presents as a dispassionate recorder of facts . = = = Battles = = = Several of the Zuo zhuan 's most famous sections are those dealing with critical historical battles , such as the Battle of Chengpu and the Battle of Bi . The Battle of Chengpu , the first of the Zuo zhuan 's great battles , took place in the summer of 632 BC at Chengpu ( modern Juancheng County , Shandong Province ) in the State of Wey . On one side were the troops of the powerful State of Chu , from what was then far southern China , led by the Chu prime minister Cheng Dechen . They were opposed by the armies of the State of Jin , led by Chong 'er , Duke of Jin , one of the most prominent and well known figures in the Zuo zhuan . Chu suffered a disastrous defeat in the battle itself , and it resulted in Chong 'er being named Hegemon ( bà 霸 ) of the various states . The narrative of the Battle of Chengpu is typical of Zuo zhuan battle narratives in that the description of the battle itself is relatively brief , with most of the narrative being focused on battle preparations , omens and prognostications regarding its outcome , the division of the spoils , and the shifts and defections of the various allied states involved in the conflict . This " official [ and ] restrained " style , which became typical of Chinese historical writing , is largely due to the ancient Chinese belief that ritual propriety and strategic preparation were more important than individual valor or bravery in determining the outcome of battles . = = = Succession crises = = = Several of the most notable passages in the Zuo zhuan describe succession crises , which seem to have been fairly common in China during the Spring and Autumn period . These crises often involved the " tangled affections " of the various rulers , and are described in a dramatic and vivid manner that gives insight into the life of the aristocratic elite in the China of the mid @-@ 1st millennium BC . The best known of these stories is that of Duke Zhuang of Zheng , who ruled the State of Zheng from 743 to 701 BC . Duke Zhuang was born " in a manner that startled " his mother ( probably breech birth ) , which caused her to later seek to persuade her husband to name Duke Zhuang 's younger brother as the heir apparent instead of him . The story ends with eventual reconciliation between mother and son — exemplifying the traditional Chinese virtues of both " ritual propriety " ( lǐ ) and " filial piety " ( xiào 孝 ) — which has made it consistently popular with readers over the centuries . = = = Moral verdicts = = = A number of Zuo zhuan anecdotes end with brief moral comments or verdicts that are attributed to either Confucius or an unnamed junzi ( 君子 ; " gentleman " , " lordling " , or " superior man " ) . These " moral of the story " postfaces , which were added later by Confucian scholars , are directed toward those currently in power , reminding them of " the historical precedents and inevitable consequences of their own actions . " They speak with the voices of previous ministers , advisers , " old men " , and other anonymous figures to remind rulers of historical and moral lessons , and suggest that ruler who heed their advice will succeed , while those who do not will fail . = = = Fate = = = Several sections of the Zuo zhuan demonstrate the traditional Chinese concept of " fate " or " destiny " ( mìng 命 ) , referring either to an individual 's mission in life or their allotted life span , and illustrates how benevolent rulers ought to accept " fate " selflessly , as in the story of Duke Wen moving the capital of the state of Zhu in 614 BC . = = Influence = = The Zuo zhuan has been recognized as a masterpiece of early Chinese prose and " grand historical narrative " for many centuries , and has had an " immense influence " on Chinese literature and historiography for nearly 2000 years . It was the primary text by which historical Chinese readers gained an understanding of China 's ancient history . It enjoyed high status and esteem throughout the centuries of Chinese history because of its great literary quality , and was often read and memorized because of its role as the preeminent expansion and commentary on the Annals ( Chunqiu ) , which almost all educated Chinese readers traditionally ascribed to Confucius . The Zuo zhuan 's influence on the Chinese language , particularly on Classical Chinese , can be judged from the fact that the Zuo zhuan is the source of more Chinese literary idioms ( chengyu 成語 ) than any other work , including the Analects of Confucius . The 400 @-@ year period the Zuo zhuan covers is now known as the Spring and Autumn period , after the Spring and Autumn Annals , but the Zuo zhuan is the most important source for the period . This period was a highly significant period in Chinese history , and saw a number of developments in governmental complexity and specialization that preceded China 's imperial unification in 221 BC by the First Emperor of Qin . The latter years of this period also saw the appearance of Confucius , who later became the preeminent figure in Chinese cultural history . The Zuo zhuan is one of the only surviving written sources for the history of the Spring and Autumn period , and is extremely valuable as a rich source of information on the society that Confucius and his disciples lived in and from which the Confucian school of thought developed . It was canonized as one of the Chinese classics in the 1st century AD , and until modern times was one of the cornerstones of traditional education for men in China and the other lands of the Sinosphere such as Japan and Korea . = = Translations = = Legge , James ( 1872 ) . The Ch 'un Ts 'ew , with the Tso Chuen . The Chinese Classics V. London : Trübner . Part 1 ( books 1 – 8 ) , Part 2 ( books 9 – 12 ) . Revised edition ( 1893 ) , London : Oxford University Press . ( French ) Couvreur , Séraphin ( 1914 ) , Tch 'ouen Ts 'iou et Tso Tchouan , La Chronique de la Principauté de Lou [ Chunqiu and Zuo zhuan , Chronicle of the State of Lu ] , Ho Kien Fou : Mission Catholique . ( Japanese ) Takeuchi , Teruo 竹内照夫 ( 1974 – 75 ) . Shunjū Sashiden 春秋左氏伝 [ Chunqiu Zuoshi zhuan ] . Zenshaku kanbun taikei 全釈漢文体系 [ Fully Interpreted Chinese Literature Series ] 4 – 6 . Tokyo : Shūeisha . Watson , Burton ( 1989 ) . The Tso chuan : Selections from China 's Oldest Narrative History . New York : Columbia University Press . Reprinted ( 1992 ) . Hu , Zhihui 胡志挥 ; Chen , Kejiong 陈克炯 ( 1996 ) . Zuo zhuan 左传 . Changsha : Hunan renmin chubanshe . ( Contains both English and Mandarin translations ) Durrant , Stephen ; Li , Wai @-@ yee ; Schaberg , David , trans . ( 2016 ) , Zuo Tradition ( Zuozhuan ) , Seattle : University of Washington Press .
= Sacred Cod = The Sacred Cod is a four @-@ foot , eleven @-@ inch carved @-@ wood effigy of an Atlantic codfish , " painted to the life " , hanging in the House of Represen ta tives chamber of Boston 's Massachu setts State House — " a memorial of the importance of the Cod @-@ Fishery to the welfare of this Commonwealth " ( i.e. Massachu setts , of which cod is officially the " historic and contin u ing symbol " ) . The Sacred Cod has gone through as many as three incarnations over three centuries : the first ( if it really existed — the authoritative source calling it a " prehistoric creature of tradition " ) was lost in a 1747 fire , the second disappeared during the American Revolution , and the third is the one seen in the House today . Sacred Cod is not a formal name but a nickname which appeared in 1895 , soon after the carving was termed " the sacred emblem " by a House committee appointed " to investigate the significance of the emblem [ which ] has kept its place under all administrations , and has looked upon outgoing and incoming legislative assemblies , for more than one hundred years . " Soon sacred cod was being used in reference to actual codfish as well , in recognition of the creature 's role in building Massachu setts ' prosperity and influence since early colonial times . In 1933 the Sacred Cod was briefly " Cod @-@ napped " by editors of the Harvard Lampoon , prompting police to drag the Charles River and search an airplane landing in New Jersey . In 1968 it was taken briefly again , this time by students at the University of Massachu setts Boston . A fish figure is displayed in the State House Senate chamber as well — a brass casting ( sometimes called the Holy Mackerel ) above its central chandelier . = = Significance = = Codfishing was the first industry practiced by Europeans in Massachu setts , and it is said that the colony 's first export was a cargo of fish . : 23 Thus the codfish has been an important New England symbol for centuries , its image appearing on many early coins , stamps , corporate and government seals , and insignia such as the early crest of the Salem Gazette . In 1743 a prominent Salem businessman built a mansion in which " the end of every stair in his spacious hall [ displayed ] a carved and gilded codfish . " ‍ : 34 @-@ 36 In the late 1920s an " amusing " ‍ codfish emblem appeared briefly , " totem @-@ like " , on Massachu setts license plates . = = History = = What is now called the Sacred Cod has hung for three centuries — though with inter rupt ions , and in at least two ( and possibly three ) successive incarnations — in the chamber of the Massachu setts House of Represen ta tives ( or its prede ces sor , the House of Assembly of the Province of Massachu setts Bay ) . = = = First Cod = = = Of the Cod 's first incarnation , the Committee on History of the Emblem of the Codfish ( appointed by the House in 1895 ) wrote : There is a dim tradition that in the primitive House of Assembly of the Province there hung a codfish which was the gift of Judge Samuel Sewall [ a judge at the Salem witch trials who ] died in 1729 . [ But his ] published remains make no mention of this tradi tional fish , and it is difficult to imagine that a man of his loquacious verbosity would have omitted to chronicle his munificence . : 17 Assuming it existed and whatever its origin , when the State House burned in 1747 " this prehis toric creature of tradi tion ... doubtless went up in a whirl of smoke which still clouds its history to the peering vision of the antiquarian . " ‍ : 17 = = = Second Cod = = = A second Cod appeared sometime between 1748 ( when the State House was rebuilt ) and 1773 ( when Thomas Crafts , Jr. billed the Province of Massachu setts Bay , " To painting Codfish , 15 shillings " ) . But within a few years , the Committee wrote , the second Cod disap peared from the State House and was doubtless destroyed , for the closest histor i cal research fails to shed any light upon the time , manner or cause of its disap pear ance , or to disclose any refer ence to it whatever . Mayhap some burly British trooper , quart ered in the improvised barracks of the old State House [ during the Siege of Boston ] , took umbrage at the spick and span elegance of the newly painted emblem of colonial inde pend ence and thrift . Such a one may have torn down the cherished symbol from the wall whence it had offered aid and comfort to the rebel patriots , with its assur ance of the material wealth accessible to the embry onic State , and , in spirit of vandalism so preva lent at that age , used it to replenish his evening camp fire . : 17 @-@ 18 The Committee found " good reason to believe that this missing fish ... was carved by one John Welch , a Boston patriot " . = = = Third Cod = = = The third Cod was installed in 1784 , after Represen ta tive John Rowe — namesake of Rowes Wharf , and " a leading spirit in the stirring scenes that led up to the famous ' Boston Tea Party ' " ‍ : 16 — asked leave " to hang up the represen ta tion of a Cod Fish in the room where the House sit , as a memorial of the import ance of the Cod @-@ Fishery to the welfare of this Common wealth , as had been usual form erly ... And so the emblem was suspended " in the old State House once again , and this Cod ( which Rowe may have under writ ten person ally ) is the one extant today . : 20 In 1798 it was moved to the Representatives chamber in the new State House , : 12 @-@ 13 where it originally hung over the Speaker 's desk . In the 1850s it was moved to the rear of the chamber . = = = Committee on History of the Emblem of the Codfish = = = On January 2 , 1895 — the House 's last day of business before relocating to a new chamber in the same building — [ t ] he question of taking with it the " represen ta tion of a codfish , " which for more than a hundred years had never missed a " roll call , " was brought up for consideration . It was , however , deemed wise to investigate the significance of the emblem before its removal ... Accordingly , after " nearly two months of painstaking research and investigation " the three @-@ member Committee on History of the Emblem of the Codfish submitted its report , and after debating " at length " the House ordered " immediate removal of the ancient ' represen ta tion of a codfish ' from its present position in the chamber recently vacated by the House , and to cause it to be sus pended ... in this cham ber ... " ‍ : 4 The Sacred Cod was wrapped in an American flag , placed on a bier , and — escorted by the Sergeant @-@ at @-@ Arms — borne by House messen gers to the new House chamber , where the assembled Represen ta tives rose in applause . : 7 After repainting by Walter M. Brackett , it was hung where it remains today : " between the two sets of central columns , and under the names ' Motley , ' and ' Parkman ' , " ‍ : 20 facing left as viewed from the floor of the chamber . ( It is some times said that the Cod is turned to face the political party currently in power , but no such tradi tion was mentioned by the Committee . ) ‍ = = " Sacred Cod " nickname = = The Committee 's report refers at one point to " the sacred emblem " , and while it was working an item appeared in the Boston Globe referring to the carving as " the Sacred Cod " . Within a few years authors , journalists , and advertisers — even those far from New England — were using the term routinely . The phrase quickly came to refer not only to the wooden Cod in the State House but to flesh @-@ and @-@ blood cod from the sea as well , especially as an item of commerce . At the 1908 convention of the Retail Grocers of the United States , held in Boston , one delegate recalled the first organized effort ... for the bettering of conditions in the grocery business . I refer to the Boston tea party . How could we get along without the Boston baked beans or the almost sacred cod ? Two years later the New Hampshire Board of Agriculture , bemoaning the counterfeiting of foodstuffs " famous for their distinctive properties or superior quality " , warned that " haddock , hake , pollock , cusk , etc . , are substituted indiscriminantly in place of the sacred cod . " ‍ In 1912 President William Howard Taft , in Boston , addressed a journalists ' banquet in New York City " by long distance tele phone from the home of the sacred cod " . And in 1922 historian Samuel Eliot Morison , emphasizing fishing 's vital role in the colonial economy , wrote that " Puritan Massachu setts derived her ideals from a sacred book ; her wealth and power from the sacred cod . " ‍ The famous doggerel poking fun at Boston 's Brahmins — — paraphrases an earlier poem now little remembered : = = " Cod @-@ napping " and other incidents = = = = = Harvard Lampoon = = = In an incident now referred to as " The Cod @-@ napping " by State House officials , on April 26 , 1933 members of the Harvard Lampoon ( the Harvard College humor magazine ) entered the House of Represen ta tives gallery , cut down the Cod , and carried it away in an unusually large florist 's box equipped with protruding decoy lilies . According to The New York Times — which reckoned the Cod 's value to be " something less than nothing . As an object of art it is worthless " — Massachu setts officials were " shocked into a condition bordering on speech less ness " by the theft , " some legisla tors holding that it would be sacrilege to transact business without the emblem of the Commonwealth looking down upon them . " ( Nonetheless , at the appointed time " [ House ] Speaker Saltonstall looked mournfully at the vacant place and then banged the gavel . The first act of the House fitted the occasion . It passed to be engrossed a bill allowing the cold storage of swordfish . " ) ‍ Meanwhile , Boston mayor James Michael Curley received a tele phone message : " Tell the Mayor that when the Sacred Cod is returned it will be wrapped in the municipal flag , now flying in front of City Hall . Try and catch us when we cop the flag . Lafayette Mulligan , we are here . " ‍ " Indignant " police went so far as to drag the Charles River and , learning that a Lampoon editor had flown to New Jersey , had the plane searched on landing . Eventually a mysterious telephone call sent Harvard official Charles R. Apted to West Roxbury where two men , with collars up and hatbrims down , emerged from a car to hand over the Cod ( not wrapped in any flag ) before speeding away . In the early hours of April 29 , after repairs to three damaged fins , the Sacred Cod was re @-@ hung in the House chamber , " six inches [ 15 cm ] higher [ than ] the reach of any individ ual . A stepladder will be needed to remove it in the future . " ‍ = = = University of Massachusetts = = = Using a stepladder , on November 14 , 1968 students at the new Boston campus of the University of Massachu setts took the Sacred Cod in protest of perceived legislative indifference to their school . ( " Sacred Cod gone from House perch " , the Boston Globe reported . ) ‍ It was found days later in a little @-@ used State House hallway . = = = Greyhound replacement proposal = = = In 1937 Representative John B. Wenzler offered a facetious proposal " that the sacred cod be immediately removed [ from the House chamber ] , and a greyhound substituted in its place , as the 1937 Legislature has shown itself to be completely under the power of the dog track operators . " ‍ Apted ( whom the Boston Globe called " the superintendent of caretakers at Harvard and Harvard Cop No. 1 " ) wrote to Wenzler : " As one who is , and was , very much interested in preserving [ the Cod 's ] dignity , and furthermore having held it in my arms ... I most respectfully ask a favor , that is : If the greyhound be substituted , that I be presented with the cod in order that it may be preserved for the future of young Americans . " ‍ = = = World War II = = = After the House of Representatives ' move to its new chamber in 1895 the Massachu setts Senate , which took over the old House chamber , incorporated a fish figure ( often dubbed the Holy Mackerel ) ‍ into the chandelier there , as a reminder of the Sacred Cod the Representatives had taken with them . When officials of the World War II aluminum @-@ for @-@ defense drive — misinformed that the Sacred Cod was aluminum — asked that it be donated to the war effort , House Speaker Christian Herter explained that the Cod had been created decades before aluminum 's discovery , and suggested that the Holy Mackerel be considered for sacrifice instead .
= Legal history of cannabis in the United States = The legal history of cannabis in the United States relates to the regulation of cannabis ( legal term marijuana ) use for medical , recreational or industrial purposes in the United States . Increased restrictions and labeling of cannabis as a poison began in many states from 1906 onward , and outright prohibitions began in the 1920s . By the mid @-@ 1930s marijuana was regulated as a drug in every state , including 35 states that adopted the Uniform State Narcotic Drug Act . The first national regulation was the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 . Multiple efforts to reschedule cannabis under the Act have failed , and the United States Supreme Court has ruled in United States v. Oakland Cannabis Buyers ' Cooperative and Gonzales v. Raich that the federal government has a right to regulate and criminalize cannabis , even for medical purposes . = = Early history ( pre @-@ 1850s ) = = The Virgnia Company , by decree of King James I in 1619 , ordered every colonist to grow 100 plants specifically for export for fiber . Thus , England 's only colony in America began to grow hemp in order to meet this obligation and , soon , to serve a growing demand in other colonies . George Washington grew hemp at Mount Vernon as one of his three primary crops . The use of hemp for rope and fabric was ubiquitous throughout the 18th and 19th centuries in the United States . Medicinal preparations of cannabis became available in American pharmacies in the 1850s following an introduction to its use in Western medicine by William O 'Shaughnessy a decade earlier in 1839 . Around the same time , efforts to regulate the sale of pharmaceuticals began , and laws were introduced on a state @-@ to @-@ state basis that created penalties for mislabeling drugs , adulterating them with undisclosed narcotics , and improper sale of those considered " poisons " . Poison laws generally either required labels on the packaging indicating the harmful effects of the drugs or prohibited sale outside of licensed pharmacies and without a doctor 's prescription . Those that required labeling often required the word " poison " if the drug was not issued by a pharmacy . Other regulations were prohibitions on the sale to minors , as well as restrictions on refills . Some pharmaceutical laws specifically enumerated the drugs that came under the effect of the regulations , while others didn 't — leaving the matter to medical experts . Those that did generally included references to cannabis , either under the category of " cannabis and its preparations " or " hemp and its preparations . " A 1905 Bulletin from the US Department of Agriculture lists twenty @-@ nine states with laws mentioning cannabis . Eight are listed with " sale of poisons " laws that specifically mention cannabis : North Carolina , Ohio , Wisconsin , Louisiana , Vermont , Maine , Montana , and the District of Columbia . Among those that required a prescription for sale were Wisconsin and Louisiana . Several " sale of poison " laws did not specify restricted drugs , including in Indiana , Rhode Island , Hawaii , Nebraska , Kentucky , Mississippi , and New York . Many states did not consider cannabis a " poison " but required it be labeled . In New York , the original law did enumerate cannabis , and was passed in 1860 following a string of suicides allegedly involving the substances later categorized as poisons . The first draft of the bill ' An act to regulate the sale of poisons ' prohibited the sale of cannabis — as with the other substances — without the written order of a physician . The final bill as passed allowed the sale without a prescription so long as the purpose to which it was issued and name and address of the buyer was recorded , and in addition , all packaging of such substances — whether sold with a prescription or not — had to have the label " poison " on them in uppercase red letters . In 1862 , the section which enumerated the substances was repealed with an amendatory act , though cannabis was still required to be labeled . In some states where poison laws excluded cannabis , there were nonetheless attempts to include it . A bill introduced in 1880 in the California state legislature was titled ' An act to regulate the sale of opium and other narcotic poisons ' and would have prohibited anyone to keep , sell , furnish , or give away any " preparations or mixtures made or prepared from opium , hemp , or other narcotic drugs " without a doctor 's prescription at a licensed store . That bill was withdrawn in favor of one specifically aimed at opium , though further bills including hemp @-@ based drugs were introduced in 1885 and in 1889 . = = = Background to later restrictions = = = As early as 1853 , recreational cannabis was listed as a " fashionable narcotic " . By the 1880s , oriental @-@ style hashish parlors were flourishing alongside opium dens , to the point that one could be found in every major city on the east coast . It was estimated there were around 500 such establishments in New York City alone . An article in Harper ’ s Magazine ( 1883 ) , attributed to Harry Hubbell Kane , describes a hashish @-@ house in New York frequented by a large clientele , including males and females of " the better classes , " and further talks about parlors in Boston , Philadelphia and Chicago . Hemp cigarettes were reported to be used by Mexican soldiers early as 1874 . = = Criminalization ( 1900s ) = = = = = Strengthening of poison laws ( 1906 – 1938 ) = = = The Pure Food and Drug Act was then passed by the United States Congress in 1906 and required that certain special drugs , including cannabis , be accurately labeled with contents . Previously , many drugs had been sold as patent medicines with secret ingredients or misleading labels . Even after the passage of regulations , there continued to be criticisms about the availability of narcotics and around 1910 there was a wave of legislation aimed to strengthen requirements for their sale and remove what were commonly referred to as " loopholes " in poison laws . The new revisions aimed to restrict all narcotics , including cannabis , as poisons , limit their sale to pharmacies , and require doctor 's prescriptions . The first instance was in the District of Columbia in 1906 , under ' An act to regulate the practice of pharmacy and the sale of poisons in the District of Columbia , and for other purposes ' . This act was updated in 1938 to the Federal Pure Food , Drug , and Cosmetics Act of 1938 which remains in effect even today , creating a legal paradox for federal sentencing . Under this act , the framework for prescription and non @-@ prescription drugs and foods are set , along with standards as well as the enforcing agency , the FDA . " Goods found in violation of the law were subject to seizure and destruction at the expense of the manufacturer . That , combined with a legal requirement that all convictions be published ( Notices of Judgment ) , proved to be important tools in the enforcement of the statute and had a deterrent effect upon would @-@ be violators . " Marijuana remains under this law defined as a " dangerous drug " . Further regulation of cannabis followed in Massachusetts ( 1911 ) , New York ( 1914 ) , and Maine ( 1914 ) . In New York , reform legislation began under the Towns @-@ Boylan Act , which targeted all " habit @-@ forming drugs " , restricted their sale , prohibited refills in order to prevent habituation , prohibited sale to people with a habit , and prohibited doctors who were themselves habituated from selling them . Shortly after , several amendments were passed by the New York Board of Health , including adding cannabis to the list of habit @-@ forming drugs . A New York Times article noted on the cannabis amendment : The inclusion of Cannabis indica among the drugs to be sold only on prescription is common sense . Devotees of hashish are now hardly numerous here enough to count , but they are likely to increase as other narcotics become harder to obtain . In the West , the first state to include cannabis as a poison was California . The Poison Act was passed in 1907 and amended in 1909 and 1911 , and in 1913 an amendatory act ( Stats . 1913 , Ch . 342 , p . 697 ) was made to make possession of " extracts , tinctures , or other narcotic preparations of hemp , or loco @-@ weed , their preparations and compounds " a misdemeanor . There 's no evidence that the law was ever used or intended to restrict pharmaceutical cannabis ; instead it was a legislative mistake , and in 1915 another revision placed cannabis under the same restriction as other poisons . Other states followed with marijuana laws including : Wyoming ( 1915 ) ; Texas ( 1919 ) ; Iowa ( 1923 ) ; Nevada ( 1923 ) ; Oregon ( 1923 ) ; Washington ( 1923 ) ; Arkansas ( 1923 ) ; Nebraska ( 1927 ) ; Louisiana ( 1927 ) ; and Colorado ( 1929 ) . One source of tensions in the western and southwestern states was the influx of Mexicans to the US following the 1910 Mexican Revolution . Many Mexicans also smoked marijuana to relax after working in the fields . It was also seen as a cheaper alternative to alcohol , due to Prohibition ( which went into effect nationally in 1920 ) . Later in the 1920s , negative tensions grew between the small farms and the large farms that used cheaper Mexican labor . Shortly afterwards , the Great Depression came which increased tensions as jobs and resources became more scarce . Because of that , the passage of the initial laws is often described as a product of racism , yet use of hashish by near eastern immigrants were also cited , as well as the misuse of pharmaceutical hemp , and the laws conformed with other legislation that was being passed around the country . Mexico itself had passed prohibition in 1925 , following the International Opium Convention ( see below ) . = = = International Opium Convention ( 1925 ) = = = In 1925 the United States supported regulation of Indian hemp , also known as hashish , in the International Opium Convention . The convention banned exportation of " Indian hemp " , and the preparations derived therefrom , to countries that had prohibited its use and required importing countries to issue certificates approving the importation and stating that the shipment was required " exclusively for medical or scientific purposes " . The convention did not ban trade in fibers and other similar products from European hemp , and traditionally grown in the United States , According to the 1912 edition of a Swedish encyclopedia the European hemp grown for its fibers lacks the THC content that characterizes Indian hemp . = = = Uniform State Narcotic Act ( 1925 – 1932 ) = = = The Uniform State Narcotic Act , first tentative draft in 1925 and fifth final version in 1932 , was a result of work by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws . It was argued that the traffic in narcotic drugs should have the same safeguards and the same regulation in all of the states . The committee took into consideration the fact that the federal government had already passed The Harrison Act in 1914 and The Federal Import and Export Act in 1922 . Many people assumed that the Harrison Act was all that was necessary . The Harrison Act , however , was a revenue @-@ producing act and , while it provided penalties for violation , it did not give the states themselves authority to exercise police power in regard to seizure of drugs used in illicit trade , or in regard to punishment of those responsible . The act was recommended to the states for that purpose . As a result of the Uniform State Narcotic Act , the Federal Bureau of Narcotics encouraged state governments to adopt the act . By the middle of the 1930s all member states had some regulation of cannabis . = = = Federal Bureau of Narcotics ( 1930 ) = = = The use of cannabis and other drugs came under increasing scrutiny after the formation of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics ( FBN ) in 1930 , headed by Harry J. Anslinger as part of the government 's broader push to outlaw all recreational drugs . " When the present administration took office ten countries had ratified the Geneva Narcotic Limitation Convention . The United States was one of these ten .... It was my privilege , as President , to proclaim , on that day , that this treaty had become effective throughout the jurisdiction of the United States .... On Jan. 1 , 1933 , only nine nations had registered their ratification of the limitation treaty . On Jan. 1 , 1935 , only nine States had adopted the uniform State statute . As 1933 witnessed ratification of the treaty by thirty @-@ one additional nations , so may 1935 witness the adoption of the uniform drug act by at least thirty @-@ one more states , thereby placing interstate accord abreast of international accord , to the honor of the legislative bodies of our States and for the promotion of the welfare of our people and the peoples of other lands . " Anslinger claimed cannabis caused people to commit violent crimes and act irrationally and overly sexual . The FBN produced propaganda films promoting Anslinger 's views and Anslinger often commented to the press regarding his views on marijuana . = = = The 1936 Geneva Trafficking Conventions = = = In 1936 the Convention for the Suppression of the Illicit Traffic in Dangerous Drugs ( 1936 Trafficking Convention ) was concluded in Geneva . The US , led by Anslinger , had attempted to include the criminalization of all activities in the treaty – cultivation , production , manufacture and distribution – related to the use of opium , coca ( and its derivatives ) and cannabis for non @-@ medical and non @-@ scientific purposes . Many countries opposed this and the focus remained on illicit trafficking . Article 2 of the Convention called upon signatory countries to use their national criminal law systems to " severely " punish , " particularly by imprisonment or other penalties of deprivation of liberty " acts directly related to drug trafficking . The US refused to sign the final version because it considered the convention too weak , especially in relation to extradition , extraterritoriality and the confiscation of trafficking profits . = = = Marihuana Tax Act ( 1937 ) = = = The American Medical Association ( AMA ) opposed the act because the tax was imposed on physicians prescribing cannabis , retail pharmacists selling cannabis , and medical cannabis cultivation and manufacturing ; instead of enacting the Marihuana Tax Act the AMA proposed cannabis be added to the Harrison Narcotics Tax Act . This approach was unappealing to some legislators who feared that adding a new substance to the Harrison Act would subject that act to new legal scrutiny . Since the federal government had no authority under the 10th Amendment to regulate medicines , that power being reserved by individual states in 1937 , a tax was the only viable way to legislate marijuana . After the Philippines fell to Japanese forces in 1942 , the Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Army urged farmers to grow hemp fiber and tax stamps for cultivation were issued to farmers . Without any change in the Marihuana Tax Act , over 400 @,@ 000 acres of hemp were cultivated between 1942 and 1945 . The last commercial hemp fields were planted in Wisconsin in 1957 . New York Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia , who was a strong opponent of the 1937 Marihuana Tax Act , started the LaGuardia Commission that in 1944 contradicted the earlier reports of addiction , madness , and overt sexuality . The decision of the United States Congress to pass the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 was based on poorly attended hearings and reports based on questionable studies . In 1936 the Federal Bureau of Narcotics ( FBN ) noticed an increase of reports of people smoking marijuana , which further increased in 1937 . The Bureau drafted a legislative plan for Congress seeking a new law , and the head of the FBN , Harry J. Anslinger , ran a campaign against marijuana . Newspaper mogul William Randolph Hearst 's empire of newspapers used the " yellow journalism " pioneered by Hearst to demonize the cannabis plant and spread a public perception that there were connections between cannabis and violent crime . Several scholars argue that the goal was to destroy the hemp industry , largely as an effort of Hearst , Andrew Mellon and the Du Pont family . They argue that with the invention of the decorticator hemp became a very cheap substitute for the wood pulp that was used in the newspaper industry . However , Hearst newspapers owed large debts to Canadian suppliers of paper , who used wood as raw material . If an alternative raw material for paper had emerged , it would have lowered the price of the paper needed to print Hearst 's many newspapers — a positive thing for Hearst . Mellon was Secretary of the Treasury , as well as the wealthiest man in America , and had invested heavily in nylon , DuPont 's new synthetic fiber . He considered nylon 's success to depend on it replacing the traditional resource , hemp . The company DuPont and many industrial historians dispute a link between nylon and hemp . They argue that the reason for developing nylon was to produce a fiber that could compete with silk and rayon in , for example , thin stockings for women . Silk was much more expensive than hemp and imported largely from Japan . There was more money in a substitute for silk . DuPont focused early on thin stockings for women . As a commercial product , nylon was a revolution in textiles . Strong , water @-@ resistant , it was possible to make very thin fibers from cheap raw materials . The first sales in 1938 in New York of nylon stockings created a line with 4000 middle class women . For years to come , nylon demand was greater than DuPont could produce . And the DuPont Group was very big ; it could move on if nylon had not become a success . In 1916 United States Department of Agriculture ( USDA ) chief scientists Jason L. Merrill and Lyster H. Dewey created a paper , USDA Bulletin No. 404 " Hemp Hurds as Paper @-@ Making Material " , in which they stated that paper from the woody inner portion of the hemp stem broken into pieces , so called hemp hurds , was " favorable in comparison with those used with pulp wood " . Merrill and Dewey 's findings were not repeated in a later book by Dewey and have not been confirmed by paper production experts . The consistency of long fibers is too low in hemp hurds for commercial papermaking . Numerous machines had been devised for breaking and scutching hemp fibers , but none had been found to be fully satisfactory in actual commercial work To produce fiber from hemp was a labor @-@ intensive process if you include harvest , transport and processing . Technological developments decreased the labor but not sufficient to eliminate this disadvantage . There was also a misconception about the intoxicating effects of hemp because it has the same active substance , THC , which is in all cannabis strains . Hemp normally has a minimal amount of THC when compared to recreational cannabis strains but , in the 1930s , THC was not yet fully identified . The methods FBN used for predicting the psychoactive effect of different samples of cannabis and hemp therefore gave confusing results . = = = Mandatory sentencing ( 1952 , 1956 ) = = = Mandatory sentencing and increased punishment were enacted when the United States Congress passed the Boggs Act of 1952 and the Narcotics Control Act of 1956 . The acts made a first @-@ time cannabis possession offense a minimum of two to ten years with a fine up to $ 20 @,@ 000 ; however in 1970 the United States Congress repealed mandatory penalties for cannabis offenses . = = = The Controlled Substances Act ( 1970 ) = = = In its 1969 Leary v. United States decision the Supreme Court held the Marijuana Tax Act to be unconstitutional , since it violated the Fifth Amendment privilege against self @-@ incrimination . In response , Congress passed the Controlled Substances Act as Title II of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 , which repealed the Marijuana Tax Act . = = = Reorganization ( 1968 , 1973 ) = = = In 1968 the United States Department of the Treasury subsidiary the Bureau of Narcotics and the United States Department of Health , Education , and Welfare subsidiary the Bureau of Drug Abuse Control merged to create the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs as a United States Department of Justice subsidiary . In 1973 President Richard Nixon 's " Reorganization Plan Number Two " proposed the creation of a single federal agency to enforce federal drug laws and Congress accepted the proposal , as there was concern regarding the growing availability of drugs . As a result , on July 1 , 1973 , the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs ( BNDD ) and the Office of Drug Abuse Law Enforcement ( ODALE ) merged to create the Drug Enforcement Administration ( DEA ) . On December 1 , 1975 , the Supreme Court ruled that it was " not cruel or unusual for Ohio to sentence someone to 20 years for having or selling cannabis . " = = = State Office of Narcotics and Drug Abuse ( 1977 ) = = = In January 1976 , California 's study of the economic impact of its law repealing prohibitions of use went into effect . The law reduced the penalty for personal possession of an ounce or less of marijuana from a felony to a citable misdemeanor with a maximum fine of $ 100 . Possession of more than an ounce was made a misdemeanor , making the maximum fine $ 500 and / or six months in jail . After the law went into effect , the state 's annual spending towards marijuana laws went down 74 % . Prior to the law , the state had been spending from $ 35 million to $ 100 million . = = = Mandatory sentencing and three @-@ strikes ( 1984 , 1986 ) = = = During the Reagan Administration the Sentencing Reform Act provisions of the Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984 created the Sentencing Commission , which established mandatory sentencing guidelines . The Anti @-@ Drug Abuse Act of 1986 reinstated mandatory prison sentences , including large scale cannabis distribution . Later an amendment created a three @-@ strikes law , which created mandatory 25 @-@ years imprisonment for repeated serious crimes – including certain drug offenses- and allowed the death penalty to be used against " drug kingpins . " = = = United States v. Oakland Cannabis Buyers ' Cooperative ( 2001 ) = = = In 1996 California voters passed Proposition 215 , which legalized medical cannabis . The Oakland Cannabis Buyers ' Cooperative was created to " provide seriously ill patients with a safe and reliable source of medical cannabis , information and patient support " in accordance with Proposition 215 . In January 1998 the U.S. Government sued Oakland Cannabis Buyers ' Cooperative for violating federal laws created as a result of Controlled Substances Act of 1970 . On May 14 , 2001 , the United States Supreme Court ruled in United States v. Oakland Cannabis Buyers ' Coop that federal anti @-@ drug laws do not permit an exception for medical cannabis and rejected the common @-@ law medical necessity defense to crimes enacted under the Controlled Substances Act because Congress concluded cannabis has " no currently accepted medical use " when the act was passed in 1970 . = = = Gonzales v. Raich ( 2005 ) = = = Gonzales v. Raich 545 U.S. 1 ( 2005 ) was a decision in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled ( 6 – 3 ) that even where individuals or businesses in accordance with state @-@ approved medical cannabis programs are lawfully cultivating , possessing , or distributing medical cannabis , such persons or businesses are violating federal marijuana laws . Therefore , under federal law violators are prosecuted because the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution grants the federal government jurisdiction to prosecute marijuana offenses , here defendants violation of the U.S. Controlled Substances Act . In Gonzales the respondents ( criminal defendants ) argued because the cannabis in question had been grown , transported , and consumed entirely within the state of California , in compliance with California medical cannabis laws , the defendants ' activity did not implicate interstate commerce . Therefore , the defendants argued , their activity could not be regulated , and eventually prosecuted , by the federal government through the Commerce Clause . The U.S. Supreme Court disagreed , finding that cannabis grown within California for medical purposes is indistinguishable from illicit marijuana . Moreover , because the intrastate medical cannabis market contributes to the interstate illicit marijuana market , the Commerce Clause applies . Even where California citizens are using medical cannabis in compliance with state law , those individuals and businesses can still be prosecuted by federal authorities for violating federal law . To combat state @-@ approved medical cannabis legislation , the Drug Enforcement Administration ( DEA ) routinely targets and arrests medical cannabis patients as well as seizing medical cannabis and the business assets of growers and medical dispensaries . However , the Obama administration has indicated that this practice may potentially be curtailed . = = Efforts to decriminalize ( 1970s – ) = = = = = Medical use = = = In 1978 Robert Randall sued the federal government for arresting him for using cannabis to treat his glaucoma . The judge ruled Randall needed cannabis for medical purposes and required the Food and Drug Administration set up a program to grow cannabis on a farm at the University of Mississippi and to distribute 300 cannabis cigarettes a month to Randall . In 1992 George H. W. Bush discontinued the program after Randall tried to make HIV / AIDS patients eligible for the program . Thirteen people were already enrolled and were allowed to continue receiving cannabis cigarettes ; today the government still ships cannabis cigarettes to four people . Irvin Rosenfeld , who became eligible to receive cannabis from the program in 1982 to treat rare bone tumors , urged the George W. Bush administration to reopen the program ; however , he was unsuccessful . Alaska , Colorado , Washington , Oregon , and the District of Columbia are the only states where possession of up to one ounce is legal . " Citing the dangers of marijuana and the lack of clinical research supporting its medicinal value " the American Society of Addiction Medicine in March 2011 issued a white paper recommending a halt to using marijuana as a medicine in US states where it has been declared legal . = = = Advocacy = = = Several U.S.-based advocate groups seek to modify the drug policy of the United States to decriminalize cannabis . These groups include Law Enforcement Against Prohibition , Students for Sensible Drug Policy , The Drug Policy Alliance , the Marijuana Policy Project , NORML , Coalition for Rescheduling Cannabis , and Americans for Safe Access . In June 2005 , libertarian economist Jeffrey Alan Miron and over 530 other economists , including Nobel Prize winner Milton Friedman , called for the legalization of cannabis in an open letter to President George W. Bush , the United States Congress , Governors of the United States , and State Legislatures of the United States . The open letter contained Miron 's " Budgetary Implications of Marijuana Prohibition in the United States " report ( view report ) . In 1997 , the Connecticut Law Revision Commission recommended that Connecticut reduce cannabis possession of one ounce or less for adults aged 21 years and over to a civil fine although driving privileges maybe suspended for up to 60 days . In 2001 , the New Mexico state @-@ commissioned Drug Policy Advisory Group stated that decriminalizing cannabis " will result in greater availability of resources to respond to more serious crimes without any increased risks to public safety . " On November 3 , 2004 , Oakland , California passed Proposition Z , which makes " adult recreational marijuana use , cultivation and sales the lowest [ city ] law enforcement priority . " Ron Paul , a Texas Congressman and 2008 and 2012 Presidential Candidate , stated at a rally in response to a question by a medical cannabis patient that he would " never use the federal government to force the law against anybody using marijuana . " Based on the collective perspective of its Editorial Board , The New York Times commenced a series examining the legalization of cannabis in July 2014 titled " High Time : An Editorial Series on Marijuana Legalization " . The introductory article concludes with the statement : " We recognize that this Congress is as unlikely to take action on marijuana as it has been on other big issues . But it is long past time to repeal this version of Prohibition . " = = = Non @-@ medical use = = = In 1970 the United States Congress repealed mandatory penalties for cannabis offenses and The Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act separated cannabis from other illicit narcotics and removed mandatory sentences for possession of small amounts of cannabis . In 1972 President Richard Nixon commissioned a comprehensive study from the National Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse . The Commission found that the constitutionality of cannabis prohibition was suspect and that the executive and legislative branches had a responsibility to obey the Constitution , even in the absence of a court ruling to do so . The Richard Nixon administration did not implement the study 's recommendations . In 1973 Oregon decriminalized cannabis . Laws changed again in 1995 that reduced penalties . Possession of one ounce or less became legally defined as a " violation " ( a crime that is considered a lesser offence than a misdemeanor ) and now is punishable by a $ 500 to $ 1 @,@ 000 fine and up to 6 months of jail time , in some jurisdictions , paid off by means of community service . Possession of multiple containers of any weight , or possession of more than one ounce can sometimes add the additional crime " Intent to Sell " . In some cases people who have no marijuana , but are caught at the scene of a drug bust , are charged with " Frequenting " . Stricter punishments exist for sale , cultivation , and proximity to schools . Colorado , Alaska , Ohio , and California followed suit in 1975 . By 1978 Mississippi , North Carolina , New York , and Nebraska had some form of cannabis decriminalization . In 2001 Nevada reduced cannabis possession from a felony offense to a misdemeanor , but only for adults age 21 and older , with other restrictions . Starting in the 1970s multiple states , counties , and cities decriminalized cannabis for non @-@ medical purposes . While many states , counties , and cities have partially decriminalized cannabis , on November 3 , 2004 , Oakland passed Proposition Z , and became the first place to fully decriminalize cannabis to allow the licensing , taxing , and regulation of cannabis sales if California law is amended to allow so . In 2008 Massachusetts passed a voter initiative that decriminalized simple possession of up to one ounce of marijuana , instead making it a civil infraction punishable by a $ 100 fine . Criminal penalties for cultivation and distribution remain in place . In June 2011 , Connecticut decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana . On November 6 , 2012 , Colorado Amendment 64 ( 2012 ) was passed by initiative , thereby legalizing the recreational use of cannabis . Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper signed two bills on May 28 , 2013 that made Colorado the world 's first fully regulated recreational cannabis market for adults . Hickenlooper explained to the media : " Certainly , this industry will create jobs . Whether it ’ s good for the brand of our state is still up in the air . But the voters passed Amendment 64 by a clear majority . That ’ s why we ’ re going to implement it as effectively as we possibly can . " In its independent analysis , the Colorado Center on Law & Policy found that the state could expect a to see " $ 60 million in total combined savings and additional revenue for Colorado ’ s budget with a potential for this number to double after 2017 . " On September 9 , 2013 , the Colorado Department of Revenue adopted final regulations for recreational marijuana establishments , implementing the Colorado Retail Marijuana Code ( HB 13 @-@ 1317 ) . On September 16 , 2013 , the Denver City Council adopted an ordinance for retail marijuana establishments . The first stores officially opened on January 1 , 2014 . The state prepared for an influx of tourists with extra police officers posted in Denver . Safety fears led to officials seeking to limit use of the drug in popular ski resorts . = = = State @-@ level legalization = = = Ravin v. State was a 1975 decision by the Alaska Supreme Court that held the Alaska Constitution 's right to privacy protects an adult 's ability to use and possess a small amount of marijuana in the home for personal use . The Alaska Supreme Court thereby became the first — and only — state or federal court to announce a constitutional privacy right that protects some level of marijuana use and possession . Various efforts to legalize recreational marijuana have been attempted by ballot measure , including California Proposition 19 ( 2010 ) and Oregon Measure 80 ( 2012 ) . On November 6 , 2012 , Colorado and Washington became the first states to legalize the sale and possession of cannabis for recreational use since the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 when they passed Colorado Amendment 64 and Washington Initiative 502 . Each regulated marijuana in a way similar to alcohol , allowing possession of up to an ounce for adults ages 21 and older , with " DUID " provisions similar to those against drunk driving . Unlike Initiative 502 , Amendment 64 allows personal cultivation ( of up to 6 plants ) . Both provide for commercial cultivation and sales , subject to regulation and taxes . It remains to be seen how the conflicts of these laws with federal law will be resolved . The city of Portland , Maine legalized the possession of up to 2 @.@ 5 ounces of marijuana on November 5 , 2013 , making it the first city on the east coast to do so . The citizens voted in the law with 67 % in favor of legalization . The law does not allow the sale of marijuana ; and city police still intend to enforce state law , under which possession is a civil offense , and only medical marijuana is legal . Supporters of marijuana legalization believe , " this is just the next domino , " said Marijuana Policy Project Maine Political Director , David Boyer , " I think there 's national implications , keeping the momentum that Washington and Colorado started last November in ending marijuana prohibition . " There are hopes that the vote will be a push to legalize it statewide within the next few years . The same day , voters in the cities of Ferndale , Jackson and Lansing , Michigan also voted on and approved similar measures to legalize possession and transfer of less than one ounce of marijuana . The votes were 69 % , 61 % and 63 % in favor respectively . Similar to Portland , state law ( where only medical marijuana is legal ) will likely be enforced , as indicated by the Governor 's statement that " no city charter provision ' shall conflict with or contravene the provisions of any general law of the state . ' " On November 4 , 2014 , the states of Alaska and Oregon along with Washington D.C. ( Initiative 71 ) legalized the recreational usage of marijuana , with laws similar to those of Colorado and Washington . However , by a rider of the 2014 " Cromnibus " bill ( Consolidated Appropriations Act , 2014 ) , Washington DC was prevented from making additional changes to its marijuana laws for the fiscal year , allowing home use and cultivation , but not commercial sales . As of November 2014 , 28 states have enacted medical marijuana laws , removed jail time for possession of small amounts of marijuana , and / or have legalized the possession , distribution , and sale of marijuana outright . The factors which have led to this change are many , but some of them could include increased support from the medical community for legalization , viable regulatory systems modeled off of alcohol regulation , and the potential for state financial gains from decreased criminal justice costs and increased tax revenues . Although outright legalization for nonmedical use of marijuana has only occurred in four states in the Union , in view of the movements in many states , it is possible that those states will not be alone for long . = = = Territorial @-@ level legalization = = = In November 2014 , Guam became the first US territory to legalize cannabis for medical use . In December 2014 , the US Virgin Islands passed a bill that decriminalized possession of cannabis up to an ounce . In Puerto Rico , medical cannabis was legalized on May 3 , 2015 , by an executive order from its governor . = = = Indian Reservation @-@ level legalization = = = In December 2014 , the US Justice Department allowed recognized Indian Reservations to regulate cannabis laws within their reservation . The laws in the reservations are allowed to be different from state and federal laws . As with State and Territories , the Federal government will not intervene as long as the reservations regulate strict control over marijuana . Some domestic nations such as the Yakama Nation and the Oglala Sioux Tribal Council rejected the approval to allow marijuana on their reservation . In 2015 , the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe ( South Dakota ) voted to legalize recreational cannabis on its territory . = = Federal reform efforts ( 2013 – ) = = = = = Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act = = = On February 5 , 2013 , Colorado representative Jared Polis introduced Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2013 ( H.R. 499 ; 113th Congress ) , a bill that would decriminalize marijuana on the federal level , instead treating it as a substance to be regulated in a similar manner to alcohol . The act has not been approved by Congress . = = = Respect State Marijuana Laws Act = = = On April 12 , 2013 Rep. Dana Rohrabacher [ R @-@ CA48 ] introduced H.R.1523 " Respect State Marijuana Laws . " Eleven cosponsors , representing both major political parties , have joined Rohrbacher in a federalist approach to drug policy reformation . It passed the House of Representatives on May 30 , 2014 , and still awaits approval from the Senate . = = = No Welfare for Weed Act of 2014 = = = The bill would prevent the use of welfare credit cards to purchase marijuana in states where it has been legalized . The bill was approved by the House in September 2014 . = = = Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act and Marijuana Tax Revenue Act of 2015 = = = In February 2015 , two national @-@ level legalization acts were proposed in Congress , the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act by Jared Polis ( D @-@ Colorado ) and the Marijuana Tax Revenue Act by Earl Blumenauer ( D @-@ Oregon ) . = = = The Compassionate Access , Research Expansion and Respect States ( CARERS ) Act of 2015 = = = On March 10 , 2015 , Senators Rand Paul ( R @-@ KY ) , Cory Booker ( D @-@ NJ ) , and Kirsten Gillibrand ( D @-@ NY ) proposed a new bipartisan medical marijuana bill for patients and veterans to access medical marijuana . The act : Would reschedule marijuana from a Schedule I to Schedule II drug to recognize it has accepted medical use , and would amend federal law to allow states to set their own medical marijuana policies . The bill would also permit VA doctors to prescribe veterans medical marijuana to treat serious injuries and chronic conditions . The legislation would not legalize medical marijuana in all 50 states , rather it would respect the states that set their own medical marijuana programs and prevents federal law enforcement from prosecuting patients , doctors and caregivers in those states . = = = Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2015 = = = November 4 , 2015 -Senator Bernie Sanders introduced the bill into Senate . It was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary . The intentions of the bill are to limit the application of Federal laws to the distribution and consumption of marijuana , and for other purposes . = = Drug courts = = Drug courts first started in 1989 and have spread since . 2140 drug courts were in operation May 2008 , with another 284 being planned or developed . They offer offenders charged with less @-@ serious crimes of being under the influence , possession of a controlled substance , or even drug @-@ using offenders charged with a non @-@ drug @-@ related crime the option of entering the drug court system instead of a conventional criminal court with the possibility of serving a jail sentence . To take advantage of this program , offenders have to plead guilty to the charge , agree to take part in treatment , regular drug screenings , and regular reporting to the drug court judge for a minimum of one year , as well as pay heavy fines and monthly drug court fees . Drug court systems in some areas utilize a color code system , whereas each offender is assigned a designated color , one of which is selected daily by the drug court for drug screening . Offenders must call the " color code " office each morning to see if their color has been selected for screening . Should the offender fail to comply with one or more of the requirements they may be removed from the drug court and incarcerated at the judge 's discretion . If they complete the drug court program the charges brought against them are dropped or reduced .
= Edward VI of England = Edward VI ( 12 October 1537 – 6 July 1553 ) was King of England and Ireland from 28 January 1547 until his death . He was crowned on 20 February at the age of nine . The son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour , Edward was the third monarch of the Tudor dynasty and England 's first monarch raised as a Protestant . During Edward 's reign , the realm was governed by a Regency Council because he never reached his majority . The Council was first led by his uncle Edward Seymour , 1st Duke of Somerset ( 1547 – 1549 ) , and then by John Dudley , 1st Earl of Warwick , from 1551 Duke of Northumberland . Edward 's reign was marked by economic problems and social unrest that , in 1549 , erupted into riot and rebellion . An expensive war with Scotland , at first successful , ended with military withdrawal from Scotland as well as Boulogne @-@ sur @-@ Mer in exchange for peace . The transformation of the Church into a recognisably Protestant body also occurred under Edward , who took great interest in religious matters . Although his father , Henry VIII , had severed the link between the Church of England and Rome , Henry VIII had never permitted the renunciation of Catholic doctrine or ceremony . It was during Edward 's reign that Protestantism was established for the first time in England with reforms that included the abolition of clerical celibacy and the Mass and the imposition of compulsory services in English . The architect of these reforms was Thomas Cranmer , Archbishop of Canterbury , whose Book of Common Prayer is still used . In February 1553 , at age 15 , Edward fell ill . When his sickness was discovered to be terminal , he and his Council drew up a " Devise for the Succession " , attempting to prevent the country 's return to Catholicism . Edward named his first cousin once removed , Lady Jane Grey , as his heir and excluded his half @-@ sisters , Mary and Elizabeth . However , this decision was disputed following Edward 's death , and Jane was deposed by Mary within 13 days . As queen , Mary reversed Edward 's Protestant reforms , which nonetheless became the basis of the Elizabethan Religious Settlement of 1559 . = = Early life = = = = = Birth = = = Edward was born on 12 October 1537 in his mother 's room inside Hampton Court Palace , in Middlesex . He was the son of King Henry VIII by his third wife , Jane Seymour . Throughout the realm , the people greeted the birth of a male heir , " whom we hungered for so long " , with joy and relief . Te Deums were sung in churches , bonfires lit , and " their was shott at the Tower that night above two thousand gonnes " . Queen Jane , appearing to recover quickly from the birth , sent out personally signed letters announcing the birth of " a Prince , conceived in most lawful matrimony between my Lord the King 's Majesty and us " . Edward was christened on 15 October , with his half @-@ sisters , the 21 @-@ year @-@ old Lady Mary as godmother and the 4 @-@ year @-@ old Lady Elizabeth carrying the chrisom ; and the Garter King of Arms proclaimed him as Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester . The Queen , however , fell ill on 23 October from presumed postnatal complications , and died the following night . Henry VIII wrote to Francis I of France that " Divine Providence ... hath mingled my joy with bitterness of the death of her who brought me this happiness " . = = = Upbringing and education = = = Edward was a healthy baby who suckled strongly from the outset . His father was delighted with him ; in May 1538 , Henry was observed " dallying with him in his arms ... and so holding him in a window to the sight and great comfort of the people " . That September , the Lord Chancellor , Thomas , Lord Audley , reported Edward 's rapid growth and vigour ; and other accounts describe him as a tall and merry child . The tradition that Edward VI was a sickly boy has been challenged by more recent historians . At the age of four , he fell ill with a life @-@ threatening " quartan fever " , but , despite occasional illnesses and poor eyesight , he enjoyed generally good health until the last six months of his life . Edward was initially placed in the care of Margaret Bryan , " lady mistress " of the prince 's household . She was succeeded by Blanche Herbert , Lady Troy . Until the age of six , Edward was brought up , as he put it later in his Chronicle , " among the women " . The formal royal household established around Edward was , at first , under Sir William Sidney , and later Sir Richard Page , stepfather of Edward Seymour 's wife , Anne Stanhope . Henry demanded exacting standards of security and cleanliness in his son 's household , stressing that Edward was " this whole realm 's most precious jewel " . Visitors described the prince , who was lavishly provided with toys and comforts , including his own troupe of minstrels , as a contented child . From the age of six , Edward began his formal education under Richard Cox and John Cheke , concentrating , as he recalled himself , on " learning of tongues , of the scripture , of philosophy , and all liberal sciences " ; He received tuition from Elizabeth 's tutor , Roger Ascham , and Jean Belmain , learning French , Spanish and Italian . In addition , he is known to have studied geometry and learned to play musical instruments , including the lute and the virginals . He collected globes and maps and , according to coinage historian C. E. Challis , developed a grasp of monetary affairs that indicated a high intelligence . Edward 's religious education is assumed to have favoured the reforming agenda . His religious establishment was probably chosen by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer , a leading reformer . Both Cox and Cheke were " reformed " Catholics or Erasmians and later became Marian exiles . By 1549 , Edward had written a treatise on the pope as Antichrist and was making informed notes on theological controversies . Many aspects of Edward 's religion were essentially Catholic in his early years , including celebration of the mass and reverence for images and relics of the saints . Both Edward 's sisters were attentive to their brother and often visited him – on one occasion , Elizabeth gave him a shirt " of her own working " . Edward " took special content " in Mary 's company , though he disapproved of her taste for foreign dances ; " I love you most " , he wrote to her in 1546 . In 1543 , Henry invited his children to spend Christmas with him , signalling his reconciliation with his daughters , whom he had previously illegitimised and disinherited . The following spring , he restored them to their place in the succession with a Third Succession Act , which also provided for a regency council during Edward 's minority . This unaccustomed family harmony may have owed much to the influence of Henry 's new wife Catherine Parr , of whom Edward soon became fond . He called her his " most dear mother " and in September 1546 , wrote to her : " I received so many benefits from you that my mind can hardly grasp them . " Other children were brought to play with Edward , including the granddaughter of Edward 's chamberlain , Sir William Sidney , who in adulthood recalled the prince as " a marvellous sweet child , of very mild and generous condition " . Edward was educated with sons of nobles , " appointed to attend upon him " in what was a form of miniature court . Among these , Barnaby Fitzpatrick , son of an Irish peer , became a close and lasting friend . Edward was more devoted to his schoolwork than his classmates and seems to have outshone them , motivated to do his " duty " and compete with his sister Elizabeth 's academic prowess . Edward 's surroundings and possessions were regally splendid : his rooms were hung with costly Flemish tapestries , and his clothes , books , and cutlery were encrusted with precious jewels and gold . Like his father , Edward was fascinated by military arts , and many of his portraits show him wearing a gold dagger with a jewelled hilt , in imitation of Henry . Edward 's Chronicle enthusiastically details English military campaigns against Scotland and France , and adventures such as John Dudley 's near capture at Musselburgh in 1547 . = = = " The Rough Wooing " = = = On 1 July 1543 , Henry VIII signed the Treaty of Greenwich with the Scots , sealing the peace with Edward 's betrothal to the seven @-@ month @-@ old Mary , Queen of Scots . The Scots were in a weak bargaining position after their defeat at Solway Moss the previous November , and Henry , seeking to unite the two realms , stipulated that Mary be handed over to him to be brought up in England . When the Scots repudiated the treaty in December 1543 and renewed their alliance with France , Henry was enraged . In April 1544 , he ordered Edward 's uncle , Edward Seymour , Earl of Hertford , to invade Scotland and " put all to fire and sword , burn Edinburgh town , so razed and defaced when you have sacked and gotten what ye can of it , as there may remain forever a perpetual memory of the vengeance of God lightened upon [ them ] for their falsehood and disloyalty " . Seymour responded with the most savage campaign ever launched by the English against the Scots . The war , which continued into Edward 's reign , has become known as " The Rough Wooing " . = = Accession = = The nine @-@ year @-@ old Edward wrote to his father and stepmother on 10 January 1547 from Hertford thanking them for his new year 's gift of their portraits from life . By 28 January 1547 , Henry VIII was dead . Those close to the throne , led by Edward Seymour and William Paget , agreed to delay the announcement of the king 's death until arrangements had been made for a smooth succession . Seymour and Sir Anthony Browne , the Master of the Horse , rode to collect Edward from Hertford and brought him to Enfield , where Lady Elizabeth was living . He and Elizabeth were then told of the death of their father and heard a reading of the will . The Lord Chancellor , Thomas Wriothesley , announced Henry 's death to parliament on 31 January , and general proclamations of Edward 's succession were ordered . The new king was taken to the Tower of London , where he was welcomed with " great shot of ordnance in all places there about , as well out of the Tower as out of the ships " . The following day , the nobles of the realm made their obeisance to Edward at the Tower , and Seymour was announced as Protector . Henry VIII was buried at Windsor on 16 February , in the same tomb as Jane Seymour , as he had wished . Edward VI was crowned at Westminster Abbey four days later on Sunday 20 February . The ceremonies were shortened , because of the " tedious length of the same which should weary and be hurtsome peradventure to the King 's majesty , being yet of tender age " , and also because the Reformation had rendered some of them inappropriate . On the eve of the coronation , Edward progressed on horseback from the Tower to the Palace of Westminster through thronging crowds and pageants , many based on the pageants for a previous boy king , Henry VI . He laughed at a Spanish tightrope walker who " tumbled and played many pretty toys " outside St Paul 's Cathedral . At the coronation service , Cranmer affirmed the royal supremacy and called Edward a second Josiah , urging him to continue the reformation of the Church of England , " the tyranny of the Bishops of Rome banished from your subjects , and images removed " . After the service , Edward presided at a banquet in Westminster Hall , where , he recalled in his Chronicle , he dined with his crown on his head . = = Somerset 's Protectorate = = = = = Council of Regency = = = Henry VIII 's will named sixteen executors , who were to act as Edward 's Council until he reached the age of 18 . These executors were supplemented by twelve men " of counsail " who would assist the executors when called on . The final state of Henry VIII 's will has been the subject of controversy . Some historians suggest that those close to the king manipulated either him or the will itself to ensure a shareout of power to their benefit , both material and religious . In this reading , the composition of the Privy Chamber shifted towards the end of 1546 in favour of the reforming faction . In addition , two leading conservative Privy Councillors were removed from the centre of power . Stephen Gardiner was refused access to Henry during his last months . Thomas Howard , 3rd Duke of Norfolk , found himself accused of treason ; the day before the king 's death his vast estates were seized , making them available for redistribution , and he spent the whole of Edward 's reign in the Tower of London . Other historians have argued that Gardiner 's exclusion was based on non @-@ religious matters , that Norfolk was not noticeably conservative in religion , that conservatives remained on the Council , and that the radicalism of men such as Sir Anthony Denny , who controlled the dry stamp that replicated the king 's signature , is debatable . Whatever the case , Henry 's death was followed by a lavish hand @-@ out of lands and honours to the new power group . The will contained an " unfulfilled gifts " clause , added at the last minute , which allowed Henry 's executors to freely distribute lands and honours to themselves and the court , particularly to Edward Seymour , 1st Earl of Hertford , the new king 's uncle who became Lord Protector of the Realm , Governor of the King 's Person , and Duke of Somerset . In fact , Henry VIII 's will did not provide for the appointment of a Protector . It entrusted the government of the realm during his son 's minority to a Regency Council that would rule collectively , by majority decision , with " like and equal charge " . Nevertheless , a few days after Henry 's death , on 4 February , the executors chose to invest almost regal power in Edward Seymour , now Duke of Somerset . Thirteen out of the sixteen ( the others being absent ) agreed to his appointment as Protector , which they justified as their joint decision " by virtue of the authority " of Henry 's will . Somerset may have done a deal with some of the executors , who almost all received hand @-@ outs . He is known to have done so with William Paget , private secretary to Henry VIII , and to have secured the support of Sir Anthony Browne of the Privy Chamber . Somerset 's appointment was in keeping with historical precedent , and his eligibility for the role was reinforced by his military successes in Scotland and France . In March 1547 , he secured letters patent from King Edward granting him the almost monarchical right to appoint members to the Privy Council himself and to consult them only when he wished . In the words of historian G. R. Elton , " from that moment his autocratic system was complete " . He proceeded to rule largely by proclamation , calling on the Privy Council to do little more than rubber @-@ stamp his decisions . Somerset 's takeover of power was smooth and efficient . The imperial ambassador , Van der Delft , reported that he " governs everything absolutely " , with Paget operating as his secretary , though he predicted trouble from John Dudley , Viscount Lisle , who had recently been raised to Earl of Warwick in the share @-@ out of honours . In fact , in the early weeks of his Protectorate , Somerset was challenged only by the Chancellor , Thomas Wriothesley , whom the Earldom of Southampton had evidently failed to buy off , and by his own brother . Wriothesley , a religious conservative , objected to Somerset 's assumption of monarchical power over the Council . He then found himself abruptly dismissed from the chancellorship on charges of selling off some of his offices to delegates . = = = Thomas Seymour = = = Somerset faced less manageable opposition from his younger brother Thomas Seymour , who has been described as a " worm in the bud " . As King Edward 's uncle , Thomas Seymour demanded the governorship of the king 's person and a greater share of power . Somerset tried to buy his brother off with a barony , an appointment to the Lord Admiralship , and a seat on the Privy Council — but Thomas was bent on scheming for power . He began smuggling pocket money to King Edward , telling him that Somerset held the purse strings too tight , making him a " beggarly king " . He also urged him to throw off the Protector within two years and " bear rule as other kings do " ; but Edward , schooled to defer to the Council , failed to co @-@ operate . In the Spring of 1547 , using Edward 's support to circumvent Somerset 's opposition , Thomas Seymour secretly married Henry VIII 's widow Catherine Parr , whose Protestant household included the 11 @-@ year @-@ old Lady Jane Grey and the 13 @-@ year @-@ old Lady Elizabeth . In summer 1548 , a pregnant Catherine Parr discovered Thomas Seymour embracing Lady Elizabeth . As a result , Elizabeth was removed from Catherine Parr 's household and transferred to Sir Anthony Denny 's . That September , Catherine Parr died in childbirth , and Thomas Seymour promptly resumed his attentions to Elizabeth by letter , planning to marry her . Elizabeth was receptive , but , like Edward , unready to agree to anything unless permitted by the Council . In January 1549 , the Council had Thomas Seymour arrested on various charges , including embezzlement at the Bristol mint . King Edward , whom Seymour was accused of planning to marry to Lady Jane Grey , himself testified about the pocket money . Lack of clear evidence for treason ruled out a trial , so Seymour was condemned instead by an Act of Attainder and beheaded on 20 March 1549 . = = = War = = = Somerset 's only undoubted skill was as a soldier , which he had proven on expeditions to Scotland and in the defence of Boulogne @-@ sur @-@ Mer in 1546 . From the first , his main interest as Protector was the war against Scotland . After a crushing victory at the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh in September 1547 , he set up a network of garrisons in Scotland , stretching as far north as Dundee . His initial successes , however , were followed by a loss of direction , as his aim of uniting the realms through conquest became increasingly unrealistic . The Scots allied with France , who sent reinforcements for the defence of Edinburgh in 1548 , while Mary , Queen of Scots , was removed to France , where she was betrothed to the dauphin . The cost of maintaining the Protector 's massive armies and his permanent garrisons in Scotland also placed an unsustainable burden on the royal finances . A French attack on Boulogne in August 1549 at last forced Somerset to begin a withdrawal from Scotland . = = = Rebellion = = = During 1548 , England was subject to social unrest . After April 1549 , a series of armed revolts broke out , fuelled by various religious and agrarian grievances . The two most serious rebellions , which required major military intervention to put down , were in Devon and Cornwall and in Norfolk . The first , sometimes called the Prayer Book Rebellion , arose mainly from the imposition of church services in English , and the second , led by a tradesman called Robert Kett , mainly from the encroachment of landlords on common grazing ground . A complex aspect of the social unrest was that the protesters believed they were acting legitimately against enclosing landlords with the Protector 's support , convinced that the landlords were the lawbreakers . The same justification for outbreaks of unrest was voiced throughout the country , not only in Norfolk and the west . The origin of the popular view of Somerset as sympathetic to the rebel cause lies partly in his series of sometimes liberal , often contradictory , proclamations , and partly in the uncoordinated activities of the commissions he sent out in 1548 and 1549 to investigate grievances about loss of tillage , encroachment of large sheep flocks on common land , and similar issues . Somerset 's commissions were led by an evangelical M.P. called John Hales , whose socially liberal rhetoric linked the issue of enclosure with Reformation theology and the notion of a godly commonwealth . Local groups often assumed that the findings of these commissions entitled them to act against offending landlords themselves . King Edward wrote in his Chronicle that the 1549 risings began " because certain commissions were sent down to pluck down enclosures " . Whatever the popular view of Somerset , the disastrous events of 1549 were taken as evidence of a colossal failure of government , and the Council laid the responsibility at the Protector 's door . In July 1549 , Paget wrote to Somerset : " Every man of the council have misliked your proceedings ... would to God , that , at the first stir you had followed the matter hotly , and caused justice to be ministered in solemn fashion to the terror of others ... " . = = = Fall of Somerset = = = The sequence of events that led to Somerset 's removal from power has often been called a coup d 'état . By 1 October 1549 , Somerset had been alerted that his rule faced a serious threat . He issued a proclamation calling for assistance , took possession of the king 's person , and withdrew for safety to the fortified Windsor Castle , where Edward wrote , " Me thinks I am in prison " . Meanwhile , a united Council published details of Somerset 's government mismanagement . They made clear that the Protector 's power came from them , not from Henry VIII 's will . On 11 October , the Council had Somerset arrested and brought the king to Richmond . Edward summarised the charges against Somerset in his Chronicle : " ambition , vainglory , entering into rash wars in mine youth , negligent looking on Newhaven , enriching himself of my treasure , following his own opinion , and doing all by his own authority , etc . " In February 1550 , John Dudley , Earl of Warwick , emerged as the leader of the Council and , in effect , as Somerset 's successor . Although Somerset was released from the Tower and restored to the Council , he was executed for felony in January 1552 after scheming to overthrow Dudley 's regime . Edward noted his uncle 's death in his Chronicle : " the duke of Somerset had his head cut off upon Tower Hill between eight and nine o 'clock in the morning " . Historians contrast the efficiency of Somerset 's takeover of power , in which they detect the organising skills of allies such as Paget , the " master of practices " , with the subsequent ineptitude of his rule . By autumn 1549 , his costly wars had lost momentum , the crown faced financial ruin , and riots and rebellions had broken out around the country . Until recent decades , Somerset 's reputation with historians was high , in view of his many proclamations that appeared to back the common people against a rapacious landowning class . More recently , however , he has often been portrayed as an arrogant and aloof ruler , lacking in political and administrative skills . = = Northumberland 's regime = = In contrast , Somerset 's successor John Dudley , Earl of Warwick , made Duke of Northumberland in 1551 , was once regarded by historians merely as a grasping schemer who cynically elevated and enriched himself at the expense of the crown . Since the 1970s , the administrative and economic achievements of his regime have been recognised , and he has been credited with restoring the authority of the royal Council and returning the government to an even keel after the disasters of Somerset 's protectorate . The Earl of Warwick 's rival for leadership of the new regime was Thomas Wriothesley , 1st Earl of Southampton , whose conservative supporters had allied with Dudley 's followers to create a unanimous Council , which they , and observers such as the Holy Roman Emperor , Charles V 's ambassador , expected to reverse Somerset 's policy of religious reform . Warwick , on the other hand , pinned his hopes on the king 's strong Protestantism and , claiming that Edward was old enough to rule in person , moved himself and his people closer to the king , taking control of the Privy Chamber . Paget , accepting a barony , joined Warwick when he realised that a conservative policy would not bring the emperor onto the English side over Boulogne . Southampton prepared a case for executing Somerset , aiming to discredit Warwick through Somerset 's statements that he had done all with Warwick 's co @-@ operation . As a counter @-@ move , Warwick convinced parliament to free Somerset , which it did on 14 January 1550 . Warwick then had Southampton and his followers purged from the Council after winning the support of Council members in return for titles , and was made Lord President of the Council and great master of the king 's household . Although not called a Protector , he was now clearly the head of the government . As Edward was growing up , he was able to understand more and more government business . However , his actual involvement in decisions has long been a matter of debate , and during the 20th century , historians have presented the whole gamut of possibilities , " balanc [ ing ] an articulate puppet against a mature , precocious , and essentially adult king " , in the words of Stephen Alford . A special " Counsel for the Estate " was created when Edward was fourteen . Edward chose the members himself . In the weekly meetings with this Council , Edward was " to hear the debating of things of most importance " . A major point of contact with the king was the Privy Chamber , and there Edward worked closely with William Cecil and William Petre , the Principal Secretaries . The king 's greatest influence was in matters of religion , where the Council followed the strongly Protestant policy that Edward favoured . The Duke of Northumberland 's mode of operation was very different from Somerset 's . Careful to make sure he always commanded a majority of councillors , he encouraged a working council and used it to legitimatise his authority . Lacking Somerset 's blood @-@ relationship with the king , he added members to the Council from his own faction in order to control it . He also added members of his family to the royal household . He saw that to achieve personal dominance , he needed total procedural control of the Council . In the words of historian John Guy , " Like Somerset , he became quasi @-@ king ; the difference was that he managed the bureaucracy on the pretence that Edward had assumed full sovereignty , whereas Somerset had asserted the right to near @-@ sovereignty as Protector " . Warwick 's war policies were more pragmatic than Somerset 's , and they have earned him criticism for weakness . In 1550 , he signed a peace treaty with France that agreed to withdrawal from Boulogne and recalled all English garrisons from Scotland . In 1551 , Edward was betrothed to Elisabeth of Valois , King Henry II 's daughter . In practice , he realised that England could no longer support the cost of wars . At home , he took measures to police local unrest . To forestall future rebellions , he kept permanent representatives of the crown in the localities , including lords lieutenant , who commanded military forces and reported back to central government . Working with William Paulet and Walter Mildmay , Warwick tackled the disastrous state of the kingdom 's finances . However , his regime first succumbed to the temptations of a quick profit by further debasing the coinage . The economic disaster that resulted caused Warwick to hand the initiative to the expert Thomas Gresham . By 1552 , confidence in the coinage was restored , prices fell , and trade at last improved . Though a full economic recovery was not achieved until Elizabeth 's reign , its origins lay in the Duke of Northumberland 's policies . The regime also cracked down on widespread embezzlement of government finances , and carried out a thorough review of revenue collection practices , which has been called " one of the more remarkable achievements of Tudor administration " . = = Reformation = = In the matter of religion , the regime of Northumberland followed the same policy as that of Somerset , supporting an increasingly vigorous programme of reform . Although Edward VI 's practical influence on government was limited , his intense Protestantism made a reforming administration obligatory ; his succession was managed by the reforming faction , who continued in power throughout his reign . The man Edward trusted most , Thomas Cranmer , Archbishop of Canterbury , introduced a series of religious reforms that revolutionised the English church from one that — while rejecting papal supremacy — remained essentially Catholic , to one that was institutionally Protestant . The confiscation of church property that had begun under Henry VIII resumed under Edward — notably with the dissolution of the chantries — to the great monetary advantage of the crown and the new owners of the seized property . Church reform was therefore as much a political as a religious policy under Edward VI . By the end of his reign , the church had been financially ruined , with much of the property of the bishops transferred into lay hands . The religious convictions of both Somerset and Northumberland have proved elusive for historians , who are divided on the sincerity of their Protestantism . There is less doubt , however , about the religious fervour of King Edward , who was said to have read twelve chapters of scripture daily and enjoyed sermons , and was commemorated by John Foxe as a " godly imp " . Edward was depicted during his life and afterwards as a new Josiah , the biblical king who destroyed the idols of Baal . He could be priggish in his anti @-@ Catholicism and once asked Catherine Parr to persuade Lady Mary " to attend no longer to foreign dances and merriments which do not become a most Christian princess " . Edward 's biographer Jennifer Loach cautions , however , against accepting too readily the pious image of Edward handed down by the reformers , as in John Foxe 's influential Acts and Monuments , where a woodcut depicts the young king listening to a sermon by Hugh Latimer . In the early part of his life , Edward conformed to the prevailing Catholic practices , including attendance at mass : but he became convinced , under the influence of Cranmer and the reformers among his tutors and courtiers , that " true " religion should be imposed in England . The English Reformation advanced under pressure from two directions : from the traditionalists on the one hand and the zealots on the other , who led incidents of iconoclasm ( image @-@ smashing ) and complained that reform did not go far enough . Reformed doctrines were made official , such as justification by faith alone and communion for laity as well as clergy in both kinds , of bread and wine . The Ordinal of 1550 replaced the divine ordination of priests with a government @-@ run appointment system , authorising ministers to preach the gospel and administer the sacraments rather than , as before , " to offer sacrifice and celebrate mass both for the living and the dead " . Cranmer set himself the task of writing a uniform liturgy in English , detailing all weekly and daily services and religious festivals , to be made compulsory in the first Act of Uniformity of 1549 . The Book of Common Prayer of 1549 , intended as a compromise , was attacked by traditionalists for dispensing with many cherished rituals of the liturgy , such as the elevation of the bread and wine , while some reformers complained about the retention of too many " popish " elements , including vestiges of sacrificial rites at communion . The prayer book was also opposed by many senior Catholic clerics , including Stephen Gardiner , Bishop of Winchester , and Edmund Bonner , Bishop of London , who were both imprisoned in the Tower and , along with others , deprived of their sees . After 1551 , the Reformation advanced further , with the approval and encouragement of Edward , who began to exert more personal influence in his role as Supreme Head of the church . The new changes were also a response to criticism from such reformers as John Hooper , Bishop of Gloucester , and the Scot John Knox , who was employed as a minister in Newcastle under the Duke of Northumberland and whose preaching at court prompted the king to oppose kneeling at communion . Cranmer was also influenced by the views of the continental reformer Martin Bucer , who died in England in 1551 , by Peter Martyr , who was teaching at Oxford , and by other foreign theologians . The progress of the Reformation was further speeded by the consecration of more reformers as bishops . In the winter of 1551 – 52 , Cranmer rewrote the Book of Common Prayer in less ambiguous reformist terms , revised canon law , and prepared a doctrinal statement , the Forty @-@ two Articles , to clarify the practice of the reformed religion , particularly in the divisive matter of the communion service . Cranmer 's formulation of the reformed religion , finally divesting the communion service of any notion of the real presence of God in the bread and the wine , effectively abolished the mass . According to Elton , the publication of Cranmer 's revised prayer book in 1552 , supported by a second Act of Uniformity , " marked the arrival of the English Church at protestantism " . The prayer book of 1552 remains the foundation of the Church of England 's services . However , Cranmer was unable to implement all these reforms once it became clear in spring 1553 that King Edward , upon whom the whole Reformation in England depended , was dying . = = Succession crisis = = = = = Devise for the succession = = = In February 1553 , Edward VI became ill , and by June , after several improvements and relapses , he was in a hopeless condition . The king 's death and the succession of his Catholic half @-@ sister Mary would jeopardise the English Reformation , and Edward 's Council and officers had many reasons to fear it . Edward himself opposed Mary 's succession , not only on religious grounds but also on those of legitimacy and male inheritance , which also applied to Elizabeth . He composed a draft document , headed " My devise for the succession " , in which he undertook to change the succession , most probably inspired by his father Henry VIII 's precedent . He passed over the claims of his half @-@ sisters and , at last , settled the Crown on his first cousin once removed , the 16 @-@ year @-@ old Lady Jane Grey , who on 25 May 1553 had married Lord Guilford Dudley , a younger son of the Duke of Northumberland . In his document Edward provided , in case of " lack of issue of my body " , for the succession of male heirs only , that is , Jane Grey 's mother 's male heirs , Jane 's or her sisters ' . As his death approached and possibly persuaded by Northumberland , he altered the wording so that Jane and her sisters themselves should be able to succeed . Yet Edward conceded Jane 's right only as an exception to male rule , demanded by reality , an example not to be followed if Jane or her sisters had only daughters . In the final document both Mary and Elizabeth were excluded because of bastardy ; since both had been declared bastards under Henry VIII and never made legitimate again , this reason could be advanced for both sisters . The provisions to alter the succession directly contravened Henry VIII 's Third Succession Act of 1543 and have been described as bizarre and illogical . In early June , Edward personally supervised the drafting of a clean version of his devise by lawyers , to which he lent his signature " in six several places . " Then , on 15 June he summoned high ranking judges to his sickbed , commanding them on their allegiance " with sharp words and angry countenance " to prepare his devise as letters patent and announced that he would have these passed in parliament . His next measure was to have leading councillors and lawyers sign a bond in his presence , in which they agreed faithfully to perform Edward 's will after his death . A few months later , Chief Justice Edward Montagu recalled that when he and his colleagues had raised legal objections to the devise , Northumberland had threatened them " trembling for anger , and ... further said that he would fight in his shirt with any man in that quarrel " . Montagu also overheard a group of lords standing behind him conclude " if they refused to do that , they were traitors " . At last , on 21 June , the devise was signed by over a hundred notables , including councillors , peers , archbishops , bishops , and sheriffs ; many of them later claimed that they had been bullied into doing so by Northumberland , although in the words of Edward 's biographer Jennifer Loach , " few of them gave any clear indication of reluctance at the time " . It was now common knowledge that Edward was dying , and foreign diplomats suspected that some scheme to debar Mary was under way . France found the prospect of the emperor 's cousin on the English throne disagreeable and engaged in secret talks with Northumberland , indicating support . The diplomats were certain that the overwhelming majority of the English people backed Mary , but nevertheless believed that Queen Jane would be successfully established . For centuries , the attempt to alter the succession was mostly seen as a one @-@ man @-@ plot by the Duke of Northumberland . Since the 1970s , however , many historians have attributed the inception of the " devise " and the insistence on its implementation to the king 's initiative . Diarmaid MacCulloch has made out Edward 's " teenage dreams of founding an evangelical realm of Christ " , while David Starkey has stated that " Edward had a couple of co @-@ operators , but the driving will was his " . Among other members of the Privy Chamber , Northumberland 's intimate Sir John Gates has been suspected of suggesting to Edward to change his devise so that Lady Jane Grey herself — not just any sons of hers — could inherit the Crown . Whatever the degree of his contribution , Edward was convinced that his word was law and fully endorsed disinheriting his half @-@ sisters : " barring Mary from the succession was a cause in which the young King believed . " = = = Illness and death = = = Edward became ill during January 1553 with a fever and cough that gradually worsened . The imperial ambassador , Scheyfve , reported that " he suffers a good deal when the fever is upon him , especially from a difficulty in drawing his breath , which is due to the compression of the organs on the right side " . Edward felt well enough in early April to take the air in the park at Westminster and to move to Greenwich , but by the end of the month he had weakened again . By 7 May he was " much amended , " and the royal doctors had no doubt of his recovery . A few days later the king was watching the ships on the Thames , sitting at his window . However , he relapsed , and on 11 June Scheyfve , who had an informant in the king 's household , reported that " the matter he ejects from his mouth is sometimes coloured a greenish yellow and black , sometimes pink , like the colour of blood " . Now his doctors believed he was suffering from " a suppurating tumour " of the lung and admitted that Edward 's life was beyond recovery . Soon , his legs became so swollen that he had to lie on his back , and he lost the strength to resist the disease . To his tutor John Cheke he whispered , " I am glad to die " . Edward made his final appearance in public on 1 July , when he showed himself at his window in Greenwich Palace , horrifying those who saw him by his " thin and wasted " condition . During the next two days , large crowds arrived hoping to see the king again , but on the 3rd , they were told that the weather was too chilly for him to appear . Edward died at the age of 15 at Greenwich Palace at 8pm on 6 July 1553 . According to John Foxe 's legendary account of his death , his last words were : " I am faint ; Lord have mercy upon me , and take my spirit " . He was buried in the Henry VII Lady Chapel at Westminster Abbey on 8 August 1553 , with reformed rites performed by Thomas Cranmer . The procession was led by " a grett company of chylderyn in ther surples " and watched by Londoners " wepyng and lamenting " ; the funeral chariot , draped in cloth of gold , was topped by an effigy of Edward , with crown , sceptre , and garter . Edward 's burial place was unmarked until as late as 1966 , when an inscribed stone was laid in the chapel floor by Christ 's Hospital school to commemorate their founder . The inscription reads as follows : " In Memory Of King Edward VI Buried In This Chapel This Stone Was Placed Here By Christ 's Hospital In Thanksgiving For Their Founder 7 October 1966 " . The cause of Edward VI 's death is not certain . As with many royal deaths in the 16th century , rumours of poisoning abounded , but no evidence has been found to support these . The Duke of Northumberland , whose unpopularity was underlined by the events that followed Edward 's death , was widely believed to have ordered the imagined poisoning . Another theory held that Edward had been poisoned by Catholics seeking to bring Mary to the throne . The surgeon who opened Edward 's chest after his death found that " the disease whereof his majesty died was the disease of the lungs " . The Venetian ambassador reported that Edward had died of consumption — in other words , tuberculosis — a diagnosis accepted by many historians . Skidmore believes that Edward contracted the tuberculosis after a bout of measles and smallpox in 1552 that suppressed his natural immunity to the disease . Loach suggests instead that his symptoms were typical of acute bronchopneumonia , leading to a " suppurating pulmonary infection " or lung abscess , septicaemia , and kidney failure . = = = Queen Jane and Queen Mary = = = Lady Mary was last seen by Edward in February , and was kept informed about the state of her brother 's health by Northumberland and through her contacts with the imperial ambassadors . Aware of Edward 's imminent death , she left Hunsdon House , near London , and sped to her estates around Kenninghall in Norfolk , where she could count on the support of her tenants . Northumberland sent ships to the Norfolk coast to prevent her escape or the arrival of reinforcements from the continent . He delayed the announcement of the king 's death while he gathered his forces , and Jane Grey was taken to the Tower on 10 July . On the same day , she was proclaimed queen in the streets of London , to murmurings of discontent . The Privy Council received a message from Mary asserting her " right and title " to the throne and commanding that the Council proclaim her queen , as she had already proclaimed herself . The Council replied that Jane was queen by Edward 's authority and that Mary , by contrast , was illegitimate and supported only by " a few lewd , base people " . Northumberland soon realised that he had miscalculated drastically , not least in failing to secure Mary 's person before Edward 's death . Although many of those who rallied to Mary were conservatives hoping for the defeat of Protestantism , her supporters also included many for whom her lawful claim to the throne overrode religious considerations . Northumberland was obliged to relinquish control of a nervous Council in London and launch an unplanned pursuit of Mary into East Anglia , from where news was arriving of her growing support , which included a number of nobles and gentlemen and " innumerable companies of the common people " . On 14 July Northumberland marched out of London with three thousand men , reaching Cambridge the next day ; meanwhile , Mary rallied her forces at Framlingham Castle in Suffolk , gathering an army of nearly twenty thousand by 19 July . It now dawned on the Privy Council that it had made a terrible mistake . Led by the Earl of Arundel and the Earl of Pembroke , on 19 July the Council publicly proclaimed Mary as queen ; Jane 's nine @-@ day reign came to an end . The proclamation triggered wild rejoicing throughout London . Stranded in Cambridge , Northumberland proclaimed Mary himself — as he had been commanded to do by a letter from the Council . William Paget and the Earl of Arundel rode to Framlingham to beg Mary 's pardon , and Arundel arrested Northumberland on 24 July . Northumberland was beheaded on 22 August , shortly after renouncing Protestantism . His recantation dismayed his daughter @-@ in @-@ law , Jane , who followed him to the scaffold on 12 February 1554 , after her father 's involvement in Wyatt 's rebellion . = = Protestant legacy = = Although Edward reigned for only six years and died at the age of 15 , his reign made a lasting contribution to the English Reformation and the structure of the Church of England . The last decade of Henry VIII 's reign had seen a partial stalling of the Reformation , a drifting back to more conservative values . By contrast , Edward 's reign saw radical progress in the Reformation . In those six years , the Church transferred from an essentially Roman Catholic liturgy and structure to one that is usually identified as Protestant . In particular , the introduction of the Book of Common Prayer , the Ordinal of 1550 , and Cranmer 's Forty @-@ two Articles formed the basis for English Church practices that continue to this day . Edward himself fully approved these changes , and though they were the work of reformers such as Thomas Cranmer , Hugh Latimer , and Nicholas Ridley , backed by Edward 's determinedly evangelical Council , the fact of the king 's religion was a catalyst in the acceleration of the Reformation during his reign . Queen Mary 's attempts to undo the reforming work of her brother 's reign faced major obstacles . Despite her belief in the papal supremacy , she ruled constitutionally as the Supreme Head of the English Church , a contradiction under which she bridled . She found herself entirely unable to restore the vast number of ecclesiastical properties handed over or sold to private landowners . Although she burned a number of leading Protestant churchmen , many reformers either went into exile or remained subversively active in England during her reign , producing a torrent of reforming propaganda that she was unable to stem . Nevertheless , Protestantism was not yet " printed in the stomachs " of the English people , and had Mary lived longer , her Catholic reconstruction might have succeeded , leaving Edward 's reign , rather than hers , as a historical aberration . On Mary 's death in 1558 , the English Reformation resumed its course , and most of the reforms instituted during Edward 's reign were reinstated in the Elizabethan Religious Settlement . Queen Elizabeth replaced Mary 's councillors and bishops with ex @-@ Edwardians , such as William Cecil , Northumberland 's former secretary , and Richard Cox , Edward 's old tutor , who preached an anti @-@ Catholic sermon at the opening of parliament in 1559 . Parliament passed an Act of Uniformity the following spring that restored , with modifications , Cranmer 's prayer book of 1552 ; and the Thirty @-@ nine Articles of 1563 were largely based on Cranmer 's Forty @-@ two Articles . The theological developments of Edward 's reign provided a vital source of reference for Elizabeth 's religious policies , though the internationalism of the Edwardian Reformation was never revived . = = Ancestry = = = = = Family tree = = = = = = Ahnentafel = = =
= Fuji @-@ class battleship = The Fuji class ( 富士型戦艦 , Fuji @-@ gata senkan ) was a two @-@ ship class of pre @-@ dreadnought battleships built for the Imperial Japanese Navy ( IJN ) in the mid @-@ 1890s . They were the first battleships in the IJN , and were constructed in the UK as Japan lacked the industrial facilities needed to build them . Their design was based on the battleships being built for the Royal Navy at that time . The ships participated in the Russo @-@ Japanese War of 1904 – 1905 , including the Battle of Port Arthur in February 1904 and two bombardments of Port Arthur during the following month . Yashima struck a mine off Port Arthur in May and capsized while under tow several hours later . Fuji fought in the Battles of the Yellow Sea and Tsushima and was lightly damaged in the latter action . She was reclassified as a coast defence ship in 1910 and served as a training ship for the rest of her active career . The ship was hulked in 1922 and converted into a barracks ship fitted with classrooms . Fuji was finally broken up for scrap in 1948 . = = Background = = In the late 19th century , the strategy of the Imperial Japanese Navy was based on the radical Jeune Ecole naval philosophy , as promoted by French military advisor and naval architect Emile Bertin . This emphasised cheap torpedo boats and commerce raiding to offset expensive , heavily armoured ships . The acquisition of two German @-@ built Dingyuan @-@ class ironclads by the Imperial Chinese Beiyang Fleet in 1885 threatened Japan 's interests in Korea . A visit by the Chinese warships to Japan in early 1891 forced the Japanese government to acknowledge that the IJN required similarly armed and armoured ships of its own to counter the ironclads ; the three lightly armoured Matsushima @-@ class cruisers ordered from France would not suffice , despite their powerful guns . The IJN decided to order a pair of the latest battleships from the United Kingdom as Japan lacked the technology and capability to construct its own battleships . Obtaining funding for the battleships was a struggle for the Japanese government . The initial request was submitted in the budget of Prime Minister Matsukata Masayoshi in 1891 , but was deleted by the Diet of Japan due to political infighting . Matsukata submitted the request again and , when again denied , was forced to dissolve his cabinet . His successor , Prime Minister Itō Hirobumi , attempted to pass the funding measure in 1892 , but he also failed . This led to an extraordinary personal intervention by Emperor Meiji in a statement dated 10 February 1893 , wherein the emperor offered to fund the construction of the two battleships himself , through an annual reduction in the expenses of the Imperial Household , and asked that all government officials likewise agree to a reduction in their salaries by ten percent . The funding measure for the Fuji @-@ class battleships was passed by the Japanese Diet soon after . Completion of the ships was originally scheduled for 1899 , but the start of the First Sino @-@ Japanese War shortly before they were laid down in 1894 caused the government to accelerate the schedule by two years . = = Design and description = = The design of the Fuji class was derived from that of the British Royal Sovereign @-@ class battleships , albeit about 2 @,@ 000 long tons ( 2 @,@ 000 t ) smaller . The Fuji @-@ class ships improved on the Royal Sovereigns in several ways ; they were about 1 knot ( 1 @.@ 9 km / h ; 1 @.@ 2 mph ) faster , they incorporated superior Harvey armour , and their guns , although smaller and lighter , were the same as those of the later Majestic @-@ class and were protected by armoured hoods ( gun turrets ) . The two ships of the class were almost identical even though they were designed by two different naval architects , Yashima by Philip Watts and Fuji by George C. Mackrow . The primary difference was that Yashima had her deadwood cut away aft and was fitted with a balanced rudder . This made her almost a knot faster than her sister and gave her a smaller turning circle at the cost of a weaker stern that required careful attention when drydocked lest it sag . The Fuji @-@ class ships had an overall length of 412 feet ( 125 @.@ 6 m ) , a beam of 73 @.@ 25 – 73 @.@ 75 feet ( 22 @.@ 3 – 22 @.@ 5 m ) , and a normal draught of 26 @.@ 25 – 26 @.@ 5 feet ( 8 @.@ 0 – 8 @.@ 1 m ) . They displaced 12 @,@ 230 – 12 @,@ 533 long tons ( 12 @,@ 426 – 12 @,@ 734 t ) at normal load . The ships had double bottoms and were subdivided into a total of 181 watertight compartments . The crew numbered about 650 officers and enlisted men . Yashima was fitted as a flagship with accommodation for an admiral and his staff . = = = Propulsion = = = The Fuji @-@ class ships were powered by two Humphrys Tennant 3 @-@ cylinder vertical triple @-@ expansion steam engines , each driving one 17 @-@ foot ( 5 @.@ 18 m ) propeller , using steam generated by ten cylindrical boilers with a working pressure of 10 @.@ 898 kg / cm2 ( 1 @,@ 069 kPa ; 155 psi ) . The engines were rated at 13 @,@ 500 indicated horsepower ( 10 @,@ 100 kW ) , using forced draught , and designed to reach a top speed of 18 @.@ 25 knots ( 33 @.@ 80 km / h ; 21 @.@ 00 mph ) although the ships proved to be faster during their sea trials , reaching top speeds of 18 @.@ 66 to 19 @.@ 46 knots ( 34 @.@ 56 to 36 @.@ 04 km / h ; 21 @.@ 47 to 22 @.@ 39 mph ) . A watertight centreline bulkhead separated the two engine rooms as well as the four boiler rooms . The boiler rooms were further separated by a transverse bulkhead . Unlike both the Royal Sovereigns and Majestics , the Fuji class had their funnels on the centreline . The ships carried a maximum of 1 @,@ 620 tonnes ( 1 @,@ 590 long tons ) of coal which allowed them to steam for 4 @,@ 000 nautical miles ( 7 @,@ 400 km ; 4 @,@ 600 mi ) at a speed of 10 knots ( 19 km / h ; 12 mph ) . They were fitted with three electric dynamos , each rated at 32 kilowatts ( 43 hp ) . = = = Armament = = = The main battery of the Fuji class consisted of four hydraulically operated Elswick Ordnance Company 40 @-@ calibre Type 41 twelve @-@ inch guns mounted in pear @-@ shaped twin @-@ gun barbettes fore and aft of the superstructure . The barbettes had a firing arc of 240 ° and the guns had a maximum elevation of + 15 ° and could depress to − 5 ° . These barbettes had armoured hoods , or turrets , to protect the guns . The mountings were virtually identical to those used in the first Majestic @-@ class battleships , which could only hoist ammunition from the below @-@ decks magazines in one position . However , 18 shells were stowed in each turret that allowed a limited amount of firing at any angle before their ammunition supply needed to be replenished . The guns were loaded at a fixed angle of 1 ° and fired 850 @-@ pound ( 386 kg ) projectiles at a muzzle velocity of 2 @,@ 400 ft / s ( 730 m / s ) . This gave them an approximate range of 16 @,@ 000 yards ( 15 @,@ 000 m ) . Secondary armament of the Fuji class consisted of ten 40 @-@ calibre Type 41 six @-@ inch quick @-@ firing guns , four on the main deck in casemates and six guns on the upper deck protected by gun shields . They fired 100 @-@ pound ( 45 kg ) shells at a muzzle velocity of 2 @,@ 300 ft / s ( 700 m / s ) . Protection from torpedo boat attacks was provided by fourteen 47 @-@ millimetre ( 1 @.@ 9 in ) three @-@ pounder Hotchkiss guns and ten 47 @-@ millimetre 2 @.@ 5 @-@ pounder Hotchkiss guns . The three @-@ pounder gun fired 3 @.@ 2 @-@ pound ( 1 @.@ 5 kg ) projectiles at a muzzle velocity of 1 @,@ 927 ft / s ( 587 m / s ) while the 2 @.@ 5 @-@ pounder fired 2 @.@ 5 @-@ pound ( 1 @.@ 1 kg ) shells at a muzzle velocity of 1 @,@ 420 ft / s ( 430 m / s ) . The ships were also equipped with five 18 @-@ inch torpedo tubes , one in the bow above water and four submerged tubes , two on each broadside . In 1901 , both ships exchanged 16 of their 47 mm guns for an equal number of QF 12 @-@ pounder 12 cwt guns . They fired 3 @-@ inch ( 76 mm ) , 12 @.@ 5 @-@ pound ( 5 @.@ 7 kg ) projectiles at a muzzle velocity of 2 @,@ 359 ft / s ( 719 m / s ) . This raised the number of crewmen to 652 and later to 741 . = = = Armour = = = The armour scheme of the Fuji @-@ class ships was similar to that used by the Royal Sovereigns except that the Japanese ships used superior Harvey armour of the same thickness instead of compound armour . The waterline main belt was 8 feet ( 2 @.@ 4 m ) high , 3 feet ( 0 @.@ 9 m ) of which was above the waterline at normal load , and had a maximum thickness of 18 inches ( 457 mm ) . It reduced to 16 inches ( 406 mm ) then 14 inches ( 356 mm ) at the ends past the two barbettes ; above it was a 4 @-@ inch ( 102 mm ) strake of armour that ran between the barbettes . They were 14 inches thick outside the upper armour belt and reduced to 9 inches ( 229 mm ) behind the upper belt . Diagonal bulkheads connected the barbettes to the side armour ; the forward bulkhead was 14 inches thick while the rear bulkhead was 12 inches ( 305 mm ) thick . The armour of the casemates and the barbette hoods had a maximum thickness of 6 inches while the conning tower was protected by 14 inches of armour . The deck armour was 2 @.@ 5 inches ( 64 mm ) thick and met the sides of the ship at the top of the main armour belt . = = Ships = = = = Service = = Both ships had reached Japan by February 1898 . At the start of the Russo @-@ Japanese War in 1904 , Fuji and Yashima were assigned to the 1st Division of the 1st Fleet . They participated in the Battle of Port Arthur on 9 February , when Admiral Tōgō Heihachirō led the 1st Fleet in an attack on the Russian ships of the Pacific Squadron anchored just outside Port Arthur . Tōgō chose to attack the Russian coastal defences with his main armament and engage the Russian ships with his secondary guns . Splitting his fire proved to be a poor decision as his eight @-@ inch ( 203 mm ) and six @-@ inch guns inflicted very little damage on the Russian vessels , which concentrated all their fire on the Japanese ships . Yashima was not struck during the battle , but Fuji was hit twice , two men being killed and 10 wounded . On 10 March , the two ships blindly bombarded the harbour of Port Arthur from Pigeon Bay , on the southwest side of the Liaodong Peninsula , at a range of 9 @.@ 5 kilometres ( 5 @.@ 9 mi ) , but did little damage . When they tried again on 22 March , they were attacked by Russian coastal defence guns that had been transferred there , and also from several Russian ships in Port Arthur using observers overlooking Pigeon Bay . The Japanese ships disengaged after Fuji was hit by a 12 @-@ inch shell . Fuji and Yashima participated in the action of 13 April when Tōgō successfully lured out two battleships of the Pacific Squadron . When the Russians spotted the five battleships of the 1st Division , they turned back for Port Arthur and the battleship Petropavlovsk struck a minefield laid by the Japanese the previous night . The ship sank in less than two minutes after one of her magazines exploded . Emboldened by his success , Tōgō resumed long @-@ range bombardment missions , which prompted the Russians to lay more minefields . On 14 May 1904 , the battleships Hatsuse , Shikishima , and Yashima , the protected cruiser Kasagi , and the dispatch boat Tatsuta put to sea to relieve the Japanese blockading force off Port Arthur . The following morning , the squadron encountered a Russian minefield . Hatsuse struck one mine that disabled her steering and Yashima struck two others when moving to assist Hatsuse . Yashima was towed away from the minefield , but she was still taking on water at an uncontrollable rate and the crew abandoned ship some five hours later . Kasagi took Yashima in tow , but the battleship 's list continued to increase and she capsized about three hours later . During the Battle of the Yellow Sea in August 1904 , Fuji was not damaged because the Russian ships concentrated their fire on Tōgō 's flagship , the battleship Mikasa , which was leading the column . In May the following year , during the Battle of Tsushima , Fuji was hit a dozen times , the most serious of which penetrated the hood of the rear barbette , ignited some exposed propellant charges , killed eight men and wounded nine . After the ammunition fire was put out , the left gun in the barbette resumed firing and apparently delivered the coup de grâce that sank the battleship Borodino . On 23 October 1908 , Fuji hosted a dinner for the American Ambassador , Thomas J. O 'Brien , and the senior officers of the Great White Fleet during its circumnavigation of the world . In 1910 , her cylindrical boilers were replaced by Miyabara water @-@ tube boilers and her main armament was replaced by Japanese @-@ built guns . Fuji was reclassified as a first @-@ class coast defence ship the same year , and undertook training duties in various capacities until disarmed in 1922 . Her hulk continued to be used as a floating barracks and training centre at Yokosuka until 1945 . Fuji was damaged by American carrier aircraft during their 18 July 1945 attack on Yokosuka and capsized after the end of the war . The ship was scrapped in 1948 .
= Manny Get Your Gun = " Manny Get Your Gun " is the eighth episode of the second season of the sitcom , Modern Family and the 32nd overall . It originally aired November 17 , 2010 on the American Broadcasting Company ( ABC ) . The episode was written by Danny Zuker , from a story by Modern Family co @-@ creator , Christopher Lloyd and was directed by Michael Spiller . In the episode , everyone gathers at a restaurant for Manny 's birthday when Manny has a mini @-@ life crisis of getting older ; Phil and Claire have a race to see who can get there faster ; and Mitchell and Cam get stuck at the mall looking for a gift . " Manny Get Your Gun " received overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics with Joel Keller of TV Squad naming it " one of the better ones of the season . According to the Nielsen Media Research , the episode received the same ratings as the previous episode , " Chirp " and became the second highest rated scripted series of the original week it aired . = = Plot = = The episode begins with Manny ( Rico Rodriguez ) starting his birthday speech to a table filled with angry family members . The episode then goes 30 minutes earlier showing Claire ( Julie Bowen ) hurrying everyone to get to the party on time . This prompts a contest between Claire and Phil ( Ty Burrell ) to see whose route is quicker . Phil rides with Alex ( Ariel Winter ) and Haley ( Sarah Hyland ) , and Luke ( Nolan Gould ) with Claire . In Claire 's car , Luke asks Claire why she is separating from Phil misunderstanding Claire 's earlier statement of the two parents were " separating " . Claire reassures Luke that they are fine and just going separate routes . Claire then starts asking Luke why he wanted to go with Phil instead of her . She stops the car to have a talk with Luke which makes her sadder , but Luke makes her happy by telling her that she is fun too but he wanted to be with Phil because he thought Phil needed him more than Claire does and that her route is faster than Phil 's . In Phil 's car , while he tries convincing the girls the race is not a waste of time , the car 's wheels go out . After fixing it , Haley and Alex tell him that they do not want to go to family camp . This causes Phil to cry which in turn causes Haley and Alex to cry . This saps Phil 's motivation to beat Claire , but Haley and Alex eventually restore his motivation to win . Meanwhile , Mitchell ( Jesse Tyler Ferguson ) and Cameron ( Eric Stonestreet ) are walking through the mall looking for a present for Manny . While there , Cameron stops to help an elderly man named Donald ( Norman Lloyd ) to convince an old lady to take him back , despite Mitchell 's protests that they are running out of time . Cameron is initially delighted to help before realizing Donald is an adulterer . Cameron and Mitchell soon continue their fight about Mitchell not being spontaneous but in the middle of the discussion , Mitchell takes part in a flash mob with a bunch of people to " Free Your Mind " . Mitchell initially thinks Cameron will be happy , but Cameron becomes angry that Mitchell kept it a secret from him . They soon have another fight in their car . In the Pritchett house , Gloria ( Sofía Vergara ) and Jay ( Ed O 'Neill ) have a fight over Gloria 's habit of losing everything and currently losing her keys . Jay initially believes he is right before finding the keys in his pockets , but instead of apologizing to Gloria he secretes the keys in her purse . In the meantime , Manny becomes depressed after Jay informs him he never truly acted like a kid . He tries to live his life as a kid before the party with bad prank calls and mixing sodas . He then opens his old Christmas present ( a flotation device ) and putting it in a pool . A furious Gloria angry at Manny not wanting to go his own party shoots the flotation device with a BB gun Jay gave him . In the car , Jay finally tells Gloria the truth making her furious . After all the family members see that they are about to arrive late , they race to the restaurant , coming close to crashing into each other . The scene then goes to Manny finishing his speech saying that he has enough time to act like a kid , as his older family members still do . = = Production = = " Manny Get Your Gun " was written by Danny Zuker , but was based on a story by Modern Family 's co @-@ creator , Christopher Lloyd . The episode marked Zucker 's fifth writing credit for the series and Lloyd 's first story credit . The episode was directed by Michael Spiller , his eighth directors episode . " Manny Get Your Gun " originally aired on November 17 , 2010 . The episode was filmed on October 20 , October 21 , and October 27 , 2010 . The episode was originally titled " Dash , Flash , Crash " in the original press release , the episode 's title was later formally changed to " Manny Get Your Gun " . Part of the episode 's plot is based on a personal experience of Steven Levitan . He stated in an interview " My wife and I have a constant argument about when we 're in a restaurant , which way to take home - which is the faster way home . " On October 15 , 2010 , William Keck of TV Guide reported that Norman Lloyd of St. Elsewhere was to guest star as a senior citizen who Cameron befriends . He filmed his appearance on October 21 , 2010 . The episode was later put in for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series along with " Caught in the Act " , " The Musical Man " and " Mother 's Day " . = = Reception = = = = = Ratings = = = In its original American broadcast , " Manny Get Your Gun " was viewed by an estimated 12 @.@ 092 million households and received a 7 @.@ 1 rating / 11 % share Nielsen rating meaning that the episode was watched by an average of 7 @.@ 1 % of households and 11 % of all televisions were tuned to the episode when it was broadcast . The episode received a 4 @.@ 8 rating / 13 % share among adults between the ages of 18 and 49 , tying with the ratings from the previous episode , " Chirp " . The episode became the second highest rated scripted series of the week it aired after Glee . = = = Reviews = = = The episode received positive reviews from critics . Joel Keller of AOL 's TV Squad called the episode " one of the better ones of the season " . Despite this , he felt that the Mitch and Cam storyline while " funny " it was " not as funny as they usually are " . He also commented that " It 's just that sometimes Cam is too much Cam for his , or the audience 's , own good . " Donna Bowman of The A.V. Club gave the episode an A- rating . She felt " this episode is a bit less than the sum of its parts ; or maybe the jigsaw pieces have been forced into place a little too emphatically . " Rachel Maddux of New York gave the episode a positive review . She felt that the episode brought the series " out of [ its ] slump " and also commented " This kind of episode is pretty much why we started loving this show in the first place " . Kara Klenk of TV Guide called it " another great episode . " Matt Roush called the episode " comic gold " and felt the episode was " firing on all cylinders " . James Poniewozik of Time gave the episode a positive review . He felt that " This episode may not quite have reached the level of " Fizbo " , but by the time it built to its near @-@ four @-@ car @-@ pileup , it had strung together quite a run of funny and sweet moments . " HitFix writer Alan Sepinwall , who is often critical of the series 's second season praised the episode commenting that " nearly everything was clicking " . He also positively compared it to a season one episode of the series when " where everything came together at the end in the style of the strongest season one episodes " .
= Kirsten Gillibrand = Kirsten Elizabeth Rutnik Gillibrand ( / ˈkɪərstən ˈdʒɪlᵻbrænd / KEER @-@ stən JIL @-@ ə @-@ brand ; born December 9 , 1966 ) is an American politician and the junior United States Senator from New York , in office since 2009 . Previously , she served in the United States House of Representatives , representing New York 's 20th congressional district ( 2007 – 09 ) . She is a member of the Democratic Party . In December 2008 , President @-@ elect Barack Obama nominated Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State , leaving an empty seat in the New York senate delegation . After two months and many potential names considered , Governor David Paterson appointed Gillibrand to fill the seat . Gillibrand was required to run in a special election in 2010 , which she won with 63 % of the vote . She was re @-@ elected to a full six @-@ year term in 2012 with 72 % of the vote , the highest margin for any statewide candidate in New York . A member of the Democratic Party 's relatively conservative Blue Dog faction while in the House , Gillibrand has been seen as a progressive since her appointment to the Senate . In both cases , her views were significantly defined by the respective constituency she served at the time — a conservative congressional district versus the generally liberal state of New York . For example , while quiet on the U.S. military 's " Don 't Ask , Don 't Tell " policy when she was in the House , during her first 18 months in the Senate , Gillibrand was an important part of the successful campaign to repeal it . = = Early life and education = = Kirsten Gillibrand was born in Albany , New York , on December 9 , 1966 , the daughter of Polly Edwina ( née Noonan ) and Douglas Paul Rutnik . Both parents are attorneys , and her father has worked as a lobbyist . The couple divorced in the late 1980s . Gillibrand has an older brother , Douglas Rutnik , and a younger sister , Erin Rutnik Tschantret . Her maternal grandmother is Dorothea " Polly " Noonan , founder of the Albany Democratic Women 's Club , as well as a leader in Albany Mayor Erastus Corning 's powerful political machine , which lasted for more than 40 years . She has English , Austrian , Scottish , German , and Irish ancestry . During her childhood and college years , Gillibrand used the nickname " Tina . " She began to use her birth name of Kirsten a few years after law school . In 1984 she graduated from Emma Willard School , an all @-@ women 's high school in Troy , New York , and then enrolled at Dartmouth College . Gillibrand majored in Asian Studies , studying in both Beijing and Taiwan . While in Beijing , she studied and lived with Connie Britton . Gillibrand graduated magna cum laude in 1988 . While at Dartmouth , she was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority . During college , Gillibrand interned at Republican U.S. Senator Alfonse D 'Amato 's Albany office . Gillibrand went on to receive her J.D. from UCLA School of Law and pass the bar exam in 1991 . = = Law career = = In 1991 , Gillibrand joined the Manhattan @-@ based law firm of Davis Polk & Wardwell as an associate . In 1992 , she took a leave from Davis Polk to serve as a law clerk to Judge Roger Miner on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in Albany . Gillibrand 's tenure at Davis Polk is best known for her work as a defense attorney for Tobacco company Philip Morris during major litigation , including both civil lawsuits and U.S. Justice Department criminal and civil racketeering probes . She became a senior associate while working on Philip Morris litigation . While this time in her career has proven controversial , Gillibrand indicates her work for Philip Morris allowed her to take on multiple pro bono cases defending abused women and their children , as well as other cases defending tenants seeking safe housing after lead paint and unsafe conditions were found in their homes . While working at Davis Polk , Gillibrand became involved in — and later the leader of — the Women 's Leadership Forum , a program of the Democratic National Committee . Gillibrand states that a speech to the group by then @-@ First Lady Hillary Clinton inspired her : " [ Clinton ] was trying to encourage us to become more active in politics and she said , ' If you leave all the decision @-@ making to others , you might not like what they do , and you will have no one but yourself to blame . ' It was such a challenge to the women in the room . And it really hit me : She 's talking to me . " Following her time at Davis Polk , Gillibrand served as Special Counsel to Secretary of Housing and Urban Development ( HUD ) Andrew Cuomo during the last year of the Clinton administration . Gillibrand worked on HUD 's Labor Initiative and its New Markets Initiative , as well as on TAP 's Young Leaders of the American Democracy , and strengthening Davis – Bacon Act enforcement . In 1999 , Gillibrand began working on Hillary Clinton 's 2000 U.S. Senate campaign , focusing on campaigning to young women and encouraging them to join the effort . Many of those women later worked on Gillibrand 's campaigns . Gillibrand and Clinton became close during the election , with Clinton becoming something of a mentor to the young attorney . Gillibrand donated more than $ 12 @,@ 000 to Clinton 's senate campaigns . In 2001 , Gillibrand became a partner in the Manhattan office of Boies , Schiller & Flexner , where a client was the Philip Morris parent company Altria Group . In 2002 she informed Boies of interest in running for office and was allowed to transfer to the firm 's Albany office . She left Boies in 2005 to begin her 2006 campaign for Congress . = = U.S. House of Representatives = = = = = Elections = = = = = = = 2006 = = = = Gillibrand first ran for office in 2006 , in New York 's 20th congressional district against four @-@ term Republican incumbent John E. Sweeney . She considered running in 2004 , but Hillary Clinton believed circumstances would be more favorable in 2006 and advised her to wait until then . Traditionally conservative , the district and its electoral offices had been in Republican hands for all but four years since 1913 , and as of November 2006 , 197 @,@ 473 voters in the district were registered Republicans while 82 @,@ 737 were registered Democrats . Congressman Sweeney at the time said that no Republican could ever lose [ the district ] . Engaging New York 's electoral fusion election laws , Gillibrand ran on both the Democratic and Working Families lines ; in addition to having the Republican nomination , Sweeney was endorsed by the Conservative and Independence parties . During the campaign , Gillibrand was popular with Democratic Party politicians . Mike McNulty , Democratic Congressman from the neighboring 21st congressional district , campaigned for her , as did both Hillary and Bill Clinton ; the former president appeared twice at campaign events . Both parties poured millions of dollars into the respective campaigns . Many saw Gillibrand as moderate or conservative . The American Conservative stated after her eventual victory , " Gillibrand won her upstate New York district by running to the right : she campaigned against amnesty for illegal immigrants , promised to restore fiscal responsibility to Washington , and pledged to protect gun rights . " Gillibrand 's legal representation of Philip Morris was an issue during the campaign . Her campaign finance records showed that she received $ 23 @,@ 200 in contributions from the company 's employees during her 2006 campaign for Congress . The probable turning point in the election was the November 1 release of a December 2005 police report detailing a 9 @-@ 1 @-@ 1 call by Sweeney 's wife , in which she claimed Sweeney was " knocking her around the house . " The Sweeney campaign claimed the police report was false and promised to have the official report released by State Police , but did not do so . The Sweeney campaign released an ad in which Sweeney 's wife described Gillibrand 's campaign as " a disgrace . " By November 5 , a Siena College Research Poll showed Gillibrand ahead of Sweeney 46 % to 43 % , and she ended up winning with 53 % of the vote . = = = = 2008 = = = = Following Gillibrand 's win , Republicans quickly began speculating about possible 2008 candidates . Len Cutler , director of the Center for the Study of Government and Politics at Siena College , said that the seat would be difficult for Gillibrand to hold in 2008 , noting Republicans substantially outnumbered Democrats in the district . Gillibrand won her bid for re @-@ election in 2008 over former New York Secretary of State Sandy Treadwell , by a 62 % to 38 % margin . Treadwell lost by that margin despite significantly outspending Gillibrand and promising never to vote to raise taxes , not to accept a federal salary , and to limit himself to three terms in office . Campaign expenditures were the second highest in the nation for a House race . Democrats generally saw major successes during the 2008 congressional election , credited in part to a coattail effect from Barack Obama 's presidential campaign . Gillibrand 's legal representation of Philip Morris was again an issue . Her campaign finance records showed that she received $ 18 @,@ 200 from Philip Morris employees for her 2008 campaign , putting her among the top dozen Democrats in such contributions . Questioned during the campaign about her work on behalf of Philip Morris , Gillibrand stated that she had voted in favor of all three anti @-@ tobacco bills in that session of Congress . She said that she never hid her work for Philip Morris , and she added that as an associate at her law firm , she had had no control over which clients she worked for . The New York Times reporting on this issue said that officially , Davis Polk associates are allowed to withdraw from representing clients with whom they have moral qualms . = = = House tenure = = = Upon taking office , Gillibrand joined the Blue Dog Coalition , a group of moderate to conservative Democrats . She was noted for voting against the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 , citing concerns about insufficient oversight and excessive earmarks . Gillibrand opposed New York plans to issue driver 's licenses to illegal immigrants , and voted in favor of legislation withholding federal funds from immigrant sanctuary cities . After taking office , Gillibrand became the first member of Congress to publish her official schedule , listing everyone she met with on a given day . She also published earmark requests she received and her personal financial statement . This " Sunlight Report " , as her office termed it , was praised by a New York Times editorial in December 2006 as being a " quiet touch of revolution " in a non @-@ transparent system . Regarding the earmarking process , Gillibrand stated she wanted what was best for her district and would require every project to pass a " greatest @-@ need , greatest @-@ good " test . = = = Committee assignments = = = While in the House of Representatives , Gillibrand served on the following committees : Committee on Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation , Credit , Energy , and Research Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock , Dairy , and Poultry ( Chair ) Committee on Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces Subcommittee on Terrorism and Unconventional Threats = = U.S. Senate = = On December 1 , 2008 , President @-@ elect Barack Obama announced his choice of Hillary Clinton , the junior U.S. Senator from New York , as Secretary of State . This began a two @-@ month search process to fill her vacant Senate seat . Upon a Senate vacancy , under New York law , the Governor appoints a replacement . A special election was held in 2010 , for the remainder of the full term , ending in January 2013 . Governor Paterson 's selection process began with a number of prominent names and high @-@ ranking New York Democrats , including Andrew Cuomo and Caroline Kennedy , vying for the spot . Gillibrand quietly campaigned to Paterson for the position , meeting secretly with him on at least one occasion ; she says she made an effort to underscore her successful House elections in a largely conservative district , adding that she could be a good complement to Chuck Schumer . Gillibrand was presumed a likely choice in the days before the official announcement ; Paterson held a press conference at noon on January 23 announcing Gillibrand as his choice . The response within New York to the appointment was mixed . The upstate media was generally optimistic about appointment of an upstate Senator , as one had not been elected after Charles Goodell left office in 1971 . Many downstaters were disappointed with the selection , with some media outlets stating that Paterson had ignored the electoral influence of New York City and downstate on state politics ( due to the area 's population ) . One questioned whether Paterson 's administration was aware of " [ where ] statewide elections are won and lost " . Gillibrand was relatively unknown statewide , with many voters finding the choice surprising . One source stated , " With every Democrat in New York ... angling for the appointment , there was a sense of bafflement , belittlement , and bruised egos when Paterson tapped the junior legislator unknown outside of Albany . " Gillibrand was sworn in on January 26 , 2009 ; at 42 , she entered the chamber as the youngest senator in the 111th Congress . = = = Elections = = = = = = = 2010 = = = = Gillibrand had numerous potential challengers in the September 14 , 2010 Democratic primary election . Some were obvious at the time of her appointment . Most notably , Long Island Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy was unhappy with Gillibrand 's stance on gun control , but McCarthy ultimately decided not to run . By March 2009 , Harold Ford , Jr . , former Congressman from Tennessee , considered a run but ultimately decided against it . Congressman Steve Israel was also a contender but was talked out of it by President Obama . Concerned about a possible schism in the party that could lead to a heated primary , split electorate , and weakened stance , high @-@ ranking members of the party backed Gillibrand and requested major opponents not to run . In the end , Gillibrand faced Gail Goode , a lawyer from New York City , and won the primary with 76 % of the vote . In what was initially expected to be a heated race , Gillibrand easily prevailed against former Republican congressman Joseph DioGuardi . This was Gillibrand 's first statewide election . By the end of October , a Quinnipiac University Polling Institute poll placed Gillibrand over DioGuardi 57 @-@ 34 % . Gillibrand won the November election 63 – 35 % , carrying 54 of New York 's 62 counties . The counties that supported DioGuardi did so by a margin no greater than 10 % . = = = = 2012 = = = = Gillibrand 's special election victory gave her the right to serve the rest of Clinton 's second term , which ended in January 2013 . Gillibrand ran for a full six @-@ year term in November 2012 . In the general election , Gillibrand faced challenger Wendy E. Long , an attorney running on both the Republican Party and Conservative Party lines . Gillibrand was endorsed by The New York Times and the Democrat and Chronicle . She won the seat with 72 @.@ 2 % of the vote , the largest victory margin for a statewide candidate in New York history , and ahead of Schumer 's 71 @.@ 2 % victory in 2004 . She carried all but two mostly rural counties in western New York . = = = Senate tenure = = = On April 9 , 2009 , a combined Schumer – Gillibrand press release stated strong support of a Latino being nominated to the Supreme Court at the time of the next vacancy . Their first choice was Sonia Sotomayor . The two introduced her at Sotomayor 's Senate confirmation hearing in July . During the lame duck session of the 111th Congress , Gillibrand scored two substantial legislative victories : the repeal of Don 't Ask , Don 't Tell and the passage of the James Zadroga 9 / 11 Health and Compensation Act . Both were issues she had advocated for during that session . In the aftermath of these victories , many commentators opined that these victories marked her emergence on the national stage . In March 2011 , Gillibrand co @-@ sponsored the PROTECT IP Act , which would restrict access to web sites judged to be infringing copyrights , but ultimately announced she would not support the bill as @-@ is due to wide critical public response . In 2012 , Gillibrand authored a portion of the STOCK Act , which extended limitations on insider trading by members of Congress . A version of the bill , merged by Senator Joe Lieberman with content from another bill authored by Senator Scott Brown , was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama in April . In 2013 , Gillibrand proposed legislation that would remove sexual assault cases from the military chain of command ; the bill was cosponsored by Republican senators Rand Paul and Ted Cruz . Gillibrand 's bill failed to gain enough votes to break a filibuster in March 2014 , however her efforts likely improved her standing as a lawmaker in the Senate . In 2014 , Gillibrand was included in the annual Time 100 , Time magazine 's list of the 100 most influential people . In 2015 , Gillibrand invited campus activist Emma Sulkowicz to attend the State of the Union Address . Her invitation was intended to promote the Campus Accountability and Safety Act , a bill Gillibrand co @-@ sponsored . However , Families Advocating for Campus Equality and others have criticized this decision , and Gillibrand 's public description of Sulkowicz 's accused assailant as " her rapist , " pointing out that both a university hearing and a police investigation had cleared the man of the allegations ; critics of Gillibrand 's decision have accused her of disregarding due process and maligning a man 's reputation in order to gain support for a political objective . Gillibrand has been less deferential to Senate seniority protocols and more uncompromising in her positions – such as repeal of " don 't ask , don 't tell " and combating sexual assault in the military – than most freshman senators , traits which have sometimes caused friction with her Democratic colleagues . Republican Charles Grassley of Iowa has contrasted her approach with other New Yorkers of both parties , saying she is distinguished by " her determination and knowledge and willingness to sit down one on one with senators and explain what she is up to " . Her fund @-@ raising ability – almost $ 30 million from 2009 through 2013 – has helped her become a mentor for female candidates nationwide . = = = Committee assignments = = = While in the Senate , Gillibrand served on the following committees : Committee on Agriculture , Nutrition and Forestry Subcommittee on Domestic and Foreign Marketing , Inspection , and Plant and Animal Health ( Ranking Member ) Subcommittee on Energy , Science and Technology Subcommittee on Hunger , Nutrition and Family Farms Committee on Armed Services Subcommittee on Airland Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee on Strategic Forces Committee on Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Green Jobs and the New Economy Subcommittee on Oversight Subcommittee on Superfund , Toxics and Environmental Health Special Committee on Aging = = = Caucus memberships = = = Healthy Kids Caucus International Conservation Caucus Senate Women 's Caucus Sportsmen 's Caucus = = Political positions = = Gillibrand 's views on many issues can be defined as an evolution based on constituent needs ; some have characterized this progression as flip @-@ flopping . In the House , she was known as a conservative liberal or centrist , serving at the will of a highly conservative electorate . She was a member of the Blue Dog Coalition , a caucus of fiscally conservative Democrats . In the Senate , she is known more as a populist @-@ leaning liberal , as she represents a heavily Democratic state . At the time of her appointment to the Senate , a Salon.com editorial said that Gillibrand 's reputation in the House characterized her as " a hybrid politician who has remained conservative enough to keep her seat while appearing progressive enough to raise money downstate . " On social issues , Gillibrand is generally liberal , supporting an abortion rights agenda , legalization of same @-@ sex marriage , and health care reform with a public option . She is a strong advocate for government transparency , being one of a few members of Congress that releases much personal and scheduling information . She is also a strong supporter of female equality and involvement , having begun the website offthesidelines.org in 2011 . Although a supporter of gun rights while in the House , Gillibrand has since moved in the direction of gun control . On economic issues , Gillibrand has been more fiscally conservative . Gillibrand has received an 8 % rating from the American Conservative Union , 70 % from Americans for Democratic Action , and 90 % from the American Civil Liberties Union . OnTheIssues.org rates Gillibrand as a " hard @-@ core liberal . " = = Personal life = = Gillibrand lives in the town of Brunswick with her husband Jonathan and their two sons . She met Jonathan , a venture capitalist and British national , on a blind date . Jonathan planned to be in the United States for only a year while studying for his Master of Business Administration at Columbia University , but he stayed in the country because of his relationship with her . The two were married in a Catholic church in Manhattan in 2001 . Because of the requirements of Kirsten Gillibrand 's office , the family spends most of its time in Washington . In 2011 , the Gillibrands sold their house in Hudson and purchased a home in Brunswick to be closer to Kirsten 's family in Albany . The Gillibrands had their first child , Theodore , in 2003 , and their second son , Henry , in 2008 . She continued to work until the day of Henry 's delivery , for which she received a standing ovation from her colleagues in the House the next day . = = Published works = = In 2014 , Gillibrand published her first book , Off the Sidelines : Raise Your Voice , Change the World . The candid memoir was notable in the media upon release due to whisperings of a future presidential run as well as revealing a culture of sexism in the Senate , including specific comments made to her by other members of Congress about her weight and appearance . Off the Sidelines debuted at number 8 on the New York Times Best Seller list for hardcover nonfiction . = = Electoral history = = * Gillibrand was also nominated on the Working Families line and Sweeney was also nominated on the Independence and Conservative lines . * Gillibrand was also nominated on the Working Families line and Treadwell was also nominated on the Independence and Conservative lines . * Gillibrand was also nominated on the Working Families and Independence lines and DioGuardi was also nominated on the Conservative line . * Gillibrand was also nominated on the Working Families and Independence lines and Long was also nominated on the Conservative line .
= Henry Inman ( Royal Navy officer ) = Captain Henry Inman ( 1762 – 15 July 1809 ) was a British Royal Navy officer during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries , serving in the American Revolutionary War , the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars . Inman 's service in the American war was punctuated by three shipwrecks : the burning of HMS Lark off Rhode Island in the face of a superior French squadron , the grounding of HMS Santa Monica on Tortola and the foundering of Hector following an engagement with two French ships in the Mid @-@ Atlantic . After the war he was placed in reserve until the Spanish Armament of 1790 , when he was given command of the 14 @-@ gun cutter HMS Pygmy stationed off the Isle of Man . Inman 's subsequent service career was principally in frigates : he was engaged at the Siege of Toulon in HMS Aurore , in a raid at Dunkirk in HMS Andromeda and participated in the Battle of Copenhagen as captain of HMS Désirée . He later served on the ship of the line HMS Triumph at the Battle of Cape Finisterre and was subsequently called to give evidence at the court martial of Sir Robert Calder . After the battle off Finisterre , Inman suffered from ill @-@ health and remained on shore duty until 1809 when he was appointed as Admiralty commissioner for Madras . The lengthy sea journey to India exacerbated his existing health problems and he died just ten days after his arrival . = = Early life = = Henry Inman was born in 1762 , the son of the vicar of the Somerset village of Burrington , Reverend George Inman . Educated by his father until the age of 14 , Inman was sent to join the Royal Navy in 1776 , posted aboard the 90 @-@ gun second rate HMS Barfleur . Barfleur 's captain was Sir Samuel Hood , later to become Viscount Hood , who formed a close personal and professional attachment to his subordinate that continued throughout Inman 's military service . After two years on Barfleur , Inman was transferred to the frigate HMS Lark in 1778 for service off New England . The American Revolutionary War had broken out three years earlier , but Barfleur had been based in Britain and so there had been no opportunity for action aboard Hood 's ship . His career in Lark was cut short on 5 August 1778 , when Captain John Brisbane , the senior officer off Rhode Island , ordered the frigate beached and burnt with four other ships when a French fleet under Vice @-@ Admiral Comte d 'Estaing appeared off the harbour . Inman and the rest of the crew were transferred to shore duties and over the following week engaged D 'Estaing 's ships from fixed gun batteries as they bombarded the British positions . Inman had lost all his personal possessions in the destruction of Lark and was forced to replace his uniform from his own wages when the Navy refused to provide compensation . Returning to Britain in the frigate HMS Pearl , Inman was promoted to lieutenant in 1780 and returned to the Americas in HMS Camel , transferred soon afterwards into HMS Santa Monica in the West Indies . Shortly after his arrival however , Inman was once again shipwrecked when Santa Monica grounded off Tortola . Although the crew reached the shore in small boats , the ship broke up rapidly and once again Inman lost all of his possessions . Remaining on shore service in the West Indies for the next two years , Inman was again employed in the aftermath of the Battle of the Saintes , appointed to the prize crew of the captured French vessel Hector for the journey to Britain . Hector 's masts and hull had been seriously damaged in the battle , requiring lighter spars to be fitted and 22 of her 74 guns removed to make her more seaworthy . As the fleet could not spare men to man her , the 223 @-@ strong prize crew was made up of men pressed in the Caribbean , principally invalids unfit for frontline service . On 14 August 1782 , Hector separated from the rest of the prize ships in heavy weather and on 22 August encountered two large French frigates , Aigle of 40 guns and Gloire of 32 guns . Together these vessels significantly outclassed the leaky ship of the line in weight of shot , but Captain John Bourchier determined to resist the French attack , preparing Hector as the French approached . The French ships surrounded Hector at 02 : 00 and the engagement was furiously contested , with Bourchier wounded early on and many of his officers following him below with serious injuries . Within a short period , Inman was the only officer remaining on deck , but he was able to successfully drive the French away following a failed attempt to board , although Hector was left in a severely damaged state with 75 men killed or wounded . A hurricane that followed the battle inflicted further damage and the ship was badly flooded , seawater ruining the food supplies and threatening to sink the ship completely . Some of the crew were so ill and exhausted that they collapsed and died while manning the pumps . Inman only managed to prevent the remaining sailors from fleeing below decks by carrying loaded pistols and threatening men who refused his orders . Once the storm had abated it was clear that Hector was foundering ; her rudder and masts had been torn away and the pumps were unable to keep pace with the water leaking through the battered hull . For two weeks Inman made desperate efforts to keep the ship afloat , as food and water supplies ran low and the hull began to collapse in on itself . Fortunately for the men aboard Hector , the tiny snow Hawke appeared and approached the ship of the line to render assistance . Throwing his cargo overboard , Captain John Hill worked with Inman to supervise the transfer of all of Hector 's remaining men , many of whom were wounded or sick , into Hawke as Hector rapidly sank . No men were lost in the operation and Inman was the last to leave , Hector disappearing ten minutes after the boat carrying him reached Hawke . The snow set sail for St John 's in Newfoundland , its crew and passengers subsisting on short rations ; they arrived off the port on the same day they consumed the last water supplies . = = French Revolutionary Wars = = With the Peace of Versailles in 1783 , the war ended and Inman was placed on half @-@ pay in reserve , suffering from poor health caused by his ordeal on Hector . Retiring to his father 's house in Somerset , Inman was not employed again until 1790 , when the Spanish Armament provoked a rapid expansion of the Navy . He was initially commissioned into the frigate HMS Latona under Captain Albemarle Bertie , but in the aftermath of the emergency Inman was given command of the 14 @-@ gun cutter HMS Pigmy , stationed on the Isle of Man . He also married the daughter of Commander Thomas Dalby in 1791 ; the couple would have a son and a daughter . With the outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars in 1793 , Inman was transferred to Lord Hood 's flagship HMS Victory in the Mediterranean , receiving a promotion to commander on 11 September . Serving during the Siege of Toulon , Inman assisted in the removal of captured French ships from Toulon harbour and as a reward was promoted to post captain on 9 October and given command of the newly captured HMS Espion . While she was stationed off Hyères , Aurore engaged French Republican gun batteries , expending 20 @,@ 000 cannonballs in November and December . When Toulon fell to the Republicans on 18 December 1793 , Inman was initially sent to Corsica and then tasked with carrying a large number of Republican prisoners of war to Malta . With an understrength crew , Inman had difficulty in controlling the prisoners , who deliberately holed the bottom of the ship during the voyage . On arriving at Malta , Inman anchored his leaking ship in deep water under the guns of the port 's defensive batteries and then removed his entire crew , leaving instructions with the prisoners that they could either pump out the water and repair the damage or drown when the ship sank . The prisoners repaired the ship and were taken into captivity on Malta . Transferred from Aurore , Inman spent a brief period on the frigate HMS San Fiorenzo before returning to Britain in command of the fourth rate HMS Romney . Romney was paid off on arrival in Britain and Inman returned to the reserve until 1796 , when he was made temporary captain of Lion and then took command of the frigate HMS Espion . Ordered to sail for the River Clyde , Inman set sail with his family on board but Espion , an old ship in a poor state of repair , was struck by a gale in the English Channel and was almost destroyed . Eventually reaching safety in Spithead , Espion was reduced to the reserve until extensive repairs could be made and Inman was again placed on half @-@ pay . He was reinstated in 1797 as temporary commander of the ship of the line HMS Belliqueux in the immediate aftermath of the Nore Mutiny . Belliqueux had been heavily involved in the uprising : three members of the crew were under sentence of death and six others facing severe punishment for their part in the revolt . Inman was consequently afraid for his life and for the next six months slept with three loaded pistols beside him . Belliqueux was assigned to the blockade of the French Atlantic seaport of Brest and Inman continued to perform this service after he was moved to HMS Ramillies during 1798 , in which he participated in the chase that eventually led to the capture of Hercule . He was subsequently posted to the frigate HMS Andromeda in early 1799 . = = = Désirée and Copenhagen = = = On 2 August 1799 , Inman seized the neutral merchant ship Vrienden carrying a cargo of hemp . Although the vessel 's legal state was uncertain , no merchant claimed its cargo and in 1802 she was condemned and sold for over 247 l . In November 1799 , Andromeda was attached to the force that evacuated the Duke of York 's army following the failure of the Expedition to Holland and he remained in the region , observing movements off the Elbe . Andromeda also participated in the Raid on Dunkirk on 7 July 1800 , when four French frigates were attacked by a squadron of British ships in Dunkirk harbour . Although an assault with fireships failed , HMS Dart captured the French frigate Désirée , with Inman following in the cutter Vigilant , crewed by thirty volunteers from Andromeda . Under fire from all sides , Inman successfully boarded the French ship following her surrender and brought her out of the harbour , sending the crew ashore on parole to avoid having to assign men to guard them . Désirée was brought back to Britain and commissioned into the Royal Navy , Inman taking command of the new frigate . In 1801 , Désirée was attached to the fleet gathering at Yarmouth under Sir Hyde Parker and Lord Nelson for service in the Baltic Sea against the League of Armed Neutrality . Sailing for Denmark in March , the fleet anchored off Copenhagen and on 1 April a squadron under Nelson closed with the Danish fleet , which was anchored in a line of battle protecting the harbour . Désirée was ordered to operate at the Southern end of the Danish line , engaging shore batteries and nearby ships while their attention was focused on the main British battle @-@ line . When the battle began at 10 : 00 on 2 April , Inman engaged the Provesteen , which was firing on the 50 @-@ gun HMS Isis . Désirée succeeded in inflicting considerable damage on the Danish ship and drew some fire away from the battered Isis . Once Provesteen had been abandoned by her Danish crew Désirée was engaged with a number of Danish shore batteries , but due to poor aim of the Danish gunners , who fired over the frigate throughout the engagement , she was not badly damaged and suffered only four men wounded in the battle . At 14 : 00 Danish fire slackened and shortly afterwards Nelson began to withdraw his ships out of range of the Danes . A number of his ships of the line grounded on the complicated shoals in the region and when Désirée came to the assistance of HMS Bellona ] she too became stuck . Bellona was hauled off by Isis shortly afterwards , but Désirée was forced to remain on the sandbank for two days until boats from the squadron could be spared to drag her free . = = Napoleonic Wars = = At the Peace of Amiens , Désirée remained in service with orders to sail for the West Indies . Inman , whose health was beginning to suffer , resigned command and returned to his family on half @-@ pay until the outbreak of the Napoleonic Wars in 1803 , when he was given the 64 @-@ gun ship of the line HMS Utrecht . In 1804 he moved from Utrecht to the 74 @-@ gun HMS Triumph and in February 1805 was attached to the fleet under Sir Robert Calder stationed off Cape Finisterre during the Trafalgar campaign . At 11 : 00 on 22 July , Calder sighted the French and Spanish fleet under Vice @-@ Admiral Pierre @-@ Charles Villeneuve emerging from the fog off Ferrol and attacked , Triumph third in line behind HMS Hero and HMS Ajax . The battle lines tacked and closed with one another , beginning a general action at 18 : 00 , eventually separating at 21 : 30 . Triumph was heavily engaged in the melee , in which two Spanish ships were captured , and suffered severe damage although light casualties of five killed and six wounded . On 26 July , Inman was briefly detached from the fleet to chase away the French frigate Didon before returning to her station in the battle line , but the action was not resumed , Calder ordering the fleet to return to Britain . In the aftermath of the battle , Calder faced a court martial for his failure to resume the engagement and Inman was called to give evidence : when questioned as to why he had not informed Calder about the damage to his ship , Inman replied " I did not think that a proper time to trouble the admiral with my complaints " . Inman 's health had suffered during his long career at sea , and although he returned to sea in December 1805 aboard Triumph during the Atlantic campaign of 1806 as part of the squadron under Rear @-@ Admiral Sir Richard Strachan , his ill @-@ health forced his replacement by Sir Thomas Hardy in May . Returning to his family ashore , Inman was initially given command of the sea fencibles at King 's Lynn before he was made Admiralty commissioner at Madras by Lord Mulgrave in 1809 . The journey to India broke his health completely and he died on 15 July 1809 , just ten days after arriving in Madras .
= Rancho San Francisco = Rancho San Francisco was a land grant in present @-@ day northwestern Los Angeles County and eastern Ventura County , California . It was a grant of 48 @,@ 612 acres ( 19 @,@ 673 ha ) by Governor Juan B. Alvarado to Antonio del Valle , a Mexican army officer , in recognition for his service to the state of Alta California . It is not related to the city of San Francisco . The rancho was the location of the first popularly known finding of gold in the Southern California area in 1842 , in Placerita Canyon . Much of the present day city of Santa Clarita lies within the boundary of what was Rancho San Francisco . The adobe headquarters of the rancho , and the site of the gold find ( known today as the " Oak of the Golden Dream " ) , are designated California Historical Landmarks . The rancho included portions of the San Gabriel , Santa Susana , Topatopa , and Sierra Pelona Mountain ranges . = = Early history = = After Mission San Fernando Rey de España was established in 1797 , the administrators there realized they would need more land for agriculture and livestock , and they looked north to the Santa Clarita Valley to establish their estancia , or mission rancho . Subsequently , the Tataviam who had been living there were relocated to the Mission , where they were baptized and put to work . The Estancia de San Francisco Xavier was built in 1804 at the confluence of Castaic Creek and the Santa Clara River . Following the Mexican War of Independence , the missions were secularized and the land taken by the Mexican government . In 1834 , Lieutenant Antonio del Valle was assigned to inventory the property of Mission San Fernando . The rancho was supposed to be returned to the Tataviam , but Governor Alvarado deeded it to his friend Del Valle instead on January 22 , 1839 . The Del Valle family moved into the former estancia buildings ( near what is now Castaic ) . Del Valle died in 1841 . On his deathbed , he attempted to reconcile with his estranged son Ygnacio by writing him a letter and offering the entire rancho to him as his inheritance . Del Valle died before his son received the letter . Ygnacio took possession of the land . = = Los Angeles area gold find = = On March 9 , 1842 , Francisco Lopez , the uncle of Antonio 's second wife , Jacoba Feliz , took a rest under an oak tree in Placerita Canyon and had a dream that he was floating on a pool of gold . When he awoke , he pulled a few wild onions from the ground finding flakes of gold in the roots . Contrary to some portraits of him as a farmer who stumbled upon his discovery by dumb luck , Lopez had studied mineralogy at the University of Mexico and had been actively searching for gold . Evidence suggests that gold had previously been found in the area about thirty years prior , but the Lopez gold find was the first popularly documented incident in the area . This sparked a gold rush on a much smaller scale than the 1849 California Gold Rush . About 2 @,@ 000 people , mostly from the Mexican state of Sonora , came to Rancho San Francisco to mine the gold . Knowledge of the gold find seems to have remained largely within Mexican territory . John Sutter , who sided with Gov. Manuel Micheltorena during the governor 's power struggle with former Gov. Alvarado , was imprisoned after the californio insurrectionists won the Battle of Providencia in 1845 . After his release , he headed north through Placerita Canyon , saw the mining operation , and was determined to search for gold near where he later established Sutter 's Fort ; the latter in Mexican territory . During the Mexican – American War , Del Valle destroyed the mine to prevent the United States from gaining its control . The tree where Lopez took his nap is now known as the " Oak of the Golden Dream " and is registered as California Historic Landmark # 168 . = = Later history = = The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo endorsed legitimate land titles held by the ceded land 's owners . Jacoba Feliz sued for control of Rancho San Francisco . She prevailed and a judgment was issued in her favor in 1857 . Ygnacio Del Valle received the westernmost portion of 13 @,@ 599 acres ( 5 @,@ 503 ha ) , Feliz ( now Salazár ) took 21 @,@ 307 acres ( 8 @,@ 623 ha ) , and her six children received 4 @,@ 684 acres ( 1 @,@ 896 ha ) each . Unfortunately , at this time Southern California experienced a great deal of flooding , and ranchers were forced to mortgage their properties in order to sustain their needs during the interruption in producing their food and needs and other damages to the land and buildings . Feliz mortgaged her portion of the land to William Wolfskill , who returned a portion of it back to Del Valle in exchange for him settling her debts . Floods were followed by droughts , which again exacerbated the ranchers ' problems . Finally , in 1862 Del Valle was forced to sell off most of his land to oil speculators ( the Philadelphia and California Petroleum Company headed by Thomas A. Scott ) , keeping only his Rancho Camulos . The oilmen were unable to find any oil , and Rancho San Francisco eventually landed in the hands of Henry Newhall , whose name is now closely associated with the Santa Clarita Valley area . Newhall granted right @-@ of @-@ way to Southern Pacific Railroad to build a rail line to Los Angeles and sold them a portion of the land , upon which sprang a new town that the company named after him , Newhall . Another town grew around the train station and Newhall named it after his hometown , Saugus . After Newhall 's death in 1882 , his heirs formed the Newhall Land and Farming Company , which managed the lands . In 1936 , Atholl McBean , Newhall 's grandson @-@ in @-@ law , found oil on the property and changed the name to Newhall Ranch . = = Historic designations = = California Historical Landmark NO . 556 RANCHO SAN FRANCISCO Adobe Placerita Canyon State Park – California Historical Landmark NO . 168 OAK OF THE GOLDEN DREAM : where Francisco Lopez found gold .
= The Boat Race 1903 = The 60th Boat Race took place on 1 April 1903 . Held annually , the Boat Race is a side @-@ by @-@ side rowing race between crews from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge along the River Thames . The race was umpired for the first time by former Cambridge rower Frederick I. Pitman , whose misfiring starter pistol caused confusion at the start , allowing Cambridge to gain an advantage . They went on to win by six lengths in a time of 19 minutes 33 seconds . The victory took the overall record to 33 – 26 in Oxford 's favour . = = Background = = The Boat Race is a side @-@ by @-@ side rowing competition between the University of Oxford ( sometimes referred to as the " Dark Blues " ) and the University of Cambridge ( sometimes referred to as the " Light Blues " ) . The race was first held in 1829 , and since 1845 has taken place on the 4 @.@ 2 @-@ mile ( 6 @.@ 8 km ) Championship Course on the River Thames in southwest London . The rivalry is a major point of honour between the two universities ; it is followed throughout the United Kingdom and as of 2014 , broadcast worldwide . Cambridge went into the race as reigning champions , having won the 1902 race by five lengths , and led overall with 33 victories to Cambridge 's 25 ( excluding the " dead heat " of 1877 ) . Oxford 's coaches were G. C. Bourne who had rowed for the university in the 1882 and 1883 races and C. K. Philips who had represented the Dark Blues four times between 1895 and 1898 . Cambridge were coached by Charles John Bristowe who had represented the Light Blues in the 1886 and 1887 races and Claude Goldie who had rowed in the 1898 and 1899 races . The Light Blues were later coached by William Dudley Ward . The umpire for the first time was old Etonian and former Cambridge rower Frederick I. Pitman who rowed in the 1884 , 1885 and 1886 races . During the build @-@ up to the race , Oxford suffered a series of misfortunes , including a bout of influenza which caused several changes in the Dark Blue crew . Centred on the group of Blues returning from the previous year , Cambridge were able to produce " a very fast crew " . = = Crews = = The Cambridge crew weighed an average of 12 st 3 @.@ 5 lb ( 77 @.@ 6 kg ) , 4 pounds ( 1 @.@ 8 kg ) more per rower than their opponents . Oxford 's crew contained four rowers with Boat Race experience , including A. de L. Long who was rowing in his third consecutive event . Cambridge saw six rowers return from the 1902 crew , including W. H. Chapman , H. B. Grylls , C. W. H. Taylor and R. H. Nelson , all of whom were taking part in their third Boat Race . Only Oxford 's Devereux Milburn was registered as a non @-@ British rower . An American , he attended The Hill School in Pennsylvania before graduating from Harvard University . = = Race = = Oxford won the toss and elected to start from the Surrey station , handing the Middlesex side of the river to Cambridge . On a strong tide , umpire Pitman attempted to start the race at 3 : 35 p.m. After he shouted " Are you ready ? " , Cambridge squared their blades and were dragged away from their stakeboat , and rowed on despite Pitman failing to correctly discharge the starter pistol . Worse , he failed to notice the departing Light Blues who were already one third of a length ahead before Oxford got on their way . Somewhat dismayed by the disadvantageous start , author and the number seven for this year 's race George Drinkwater stated they " rowed like a beaten crew from the first stroke . " With a lead of nearly three lengths by Hammersmith Bridge , Cambridge pushed on to hold a four @-@ and @-@ a @-@ half length lead at Barnes Bridge , and passed the finishing post six lengths ahead , in a time of 19 minutes 33 seconds . It was their second consecutive win and their fourth in five years , and took the overall record in the event to 33 – 26 in Oxford 's favour .
= Palazzo Rusticucci @-@ Accoramboni = The Palazzo Rusticucci @-@ Accoramboni ( also known as Palazzo Rusticucci or Palazzo Accoramboni ) is a reconstructed late Renaissance palace in Rome . Erected by the will of Cardinal Girolamo Rusticucci , it was designed by Domenico Fontana and Carlo Maderno joining together several buildings already existing . Due to that , the building was not considered a good example of architectureOriginally lying along the north side of the Borgo Nuovo street , after 1667 the building faced the north side of the large new square located west of the new Saint Peter 's Square , designed in those years by Gian Lorenzo Bernini . The square , named after the palace Piazza Rusticucci , was demolished in 1937 @-@ 40 because of the erection of the new Via della Conciliazione . In 1940 the palace was demolished and rebuilt with a different footprint along the north side of the new avenue , constructed between 1936 and 1950 , which links St Peter 's Basilica and the Vatican City to the center of Rome . = = Location = = The palace is located in the Borgo rione of Rome along the north side of Via della Conciliazione avenue , its main facade facing south . It belongs to the same block as the Palazzo dei Convertendi , another Renaissance building demolished in the late 1930s and reconstructed in the 1940s east of it . To the west Via Rusticucci separates it from the north Propylaea delimiting the square Piazza Pio XII ( which roughly occupies the same area as the old Piazza Rusticucci ) and facing Saint Peter 's Square . The north side of the building borders two other reconstructed Renaissance edifices of Borgo : the Palazzo Jacopo da Brescia and the house of the physician of Paul III . = = History = = = = = Renaissance and baroque = = = Girolamo Rusticucci , secretary of Pope Pius V ( r . 1566 – 72 ) , who in 1570 appointed him Cardinal of Santa Susanna , bought a palace lying almost at the end of the Via Alessandrina ( the road later named Borgo Nuovo ) in Borgo on 31 March 1572 . This building , once owned by Roberto Strozzi ( exponent of the banker family from Florence ) , had been sold in 1567 to Pope Pius V , who donated it immediately to his nephew Paolo Ghislieri . Ghislieri sold it to the Cardinal five years later with the accordance of the pope . In order to enlarge his building , Rusticucci also bought several nearby houses . Selling negotiation not always finished successfully : an old woman refused to sell her home , forcing the architect to engulf it in the enlarged palace . However , the woman and her heirs could live there until they sold it to the owner of the " Caffè San Pietro " , one of the oldest coffee shops in the city . The strong @-@ willed opposition of another owner forced the cardinal to renounce to extend the building to the east until Borgo Sant 'Angelo , although the works had already commenced . A powerful angular rustication erected at the corner between Borgo Sant 'Angelo and Borgo Nuovo testified until 1937 about the Rusticucci 's intention . Several years went by after the acquisition of Ghislieri 's palace , until in 1584 Rusticucci gave the task to design a larger palace to architect Domenico Fontana . After Fontana 's transferral to Naples who , after the death of Sixtus V ( r . 1585 – 90 ) and the brief intermezzo of Innocent IX ( r . Oct.-Dec. 1591 ) , could not win the favor of Pope Clement VIII ( r . 1592 – 1605 ) , the task was finished by his nephew Carlo Maderno . It is also worth noticing that in the early 16th century one of the houses which predated the palace hosted an osteria . In the late 1510s Raphael , at that time painting the Vatican loggias , often had lunch together with his aides in a rear room of that eatery . The artists often discussed work problems during lunch , sketching different solutions on the walls of the room . When the palace was built , the osteria remained in place , and the owners always took care of the walls of that room throughout the years . Around 1630 the palace housed for a brief time the Collegio Nazareno , one of the oldest schools in Rome , founded in those years by Joseph Calasanz , and presently in Via del Bufalo , in Trevi rione . After that , the Rusticucci 's heirs sold the building to Mario Accoramboni , member of a family of lesser nobility which had emigrated from the umbrian town of Gubbio to Rome . Exponents of the family acquired a high rank in the church and in the city : Ottavio was bishop of Fossombrone and Urbino , Roberto vicelegato at Ferrara , and during the epidemic of 1657 , the owner of the palace , Roberto Accoramboni , received the task ( personally given by Pope Alexander VII ) of defending Borgo from the plague . In 1667 , the erection of the Colonnades of St. Peter 's square by Gian Lorenzo Bernini made it necessary to demolish the last block of houses ( " isola " ) in front of the new square , situated between the roads of Borgo Vecchio and Borgo Nuovo : this block was named " isola del Priorato " , since one of ıts buildings hosted the Priory of the knights of Rhodes . The demolition created a large new square , which was delimited on the north side by Palazzo Rusticucci . This square , representing the vestibule of Saint Peter 's Square , took its name from the building . In 1775 in a shop at the ground floor was founded the " Caffè San Pietro " , one of the oldest Coffee Houses in Rome . = = = Modern age = = = On 4 March 1902 the palace became the seat of the Belgian Historical Institute , and after a short time was acquired by the Congregation of Propaganda Fide . In 1940 , because of the construction of the Via della Conciliazione , it was demolished and partially rebuilt in the same year with design by Clemente Busiri Vici , exponent of a Roman dynasty of architects . Through the expropriation decrees , the commercial activities in the palace are known : in 1937 two shops were active along Piazza Rusticucci selling religious articles : moreover , the ground floor of the building hosted a tobacconist , a bakery , a pastry shop and a restaurant . The bakery was originally the aforementioned osteria where Raphael had painted his sketches . Towards the mid @-@ 19th century a Papal Zouave was killed in that eatery , which was shut down by the authorities as a result . When the shop was reopened several years after the capture of Rome on 20 September 1870 , hosting first a pizzeria , then the aforementioned bakery , the rooms were renovated , and all the sketches were lost . = = Description = = The original building had a harmonious and unadorned prospect , known through Rome 's plan by Antonio Tempesta published in 1593 , published when the palace was just finished , with seventeen windows and three floors . The facade along Via Alessandrina resembles those of coeval buildings , like Palazzo Ruspoli , built in Via del Corso by Bartolomeo Ammannati . Resulting from the union of several small houses , the edifice was very long , especially after the addition of another wing at the west end , along Via del Mascherino , sixty years after the death of Rusticucci in 1603 . After this addition , the palace was unanimously described by the coeval city 's guides as " lacking grace " . Its main front had a monotonous and modest appearance : it was 83 @.@ 35 metres ( 273 @.@ 5 ft ) long , with three floors and a mezzanine , twenty @-@ two windows and a rusticated portal . Its area covered 2 @,@ 700 square metres ( 29 @,@ 000 sq ft ) . To the right of the entrance lay a rectangular yard with three orders , doric , ionic and corinthian . On the opposite side lay a smaller square yard , surrounded by a portico with serliana . The reconstructed building is shorter , having only 13 windows along its façade , which shows exposed bricks . The two yards have been rebuilt , while the cornices of the windows and the portal come from the original edifice . The palace as of today ( 2016 ) still hosts the " Caffè San Pietro " , which has its seat here since its establishment . A fountain erected in the palace 's yard has been moved to the garden lying between the church of S. Alessio and that of Santa Sabina on the Aventine Hill .
= M @-@ 91 ( Michigan highway ) = M @-@ 91 is a largely north – south state trunkline highway in the Lower Peninsula of the US state of Michigan . It runs from Belding to south of Lakeview . Its 24 @-@ mile ( 39 km ) length exists entirely within Ionia and Montcalm counties . It is all undivided surface route . Aside from the two Michigan state highways that are its termini , it has only one other interstection with any Michigan state highway , and that is with M @-@ 57 in Greenville . M @-@ 91 was formed when M @-@ 66 was rerouted in the 1940s . At the time , the highway continued south to Lowell , but subsequent transfers or roadway sections have truncated the route to its present form . For a time period in the 1980s , M @-@ 91 was even a discontinuous highway when a section in the middle was transferred to county control before the southernmost section was transferred . = = Route description = = M @-@ 91 starts at an intersection with M @-@ 44 west of Belding in Otisco Township . The road runs north along Storey Road and past the Candlestone Golf Course and farmlands . At Bricker Road , M @-@ 91 crosses out of Ionia County into Montcalm County . The trunkline runs along Greenville Road and passes the Greenville Municipal Airport . As it continues north , the highway curves to the northeast running between the Flat River and Baldwin , Como and Manoka lakes . As it enters the south side of Greenville , M @-@ 91 runs along on Lafayette Street . In the center of Greenville , M @-@ 91 meets M @-@ 57 on Washington Street . North of downtown , M @-@ 91 crosses a bend in the Flat River and continues to parallel the river on the east out of town . In rural Montcalm County , M @-@ 91 is once again named Greenville Road and it curves to the west of Turk Lake and continues due north to the community of Langston . North of Langston are Tacoma , West and Spring lakes . Further north , M @-@ 91 curves to the northwest around Farnsworth Lake , resuming its due @-@ north course a mile ( 1 @.@ 6 km ) to the west . Running through farmlands again , M @-@ 91 terminates at an intersection with M @-@ 46 in Lakeview , just south of Tamarack Lake . = = History = = = = = Previous designations = = = The first routing of M @-@ 91 in Michigan was located between Menominee and Cedar River in the Upper Peninsula . This routing was designated by July 1 , 1919 . The designation remained until sometime before December 1927 when it was replaced by M @-@ 35 . In 1927 , all of the current M @-@ 91 was originally part of M @-@ 66 . A second usage of M @-@ 91 was designated from Rogers City towards Cheboygan County along the Lake Huron shore by 1930 . It became part of US 23 by the end of 1940 . = = = Current designation = = = M @-@ 91 was designated for the third time by June 1942 . The number was assigned between US 16 ( Cascade Road / Grand River Avenue ) south of Lowell running northeast along Alden Nash Avenue into Lowell and Lincoln Lake Road north of town . The highway followed Lincoln Lake Road to M @-@ 44 east of Belding and turned to run concurrently along M @-@ 44 to the Belding area . From there it ran north to Greenville and on to Lakeview along the present route . The last section of gravel roadway was paved in Ionia County in 1954 . The highway designation was extended south to the then @-@ new US 16 freeway ( now Interstate 96 ) around 1958 . It was later truncated back to M @-@ 21 in Lowell in 1968 . By 1980 , the section of M @-@ 91 in Ionia County south of M @-@ 44 to the Kent County line was turned back to local control . The highway section in Kent County remained marked as M @-@ 91 , resulting in a discontinuous highway . The southern section between Lowell and the county line was turned back by 1985 , resulting in the modern routing of M @-@ 91 . = = Major intersections = =
= Chak De ! India = Chak De ! India ( English : Go For it ! India or Go ! India ) is a 2007 Hindi @-@ language Indian sports film , directed by Shimit Amin and Rob Miller ( sports scenes ) , produced by Aditya Chopra , with music by Salim – Sulaiman and a screenplay by Jaideep Sahni . It explores religious bigotry , the legacy of the partition of India , ethnic and regional prejudice and sexism in contemporary India in a fictional story about the Indian women 's national field @-@ hockey team which was inspired by the team 's win at the 2002 Commonwealth Games . The film stars Shahrukh Khan as Kabir Khan , former captain of the Indian men 's national field @-@ hockey team . After a disastrous loss to Pakistan , Khan is ostracized from the sport and he and his mother are driven from the family home by angry neighbors . Seven years later , to redeem himself , Khan becomes the coach of the Indian national women 's hockey team and aims to turn its sixteen contentious players into a championship unit . Chak De ! India won a number of awards , including the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment . On 30 August 2007 , the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences requested a copy of the film 's script for a place in its Margaret Herrick Library . When the Indian Hockey Federation was reorganised in April 2008 , former player Aslam Sher Khan said that he wanted " to create a ' Chak De ' effect " in Indian hockey . = = Plot = = Chak De ! India opens in Delhi during the final minutes of a fictional Hockey World Cup match between Pakistan and India , with Pakistan leading 1 – 0 . When Indian team captain Kabir Khan ( Shah Rukh Khan ) is fouled , he takes a penalty stroke . His shot just misses , costing India the match . Soon afterwards , media outlets circulate a photograph of Khan shaking hands with the Pakistani captain . The sporting gesture is misunderstood , and the Muslim Khan is suspected of " throwing " the game out of sympathy towards Pakistan . Religious prejudice forces him and his mother ( Joyshree Arora ) from their family home . Seven years later Mr. Tripathi ( Anjan Srivastav ) , the head of India 's hockey association , meets with Khan 's friend — and hockey advocate — Uttamaji ( Mohit Chauhan ) to discuss the Indian women 's hockey team . According to Tripathi , the team has no future since the only long @-@ term role for women is to " cook and clean " . Uttamaji , however , tells him that Kabir Khan ( whom no one has seen for seven years ) wants to coach the team . Initially sceptical , Tripathi agrees to the arrangement . Khan finds himself in charge of a group of 16 young women ( each representing a different state ) , divided by their competitive nature and regional prejudices . Komal Chautala ( Chitrashi Rawat ) , a village girl from Haryana , clashes with Preeti Sabarwal ( Sagarika Ghatge ) from Chandigarh ; short @-@ tempered Balbir Kaur ( Tanya Abrol ) from Punjab bullies Rani Dispotta ( Seema Azmi ) and Soimoi Kerketa ( Nisha Nair ) , who are from remote villages in Jharkhand . Mary Ralte ( Kimi Laldawla ) from Mizoram and Molly Zimik ( Masochon " Chon Chon " Zimik ) , from Manipur in North @-@ East India , face widespread discrimination and sexual harassment . Team captain Vidya Sharma ( Vidya Malvade ) must choose between hockey and the wishes of her husband Rakesh 's ( Nakul Vaid ) family , and Preeti 's fiancé — Abhimanyu Singh ( Vivan Bhatena ) , vice @-@ captain of the India national cricket team — feels threatened by her involvement with the team . Khan realizes that he can make the girls winners only if he can help them overcome their differences . During his first few days as coach he benches several players who refuse to follow his rules — including Bindia Naik ( Shilpa Shukla ) , his most experienced player . In response , Bindia repeatedly encourages the other players to defy Khan . When she finally succeeds , Khan angrily resigns ; however , he invites the staff and team to a farewell lunch at McDonald 's . During the lunch , local boys make a pass at Mary ; Balbir attacks them , triggering a brawl between the boys and the team . Khan , recognizing that they are acting as one for the first time , prevents the staff from intervening ; he only stops a man from hitting one of the women from behind with a cricket bat , telling him that there are no cowards in hockey . In an about @-@ face , after the fight the women ask Khan to remain as their coach . The team faces new challenges . When Tripathi refuses to send the women 's team to Australia for the World Cup , Khan proposes a match against the men ’ s team . Although his team loses , their performance inspires Tripathi to send them to Australia after all . The tournament begins with a 7 @-@ 0 loss to Australia , followed by victories over England , Spain , South Africa , New Zealand , Argentina and South Korea . They are again matched with Australia for the final ; this time , they defeat the Hockeyroos for the World Cup . When the team returns home their families treat them with greater respect and Khan , his good name restored , returns with his mother to their ancestral home . = = Cast = = Shortly after the film 's release the media began referring to the 16 actresses who portrayed the players as the " Chak De girls " . The panel of judges at the Screen Awards also used the term , awarding the 2008 Screen Award for Best Supporting Actress to the " Chak De girls " . = = = Team = = = = = = Additional cast = = = Anjan Srivastav as Mr. Tripathi , the head Indian hockey official Vibha Chibber as Krishnaji , assistant coach for the Indian women 's field hockey team Javed Khan as Sukhlal Mohit Chauhan as Uttamaji , Kabir 's former hockey teammate and friend Vivan Bhatena as Abimanyu Singh , Vice captain of the Indian national cricket team Nakul Vaid as Rakesh , Vidya 's husband Joyshree Arora as Kabir 's mother = = Production = = = = = Development = = = A brief article about the victorious women 's team at the 2002 Commonwealth Games inspired screenwriter Jaideep Sahni to create a film about the Indian women 's hockey team , and he modeled Kabir Khan on hockey coach Maharaj Krishan Kaushik . After listening to the storyline Kaushik suggested that Sahani meet hockey player Mir Ranjan Negi , who faced accusations of throwing the match against Pakistan in the 1982 Asian Games . According to Sahani , he was unaware of Negi 's plight while he wrote the script and any resemblance to Negi 's life was coincidental . Negi agreed , saying that he did not " want to hog the limelight . This movie is not a documentary of Mir Ranjan Negi 's life . It is in fact the story of a team that becomes a winning lot from a bunch of hopeless girls " . Responding to media reports equating Kabir Khan with Negi , Sahani said : " Our script was written a year and a half back . It is very unfortunate that something , which is about women athletes , has just started becoming about Negi . " = = = Title = = = Shah Rukh Khan stated in a speech delivered at the University of Edinburgh that the phrase Chak De ! was originally " an inspirational martial cry that Sikh soldiers used while lifting logs in order to make bridges across rivers on their campaigns against their enemies . It implies the will to get up and get on with it . " = = = Casting and filming = = = Although Salman Khan was initially signed for the lead role , he later withdrew due to creative differences with the director . Shah Rukh Khan ( who had originally declined due to a scheduling conflict with Karan Johar 's Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna ) was later confirmed as Kabir Khan . Khan accepted the role partly because he used to play hockey in college : " I feel hockey as a sport has been monstrously neglected in our country . I used to play the game during college . In fact , I was quite a good hockey player . So the role was a lot like going back to my past . " Some media sources called the actor 's role offbeat , since it departed from his usual romantic image and included neither lip synched songs nor a single female lead . Casting of the 16 actresses as the hockey players took over six months . Amin described the process as " very , very difficult " and " very strenuous because the requirement was they had to play – and act " . A four @-@ month training camp was held where the girls learned the rules of the game , took acting lessons and followed a strict diet ; safety precautions were also taken . According to Amin , " Learning hockey is very tricky unlike , say , football . You have to know how to hold the stick , how to manoeuvre it , so it doesn 't look fake on screen ... For those who were originally players , we had to make sure they were able to act as well . The dialogue was weighty ; it isn 't frivolous . It has to be delivered with a certain tone , in a certain manner " . The actors , including Khan and the rest of the supporting cast , participated in a number of rehearsals and script readings before principal photography began . Kaushik and his team taught the crew " all [ they ] knew about hockey " . In an interview , he later said that he " taught him ( Sahni ) everything about the game , starting from how the camp is conducted , how the girls come from different backgrounds and cultures , the psychological factors involved . Also how the coach faces pressure to select girls from different states and teams " . After Negi was suggested , the latter assembled a team of hockey players to train the actors . He later said that he " trained the girls for six months . Waking up at 4 , traveling from Kandivili to Churchgate . We would retire around 11 in the night . It was tiring . But we were on a mission ... They couldn 't run ; couldn 't hold the hockey sticks . I ensured none of them [ would have to ] cut their nails or eyebrows ( as the players do ) . The girls have worked very hard . I salute them " . Some of the actors , such as Chitrashi , Sandia , and Raynia , were cast because they were hockey players . Rob Miller was the Sport Action Director , and worked with Negi to train the actors . About working with Khan , Negi recalled that everything was planned " including the penalty stroke that SRK missed . That shot alone took us nearly 20 hours as I was keen that it should be very realistic . I took the help of a lot of my former teammates . But more importantly , it was so easy working with SRK . He is unbelievably modest and was willing to do as many re @-@ takes as we wanted " . Chak De ! India was filmed in India and Australia ( Sydney and Melbourne ) , with ReelSports Solutions casting 90 hockey players and 9 @,@ 000 extras . = = Release = = = = = Box office = = = Chak De ! India premiered on 9 August 2007 at Somerset House in London to an audience of over 2 @,@ 000 during the Film4 Summer Screen and India Now festivals . It was released globally in theaters on 10 August 2007 , playing on only 400 screens in India because of the commercial failure of Yash Raj Films 's two previous films . Due to the film 's strong critical response , theaters reported 80 @-@ percent occupancy for its opening weekend . Chak De ! India topped the Indian box office during its first two weeks , and played to full houses during its first two months . The film was particularly successful in large cities . By the end of its theatrical run Chak De ! India was the third @-@ highest @-@ grossing film of 2007 in India , with domestic earnings of ₹ 50 @,@ 54 @,@ 00 @,@ 000 . = = = Critical response = = = Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes gave Chak De India a rating of 91 percent based on 11 reviews ( 10 " fresh " and one " rotten " ) . On Metacritic , the film had a score of 68 from four critics , indicating generally @-@ favorable reviews . In an NPR interview via affiliate WBUR @-@ FM , Mumbai Mirror columnist Aseem Chhabra called Chak De ! India " an example of a film that 's been made within the framework of Bollywood and yet it is a very different film . It does take up some realistic issues , and what I really liked about the film was that the women who acted , you know , who are part of the team , each one of them got a chance . Their personality , their characters , were very well @-@ written , and so , the superstar in the film was Shahrukh Khan , who was the coach of the team ; he doesn 't sort of take over the whole film . Every supporting character gets a role , and it 's a very inspiring movie that really changed the mood in India . People loved it " . Nikhat Kazmi of The Times of India gave the film four out of five stars stating that it was a film of " great performances by a bunch of unknowns . " India Today called Chak De ! India " the most feisty girl power movie to have come out of Bollywood ever . " Sudhish Kamath of The Hindu wrote , " At another level , Chak De is about women 's liberation . It is one of the best feminist films of our times . " Rajeev Masand of CNN @-@ IBN gave the film four out of five stars , saying " Chak De 's ... a winner all the way . " Shubhra Gupta of The Indian Express called the film " the most authentic , meticulously researched sports movie India has made " . In Kolkata 's Telegraph , Bharathi S. Pradhan wrote that the film combines " an extremely well @-@ knit screenplay with unrelentingly deft direction , 16 unknown , and not even glamorous , girls simply carried you with them , with one single known actor compelling you to watch Chak De India without blinking " . Jaspreet Pandohar of the BBC gave Chak De ! India four out of five stars stating that " while the tale of the sporting underdog is hardly new , Jaideep Sahni 's screenplay offers a rare look at a popular Indian sport often overshadowed by cricket . " Andy Webster of The New York Times wrote that the film gave a fresh look to the conventional underdog sports film , comparing its premise to the U.S. victory in the 1991 FIFA Women 's World Cup . Derek Elley of Variety called Chak De ! India " a patriotic heartwarmer that scores some old @-@ fashioned entertainment goals . " In The Hollywood Reporter , Kirk Honeycutt wrote that the " technical credits are first rate with excellent cinematography , quicksilver editing , musical montages of practice and a fine use of locations . " Michael Dequina of themoviereport.com was more critical of the film , giving it 2 @.@ 5 out of four stars and calling it " a very familiar , very formula underdog sports movie with nothing to distinguish it from similar , equally slick Hollywood product . " Maitland McDonagh of TV Guide gave Chak De ! India two stars out of four , writing that the film uses " sports @-@ movie conventions to address larger cultural and political issues , and while it doesn 't miss a cliche , it also invests every one with vigorous conviction . " Although Subhash K. Jha gave the film 3 @.@ 5 stars , calling it " a fairly predictable story " with dialogue " quite often the stuff bumper stickers are made of " , he wrote that " Chak De India is an outright winner " and " one of the finest sports @-@ based dramas in living memory . " Khalid Mohamed gave the film 3 @.@ 5 stars in the Hindustan Times stating that the film " may be predictable but compels you to root for a team of losers whom only an earth @-@ angel can save from disastrous defeat " . Apart from critics , Chak De ! India tied with Taare Zameen Par for the Best film of 2007 according to various Bollywood movie directors such as Madhur Bhandarkar , David Dhawan , Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra , Anurag Basu , and Sriram Raghavan . = = Social impact = = Chak De ! India has become an influential film . The title track song " Chak De ! India , " now doubles as a sports anthem in India and is played at numerous sports events . According to Salim Merchant , the song " almost became the sports anthem of the country , especially after India won the Cricket World Cup [ 2011 ] . It was no longer our song but the country 's song " . After India 's World Cup victory , Indian team player Virat Kohli " sang ' Chak de India ' to the crowd " . When India defeated South Africa at the 2015 Cricket World Cup , Nitin Srivastava of the BBC noted : " MCG has erupted with " Vande Mataram " ( the national song of India ) and " Chak De India " ( Go India ! ) slogans in the air ! And there 's no age barrier for cricket fans who came and enjoyed the match " . In addition , the suspension of the Indian Hockey Federation in April 2008 also indicated the film 's influence . India Today used the title to label the event in two articles , titled " Operation Chak De impact : Jothikumaran resigns " and " Operation Chak de impact : Furore in Lok Sabha " . The Indiatimes , in an article titled , " Five wise men set for a Chak De act " also argued , " It looks like Indian hockey has done a real Chak de this time around " . In addition , former hockey player Aslam Sher Khan , who was appointed by the Indian Olympic Association to head a committee which will replace the IHF , pointed to the film as a model to work towards . He stated in an interview , " We have to make a Team India as you have seen in Bollywood blockbuster Chak De ! India . There are players from several parts of the country . We have to unite them to make a powerful force . " In another interview , he emphasised that he wants " to create a Chak De effect " on hockey in India . = = Soundtrack = = Chak De ! India 's soundtrack , composed by Salim – Sulaiman with lyrics by Jaideep Sahni , was released on 1 August 2007 .
= Ray of Light ( song ) = " Ray of Light " is a song by American singer Madonna . It is the title track from her seventh studio album Ray of Light ( 1998 ) , and was released as the album 's second single on May 6 , 1998 , by Maverick Records . The song was also included on the compilation albums GHV2 ( 2001 ) and Celebration ( 2009 ) . Written by Madonna , William Orbit , Clive Muldoon , Dave Curtiss , Christine Leach , and produced by Madonna and Orbit , " Ray of Light " is based on Curtiss Maldoon 's " Sepheryn " and is an electronic dance song with techno , trance , Eurodance , and disco influences , " Ray of Light " contains several sound effects such as whistles , bleeps and bells , the usage of electric guitar , and underlying synths . Lyrically , the song has a theme of freedom . The song has received critical acclaim by music critics , for its club @-@ friendly , electronic sound , lyrics , and " emotional warmth " . The song was also nominated for three Grammy Awards ; for Record of the Year , Best Dance Recording , and Best Short Form Music Video , winning the last two . " Ray of Light " debuted and peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 , becoming Madonna 's highest debut on the chart to date . It also reached number one on the Hot Dance Club Songs chart . Internationally , the song reached the top five in Canada , Finland , Italy and the United Kingdom , and peaked at number one in Scotland and Spain . An accompanying music video for " Ray of Light " was directed by Jonas Åkerlund and shows scenes from different cities around the world , with Madonna singing the song in front of them . The video was critically acclaimed , receiving the Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video , as well as winning five awards at the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards . Later , Stefano Salvati accused her of plagiarizing the concept of a music video he directed for Biagio Antonacci in 1994 . The song has been performed in three of Madonna 's concert tours , most recently on her Sticky & Sweet Tour ( 2008 – 09 ) . It has been covered by a number of artists , and has been featured in several elements of popular culture , such as on the FOX show Glee , as well as different advertising campaigns . = = Background = = Madonna began recording Ray of Light with English electronic musician and producer William Orbit in 1997 , after Guy Oseary , Maverick Records 's partner , phoned Orbit and suggested that he send some songs to Madonna . Orbit then sent a 13 @-@ track digital audio tape to Madonna , and " Ray of Light " was among these tracks . It is based on a track written in the 1970s , called " Sepheryn " , by English folk music duo Curtiss Maldoon . In 1996 , Christine Leach , Clive Maldoon 's niece , recorded her version for the track . She worked for a time with Orbit . Leach said she had always loved the duo 's work and " Sepheryn " had a dream @-@ like quality . When she rewrote the chorus melody , she removed a few bits . After Madonna heard Christine 's version of the track , she liked it , and reworked the lyrics . Dave Curtiss said he " couldn 't believe it " after he heard the track , and was pleased with what Madonna had done with his original composition . Madonna said about the song : " It 's totally out of control . The original version is well over 10 minutes long . It was completely indulgent , but I loved it . It was heartbreaking to cut it down to a manageable length . " Its original version was set to be included on a compilation album , titled Veronica Electronica , although it was not released . = = Composition = = An electronic dance music song , " Ray of Light " has received stylistic comparisons to rave , psychedelic and acid music . The track contains strong techno elements , as well as disco , trance , and Eurodance influences , and it sees Madonna deepen her dance roots and go for a more electronic sound . According to the sheet music published by Musicnotes.com , the song is set in common time , with a moderately fast groove tempo of 126 beats per minute . It is composed in the key of B ♭ major , with Madonna 's vocals on the song spanning from B ♭ 3 to F5 , with the latter note sung on the " ah @-@ ah " vocalization near the end of the song . " Ray of Light " has a basic sequence of B ♭ – E ♭ – B – E – B ♭ as its chord progression . The song starts with an electric guitar riff which has been compared to English alternative rock / Britpop band Oasis , after which the fast techno melody begins , which , according to biographer Lucy O 'Brien in Madonna : Like an Icon , has been described as having a " bubbling psychedelic undertow " , as well as combining " melodic pop with bleep @-@ driven techno " . Throughout the composition , there are numerous electronic sound effects , including whistles , bells and bleeps . Its beat has been described as " restless " . Towards the middle of the track , the electric guitar riff is repeated in which Madonna sings the same line as the start of the song , until the dance section returns , and the song gradually ends . Madonna 's " breathlessly " delivered vocals on the song are noted to be different to the ones featured in her singles before the 1996 film Evita . " Lyrically , the song has a theme of freedom and it shows a more spiritual side to Madonna . According to Madonna the track is a mystical look at the universe and how small we are . = = Critical reception = = " Ray of Light " received acclaim from music critics . In a review for the album as a whole , Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic described the track as " swirling " . In a separate review , Liana Jonas of the same website called the track a " wickedly good club song " , as well as claiming that it was " sonically progressive yet listener @-@ friendly " ; she also praised Madonna 's vocals , comparing them to those of a " club diva to celestial goddess " . Larry Flick from Billboard described it as Madonna at her best . Rob Sheffield from Rolling Stone in his review for the album as a whole , wrote that , alongside other tracks such as " Swim " and " Drowned World / Substitute For Love " , Madonna is " positively ferocious " . Sal Cinquemani from Slant Magazine wrote that the song was a " celebratory tech @-@ frenzy " , and noted Madonna 's " elation " in the song , giving it an " A " rating . Sputnikmusic listed the song as the album 's recommended tracks . Michael R. Smith from The Daily Vault praised the song as one of Madonna 's best singles , explaining : What makes " Ray Of Light " one of Madonna 's best singles is the fact that it is such a bitch to sing . Filled with multiple octave changes , it forced Madonna to push her vocal as far as it could possibly go . The song demanded she make use of her upper register and hold notes longer than she ever had before . It really is a techno gem that is always a standout at her concerts . After hearing a sample of it for the first time in the spring of 1998 , I just knew that Madonna had outdone herself . The song brings the entire album of to a whole new level . In her book Madonna : Like an Icon , Lucy O 'Brien described the song as " speedy acid electronica " and an " ecstatic hymn to the skies " and noted that the song was composed a semitone higher than the singer 's vocal comfort zone , but claimed that " the strain really helped " . The A.V. Club commented that the " pumped @-@ up title track is bound to be a deserving smash " . J.D. Considine of The Baltimore Sun noted that Madonna 's " newfound strength is particularly apparent in pulsing , rhythm driven tracks like the title tune , which finds her soaring confidently at the top of her register on the busily percolating chorus , then whispering breathily on the brief , dream @-@ like bridge " . David Browne , while reviewing Ray of Light for Entertainment Weekly , titled the song as " sirenlike techno @-@ glitter @-@ ball " . Idolator 's Stephen Sears explained that Madonna 's vocals throughout the album were a " game @-@ changer " , including on the song , as she strengthened her voice while working on her film Evita . He ends his review by stating " Indeed , no choir is needed to lift ' Ray Of Light ' into disco heaven . Madonna supplies the highs herself in some perfect moments : the extended , spiraling way she wails ' yea @-@ ea @-@ ears ' at 3 : 27 or how her vocal spins out of control at 4 : 14 , matched by Orbit 's frenzied guitar work " . = = Accolades and recognition = = In 1999 , " Ray of Light " won two Grammy Awards for Best Dance Recording and Best Short Form Music Video . It was also nominated for Record of the Year , but lost to Celine Dion 's " My Heart Will Go On " . Furthermore , The Village Voice ranked it as the fourth best in 1998 in their Pazz & Jop critics ' poll . " Ray of Light " is also often ranked as being one of the best songs of the 1990s . In 2005 , the song was placed at number 401 on Blender 's " The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born " . In a Slant Magazine list of the best singles of the 1990s , in which " Ray of Light " was placed 16th , it was written that the song 's " beat is restless " , and that " Ray of Light " is " a standout single " due to its " emotional warmth " . = = Chart performance = = In the United States , " Ray of Light " was Madonna 's highest debuting single at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 , for the issue dated July 11 , 1998 . " Ray of Light " was present for a total of 20 weeks on the Hot 100 , and placed at number 75 on the year @-@ end chart . The song also reached the top of the Hot Dance Music / Club Play chart of Billboard . " Ray of Light " was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America ( RIAA ) in September 1998 , for shipment of 500 @,@ 000 copies of the single across United States . In Canada , it debuted at number 85 on the RPM Singles Chart and reached number three in its eighth week . It was present on the chart for a total of 30 weeks . In Australia , " Ray of Light " debuted on the ARIA Singles Chart at its peak of number six on May 24 , 1998 , staying there for one week . It was present for a total of 17 weeks on the chart , and was certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association ( ARIA ) for shipment of 35 @,@ 000 copies of the single . At the year @-@ end charts of ARIA , " Ray of Light " was the 57th best @-@ selling Australian single of 1998 . In New Zealand , " Ray of Light " also debuted at its peak position of number nine on the RIANZ Singles Chart , and reached a peak position of number two after three weeks . It was present for a total of 14 weeks on the chart and fell out on September 13 , 1998 , at number 31 . In the United Kingdom , " Ray of Light " debuted and peaked at number two on May 9 , 1998 , being held off the number one spot by All Saints 's " Under the Bridge / Lady Marmalade " , which also debuted the same week . The single was the 68th best @-@ selling song of 1998 in the UK , with the British Phonographic Industry ( BPI ) certifying it silver , for shipment of 200 @,@ 000 copies of the song . According to the Official Charts Company , " Ray of Light " has sold 275 @,@ 000 copies in the region as of 2008 . The track debuted at its peak of number nine on the issue dated May 16 , 1998 on the Eurochart Hot 100 Singles chart . In Belgium , " Ray of Light " was moderately successful in both territories , peaking at number 25 in Flanders and 33 in Wallonia . In the Netherlands , the song debuted at number 45 on the Dutch Top 40 , and reached a peak of 22 on May 16 , 1998 , remaining there for three weeks . The song reached a peak of number two in Finland , where it remained for two weeks , before spending a total of five weeks on the chart . In Sweden , it reached number 14 and spent 10 weeks on the chart . On the Swiss Singles Chart , " Ray of Light " debuted at its peak of number 32 on the issue dated May 24 , 1998 . The song also reached number one in Spain on its debuting week . It stayed on the top spot for three weeks before descending the chart . = = Music video = = The accompanying music video for " Ray of Light " was directed by Jonas Åkerlund , with Madonna 's scenes being shot in early April 1998 at MTV 's Times Square studios in New York and Los Angeles . The images of Madonna 's background include various cities , such as Los Angeles , New York , London , Las Vegas , and Stockholm . The video premiered on MTV Live on May 12 , 1998 . Madonna stated that when she makes an album , she " puts [ her ] soul on it " , but a music video is a lot more working with a director . With the Ray of Light album , she wanted to have videos with a fresh expression , and she wanted new directors to replace of the old ones she had worked with for years . She felt that Jonas Åkerlund has a special way of working . She commented that she and the director " met on the telephone , and he sent me a whole bunch of treatments I didn 't like . But he kept at it and didn 't give up " . The singer also mentioned that the video is basically " a day in the life of the earth to show that we are rushing forward to the end of the 1900s century at full speed . I think Jonas made an excellent interpretation of the song , although he forced me to dance like crazy for two days . He 's a tough director " . Åkerlund stated that " It was damn good ! Madonna was pleased with the quick result and [ is ] a dream to work with — it was probably the easiest job I 've done in years ! " Additionally , he said : " I had two ideas that did not fit the song . She said no even though I had a very clear idea of how she would look in the video . I worked up on another idea and brought together a featured band for her to see . I did it all in front of me . [ ... ] In retrospect , it feels good , the video we have done much better suited to the track than the first ideas . She [ Madonna ] has an incredible track on everything she is doing . Style , music , business — she has a mental track of every single thing and won 't give up until she is completely satisfied . And on music videos there is nothing she does with one hand on her back — she 's engaged to one hundred percent " . The music video for " Ray of Light " starts with the rising of the sun , until it progresses into a Koyaanisqatsi @-@ esque section , featuring time @-@ lapse images of daily life , from people riding a subway , ordering food , bowling , and children in a classroom to sped @-@ up city @-@ scapes and freeways at night . As the video goes on , night starts to fall , and high @-@ speed images of Madonna dancing in a discothèque progress , until she is seen falling asleep on the dance floor . On June 23 , 1998 , the music video of " Ray of Light " was released on VHS as a limited edition of 40 @,@ 000 copies by Warner Music Vision . It had sold 7 @,@ 281 copies of the following month after its release , becoming the best @-@ selling video singles of the Nielsen SoundScan era . A few days after its release , Italian director Stefano Salvati accused Madonna 's Warner Bros. Records imprint Maverick Records for plagiarizing the concept of a music video he directed for Biagio Antonacci 's 1994 single " Non è Mai Stato Subito " . According to Salvati , copies of his videos were submitted to Maverick before the " Ray of Light " video was shot and requested it to be pulled from distribution . Both videos featured the respective singers performing at regular speed against a backdrop of high @-@ speed images . However , he did not sue the singer or her companies . The video received a total of eight MTV Video Music Awards nominations in 1998 , eventually winning five ; for Video of the Year , Best Female Video , Best Direction , Best Editing and Best Choreography , becoming her most @-@ winning song at the show . Madonna said she was grateful for MTV 's regonition of the music video . The video was ranked at number four on " The Top 100 Videos That Broke The Rules " , issued by MTV on the channel 's 25th anniversary in August 2006 . = = Live performances = = " Ray of Light " has been featured in the set lists of three Madonna tours – 2001 's Drowned World Tour , 2006 's Confessions Tour and 2008 – 09 's Sticky & Sweet Tour . In 1998 she premiered " Ray of Light " during her surprise concert at the Roxy NYC nightclub . She also appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show in and performed " Ray of Light " and " Little Star " . During the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards Madonna started performing " Shanti / Ashtangi " , sporting black hair and wearing an Indian sari . Lenny Kravitz then appeared playing the guitar , which paved way to " Ray of Light " . A religious group called the World Vaishnava Association claimed that Madonna offended Hindus with the performance by continuing to wear a Hindi mark on her head while performing the song . A spokesperson for the association stated that the mark is a symbol of chastity , harmony and purity , and is designed to show " dedication to God " . The representative also said that because Madonna simulated a sexual act and wore a see @-@ through tank top onstage while wearing the mark , she offended both Hindus and Yogis . A spokesperson for Madonna stated that the singer did not understand why the World Vaishnava Association was upset as she had not done anything insulting , and did not wish to insult anyone . However , the vice president of the World Vaishnava Association claimed that " the Hindu community and Eastern spiritual seekers the world over should be happy for Madonna personally in terms of her genuine interest in enlightened life , and grateful to her for her sincere efforts to attract others to the same " . Three years later , " Ray of Light " was included as the fifth song from the opening Neo @-@ Punk segment of Madonna 's 2001 Drowned World Tour , which featured Madonna and her dancers dancing along to the song wearing punk inspired clothing , while the backdrop screens showed an extended version of the song 's music video . This time , the electric guitar was played by Monte Pittman . Michael Hubbard from MusicOMH noted that " things quickly hotted up with [ ... ] Ray Of Light , a track that was quite simply as sublime as it was infectious " . In 2005 , Madonna performed " Ray of Light " during the Live 8 benefit concert . She later performed the song at the 2006 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio , California . During her 2006 Confessions Tour , Madonna included a rock version of " Ray of Light " as the second song of the show 's third act , the Glam @-@ Punk segment . For this performance Madonna played the electric guitar and urged all the fans to jump through the song , it also featured six male backup dancers , dressed in black outfits and white ties doing a synchronized choreography . Rolling Stone called the performance " hard @-@ rocking " . " Ray of Light " was also performed by Madonna during the 2007 Live Earth concert in London 's Wembley Stadium again accompanied by a guitar . Madonna 's performance at the event was watched by 4 @.@ 5 million people . For the 2008 – 09 Sticky & Sweet Tour , " Ray of Light " was included as the third song of the show 's final segment . This time , Madonna played the electric guitar again and wore a futuristic outfit with a breastplate and a short wig . She was accompanied by her dancers who were dressed in futuristic outfits and performed a robotic choreography . During the 2009 extension of the tour , the song became the second @-@ to @-@ last of the show and also slightly edited for selected performances , with the lyrics from Michael Jackson 's song " Man in the Mirror " : " If you wanna make the world a better place ... Take a look at yourself , and then make a change " appearing on the screens before the beginning of the song . Madonna also honored Jackson by wearing a black armband and a white glove . While reviewing the tour in 2008 , Jim Farber from New York Daily News called the performance of the song one of the " highest @-@ energy " dance numbers of the show . = = Covers and usage in media = = " Weird Al " Yankovic 's medley " Polka Power ! " from the 1999 album Running With Scissors includes a polka version of the chorus of " Ray of Light " . The 2000 compilation Virgin Voices : A Tribute To Madonna , Vol . 2 features a cover of the song by Sigue Sigue Sputnik . On the 2004 compilation Platinum Blonde NRG , Vol . 2 : Nrgised Madonna Classics , a Hi @-@ NRG cover is performed by Future Force . English singer Natasha Bedingfield recorded a cover version of " Ray of Light " for BBC Radio 1 's 40th anniversary . Played during the The Chris Moyles Show on September 19 , 2007 , it can be found on the Radio 1 . Established 1967 compilation album . Bedingfield commented : " I have so much respect for Madonna after learning how hard it is to sing that song . She has an amazing voice — the range you need to sing the song is incredible " . In 2008 , Iggy Pop and The Stooges played " Ray of Light " ( along with " Burning Up " ) during Madonna 's induction in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame . In 2010 , the song was played in the film Burlesque , while Ali ( Christina Aguilera ) was rehearsing for her new position as a dancer in the Burlesque Lounge , owned by Cher 's character Tess . In late 2012 , American singer Adam Lambert performed a cover version on VH1 Divas , dancing through laser lights while donning a priestly black and white tunic . The song was used by Microsoft in its 2001 advertising campaign for Windows XP . It begins with a man leaping through a green field and then lifting off into a sunny sky — a landscape lifted from Windows XP 's default " bliss screen " . There is also a series of images of people using Windows XP for real @-@ time communications , to collaborate in an airy restaurant , to relay digital images of flying people , watch videos and listen to music . Then , a snipped from the song follows the phrase : " Faster than the speeding light she 's flying ... You soar . Yes you can " . The campaign was reworked after the September 11 attacks ; the tag line " Prepare to fly " was changed to " Yes you can " , to sidestep new concerns about air travel , said Stephanie Ferguson , director of the company 's PC Experience Solutions Marketing Group . In 2008 , a Sunsilk shampoo commercial included shots of Marilyn Monroe and Shakira with songs well known by them , and ends with several video shots of Madonna to the sounds of " Ray of Light " . Madonna reportedly received US $ 10 million for the song 's usage . The commercial premiered on Super Bowl XLII . In 2010 , Glee tribute episode " The Power of Madonna " featured " Ray of Light " playing in the background as the school 's cheerleading team performed a complicated stilts routine . In the 2011 Family Guy episode " New Kidney in Town " , Peter Griffin is seen in the " Ray of Light " video after drinking his first energy drink ( Red Bull ) . = = Track listings and formats = = = = Credits and personnel = = Madonna – vocals , songwriting , producer William Orbit – songwriting , producer Clive Muldoon – songwriting Dave Curtis – songwriting Christine Leach – songwriting Pat McCarthy – engineer Credits and personnel adapted from Ray of Light album liner notes . = = Charts = = = = Certifications = =
= History of the United Kingdom during World War I = The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland — then consisting of England , Scotland , Wales , and the whole of Ireland — was one of the Allied Powers during the First World War of 1914 – 1918 , fighting against the Central Powers ( the German Empire , the Austro @-@ Hungarian Empire , the Ottoman Empire and the Kingdom of Bulgaria ) . The state 's armed forces were reorganised — the war marked the creation of the Royal Air Force , for example — and increased in size because of the introduction , in January 1916 , of forced conscription for the first time in the kingdom 's history as well as the raising of the largest all @-@ volunteer army in history , known as Kitchener 's Army , of more than two million men . The outbreak of war has generally been regarded as a socially unifying event , although this view has been challenged by more recent scholarship . In any case , responses in the United Kingdom in 1914 were similar to those amongst populations across Europe . On the eve of war , there was serious domestic unrest in the UK ( amongst the labour and suffrage movements and especially in Ireland ) but much of the population rapidly rallied behind the government . Significant sacrifices were made in the name of defeating the Empire 's enemies and many those who could not fight contributing to philanthropic and humanitarian causes . Fearing food shortages and labour shortfalls , the government passed legislation such as the Defence of the Realm Act 1914 , to give it new powers . The war saw a move away from the idea of " business as usual " under prime minister H. H. Asquith , and towards a state of total war ( complete state intervention in public affairs ) under David Lloyd George , the first time this had been seen in Britain . The war also witnessed the first aerial bombardments of cities in Britain . Newspapers played an important role in maintaining popular support for the war . Large quantities of propaganda were produced by the government under the guidance of such journalists as Charles Masterman and newspaper owners such as Lord Beaverbrook . By adapting to the changing demographics of the workforce ( or the " dilution of labour " , as it was termed ) , war @-@ related industries grew rapidly , and production increased , as concessions were quickly made to trade unions . In that regard , the war is also credited by some with drawing women into mainstream employment for the first time . Debates continue about the impact the war had on women 's emancipation , given that a large number of women were granted the vote for the first time in 1918 . The experience of individual women during the war varied ; much depended on locality , age , marital status and occupation . The civilian death rate rose due to food shortages and Spanish Flu , which hit the country in 1918 . Military deaths are estimated to have exceeded 850 @,@ 000 . The Empire reached its zenith at the conclusion of peace negotiations . However , the war heightened not only imperial loyalties but also individual national identities in the dominions ( Canada , Newfoundland , Australia , New Zealand and South Africa ) and India . Irish nationalists after 1916 moved from collaboration with London to demands for immediate independence ( see Easter Rising ) , a move given great impetus by the Conscription Crisis of 1918 . Military historians continue to debate matters of tactics and strategy . However , in terms of memory of the war , historian Adrian Gregory argues that : " The verdict of popular culture is more or less unanimous . The First World War was stupid , tragic and futile . The stupidity of the war has been a theme of growing strength since the 1920s . From Robert Graves , through ' Oh ! What a Lovely War ' to ' Blackadder Goes Forth , ' the criminal idiocy of the British High Command has become an article of faith . " = = Government = = On 4 August , Britain ( and its Empire ) entered the World War with H. H. Asquith of the Liberal Party as British prime minister . Britain 's reasons for declaring war were complex : the Treaty of London of 1839 had committed it to safeguard Belgium 's neutrality , and the strategic risk posed by German control of the Belgian coast was unacceptable . Asquith 's Liberal government was brought down in May 1915 , due in particular to a crisis in inadequate artillery shell production and the failed Gallipoli Campaign in the Dardanelles . Reluctant to give in to demands for an election , Asquith proceeded to form a new coalition government on 25 May , with the majority of the new cabinet coming from his own Liberal party and the Unionist ( Conservative ) party brought in to shore up the government . By January 1915 , 184 members of parliament were serving with the armed forces . = = = Lloyd George as Prime Minister = = = This coalition government lasted until 1916 , when the Unionists became dissatisfied with Asquith and the Liberals ' conduct of affairs , particularly over the Battle of the Somme . What would prove to be the last majority @-@ Liberal government collapsed as a result of the political manoeuvrings of Andrew Bonar Law ( leader of the Conservatives ) , Sir Edward Carson ( leader of the Ulster Unionists ) , and David Lloyd George ( then a minister in the cabinet ) . Law , who had few allies outside his own party , lacked sufficient support to form a new coalition ; the Liberal Lloyd George , on the other hand , enjoyed much wider support and duly formed a majority @-@ Conservative coalition government . Asquith was still the party head but he and his followers moved to the opposition benches in Parliament . Lloyd George immediately set about transforming the British war effort , taking firm control of both military and domestic policy . In the first 235 days of its existence , the War Cabinet met 200 times . Its creation marked the transition to a state of total war — the idea that every man , woman and child should play his or her part in the war effort . Moreover , it was decided that members of the government should be the men who controlled the war effort , primarily utilising the power they had been given under the Defence of the Realm Act . For the first time , the government could react quickly , without endless bureaucracy to tie it down , and with up @-@ to @-@ date statistics on such matters as the state of the merchant navy and farm production . The policy marked a distinct shift away from Asquith 's initial policy of laissez @-@ faire , which had been characterised by Winston Churchill 's declaration of " business as usual " in November 1914 . The success of Lloyd George 's government can also be attributed to a general lack of desire for an election , and the practical absence of dissent that this brought about . In rapid succession in spring 1918 came a series of military and political crises . The Germans , having moved troops from the Eastern front and retrained them in new tactics , now had more soldiers on the Western Front than the Allies . On 21 March 1918 Germany launched a full scale Spring Offensive against the British and French lines , hoping for victory on the battlefield before United States troops arrived in numbers . The Allied armies fell back 40 miles in confusion , and facing defeat London realized it needed more troops to fight a mobile war . Lloyd George found half a million soldiers and rushed them to France , asked American President Woodrow Wilson for immediate help , and agreed to the appointment of the French Marshal Foch as commander in chief on the Western Front , so that Allied forces could be coordinated to handle the German offensive . Despite strong warnings that it was a bad idea , the War Cabinet decided to impose conscription on Ireland in 1918 . The main reason was that labour in Britain demanded it as the price for cutting back on exemptions for certain workers . Labour wanted the principle established that no one was exempt , but it did not demand that conscription should actually take place in Ireland . The proposal was enacted , but never enforced . The Roman Catholic bishops for the first time entered the fray , calling for open resistance to compulsory military service , while the majority of Irish nationalists moved to supporting the intransigent Sinn Féin movement ( away from the constitutional Irish National Party ) . This proved a decisive moment , marking the end of Irish willingness to stay inside the Union . On 7 May 1918 , a senior army officer on active duty , Major @-@ General Sir Frederick Maurice , prompted a second crisis when he went public with allegations that Lloyd George had lied to Parliament on military matters . Asquith , the Liberal leader in the House , took up the allegations and attacked Lloyd George ( also a Liberal ) . While Asquith 's presentation was poor , Lloyd George vigorously defended his position , treating the debate as a vote of confidence . He won over the House with a powerful refutation of Maurice 's allegations . The main results were to strengthen Lloyd George , weaken Asquith , end public criticism of overall strategy , and strengthen civilian control of the military . Meanwhile , the German offensive stalled and was ultimately reversed . Victory came on November 11 , 1918 . = = = Collapse of the Liberal Party = = = In the general election of 1918 , Lloyd George , " the Man Who Won the War " , led his coalition into another khaki election and won a sweeping victory over the Asquithian Liberals and the newly emerging Labour Party . Lloyd George and the Conservative leader Andrew Bonar Law wrote a joint letter of support to candidates to indicate they were considered the official Coalition candidates – this " coupon " , as it became known , was issued against many sitting Liberal Members of Parliament to devastating effect . Asquith and most of his Liberal colleagues lost their seats . Lloyd George still claimed to be leading a Liberal government , but he was increasingly under the influence of the rejuvenated Conservative party . The Liberal party never recovered . = = Monarchy = = The British Royal House faced a serious problem during the First World War because of its blood ties to the ruling family of Germany , Britain 's prime adversary in the war . Before the war , the British royal family had been known as the House of Saxe @-@ Coburg and Gotha . In 1910 , George V became King of the United Kingdom on the death of his father , King Edward VII , and remained king throughout the war . He was the first cousin of the German Kaiser Wilhelm II , who came to symbolise all the horrors of the war . Queen Mary , although British like her mother , was the daughter of the Duke of Teck , a descendant of the German Royal House of Württemberg . During the war H. G. Wells wrote about Britain 's " alien and uninspiring court " , and George famously replied : " I may be uninspiring , but I 'll be damned if I 'm alien . " On 17 July 1917 , to appease British nationalist feelings , King George issued an Order in Council that changed the name of the British Royal Family to the House of Windsor . He specifically adopted Windsor as the surname for all descendants of Queen Victoria then living in the United Kingdom , excluding women who married into other families and their descendants . He and his relatives who were British subjects relinquished the use of all German titles and styles , and adopted English surnames . George compensated several of his male relatives by creating them British peers . Thus , his cousin , Prince Louis of Battenberg , became Louis Mountbatten , 1st Marquess of Milford Haven , while his brother @-@ in @-@ law , the Duke of Teck , became Adolphus Cambridge , 1st Marquess of Cambridge . Others , such as Princess Marie Louise of Schleswig @-@ Holstein and Princess Helena Victoria of Schleswig @-@ Holstein , simply stopped using their territorial designations . The system for titling members of the royal family was also simplified . Relatives of the British royal family who fought on the German side were simply cut off ; their British peerages were suspended by a 1919 Order in Council under the provisions of the Titles Deprivation Act 1917 . Developments in Russia posed another set of issues for the monarchy . Tsar Nicholas II of Russia was King George 's first cousin and the two monarchs looked very much alike . When Nicholas was overthrown in the Russian Revolution of 1917 , the British Government was prepared to offer asylum to the Tsar and his family . However , worsening conditions for the British people , and fears that revolution might come to the British Isles , led George V to think that the presence of the Romanovs in the United Kingdom might seem inappropriate to the public . Records of the King 's private secretary , Lord Stamfordham , suggest that George V opposed the granting of asylum for the Romanovs , against the advice of Lloyd George . The Prince of Wales – the future Edward VIII – was keen to participate in the war but the government refused to allow it , citing the immense harm that would occur if the heir to the throne were captured . Despite this , Edward witnessed trench warfare at first hand and attempted to visit the front line as often as he could , for which he was awarded the Military Cross in 1916 . His role in the war , although limited , led to his great popularity among veterans of the conflict . Other members of the royal family were similarly involved . The Prince Albert , Duke of York ( later George VI ) , was commissioned in the Royal Navy and saw action as a turret officer aboard HMS Collingwood against at the battle of Jutland but saw no further action in the war , largely because of ill health . Princess Mary , the King 's only daughter , visited hospitals and welfare organisations with her mother , assisting with projects to give comfort to British servicemen and assistance to their families . One of these projects was Princess Mary 's Christmas Gift Fund , through which £ 162 @,@ 000 worth of gifts was sent to all British soldiers and sailors for Christmas 1914 . She took an active role in promoting the Girl Guide movement , the Voluntary Aid Detachment ( VAD ) , the Land Girls and in 1918 , she took a nursing course and went to work at Great Ormond Street Hospital . = = Defence of the Realm Act = = The first Defence of the Realm Act ( DORA ) was passed on 8 August 1914 , during the early weeks of the war , though in the next few months its provisions were extended . It gave the government wide @-@ ranging powers , such as the ability to requisition buildings or land needed for the war effort . Some of the things the British public were prohibited from doing included loitering under railway bridges , feeding wild animals and discussing naval and military matters . British Summer Time was also introduced . Alcoholic beverages were now to be watered down , pub closing times were brought forward from 12 @.@ 30 am to 10 pm , and , from August 1916 , Londoners were no longer able to whistle for a cab between 10 pm and 7 am . It has been criticised for both its strength and its use of the death penalty as a deterrent – although the act itself did not refer to the death penalty , it made provision for civilians breaking these rules to be tried in army courts martial , where the maximum penalty was death . = = His Majesty 's forces = = = = = Army = = = The British Army during World War I was small in size when compared to the other major European powers . In 1914 , the British had a small , largely urban English , volunteer force of 400 @,@ 000 soldiers , almost half of whom were posted overseas to garrison the British Empire . ( In August 1914 , 74 of the 157 infantry battalions and 12 of the 31 cavalry regiments were posted overseas . ) This total included the Regular Army and reservists in the Territorial Force . Together they formed the British Expeditionary Force ( BEF ) , for service in France and became known as the Old Contemptibles . The mass of volunteers in 1914 – 1915 , popularly known as Kitchener 's Army , was destined to go into action at the battle of the Somme . In January 1916 , conscription was introduced , and by the end of 1918 , the army had reached its peak of strength of four million men . = = = Royal Navy = = = The Royal Navy at the start of the war was the largest navy in the world due , in the most part , to The Naval Defence Act 1889 and the two @-@ power standard which called for the navy to maintain a number of battleships such as their strength was at least equal to the combined strength of the next two largest navies in the world , which at that point were France and Russia . The major part of the Royal Navy 's strength was deployed at home in the Grand Fleet , with the primary aim of drawing the German High Seas Fleet into an engagement . No decisive victory ever came . The Royal Navy and the German Imperial Navy did come into contact , notably in the battle of Heligoland Bight , and the battle of Jutland . In view of their inferior numbers and firepower , the Germans devised a plan to draw part of the British fleet into a trap and put it into effect at Jutland in May 1916 , but the result was inconclusive . In August 1916 , the High Seas Fleet tried a similar enticement operation and was " lucky to escape annihilation " . The lessons learned by the Royal Navy at Jutland made it a more effective force in the future . In 1914 , the navy had also formed the 63rd ( Royal Naval ) Division from reservists , and this served extensively in the Mediterranean and on the Western Front . Almost half of the Royal Navy casualties during the War were sustained by this division , fighting on land and not at sea . = = = British air services = = = At the start of the war , the Royal Flying Corps ( RFC ) , commanded by David Henderson , was sent to France and was first used for aerial spotting in September 1914 , but only became efficient when they perfected the use of wireless communication at Aubers Ridge on May 9 1915 . Aerial photography was attempted during 1914 , but again only became effective the next year . In 1915 Hugh Trenchard replaced Henderson and the RFC adopted an aggressive posture . By 1918 , photographic images could be taken from 15 @,@ 000 feet ( 4 @,@ 600 m ) , and interpreted by over 3 @,@ 000 personnel . Planes did not carry parachutes until 1918 , though they had been available since before the war . On 17 August 1917 , General Jan Smuts presented a report to the War Council on the future of air power . Because of its potential for the ' devastation of enemy lands and the destruction of industrial and populous centres on a vast scale ' , he recommended a new air service be formed that would be on a level with the army and navy . The formation of the new service however would make the under utilised men and machines of the Royal Naval Air Service ( RNAS ) available for action across the Western Front , as well as ending the inter @-@ service rivalries that at times had adversely affected aircraft procurement . On 1 April 1918 , the RFC and the RNAS were amalgamated to form a new service , the Royal Air Force ( RAF ) . = = Recruitment and conscription = = Particularly in the early stages of the war , many men , for a wide variety of reasons , decided to " join up " to the armed forces — by 5 September 1914 , over 225 @,@ 000 had signed up to fight for what became known as Kitchener 's Army . Over the course of the war , a number of factors contributed to recruitment rates , including patriotism , the work of the Parliamentary Recruiting Committee in producing posters , dwindling alternative employment opportunities , and an eagerness for adventure to escape humdrum routine . Pals battalions , where whole battalions were raised from a small geographic area or employer , also proved popular . Higher recruitment rates were seen in Wales and Scotland , though in the case of the Welsh and Irish , political tensions tended to " put something of a blight upon enlistment " . Recruitment remained fairly steady through 1914 and early 1915 , but fell dramatically during the later years , especially after the Somme campaign , which resulted in 500 @,@ 000 casualties . As a result , conscription was introduced for the first time in January 1916 for single men , and extended in May – June to all men aged 18 to 41 across England , Wales and Scotland , by way of the Military Service Acts . Urban centres , with their poverty and unemployment were favourite recruiting grounds of the regular British army . Dundee , where the female dominated jute industry limited male employment had one of the highest proportion of reservists and serving soldiers than almost any other British city . Concern for their families ' standard of living made men hesitate to enlist ; voluntary enlistment rates went up after the government guaranteed a weekly stipend for life to the survivors of men who were killed or disabled . After the introduction of conscription from January 1916 every part of the country was affected . The policy of relying on volunteers had sharply reduced the capacity of heavy industry to produce the munitions needed for the war . Historian R. J. Q. Adams reports that 19 % of the men in the iron and steel industry entered the Army , 22 % of the miners , 20 % in the engineering trades , 24 % in the electrical industries , 16 % among small arms craftsmen , and 24 % of the men who had been engaged in making high explosives . In response critical industries were prioritised over the army ( " reserved occupations " ) , including munitions , food production and merchant shipping . = = = Conscription Crisis of 1918 = = = In April 1918 legislation was brought forward which allowed for extension of conscription to Ireland . Though this ultimately never materialised , the effect was " disastrous " . Despite significant numbers volunteering for Irish regiments , the idea of enforced conscription proved unpopular . The reaction was based particularly on the fact that implementation of conscription in Ireland was linked to a pledged " measure of self @-@ government in Ireland " . The linking of conscription and Home Rule in this way outraged the Irish parties at Westminster , who walked out in protest and returned to Ireland to organise opposition . As a result , a general strike was called , and on 23 April 1918 , work was stopped in railways , docks , factories , mills , theatres , cinemas , trams , public services , shipyards , newspapers , shops , and even official munitions factories . The strike was described as " complete and entire , an unprecedented event outside the continental countries " . Ultimately the effect was a total loss of interest in Home Rule and of popular support for the nationalist Irish Party who were defeated outright by the separatist republican Sinn Féin party in the December 1918 Irish general election , one of the precursors of the Anglo @-@ Irish War . = = = Conscientious objectors = = = The conscription legislation introduced the right to refuse military service , allowing for conscientious objectors to be absolutely exempted , to perform alternative civilian service , or to serve as a non @-@ combatant in the army , according to the extent to which they could convince a Military Service Tribunal of the quality of their objection . Around 16 @,@ 500 men were recorded as conscientious objectors , with Quakers playing a large role . 4 @,@ 500 objectors were sent to work on farms to undertake " work of national importance " , 7 @,@ 000 were ordered non @-@ combatant duties as stretcher bearers , but 6 @,@ 000 were forced into the army , and when they refused orders , they were sent to prison , as in the case of the Richmond Sixteen . Some 843 conscientious objectors spent more than two years in prison ; ten died while there , seventeen were initially given the death penalty ( but received life imprisonment ) and 142 were imprisoned on life sentences . Conscientious objectors who were deemed not to have made any useful contribution were disenfranchised for five years after the war . = = Naval and air raids = = At the start of the First World War , for the first time since the Napoleonic Wars , the population of the British Isles was in danger of attack from naval raids . The country also came under attack from air raids by zeppelins and fixed @-@ wing aircraft , another first . = = = Naval raids = = = The Raid on Yarmouth , which took place in November 1914 , was an attack by the German Navy on the British North Sea port and town of Great Yarmouth . Little damage was done to the town itself , since shells only landed on the beach once German ships laying mines offshore were interrupted by British destroyers . One British submarine was sunk by a mine as it attempted to leave harbour and attack the German ships , while one German armoured cruiser was sunk after striking two mines outside its own home port . In December 1914 , the German navy carried out attacks on the British coastal towns of Scarborough , Hartlepool and Whitby . The attack resulted in 137 fatalities and 593 casualties , many of which were civilians . The attack made the German navy very unpopular with the British public , as an attack against British civilians in their homes . Likewise , the British Royal Navy was criticised for failing to prevent the raid . = = = Bombardment of Yarmouth and Lowestoft = = = In April 1916 a German battlecruiser squadron with accompanying cruisers and destroyers bombarded the coastal ports of Yarmouth and Lowestoft . Although the ports had some military importance , the main aim of the raid was to entice out defending ships which could then be picked off either by the battlecruiser squadron or by the full High Seas Fleet , which was stationed at sea ready to intervene if an opportunity presented itself . The result was inconclusive : nearby Royal Navy units were too small to intervene so largely kept clear of the German battlecruisers , and the German ships withdrew before the first British fast response battlecruiser squadron or the Grand Fleet could arrive . = = = Air raids = = = German zeppelins bombed towns on the east coast , starting on 19 January 1915 with Great Yarmouth . London was also hit later in the same year , on 31 May . Propaganda supporting the British war effort often used these raids to their advantage : one recruitment poster claimed : " It is far better to face the bullets than to be killed at home by a bomb " ( see image ) . The reaction from the public , however , was mixed ; whilst 10 @,@ 000 visited Scarborough to view the damage there , London theatres reported having fewer visitors during periods of " Zeppelin weather " — dark , fine nights . Throughout 1917 Germany began to deploy increasing numbers of fixed @-@ wing bombers , the Gotha G.IV 's first target being Folkestone on 25 May 1917 , following this attack the number of airship raids decreased rapidly in favour of raids by fixed wing aircraft , before Zeppelin raids were called off entirely . In total , Zeppelins dropped 6 @,@ 000 bombs , resulting in 556 dead and 1 @,@ 357 wounded . Soon after the raid on Folkestone , the bombers began raids on London : one daylight raid on 13 June 1917 by 14 Gothas caused 162 deaths in the East End of London . In response to this new threat , Major General Edward Bailey Ashmore , a RFC pilot who later commanded an artillery division in Belgium , was appointed to devise an improved system of detection , communication and control , The system , called the Metropolitan Observation Service , encompassed the London Air Defence Area and would later extend eastwards towards the Kentish and Essex coasts . The Metropolitan Observation Service was fully operational until the late summer of 1918 ( the last German bombing raid taking place on 19 May 1918 ) . During the war , the Germans carried out 51 airship raids and 52 fixed @-@ wing bomber raids on the United Kingdom , which together dropped 280 tons of bombs . The casualties amounted to 1 @,@ 413 killed , and 3 @,@ 409 wounded . The success of anti @-@ air defence measures was limited ; of the 397 aircraft that had taken part in raids , only 24 Gothas were shot down ( though 37 more were lost in accidents ) , despite an estimated rate of 14 @,@ 540 anti @-@ air rounds per aircraft . Anti @-@ zeppelin defences were more successful , with 17 shot down and 21 lost in accidents . = = Media = = = = = Propaganda = = = Propaganda and censorship were closely linked during the war . The need to maintain morale and counter German propaganda was recognised early in the war and the War Propaganda Bureau was established under the leadership of Charles Masterman in September 1914 . The Bureau enlisted eminent writers such as H G Wells , Arthur Conan Doyle , Rudyard Kipling as well as newspaper editors . By the summer of 1915 , the Bureau had printed over 2 @.@ 5 million books , speeches , official documents and pamphlets . Masterman also commissioned films about the war such as The Battle of the Somme , which appeared in August 1916 , while the battle was still in progress as a morale @-@ booster and in general it met with a favourable reception . The Times reported on 22 August 1916 that " Crowded audiences ... were interested and thrilled to have the realities of war brought so vividly before them , and if women had sometimes to shut their eyes to escape for a moment from the tragedy of the toll of battle which the film presents , opinion seems to be general that it was wise that the people at home should have this glimpse of what our soldiers are doing and daring and suffering in Picardy " . = = = Newspapers = = = Newspapers during the war were subject to the Defence of the Realm Act , which eventually had two regulations restricting what they could publish : Regulation 18 , which prohibited the leakage of sensitive military information , troop and shipping movements ; and Regulation 27 , which made it an offence to " spread false reports " , " spread reports that were likely to prejudice recruiting " , " undermine public confidence in banks or currency " or cause " disaffection to His Majesty " . Where the official Press Bureau failed ( it had no statutory powers until April 1916 ) , the newspaper editors and owners operated a ruthless self @-@ censorship . Having worked for government , press barons Viscount Rothermere , Baron Beaverbrook ( in a sea of controversy ) , and Viscount Northcliffe all received titles . For these reasons , it has been concluded that censorship , which at its height suppressed only socialist journals ( and briefly the right wing The Globe ) had less effect on the British press than the reductions in advertising revenues and cost increases which they also faced during the war . One major loophole in the official censorship lay with parliamentary privilege , when anything said in Parliament could be reported freely . The most infamous act of censorship in the early days of the war was the sinking of HMS Audacious in October 1914 , when the press was directed not to report on the loss , despite the sinking being observed by passengers on the liner RMS Olympic and quickly reported in the American press . The most popular papers of the period included dailies such as The Times , The Daily Telegraph and The Morning Post , weekly newspapers such as The Graphic and periodicals like John Bull , which claimed a weekly circulation of 900 @,@ 000 . The public demand for news of the war was reflected in the increased sales of newspapers . After the German Navy raid on Hartlepool and Scarborough , the Daily Mail devoted three full pages to the raid and the Evening News reported that The Times had sold out by a quarter past nine in the morning , even with inflated prices . The Daily Mail itself increased in circulation from 800 @,@ 000 a day in 1914 to 1 @.@ 5 million by 1916 . = = = News magazines = = = The public 's thirst for news and information was in part satisfied by news magazines , which were dedicated to reporting the war . They included amongst others The War Illustrated , The Illustrated War News , and The War Pictorial , and were lavishly filled with photographs and illustrations , regardless of their target audience . Magazines were produced for all classes , and ranged both in price and tone . Many otherwise famous writers contributed towards these publications , of which H.G. Wells , Arthur Conan Doyle and Rudyard Kipling were three examples . Editorial guidelines varied ; in cheaper publications especially it was considered more important to create a sense of patriotism than to relay up @-@ to @-@ the @-@ minutes news of developments of the front . Stories of German atrocities were commonplace . = = = Music = = = On 13 August 1914 , the Irish regiment the Connaught Rangers were witnessed singing " It 's a Long Way to Tipperary " as they marched through Boulogne by the Daily Mail correspondent George Curnock , who reported the event in that newspaper on 18 August 1914 . The song was then picked up by other units of the British Army . In November 1914 , it was sung in a pantomime by the well @-@ known music hall singer Florrie Forde , which helped contribute to its worldwide popularity . Another song from 1916 , which became very popular as a music hall and marching song , boosting British morale despite the horrors of that war , was " Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit @-@ Bag " . = = = War poets = = = There was also a notable group of war poets who wrote about their own experiences of war , which caught the public attention . Some died on active service , most famously Rupert Brooke , Isaac Rosenberg , and Wilfred Owen , while some , such as Siegfried Sassoon survived . Themes of the poems included the youth ( or naivety ) of the soldiers , and the dignified manner in which they fought and died . This is evident in lines such as " They fell with their faces to the foe " , from the " Ode of Remembrance " taken from Laurence Binyon 's For the Fallen , which was first published in The Times in September 1914 . Female poets such as Vera Brittain also wrote from the home front , to lament the losses of brothers and lovers fighting on the front . = = Economy = = On the whole the British successfully managed the economics of the war . There had been no prewar plan for mobilization of economic resources . Controls were imposed slowly , as one urgent need followed another . With the City of London the world 's financial capital , it was possible to handle finances smoothly ; in all Britain spent 4 million pounds everyday on the war effort . The economy ( in terms of GDP ) grew about 14 % from 1914 to 1918 despite the absence of so many men in the services ; by contrast the German economy shrank 27 % . The War saw a decline of civilian consumption , with a major reallocation to munitions . The government share of GDP soared from 8 % in 1913 to 38 % in 1918 ( compared to 50 % in 1943 ) . The war forced Britain to use up its financial reserves and borrow large sums from the U.S. Shipments of American raw materials and food allowed Britain to feed itself and its army while maintaining his productivity . The financing was generally successful , as the City 's strong financial position minimized the damaging effects of inflation , as opposed to much worse conditions in Germany . Overall consumer consumption declined 18 % from 1914 to 1919 . Trade unions were encouraged as membership grew from 4 @.@ 1 million in 1914 to 6 @.@ 5 million in 1918 , peaking at 8 @.@ 3 million in 1920 before relapsing to 5 @.@ 4 million in 1923 . In Scotland , the shipbuilding industry expanding by a third . The trade unions enthusiastically supported the war , apart from the coal miners who were much less enthusiastic . Women were available and many entered munitions factories and took other home front jobs vacated by men . = = = Rationing = = = In line with its " business as usual " policy , the government was initially reluctant to try to control the food markets . It fought off efforts to try to introduce minimum prices in cereal production , though relenting in the area of controlling of essential imports ( sugar , meat and grains ) . When it did introduce changes , they were only limited in their effect . In 1916 , it became illegal to consume more than two courses whilst lunching in a public eating place or more than three for dinner ; fines were introduced for members of the public found feeding the pigeons or stray animals . In January 1917 , Germany started using U @-@ boats ( submarines ) in order to sink Allied and later neutral ships bringing food to the country in an attempt to starve Britain into surrender under their unrestricted submarine warfare programme . One response to this threat was to introduce voluntary rationing in February 1917 , a scheme said to have been endorsed by the king and queen themselves . Bread was subsidised from September that year ; prompted by local authorities taking matters into their own hands , compulsory rationing was introduced in stages between December 1917 and February 1918 , as Britain 's supply of wheat stores decreased to just six weeks worth . It is said to have in the most part benefited the health of the country , through the ' levelling of consumption of essential foodstuffs ' . To assist with rationing , ration books were introduced on 15 July 1918 for butter , margarine , lard , meat , and sugar . During the war , average calories intake decreased only three percent , but protein intake six percent . = = = Industry = = = Total British production fell by ten percent over the course of the war ; there were , however , increases in certain industries such as steel . Although Britain faced a controversial shell shortage , this has been attributed to extraordinary orders placed by the government at the outbreak of war ( without concern for the capacity of its industry ) , rather than inefficient production . In 1915 , the Ministry of Munitions under David Lloyd @-@ George was formed to control munitions production and had considerable success . By April 1915 , just two million rounds of shells had been sent to France ; by the end of the war the figure had reached 187 million , and a year 's worth of pre @-@ war production of light munitions could be completed in just four days by 1918 . Aircraft production in 1914 provided employment for 60 @,@ 000 men and women ; by 1918 British firms employed over 347 @,@ 000 . = = = Labour = = = Industrial production of munitions was a central feature of the war , and with a third of the men in the labour force moved into the military , demand was very high for industrial labour . Large numbers of women were employed temporarily . Trade unions gave strong support to the war effort , cutting back on strikes and restrictive practices . Membership doubled from 4 @.@ 1 million in 1914 , 28 @.@ 3 million in 1920 . 65 percent of union members had been associated with the Trades Union Congress ( TUC ) In 1914 , rising to 77 percent in 1920 . Labour 's prestige had never been higher , and it systematically placed its leaders into Parliament . The Munitions of War Act 1915 followed the Shell Crisis of 1915 when supplies of material to the front became a political issue . The Act forbade strikes and lockouts and replaced them with compulsory arbitration . It set up a system of controlling war industries , and established munitions tribunals that were special courts to enforce good working practices . It suspended , for the duration , restrictive practices by trade unions . It tried to control labour mobility between jobs . The courts ruled the definition of munitions was broad enough to include textile workers and dock workers . 1915 act was repealed in 1919 , but similar legislation took effect during the Second World War . It was only as late as December 1917 that a War Cabinet Committee on Manpower was established , and the British government refrained from introducing compulsory labour direction ( though 388 men were moved as part of the voluntary National Service Scheme ) . Belgian refugees became workers , though they were often seen as " job stealers " . Likewise , the use of Irish workers , because they were exempt from conscription , was another source of resentment . Worried about the impact of the dilution of labour caused by bringing external groups into the main labour pool , workers in some areas turned to strike action . The efficiency of major industries improved markedly during the war . For example , the Singer Clydebank sewing machine factory received over 5000 government contracts , and made 303 million artillery shells , shell components , fuzes , and airplane parts , as well as grenades , rifle parts , and 361 @,@ 000 horseshoes . Its labour force of 14 @,@ 000 was about 70 percent female at war 's end . = = = Energy = = = Energy was a critical factor for the British war effort . Most of the energy supplies came from coal mines in Britain , where the issue was labour supply . Critical however was the flow of oil for ships , lorries and industrial use . There were no oil wells in Britain so everything was imported . The U.S. pumped two @-@ thirds of the world 's oil . In 1917 , total British consumption was 827 million barrels , of which 85 percent was supplied by the United States , and 6 percent by Mexico . The great issue in 1917 was how many tankers would survive the German u @-@ boats . Convoys and the construction of new tankers solved the German threat , while tight government controls guaranteed that all essential needs were covered . An Inter @-@ Allied Petroleum Conference allocated American supplies to Britain , France and Italy . Fuel oil for the Royal Navy was the highest priority . In 1917 , the Royal Navy consumed 12 @,@ 500 tons a month , but had a supply of 30 @,@ 000 tons a month from British Petroleum , using BPs oil wells in Persia . = = Social change = = Variously throughout the war , serious shortage of able @-@ bodied men ( " manpower " ) occurred in the country , and women were required to take on many of the traditional male roles , particularly in the area of arms manufacture ; though this was only significant in the later years of the war , since unemployed men were often prioritised by employers . Women both found work in the munitions factories ( as " munitionettes " ) despite initial trade union opposition , which directly helped the war effort , but also in the Civil Service , where they took men 's jobs , releasing them for the front . The number of women employed by the service increased from 33 @,@ 000 in 1911 to over 102 @,@ 000 by 1921 . The overall increase in female employment is estimated at 1 @.@ 4 million , from 5 @.@ 9 to 7 @.@ 3 million , and female trade union membership increased from 357 @,@ 000 in 1914 to over a million by 1918 — an increase of 160 percent . Beckett suggests that most of these were working class women going into work at a younger age than they would otherwise have done , or married women returning to work . This taken together with the fact that only 23 percent of women in the munitions industry were actually doing men 's jobs , would limit substantially the overall impact of the war on the long @-@ term prospects of the working woman . When the government targeted women early in the war focussed on extending their existing roles – helping with Belgian refugees , for example — but also on improving recruitment rates amongst men . They did this both through the so @-@ called " Order of the White Feather " and through the promise of home comforts for the men while they were at the front . In February 1916 , groups were set up and a campaign started to get women to help in agriculture and in March 1917 , the Women 's Land Army was set up . One goal was to attract middle @-@ class women who would act as models for patriotic engagement in nontraditional duties . However the uniform of the Women 's Land Army included male overalls and trousers , which sparked debate on the propriety of such cross @-@ dressing . The government responded with rhetoric that explicitly feminized the new roles . In 1918 , the Board of Trade estimated that there were 148 @,@ 000 women in agricultural employment , though a figure of nearly 260 @,@ 000 has also been suggested . The war also caused a split in the British suffragette movement , with the mainstream , represented by Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughter Christabel 's Women 's Social and Political Union , calling a ' ceasefire ' in their campaign for the duration of the war . In contrast , more radical suffragettes , like the Women 's Suffrage Federation run by Emmeline 's other daughter , Sylvia , continued their ( at times violent ) struggle . Women were also allowed to join the armed forces in a non @-@ combatant role and by the end of the War 80 @,@ 000 women had joined the armed forces in auxiliary roles such as nursing and cooking . Following the war , millions of returning soldiers were still not entitled to vote . This posed another dilemma for politicians since they could be seen to be withholding the vote from the very men who had just fought to preserve the British democratic political system . The Representation of the People Act 1918 attempted to solve the problem , enfranchising all adult males as long as they were over 21 years old and were resident householders . It also gave the vote to women over 30 who met minimum property qualifications . The enfranchisement of this latter group was accepted as recognition of the contribution made by women defence workers , though the actual feelings of members of parliament ( MPs ) at the time is questioned . In the same year the Parliament ( Qualification of Women ) Act 1918 allowed women over 21 to stand as MPs . The new coalition government of 1918 charged itself with the task of creating a " land fit for heroes " , from a speech given in Wolverhampton by David Lloyd George on 23 November 1918 , where he stated " What is our task ? To make Britain a fit country for heroes to live in . " More generally , the war has been credited , both during and after the conflict , with removing some of the social barriers that had pervaded Victorian and Edwardian Britain . = = Regional conditions = = The War had a profound influence upon rural areas , as the U @-@ boat blockade required the government to take full control of the food chain , as well as agricultural labour . Cereal production was a high priority , and the Corn Production Act 1917 guaranteed prices , regulated wage rates , and required farmers to meet efficiency standards . The government campaigned heavily for turning marginal land into cropland . The Women 's Land Army brought in 23 @,@ 000 young women from the towns and cities to milk cows , pick fruit and otherwise replace the men who joined the services . More extensive use of tractors and machinery also replaced farm labourers . However , there was a shortage of both men and horses on the land by late 1915 . County War Agricultural Executive Committees reported that the continued removal of men was undercutting food production because of the farmers ' belief that operating a farm required a set number of men and horses . Kenneth Morgan argues that , ' the overwhelming mass of the Welsh people cast aside their political and industrial divisions and threw themselves into the war with gusto . " Intellectuals and ministers actively promoted the war spirit . With 280 @,@ 000 men enrolled in the services ( 14 % of the population ) , the proportionate effort in Wales outstripped both England and Scotland . However Adrian Gregory points out that the Welsh coal miners , while officially supporting the war effort , refused the government request to cut short their vacation time . After some debate , the miners agreed to extend the working day . Scotland 's distinctive characteristics have attracted significant attention from scholars . Unlike England , Scotland specialized in providing manpower , ships , machinery , food ( particularly fish ) and money . Daniel shows it supported the war effort with widespread enthusiasm . = = Casualties = = In the post war publication Statistics of the Military Effort of the British Empire During the Great War 1914 – 1920 ( The War Office , March 1922 ) , the official report lists 908 @,@ 371 ' soldiers ' as being either killed in action , dying of wounds , dying as prisoners of war or missing in action in the World War . ( This is broken down into the United Kingdom and its colonies 704 @,@ 121 ; British India 64 @,@ 449 ; Canada 56 @,@ 639 ; Australia 59 @,@ 330 ; New Zealand 16 @,@ 711 ; South Africa 7 @,@ 121 . ) Listed separately were the Royal Navy ( including the Royal Naval Air Service until 31 March 1918 ) war dead and missing of 32 @,@ 287 and the Merchant Navy war dead of 14 @,@ 661 . The figures for the Royal Flying Corps and the nascent Royal Air Force were not given in the War Office report . A second publication , Casualties and Medical Statistics ( 1931 ) , the final volume of the Official Medical History of the War , gives British Empire Army losses by cause of death . The total losses in combat from 1914 to 1918 were 876 @,@ 084 , which included 418 @,@ 361 killed , 167 @,@ 172 died of wounds , 113 @,@ 173 died of disease or injury , 161 @,@ 046 missing presumed dead and 16 @,@ 332 died as a prisoner of war . The Commonwealth War Graves Commission lists 888 @,@ 246 war dead from the UK and colonies ( excluding the dominions , which are listed separately ) . This figure includes identified burials and those commemorated by name on memorials ; there are an additional 187 @,@ 644 unidentified burials from the Commonwealth ( then Empire ) as a whole . The civilian death rate exceeded the prewar level by 292 @,@ 000 , which included 109 @,@ 000 deaths due to food shortages and 183 @,@ 577 from Spanish Flu . The 1922 War Office report detailed the deaths of 1 @,@ 260 civilians and 310 military personnel due to air and sea bombardment of the United Kingdom . Losses at sea were 908 United Kingdom civilians and 63 fisherman killed by U @-@ boat attacks . With a population of 4 @.@ 8 million in 1911 , Scotland sent 690 @,@ 000 men to the war , of whom 74 @,@ 000 died in combat or from disease , and 150 @,@ 000 were seriously wounded . At times Scottish troops made up large proportions of the active combatants , and suffered corresponding loses , as at the Battle of Loos , where there were three full Scots divisions and other Scottish units . Thus , although Scots were only 10 per cent of the British population , they made up 15 per cent of the national armed forces and eventually accounted for 20 per cent of the dead . Some areas , like the thinly populated Island of Lewis and Harris suffered some of the highest proportional losses of any part of Britain . Clydeside shipyards and the engineering shops of west @-@ central Scotland became the most significant centre of shipbuilding and arms production in the Empire . In the Lowlands , particularly Glasgow , poor working and living conditions led to industrial and political unrest . = = Legacy and memory = = The horrors of the Western Front as well as Gallipoli and Mesopotamia were seared into the collective consciousness of the twentieth century . To a large extent the understanding of the war in popular culture focused on the first day of the Battle of the Somme . Historian A.J.P. Taylor argued , " The Somme set the picture by which future generations saw the First World War : brave helpless soldiers ; blundering obstinate generals ; nothing achieved . " Images of trench warfare became iconic symbols of human suffering and endurance . The post @-@ war world had many veterans who were maimed or damaged by shell shock . In 1921 1 @,@ 187 @,@ 450 men were in receipt of pensions for war disabilities , with a fifth of these having suffered serious loss of limbs or eyesight , paralysis or lunacy . The war was a major economic catastrophe as Britain went from being the world 's largest overseas investor to being its biggest debtor , with interest payments consuming around 40 percent of the national budget . Inflation more than doubled between 1914 and its peak in 1920 , while the value of the Pound Sterling fell by 61 @.@ 2 percent . Reparations in the form of free German coal depressed the local industry , precipitating the 1926 General Strike . During the war British private investments abroad were sold , raising £ 550 million . However , £ 250 million new investment also took place during the war . The net financial loss was therefore approximately £ 300 million ; less than two years investment compared to the pre @-@ war average rate and more than replaced by 1928 . Material loss was " slight " : the most significant being 40 percent of the British merchant fleet sunk by German U @-@ boats . Most of this was replaced in 1918 and all immediately after the war . The military historian Correlli Barnett has argued that " in objective truth the Great War in no way inflicted crippling economic damage on Britain " but that the war only " crippled the British psychologically " ( emphasis in original ) . Less concrete changes include the growing assertiveness of the Dominions within the British Empire . Battles such as Gallipoli for Australia and New Zealand , and Vimy Ridge for Canada led to increased national pride and a greater reluctance to remain subordinate to the United Kingdom . These battles were often portrayed favourably in these nations ' propaganda as symbolic of their power during the war . The war released pent @-@ up indigenous nationalism , as populations tried to take advantage of the precedent set by the introduction of self @-@ determination in eastern Europe . Britain was to face unrest in Ireland ( 1919 – 21 ) , India ( 1919 ) , Egypt ( 1919 – 23 ) , Palestine ( 1920 – 21 ) and Iraq ( 1920 ) at a time when they were supposed to be demilitarising . Nevertheless , Britain 's only territorial loss came in Ireland , where the delay in finding a resolution to the home rule issue , along with the 1916 Easter Rising and a failed attempt to introduce conscription in Ireland , increased support for separatist radicals , and led indirectly to the outbreak of the Irish War of Independence in 1919 . Further change came in 1919 . With the Treaty of Versailles , London took charge of an additional 1 @,@ 800 @,@ 000 square miles ( 4 @,@ 700 @,@ 000 km2 ) and 13 million new subjects . The colonies of Germany and the Ottoman Empire were distributed to the Allied powers ( and to Australia , New Zealand and South Africa ) as League of Nations mandates , with the United Kingdom at least gaining control of Palestine and Transjordan , Iraq , parts of Cameroon and Togo , and Tanganyika . Indeed , the British Empire reached its territorial peak after the settlement .
= Siege of Krujë ( 1450 ) = The first Siege of Krujë occurred in 1450 when an Ottoman army of approximately 100 @,@ 000 men laid siege to the Albanian town of Krujë . The League of Lezhë , led by Skanderbeg , experienced low morale after losing Svetigrad and Berat between 1448 and 1450 . Nevertheless , Skanderbeg 's exhortations and the support of the clergy , who claimed to have had visions of angels and victory , motivated the Albanians to defend the capital of the League , Krujë , at all costs . After leaving a protective garrison of 4 @,@ 000 men under his trusted lieutenant Vrana Konti ( also known as Kont Urani ) , Skanderbeg harassed the Ottoman camps around Krujë and attacked the supply caravans of Sultan Murad II 's army . By September the Ottoman camp was in disarray as morale sank and disease ran rampant . The Ottoman army acknowledged that the castle of Krujë would not fall by strength of arms , lifted the siege , and made its way to Edirne . Soon thereafter , in the winter of 1450 – 51 , Murad died in Edirne and was succeeded by his son , Mehmed II . = = Campaigns of 1448 and early 1450 = = After several failed invasions of Albania by Ottoman captains , Murad II laid siege to the fortress of Svetigrad ( which is thought to be today 's Demir Hisar ) on May 14 , 1448 , with a force of 80 @,@ 000 men . Svetigrad was an important strategic point , since it controlled the routes from Macedonia into Albania . The small garrison , composed of Albanians , Bulgarians , and other Europeans , held the fortress while Scanderbeg attacked the Ottoman camp from outside . After the Ottomans poisoned the wells , a group of defenders decided to open the gates and let the Turks in , thus giving control of the fortress to the Ottomans . The Sultan retired from Albania and Skanderbeg laid siege to Svetigrad on September 23 , 1448 . After several failed assaults , Skanderbeg lifted the siege and retreated . In early 1450 , Berat was captured by the pasha of Gjirokastër through a night attack , causing Gjergj Arianit to desert Skandebeg 's cause . = = Prelude = = = = = Albanian morale before the siege = = = The morale of the Albanians sank after the losses in the previous years . When the Turks began marching towards Krujë on April 5 , 1450 , the people claimed to have seen cherubims and angels flying over Albania . Skanderbeg himself claimed that he had received a vision of St. George handing him a flaming sword to " destroy the enemies of true religion ( Christianity ) . " This speech , along with many other visions of the clergy , raised Albanians ' morale , motivating them to fight . = = = Albanian dispositions and preparations = = = Before the siege began , Skanderbeg exited Krujë with 8 @,@ 000 men — among whom were many Slavs , Italians , Frenchmen and Germans . 2 @,@ 000 of these were infantry and 6 @,@ 000 were cavalry . Skanderbeg found Mount Tumenishta ( now known as Mount Skënderbeu ) to be a suitable position from which to attack the Ottomans . Krujë was left with a garrison of 4 @,@ 000 men under the command of Vrana Konti . Vrana had under his command several Germans , Italians , and Frenchmen , to whom he emphasized the importance of the siege and also ordered them to their positions . Krujë had enough supplies for a sixteen @-@ month siege . The women and children of Krujë were sent for protection to Venetian possessed cities , whereas the others were ordered to burn their crops and move into the mountains and fortresses . = = = Ottoman dispositions and preparations = = = Murad reached Krujë on May 14 with approximately 100 @,@ 000 of his best soldiers ( 60 @,@ 000 of which was cavalry ) . Murad proposed to Vrana that he should hand over the fortress , but Vrana refused . After receiving the refusal , Murad set his army to cast ten cannons , one of which could fire rocks weighing 400 pounds and another 200 pounds . Despite the firepower , the Turkish firing positions were at a disadvantage , since Krujë " was almost part of the mountain which it had been built . " The cannons could fire two or three times a day and were not accurate . Two large and four smaller guns were placed on the Tirana side , and the remainder were aimed at the main gateway . = = Siege = = = = = First phase = = = Murad fired on Krujë for four days until a breach was finally made . The Sultan believed that he had the advantage and ordered his troops through the walls . The garrison managed to push the assault back , thus gaining time to repair the walls . Murad , fearing a counterattack from Skanderbeg , sent a scouting patrol towards the surrounding mountains to watch for an attack . Skanderbeg still managed to lead , at dusk , a raid on the Turkish encampment , killing several hundred men , capturing and destroying Turkish supplies , and almost losing his own life . When Skanderbeg returned to his men , his " shield was so battered that its shape was scarce to be discerned . " The raid cost Skanderbeg ten dead and even more wounded . The assault continued however , with the guns sounding from time to time . The defenders were not facing great difficulty , however . Sixty of them sallied forth to do whatever damage they could , and those at the walls repelled all attempts to enter . The main weight of the attack had come from the Tirana side , where the Turkish losses had been heavy . = = = Second phase = = = When the second assault began , the Turks tried to break through the gate with their lances . After heavy casualties , the attackers retreated and Murad held for the next two days a council of all his generals . An immediate precaution was to guard the camp against another surprise attack , which was responded to by placing a force of men , under the command of Prince Mehmed , where the first attack had taken place . Moisi Arianit Golemi feigned an attack with about 500 horsemen : the alarm was given and the Turks prepared for his attack . Meanwhile , Skanderbeg and his forces moved around the camp and broke in where least expected . Before an organized counterattack could be made , Skanderbeg retreated from the camp . The attacks made by Skanderbeg caused the Turks to aim some of their cannons towards the expected guerrilla forces , instead of the fortress . A large force of Turkish cavalry was sent out , which Skanderbeg followed up to the mouth of the Ishëm River , until they turned back to Krujë . While Skanderbeg had been away , a large Ottoman assault was made on Krujë from the Tirana side , but inadvertent friendly fire from the Turks forced them to call off the assault . The Ottomans then attempted to mine the fortress , but could not succeed , since the fortress had been built on rock . Since the food supplies were beginning to run out , the Turks received provisions from Venice , as did the Albanians . The Turkish attacks had made no headway and the Ottoman army had lost many dead or wounded , whereas Skanderbeg 's force had lost 1 @,@ 000 men thus far . Moisi Golemi and Tanush Thopia raised a couple thousand more and the force was split between the three , making attacks on the Turkish camp easier . Skanderbeg began to move towards the camp as the Turks had assembled 8 @,@ 000 men which began to move towards him . Skanderbeg slowly retired , while Moisi and Tanush broke into the camp . The Turkish force sent against Skanderbeg was lured towards the foothills and the next morning ( July 25 ) they were surrounded and completely destroyed . The next day , Skanderbeg was seen above the rocks of Krujë , in conference with Vrana Konti , surprising Murad . = = = Final phase = = = After Vrana had returned to the castle , a pasha was chosen to have a conference with Vrana bringing him many rich presents . The pasha tried to convince the count that Murad would be a more suitable master than Skanderbeg was , and that the siege was almost over , but Vrana refused to surrender . As a result , a fresh Ottoman assault began . Meanwhile , Murad sent an envoy trying to convince Skanderbeg to capitulate by offering 10 @,@ 000 crowns annually . Skanderbeg also refused replying : " Nay if Murad did divide with me and make me co @-@ partner with all his empire , I would never suffer the name of Albania to be stained and blemished with this blot of disgrace and infamy . " The assault continued , and the Albanian positions seemed desperate . On October 14 , Skanderbeg offered Krujë to the Venetians , threatening to capitulate the fortress to the Turks if they did not accept it . After Murad lifted the siege on October 26 , because of the arriving winter , the Venetians replied to Skanderbeg 's offer rejecting it and offered to help Skanderbeg to harmonize his relationship with Ottomans . = = Aftermath = = The siege cost 20 @,@ 000 Ottoman casualties and over 1 @,@ 000 Albanian casualties . Marin Barleti claims that Murad died of disease under the fortress of Krujë , but Murad in fact died in Edirne in 1451 . Murad began to retire from Albania out of fear of losing even more men from the Albanian winter , however the retreat itself caused the loss of thousands of Ottoman troops due to attacks from local Albanian militias . Skanderbeg was at the end of his resources . He travelled to Ragusa , urging for assistance , and the Ragusans informed Pope Nicholas V. Through financial assistance , Skanderbeg managed to hold Krujë and regain much of his territory . Skanderbeg 's success brought praise from all over Europe and ambassadors were sent to him from Rome , Naples , Hungary , and Burgundy . Skanderbeg then became a vassal of Alfonso V , on March 26 , 1451 , by the Treaty of Gaeta , gaining much needed men and supplies from the crown of Aragon . According to legend , one night during the siege Skanderbeg sent out a herd of goats with a candle on each of the goats ' horns . The encamped Turks believed it to be an Albanian attack and made a movement against the herd . When the Turks advanced far enough , Skanderbeg launched an attack against the force , destroying it . After the siege was lifted , Skanderbeg commemorated his victory by designing a helmet with the head of a goat on it , as a reference to his " ingenious tactics " used that night . = = Popular culture and legacy = = Naim Frashëri , a prominent Albanian poet , wrote of how the siege of Krujë had saved Europe from Ottoman invasion . Today , Albanians take pride in the actions performed during the siege . The Skanderbeg Museum , in Krujë , has many commemorations to the siege and the film Skënderbeu ( 1953 ) stages the siege . It is the setting of the novel The Siege by Albanian writer Ismail Kadare .
= J. K. Rowling = Joanne " Jo " Rowling , OBE , FRSL ( / ˈroʊlɪŋ / ; born 31 July 1965 ) , pen names J. K. Rowling and Robert Galbraith , is a British novelist , screenwriter and film producer best known as the author of the Harry Potter fantasy series . The books have gained worldwide attention , won multiple awards , and sold more than 400 million copies . They have become the best @-@ selling book series in history and been the basis for a series of films which is the second highest @-@ grossing film series in history . Rowling had overall approval on the scripts and maintained creative control by serving as a producer on the final instalment . Born in Yate , Gloucestershire , England , Rowling was working as a researcher and bilingual secretary for Amnesty International when she conceived the idea for the Harry Potter series while on a delayed train from Manchester to London in 1990 . The seven @-@ year period that followed saw the death of her mother , birth of her first child , divorce from her first husband and relative poverty until she finished the first novel in the series , Harry Potter and the Philosopher 's Stone , in 1997 . There were six sequels , the last , Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows , in 2007 . Since then , Rowling has written four books for adult readers , The Casual Vacancy ( 2012 ) and — under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith — the crime fiction novels The Cuckoo 's Calling ( 2013 ) , The Silkworm ( 2014 ) and Career of Evil ( 2015 ) . Rowling has lived a " rags to riches " life story , in which she progressed from living on state benefits to multi @-@ millionaire status within five years . She is the United Kingdom 's best @-@ selling living author , with sales in excess of £ 238m . The 2008 Sunday Times Rich List estimated Rowling 's fortune at £ 560 million , ranking her as the twelfth richest woman in the United Kingdom . Forbes ranked Rowling as the 48th most powerful celebrity of 2007 , and Time magazine named her as a runner @-@ up for its 2007 Person of the Year , noting the social , moral , and political inspiration she has given her fans . In October 2010 , Rowling was named the " Most Influential Woman in Britain " by leading magazine editors . She has supported charities including Comic Relief , One Parent Families , Multiple Sclerosis Society of Great Britain and Lumos ( formerly the Children 's High Level Group ) . = = Name = = Although she writes under the pen name " J. K. Rowling " ( pronounced rolling ) , her name , before her remarriage , was simply " Joanne Rowling " . Anticipating that the target audience of young boys might not want to read a book written by a woman , her publishers asked that she use two initials rather than her full name . As she had no middle name , she chose K ( for " Kathleen " ) as the second initial of her pen name , from her paternal grandmother . She calls herself " Jo " . Following her marriage , she has sometimes used the name Joanne Murray when conducting personal business . During the Leveson Inquiry she gave evidence under the name of Joanne Kathleen Rowling and her entry in Who 's Who lists her name as Joanne Kathleen Rowling . = = Biography = = = = = Birth and family = = = Rowling was born to Peter James Rowling , a Rolls @-@ Royce aircraft engineer , and Anne Rowling ( née Volant ) , a science technician , on 31 July 1965 in Yate , Gloucestershire , England , 10 miles ( 16 km ) northeast of Bristol . Her parents first met on a train departing from King 's Cross Station bound for Arbroath in 1964 . They married on 14 March 1965 . One of her maternal great @-@ grandfathers , Dugald Campbell , was Scottish , born in Lamlash on the Isle of Arran . Her mother 's paternal grandfather , Louis Volant , was French , and was awarded the Croix de Guerre for exceptional bravery in defending the village of Courcelles @-@ le @-@ Comte during the First World War . Rowling originally believed he had won the Légion d 'honneur during the war , as she said when she received it herself in 2009 . She later discovered the truth when featured in an episode of the UK genealogy series Who Do You Think You Are ? , in which she found out it was a different Louis Volant who won the Legion of Honour . When she heard his story of bravery and discovered the croix de guerre was for " ordinary " soldiers like her grandfather , who had been a waiter , she stated the croix de guerre was " better " to her than the Legion of Honour . = = = Childhood and education = = = Rowling 's sister Dianne was born at their home when Rowling was 23 months old . The family moved to the nearby village Winterbourne when Rowling was four . She attended St Michael 's Primary School , a school founded by abolitionist William Wilberforce and education reformer Hannah More . Her headmaster at St Michael 's , Alfred Dunn , has been suggested as the inspiration for the Harry Potter headmaster Albus Dumbledore . As a child , Rowling often wrote fantasy stories which she frequently read to her sister . Aged nine , Rowling moved to Church Cottage in the Gloucestershire village of Tutshill , close to Chepstow , Wales . She attended secondary school at Wyedean School and College , where her mother worked in the science department . When she was a young teenager , her great @-@ aunt gave her a copy of Jessica Mitford 's autobiography , Hons and Rebels . Mitford became Rowling 's heroine , and Rowling read all of her books . Rowling has said that her teenage years were unhappy . Her home life was complicated by her mother 's illness and a strained relationship with her father , with whom she is not on speaking terms . Rowling later said that she based the character of Hermione Granger on herself when she was eleven . Steve Eddy , who taught Rowling English when she first arrived , remembers her as " not exceptional " but " one of a group of girls who were bright , and quite good at English " . Sean Harris , her best friend in the Upper Sixth , owned a turquoise Ford Anglia which she says inspired a flying version that appeared in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets . At this time , she listened to the Smiths and the Clash . Rowling took A @-@ levels in English , French and German , achieving two As and a B and was Head Girl . In 1982 , Rowling took the entrance exams for Oxford University but was not accepted and read for a B.A. in French and Classics at the University of Exeter . Martin Sorrell , a French professor at Exeter , remembers " a quietly competent student , with a denim jacket and dark hair , who , in academic terms , gave the appearance of doing what was necessary " . Rowling recalls doing little work , preferring to listen to The Smiths and read Dickens and Tolkien . After a year of study in Paris , Rowling graduated from Exeter in 1986 and moved to London to work as a researcher and bilingual secretary for Amnesty International . In 1988 , Rowling wrote a short essay about her time studying Classics entitled " What was the Name of that Nymph Again ? or Greek and Roman Studies Recalled " ; it was published by the University of Exeter 's journal Pegasus . = = = Inspiration and mother 's death = = = After working at Amnesty International in London , Rowling and her then boyfriend decided to move to Manchester , where she worked at the Chamber of Commerce . In 1990 , while she was on a four @-@ hour @-@ delayed train trip from Manchester to London , the idea for a story of a young boy attending a school of wizardry " came fully formed " into her mind . When she had reached her Clapham Junction flat , she began to write immediately . In December , Rowling 's mother Anne died after ten years suffering from multiple sclerosis . Rowling was writing Harry Potter at the time and had never told her mother about it . Her death heavily affected Rowling 's writing and she introduced much more detail about Harry 's loss in the first book , because she knew how it felt . = = = Marriage , divorce , and single parenthood = = = An advert in The Guardian led Rowling to move to Porto , Portugal , to teach English as a foreign language . She taught at night and began writing in the day while listening to Tchaikovsky 's Violin Concerto . After 18 months in Porto , she met Portuguese television journalist Jorge Arantes in a bar and found they shared an interest in Jane Austen . They married on 16 October 1992 and their child , Jessica Isabel Rowling Arantes ( named after Jessica Mitford ) , was born on 27 July 1993 in Portugal . Rowling had previously suffered a miscarriage . The couple separated on 17 November 1993 . Biographers have suggested that Rowling suffered domestic abuse during her marriage , although the full extent is unknown . In December 1993 , Rowling and her then @-@ infant daughter moved to Edinburgh , Scotland , to be near Rowling 's sister with three chapters of what would become Harry Potter in her suitcase . Seven years after graduating from university , Rowling saw herself as a failure . Her marriage had failed , and she was jobless with a dependent child , but she described her failure as liberating and allowing her to focus on writing . During this period , Rowling was diagnosed with clinical depression and contemplated suicide . Her illness inspired the characters known as Dementors , soul @-@ sucking creatures introduced in the third book . Rowling signed up for welfare benefits , describing her economic status as being " poor as it is possible to be in modern Britain , without being homeless . " Rowling was left in despair after her estranged husband arrived in Scotland , seeking both her and her daughter . She obtained an Order of Restraint , and Arantes returned to Portugal , with Rowling filing for divorce in August 1994 . She began a teacher training course in August 1995 at the Moray House School of Education , at Edinburgh University , after completing her first novel while living on State benefits . She wrote in many cafés , especially Nicolson 's Café ( owned by her brother @-@ in @-@ law , Roger Moore ) , and the Elephant House , wherever she could get Jessica to fall asleep . In a 2001 BBC interview , Rowling denied the rumour that she wrote in local cafés to escape from her unheated flat , pointing out that it had heating . One of the reasons she wrote in cafés was that taking her baby out for a walk was the best way to make her fall asleep . = = = Harry Potter = = = In 1995 , Rowling finished her manuscript for Harry Potter and the Philosopher 's Stone on an old manual typewriter . Upon the enthusiastic response of Bryony Evens , a reader who had been asked to review the book 's first three chapters , the Fulham @-@ based Christopher Little Literary Agents agreed to represent Rowling in her quest for a publisher . The book was submitted to twelve publishing houses , all of which rejected the manuscript . A year later she was finally given the green light ( and a £ 1500 advance ) by editor Barry Cunningham from Bloomsbury , a publishing house in London . The decision to publish Rowling 's book owes much to Alice Newton , the eight @-@ year @-@ old daughter of Bloomsbury 's chairman , who was given the first chapter to review by her father and immediately demanded the next . Although Bloomsbury agreed to publish the book , Cunningham says that he advised Rowling to get a day job , since she had little chance of making money in children 's books . Soon after , in 1997 , Rowling received an £ 8000 grant from the Scottish Arts Council to enable her to continue writing . In June 1997 , Bloomsbury published Philosopher 's Stone with an initial print run of 1 @,@ 000 copies , 500 of which were distributed to libraries . Today , such copies are valued between £ 16 @,@ 000 and £ 25 @,@ 000 . Five months later , the book won its first award , a Nestlé Smarties Book Prize . In February , the novel won the British Book Award for Children 's Book of the Year , and later , the Children 's Book Award . In early 1998 , an auction was held in the United States for the rights to publish the novel , and was won by Scholastic Inc . , for US $ 105 @,@ 000 . Rowling said that she " nearly died " when she heard the news . In October 1998 , Scholastic published Philosopher 's Stone in the US under the title of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer 's Stone , a change Rowling says she now regrets and would have fought if she had been in a better position at the time . Rowling moved from her flat with the money from the Scholastic sale , into 19 Hazelbank Terrace in Edinburgh . Its sequel , Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets , was published in July 1998 and again Rowling won the Smarties Prize . In December 1999 , the third novel , Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban , won the Smarties Prize , making Rowling the first person to win the award three times running . She later withdrew the fourth Harry Potter novel from contention to allow other books a fair chance . In January 2000 , Prisoner of Azkaban won the inaugural Whitbread Children 's Book of the Year award , though it lost the Book of the Year prize to Seamus Heaney 's translation of Beowulf . The fourth book , Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire , was released simultaneously in the UK and the US on 8 July 2000 and broke sales records in both countries . 372 @,@ 775 copies of the book were sold in its first day in the UK , almost equalling the number Prisoner of Azkaban sold during its first year . In the US , the book sold three million copies in its first 48 hours , smashing all records . Rowling said that she had had a crisis while writing the novel and had to rewrite one chapter many times to fix a problem with the plot . Rowling was named Author of the Year in the 2000 British Book Awards . A wait of three years occurred between the release of Goblet of Fire and the fifth Harry Potter novel , Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix . This gap led to press speculation that Rowling had developed writer 's block , speculations she denied . Rowling later said that writing the book was a chore , that it could have been shorter , and that she ran out of time and energy as she tried to finish it . The sixth book , Harry Potter and the Half @-@ Blood Prince , was released on 16 July 2005 . It too broke all sales records , selling nine million copies in its first 24 hours of release . In 2006 , Half @-@ Blood Prince received the Book of the Year prize at the British Book Awards . The title of the seventh and final Harry Potter book was announced on 21 December 2006 as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows . In February 2007 it was reported that Rowling wrote on a bust in her hotel room at the Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh that she had finished the seventh book in that room on 11 January 2007 . Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was released on 21 July 2007 ( 0 : 01 BST ) and broke its predecessor 's record as the fastest @-@ selling book of all time . It sold 11 million copies in the first day of release in the United Kingdom and United States . The book 's last chapter was one of the earliest things she wrote in the entire series . Harry Potter is now a global brand worth an estimated US $ 15 billion , and the last four Harry Potter books have consecutively set records as the fastest @-@ selling books in history . The series , totalling 4 @,@ 195 pages , has been translated , in whole or in part , into 65 languages . The Harry Potter books have also gained recognition for sparking an interest in reading among the young at a time when children were thought to be abandoning books for computers and television , although it is reported that despite the huge uptake of the books , adolescent reading has continued to decline . = = = Harry Potter films = = = In October 1998 , Warner Bros. purchased the film rights to the first two novels for a seven @-@ figure sum . A film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher 's Stone was released on 16 November 2001 , and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets on 15 November 2002 . Both films were directed by Chris Columbus . The film version of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was released on 4 June 2004 , directed by Alfonso Cuarón . The fourth film , Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire , was directed by Mike Newell , and released on 18 November 2005 . The film of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was released on 11 July 2007 . David Yates directed , and Michael Goldenberg wrote the screenplay , having taken over the position from Steve Kloves . Harry Potter and the Half @-@ Blood Prince was released on 15 July 2009 . David Yates directed again , and Kloves returned to write the script . Warner Bros. filmed the final instalment of the series , Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows , in two segments , with part one being released on 19 November 2010 and part two being released on 15 July 2011 . Yates directed both films . Warner Bros. took considerable notice of Rowling 's desires and thoughts when drafting her contract . One of her principal stipulations was the films be shot in Britain with an all @-@ British cast , which has been generally adhered to . Rowling also demanded that Coca @-@ Cola , the victor in the race to tie in their products to the film series , donate US $ 18 million to the American charity Reading is Fundamental , as well as several community charity programs . The first four , sixth and seventh films were scripted by Steve Kloves ; Rowling assisted him in the writing process , ensuring that his scripts did not contradict future books in the series . She told Alan Rickman ( Severus Snape ) and Robbie Coltrane ( Hagrid ) certain secrets about their characters before they were revealed in the books . Daniel Radcliffe ( Harry Potter ) asked her if Harry died at any point in the series ; Rowling answered him by saying , " You have a death scene " , thereby not explicitly answering the question . Director Steven Spielberg was approached to direct the first film , but dropped out . The press has repeatedly claimed that Rowling played a role in his departure , but Rowling stated that she had no say in who directed the films and would not have vetoed Spielberg . Rowling 's first choice for the director had been Monty Python member Terry Gilliam , but Warner Bros. wanted a family @-@ friendly film and chose Columbus . Rowling had gained some creative control on the films , reviewing all the scripts as well as acting as a producer on the final two @-@ part instalment , Deathly Hallows . Rowling , producers David Heyman and David Barron , along with directors David Yates , Mike Newell and Alfonso Cuarón collected the Michael Balcon Award for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema at the 2011 British Academy Film Awards in honour of the Harry Potter film franchise . In September 2013 , Warner Bros. announced an " expanded creative partnership " with Rowling , based on a planned series of films about Newt Scamander , author of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them . The first film will be scripted by Rowling , and be set roughly 70 years before the events of the main series . In 2014 , it was announced that the series would consist of three films . = = = Financial success = = = In 2004 , Forbes named Rowling as the first person to become a U.S.-dollar billionaire by writing books , the second @-@ richest female entertainer and the 1,062nd richest person in the world . Rowling disputed the calculations and said she had plenty of money , but was not a billionaire . The 2008 Sunday Times Rich List named Rowling the 144th richest person in Britain . In 2012 , Forbes removed Rowling from their rich list , claiming that her US $ 160 million in charitable donations and the high tax rate in the UK meant she was no longer a billionaire . In February 2013 she was assessed as the 13th most powerful woman in the United Kingdom by Woman 's Hour on BBC Radio 4 . In 2001 , Rowling purchased a 19th @-@ century estate house , Killiechassie House , on the banks of the River Tay , near Aberfeldy , in Perth and Kinross . Rowling also owns a £ 4 @.@ 5 million Georgian house in Kensington , West London , on a street with 24 @-@ hour security . = = = Remarriage and family = = = On 26 December 2001 , Rowling married Neil Michael Murray ( born 30 June 1971 ) , an anaesthetist , in a private ceremony at her home , Killiechassie House , near Aberfeldy . Their son , David Gordon Rowling Murray , was born on 24 March 2003 . Shortly after Rowling began writing Harry Potter and the Half @-@ Blood Prince , she ceased working on the novel to care for David in his early infancy . Rowling is a friend of Sarah Brown , wife of former prime minister Gordon Brown , whom she met when they collaborated on a charitable project . When Sarah Brown 's son Fraser was born in 2003 , Rowling was one of the first to visit her in hospital . Rowling 's youngest child , daughter Mackenzie Jean Rowling Murray , to whom she dedicated Harry Potter and the Half @-@ Blood Prince , was born on 23 January 2005 . In October 2012 , a New Yorker magazine article stated that the Rowling family lived in a seventeenth @-@ century Edinburgh house , concealed at the front by tall conifer hedges . Prior to October 2012 , Rowling lived near the author Ian Rankin , who later said she was quiet and introspective , and that she seemed in her element with children . As of June 2014 , the family resides in Scotland . = = = The Casual Vacancy = = = In July 2011 , Rowling parted company with her agent , Christopher Little , moving to a new agency founded by one of his staff , Neil Blair . On 23 February 2012 , Rowling 's new agency , the Blair Partnership , announced on its website that Rowling was set to publish a new book targeted at adults . In a press release , Rowling said that her new book would be quite different from Harry Potter . In April 2012 , Little , Brown and Company announced that the book was entitled The Casual Vacancy and would be released on 27 September 2012 . Rowling gave several interviews and made appearances to promote The Casual Vacancy , including at the London Southbank Centre , the Cheltenham Literature Festival , Charlie Rose and the Lennoxlove Book Festival . In its first three weeks of release , The Casual Vacancy sold over 1 million copies worldwide . On 3 December 2012 , it was announced that the BBC would be adapting The Casual Vacancy into a television drama miniseries . Rowling 's agent , Neil Blair acted as producer , through his independent production company and with Rick Senat serving as executive producer . Rowling collaborated on the adaptation , serving as an executive producer for the series . The series aired in three parts from 15 February to 1 March 2015 . = = = Cormoran Strike = = = Over the years , Rowling often spoke of writing a crime novel . In 2007 , during the Edinburgh Book Festival , author Ian Rankin claimed that his wife spotted Rowling " scribbling away " at a detective novel in a café . Rankin later retracted the story , claiming it was a joke , but the rumour persisted , with a report in 2012 in The Guardian speculating that Rowling 's next book would be a crime novel . In an interview with Stephen Fry in 2005 , Rowling claimed that she would much prefer to write any subsequent books under a pseudonym , but she conceded to Jeremy Paxman in 2003 that if she did , the press would probably " find out in seconds " . In April 2013 , Little Brown published The Cuckoo 's Calling , the purported début novel of author Robert Galbraith , who the publisher described as " a former plainclothes Royal Military Police investigator who had left in 2003 to work in the civilian security industry " . The novel , a detective story in which private investigator Cormoran Strike unravels the supposed suicide of a supermodel , sold 1500 copies in hardback ( although the matter was not resolved as of 21 July 2013 ; later reports stated that this number is the number of copies that were printed for the first run , while the sales total was closer to 500 ) and received acclaim from other crime writers and critics — a Publishers Weekly review called the book a " stellar debut " , while the Library Journal 's mystery section pronounced the novel " the debut of the month " . India Knight , a novelist and columnist for the Sunday Times , tweeted on 9 July 2013 that she had been reading The Cuckoo 's Calling and thought it was good for a début novel . In response , a tweeter called Jude Callegari said that the author was Rowling . Knight queried this but got no further reply . Knight notified Richard Brooks , arts editor of the Sunday Times , who began his own investigation . After discovering that Rowling and Galbraith had the same agent and editor , he sent the books for linguistic analysis which found similarities , and subsequently contacted Rowling 's agent who confirmed it was Rowling 's pseudonym . Within days of Rowling being revealed as the author , sales of the book rose by 4000 percent , and Little Brown printed another 140 @,@ 000 copies to meet the increase in demand . As of 18 June 2013 , a signed copy of the first edition sold for US $ 4 @,@ 453 ( £ 2 @,@ 950 ) , while an unsold signed first @-@ edition copy was being offered for $ 6 @,@ 188 ( £ 3 @,@ 950 ) . Rowling said that she had enjoyed working under a pseudonym . On her Robert Galbraith website , Rowling explained that she took the name from one of her personal heroes , Robert Kennedy , and a childhood fantasy name she had invented for herself , Ella Galbraith . Soon after the revelation , Brooks pondered whether Jude Callegari could have been Rowling as part of wider speculation that the entire affair had been a publicity stunt . Some also noted that many of the writers who had initially praised the book , such as Alex Gray or Val McDermid , were within Rowling 's circle of acquaintances ; both vociferously denied any foreknowledge of Rowling 's authorship . Judith " Jude " Callegari was the best friend of the wife of Chris Gossage , a partner within Russells Solicitors , Rowling 's legal representatives . Rowling released a statement saying she was disappointed and angry ; Russells apologised for the leak , confirming it was not part of a marketing stunt and that " the disclosure was made in confidence to someone he [ Gossage ] trusted implicitly " . Russells made a donation to the Soldiers ' Charity on Rowling 's behalf and reimbursed her for her legal fees . On 26 November 2013 the Solicitors Regulation Authority ( SRA ) issued Gossage a written rebuke and £ 1000 fine for breaching privacy rules . On 17 February 2014 , Rowling announced that the second Cormoran Strike novel , named The Silkworm , would be released in June 2014 . It sees Strike investigating the disappearance of a writer hated by many of his old friends for insulting them in his new novel . In 2015 , Rowling stated on Galbraith 's website that the third Cormoran Strike novel would include " an insane amount of planning , the most I have done for any book I have written so far . I have colour @-@ coded spreadsheets so I can keep a track of where I am going . " On 24 April 2015 , Rowling announced that work on the third book was completed . Titled Career of Evil , it was released on 20 October 2015 in the United States , and on 22 October 2015 in the United Kingdom . = = = Subsequent Harry Potter publications = = = Rowling has said it is unlikely she will write any more books in the Harry Potter series . In October 2007 she stated that her future work was unlikely to be in the fantasy genre . On 1 October 2010 , in an interview with Oprah Winfrey , Rowling stated a new book on the saga might happen . In 2007 , Rowling stated that she planned to write an encyclopaedia of Harry Potter 's wizarding world consisting of various unpublished material and notes . Any profits from such a book would be given to charity . During a news conference at Hollywood 's Kodak Theatre in 2007 , Rowling , when asked how the encyclopaedia was coming along , said , " It 's not coming along , and I haven 't started writing it . I never said it was the next thing I 'd do . " At the end of 2007 , Rowling said that the encyclopaedia could take up to ten years to complete . In June 2011 , Rowling announced that future Harry Potter projects , and all electronic downloads , would be concentrated in a new website , called Pottermore . The site includes 18 @,@ 000 words of information on characters , places and objects in the Harry Potter universe . In October 2015 , Rowling announced via Pottermore , that a two part play she has co @-@ authored with playwrights Jack Thorne and John Tiffany , Harry Potter and the Cursed Child , was the ' eighth Harry Potter story ' and that it would focus on the life of Harry 's Potter 's youngest son Albus after the epilogue of the Deathly Hallows . On 28 October 2015 , the first round of tickets went on sale and sold out in several hours . = = Philanthropy = = In 2000 , Rowling established the Volant Charitable Trust , which uses its annual budget of £ 5 @.@ 1 million to combat poverty and social inequality . The fund also gives to organisations that aid children , one parent families , and multiple sclerosis research . = = = Anti @-@ poverty and children 's welfare = = = Rowling , once a single parent , is now president of the charity Gingerbread ( originally One Parent Families ) , having become their first Ambassador in 2000 . Rowling collaborated with Sarah Brown to write a book of children 's stories to aid One Parent Families . In 2001 , the UK anti @-@ poverty fundraiser Comic Relief asked three best @-@ selling British authors – cookery writer and TV presenter Delia Smith , Bridget Jones creator Helen Fielding , and Rowling – to submit booklets related to their most famous works for publication . Rowling 's two booklets , Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Quidditch Through the Ages , are ostensibly facsimiles of books found in the Hogwarts library . Since going on sale in March 2001 , the books have raised £ 15 @.@ 7 million for the fund . The £ 10 @.@ 8 million they have raised outside the UK have been channelled into a newly created International Fund for Children and Young People in Crisis . In 2002 Rowling contributed a foreword to Magic , an anthology of fiction published by Bloomsbury Publishing , helping to raise money for the National Council for One Parent Families . In 2005 , Rowling and MEP Emma Nicholson founded the Children 's High Level Group ( now Lumos ) . In January 2006 , Rowling went to Bucharest to highlight the use of caged beds in mental institutions for children . To further support the CHLG , Rowling auctioned one of seven handwritten and illustrated copies of The Tales of Beedle the Bard , a series of fairy tales referred to in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows . The book was purchased for £ 1 @.@ 95 million by on @-@ line bookseller Amazon.com on 13 December 2007 , becoming the most expensive modern book ever sold at auction . Rowling gave away the remaining six copies to those who have a close connection with the Harry Potter books . In 2008 , Rowling agreed to publish the book with the proceeds going to Lumos . On 1 June 2010 ( International Children 's Day ) , Lumos launched an annual initiative – Light a Birthday Candle for Lumos . In November 2013 , Rowling handed over all earnings from the sale of The Tales of Beedle the Bard , totalling nearly £ 19 million . In July 2012 , Rowling was featured at the 2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony in London where she read a few lines from J.M. Barrie 's Peter Pan as part of a tribute to Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children . An inflatable representation of Lord Voldemort and other children 's literary characters accompanied her reading . = = = Multiple sclerosis = = = Rowling has contributed money and support for research and treatment of multiple sclerosis , from which her mother suffered before her death in 1990 . In 2006 , Rowling contributed a substantial sum toward the creation of a new Centre for Regenerative Medicine at Edinburgh University , later named the Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic . In 2010 she donated a further £ 10 million to the centre . For reasons unknown , Scotland , Rowling 's country of adoption , has the highest rate of multiple sclerosis in the world . In 2003 , Rowling took part in a campaign to establish a national standard of care for MS sufferers . In April 2009 , she announced that she was withdrawing her support for Multiple Sclerosis Society Scotland , citing her inability to resolve an ongoing feud between the organisation 's northern and southern branches that had sapped morale and led to several resignations . = = = Other philanthropic work = = = In May 2008 , bookseller Waterstones asked Rowling and 12 other writers ( Sebastian Faulks , Doris Lessing , Lisa Appignanesi , Margaret Atwood , Lauren Child , Richard Ford , Neil Gaiman , Nick Hornby , Michael Rosen , Axel Scheffler , Tom Stoppard and Irvine Welsh ) to compose a short piece of their own choosing on a single A5 card , which would then be sold at auction in aid of the charities Dyslexia Action and English PEN . Rowling 's contribution was an 800 @-@ word Harry Potter prequel that concerns Harry 's father , James Potter , and godfather , Sirius Black , and takes place three years before Harry was born . The cards were collated and sold for charity in book form in August 2008 . On 1 and 2 August 2006 , she read alongside Stephen King and John Irving at Radio City Music Hall in New York City . Profits from the event were donated to the Haven Foundation , a charity that aids artists and performers left uninsurable and unable to work , and the medical NGO Médecins Sans Frontières . In May 2007 , Rowling pledged a donation reported as over £ 250 @,@ 000 to a reward fund started by the tabloid News of the World for the safe return of a young British girl , Madeleine McCann , who disappeared in Portugal . Rowling , along with Nelson Mandela , Al Gore , and Alan Greenspan , wrote an introduction to a collection of Gordon Brown 's speeches , the proceeds of which were donated to the Jennifer Brown Research Laboratory . After her exposure as the true author of The Cuckoo 's Calling led a massive increase in sales , Rowling announced she would donate all her royalties to the Army Benevolent Fund , claiming she had always intended to , but never expected the book to be a bestseller . Rowling is a supporter of The Shannon Trust , which runs the Toe by Toe Reading Plan and the Shannon Reading Plan in prisons across Britain , helping and giving tutoring to prisoners who cannot read . = = Influences = = Rowling has named communist and civil rights activist Jessica Mitford as her " most influential writer " saying , " Jessica Mitford has been my heroine since I was 14 years old , when I overheard my formidable great @-@ aunt discussing how Mitford had run away at the age of 19 to fight with the Reds in the Spanish Civil War " , and claims what inspired her about Mitford was that she was " incurably and instinctively rebellious , brave , adventurous , funny and irreverent , she liked nothing better than a good fight , preferably against a pompous and hypocritical target " . Rowling has described Jane Austen as her favourite author , calling Emma her favourite book in O magazine . As a child , Rowling has said her early influences included The Lion , The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis , The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge , and Manxmouse by Paul Gallico . = = Views = = = = = Politics = = = In September 2008 , on the eve of the Labour Party Conference , Rowling announced that she had donated £ 1 million to the Labour Party , and publicly endorsed Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown over Conservative challenger David Cameron , praising Labour 's policies on child poverty . Rowling is a close friend of Sarah Brown , wife of Gordon Brown , whom she met when they collaborated on a charitable project for One Parent Families . Rowling discussed the 2008 United States presidential election with the Spanish @-@ language newspaper El País in February 2008 , stating that the election would have a profound effect on the rest of the world . She also said that Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton would be " extraordinary " in the White House . In the same interview , Rowling identified Robert F. Kennedy as her hero . In April 2010 , Rowling published an article in The Times , in which she criticised Cameron 's plan to encourage married couples to stay together by offering them a £ 150 annual tax credit : " Nobody who has ever experienced the reality of poverty could say ' it 's not the money , it 's the message ' . When your flat has been broken into , and you cannot afford a locksmith , it is the money . When you are two pence short of a tin of baked beans , and your child is hungry , it is the money . When you find yourself contemplating shoplifting to get nappies , it is the money . " As a resident of Scotland , Rowling was eligible to vote in the 2014 referendum on Scottish independence , and campaigned for the " No " vote . She donated £ 1 million to the Better Together anti @-@ independence campaign ( run by her former neighbour Alistair Darling ) , the largest donation it had received at the time . In a blog post , Rowling explained that an open letter from Scottish medical professionals raised problems with First Minister Alex Salmond 's plans for a common research funding . Rowling compared some Scottish Nationalists with the Death Eaters , characters from Harry Potter who are scornful of those without pure blood . On 22 October 2015 a letter was published in The Guardian signed by Rowling ( along with over 150 other figures from arts and politics ) opposing the cultural boycott of Israel , and announcing the creation of a network for dialogue , called Culture for Coexistence . Rowling later explained her position in more detail , saying that although she opposed most of Benjamin Netanyahu 's actions she did not think the cultural boycott would bring about the removal of Israel 's leader or help improve the situation in Israel and Palestine . = = = Religion = = = Over the years , some religious people , particularly Christians , have decried Rowling 's books for supposedly promoting witchcraft . Rowling identifies as a Christian , and attended a Church of Scotland congregation while writing Harry Potter . Her eldest daughter , Jessica , was baptised there . She once said , " I believe in God , not magic . " Early on she felt that if readers knew of her Christian beliefs they would be able to predict her plot line . In 2007 , Rowling described having been brought up in the Church of England . She said she was the only one in her family who regularly went to church . As a student she became annoyed at the " smugness of religious people " and worshipped less often . Later , she started to attend again at a church in Edinburgh . In a 2006 interview with Tatler magazine , Rowling noted that , " like Graham Greene , my faith is sometimes about if my faith will return . It 's important to me . " She has said that she has struggled with doubt , that she believes in an afterlife , and that her faith plays a part in her books . In a 2012 radio interview , she said that she was a member of the Scottish Episcopal Church , a province of the Anglican Communion . = = = Press = = = Rowling has had a difficult relationship with the press . She admits to being " thin @-@ skinned " and dislikes the fickle nature of reporting . Rowling disputes her reputation as a recluse who hates to be interviewed . By 2011 , Rowling had taken more than 50 actions against the press . In 2001 , the Press Complaints Commission upheld a complaint by Rowling over a series of unauthorised photographs of her with her daughter on the beach in Mauritius published in OK ! Magazine . In 2007 , Rowling 's young son , David , assisted by Rowling and her husband , lost a court fight to ban publication of a photograph of him . The photo , taken by a photographer using a long @-@ range lens , was subsequently published in a Sunday Express article featuring Rowling 's family life and motherhood . The judgement was overturned in David 's favour in May 2008 . Rowling particularly dislikes the British tabloid the Daily Mail , which has conducted interviews with her estranged ex @-@ husband . As one journalist noted , " Harry 's Uncle Vernon is a grotesque philistine of violent tendencies and remarkably little brain . It is not difficult to guess which newspaper Rowling gives him to read [ in Goblet of Fire ] . " As of January 2014 , she was seeking damages from the Mail for libel over an article about her time as a single mother . Some have speculated that Rowling 's fraught relationship with the press was the inspiration behind the character Rita Skeeter , a gossipy celebrity journalist who first appears in Goblet of Fire , but Rowling noted in 2000 that the character predates her rise to fame . In September 2011 , Rowling was named a " core participant " in the Leveson Inquiry into the culture , practices and ethics of the British press , as one of dozens of celebrities who may have been the victim of phone hacking . On 24 November 2011 , Rowling gave evidence before the inquiry ; although she was not suspected to have been the victim of phone hacking , her testimony included accounts of photographers camping on her doorstep , her fiancé being duped into giving his home address to a journalist masquerading as a tax official , her chasing a journalist a week after giving birth , a journalist leaving a note inside her then @-@ five @-@ year @-@ old daughter 's schoolbag , and an attempt by the Sun to " blackmail " her into a photo opportunity in exchange for the return of a stolen manuscript . Rowling claimed she had to leave her former home in Merchiston because of press intrusion . In November 2012 , Rowling wrote an article for The Guardian in reaction to David Cameron 's decision not to implement the full recommendations of the Leveson inquiry , saying she felt " duped and angry " . In 2014 , Rowling reaffirmed her support for " Hacked Off " and its campaign towards press self @-@ regulation by co @-@ signing with other British celebrities a declaration to " [ safeguard ] the press from political interference while also giving vital protection to the vulnerable . " = = Legal disputes = = Rowling , her publishers , and Time Warner , the owner of the rights to the Harry Potter films , have taken numerous legal actions to protect their copyright . The worldwide popularity of the Harry Potter series has led to the appearance of a number of locally produced , unauthorised sequels and other derivative works , sparking efforts to ban or contain them . Another area of legal dispute involves a series of injunctions obtained by Rowling and her publishers to prohibit anyone from reading her books before their official release date . The injunction drew fire from civil liberties and free speech campaigners and sparked debates over the " right to read " . = = Awards and honours = = Rowling has received honorary degrees from St Andrews University , the University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh Napier University , the University of Exeter , the University of Aberdeen and Harvard University , for whom she spoke at the 2008 commencement ceremony . In 2009 Rowling was made a Chevalier de la Légion d 'honneur by French President Nicolas Sarkozy . Other awards include : 1997 : Nestlé Smarties Book Prize , Gold Award for Harry Potter and the Philosopher 's Stone 1998 : Nestlé Smarties Book Prize , Gold Award for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets 1998 : British Children 's Book of the Year , winner Harry Potter and the Philosopher 's Stone 1999 : Nestlé Smarties Book Prize , Gold Award for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban 1999 : National Book Awards Children 's Book of the Year , winner Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets 1999 : Whitbread Children 's Book of the Year , winner Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban 2000 : British Book Awards , Author of the Year 2000 : Officer of the Order of the British Empire , for services to Children 's literature 2000 : Locus Award , winner Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban 2001 : Hugo Award for Best Novel , winner Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire 2003 : Premio Príncipe de Asturias , Concord 2003 : Bram Stoker Award for Best Work for Young Readers , winner Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix 2006 : British Book of the Year , winner for Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince 2007 : Blue Peter Badge , Gold 2007 : Named Barbara Walters ' Most Fascinating Person of the year 2008 : British Book Awards , Outstanding Achievement 2010 : Hans Christian Andersen Literature Award , inaugural award winner 2011 : British Academy Film Awards , Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema for the Harry Potter film series , shared with David Heyman , cast and crew 2012 : Freedom of the City of London = = Publications = = = = = Children = = = = = = = Harry Potter series = = = = Harry Potter and the Philosopher 's Stone ( 26 June 1997 ) Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets ( 2 July 1998 ) Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban ( 8 July 1999 ) Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire ( 8 July 2000 ) Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix ( 21 June 2003 ) Harry Potter and the Half @-@ Blood Prince ( 16 July 2005 ) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows ( 21 July 2007 ) = = = = Related works = = = = Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them ( supplement to the Harry Potter series ) ( 1 March 2001 ) Quidditch Through the Ages ( supplement to the Harry Potter series ) ( 1 March 2001 ) The Tales of Beedle the Bard ( supplement to the Harry Potter series ) ( 4 December 2008 ) Harry Potter and the Cursed Child ( story concept ) ( play written by Jack Thorne ) ( 31 July 2016 ) Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them ( film script ) ( 19 November 2016 ) = = = = Short stories = = = = Harry Potter prequel ( July 2008 ) = = = Adults = = = The Casual Vacancy ( 27 September 2012 ) = = = = Cormoran Strike series = = = = The Cuckoo 's Calling ( as Robert Galbraith ) ( 18 April 2013 ) The Silkworm ( as Robert Galbraith ) ( 19 June 2014 ) Career of Evil ( as Robert Galbraith ) ( 20 October 2015 ) = = = Other = = = = = = = Non @-@ fiction = = = = McNeil , Gil and Brown , Sarah , editors ( 2002 ) . Foreword to the anthology Magic . Bloomsbury . Brown , Gordon ( 2006 ) . Introduction to " Ending Child Poverty " in Moving Britain Forward . Selected Speeches 1997 – 2006 . Bloomsbury . Sussman , Peter Y. , editor ( 26 July 2006 ) . " The First It Girl : J. K. Rowling reviews Decca : the Letters by Jessica Mitford " . The Daily Telegraph . Anelli , Melissa ( 2008 ) . Foreword to Harry , A History . Pocket Books . Rowling , J. K. ( 5 June 2008 ) . " The Fringe Benefits of Failure , and the Importance of Imagination " . Harvard Magazine . J. K. Rowling , Very Good Lives : The Fringe Benefits of Failure and Importance of Imagination , illustrated by Joel Holland , Sphere , 14 April 2015 , 80 pages ( ISBN 978 @-@ 1 @-@ 4087 @-@ 0678 @-@ 7 ) . Rowling , J. K. ( 30 April 2009 ) . " Gordon Brown – The 2009 Time 100 " . Time magazine . Rowling , J. K. ( 14 April 2010 ) . " The Single Mother 's Manifesto " . The Times . Rowling , J. K. ( 30 November 2012 ) . " I feel duped and angry at David Cameron 's reaction to Leveson " . The Guardian . Rowling , J. K. ( 17 December 2014 ) . Isn ’ t it time we left orphanages to fairytales ? The Guardian . Rowling , J. K. ( guest editor ) ( 28 April 2014 ) . " Woman 's Hour Takeover " . Woman 's Hour , BBC Radio 4 .
= Dookie = Dookie is the third studio album by the American punk rock band Green Day , released on February 1 , 1994 , through Reprise Records . It was the band 's first collaboration with producer Rob Cavallo and its major record label debut . Dookie became a worldwide commercial success , peaking at No. 2 on the US Billboard 200 and charting in seven countries . The album helped propel Green Day , and even punk rock music into mainstream popularity . Dookie was certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America for the shipment of 10 million copies . Dookie produced five hit singles for the band : " Longview " , " When I Come Around " , " Basket Case " , a re @-@ recorded version of " Welcome to Paradise " and the radio @-@ only single " She " . The album has garnered considerable acclaim , from its release to present day , winning a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album in 1995 and being ranked No. 193 on Rolling Stone 's list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time . As of 2014 , Dookie is the band 's best @-@ selling album with more than 20 million copies sold worldwide . = = Background and recording = = Following the underground success of the band 's second studio album Kerplunk ( 1992 ) , a number of major record labels became interested in Green Day . Representatives of these labels attempted to entice the band to sign by inviting them for meals to discuss a deal , with one manager even inviting the group to Disneyland . The band declined these advances until meeting producer and Reprise representative Rob Cavallo . They were impressed by his work with fellow Californian band The Muffs , and later remarked that Cavallo " was the only person we could really talk to and connect with " . Eventually , the band left their independent record label Lookout ! Records on friendly terms , and signed to Reprise . Signing to a major label caused many of the band 's original fans from the independent music club 924 Gilman Street to regard Green Day as sell @-@ outs . The club has banned Green Day from entering since the major label signing . Reflecting back on the period , lead vocalist Billie Joe Armstrong told Spin magazine in 1999 , " I couldn 't go back to the punk scene , whether we were the biggest success in the world or the biggest failure [ ... ] The only thing I could do was get on my bike and go forward . " Cavallo was chosen as the main producer of the album , with Jerry Finn as the mixer . Green Day originally gave the first demo tape to Cavallo , and after listening to it during the car ride home he sensed that " [ he ] had stumbled on something big . " The band 's recording session lasted three weeks and the album was remixed twice . Armstrong claimed that the band wanted to create a dry sound , " similar to the Sex Pistols ' album or first Black Sabbath albums . " The band felt the original mix to be unsatisfactory . Cavallo agreed , and it was remixed at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley , California . Armstrong later said of their studio experience , " Everything was already written , all we had to do was play it . " = = Writing and composition = = Much of the album 's content was written by Armstrong , except " Emenius Sleepus " written by bassist Mike Dirnt , and the hidden track , " All by Myself " , which was composed and written by drummer Tré Cool . The album touched upon various experiences of the band members and included subjects like anxiety and panic attacks , masturbation , sexual orientation , boredom , mass murder , divorce , and ex @-@ girlfriends . The single " Longview " had a signature bass line that bassist Dirnt wrote while under the influence of LSD . He originally forgot much of it , but the remembered portions were included in the song . Armstrong stated that the song was mainly about boredom , masturbation , and smoking cannabis , as evident in some of the lyrics ( " When masturbation 's lost its fun / You 're fucking lonely " , inaccurately quoted as " You 're fucking breaking " in the liner notes ) . " Welcome to Paradise " , the second single from Dookie , was originally on the band 's second studio album , Kerplunk . The song was re @-@ recorded with a less grainy sound for Dookie . The song never had an official music video ; however , a certain live performance of the song is often associated as a music video . The video is located on Green Day 's official website . The hit single " Basket Case " , which appeared on many singles charts worldwide , was also inspired by Armstrong 's personal experiences . The song deals with Armstrong 's anxiety attacks and feelings of " going crazy " prior to being diagnosed with a panic disorder . In the third verse , " Basket Case " references soliciting a male prostitute ; Armstrong noted that " I wanted to challenge myself and whoever the listener might be . It 's also looking at the world and saying , ' It 's not as black and white as you think . This isn 't your grandfather 's prostitute – or maybe it was . ' " The music video was filmed in an abandoned mental institution . This is one of the band 's most popular songs . The radio @-@ only single , " She " , was written by Armstrong about a former girlfriend who showed him a feminist poem with an identical title . In return , Armstrong wrote the lyrics of " She " and showed them to her . She later moved to Ecuador , prompting Armstrong to put " She " on the album . The same ex @-@ girlfriend is also the topic of the songs " Sassafras Roots " and " Chump " . The final single , " When I Come Around " , was again inspired by a woman , though this time being about Armstrong 's wife , then former girlfriend , Adrienne . Following a dispute between the couple , Armstrong left Adrienne to spend some time alone . The video featured the three band members walking around Berkeley and San Francisco at night , eventually ending up back at the original location . Future member of Green Day , Jason White , made a cameo in the video with his then @-@ girlfriend . Although not as popular as " Basket Case " , the song was actually more successful in the U.S. being the band 's first top ten single at number 6 on the Hot 100 Airplay chart and staying number 1 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart for 7 weeks or 2 weeks longer than " Basket Case " , it also hit number 2 on both the Mainstream Rock Tracks and the Mainstream Top 40 charts . The song " Coming Clean " deals with Armstrong 's coming to terms with his bisexuality when he was 16 and 17 years old . In his interview with The Advocate magazine , he states that although he has never had a relationship with a man , his sexuality has been " something that comes up as a struggle in me " . Billie Joe Armstrong wrote the song " In the End " about his mother and her husband . He is quoted saying : " That song is about my mother 's husband , it 's not really about a girl , or like anyone directly related to me in a relationship . In the End 's about my mother . " Armstrong also wrote the song " Having a Blast " when he was in Cleveland in 1992 . = = Packaging = = The name of the album is a reference to the band members often suffering from diarrhea , which they referred to as " liquid dookie " , as a result of eating spoiled food while on tour . Initially the band was to name the album Liquid Dookie ; however , this was deemed " too gross " , and so they settled on the name Dookie . Its album artwork caused controversy , which depicts bombs being dropped on people and buildings . In the center , there is an explosion , with the band 's name at the top . Armstrong has since explained the meaning of the artwork : The back cover on early prints of the CD featured a plush toy of Ernie from Sesame Street , which was airbrushed out of later prints for fear of litigation ; however , Canadian and European prints still feature Ernie on the back cover . Some rumors suggest that it was removed because it led parents to think that Dookie was a child 's lullaby album or that the creators of Sesame Street had sued Green Day . = = Release = = Dookie was released on February 1 , 1994 . Upon its release , the album charted in seven countries . It peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 in the United States , and was a success in several other countries , peaking as high as number one in New Zealand ; the lowest peak in any country was in the United Kingdom at number 13 . While all the singles from the album charted in a few countries , the hit single " Basket Case " entered the top 10 in the United Kingdom and Sweden . Later in 1995 , the album received a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album , with " Longview " and " Basket Case " each being nominated for a Grammy . Throughout the 1990s , Dookie continued to sell well , eventually receiving diamond certification in 1999 ; by 2013 , Dookie had sold over 20 million copies worldwide and remains the band 's best @-@ selling album . = = Reception = = Dookie was released to critical acclaim . Bill Lamb at About.com regards it as an album that only gets better with time , calling it " one of the landmark albums of the 1990s " . Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic described Dookie as " a stellar piece of modern punk that many tried to emulate but nobody bettered " . In 1994 , Time claimed Dookie as the third best album of the year , and the best rock album of 1994 . Jon Pareles from The New York Times , in early 1995 , described the sound of Dookie as , " Punk turns into pop in fast , funny , catchy , high @-@ powered songs about whining and channel @-@ surfing ; apathy has rarely sounded so passionate . " Rolling Stone 's Paul Evans described Green Day as " convincing mainly because they 've got punk 's snotty anti @-@ values down cold : blame , self @-@ pity , arrogant self @-@ hatred , humor , narcissism , fun " . Neil Strauss of The New York Times , while complimentary on the album 's overall quality , noted that Dookie 's pop sound only remotely resembled punk music . The band did not respond initially to these comments , but later claimed that they were " just trying to be themselves " and that " it 's our band , we can do whatever we want " . Dirnt claimed that the follow @-@ up album , Insomniac , one of the band 's hardest albums lyrically and musically , was the band releasing their anger at all the criticism from critics and former fans . Along with The Offspring 's Smash , Dookie has been credited for helping bring punk rock back into mainstream music culture . Thomas Nassiff at Fuse cited it as the most important pop punk album . In April 2014 , Rolling Stone placed the album at No. 1 on its " 1994 : The 40 Best Records From Mainstream Alternative 's Greatest Year " list . A month later , Loudwire placed Dookie at No. 1 on its " 10 Best Hard Rock Albums of 1994 " list . Guitar World ranked Dookie at number thirteen in their list " Superunknown : 50 Iconic Albums That Defined 1994 " . = = = Accolades = = = Since its release , Dookie has been featured heavily in various " must have " lists compiled by the music media . Some of the more prominent of these lists to feature Dookie are shown below ; this information is adapted from Acclaimed Music . = = Live performances = = Immediately following the release of Dookie , the band embarked on an international tour , beginning in the United States , for which they used a bookmobile belonging to Tré Cool 's father to travel between shows . An audience of millions saw Green Day 's performance at Woodstock ' 94 on Pay @-@ per @-@ view , helping the band attract more fans . This event was the location of the infamous mud " fight " between the band and the crowd , which continued beyond the end of Green Day 's set . During the fight , Dirnt was mistaken for a fan by a security guard , who tackled him and then threw him against a monitor , causing him to injure his arm and break two of his teeth . The band also appeared at Lollapalooza and the Z100 Acoustic Christmas at Madison Square Garden , where Armstrong performed the song " She " naked . Having toured throughout the United States and Canada , the band played a few shows in Europe before beginning the recording sessions for the subsequent album , Insomniac . During the tour , Armstrong was quite homesick . His wife , Adrienne Armstrong , whom he had married shortly after the release of Dookie , was pregnant during most of the tour , and Armstrong was upset about being unable to help and care for her . In August 2013 , Dookie was played in its entirety at the Brixton Academy in London and at Reading and Leeds Festivals as a celebration of the album 's upcoming 20th anniversary . = = Track listing = = All lyrics written by Billie Joe Armstrong , except where noted . All music composed by Green Day . = = = iTunes edition = = = = = Personnel = = Green Day Billie Joe Armstrong — lead vocals , guitar Mike Dirnt — bass , backing vocals Tré Cool — drums , guitar and lead vocals on " All by Myself " Technical personnel Rob Cavallo ; Green Day — producer , mixing Jerry Finn — mixing Neill King — engineer Casey McCrankin — engineer Richie Bucher — cover artist Ken Schles – photography Pat Hynes – booklet artwork = = Chart positions = = = = = Album = = = = = = = End of decade charts = = = = = = = Singles = = =
= Abbotsford Bridge = Abbotsford Bridge is a steel Allan truss @-@ type bridge spanning the Murray River between Curlwaa , New South Wales , and Yelta , Victoria . It is the only remaining steel truss bridge with a lift span that crosses the Murray . It was also the second last lift span bridge to be built along the river after the Nyah Bridge opened in 1941 . It was built in 1928 by the New South Wales ( NSW ) Department of Public Works and was designed by Percy Allan . The bridge was originally planned to carry the Mildura railway line over the Murray River and into New South Wales , though the line was never extended to the bridge . The bridge currently carries a single lane of road controlled by traffic lights . Abbotsford bridge was built largely to service significant cross @-@ border traffic relating to the fruit production industry . It was constructed over a three @-@ year period from 1925 onwards ; but was not originally planned to take so long to build , as there were delays due to problems with a contractor and industrial action . In 1931 , there was a major accident at the bridge when a paddle steamer clipped the lift span , tearing apart the upper deck of the boat . = = Description = = Abbotsford Bridge is a steel Allan truss bridge that is about 240 m ( 790 ft ) in length . The bridge also contains a single lift span about 20 m ( 66 ft ) in length ; this span is still in working order . It is two lanes wide through most of its length , though the lift span is only capable of carrying a single lane . The entire bridge has been marked with a single lane and has traffic lights on both ends to control vehicular flow . The bridge was completed in 1928 by the NSW Department of Public Works . The bridge was designed to be able to carry the loads required for a railway ; and although opened as a traffic bridge , it was intended to be converted to allow rail once the Mildura railway line was extended to the bridge . The line was never extended beyond Yelta , where the terminus remains to this day . The location of this bridge was thought of as convenient , as it provided a link to the Sturt Highway without travelling farther upstream to Mildura . It is the only remaining steel truss bridge with a lift span along the river . The bridge was built after the decline in commercial river traffic on the Murray , and was the last lift span bridge of any type to be built over the river . Due to its significance to the local area , it has been listed on the NSW State Heritage Register . = = History = = The nearby town of Wentworth was an important river port from which wool was shipped to the coast , and as such there was a variety of traffic in the area . In the 1890s , irrigated farming greatly expanded in Sunraysia region which is known for its fruit production , and traffic volumes increased further . It was decided to install a punt at this location ( then known as Abbot 's Ford ) . New South Wales and Victoria had signed an agreement towards constructing bridges for railways over the Murray to serve the settlements on the northern side . In 1923 , a report was released that recommended going ahead with the building of four bridges , one of those being the future Abbotsford Bridge . It was said a bridge in this area would benefit Curlwaa , Wentworth , and a proposed irrigation scheme to the north . The cost was estimated at £ 78 @,@ 000 . It had been considered that it might be appropriate to combine these four bridges with locks , but this idea was rejected due to siting concerns . In 1924 , residents of nearby settlements urged construction of the railway line to the proposed bridge site , but they were told this extension of the line was to be delayed . Within that year it was decided that a bridge was to be constructed due to increased traffic volume , and tenders were let for manufacture of the bridge spans , construction of abutments and piles , and transport of materials to the future construction site . Early in 1925 , a foundation pile and some tents could be found at the site of the future bridge . Men in the region were also awaiting employment on the structure , and by the middle of the year unemployment problems were becoming a serious issue . Similarly government debt was increasing , although it was still expected the railway line to Abbotsford Bridge would be completed . In November , construction started and it was expected that the bridge would be opened around 25 September the following year . During May 1926 , the approach road between Wentworth and the bridge was being progressively metalled , but could not be completed in its entirety until construction of the bridge itself was complete . In June , construction was halted due to contract requirements not being met . By February the next year , construction had resumed . On 8 April 25 men working on the bridge went on strike . This was of concern due to time dependent concreting being undertaken at that time . As the construction was considered unemployment relief , the constructing authority began to look for men who would do the work in their places . By 13 April , further details had emerged ; the number of the men on strike was actually 32 , and it had been caused by the alleged wrongful dismissal of three men who had left for their lunch break early . The strike continued until at least 21 April . Work had resumed by early May , and the bridge was reported as being a little over half completed at that time . It was reported in mid @-@ May that construction work was in progress on the last two piers of the bridge , though low river levels meant that staging could not be installed to allow further work on the bridge framework . The estimated time of completion at this point was by the end of the year . It was noted in early September that the extension of the railway from Yelta was expected to occur once the bridge was completed . The bridge was still under construction in January 1928 , and at that time the estimated date of completion was only a month away . The bridge finally opened to traffic on 14 April . The official opening of the bridge by the NSW Governor Dudley de Chair occurred on 10 July , and was celebrated by the a cutting of the ribbon and an opening of the gates at each end of the lift span . In return he was presented with a silver cigarette case . A major accident occurred at the bridge in August 1931 . The paddle steamer E.R.O. struck the lift span of the bridge . The span had not been raised to a high enough level , causing it to clip the top of the steamer 's funnel and rip apart the upper deck . High pressure steam was released during the accident causing some onlookers to believe the boat was on fire . It was at first thought the captain would be found amongst the wreckage of the upper deck , but he had been navigating the boat from the lower deck at that time . The captain displayed considerable skill ; he immediately realised that further raising of the span despite being given the all clear meant it was not quite high enough . And through his actions as the boat progressed downstream caught in the current , he prevented the boat becoming stuck at the bridge . Much like in its early days , the bridge still carries much traffic related to the fruit production industry , especially during picking and harvesting seasons . Bridge lifts are timed to try and avoid traffic delays . The local community considers the bridge inadequate , and feel it now impedes commercial activity .
= Kate Beckinsale = Kathrin Romary " Kate " Beckinsale ( born 26 July 1973 ) is an English actress . After some minor television roles , she made her film debut in Much Ado About Nothing ( 1993 ) while still a student at the University of Oxford . She then appeared in British costume dramas such as Prince of Jutland ( 1994 ) , Cold Comfort Farm ( 1995 ) , Emma ( 1996 ) , and The Golden Bowl ( 2000 ) , in addition to various stage and radio productions . She began to seek film work in the United States in the late 1990s and , after appearing in small @-@ scale dramas The Last Days of Disco ( 1998 ) and Brokedown Palace ( 1999 ) , she had a break @-@ out year in 2001 with starring roles in the war drama Pearl Harbor and the romantic comedy Serendipity . She built on this success with appearances in the Martin Scorcese 's The Aviator ( 2004 ) and the comedy Click ( 2006 ) . Since being cast as Selene in the Underworld film series ( from 2003 to 2017 ) , Beckinsale has become known primarily for her work in action films including Van Helsing ( 2004 ) , Whiteout ( 2009 ) , Contraband ( 2012 ) , and Total Recall ( 2012 ) . She also continues to make appearances in smaller dramatic projects such as Snow Angels ( 2007 ) , Nothing but the Truth ( 2008 ) , and Everybody 's Fine ( 2009 ) . In 2016 , she won acclaim for her role in Whit Stillman 's Jane Austen comedy Love & Friendship . = = Early life and education = = Beckinsale was born in Chiswick , London , England . She is the only child of actor Richard Beckinsale and actress Judy Loe . Her father was of one @-@ quarter Burmese descent . She made her first television appearance at the age of four , in an episode of This is Your Life dedicated to her father . When she was five years old , her 31 @-@ year @-@ old father died suddenly of a heart attack . Beckinsale was deeply traumatised by the loss and " started expecting bad things to happen . " Her widowed mother moved in with director Roy Battersby when Beckinsale was nine and she was brought up alongside his four sons and daughter . She has a close relationship with her step @-@ father , who was a member of the Workers Revolutionary Party during her childhood . Beckinsale helped to sell The News Line , a Trotskyist newspaper , as a child and has said the household phone was tapped following Battersby 's blacklisting by the BBC . Family friends included Ken Loach and Vanessa Redgrave . Beckinsale has a paternal half @-@ sister , actress Samantha Beckinsale , but they have not had regular contact . Beckinsale was educated at Godolphin and Latymer School , an independent school for girls in Hammersmith , West London and was involved with the Orange Tree Youth Theatre . She was a two @-@ time winner of the WH Smith Young Writers Award for both fiction and poetry . She has described herself as a " late bloomer " : " All of my friends were kissing boys and drinking cider way before me . I found it really depressing that we weren 't making camp fires and everyone was doing grown @-@ up stuff . " " I loathed being a teenager . " She had a nervous breakdown and developed anorexia at the age of 15 and underwent Freudian psychoanalysis for four years . Beckinsale read French and Russian literature at New College , Oxford , and was later described by a contemporary , journalist Victoria Coren , as " whip @-@ clever , slightly nuts , and very charming " . She was involved with the Oxford University Dramatic Society , most notably being directed by fellow student Tom Hooper in a production of A View from the Bridge at the Oxford Playhouse . As a Modern Languages student , she was required to spend her third year abroad , and studied in Paris . She then decided to quit university to concentrate on her burgeoning acting career : " It was getting to the point where I wasn 't enjoying either thing enough because both were very high pressure . " = = Acting career = = = = = 1991 – 1997 : Early acting roles = = = Beckinsale decided at a young age that she wanted to be an actress : " I grew up immersed in film . My family were in the business . I quickly realised that my parents seemed to have much more fun in their work than any of my friends ’ parents . " She was inspired by the performances of Jeanne Moreau . She made her television debut in 1991 with a small part in an ITV adaptation of P. D. James ’ Devices and Desires . Also that year , she appeared as a young woman engaging in a forbidden affair with a Nazi officer in the Hallmark film One Against the Wind . In 1992 she starred alongside Christopher Eccleston in Rachel ’ s Dream , a 30 ‑ minute Channel 4 short , and in 1993 , she appeared in the pilot of the ITV detective series , Anna Lee , starring Imogen Stubbs . In 1993 , Beckinsale landed the role of Hero in Kenneth Branagh 's big @-@ screen adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing . It was filmed in Tuscany , Italy , during a summer holiday from Oxford University . She attended the film 's Cannes Film Festival premiere and later remembered it as an overwhelming experience . " Nobody even told me I could bring a friend ! " " I had Doc Martens boots on , and I think I put the flower from the breakfast tray in my hair . " Peter Travers of Rolling Stone was won over by her " lovely " performance while Vincent Canby of the New York Times noted that she and Robert Sean Leonard " look right and behave with a certain naive sincerity , although they often seem numb with surprise at hearing the complex locutions they speak . " The film earned over $ 22 million at the box office . She made three other films while at university . In 1994 , she appeared as Christian Bale 's love interest in Prince of Jutland , a film based on the Danish legend which inspired Shakespeare 's Hamlet , and starred in the murder mystery Uncovered . In 1995 , while studying in Paris , she filmed the French language Marie @-@ Louise Ou La Permission . Shortly after leaving Oxford University in 1995 , Beckinsale starred in Cold Comfort Farm as Flora Poste , a newly orphaned 1930s socialite sent to live with distant family members in rural England . The John Schlesinger @-@ directed film was an adaptation of Stella Gibbons 's novel and also featured Joanna Lumley , Eileen Atkins , Ian McKellen , Rufus Sewell and Stephen Fry . Beckinsale was initially considered too young , but was cast after she wrote a pleading letter to the director . Emanuel Levy of Variety was reminded of " the strength of a young Glenda Jackson and the charm of a young Julie Christie . " Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times classed the actress as " yet another of those effortlessly skilled British beauties who light up the screen . " Janet Maslin of the New York Times felt she played the role " with the perfect snippy aplomb . " The film grossed over $ 5 million at the US box office . Also in 1995 , she appeared in Haunted , a ghost story in which Derek Elley of Variety felt she " holds the screen , with both physical looks and verbal poise . " 1995 also saw Beckinsale 's first professional stage appearance as Nina in The Seagull at Theatre Royal , Bath . She became romantically involved with co @-@ star Michael Sheen after meeting during play rehearsals . " He was the young lion of the theatre . " " I was all revved up to feel very intimidated . It was my first @-@ ever play and my mother had cut out reviews of him in previous productions . And then he walked in ... It was almost like , ' God , well , I 'm finished now . That 's it , then . ' ... He 's the most outrageously talented person I 've ever met . " Irving Wardle of The Independent felt that " the casting , including Michael Sheen 's volcanic Kostya and Kate Beckinsale 's steadily freezing Nina , is mainly spot @-@ on . " In early 1996 , she starred in two further plays ; Sweetheart at the Royal Court Theatre and Clocks and Whistles at the Bush Theatre . Beckinsale next starred in an ITV adaptation of Jane Austen 's Emma , playing Emma to Mark Strong 's Mr Knightley and Samantha Morton 's Harriet Smith . " You shouldn 't necessarily like Emma , " Beckinsale has said of her character . " You do love her , but in the way the family of a teenage girl could be exasperated by her outrageous behaviour and still love her . " The programme was aired in autumn 1996 , just months after Gwyneth Paltrow had starred in a film adaptation of the same story . Caryn James of the New York Times felt that while " Ms. Beckinsale 's Emma is plainer looking than Ms. Paltrow 's , " she is " altogether more believable and funnier . " Jonathan Brown of The Independent has described Beckinsale 's interpretation as " the most enduring modern performance " as Emma . In 1997 , Beckinsale appeared opposite Stuart Townsend in the comedy Shooting Fish , one of the most commercially successful British films of that year . " I 'd just had my wisdom teeth out , " Beckinsale later recalled of the initial audition . " I was also on very strong painkillers , so it was not the most conventional of meetings . " Elley wrote of " an incredibly laid @-@ back performance " while Thomas felt she " just glows as an aristocrat facing disaster with considerable aplomb . " She narrated Austen 's Emma for Hodder & Stoughton AudioBooks and Diana Hendry 's The Proposal for BBC Radio 4 . Also in 1997 , she played Juliet to Michael Sheen 's Romeo in a radio production of Romeo and Juliet , directed by Sheen . = = = 1998 – 2002 : Move to Hollywood = = = At this point in her career , Beckinsale began to seek work in the United States , something she has said wasn 't " a conscious decision ... My boyfriend was in a play on Broadway so that 's why we ended up in New York , and my auditions happened to be for American films . " She starred opposite Chloë Sevigny in 1998 's The Last Days of Disco . The Whit Stillman film focused on a group of Ivy League graduates socializing in the Manhattan disco scene of the early 1980s . Beckinsale 's attempt at an American accent was widely praised . Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times felt her role as the bossy Charlotte was " beautifully played . " Todd McCarthy of Variety was unimpressed by the film but noted that " compensations include Beckinsale , looking incredible in a succession of black dresses , whose character can get on your nerves even if the actress doesn 't . " Her performance earned her a London Critics ' Circle Film Award . The film grossed $ 3 million worldwide . Also that year , she starred as Alice in a Channel 4 production of Through the Looking @-@ Glass . In 1999 , Beckinsale appeared opposite Claire Danes in Brokedown Palace , a drama about two teenage Americans forced to deal with the Thai justice system on a post @-@ graduation trip abroad . A then 26 @-@ year @-@ old Beckinsale played a teenager . Danes had hoped to become friends with Beckinsale during the shoot but found her " complicated " and " prickly . " McCarthy said the leads " confirm their status as two of the young actresses on the scene today most worth watching , " finding Beckinsale " very effective at getting across layered character traits and emotions . " " Danes and Beckinsale are exceptionally talented young actresses , " said Thomas , but " unfortunately , the script 's seriously underdeveloped context defeats their considerable efforts at every turn . " Stephen Holden of The New York Times felt that Beckinsale 's character " never comes into focus . " The film was a box office failure . 2000 's The Golden Bowl marked Beckinsale 's first role following the birth of her daughter . The Merchant / Ivory production was based on the novel by Henry James and also starred Uma Thurman and Jeremy Northam . Beckinsale 's partner , Michael Sheen , hit Northam on the film set after he followed Beckinsale to her trailer to scold her for forgetting a line . Holden noted that " the most satisfying of the four @-@ lead performances belong to the British cast members , Ms. Beckinsale and Mr. Northam , who are better than their American counterparts at layers of emotional concealment , " adding that each beat of Beckinsale 's performance " registers precisely . " Thomas felt her performance would take her to " a new career level . " Andrew Sarris of The New York Observer asserted that she " comes close to capturing the sublimity of Maggie , despite the obvious fact that no movie can capture the elegant copiousness of James ’ prose . " The film grossed over $ 5 million worldwide . Beckinsale rose to fame in 2001 with a leading role in the war film Pearl Harbor as a nurse torn between two pilots , played by Ben Affleck and Josh Hartnett . She was drawn to the project by the script : " It 's so unusual these days to read a script that has those old @-@ fashioned values to it . Not morals , but movie values . It 's a big , sweeping epic .... You just never get the chance to do that . " Director Michael Bay initially had doubts about casting the actress : " I wasn 't sure about her at first ... she wore black leather trousers in her screen test and I thought she was a little nasty ... it was easy to think of this woman as a slut . " He eventually decided to hire her because she wasn 't " too beautiful . Women feel disturbed when they see someone ’ s too pretty . " He asked her to lose weight during filming . In a 2004 interview , the actress noted that his comments were " upsetting " and said she wore leather trousers because " it was snowing out . It wasn 't exactly like I had my nipple rings in . " She felt grateful that she had not had to deal with such criticism at a younger age : " If I had come on to a movie set at [ a younger ] age and someone had said , ' You 're a bit funny @-@ looking , can you go on a diet ? ' — I might have jumped off a building . I just didn 't have the confidence to put that into perspective at the time . " However , speaking in 2011 , she said she was " very fond " of Bay . Pearl Harbor received negative reviews . Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly praised " the avid eyed , ruby lipped Kate Beckinsale , the rare actress whose intelligence gives her a sensual bloom ; she 's like Parker Posey without irony . " A. O. Scott of the New York Times noted that " Mr. Affleck and Ms. Beckinsale do what they can with their lines , and glow with the satiny shine of real movie stars . " However , Mike Clark of USA Today felt that the " usually appealing Kate Beckinsale " is " inexplicably submerged — like her hospital colleagues — under heaps of tarty makeup that even actresses of the era didn 't wear . " The film was a commercial success , grossing $ 449 million worldwide . Beckinsale 's second film appearance of 2001 was in the romantic comedy Serendipity as the love interest of John Cusack . It was filmed directly after Pearl Harbor and Beckinsale found it " a real relief to return to something slightly more familiar . " Turan praised the " appealing and believable " leads , adding that Beckinsale " reinforces the strong impression she made in Cold Comfort Farm , The Golden Bowl , and The Last Days of Disco " after " recovering nicely " from her appearance in the much @-@ maligned Pearl Harbor . Claudia Puig of USA Today felt that " Beckinsale 's talents haven 't been mined as effectively in any other film since Cold Comfort Farm . " McCarthy found her " energetic and appealing " while Elvis Mitchell of the New York Times described her as " luminous but determined . " In an uncomplimentary review of the film , Ebert described her as " a good actress , but not good enough to play this dumb . " The film has grossed over $ 77 million at the worldwide box office . In 2002 Beckinsale starred in Lisa Cholodenko 's Laurel Canyon as a strait @-@ laced academic who finds herself increasingly attracted to her free @-@ spirited future mother @-@ in @-@ law . The independent film was another opportunity for Beckinsale to work with Christian Bale , her Prince of Jutland co ‑ star . She found their sex scene awkward because she knew Bale well : " If it was a stranger , it would have been easier . " While Frances McDormand 's performance as Bale 's mother was widely praised , Beckinsale received negative reviews . Holden found the film " superbly acted , with the exception of Ms. Beckinsale , whose tense , colourless Alex conveys no inner life . " Schwarzbaum was unimpressed by the " tedious " characters and criticized " the fussy performances of Bale and Beckinsale " in particular . The film has grossed over $ 4 million worldwide . = = = 2003 – 2006 : Action roles = = = Beckinsale became known as an action star following an appearance as a vampire in 2003 's Underworld . It was markedly different from her previous work and Beckinsale has said she was grateful for the change of pace after appearing in " a bunch of period stuff and then a bunch of romantic comedies . " " It was quite a challenge for me to play an action heroine and pull off all that training when [ in real life ] I can ’ t catch a ball if it ’ s coming my way . " The film received negative to mixed reviews but was a surprise box @-@ office hit and has gained a cult following . Also that year , she starred in the little seen Tiptoes with Gary Oldman and Matthew McConaughey . In 2004 Beckinsale starred in the action horror film Van Helsing . She was " so surprised " to be appearing in her second action film in two years . " It just seemed like a very good role . " Beckinsale had just separated from her long @-@ term boyfriend Michael Sheen at the time of filming and appreciated the warm atmosphere created on set by director Stephen Sommers and co ‑ star Hugh Jackman : " I really did find that working with people like Stephen and Hugh made it possible to get through what I was going through . " The film grossed over $ 120 million at the U.S. box office and over $ 300 million worldwide , but it was not well @-@ reviewed . Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle described her as " a pretty actress doing her best to maintain dignity , vainly trying to craft a feminist statement from a filmmaker 's whimsy " while Rex Reed of The New York Observer felt she was " desperately in need of a new agent . " Also in 2004 , Beckinsale portrayed Ava Gardner in Martin Scorsese 's Howard Hughes biopic The Aviator . Scorsese decided to cast Beckinsale because , " I ’ ve always liked her . I ’ ve seen all her work , and I was glad that she agreed to audition . " Beckinsale 's performance received mixed reviews . Ken Tucker of New York Magazine said she played the part " in full va @-@ va @-@ voom blossom " while LaSalle felt that she manages " to convince us that Ava was one of the great broads of all time . " However , Clark described it as " the one performance that doesn 't come off ( though Beckinsale has the requisite beauty ) " while Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian stated that " Gardner 's rich , voluptuous sexiness is completely absent as Beckinsale sleepwalks through the role as if she was advertising perfume . " The film grossed over $ 213 million worldwide . In 2006 , Beckinsale reprised her role as Selene in the successful vampire sequel Underworld : Evolution , directed by her husband . It was the first time she had " been involved with a movie from the moment it ’ s a germ of an idea right through the whole editing process . " Her daughter had a small role as the younger Selene . The film was a box office success , grossing $ 111 million worldwide . Beckinsale 's second film appearance of 2006 was opposite Adam Sandler and Christopher Walken in Click , a comedy about an overworked family man who discovers a magical remote control that allows him to control time . The opportunity to play a mother " was one of the things that was attractive to me " about the part . It was highly profitable , grossing $ 237 million worldwide from a production budget of $ 82 @.@ 5 million . = = = 2007 – 2008 : Focus on small @-@ scale drama = = = Beckinsale then made a return to smaller @-@ scale projects : " My experience is that I sort of stepped away from the independent movies and did a couple of big movies . But that 's not necessarily how it 's perceived by everybody else , which I do understand . " " I enjoy an action movie as much as the next person [ but ] it ’ s not something that I would like to do solely . " She explained that she had originally decided to appear in Underworld because she felt typecast in classical roles — it was " assumed that I use a chamber pot and wear bloomers " — but that her action career " kind of took off a little too much . " In 2007 , Beckinsale starred opposite Sam Rockwell in the independent drama Snow Angels , based on the novel by Stewart O 'Nan . The harrowing film , in which she played an overwhelmed single mother , put Beckinsale " in kind of a tough place . " " I did have my kid , my husband and , in fact , my ex was around a lot , so it was very nice to come home to my people whom I love . " Puig felt " Beckinsale gives her best performance in years " while Richard Corliss of Time described it as " her sharpest work yet . " However , Scott felt that " her skill and discipline cannot overcome the sense that she is an exotic species transplanted into this grim ecosystem . Hard as she works to convince us otherwise , it ’ s a stretch to believe that a woman with the kind of poised confidence in her own beauty she manifests would wind up with an underachieving mouth breather like Glenn . " The film grossed just $ 414 @,@ 404 worldwide . Also in 2007 , Beckinsale appeared alongside Luke Wilson in Vacancy , a thriller set in an isolated motel . Sarah Jessica Parker was originally cast in the part , but dropped out before filming began . Bradshaw felt that " Wilson and Beckinsale have the chops for scary movies " while Gleiberman noted that " Luke Wilson , with his hangdog defensive mopiness , and Kate Beckinsale , all sexy severity , are ideally matched as a couple who hate each other . " However , Manohla Dargis of the New York Times was unimpressed , referring to Beckinsale as " the reigning queen of the bland B 's . " The film was profitable , grossing $ 35 million worldwide from a production budget of $ 19 million . In 2008 , Beckinsale appeared in Winged Creatures , a film about how six different witnesses cope with the aftermath of a shooting . Beckinsale played a waitressing single mother in an ensemble cast which included Dakota Fanning , Jennifer Hudson , and Forest Whitaker . " It was a really , really nice experience but it was quick , " said Beckinsale of the filming process . " I just felt a bit like I was shot through a cannon . " Betsy Sharkey of the Los Angeles Times felt she played the role " with a white trash verve " and found that her character 's " raw ache for that someone with money and respectability is palpable . " However , Dargis felt that Beckinsale and her cast mates have a " tough time filling out characters that are at best abstractions of grief and often just clichés . " The film received a very limited theatrical release in New York and Los Angeles ; it was released simultaneously on DVD . Also in 2008 , Beckinsale starred in Nothing but the Truth as a journalist who refuses to reveal her source . The film , co ‑ starring Vera Farmiga and Matt Dillon , was inspired by the case of Judith Miller . As part of her research for the role , " I spent some time at The L.A. Times with some female reporters , and I spoke to Judith Miller about her experience .... I really researched the hell out of that one and it was an amazingly fulfilling , brilliant experience . " Ann Hornaday of The Washington Post asserted that Beckinsale and Farmiga played " two of the most fascinating female movie characters to hit screens in a long while , and they 've been brought to life by two gifted actresses , each working at the top of her game . " Beckinsale received a Critic 's Choice Award nomination for her performance . The film never received a full theatrical release after the distributor filed for bankruptcy and the film has grossed just $ 186 @,@ 702 worldwide . " I have prayed — prayed — for film companies to go bankrupt on films I 've made , and then this happens on the one I love , " said Beckinsale . " Usually it 's the ones you 're most embarrassed about that are on the side of every bus . " = = = 2009 – 2015 : Career downturn = = = In 2009 , Beckinsale starred in the comic @-@ book adaption Whiteout as a U.S. Marshal tasked with investigating a murder in Antarctica . It was filmed in Manitoba , Canada . She found the action scenes less physically demanding than those in Underworld because " three pairs of trousers and a parka gives you a bit more protection than the latex suit . " The film was critically panned and a box office failure , failing to recoup its budget . She also made a brief cameo in the prequel Underworld : Rise of the Lycans ; she appeared in flashforwards composed of footage from 2003 's Underworld . Also in 2009 , Beckinsale starred in the family drama Everybody 's Fine alongside Robert De Niro , Drew Barrymore , and Rockwell , her Snow Angels co @-@ star . Beckinsale was excited by the opportunity to work with De Niro , whom she had first encountered " years and years ago when I just had Lily and he was putting together a reading of The Good Shepherd . " . Everybody 's Fine was a box office flop , failing to recoup its production budget . In May 2010 , Beckinsale sat on the nine @-@ member 2010 Cannes Film Festival jury , chaired by director Tim Burton . Unable to find a script she felt passionate about , Beckinsale kept a low profile in 2010 and 2011 , opting to spend time with her daughter . Beckinsale returned to acting in 2012 with appearances in three action films . Beckinsale first appeared in the action thriller Contraband . She had a supporting role as the wife of Mark Wahlberg 's character , a former criminal who gets forced back into a life of crime after his family members are threatened . The film was directed by Baltasar Kormákur , who also starred in the Icelandic language version of the film , Reykjavík @-@ Rotterdam . The San Francisco Chronicle felt Beckinsale was " stuck in a bit of a thankless role as the victimised wife , but she does try to infuse a harder edge to the character . " The Hollywood Reporter stated that " Beckinsale , her innate classiness calibrated down a few notches , has little to do but be supportive , worried and , eventually , besieged . " Entertainment Weekly felt that the " woman @-@ in @-@ peril stuff is second @-@ rate , giving off a whiff of exploitation " while Variety found the repeated violence towards Beckinsale 's character disturbing . The film had a production budget of $ 25 million and has grossed over $ 96 million worldwide . Beckinsale next reprised her role as Selene in the fourth installment of the vampire franchise Underworld : Awakening . The franchise was initially conceived of as a trilogy and Beckinsale was not " intending to do another one " but was convinced by the quality of the script . The Hollywood Reporter noted that " when she ’ s not actually fighting , her performance consists of little more than striding purposefully toward or away from the camera . " The Los Angeles Times remarked that she " finally manages to perfect the monotone delivery she 'd been honing for the series ' first two entries . " The film had a production budget of $ 70 million and has grossed over $ 160 million worldwide . With adjustments for inflation , Underworld : Awakening is the lowest grossing Beckinsale @-@ led film in the franchise . Also in 2012 , Beckinsale appeared as the villainess in the sci @-@ fi action remake Total Recall , directed by her husband Len Wiseman . She has said that Wiseman joined the project because he was unable to receive studio financing for an original sci @-@ fi idea : " You ’ re constantly finding yourself having to defend doing a remake when you didn ’ t really want to make one in the first place . " The film received mainly negative reviews . Variety found her performance " one @-@ note " while The Hollywood Reporter described her as " one @-@ dimensional . " USA Today remarked that she " spends much of the movie strutting down hallways and looking relentlessly , though blandly , nasty . " The New York Post asserted that Beckinsale " vastly overstays her welcome . " The film has grossed $ 198 million from a production budget of over $ 200 million . In 2014 , Beckinsale starred in the legal thriller The Trials of Cate McCall opposite Nick Nolte and James Cromwell . The film received negative reviews and was released as a Lifetime movie . She next appeared in Stonehearst Asylum , a psychological thriller loosely based on Edgar Allan Poe 's short story . Jeannette Catsoulis of The New York Times said Beckinsale was " emoting as if an Oscar nomination depended on it " while Dennis Harvey of Variety found her performance " overwrought . " Also in 2014 , she provided the voice for Queen Ayrenn , a character in the The Elder Scrolls Online video game . In 2015 , she starred in the psychological thriller The Face of an Angel alongside Daniel Brühl . The film , directed by Michael Winterbottom , was inspired by the case of Meredith Kercher . Jesse Hassenger of The A.V. Club felt her " charismatic " performance was wasted . Also that year , she starred alongside Simon Pegg in the poorly reviewed Monty Python comedy Absolutely Anything . Tom Huddleston of Time Out said her character " is never really developed — which is perhaps a blessing , because her cut @-@ glass @-@ posh performance is almost as grating as Pegg ’ s . " = = = 2016 : Love and Friendship and screenwriting = = = Beckinsale will star in three 2016 films . In the romantic comedy Love & Friendship , which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2016 , she reunited with her Last Days of Disco collaborators Stillman and Sevigny . Justin Chang of Variety described the role as " one of the most satisfying screen roles of her career .... Beckinsale magnetizes the screen in a way that naturally underscores how far ahead of everyone else she is : an effect that doesn ’ t always work to the movie ’ s advantage . " Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter remarked , " There aren ’ t great depths to the role , but Beckinsale excels with the long speeches and in defining her character as a very self @-@ aware egoist . " She will also appear in the horror film The Disappointments Room and the action movie Underworld : Blood Wars . She is currently writing an adapted screenplay of the book The Chocolate Money , with screenwriter and childhood friend Emma Forrest . = = Modeling career = = Beckinsale has worked occasionally as a model . In 1997 , she appeared in the music video for George Michael 's Waltz Away Dreaming . She starred opposite Orlando Bloom in a 2002 Gap television advert directed by Cameron Crowe . She appeared in a Diet Coke television advert in 2004 , directed by Michael Gondry . She advertised Absolut Vodka in a 2009 print campaign photographed by Ellen von Unwerth . She has also promoted Lux shampoo in a Japanese television advert . = = Personal life = = = = = Relationships = = = Beckinsale had an eight @-@ year relationship with actor Michael Sheen from 1995 until 2003 . They met when cast in a touring production of The Seagull in early 1995 and moved in together shortly afterwards . In 1997 , they appeared in a radio production of Romeo and Juliet . Their daughter , Lily , was born in London in 1999 . The actress has said she was " embarrassed " that Sheen never proposed , but felt as though she were married . Their relationship ended in early 2003 , after the filming of Underworld . Beckinsale and Sheen remain close friends . She remarked in 2016 : " He 's really dear , close family . He 's somebody I 've known since I was 21 years old . I really love him a lot . " Beckinsale was married to director Len Wiseman for eleven years . They met on the set of 2003 's Underworld . Beckinsale persuaded Wiseman to cast Sheen in the film , but , while on set , she and Wiseman fell in love . All parties , aside from Wiseman 's then @-@ wife , have maintained that there was no infidelity . They married on 9 May 2004 in Bel @-@ Air , California and announced their divorce in November 2015 . = = = Legal actions = = = In July 2003 , the Press Complaints Commission dismissed a complaint filed by Beckinsale . Beckinsale had claimed that the Daily Mail invaded her and her daughter 's privacy by publishing photographs of the actress embracing and kissing her then new boyfriend Len Wiseman . The article was headlined " Mummy 's latest love scene leaves Lily unimpressed " and included a picture in which her four @-@ year @-@ old daughter appeared to be ignoring her mother 's romantic actions . The Commission found that " the photographs had been taken in a public place and did not reveal any private details about Lily — such as her health or schooling — but were restricted to general observations about her apparent reaction to her surroundings . " In August 2003 , Beckinsale received a published apology from the Daily Mail after the newspaper reported that she had " spent time in a clinic " following her split from boyfriend Michael Sheen . The apology was issued after the actress filed a complaint with the Press Complaints Commission . In 2009 Beckinsale was awarded £ 20 @,@ 000 in damages by the British High Court after taking legal action against Express Newspapers . The Daily Express had falsely reported that the actress was " facing heartbreak " after missing out on a part in a remake of Barbarella . = = = Charity work = = = The British Heart Foundation has been Beckinsale 's charity of choice " ever since [ she ] was six years old . " She has also donated film memorabilia to the Epidermolysis Bullosa Medical Research Foundation , MediCinema , Habitat For Humanity and the Entertainment Industry Foundation . In 2008 she hosted the 4th Annual Pink Party to raise funds for the Women ’ s Cancer Research Institute at Cedars @-@ Sinai Medical Center and organised a screening of All About Eve for FilmAid International . In 2012 Beckinsale joined Nestlé 's Share the Joy of Reading Program to raise awareness about the importance of children 's literacy . = = Performances = = = = = Film = = = = = = Television = = = = = = Video games = = = = = = Stage = = = = = = Radio = = = = = Awards and nominations = =
= New Zealand Division = The New Zealand Division was an infantry division of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force raised for service in the First World War . It was formed in Egypt in early 1916 when the New Zealand and Australian Division was renamed after the detachment of its Australian personnel left the New Zealand Infantry Brigade , together with reinforcements from New Zealand , as the basis of the division . It was commanded by Major General Andrew Hamilton Russell for the duration of the war . The division saw service on the Western Front in France and Belgium , fighting in major battles at the Somme , Messines and Broodseinde Ridge throughout 1916 and 1917 . All were notable successes for the New Zealanders but the division suffered a serious defeat at Passchendaele on 12 October 1917 , its most costly day of the war . In early 1918 , the division helped blunt the German Spring Offensive at the Somme , before the Allies went on the offensive in August . During the Hundred Days ' Offensive that followed , it was one of the lead divisions of the Third Army and advanced 100 kilometres ( 62 mi ) in 75 days . The division 's last major engagement of the war was at Le Quesnoy in early November 1918 . During the latter stages of the war , the New Zealand Division was one of the strongest divisions of the Dominion serving on the Western Front . After the armistice , it served on occupation duties in Germany before being disbanded in 1919 . = = Background = = Following the outbreak of the First World War , the New Zealand government authorised the formation of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force ( NZEF ) , under the command of Major General Alexander Godley , for service abroad . By October 1914 , there were sufficient volunteers to form two brigades , the New Zealand Infantry Brigade and the New Zealand Mounted Brigade . These two formations formed the main body of the NZEF and , together with the Australian 4th Infantry Brigade and the 1st Light Horse Brigade , were the basis of the New Zealand and Australian Division , which fought in the Gallipoli campaign against the Turks . In December 1915 , the much depleted New Zealand and Australian Division was evacuated from Gallipoli , and was placed in reserve near the Suez Canal . Although there were concerns that the Turks might attack the canal , it was envisaged that the division would soon be called upon to serve elsewhere . Commanded by Major General Andrew Hamilton Russell , it was replenished with reinforcements from Australia and New Zealand and began a program of intensive training . Since the deployment of the main body of the NZEF , the numbers of volunteers had steadily increased to the point that they could no longer be integrated into either of the two existing brigades . In January 1916 , the commander of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force in Egypt , Lieutenant General Sir Archibald Murray , proposed the number of available New Zealand personnel warranted the establishment of two new brigades which , together with the existing brigade , would form a New Zealand infantry division for service on the Western Front . The New Zealand government , initially concerned by the prospect of maintaining three infantry brigades , concurred after Murray reassured it that the number of personnel in Egypt were sufficient to keep the new division up to strength in the short term . = = Formation = = The New Zealand Division officially came into being at Moascar , Egypt , on 1 March 1916 , when the New Zealand and Australian Division was so renamed . Russell , a well regarded senior officer of the Territorial Force who had performed well during the Gallipoli Campaign , was appointed the commander of the new formation . The former New Zealand Infantry Brigade was to be the first of three infantry brigades of the division . The 1st Brigade was commanded by Brigadier General Francis Earl Johnston , who had led the original brigade at Gallipoli . The 2nd Brigade was formed from reinforcements currently in Egypt ; this was commanded by another Gallipoli veteran , Brigadier General William Garnett Braithwaite . The third infantry brigade , known as the Rifle Brigade , was commanded by Brigadier General Harry Fulton . The division also included the Otago Mounted Rifles Regiment ; one squadron was designated as the Divisional Mounted Troops while the remaining two squadrons were integrated into a pioneer battalion alongside Māori personnel . There were also three brigades of field artillery and one of howitzers . In total , the division had some 15 @,@ 000 men in its ranks . Along with the Australian 1st and 2nd Divisions , the New Zealand Division was to form part of I ANZAC Corps , under the command of Godley . In early March , the New Zealand Division assumed responsibility for the section of the Suez Canal guarded by the 2nd Division , which began to embark for France . After three weeks of sentry duty , the New Zealand Division returned to its Moascar base before it too was shipped to France in early April . = = Western Front = = The divisions of I ANZAC Corps , now commanded by Lieutenant General William Birdwood with Godley taking over II ANZAC Corps , were initially based in the Armentières sector where they would undergo intensive training in trench warfare on the Western Front . The Armentières front line was regarded by the Allies as a nursery sector where new units could undergo familiarisation without being called upon for intensive offensive operations . Nevertheless , it was not an easy introduction to the front for the New Zealanders . On arriving in their sector , they found the defensive arrangements to be poor and immediately set about improving the trenches and wire emplacements . Although the bulk of the division 's personnel manned secondary defences rearward of the front line to avoid the German artillery , the forward areas had to be constantly patrolled as a deterrent to an attack and to give the impression they were fully manned . The static nature of the war meant that the Divisional Mounted Troops , intended to be used as scouts , were redundant and , along with two Light Horse squadrons from the Australian infantry divisions , were soon transferred to a new formation designated 1st ANZAC Light Horse Regiment . In July , the New Zealand Division was transferred to the newly arrived II ANZAC Corps while I ANZAC moved south to the Somme . The New Zealanders would follow in due course but in the meantime , General Sir Douglas Haig , the commander of the British Expeditionary Force ( BEF ) , called for diversionary actions to attract the attention of the German High Command away from the Allied preparations for the forthcoming offensive on the Somme . To achieve this , the New Zealanders mounted several trench raids . By the time the New Zealand Division was relieved in August , it had incurred 2 @,@ 500 casualties , including 375 dead . = = = Battle of the Somme = = = After a period of refit and training , in September 1916 the New Zealand Division was assigned to XV Corps which , at the time , was participating in the Somme Offensive . On 15 September , the 2nd Brigade and the Rifle Brigade , with the 1st Brigade in reserve , participated in the Battle of Flers @-@ Courcelette . The attack , as planned , was to capture a number of German @-@ held trench systems in successive advances by alternating battalions ; the first objective was the Switch trench complex , designated as the Green Line , with the next two being the Brown and Blue Lines . The Blue Line included the Flers trench network . The final objective was the Grove Alley trench complex , designated Red Line . The attack was to be preceded by a three @-@ day preparatory bombardment and the division was also to be supported by tanks , which were being used for the first time . Four tanks were assigned to the division 's sector . The advance of the New Zealanders was to be flanked by corresponding movements of the neighbouring British 41st and 47th Divisions . At 6 : 20 am , following the creeping artillery barrage that had been laid down by the divisional guns , the 2nd Brigade 's Auckland and Otago Battalions advanced on their first objective , the Switch trench complex , and seized it within an hour . Losses were heavy on the left side of the advance ; the forward movement of the 47th Division was held up and this exposed the 2nd Otago Battalion to enfilade fire as they continued onto Switch trench . Sergeant Donald Brown won the division 's first Victoria Cross ( VC ) for his actions in dealing with machine gun posts that briefly delayed the advance . It was planned for the 4th Battalion of the Rifle Brigade , with the benefit of tank support , to leapfrog the 2nd Brigade and move onto the next objective . However , the tanks suffered mechanical problems and failed to arrive on time . The battalion moved on regardless and secured the Brown Line by 7 : 50 am . The tanks followed on , and one was knocked out of action by artillery fire . The remaining tanks moved onto the Blue Line . The advance , now led by the 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the Rifle Brigade , was beginning to slow . The preparatory bombardment had failed to clear barbed wire ahead of the Flers trench and the infantry had gone to ground to await the tanks . Arriving at 10 : 30 am , they crushed the wire and allowed the 3rd Battalion to clear the trenches of its garrison , the 5th Bavarian Regiment ; 145 were taken prisoner . Efforts were made to consolidate the newly captured positions . The 41st Division , on the right flank , had reached its portion of the Blue Line and captured Flers but the 47th Division lagged behind . The New Zealanders remained exposed to enfilade fire along their left flank and German artillery fire also hampered attempts to shore up their positions . The 1st Battalion of the Rifle Brigade began an attack on the final objective , Red Line , at 10 : 50 am and secured a portion of the Grove Alley trenches by midday despite heavy casualties . However , the 47th Division had still not been able to secure its first objective while the 41st Division had to withdraw from Flers village . This left the New Zealanders in a salient exposed to heavy machine gun fire on both flanks . At 2 : 00 pm Germans were spotted advancing from the northeast . Captain Lindsay Inglis , the senior surviving officer in this area of Grove Alley , gave orders to strengthen the corresponding section of the line . When a platoon began moving to effect the order , this was misinterpreted as a withdrawal and the remaining elements of the battalion began to pull out to Flers village . Inglis was able to check the withdrawal , but with only 120 men , he opted to dig in where they were rather than try to reoccupy Grove Alley . Despite several counterattacks during the afternoon , the New Zealanders managed to hold their front line , including the village of Flers , although both flanks remained exposed due to the failure of 41st and 47th Divisions to reach or hold their frontage of the Blue Line . It was a successful day for the division ; it had captured the most ground of all the divisions of XV Corps involved in the battle . It had also reached all four of its objectives although it ended the day in possession of three plus Flers itself , which was actually in 41st Division 's sector . To strengthen the division 's positions , the 1st Brigade was brought forward into the front lines overnight . The next day , an attack was launched by the brigade 's 1st Wellington Battalion . Supported by artillery , which suppressed an attack made by the Germans minutes before the start of the battalion 's advance from Flers Village , Grove Alley was captured . That evening the weather deteriorated and over the next few days rain filled trenches and shell holes , and turned the ground to thick mud . The New Zealanders were continually harassed by German artillery and localised attacks from the spur overlooking Grove Alley . Despite the conditions , the 1st Brigade carried out operations to strengthen the division 's exposed left flank , but it remained vulnerable to enfilade fire from the German positions . An attack had been planned for 18 September but was postponed due to the poor weather . On 25 September , the attack went ahead . It was intended to extend the front to high ground that was known as Factory Corner . The high ground was undefended , and the 1st Brigade easily captured it under the cover of a creeping barrage . Two days later , Factory Corner formed the launchpad for a further attack by the brigade and the neighbouring 55th Division on two more trenchlines , designated Gird Trench and Gird Support . This time , the attack was not as straightforward and it took an extra day before the entire objective was in New Zealand hands . On 1 October , as a preliminary to the Battle of Le Transloy , 2nd Brigade 's Otago and Canterbury battalions captured strongpoints near Eaucourt L 'Abbaye , which fell to the 47th Division two days later . By the time of its withdrawal from the front lines on 4 October , the New Zealand Division had suffered 7 @,@ 000 casualties ( killed in action , wounded and missing ) , 1 @,@ 500 of them fatal , since 15 September . On the opening day of the battle alone , there were 2 @,@ 050 casualties from the 6 @,@ 000 men who joined the fighting . = = = Restructuring = = = The division , now reattached to II ANZAC Corps , moved north in mid @-@ October and replaced the 5th Australian Division at Sailly . It remained here , patrolling the sector and mounting raids , into February 1917 . The men of the division had become fatigued through their service on the Western Front . While the 2nd and Rifle Brigades soon recovered , the 1st Brigade , having many Gallipoli veterans , continued to struggle as did Johnston , its commander . Consequently , Russell sent him on leave and reorganised the brigades . The 1st Brigade swapped its two South Island battalions ( 1st Canterbury and 1st Otago ) with the two North Island battalions ( 2nd Auckland and 2nd Wellington ) of the 2nd Brigade . This placed all the North Island battalions in the 1st Brigade while all the South Island formations were in the 2nd Brigade . The four artillery brigades were reduced to three by distributing the batteries of the fourth amongst the others , one of which came under the direct control of II ANZAC Corps . This period also saw the formation of the 4th Brigade in England , in response to a request made by the British War Office to the New Zealand government for another infantry division . Although their numbers were insufficient for a new division , personnel from New Zealand were arriving in the various NZEF depots in Europe at a much higher rate than they were being lost from the division due to casualties and attrition . By early 1917 , there was a reserve of around 10 @,@ 000 men available with which to draw upon for the new brigade without adversely affecting the ability to replace existing troops in the field , in the short term at least . The brigade 's core units were four infantry battalions designated as the 3rd Battalions of the Auckland , Wellington , Canterbury and Otago Regiments . Newly promoted Brigadier General Herbert Ernest Hart was appointed by Godley as the brigade 's commander , and after a rigorous training programme , curtailed by orders to report to France , it embarked for the front on 29 May 1917 . With four infantry brigades , the New Zealand Division was now the strongest Dominion formation fighting in France with 20 @,@ 000 personnel . However , Russell did not like his division 's four @-@ brigade structure ( the remainder of the British and Dominion infantry divisions had three brigades ) as he continually had to fend off requests to use the extra brigade for labouring work in the corps rear area . In the meantime , the division had been moved to Flanders in February 1917 . Initially based at Steenwerck , the following month it shifted north to the Messines area , which was south of Ypres , to relieve the 36th Division . = = = Battle of Messines = = = By mid @-@ 1917 , Haig was planning an offensive in the heavily defended Ypres region of Flanders . His plan involved a series of steps , the first of which was the capture of Messines Ridge by II ANZAC Corps . The New Zealand Division , already in the Messines sector , was given the task of capturing Messines Village and it began intensive training for the forthcoming battle under the close supervision of Russell . Extensive preparatory work was carried out , with transportation infrastructure laid down and ample supplies of shells brought forward for the artillery . The plan of attack , broken into three phases , called for the 2nd and Rifle Brigades to carry out an initial advance to the trenches on the western slopes of the Messines ridge as well as the village itself . The 1st Brigade was then to take over for the second phase and advance to the eastern slope of the ridge , an objective designated the Black Line . The final phase was also to involve the 1st Brigade , which was to push the front line out 270 metres ( 300 yd ) via a series of outposts , designated the Dotted Black Line . This outpost line would serve as the starting point for the advance of the 4th Australian Division , which was to continue the attack to what was designated as the Green Line , a mile from the crest of the ridge . Following a preparatory artillery barrage which began on 3 June , the battle commenced in the early hours of 7 June with the explosion of several mines which had been dug under the German lines . Over a million pounds of explosive were used , and the tremors were felt as far away as London . The New Zealanders were in the centre of the II ANZAC front , flanked by the British 25th Division and the 3rd Australian Division . This marked the first time the Australians and New Zealanders had fought alongside each other in a major engagement on the Western Front . The 2nd and Rifle Brigades quickly moved forward ; the surviving German soldiers encountered initially were still dazed from the detonation of the mines and were quickly subdued and made prisoners of war . They continued to advance into stiffening resistance , but these opponents , soldiers of the 40th ( Saxon ) and 3rd ( Bavarian ) Divisions , were soon dealt with and the outskirts of Messines village were within sight . The Rifle Brigade 's 3rd Battalion was attacking the village when it was slowed by two machine gun posts . Corporal Samuel Frickleton led his section on a successful foray to deal with them for which he was later awarded the VC . As planned , the 1st Brigade reached the Black Line shortly after 5 : 00 am and began preparing for the next phase of the advance , the establishment of the Dotted Black Line . By 9 : 00 am , under the cover of a creeping artillery barrage , platoons from the brigade 's 2nd Auckland Battalion moved forward and formed a series of outposts , some of which were close to the Green Line . They were well dug in by midday , and handily placed to fend off German counterattacks . At 3 : 00 pm , the advance was continued by the 4th Australian Division , supported by the New Zealand artillery . The 1st Brigade in the meantime consolidated its positions . That evening , aware that the Germans were likely to lay down a retaliatory artillery barrage , Russell ordered that only a minimum number of troops were to remain in Messines and most personnel moved back to their original positions . The next day , the expected barrage began . The New Zealanders remained in position until 9 June , when they were relieved by the 4th Australian Division . It was a successful operation for the division ; all objectives were achieved on schedule , with over 400 Germans , several field guns , and numerous machine guns and trench mortars being captured . Losses in the division amounted to 3 @,@ 700 casualties , most of which were actually incurred while holding the captured ground . These casualties were inflicted despite Russell 's attempts to keep the number of soldiers in the front line defences to a minimum and to rely on artillery and machine guns as his primary means for defending against counterattacks . The day after the battle , Russell was visiting the Le Moulin de l 'Hospice , captured by 1st Brigade , when an artillery barrage opened up . This killed the brigade 's commander , Brigadier General Charles Brown , the first general officer of the NZEF to be killed in action . On 12 June , the division was back manning the front lines to the southeast of Messines , mounting raids and pushing outposts forward into German territory and generally consolidating their positions . It was finally withdrawn from the sector at the end of the month for rest and recuperation . The division returned to the area in mid @-@ July , tasked with minor operations intended to keep German attention away from the sector north of Ypres , which was to be the focus of renewed fighting as Haig continued with his planned offensive . Russell had his brigades man the division 's section in rotation ; those not in the trenches spent their time training . During this period , the New Zealanders captured the village of La Basseville but subsequently lost it to a German counterattack . At the end of the month , 2nd Wellington Battalion , 1st Brigade , retook the village with Lance @-@ Corporal Leslie Andrew playing a key role in the action ; he was later awarded the VC for his efforts . Over the following few weeks the men of the division worked to consolidate their positions in waterlogged trenches , rain having set in . Casualties were still incurred during this period including Brigadier General Johnston , killed by a sniper on 7 August while inspecting his new command , the Rifle Brigade . = = = Ypres Offensive = = = In September , II ANZAC Corps was detailed for the ongoing offensive in Ypres , the Battle of Passchendaele ( also known as the Third Battle of Ypres ) . Haig wanted Passchendaele Ridge in British hands by winter through a series of limited actions to be carried out across September and October . The initial role of the New Zealand Division was to launch an attack on Gravenstafel Spur , running off the Passchendaele Ridge , as part of what would become known as the Battle of Broodseinde . The attack was part of an overall strategy to capture the ridges running in front of Passchendaele , prior to an attack on the village itself . = = = = Battle of Broodseinde = = = = In the weeks leading up to the battle , the division repeatedly practiced the tactics it would employ in its attack on Gravenstafel Spur . When it moved into the front line , its frontage was approximately 2 @,@ 000 metres ( 2 @,@ 200 yd ) . The 4th Brigade moved into the southern portion of the line on 2 October . On its right was the 3rd Australian Division , while on its left flank was the 1st Brigade . The 48th Division ( of XVIII Corps ) was to the left of the 1st Brigade . Together with the 1st Brigade , the 4th Brigade was tasked with two objectives , the Red Line and the Blue Line . The 1st Auckland and Wellington battalions of 1st Brigade , together with the 3rd Auckland and Canterbury battalions of 4th Brigade , were to advance to and secure the Red Line , running along the crest of the ridge . The other two battalions of the respective brigades would then leapfrog their predecessors through the Red Line to take the Blue Line , at the bottom of the Belluvue Spur . On 4 October , preceded by an artillery barrage beginning at 6 : 00 am , the division began its offensive with the infantry advancing behind a creeping barrage , which caught a mass of German troops , preparing for their own attack , out in the open . The German infantry , battered by the artillery fire , were swiftly dealt with by the advancing New Zealanders . Despite the presence of pillboxes , the Red Line was reached on schedule , with some limited mopping up operations conducted forward of the line by parties from the advancing battalions . Having moved up to the Red Line behind the attacking forces , at 8 : 10 am , the next phase of the advance began as infantry from the remaining battalions of 1st and 4th Brigades moved forward to the Blue Line . Despite some resistance from machine gun nests and pockets of infantry sheltering in shell holes , the Blue Line was reached at 9 : 30 am . Rain began to fall later that afternoon , and the ground quickly became boggy . For the next two days , under the protection of heavy artillery support , both brigades consolidated their positions and established trench lines . The Germans mounted some small @-@ scale counterattacks but these were easily dealt with . From 5 October , the rain began to set in , making movement of men and equipment to the front line difficult . On 6 October , the New Zealanders were relieved by the 49th Division . The attack was a success with the brigades taking all their objectives on schedule . The 4th Brigade captured 700 prisoners of war , for the loss of 130 men killed , and over 600 wounded . In the 1st Brigade , 192 were killed along with 700 wounded . From its starting positions , the division made gains of around 1 @,@ 000 metres . Both Godley and Russell were pleased with the outcome and pushed for further involvement by the New Zealand Division in the ongoing offensive . Buoyed by the success of 4 October , Haig brought forward the next phase of the offensive , the Battle of Poelcappelle , by a day , to 9 October . The British divisions of Godley 's II ANZAC Corps were to be involved in the initial attack , which was to be followed by an advance on Passchendaele by the New Zealand Division on 12 October . = = = = First Battle of Passchendaele = = = = Godley 's II ANZAC Corps had limited time to prepare for the Battle of Poelcappelle , which was intended to set a good base for an attack on Passchendaele itself by capturing the Belluvue Spur . Its attack proved to be a failure , with no significant advancement of the front lines made by the two British divisions involved , the 49th and 66th Divisions . Several battalions were unable to reach their starting positions by the scheduled time and , once the attack began , they were held up by the mud and German defensive positions . For the sake of a few hundred metres , there were 5 @,@ 700 casualties . Despite this , Godley , keen for Passchendaele to fall to his II ANZAC Corps , pushed ahead with the 12 October attack . Haig , misled by erroneous reports from Godley 's headquarters that the Poelcappelle attack had achieved similar gains to those made on 4 October , concurred . Once Haig discovered the error , Godley reassured him that Passchendaele could still fall to his corps . Needing to restore Haig 's faith in his leadership , Godley disregarded the warnings of his senior artillery and engineer officers that ground conditions were not favourable ; the winter rain had set in following Broodseinde and , together with the time constraints , had been a key factor in the compromised preparations for the Poelcappelle attack . The Passchendaele attack , scheduled for 12 October , would likewise be hampered by limited preparation time and boggy terrain . The attack was to involve the New Zealand Division 's 2nd and Rifle Brigades , with 4th Brigade in reserve , attacking along Belluvue Spur and onto Goudberg Spur while the 3rd Australian Division , on the right of the New Zealanders , attempted to take Passchendaele itself . On the division 's left was the 9th ( Scottish ) Division . The plan required both New Zealand brigades to advance with a one @-@ battalion frontage , with three battalions of each brigade leapfrogging each other in sequence to capture objectives designated Red , Blue and Green lines , the last of which was Goudberg Spur . The New Zealanders had a number of preparatory hurdles to overcome before the battle . The men of the Rifle Brigade had , for the previous few weeks , been carrying out engineering work for II ANZAC Corps and were fatigued . The ongoing rainfall affected both the roads by which the division had to move to its starting positions and the placement of the supporting artillery . The muddy ground did not provide a stable platform for the guns and howitzers . Furthermore , the artillery barrage targeting the barbed wire emplacements protecting the strongpoints on the slopes of Belluvue Spur failed to destroy them , a fact determined by scouts on 11 October . Once this information reached the brigade commanders , Braithwaite and A. E. Stewart ( who took over command of the Rifle Brigade following Young 's wounding ) , they pressed Russell for cancellation of the attack ; this was refused . Early in the morning of 12 October , the Germans , already on the alert , bombarded the areas where the New Zealand infantry were assembling prior to commencing their advance . This , along with several rounds of New Zealander artillery that fell short , inflicted numerous casualties until the New Zealanders completed their barrage at 5 : 25 am and began moving forward . Their advance was slowed by ground conditions and machine gun fire from both their front and flanks . They stalled after reaching the wire , arranged in two belts . The following battalions began to catch up to the leading unit , the 2nd Otago Battalion , filling its depleted ranks , but were also held up by the wire . Some parties , led by subalterns and non @-@ commissioned officers , managed to breach the wire and attack the German pillboxes beyond , but when their leaders were killed , the survivors began to dig in . It was 8 : 00 am and the front line had been advanced by barely 320 metres ( 350 yd ) . By mid @-@ morning , it was apparent that the failure of the New Zealanders to advance their section of the front exposed the left flank of the neighbouring 3rd Australian Division , which had secured its first objective and was pushing on to its second . Likewise , on the New Zealand Division 's left , the 9th ( Scottish ) Division had managed to reach its final objective . Godley issued new instructions to the New Zealand Division ; abandoning any hope of getting to the Green Line , it was to push on to the Blue Line in an attack timed for 3 : 00 pm . However , by the early afternoon the flanking Scots had been pushed back while the Australians had failed to make further gains and were withdrawing due to enfilade gunfire on the flanks . Braithwaite , warned by his battalion commanders that capturing the Blue Line was impossible , twice pushed Russell for a cancellation of the attack . Russell 's initial response was to instruct the Rifle Brigade to continue , but shortly before the attack was to begin , it was abandoned . The 4th Brigade moved up to the line to relieve the 2nd and Rifle Brigades and remained there until the division was withdrawn to a training area in late October , following the relief of II ANZAC Corps by the Canadian Corps . The division suffered heavy losses on 12 October : about 845 men were killed and a further 1 @,@ 900 wounded in the worst defeat in New Zealand military history . Although Russell blamed himself for the outcome of the attack and wrote to politicians in New Zealand stating so , in his private correspondence he made it clear that planning and preparation by Godley and his staff at II ANZAC Corps was inadequate and did not take into account the poor ground conditions at Passchendaele . = = = Winter 1917 – 18 = = = On 1 November 1917 , II ANZAC Corps ' 3rd Australian Division was transferred to I ANZAC Corps . As this left the New Zealand Division as the sole representative of the ANZAC divisions in II ANZAC Corps , it was renamed to XXII Corps . The renamed corps returned to the Ypres salient in mid @-@ November 1917 , holding a five @-@ mile front along Broodseinde Ridge from the village of Tiber to the Reutelbeek stream . The New Zealand Division took the right sector of this front which was overlooked by a spur topped by the ruined Polderhoek Chateau , occupied by the Germans . On 3 December , the 1st Canterbury and 1st Otago Battalions of the 2nd Brigade mounted an attack against the chateau . The attack , launched at midday in an attempt to surprise the Germans , proved a relative failure ; although some ground was taken , the chateau remained in enemy hands . During this action , Private Henry James Nicholas dealt with a machine gun post that was holding up the advance of his company , and won the VC . Having advanced its front by 180 metres ( 200 yd ) , the brigade consolidated its positions until it was withdrawn two days later and replaced by units from IX Corps . At this stage of the war , Braithwaite , a popular commander , was temporarily in charge of the division while Russell was on leave . The last of the brigade commanders who had embarked with the NZEF in 1914 , he was worn out and in January was evacuated to England for treatment . On recovery , Braithwaite rejoined his original British Army regiment rather than returning to the division . There were rumours amongst the soldiers of the division that this was a punishment for his refusal to carry on with the 12 October attack at Passchendaele . By February 1918 , the losses in the New Zealand Division resulted in the disbandment of the 4th Brigade . When it was originally formed , New Zealand 's prime minister , William Massey , felt that New Zealand was already contributing more than its fair share to the war effort , and he determined that no additional reinforcements would be sent to maintain the brigade ; if needed , it would be broken up to supply divisional replacements . Consequently , the brigade 's personnel were redistributed amongst the remaining formations to bring them up to strength . The surplus troops formed the 1st , 2nd , and 3rd Entrenching Battalions , one for each brigade , and this provided a pool of trained reinforcements for the division . In other organisational changes , a divisional machine gun battalion was formed from the companies belonging to each brigade while the New Zealand Pioneer Battalion divested itself of its squadron of Otago Mounted Rifles to leave a unit with solely Māori personnel , apart from its senior officers . This was designated the New Zealand Māori ( Pioneer ) Battalion . = = = Spring Offensive = = = On 21 March , the Germans launched their Spring Offensive which involved 60 divisions advancing across a front of 80 kilometres ( 50 mi ) . The Allies were quickly pushed back and a gap formed between the Third and Fifth Armies through which the Germans penetrated . The New Zealand Division was out of the line , recuperating following its tour of duty in the trenches over the winter months , and was deployed to cover a gap which had developed between IV and V Corps at the old Somme battlefield . After moving rapidly to the front , it was positioned at Hamel by 26 March and from there linked up with the 4th Australian Division . For the next several days , the New Zealanders dug in while fending off multiple advances by the Germans . They were initially without artillery support ; the infantry had been able to move much more quickly to the front . The artillery began arriving by the evening of 27 March . Supplies took longer to arrive and as rain began to fall on 28 March , many soldiers were without wet weather gear . The New Zealanders ' defensive positions had been improved despite the weather and the harassment from German artillery , which killed Fulton , the original commander of the Rifle Brigade , when a barrage targeted his headquarters . The division undertook the first offensive action by the British forces during the Spring Offensive when three battalions seized the high ground of La Signy farm on 30 March . This success , although relatively trivial to the New Zealanders , was a morale booster for the rest of the beleaguered Third Army . The Germans launched a renewed effort to push through to Amiens on 5 April , two armies attacking across the front of the British Third Army . The New Zealanders experienced a heavy bombardment which began at 5 : 00 am which cut off communications and later that day suffered two separate but disorganised attacks by infantry . The first was fended off but the second recaptured La Signy farm . An attempt to push on to the main trenches of the New Zealanders was rebuffed with heavy losses inflicted by the Wellington Company of the Machine Gun Battalion . By 9 April , the pressure was decreasing on the New Zealand positions as the Germans shifted their offensive north to the area around Armentières . While the bulk of the New Zealand Division remained on the Somme and consolidated its defences , some of its artillery went to reinforce the British forces bearing the brunt of the renewed German attacks . Casualties for this period of the war were high ; nearly 1 @,@ 000 of the division 's personnel were killed through March and April and almost 2 @,@ 700 were wounded . The New Zealand Division continued to man its trenches along its section of the Somme front and regularly mounted trench raids . To the amusement of the New Zealanders , the German soldiers manning the trenches opposite were warned to avoid being captured because they might be eaten . In June , the division was withdrawn to Authie . The New Zealanders returned to the Somme front in early July , and settled into a sector east of Hébuterne that included Rossignol Wood . As with the division 's previous stint on the Somme , trench raids were often carried out . During a raid mounted on 23 July , Sergeant Richard Travis performed actions that led to a posthumous award of the VC ; he was killed the next day . A prominent soldier and renowned for his scouting skills , his death was mourned across the division . = = = Hundred Days ' Offensive = = = On 8 August 1918 , the last major offensive of the Western Front commenced . It began with an attack by the Canadian and Australian Corps at Amiens , which rolled the German lines back 8 kilometres ( 5 @.@ 0 mi ) that day . The advance petered out after four days after the Germans began to regroup and shore up their defences . Haig recognised that it was time to put pressure elsewhere on the German front and for this , decided to use General Julian Byng 's Third Army . The New Zealand Division would continually be at the forefront of the advance of the Third Army for the remainder of the offensive . At this stage of the war , the New Zealand Division was still one of the strongest infantry divisions of the Dominion serving on the Western Front . It numbered 12 @,@ 243 men and there were 15 @,@ 000 reinforcements in England . Aided by the fact that New Zealand introduced conscription in August 1916 , the continuous supply of reinforcements prevented it from suffering the reduction in the number of battalions that affected the British and Australian divisions as their manpower reserves dried up . As the division advanced , it usually did so along a brigade @-@ sized front , with three battalions forward of a field artillery brigade . This allowed for rapid artillery support as the need arose . The brigades would leapfrog each other as they moved forward . The New Zealand Division 's initial involvement in the offensive was on 21 August , when it joined four other divisions of the Third Army in an attack across a 15 @-@ kilometre ( 9 @.@ 3 mi ) front from Puiseux towards the Albert @-@ Arras railway . Its role was relatively minor in this action but a few days afterwards , the division played a significant part in what is now known as the Second Battle of Bapaume . The battle began on 24 August with a nighttime advance by the 1st and 2nd Brigades to clear the approaches to Bapaume , including Loupart Wood and Grévillers . Progress was delayed by heavy machine gun fire and artillery took its toll on supporting tanks . On 29 August , Bapaume itself was captured by the New Zealanders when , after a heavy artillery barrage , they attacked into the town at the same time the Germans were withdrawing . The village of Frémicourt fell the following day . The New Zealand Division continued to advance , with the 2nd Brigade capturing Haplincourt on 3 September following a failed attempt the previous day . It moved onto the outer defences of the Hindenburg Line , including Trescault Spur , which overlooked the German positions . In conjunction with 37th Division and elements of the 38th Division , the New Zealanders attacked the spur on 12 September . The crest of the spur was captured , although not the trench system on the far side . During this action , Sergeant Harry Laurent earned the VC for his exploits in leading a patrol that captured a company of Germans . After two weeks out of the line , the division attacked the Hindenburg Line itself on 29 September , easily achieving its objectives and capturing 1 @,@ 000 prisoners . With the New Zealanders on the St. Quentin Canal and the adjacent Scheldt River , a platoon had managed to cross it and reach the village of Crèvecœur . However , it became pinned down until the 1st Auckland and 2nd Wellington Battalions of the 1st Brigade managed to cross the next day and capture the village . Private James Crichton , a member of the trapped platoon , earned the VC , the last of the war for the New Zealand Division , for his efforts in relaying messages between his companions and his company commander . He also defused demolition charges on the bridge spanning the Scheldt River . On 8 October , IV Corps attacked Cambrai , to which the Germans had withdrawn after they abandoned their defences along the St. Quentin Canal . The New Zealand Division 's contribution was from the 2nd and Rifle Brigades , both of which easily achieved their objectives . In advance of their flanking units , they were handily placed to intervene when the Germans mounted a counterattack against the adjacent British 2nd Division . By 12 October , the division had advanced nearly 20 kilometres ( 12 mi ) , including a crossing of the Selle River , and had captured 1 @,@ 400 prisoners and 13 field guns . Its own casualties amounted to 536 men . It withdrew from the front line for a brief rest before returning to the front on 20 October . By the end of October , the New Zealand Division was positioned to the west of the fortified town of Le Quesnoy . On 4 November , the next phase of the Allied advance began with the Battle of the Sambre . The division was tasked with the capture of Le Quesnoy and extending the front line past the town . The Rifle Brigade encircled and , through the achievement of its 4th Battalion in scaling the ramparts that surrounded the town , pushed into Le Quesnoy by the close of the day while the 1st Brigade had established a line to the east . This was the division 's most successful day on the Western Front . The day after the fall of Le Quesnoy , elements of the division moved through the Mormal Forest with the 1st Canterbury and 2nd Otago Battalions of the 2nd Brigade leading the way . As well as covering over 6 kilometres ( 3 @.@ 7 mi ) , they attacked and captured two houses occupied by German forces . Twenty men were killed in this last contact with the enemy , which marked the last offensive action of the division ; it was relieved that night . During the Hundred Days ' Offensive , it had advanced 100 kilometres ( 62 mi ) in 75 days . It was moving into reserve at Beauvois @-@ en @-@ Cambrésis , in the rear area of IV Corps , when the Armistice was signed on 11 November . = = Occupation duties and disbandment = = The New Zealand Division was chosen to form part of the Allied occupation force in Germany , to the displeasure of some personnel who had expected to return home . By mid @-@ December it had begun moving through Belgium towards Cologne where it arrived on 20 December . Billeted in the city 's suburbs , the division remained on active duty when not sightseeing . Educational programs were also implemented . Demobilisation began towards the end of December with the departure of those who had enlisted in 1914 or 1915 . The first unit to leave the division was the Pioneer Battalion , and additional men were sent to England on leave . They remained there until transportation to New Zealand could be arranged . Russell had taken ill in late January and departed for the warmer climate of Southern France , leaving the division 's artillery commander , Brigadier General G. Johnston , in charge of the division . The artillery was demobilised on 18 March 1919 , with the division formally disbanded on 25 March 1919 . Its occupation duties were taken up by the British 2nd Division . = = Memorials = = After the war , the New Zealand government instituted four national battlefield memorials to honour the New Zealand soldiers who died on the Western Front . The overwhelming majority of these fatalities , around 12 @,@ 400 , were men from the New Zealand Division . The memorials , designed by Samuel Hurst Seager , are located at Passchendaele , Messines , Le Quesnoy and the Somme . Each memorial includes the words " From the Uttermost Ends of the Earth " . In contrast to other Dominions , the names of New Zealand soldiers with no known grave , of which there are about 4 @,@ 180 , are not listed on the Memorials to the Missing at Menin Gate and Thiepval . Instead , it was the policy of the New Zealand government to establish smaller Memorials to the Missing in cemeteries near where the soldiers went missing , one of which is at the Buttes New British Cemetery .
= Follo Line = The Follo Line ( Norwegian : Follobanen ) is a planned 22 @.@ 5 @-@ kilometer ( 14 @.@ 0 mi ) high @-@ speed railway between Oslo and Ski , Norway . Running parallel to the Østfold Line , it will be engineered for 250 km / h ( 155 mph ) . Terminal stations will be Oslo Central Station and Ski Station . Most of the line , 19 kilometres ( 12 mi ) , will be in a single tunnel , which will be the longest railway tunnel in the country . Construction is estimated to start in 2014 , and may be completed by 2020 / 21 . The Follo Line will increase capacity from twelve to forty trains per hour along the South Corridor , and will allow express and regional trains to decrease travel time from Ski to Oslo from 22 to 11 minutes . The line is prospected to cost over 20 billion Norwegian krone ( NOK ) . The project is a continuation of the Norwegian National Rail Administration 's plan to build four tracks along the three main corridors out of Oslo ; the Gardermoen Line was completed in 1998 , and the Asker Line has been completed in 2011 . Between 1989 and 1996 , the Østfold Line south of Ski to Moss was upgraded to double track and higher speeds . To take full advantage of this and allow the rest of the Østfold Line to be upgraded for high speeds , it is necessary to increase capacity through the bottleneck from Oslo to Ski . The first plans for the Follo Line were launched in 1995 , and also included an intermediate station at Vevelstad and Kolbotn . The new line is predicted to increase rush hour rail ridership 63 % , and increased freight on rail would remove 750 trucks daily from European Route E18 . = = Background = = The first railway in the Follo district was the Østfold Line of the Norwegian State Railways ( NSB ) that opened on 2 January 1879 , between Oslo East Station and Halden . Later the same year , the line was extended to the Swedish border , where it connected to the Norway / Vänern Line . The importance of Ski Station increased on 24 November 1882 , when it became the station where the Eastern Østfold Line split , and went via Inner Østfold to Sarpsborg , where the two lines reconnected . Electrification of the section from Oslo to Kolbotn was completed on 18 January 1937 , and the section to Ski finished in 1939 ; the whole Østfold line was completed in 1940 . Between 1924 and 1939 , NSB built double track along the route between Ski and Oslo . From 1989 to 1996 , NSB upgraded the track to double track from Ski to Sandbuka , just north of Moss . This section is capable of speeds of 200 km / h ( 120 mph ) , however the maximum is 160 km / h ( 99 mph ) due to short distances between stops and limitations of the rolling stock . In 1992 , the Norwegian Parliament decided to build the first high @-@ speed railway in Norway , from Oslo via the new Oslo Airport , Gardermoen to Eidsvoll . This line would run parallel to the Hoved Line , increasing the speed and capacity along the route . Fast express and regional trains could run along the new section , while slower commuter trains used the old tracks and could make many stops without disturbing other traffic . Projects were launched during the 1990s to create similar high @-@ speed bypasses from Oslo to Ski , and from Skøyen ( west of Oslo ) to Asker . Construction of the latter — christened the Asker Line — started in 2001 , and the first section from Asker to Sandvika opened in 2005 , while the second section is expected to open in 2011 . The Østfold Line between Oslo and Ski remains the largest bottle @-@ neck on the Norwegian railway network . The line restrains the track to twelve trains per hour ( six per direction ) and hinders freight trains from using it during rush hour . The bottleneck occurs because there are up to four trains each hour making stops at all stations , and these stops delay all express and regional trains that follow . Travel time is 22 minutes for direct trains to Ski , and 31 minutes for commuter trains with a speed limit of 80 km / h ( 50 mph ) along most of the line . Capacity on the upgraded double track from Ski to Moss cannot be fully utilized due to the limitations along the section from Ski to Oslo , and further growth in the number of freight trains along the South Corridor to Sweden and Continental Europe is impossible without reducing the number of passenger trains . Despite the existing double track all the way from Oslo to Moss , a further upgrade southwards will not be able to increase capacity past the current single train per hour to Fredrikstad , Sarpsborg and Halden . The most optimistic plans involve finishing the first upgrades of track south of Moss simultaneously with the Follo Line . The Rail Administration and Ministry of Transport is working on proposals for a high @-@ speed railway between Oslo and Gothenburg in Sweden . This line would most likely use the Follo Line for the initial distance from Oslo . = = Route = = The initial plan from 1995 involved two intermediate stations , at Vevelstad and Kolbotn . The plans also suggested building the line in two phases , first between Ski and Kolbotn , and then from Kolbotn to Oslo . In 2008 , the National Rail Administration announced two possible plans for the right @-@ of @-@ way — both predominantly in tunnel . The one proposal included Kolbotn , the other did not . Both excluded Vevelstad as a station on the new line , since the station could not develop as a hub , and would still keep services along the existing commuter line . A report from Det Norske Veritas published in 2008 , and ordered by the Rail Administration , concluded that neither a station at Vevelstad or at Kolbotn could support the extra cost of construction . A direct line with no intermediate stops is estimated to cost NOK 11 billion , while a line via Kolbotn would cost 13 @.@ 5 billion . The report also argued that the intermediate stops would decrease capacity and increase travel time for all passengers departing south of Ski and traveling north . The exclusion of Kolbotn would also increase the importance of Ski as a regional public transport hub . In 2009 , the Rail Administration abandoned the plans to build the line via Kolbotn , stating that it was more important to secure a fast connection to Ski . At the same time , they promised to upgrade the existing station at Kolbotn . The rail line is planned for at least 250 km / h ( 160 mph ) , although faster speeds are being considered . The earliest possible construction start is 2014 , which could allow completion by 2020 / 21 . Ski Station will also be upgraded as part of the project , and will be expanded to six tracks . Plans to connect the Eastern Østfold Line to the slower line were considered where the Eastern Østfold Line diverges from the Østfold Line at Ski . However this has changed so the local trains from Eastern Østfold can travel to Oslo faster along the new tracks . Just south of Oslo Central Station , each of the two tracks will diverge , and follow different routes . The inbound track will hook up with the Østfold Line at Sjursøya , while the outbound track will diverge at Loenga . An additional connection to the Østfold Line will be made at Nordstrand . The Østfold Line connects to the Hoved Line and Loenga – Alnabru Line before reaching Oslo Central Station ( Oslo S ) . If the Kolbotn @-@ alternative for the Follo Line is chosen , the Østfold Line will be rebuilt to follow a similar path to the Kolbotn station , which will require a new station building to accommodate the two lines . For this alternate route the two lines will enter the Kolbotn station at two levels , with the Follo Line running in a tunnel below , and the Østfold Line running at @-@ grade above . = = Impact = = The Follo Line will allow the capacity in the South Corridor from Oslo to increase from about twelve to forty trains per hour . Local and freight trains will use the Østfold Line , while regional and express trains will use the Follo Line . Travel time will be reduced from 22 to 11 minutes . With a new line , there will be 11 @,@ 000 more public transport trips through the corridor ; this includes a 67 % increase during rush @-@ hour and 43 % the rest of the day . This allows a reduction of 5 @,@ 800 car trips per day and reduces carbon dioxide emissions of 5 @,@ 474 tonnes . Rush hour capacity would be eight trains per hour to Kolbotn , with four continuing to Ski along the old line . The new line would be served by four trains to Moss , two to Mysen and two to Halden . There would be half the frequency during off @-@ peak hours . The Østfold Line is the railway that connects Norway to Continental Europe , and 80 % of all land @-@ based , international freight transport goes through Østfold . Until the Follo Line opens , there cannot be a capacity increase on international freight trains to Norway . The Rail Administration has set a goal of tripling the amount of rail freight by 2040 , which for the South Corridor is equal to the removal of 750 trucks per day from European Route E18 . The Follo Line will also allow freight trains to pass during rush hour .
= Vaillancourt Fountain = Vaillancourt Fountain , sometimes called Quebec libre ! , is a large fountain located in Justin Herman Plaza in San Francisco , designed by the Québécois artist Armand Vaillancourt in 1971 . It is about 40 feet ( 12 m ) high and is constructed out of precast concrete square tubes . Long considered controversial because of its stark , modernist appearance , there have been several unsuccessful proposals to demolish the fountain over the years . It was the site of a free concert by U2 in 1987 , when lead singer Bono spray painted graffiti on the fountain and was both praised and criticized for the action . = = Location = = The fountain is located in a highly visible spot on the downtown San Francisco waterfront , in Justin Herman Plaza , where Market Street meets The Embarcadero . The Hyatt Regency Hotel is at the edge of the plaza , adjacent to the other four highrise towers of the Embarcadero Center . Across The Embarcadero is the Ferry Building , and the eastern end of the California Street cable car line is on the other side of the Hyatt Regency Hotel . When Vaillancourt designed the fountain , the Embarcadero Freeway or Interstate 480 , was still in existence along Market Street and the Embarcadero . The fountain was designed with the freeway environment in mind , but it was built to bring people there . At the time the city was expanding and wanted to build a plaza . What is now Justin Herman Plaza , was once an empty dirt lot under the freeway surrounded by piers , warehouses and ship yards . = = Design and construction = = Vaillancourt Fountain was a product of the redevelopment of San Francisco that took place in the 1950s and 1960s The Transamerica Pyramid was constructed from 1969 @-@ 1972 and BART was also being constructed , the Embarcadero Station would eventually open in 1976 . Justin Herman , for whom the plaza was named , was a leading figure in this process and the executive director of the redevelopment agency in charge . Modernist landscape architect Lawrence Halprin was selected for the redesign of Market Street from the Embarcadero to the Civic Center , the most visible two mile thoroughfare in San Francisco . Halprin had designed other spaces in the city such as Ghirardelli Square and the United Nations Plaza . He designed Justin Herman Plaza , but hired Armand Vaillancourt to design the fountain . Vaillancourt , 38 years old at the time , had won the invitational fountain design competition that Halprin had judged . Halprin was quoted as saying that if the fountain didn 't prove to be among the " great works of civic art ... I am going to slit my throat " . The fountain is about 40 feet ( 12 m ) high , weighs approximately 700 short tons ( 640 t ) , and is constructed out of precast concrete square tubes . The fountain is positioned in a pool shaped like an irregular pentagon , and is designed to pump up to 30 @,@ 000 US gallons ( 110 @,@ 000 L ) of water per minute . Vaillancourt Fountain looks unfinished , like concrete that has not been mixed all the way . Up close it is very rough and textured , painfully sharp . There are several square pillars or cubed tubes that form a semi circle inside a pentagon shaped pool . The natural colored pillars jut out and crisscross from the corner of the plaza “ like the tentacles of some immense geometrical octopus … .breaking open . ” There are two bridges , or walk ways ( with stairs ) , that allow the public to stand in @-@ between the tubes and have a view overlooking the plaza and city . The fountain and plaza are easily accessible to the public at all times and in all conditions , rain or shine . The fountain 's budget was US $ 310 @,@ 000 , and it was dedicated on April 22 , 1971 . The Los Angeles Times reported that its actual cost was US $ 607 @,@ 800 . Just before the dedication , the slogan " Quebec Libre " ( a reference to the Quebec sovereignty movement ) was painted on the fountain at night , and the graffiti was erased . During the dedication , attended by Thomas Hoving , director of New York 's Metropolitan Museum of Art , a rock band played , and Armand Vaillancourt himself painted " Quebec Libre " on the fountain in as many places as he could reach . A redevelopment agency employee started to paint over the slogans during the ceremony , but Herman stopped him , saying it could be done later . When asked about why he defaced his own fountain with graffiti he responded , “ No , no . It 's a joy to make a free statement . This fountain is dedicated to all freedom . Free Quebec ! Free East Pakistan ! Free Viet Nam ! Free the whole world ! ” Vaillancourt said his actions were " a powerful performance " intended to illustrate the notion of power to the people . " Quebec Libre " has been an alternate name for the fountain since . = = Critical reaction = = The fountain has been considered controversial since its construction , and criticism of it has continued over the years . Hoving , in his dedication speech , said of the fountain had some of the daring of Baroque sculpture and that " A work of art must be born in controversy . " Herman himself said it was " one of the greatest artistic achievements in North America . " At the time of its dedication , the San Francisco chapter of the National Safety Council said that the fountain " may be a safety hazard " . Opponents of the work handed out leaflets at the dedication of the fountain describing it as a " loathsome monstrosity " , a " howling obscenity " , an " obscene practical joke " , " idiotic rubble " , and a " pestiferous eyesore " . Art critic Alfred Frankenstein of the San Francisco Chronicle responded that " its very outrageousness and extravagance are part of its challenge " and therefore , it " can 't be all bad . " He added that the fountain was intended to be participated in rather than just observed . An early comment by architecture critic Allan Temko , often repeated over the years , describes " technological excrescences " that had been " deposited by a giant concrete dog with square intestines " . Another pithy remark that gained press attention , from critic Lloyd Skinner , was that the fountain was " Stonehenge , unhinged , with plumbing troubles " . Artists have been critical of the work as well . Sculptor Benny Bufano called it " a jumble of nothing " , artist Willard Cox likened it to " dynamited debris " , and sculptor Humphrey Diaquist said it had been created by " a figure of deranged talent " . The fountain has been called the " least revered modernist work of art " in San Francisco . Due to its size , it has been said that it " dominates the landscape " of the north side of Justin Herman Plaza . It has also been said that the design intent was " to mock and mirror the clumsy , double @-@ decked roadway " , referring to the elevated Embarcadero Freeway which separated the fountain from the waterfront at the time of construction . = = 1987 U2 free concert = = On the first leg of The Joshua Tree Tour by the rock band U2 in 1987 , they performed concerts at the Cow Palace just south of San Francisco on April 24 and April 25 , 1987 . On the third leg of the tour , concerts had been announced for November 14 and 15 , 1987 , across the San Francisco Bay , at the Oakland Coliseum . On the morning of November 11 , 1987 , local radio stations announced that U2 would hold a free concert that day in Justin Herman Plaza , with the stage set up in front of the Vaillancourt Fountain . Within a few hours , a crowd estimated at 20 @,@ 000 people gathered in the plaza . The concert was jokingly called " Save the Yuppies " , in reference to the 1987 stock market crash that had taken place three weeks earlier . The band closed their nine @-@ song performance with their hit " Pride ( In the Name of Love ) " . During the instrumental portion in the middle of the song , Bono , lead singer of the band , climbed onto the sculpture and spray painted graffiti on it , reading " Rock N Roll Stops The Traffic " . Mayor Dianne Feinstein , who had been waging a city @-@ wide campaign against graffiti that had resulted in over 300 citations during the year , was angry and criticized Bono for defacing a San Francisco landmark . She said , " I am disappointed that a rock star who is supposed to be a role model for young people chose to vandalize the work of another artist . The unfortunate incident marred an otherwise wonderful rock concert . " Bono was issued a citation for misdemeanor malicious mischief . U2 manager Paul McGuinness said , " This is clearly not an act of vandalism . This act was clearly in the spirit of the artwork itself . " The numerous callers to Ronn Owens ' radio talk show on KGO @-@ AM were evenly split , with younger listeners defending the singer 's action and older ones not . Bono soon apologized , saying " I really do regret it . It was dumb . " The singer explained that he thought that he was honoring the artist 's work and that the artist had agreed , but later Bono realized that the city owned the fountain . The group covered the cost of removal of the graffiti . Armand Vaillancourt flew from Quebec to California after the incident , and spoke in favor of Bono 's actions at U2 's Oakland performance several days later . Vaillancourt said , " Good for him . I want to shake his hand . People get excited about such a little thing . " The sculptor spray @-@ painted a slogan of his own on the band 's stage , " Stop the Madness " . The episode received further attention when it was featured in U2 's 1988 documentary film Rattle and Hum . There , footage of it was shown over , and interspersed with , the band 's opening number , " All Along the Watchtower " , a song by Bob Dylan that had been a big hit for Jimi Hendrix . This has led some people to misidentify the song being played when the spray painting occurred . In any case , the fountain and plaza ended up on one U2 fan site 's list of recommended group @-@ related places in the U.S. to visit . = = Proposals to demolish = = On October 17 , 1989 the context of the Bay Area changed because the Bay Bridge collapsed , and so did the Cypress Street structure ( Interstate 880 ) . A section of the bridge collapsed , resulting in 1 death . While in West Oakland , the upper level of the freeway collapsed onto the lower level crushing cars and killing 42 people . The freeway around Vaillancourt Fountain was damaged by the quake , but the fountain was not . On that day , the twisted concrete design of Vaillancourt Fountain took on an appearance of ill fated irony . The city decided to remove the freeway rather than repair the old infrastructure and proposed an idea of turning the Embarcadero into a wide , palm @-@ lined boulevard . An architect hired by the city proposed demolition of the fountain , but no decision was made . In 2004 , San Francisco Supervisor Aaron Peskin renewed the call to demolish the fountain . The water supply to the fountain had been turned off for several years , because of California 's energy crisis of those years . Armand Vaillancourt immediately pledged that he would " fight like a devil to preserve that work " . Debra Lahane , a member of the San Francisco Arts Commission , said that " it succeeds as a work of art if it provokes dialogue and discussion . Art that engages the public has had a measure of success . " It is a reminder of , and a link to , old San Francisco . It was one of the first public artworks in the Embarcadero area . It has not lost its context because the freeway or water has been removed . The removal of the freeway and water has changed the context of the fountain into a monument or memorial .
= No. 78 Wing RAAF = No. 78 Wing is a Royal Australian Air Force ( RAAF ) operational training wing , headquartered at RAAF Base Williamtown , New South Wales . It comprises Nos. 76 and 79 Squadrons , operating the BAE Hawk 127 lead @-@ in fighter , and No. 278 Squadron , a technical training unit . No. 79 Squadron , located at RAAF Base Pearce , Western Australia , is responsible for converting new pilots to fast jets , while No. 76 Squadron at Williamtown conducts introductory fighter courses ; both units also fly support missions for the Royal Australian Navy and the Australian Army . Formed as a fighter wing in November 1943 , No. 78 Wing comprised three flying units , Nos. 75 , 78 and 80 Squadrons , operating P @-@ 40 Kittyhawks in the South West Pacific theatre of World War II . After the war , it re @-@ equipped with P @-@ 51 Mustangs at Williamtown . During the early 1950s , the wing was based at Malta on garrison duties with the Royal Air Force , operating two squadrons of De Havilland Vampire jet fighters . Re @-@ equipped with CAC Sabres , it deployed with Nos. 3 and 77 Squadrons to Malaya in 1958 – 59 , flying sorties against communist insurgents in the final years of the Emergency . In the 1960s , it was tasked with providing regional air defence during the Konfrontasi between Indonesia and Malaysia , and supplied the equipment and personnel for the RAAF contingent operating from Ubon Air Base in Thailand . No. 78 Wing was disbanded in November 1967 , and re @-@ formed for its present role as an operational training wing in February 2000 . = = History = = = = = World War II = = = No. 78 Wing was established on 24 November 1943 at Townsville , Queensland , under the command of Wing Commander ( later Group Captain ) W.D. Brookes . Along with No. 77 Wing , it came under the control of No. 10 Operational Group , a mobile strike force formed to support the Allied armies as they advanced in the South West Pacific theatre . No. 78 Wing 's flying units were originally to have consisted of No. 80 Squadron , operating P @-@ 40 Kittyhawk fighters , and Nos. 452 and 457 Squadrons , operating Spitfires . However the Spitfire squadrons could not be released from duty in the North @-@ Western Area as planned , and Nos. 75 and 78 Squadrons took their place , making the formation an all @-@ Kittyhawk force . No. 78 Wing flew combat air patrols and ground attack missions during Operation Reckless , the assault on Hollandia and Aitape , New Guinea , in April 1944 . By the middle of the year , the wing 's flying hours in New Guinea were consistently higher than those of its counterparts in the US Fifth Air Force . When No. 10 Operational Group was re @-@ formed as the Australian First Tactical Air Force ( No. 1 TAF ) in October 1944 , No. 78 Wing constituted its fighter contingent along with the recently arrived No. 81 Wing , which also operated Kittyhawks . The relegation of No. 1 TAF to areas of operations bypassed by the main Allied thrust towards the Philippines and Japan led to poor morale in late 1944 and early 1945 . In April 1945 , the newly appointed Officer Commanding No. 78 Wing , Group Captain Wilfred Arthur , helped bring about the so @-@ called " Morotai Mutiny " in protest at the employment of Australian fighter squadrons for apparently worthless ground attack missions . A subsequent inquiry cleared the pilots involved , finding their motives in tendering their resignations to be sincere . Arthur retained command of No. 78 Wing for the invasion of Tarakan , which commenced on 1 May . Augmented by No. 452 Squadron 's Spitfires , the wing was a last @-@ minute replacement for No. 81 Wing — which had been delayed while moving its aircraft forward from Noemfoor and northern Australia — and had only ten days to prepare for the operation . In addition to its flying squadrons , No. 78 Wing 's complement included No. 114 Mobile Fighter Control Unit ( No. 114 MFCU ) , No. 29 Air Stores Park , No. 28 Medical Clearing Station , and No. 11 Repair and Servicing Unit . On 25 May 1945 , Arthur was succeeded by Wing Commander Alan Rawlinson . In June and July , the wing took part in the assaults on Labuan and Balikpapan , undertaking convoy escort in the former and , joined once more by No. 452 Squadron , ground attack missions and close support of the Australian 7th Division in the latter . During July it flew 858 sorties , dropping over 250 @,@ 000 pounds ( 110 @,@ 000 kg ) of bombs and expending almost 350 @,@ 000 rounds of ammunition , for the loss of six aircraft and four pilots killed or missing . = = = Cold War and after = = = Following the end of hostilities , No. 78 Wing , comprising Nos. 75 , 78 and 80 Squadrons , and No. 114 MFCU , departed Tarakan for Australia . Arriving in December 1945 , the formation was based initially at Deniliquin , New South Wales , where its squadrons were reduced to cadre status , and where No. 80 Squadron was disbanded in July 1946 . The wing and its remaining squadrons relocated in May and June to RAAF Station Schofields , New South Wales , and then in August to RAAF Station Williamtown , where they re @-@ equipped with P @-@ 51 Mustangs . Rawlinson , now a group captain , completed his appointment as officer commanding in December 1946 . No. 378 ( Base ) Squadron was formed under the aegis of No. 78 Wing at Williamtown in June 1947 ; the base squadron was an administrative and logistical unit intended to make its wing self @-@ supporting and mobile , in case of deployment . No. 478 ( Maintenance ) Squadron formed the same month to take responsibility for all aircraft and equipment operated by No. 78 Wing . Nos. 75 and 78 Squadrons disbanded in March and April 1948 , respectively . Nos. 478 and 378 Squadrons also disbanded in April , the latter re @-@ forming as Station Headquarters at Williamtown . For the remainder of the year , No. 78 Wing 's aircraft and staff were gradually transferred to other units ; by December it had been reduced to a strength of four airmen and no officers , and was declared " non @-@ operative " . The wing was re @-@ established in January 1949 , comprising Nos. 75 , 76 , and 478 Squadrons , and No. 114 MFCU . It became the first wing in the RAAF to equip with jet aircraft , when its flying units took delivery of De Havilland Vampire F.30 fighters between 1949 and 1951 ; it was also allocated Mustangs and CAC Wirraways . The wing subsequently re @-@ equipped with Vampire FB.9s leased from the Royal Air Force , in exchange for Australia 's commitment to support RAF operations in the Middle East . Comprising Nos. 75 and 76 ( Fighter ) Squadrons , No. 378 ( Base ) Squadron and No. 478 ( Maintenance ) Squadron , No. 78 Wing was deployed to Malta on garrisoning duties under Wing Commander ( later Group Captain ) Brian Eaton . As the RAAF 's presence was essentially a symbolic gesture to demonstrate the Commonwealth 's solidarity in the midst of the Cold War , the combat squadrons were half @-@ strength only , operating eight aircraft each . In addition to the Vampires , two Gloster Meteor trainers were provided . Personnel departed Australia in July 1952 ; the posting overseas being a minimum of two years , families were permitted to make the journey as well . Although under the operational control of the RAF 's No. 205 Group , the wing was under no circumstances to be used in combat without the express permission of the Australian government . The airmen participated in many NATO exercises while stationed at Malta , and one year took first and second place in the Middle Eastern Gunnery Contest for the " Imshi " Mason Cup . Originally based at the Royal Navy 's Ħal Far airfield , in south @-@ east Malta , the wing moved in June 1953 to the centrally located RAF Station Ta 'Kali , command of which was given to Group Captain Eaton . By this time , with plans afoot to form a Far East Strategic Reserve to contain communist aggression in South East Asia , the British and Australian governments began to discuss withdrawing No. 78 Wing from the Middle East when its planned two @-@ year garrison was complete . Eaton handed over command to Wing Commander Geoff Newstead in September 1954 . The wing flew its last sorties in December , and returned to Australia the following month . Following its tour in the Mediterranean , No. 78 Wing was reorganised at Williamtown . On 16 March 1955 , the wing headquarters was re @-@ formed , and Nos. 76 and 378 Squadrons were disbanded . No. 75 Squadron remained with the wing , augmented on 21 March by Nos. 3 and 77 Squadrons . On 1 April , No. 478 Squadron absorbed the maintenance functions of No. 77 Squadron . Nos. 75 and 77 Squadrons initially operated Meteors from Williamtown and No. 3 Squadron was based at RAAF Station Canberra , where it flew P @-@ 51D Mustangs . By November 1956 the wing had re @-@ equipped with CAC Sabres and all of its units were stationed at Williamtown . Group Captain Glen Cooper took command of the wing in 1957 , deploying it between October 1958 and February 1959 to RAAF Base Butterworth in Malaya , where its flying units consisted of Nos. 3 and 77 Squadrons . No. 75 Squadron remained at Williamtown , subsequently joining No. 81 Wing with a re @-@ formed No. 76 Squadron . Among the first aircraft to wear the Air Force 's new " leaping kangaroo " roundel , the Butterworth @-@ based Sabres flew ground @-@ attack missions against communist guerrilla forces in the last stages of the Malayan Emergency . Ground support for the aircraft was provided by No. 478 ( Maintenance ) Squadron . Armed with Sidewinder missiles , the Sabres were responsible for regional air defence during the Konfrontasi between Indonesia and Malaysia from 1963 until 1966 , though no combat took place . Between October and December 1965 , a detachment of six Sabres , initially from No. 77 Squadron and later from No. 3 Squadron , was based at Labuan to conduct combat patrols over the Indonesian – Malaysian border on Borneo . In May 1962 , in response to communist insurgency in Laos , No. 79 Squadron was re @-@ formed in Singapore utilising No. 78 Wing aircraft and personnel . For the next six years this squadron operated from Ubon Air Base in Thailand and was manned by personnel from No. 78 Wing serving on six @-@ month to one @-@ year rotations . The RAAF was careful to not acknowledge any connection between the two units , however , as Malaysia had a policy of neutrality towards war in South East Asia . The squadron was disbanded in July 1968 . No. 75 Squadron , equipped with Dassault Mirage III supersonic fighters , relieved No. 3 Squadron at Butterworth in May 1967 . No. 78 Wing was disbanded in November 1967 , and Nos. 75 , 77 and 478 Squadrons became independent units under the command of Headquarters RAAF Butterworth . No. 77 Squadron returned to Williamtown in 1969 for conversion to Mirages , and was replaced at Butterworth by the Mirage @-@ equipped No. 3 Squadron . In 1986 , No. 79 Squadron was re @-@ formed at Butterworth from No. 3 Squadron , disbanding two years later . No. 75 Squadron redeployed from Butterworth to RAAF Base Darwin , Northern Territory , in October 1983 , and No. 478 Squadron was disbanded the same month . No. 78 Wing re @-@ formed in February 2000 to take charge of all aircrew and technical training on the F / A @-@ 18 Hornet and the BAE Hawk 127 . Headquartered at Williamtown , it comprised No. 76 Squadron at Williamtown and No. 79 Squadron at RAAF Base Pearce , Western Australia , both operating Hawks , and No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit ( No. 2 OCU ) at Williamtown , operating Hornets . Each of these units had previously been part of No. 81 Wing . No. 79 Squadron 's role was to convert graduates of No. 2 Flying Training School at Pearce to fast jets , No. 76 Squadron 's to conduct lead @-@ in fighter courses , and No. 2 OCU 's to convert pilots to the Hornet fighter . In February 2002 , No. 78 Wing came under the control of the newly established Air Combat Group , formed by merging Tactical Fighter Group and Strike Reconnaissance Group . The merger expanded the wing 's responsibilities , as it took on lead @-@ in training for the General Dynamics F @-@ 111Cs of No. 82 Wing . In July 2003 a technical training and simulator unit , No. 278 Squadron , with detachments at RAAF Bases Amberley , Tindal and Pearce , was added to the wing 's complement . No. 2 OCU subsequently returned to the control of No. 81 Wing . As of 2012 , No. 78 Wing 's strength consisted of Nos. 76 and 79 Squadrons , operating Hawks , and No. 278 Squadron . No. 79 Squadron continues to provide fast @-@ jet conversion for recently graduated pilots , as well as refresher courses , while No. 76 Squadron conducts introductory fighter courses preparatory to students undertaking conversion to " classic " Hornets at No. 2 OCU or F / A @-@ 18F Super Hornets with No. 6 Squadron at Amberley . Both squadrons also fly close support missions for the Australian Army and the Royal Australian Navy .
= HMS Defence ( 1907 ) = HMS Defence was a Minotaur @-@ class armoured cruiser built for the Royal Navy in the first decade of the 20th century , the last armoured cruiser built for the Royal Navy . She was stationed in the Mediterranean when the First World War began and participated in the pursuit of the German battlecruiser SMS Goeben and light cruiser SMS Breslau . The ship was transferred to the Grand Fleet in January 1915 and remained there for the rest of her career . Defence was sunk on 31 May 1916 during the Battle of Jutland , the largest naval battle of the war . Escorting the main body of the Grand Fleet , the ship was fired upon by one German battlecruiser and four dreadnoughts as she attempted to engage a disabled German light cruiser . She was struck by two salvoes from the German ships that detonated her rear magazine . The fire from that explosion spread to the ship 's secondary magazines , which exploded in turn . There were no survivors . = = Description = = Defence displaced 14 @,@ 600 long tons ( 14 @,@ 800 t ) as built and 16 @,@ 630 long tons ( 16 @,@ 900 t ) at deep load . The ship had an overall length of 519 feet ( 158 @.@ 2 m ) , a beam of 74 feet 6 inches ( 22 @.@ 7 m ) and a mean draught of 26 feet ( 7 @.@ 9 m ) . She was powered by a pair of four @-@ cylinder triple @-@ expansion steam engines , each driving one shaft , which developed a total of 27 @,@ 000 indicated horsepower ( 20 @,@ 000 kW ) and gave a maximum speed of 23 knots ( 43 km / h ; 26 mph ) . The engines were powered by 24 Yarrow water @-@ tube boilers . The ship carried a maximum of 2 @,@ 060 long tons ( 2 @,@ 090 t ) of coal and an additional 750 long tons ( 760 t ) of fuel oil that was sprayed on the coal to increase its burn rate . At full capacity , she could steam for 8 @,@ 150 nautical miles ( 15 @,@ 090 km ; 9 @,@ 380 mi ) at a speed of 10 knots ( 19 km / h ; 12 mph ) . Defence was designed to carry 779 officers and men . The ship 's main armament consisted of four BL 9 @.@ 2 @-@ inch Mark X guns in two twin @-@ gun turrets , one each fore and aft . Her secondary armament of ten BL 7 @.@ 5 @-@ inch Mark II guns were mounted amidships in single turrets . Anti @-@ torpedo boat defence was provided by sixteen QF 12 @-@ pounder ( three @-@ inch ) 18 @-@ cwt guns . Defence also mounted five submerged 17 @.@ 7 @-@ inch torpedo tubes , one of which was mounted in the stern . The waterline belt consisted of 6 inches ( 152 mm ) of Krupp cemented armour roughly between the fore and aft 7 @.@ 5 @-@ inch gun turrets , but was reduced in steps to three inches to the ends of the ship . The gun turrets and barbettes were protected by 6 – 8 in ( 152 – 203 mm ) of armour . The thickness of the lower deck was 1 @.@ 5 – 2 inches ( 38 – 51 mm ) . The armour of the conning tower was 10 inches ( 254 mm ) thick . = = Construction and career = = Defence was ordered as part of the 1904 – 05 naval construction programme as the last of three Minotaur @-@ class armoured cruisers . She was laid down on 22 February 1905 at the Royal Dockyard in Pembroke Dock , Wales . She was christened on 27 April 1907 by Lady Cawdor and commissioned on 3 February 1909 at the cost of £ 1 @,@ 362 @,@ 970 . The ship was briefly assigned to the 5th Cruiser Squadron of the Home Fleet until she was transferred to the 2nd Cruiser Squadron when the Home Fleet reorganised on 23 March 1909 . Three months later Defence was reassigned to the 1st Cruiser Squadron . She escorted the ocean liner RMS Medina in 1911 – 1912 while the latter ship served as the royal yacht for the newly crowned King George V 's trip to India to attend the Delhi Durbar . After the ship returned to Plymouth in early 1912 , Defence was transferred to the China Station , where she remained until December when she was ordered to rejoin the 1st Cruiser Squadron in the Mediterranean as flagship . At the start of the First World War , she was involved in the pursuit of the German warships Goeben and Breslau , but Rear @-@ Admiral Ernest Troubridge decided not to engage Goeben due to the latter 's more powerful guns , heavier armour and faster speed . She then blockaded the German ships inside the Dardanelles until the ship was ordered on 10 September to the South Atlantic to take part in the hunt for Admiral Graf von Spee 's East Asia Squadron . The order was cancelled on 14 September when it became clear that the German squadron was still in the Eastern Pacific and Defence returned to the Dardanelles . The Admiralty again ordered the ship to the South Atlantic in October to join Rear @-@ Admiral Christopher Cradock 's squadron searching for the German ships . Defence , however , had only reached Montevideo , Uruguay by 3 November 1914 when she received word that most of Admiral Cradock 's squadron had been destroyed two days previously at the Battle of Coronel . The ship rendezvoused with the battlecruisers HMS Inflexible and HMS Invincible later that month and transferred her long @-@ range radio equipment to Invincible before sailing to South Africa to escort a troop convoy to Great Britain . Defence departed Table Bay , Cape Town on 8 December and rejoined the 1st Cruiser Squadron of the Grand Fleet as its flagship upon her arrival . Defence received a QF 12 @-@ pounder ( 3 @-@ inch ) 12 cwt anti @-@ aircraft ( AA ) gun and a QF 3 @-@ pounder ( 47 mm ) AA gun in 1915 – 16 . The 12 @-@ pounder gun was mounted on the aft superstructure and the 3 @-@ pounder on the quarterdeck at the extreme rear . During the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916 , she was the flagship of Rear @-@ Admiral Sir Robert Arbuthnot , leading the First Cruiser Squadron . The squadron formed the starboard flank of the cruiser screen , ahead of the main body of the Grand Fleet . Defence was just to the right of the centre of the line . At 5 : 47 p.m. , Defence , and HMS Warrior , the leading two ships of the squadron , spotted the German II Scouting Group and opened fire . Their shells fell short and the two ships turned to port in pursuit , cutting in front of the battlecruiser HMS Lion , which was forced to turn away to avoid a collision . Shortly afterwards , they spotted the disabled German light cruiser SMS Wiesbaden and closed to engage . When the two ships reached a range of 5 @,@ 500 yards ( 5 @,@ 000 m ) from Wiesbaden they were spotted in turn at 6 : 05 by the German battlecruiser SMS Derfflinger and four battleships who were less than 8 @,@ 000 yards ( 7 @,@ 300 m ) away . The fire from the German ships was heavy and Defence was hit by two salvoes from the German ships that caused the aft 9 @.@ 2 @-@ inch magazine to explode . The resulting fire spread via the ammunition passages to the adjacent 7 @.@ 5 @-@ inch magazines which detonated in turn . The ship exploded at 6 : 20 with the loss of all men on board ; between 893 and 903 men were killed . = = Defence today = = At the time , it was believed that Defence had been reduced to fragments by the explosion , but the wreck was discovered in mid @-@ 1984 by Clive Cussler and a NUMA survey of the North Sea and English Channel at coordinates 56 ° 58 ′ 02 ″ N 05 ° 49 ′ 50 ″ E. It was dived upon in 2001 by a team led by nautical archaeologist Innes McCartney and found to be largely intact , despite the violence of her sinking . Defence , along with the other Jutland wrecks , was belatedly declared a protected place under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 , to discourage further damage to the resting place of approximately 900 men .
= Maya ( M.I.A. album ) = Maya ( stylised as ΛΛ Λ Y Λ ) is the third studio album by English recording artist M.I.A. , released on 7 July 2010 on her own label , N.E.E.T. Recordings , through XL Recordings and Interscope Records . Songwriting and production for the album were primarily handled by M.I.A. , Blaqstarr and Rusko . M.I.A. ' s long @-@ time associates Diplo , Switch and her brother Sugu Arulpragasam also worked on the album , which was mainly composed and recorded at M.I.A. ' s house in Los Angeles . The album 's tracks centre on the theme of information politics and are intended to evoke what M.I.A. called a " digital ruckus " . Elements of industrial music were incorporated into M.I.A. ' s sound for the first time . A deluxe edition was released simultaneously , featuring four bonus tracks . Critics ' opinions of the album were generally favourable although divided , with both its musical style and lyrical content each attracting praise and criticism . In its first week of release , the album entered the UK Albums Chart at number 21 , becoming her highest @-@ charting album in the UK . It also became her highest @-@ charting album in the US , reaching number nine on the Billboard 200 , and debuted in the top 10 in Finland , Norway , Greece and Canada . M.I.A. promoted the album by releasing a series of tracks online , including " XXXO " , " It Takes a Muscle " and " Born Free " , which was accompanied by a short film @-@ music video , which generated controversy due to its graphic imagery . She also performed at music festivals in the US and Europe to coincide with the album 's release . During her promotion of the album , she became embroiled in a dispute with Lynn Hirschberg of The New York Times . = = Composition and recording = = English @-@ Tamil musician M.I.A. ( Mathangi " Maya " Arulpragasam ) released her second album Kala in 2007 , which achieved widespread critical acclaim , and was certified gold in the United States and silver in the United Kingdom . Six months after giving birth to her son Ikyhd in February 2009 , she began composing and recording her third studio album in a home studio section of the Los Angeles house she had bought with her partner Ben Bronfman . She used instruments such as the portable dynamic @-@ phrase synthesizer Korg Kaossilator to compose . She took the beat machine and began recording atop Mayan pyramids in Mexico . Much of the work on the album was undertaken at her house in Los Angeles , in what she called a " commune environment " , before it was completed in a rented studio in Hawaii . She collaborated with writer @-@ producer Blaqstarr because , in her opinion , " he simply makes good music " . M.I.A. ' s collaboration with Derek E. Miller of Sleigh Bells on the track " Meds and Feds " prompted her subsequent signing of the band to her label N.E.E.T. , and according to Miller , this experience gave him the confidence to record the band 's debut album Treats . Her creative partnership with the comparatively unknown Rusko grew from a sense of frustration at what she saw as her now more mainstream associates suggesting sub @-@ standard tracks due to their busy schedules . Diplo worked on the track " Tell Me Why " , but at a studio in Santa Monica rather than at the house . He claimed in an interview that , following the break @-@ up of his personal relationship with M.I.A. some years earlier , he was not allowed to visit the house because " her boyfriend really hates me " . Tracks for the album were whittled down from recording sessions lasting up to 30 hours . Producer Rusko , who played guitar and piano on the album , described the pair getting " carried away " in the studio , appreciating the " mad distorted and hectic " sound they were able to create . Rusko said " She 's got a kid , a little one year old baby , and we recorded his heart beat . We 'd just think of crazy ideas " . Rusko has described M.I.A. as the best artist he has ever worked with , saying that she had " been the most creative and I really had a good time making music with her " . = = Music and lyrics = = M.I.A. called the new project " schizophrenic " , and spoke of the Internet inspiration that could be found in the songs and the artwork . She also said that the album centred on her " not being able to leave [ Los Angeles ] for 18 months " and feeling " disconnected " . She summed up the album 's main theme as information politics . During the recording of the album , she spoke of the combined effects that news corporations and Google have on news and data collection , while stressing the need for alternative news sources that she felt her son 's generation would need to ascertain truth . Maya was made to be " so uncomfortably weird and wrong that people begin to exercise their critical @-@ thinking muscles " . M.I.A. said " You can Google ' Sri Lanka ' and it doesn 't come up that all these people have been murdered or bombed , it 's ' Come to Sri Lanka on vacation , there are beautiful beaches ' ... you 're not gonna get the truth till you hit like , page 56 , and it 's my and your responsibility to pass on the information that it 's not easy anymore " . Following these comments , M.I.A. received death threats directed at her and her son , which she also cited as an influence on the songs on the album . She summed up the album as a mixture of " babies , death , destruction and powerlessness " . The singer revealed that going into recording the album , she had still not accepted that she was a musician , saying " I 'm still in denial , listening to too much Destiny 's Child " . With Maya , she stated " I was happy being the retarded cousin of rap ... Now I 'm the retarded cousin of singing . " M.I.A. opted to sing , as opposed to rap , on several tracks on the album , telling Rolling Stone in early 2010 that she wished to produce something different from her previous album , which had " more emphasis on production " . In a January 2010 interview with NME she spoke of being inspired by the film Food , Inc. and described the album as being about " exploring our faults and flaws " and being proud of them . The closing track , " Space " , which was reportedly recorded using an iPhone app , is a ballad which Mikael Wood , writing in Billboard , described as " dreamy " and " sound [ ing ] like a Sega Genesis practicing its pillow talk " . In contrast , Greg Kot of the Chicago Tribune described " Lovalot " as sounding " like it was recorded in a dank alley , the singer 's voice reverberating amid percussion that sounds like doors creaking and rats scurrying across garbage cans " . " XXXO " draws its inspiration from M.I.A. ' s " cheesy pop side " , and is based on the theme of the creation of a sex symbol . " Teqkilla " is the only track to address her relationship with Bronfman , through a reference to Seagram , the company owned by his family . " It Takes a Muscle " is a cover version of a track originally recorded in 1982 by Dutch group Spectral Display , and is performed in a reggae style . The opening track " The Message " , featuring a male lead vocalist , parodies the words of the traditional song " Dem Bones " to link Google to " the government " . Kitty Empire wrote in The Observer that these conspiratorial government connections to Google and the thoughts of Dzhennet Abdurakhmanova , the Russian teenager who bombed Moscow 's tube system in revenge for the death of her husband , were inner @-@ world issues pondered in " Lovalot " with " a mixture of nonsense rhyme , militant posturing and pop @-@ cultural free @-@ flow ; her London glottal stop mischievously turns ' I love a lot ' into ' I love Allah ' " . Ann Powers in the Los Angeles Times said that " M.I.A. turns a call to action into a scared girl 's nervous tic . Synths click out a jittery , jagged background . The song doesn 't justify anything , but it reminds us that there is a person behind every lit fuse " . Powers also commented on how " Born Free " mixed the boasting style often found in hip hop music with lines depicting the lives of those enduring poverty and persecution . " Illygirl " , a track found only on the deluxe edition of the album , is written from the point of view of an abused but tough teenager , whom critic Robert Christgau said could be the " kid @-@ sister @-@ in @-@ metaphor " of the swaggering persona adopted by M.I.A. on the track " Steppin Up " . Samples used on the album were taken from artists as diverse as the electronic duo Suicide and gospel choir the Alabama Sacred Harp Singers . " Internet Connection " , one of four bonus tracks on the deluxe edition of the album , was recorded in collaboration with a group of Filipino Verizon workers . M.I.A. described the sound and imagery of the album as capturing a " digital ruckus " , adding that " so many of us have become typists and voyeurs " . We need a digital moshpit like we 've never seen , harder than how people were doing it in the punk era . We need that energy , but digitally " . Julianne Escobedo Shepherd of The Fader commented on the increasingly industrial feel of the tracks made available prior to the album 's release , a style which had not previously been incorporated into her music . M.I.A. herself picked out " Steppin Up " , " Space " and " Teqkilla " as her favourite tracks on the album . She said that she contemplated using only the sound of drills as the backing for " Steppin Up " , but concluded that this was " too experimental " an approach . = = Release and artwork = = The album was originally set to be released on 29 June 2010 , but in May M.I.A. ' s record label announced a new release date of 13 July . In late April , the artist posted a twitpic of the track listing for the new album . She also commented that at the time she was " open to suggestions " regarding the album 's title . Two weeks later , a blog posting on her record label 's official website revealed that the album would be entitled / \ / \ / \ Y / \ , the punctuation marks spelling Maya , M.I.A. ' s own forename . The title follows on from previous albums named after her father ( 2005 's Arular ) and mother ( 2007 's Kala ) . Some reviewers used the stylised title while others did not . M.I.A. ' s official Myspace page uses both titles . The album was released in conventional physical and digital formats and as an iTunes LP . The album 's cover features the singer 's face almost completely hidden by YouTube player bars . MTV 's Kyle Anderson described the cover , which was previewed in June 2010 , as " a typically busy , trippy , disorienting piece of art " and speculated that it might be " a statement about 21st century privacy " . Additional art direction for the album was provided by Aaron Parsons . M.I.A. used her mother 's Tamil phonebook to find a wedding photographer to provide images for the album . Photographers for the album were Ravi Thiagaraja , M.I.A. and Jamie Martinez . Elements of the artwork had previously been used in one of a series of billboard images , all designed by musicians , which were projected onto landmarks in London by a guerrilla project called BillBored during the 2010 British general election . The deluxe edition of the album features a lenticular slipcase . Music website Prefix listed it as one of the 10 worst album covers of 2010 , likening it to a " child 's first computer @-@ class @-@ assignment " . When questioned about the difficulty of finding her album title on search engines such as Google , she noted that she chose to use forward slashes and backward slashes due to their ease at being typed and because she liked the way the album title looked on music players such as iTunes . She also suggested that it was a deliberate attempt to avoid detection by internet search engines . The Guardian 's Sian Rowe commented that M.I.A. ' s deliberate " shrinking away from a mainstream audience " by the use of difficult , unsearchable symbols was part of a growing new underground scene perhaps trying to create a " generation gap " , where only " the youngest and the most enthusiastic " would seek out such band names by reading the right online sources . = = Promotion = = In January 2010 , M.I.A. posted a video clip on Twitter , which featured a new song but revealed no information about it other than the heading " Theres space for ol dat I see " ( sic ) . The following day her publicist confirmed that the track was entitled " Space Odyssey " and had been produced in collaboration with Rusko to protest a travel piece about Sri Lanka printed in The New York Times . The track appears on the new album under the revised title " Space " . The same month , she filmed a short film for the song " Born Free " . At the end of April the track was released as a promotional single , and the short film accompanying the song was released . The film , directed by Romain Gavras , depicts a military unit rounding up red @-@ headed young men who are then shot or forced to run across a minefield . The film , which also features nudity and scenes of drug use , caused widespread controversy and was either removed or labelled with an age restriction on YouTube . In the weeks following the release of the film , M.I.A. was the most blogged about artist on the Internet , according to MP3 blog aggregator The Hype Machine . M.I.A. found the controversy " ridiculous " , saying that videos of real @-@ life executions had not generated as much controversy as her video . In the run @-@ up to the album 's release , " XXXO " , which Entertainment Weekly described as the " first official single " from the forthcoming album , " Steppin Up " , " Teqkilla " and " It Takes a Muscle " were released online . On 6 July 2010 she made the entire album available via her Myspace page . In December , " It Takes a Muscle " was released as a two @-@ track promotional single . The new album was publicised during Jay @-@ Z 's performance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April , when a blimp flew across the venue announcing that M.I.A. ' s new album would be released on 29 June 2010 . M.I.A. promoted the album with a series of appearances at music festivals , including the Hard festival in New York and The Big Chill in Herefordshire . Her performance at the latter was cut short due to a stage invasion by fans . She also performed at the Flow Festival in Finland , where she was joined onstage by Derek E. Miller playing guitar during her performance of " Meds and Feds " , and the LokerseFeesten in Lokeren , Flanders , Belgium , where her performance drew a crowd of 13 @,@ 500 , the biggest of the 10 @-@ day music festival . In September she announced a tour that would last until the end of the year . M.I.A. also promoted the album with an appearance on the " Late Show with David Letterman " , during which she performed " Born Free " with Martin Rev of Suicide playing keyboards , backed by a group of dancers styled to look like M.I.A. In November 2010 she appeared on the British television show Later ... with Jools Holland , performing " Born Free " and " It Takes a Muscle " , the latter with members of The Specials . While promoting the album , M.I.A. became involved in a dispute with Lynn Hirschberg of The New York Times , who interviewed her in March 2010 and whose resulting article portrayed the singer as pretentious and attention seeking . In response , M.I.A. posted Hirschberg 's telephone number on her Twitter page and later uploaded her own audio recording of the interview , highlighting the discrepancies between what she said and what was reported . The piece was criticised for its yellow journalism by some , however M.I.A. received varying degrees of support and criticism for the ensuing fallout from the media . Benjamin Boles wrote in Now that , while Hirschberg 's piece came across as a " vicious ... character assassination " , M.I.A 's subsequent actions were " childish " and made her " the laughing stock of the internet " . The paper later printed a correction on the story , acknowledging that some quotes had been taken out of context . The incident prompted Boots Riley of the band Street Sweeper Social Club to comment on how artists had access to media that allowed writers to be held accountable and that M.I.A. ' s move was " brilliant " . = = Critical reception = = Maya received moderately positive reviews from critics . Simon Vozick @-@ Levinson of Entertainment Weekly called the album " surely the year 's most divisive major @-@ label release " . At Metacritic , which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 based on reviews from mainstream critics , the album received an average score of 68 based on 41 reviews , which indicates " generally favorable reviews " . Reviews of the album began to appear a month before its release after the album leaked in low quality onto the internet . Charles Aaron , writing in Spin , gave the album four and a half out of five stars , his review deeming the song " Lovalot " her " riskiest gambit yet " . Matthew Bennett of Clash gave a similar score , calling it a " towering work " . Mojo writer Roy Wilkinson called it a " startling fusillade of to @-@ the @-@ moon pop music " . Writing for the BBC Online , Matthew Bennett characterised the album as " loud , proud , and taking no prisoners " and also praised the album 's lighter tracks , such as " Teqkilla " , which he called " enjoyably demented but utterly catchy " . Rolling Stone writer Rob Sheffield said the album was M.I.A. ' s " most aggressive , confrontational and passionate yet " , praising her " voracious ear for alarms , sirens , explosions , turning every jolt into a breakbeat " and her consequent lyrics as " expansive " . Los Angeles Times writer Ann Powers commended the album as " an attempt by an artist who 's defined herself through opposition to engage with the system that she has entered , for better or worse , and to still remain recognizable to herself " characterising Maya 's foregrounded ideas as " a struggle worthy of a revolutionary " . In his consumer guide for MSN Music , critic Robert Christgau gave the album an A rating and complimented its " beats and the spunky , shape @-@ shifting , stubbornly political , nouveau riche bundle of nerves who holds them together " . Other critics were not as complimentary towards the album . Charlotte Heathcote of British newspaper the Daily Express said that , while M.I.A. could " still lay claim to being one of our most imaginative , uncompromising artists " , there were " only glimmers of brilliance " on the album . Chicago Tribune writer Greg Kot gave the album two and a half out of four stars and expressed a mixed response towards M.I.A. ' s " [ embracing ] pop more fervently than ever . Entertainment Weekly 's Leah Greenblatt was critical of the album , stating that it sounded " murky and almost punishingly discordant , as if the album has been submerged underwater and then set upon by an arsenal of exceptionally peeved power tools " . She went on to state that nothing on the album sounded " truly vital " , or as revolutionary as M.I.A. wanted the public to believe . Stephen Troussé , writing in Uncut , described the album as " anti @-@ climactic " and " self @-@ satisfied " and said that it suffered from " diminished horizons " . Mehan Jayasuriya of PopMatters noted M.I.A. ' s " self @-@ aggrandizing " as a weakness , adding that Maya lacks " the focus and confidence of M.I.A. ' s previous albums " . Jesse Cataldo of Slant Magazine noted that the album " has the feel of a vanity project " and wrote " It may be an above @-@ average album , but its aesthetic matches her persona only at its shallowest levels , in the thinness of its ideas and the often @-@ forceful ugliness of its message " . Chris Richard of The Washington Post called it " a disorienting mix of industrial clatter and digital slush " and noted " there isn 't much to sing along to " . = = = Accolades = = = In December 2010 , the NME named " XXXO " and " Born Free " the number two and number 11 best tracks of the year respectively . Maya appeared in a number of magazines ' lists of the best albums of the year . The album was placed at number five on the " 2010 Pitchfork Readers Poll " list of the " Most Underrated Album " of the year . Spin placed Maya at number eight in its list of the best releases of 2010 , and Rolling Stone listed it at number 19 in its countdown . = = Commercial performance = = Maya debuted at number 21 on the UK Albums Chart on first @-@ week sales of 7 @,@ 138 copies , 18 places higher than the peak position achieved by Kala , immediately making it M.I.A. ' s highest @-@ charting album in the UK . The following week it dropped out of the top 40 . It also charted in a number of other European countries , reaching the top 10 in Finland , Greece and Norway . In the United States , it debuted at number nine on the Billboard 200 , nine places higher than the peak position achieved by Kala , although it sold only 28 @,@ 000 copies in its first week of release , compared with the 29 @,@ 000 which the earlier album sold in the same period . Maya fell to number 34 in its second week on the chart , selling 11 @,@ 000 copies . As of September 2013 , the album had sold 99 @,@ 000 copies in the US . The album also topped Billboard 's Dance / Electronic Albums chart and reached the top five on two of the magazine 's other charts . Maya also entered the top 10 on the Canadian Albums Chart . The single " XXXO " reached the top 40 in Spain and the UK , and " Teqkilla " reached number 93 on the Canadian Hot 100 on digital downloads alone . = = Track listing = = Notes " Lovalot " incorporates elements of " I Said It " by Opal . " It Takes a Muscle " is a cover of " It Takes a Muscle to Fall in Love " by Spectral Display . " Born Free " contains a sample from " Ghost Rider " by Suicide . " Tell Me Why " incorporates elements of " The Last Words of Copernicus " by the Alabama Sacred Harp Singers . " Internet Connection " incorporates a sample from Fonejacker . = = Personnel = = Credits adapted from the liner notes of the deluxe edition of Maya . = = Charts = = = = Release history = =
= Summertime ( Beyoncé song ) = " Summertime " is a song by American singer Beyoncé Knowles featuring American rapper P. Diddy . " Summertime " was written by Knowles , Angela Beyincé , P. Diddy , Steven " Steven J. " Jordan , Adonis Shropshire , Varick " Smitty " Smith and Mario Winans , while production was handled by Winans and P. Diddy . The song was later remixed to feature vocals from American rapper Ghostface Killah . " Summertime " was included on the soundtrack album for the film The Fighting Temptations ( 2003 ) , in which Knowles played the lead female role . The original version of the song was released as a B @-@ side to " Crazy in Love " in the UK and Australia , while it was issued as a 12 @-@ inch vinyl single in the United States through Columbia Records . " Summertime " is an R & B song which lyrically refers to falling in love . Music critics generally complimented Knowles ' vocals in the song and noted that it could have been included on her debut studio album , Dangerously in Love ( 2003 ) . The song also charted on the US Billboard Hot R & B / Hip @-@ Hop Songs chart in late 2003 . The original version featuring P. Diddy and the remix version featuring Ghostface Killah peaked at number thirty @-@ five and at number fifty @-@ one respectively on the chart . Both versions charted for forty consecutive weeks . " Summertime " was part of Knowles ' set list during the Dangerously in Love Tour ( 2003 ) , and the Verizon Ladies First Tour ( 2004 ) . = = Background and composition = = The song has two different themes . It primarily talks about the romance and later marriage between the film 's two main characters Darrin ( played by Cuba Gooding Jr . ) and Lilly ( played by Knowles ) , as well as subtly hinting at Knowles ' real @-@ life relationship with rapper Jay @-@ Z. Darrin , a shallow New York advertising executive , traveled to a small town in the deep south upon receiving word that his aunt has died and left him a sizable inheritance . Once in town , Darrin is informed that he will only receive the money if he successfully leads a local gospel group to victory at an upcoming competition . Reluctant but strapped for cash , Darrin takes on the task of finding the best singers in town and shaping the group up . Along the way , he becomes acclimated to the town with the help of his cousin Lucius ( played by Mike Epps ) and meets Lilly , a single mother who not only possesses an incredible voice but also the ability to warm Darrin 's cold heart . Although Gooding 's character , Darrin , was in love with Knowles ' character , Lilly , the latter did not always feel the same until later on in the film . Near the end of the film , he proposes to her and she accepts . They eventually get married ( offscreen ) and within eighteen months they had a baby son together , making Darrin a father and also stepfather to Lilly 's other son . " Summertime " was the only song which appeared on the soundtrack album of The Fighting Temptations but not in the movie itself . As a whole , seven tracks featured the vocals of Knowles . The latter has a starring role in the film , along with a choir made up of gospel , R & B and hip @-@ hop recording artists . Faith Evans , Angie Stone , Melba Moore , Rev. Shirley Caesar , The O 'Jays , Montell Jordan , T @-@ Bone , and Zane are all seen on the film and perform on the soundtrack . " Summertime " was written by Knowles , Angela Beyincé , Sean Combs , Steven " Steven J. " Jordan , Adonis Shropshire , Varick " Smitty " Smith and Mario Winans while production was handled by Winans and P. Diddy . Tim Sendra of Allmusic describes " Summertime " as an R & B " sweet love song " with lush sampled strings and acoustic guitars . The lyrics of the song do not reveal the film 's plot , but they do tell that it has been a year since Darrin and Lilly met and they have gotten closer which could possibly be referring to their marriage . According to Dani Boobyer of the UK @-@ based website The Situation , its lyrics make reference to " failing in love in the summer sun . " = = Release = = During a string of soundtrack releases , Knowles commented on the song in an interview with Billboard and stated : " A lot of music was written especially for the film . At first I was concerned about the timing of the soundtrack , [ because ] my solo album was supposed to come out way before the movie . But then the solo album got delayed . " While later announcing the release of the soundtrack album in a press release , Knowles said : " Once you hear the song [ ' Fighting Temptation ' ] , and all the music in this film , you can 't help but fall in love with it . You 'll definitely get emotional . You might become happy or even sad , but your heart will get full . All the songs are touching and spiritual , and that 's what the movie itself is like . " " Summertime " was issued as a 12 " vinyl single in the United States by Columbia Records on October 28 , 2003 , and was later serviced to radio by the label . The original version of the song also served as the B @-@ side to Knowles ' debut solo lead single " Crazy in Love " ( 2003 ) in the UK and Australia . " Summertime " was additionally included on Knowles ' 2005 mixtape Speak My Mind . The song was later referenced in Rochelle Alers 's short story " Summer Madness " , from the anthology Four Degrees of Heat ( 2004 – 07 ) . = = Reception = = In a summer issue of Vibe , the song was included on a list of the top songs for a summer playlist . Research director Laura Checkoway reviewed the remix of the track and stated : " Ghost 's game is tight . " In an Amazon.com editorial review , Tom Keogh stated that the song " proves a breezy dance number . " Tim Sendra of Allmusic wrote that " Summertime " features " a wonderful vocal from Beyoncé . " He also considered that it would have made a perfect addition to her debut solo studio album , Dangerously in Love ( 2003 ) . Dani Boobyer of The Situation commented that the song is " infectious " and that it ends the soundtrack album " on a smooth , laid @-@ back high . " Both the original version featuring P. Diddy and remix version featuring Ghostface Killah charted for forty weeks on the US Billboard Hot R & B / Hip @-@ Hop Singles & Tracks . During the week of August 16 , 2003 the remix featuring Ghostface Killah charted and peaked at number fifty @-@ one . During the week of September 20 , 2003 the original version charted at number thirty @-@ five . The remix also charted at number eight on the US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart , which acts as a twenty five @-@ song extension to the Billboard Hot 100 . = = Live performances = = Although Knowles did not perform the song in any televised appearances , the song was a part of her set list on her tours . During the Verizon Ladies First Tour , which also featured Alicia Keys , Missy Elliott and Tamia , Knowles performed " Summertime " in New York in front of more than 20 @,@ 000 fans . Shaheem Reid of MTV News commented that Knowles " stepped in the name of love " during the breakdown of the song . Knowles also sung " Summertime " with an interpolation of R. Kelly 's " Step in the Name of Love " on her first solo tour Dangerously in Love Tour ( 2003 ) at the Wembley Arena in London , England . Knowles performed the song in a yellow summer @-@ dress that was bedazzled in rhinestones across the upper breast area and around the bottom of the dress . The song , alongside its live version , was included on a live DVD / CD titled Live at Wembley . " Summertime " serves as the twelfth track of the live DVD . A performance of the remix of the song was included on the Jay @-@ Z documentary Fade to Black ( 2004 ) , which features Knowles performing with Ghostface Killah . = = Track listing and formats = = US 12 " vinyl single " Summertime " ( Album Version featuring P. Diddy ) – 3 : 53 " Summertime " ( Album Version Instrumental ) – 3 : 34 " Summertime " ( A Capella featuring P.Diddy ) – 2 : 59 " Summertime " ( Remix featuring Ghostface Killah ) – 4 : 04 " Summertime " ( Remix Instrumental ) – 3 : 34 " Summertime " ( A Capella featuring Ghostface Killah ) – 3 : 08 = = Charts = =
= Percy Henn = Reverend Canon Percy Umfreville Henn ( 21 January 1865 in Manchester , England – 25 February 1955 in Perth , Western Australia ) was a clergyman and teacher in England and later Western Australia . He is best known for his time as Headmaster at Guildford Grammar School and later for the building of the Chapel of SS . Mary and George . Henn gained his BA in 1887 and MA in 1890 from Worcester College at Oxford University . He taught at various schools until 1900 , when he became a missionary in Western Australia in country towns . In Western Australia Henn married Jean Elliott and had four children . After further religious work in regional WA , he moved to Guildford , Western Australia and became a leading force behind Guildford Grammar School 's Guildford Grammar School Chapel and preparatory school . He died in 1955 at age 90 . = = Early years = = Henn was the tenth child of Rev. John Henn and his wife Catherine , née Holcroft . Born in Manchester , England in 1865 , he was educated at Christ 's Hospital , London as a Bluecoat Boy and then at Worcester College , Oxford on a scholarship . Henn considered taking holy orders after gaining two qualifications : a BA ( 1887 ) and a MA ( 1890 ) . = = Early career = = Henn decided , before taking on a spiritual career , that he would become a teacher . He began his career as an assistant master at Hurstpierpoint College , West Sussex ( one of the Woodard Schools , a series of eleven schools founded by Nathaniel Woodard ) . There , he became interested in education through religion , and became an ordained priest in 1891 . He then became Chaplain at Hurstpierpoint in 1892 . Henn became recognised as a teacher when he became a founding headmaster at Worksop College in Nottinghamshire ; however he resigned in 1899 amidst differences with a new superior who disagreed with Henn 's philosophy of a school grounds with beautiful buildings dominated by a chapel . = = Looking abroad = = In January 1900 , Henn arrived as a missionary in Perth , Western Australia . After a short spell in Kalgoorlie , he moved to Geraldton as rector ( parish priest ) . On 3 April 1902 , in Geraldton , Henn married Jean Elliott and they eventually had four children together . Henn became a rector in Northam for three years ( 1902 – 1905 ) , signifying the end of his missionary term . He returned to England and became organising secretary in the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in the dioceses of Canterbury and Rochester . = = Return to Western Australia = = = = = A Chapel for Guildford = = = In 1910 , Henn returned to Perth to take up the position of Headmaster of Guildford Grammar School . His task was to oversee the first attempt by the Church of England at secondary education since 1873 . His first thought for the new school was the provision of a chapel . To him , a Church school without a chapel was " like the play of Hamlet without the Prince of Denmark . " Henn immediately sent out a circular entitled " A Church of England Secondary School for Western Australia . " This circular fell into the hands of one Cecil H. Oliverson , whom Henn eventually persuaded to pay the full cost of the Chapel , the Chapel of SS . Mary and George . = = = Relations with Christ Church Grammar School = = = In 1918 , Guildford Grammar School and Christ Church Grammar School were placed under the same ruling council . Henn became a member immediately ; however , Christ Church did not gain representation until 1920 . In 1918 , Henn suggested that Christ Church Grammar School 's oval be widened and made a first @-@ class playing field . = = = Guildford Preparatory School = = = In 1912 , a Cecil Priestley was temporarily employed by Henn as a member of the Guildford Grammar School staff . It seems today that he conceived the idea of a Guildford Preparatory School . Henn was enthusiastic about this , however the Guildford Preparatory School did not integrate with the main Guildford Grammar School until 1921 , when it became Guildford Grammar Preparatory School , and Priestley resigned from his position as the Head of the Prep School around this time . Henn became canon of St George 's Cathedral , Perth in 1921 . He has a Guildford Grammar School house named after him , Henn 's House , founded 1927 . = = 1925 – death = = Henn left his job as Headmaster at Guildford Grammar School in 1925 and returned to England . However , he could not be kept away from Western Australia and returned again to become founding warden of St. Georges College , within the University of Western Australia . Henn retired permanently to Perth in 1933 and died in 1955 , age 90 . Henn 's ashes reside in the Guildford Grammar School Chapel , with a stone slab to commemorate this situated on the north side of the sanctuary .

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