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What is the name of the saxophone player in the Muppet rock band, which appear on the television show ‘The Muppets’? | Zoot | Muppet Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia
Zoot, as seen in Season 1
Zoot and Rowlf in The Muppets.
Zoot is the balding, blue-haired saxophone player for the Electric Mayhem . According to his performer and builder Dave Goelz , "Zoot is just a fifty-year-old burnt-out musician." [1]
Zoot first appeared with his bandmates in The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence before securing a regular gig on The Muppet Show , where he played both in the Muppet Orchestra and with the Mayhem. He has also appeared in every Muppet movie, the most recent being Muppets Most Wanted , except Kermit's Swamp Years .
One of Zoot's trademarks is blowing small notes of music at a time. He notably blew the final note of " The Muppet Show Theme " in the closing credits on every episode of The Muppet Show (except episode 123 ), The Muppets Go Hollywood , and The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years . Although most of his appearances were with the Electric Mayhem, Zoot was more prominently featured as an individual in the early episodes, appearing with Juliet Prowse in a blackout in episode 101 , and playing a reluctant duet with Mahna Mahna in " Sax and Violence " in episode 102 .
Zoot was considerably more talkative during the show's first season, but he soon started speaking less, often expressing himself purely with music. Dave Goelz explained that "I found that when the writers gave Zoot lines to speak, I would always try to give them away to other characters because I didn't know what to do with him. Maybe that helped to define the character. Perhaps it's best that he's so non-verbal." [2] Thus, Zoot's proclivity towards speaking more in the earlier episodes may have been due to the fact that Jerry Nelson , who played Zoot's more animated bandmate Floyd , was not available for tapings of The Muppet Show's first episodes. Zoot became much more talkative on The Muppets , often making candid observations which ultimately came across as humorous.
Contents
Lighting a Menorah in A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa
Is Zoot Jewish?
It is likely that Zoot is Jewish . Hints at this possibility are in A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa , where Zoot wishes Kermit a happy Hanukkah when he and the rest of the Electric Mayhem arrive at the Christmas party, and in the extended DVD release, where Zoot lights a Menorah.
Is Zoot Homeless?
Several Muppet Show episodes mention how poor he is. Close to the ending of the " Bohemian Rhapsody " [Kermit's Commentary] video, Kermit finds Zoot in the phone booth. Kermit says he didn't hear him come in. Zoot replies,"Come in? I've been sleeping here for three months." Additionally, although Zoot has had about 8 outfits he's worn the most, in The Great Muppet Caper it is revealed that he has only one pair of pants. Zoot also wore the same pair of shades until 2009 (when he started donning more modern shades). The only deviations from his original trademark shades were in Muppet Treasure Island and The Muppet Christmas Carol , where his look was adjusted to fit the time period. That being said, Zoot has only been seen without shades at all once in The Great Muppet Caper , when the Muppets arrive at the Mallory Gallery wearing Groucho Marx glasses, it's shown that he has no visible eyes - which contradicts an earlier scene in the movie where his eyes are visible after Gonzo took a group picture .
Behind the Scenes
Evolution
Throughout the years, the Zoot puppet has been redesigned several times, his skin changing from gray to blue to green, the texture from exposed foam to fleece and back again, and his nose from green to yellow. Zoot's trademark shades (up until 2009), his bald spot, and his long, blue hair have always stayed with him, though. See Zoot Through the Years to track his changes.
The original Zoot puppet is exposed foam, blueish-gray with a light green nose.
Zoot changes to blue fleece skin with a yellow-green nose.
Zoot has changed to exposed foam green skin with a yellow nose.
And lastly back to light blue fleece with a new yellow nose.
Sax playing
For the run of The Muppet Show , Zoot's musical "voice" was Frank Reedy . For The Muppet Movie , sax player David Garland performed the duties.
Trivia
Zoot was designed by Bonnie Erickson after seeing Argentine saxophonist Gato Barbieri .
Zoot has been around for 40 years and still has been performed by the same person ever since his first appearance on The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence in 1975, Dave Goelz . The only time Zoot wasn't performed by Goelz was Episode 112: Food of The Jim Henson Hour , where he was voiced by Kevin Clash .
In The Muppets (ABC TV series) , Zoot is strongly implied to be an alcoholic, as when he is told he's at a (writers) meeting, he stands up and introduces himself the same fashion one does at an AA meeting.
Filmography
| Zoot |
The headquarters of the Jyske Bank are in which European country? | We Love Soaps: 'The Muppets' Premieres Tonight on ABC, Explores Backstage Relationships at Miss Piggy's Late Night Show
'The Muppets' Premieres Tonight on ABC, Explores Backstage Relationships at Miss Piggy's Late Night Show
Posted by
Roger Newcomb
Miss Piggy and Kermit. Photo Credit: ABC/Michael Desmond
ABC's new soapy version of The Muppets premieres tonight at 8 p.m. ET/PT. In "Pig Girls Don't Cry (Pilot)," Miss Piggy is furious that Kermit booked Elizabeth Banks as a guest on her late night talk show Up Late with Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear meets his girlfriend’s parents, and Grammy Award-winning rock band Imagine Dragons performs their new single “Roots”.
The Muppets will "explore the Muppets’ personal lives and relationships, both at home and at work, as well as romances, breakups, achievements, disappointments, wants and desires." With Kermit serving as executive producer of Up Late with Miss Piggy, hosted by his ex, things get complicated in a hurry. And, of course, there are lots of laughs.
Check out a breakdown of the characters below and watch the trailer for the series.
The Muppets Characters
Rizzo
Writer on “Up Late with Miss Piggy” on ABC’s “The Muppets”, ABC, The Muppets
Rizzo has risen from the sewers to the stars. After more than 10 years with the Muppets, one can safely say that Rizzo is one of the most famous rats in the world (not that there are all that many famous rats in the world).
Originally from the sewers of Brooklyn, Rizzo knew at an early age that show business would become his life when his family took him to the Passaic premiere of “Willard.” “I saw all dose rats on da big screen and thought to myself, hey, I can do dat,” says Rizzo. “Besides — rats are the only ones who actually enjoy studio commissary food.”
For several years, Rizzo traveled from theater to theater, waiting in the wings (and the back of the kitchen) for his big break. When he arrived at “The Muppet Show” in 1980, he knew this was the place to be. It was here where Rizzo was ‘discovered’ by Kermit the Frog. “It’s not like we were actively looking for rats,” remembers Kermit. “It was just cheaper to hire him than to call an exterminator.”
Rizzo worked his way up with the Muppets (“When you’re a rat, there’s no place to go but up, says Rizzo”), first working backstage, then eventually appearing in sketches and musical numbers. He made his film debut in “The Great Muppet Caper” and was featured with several of his rat friends in “The Muppets Take Manhattan.”
With “The Muppet Christmas Carol,” Rizzo took on his first major role alongside The Great Gonzo™ as narrator of the story. Rizzo was also in feature films, “Muppet Treasure Island” and “Muppets from Space” and the ABC primetime series “Muppets Tonight.” Most recently, Rizzo was hired by his friend Gonzo to be a writer on the syndicated talk show “Up Late with Miss Piggy.”
In spite of his celebrity status, Rizzo vows not to let fame affect him. He does, however, see some advantages. “For years as a struggling actor, I’ve eaten in alleys behind some of the dumpiest delis around,” says Rizzo. “Now, I get ta’ eat behind some real nice places.”
Will he ever become tired of being recognized on the streets? “When you travel in the sewers,” he says, “you’d be surprised how few people recognize you.”
Rowlf
Owner of Rowlf’s Tavern on ABC’s “The Muppets”, ABC, The Muppets
Rowlf is a piano-playing dog with a down-to-earth manner and somewhat solitary habits. He lives alone, and after a day at work usually comes home, fetches the paper, and then takes himself for a walk. Rowlf is a keen observer of life and the philosopher of the group. But, his deep-down love of the worst in vaudeville comedy can easily be seen in his “Veterinarian’s Hospital” sketches on “The Muppet Show,” in which he rivals Fozzie for delivering the most awful puns. Currently, Rowlf is the owner of Rowlf’s Tavern, a local piano bar in Los Angeles.
Scooter
Talent Coordinator on “Up Late with Miss Piggy” on ABC’s “The Muppets”, ABC, The Muppets
Scooter started his career as Kermit the Frog’s energetic and excitable assistant. Officially, his occupation was “gopher” — that is, when anyone needs anything, Scooter would “go-fer” — coffee, sandwiches, supplies, etc. He has done such a good job helping Kermit keep things on track; he was recently promoted to Talent Coordinator on “Up Late with Miss Piggy.” With an eager-to-please look on his face, Scooter is perhaps the only one who knows exactly where everyone is and what is supposed to happen next.
Fozzie Bear
Warm-up Comic / Sidekick on “Up Late with Miss Piggy,” on ABC’s “The Muppets”, ABC, The Muppets
Fozzie Bear is the self-proclaimed “funniest stand-up bear comedian in the world,” an assertion that is helped by the fact that he is also the only stand-up bear comedian in the world. The only cub of Emily Bear, Fozzie indicated his love for comedy at an early age when he sat up in his crib and asked his mother, “Why did the chicken cross the road?” He is still seeking a satisfactory—and funny—answer to this question.
Fozzie began his career touring small clubs where he was hit by every variety of fruit and vegetable in the world. After being bonked by an over-ripe cantaloupe, he decided television would be a good (and less messy) way to make a living. As fate would have it, Kermit the Frog happened to be in the audience that night. Impressed by Fozzie’s perseverance and his willingness to suffer the slings and arrows of outraged audiences, Kermit asked him to join a new show he was producing.
That show was, of course, “The Muppet Show.” Since getting his big break on that international television series in 1976, Fozzie has shared the stage with such legendary comics as Steve Martin, John Cleese, Bob Hope, George Burns, Milton Berle and Jonathan Winters.
After getting his feet wet in television, Fozzie made the big plunge into feature films with “The Muppet Movie.” This was followed by “The Great Muppet Caper,” “The Muppets Take Manhattan,” “The Muppet Christmas Carol,” “Muppet Treasure Island,” “Muppets From Space,” “The Muppets,” and “Muppets Most Wanted.” Currently, Fozzie serves as the warm-up / sidekick for the syndicated talk show, “Up Late with Miss Piggy.”
From his polka dot tie, his “funny” pork pie hat and trademark “Wocka-Wocka,” right down to the hook that pulls him off stage, Fozzie is a comic in the classic vaudeville tradition (He lives by the motto: “A little song, a little dance, a little seltzer down your pants”, despite the fact that, as a bear, he doesn’t wear pants. Go figure!?)
Like his comedic forebears (Get it? For Bears? Ahh! Funn-ee! Wocka! Wocka!), Fozzie will do anything for a laugh…even if it means getting hit in the face with a pie or slipping on a banana peel. Fozzie lives by three simple rules: “Tell funny jokes, use lots of props, and eat plenty of chicken soup!” Why chicken soup? “It couldn’t hurt! Wocka-Wocka!!”
Kermit the Frog
Executive Producer “Up Late with Miss Piggy” on ABCs “The Muppets”, ABC, The Muppets
An international star of the highest magnitude and the world’s most famous amphibian, Kermit the Froghad the most humble of beginnings. Born one of several thousand tadpoles in a southern swamp, Kermit’s life began swimmingly. His early years were typical, the most notable event being his transformation from tadpole to frog.
Ah….but that’s another tail. Long before Kermit first appeared on the silver screen, he began his career with a dream. With only his talent, banjo, and a song in his heart, a young, green Kermit headed out to make his way in the big world of show business. His first stop was Washington, D.C. where he starred in a local television show, “Sam and Friends,” which earned him his first Emmy Award.
Since then, Kermit has literally hopped to the top of the entertainment pantheon, a feat honored in 2002 when the frog was awarded with his own star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame. This event marked the first time an amphibian had been honored with this stellar award.
With almost 60years in the entertainment industry under his tiny belt, Kermit boasts countless credits in television, feature film and online. He has guest-hosted The Tonight Show, met the Queen of England, been a special correspondent on Nightline and donned suspenders to fill in for Larry King on CNN. He has had his likeness created in giant balloon form for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and served as the Grand Marshall in the Tournament of Roses Parade (1996), and been the first frog to ever address the prestigious Oxford Union in England (1994).
In 1956, Kermit made his network television debut on Steve Allen’s “Tonight Show.” This led to many more TV appearances and specials, and then his big break in 1969, Kermit, along with his Muppet friends, joined the cast of a new show called “Sesame Street.”
Seven years later, the primetime hit television series, “The Muppet Show,” gained Kermit a legion of older fans and catapulted the mild-mannered frog to superstardom in more than 100 countries. Kermit’s success on “The Muppet Show” led to a string of feature films including “The Muppet Movie,” “The Great Muppet Caper,” “The Muppets Take Manhattan,” “The Muppet Christmas Carol” (where he took on the pivotal role of Bob Cratchit), “Muppet Treasure Island,” “Muppets From Space” and “The Muppets.” In 2011, Kermit and the rest of the Muppets reunited to shoot “The Muppets,” one of the best-reviewed films of the year, and were back at it again in “Muppets Most Wanted,” which was released March 2014.
On Kermit’s 50th birthday, the United States Postal Service released a set of stamps with photos of Kermit and some of his fellow Muppets. The background of the stamp sheet featured a silhouette of creator Jim Henson sitting in a window well, with Kermit sitting in his lap looking at him.
Kermit added the title of author to his long list of credits with the publication of One Frog Can Make A Difference: Kermit’s Guide to Life in the 90’s (1993) as well as a memoir/self-help book called Before You Leap: A Frog’s Eye View of Life’s Greatest Lessons (2006).
Successful music endeavors include Kermit Unpigged (1994), where Kermit sang duets with such recording artists as Vince Gill, Linda Ronstadt and Don Henley, Grammy Award-winning A Green and Red Christmas (2006) and The Muppets, the album from the film of the same name that won the first-ever Academy Award for a song in a Muppets film, Man or Muppet, written by Grammy Award-winning Bret McKenzie. In addition, he has worked with Lady Gaga, Ed Sheeran, Jimmy Fallon and Josh Groban.
Music video credits include a re-mix of the ever-popular The Muppet Show Theme Song with alternative rock band OK Go, best known for their award-winning elaborate and quirky videos (2011). Then in 2012, Kermit partnered with Grammy-Award winning artist CeeLo Green to record All I Need Is Love, an original holiday song and music video performed with CeeLo and the Muppets.
Academic achievements include Kermit’s aforementioned address to the students at Oxford University and an honorary degree from Long Island University in 1996, making him Dr. Kermit the Frog.
More active than ever, Kermit has recently appeared on “Good Morning America,” “Jimmy Fallon,” “Saturday Night Live,” “The Colbert Report,” “WWE Raw,” “The Voice,” “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” “The Queen Latifah Show,” “Entertainment Tonight,” “The View,” “The Bachelorette,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” “Dancing with the Stars,” “The 68th Annual Academy Awards” and many more! He currently serves as the Executive Producer on “Up Late with Miss Piggy.”
As he looks to the future, does Kermit show any signs of slowing down? “Slow down?” he asks. “I just got started!”
The Great Gonzo
Head Writer for “Up Late with Miss Piggy” on ABC’s “The Muppets”, ABC, The Muppets
What is Gonzo? Rumor has it that one of his ancestors was a turkey…or maybe an anteater….or some have mentioned a toaster oven. But it is best to think of Gonzo the way his friends describe him — He’s a….whatever…and they love him for it.
Now known as an international performance artist and daredevil, Gonzo began his career as a traveling plumber (He has often noted that plumbing and show business have a great deal in common, ask him for the details.) But Gonzo wanted to do more than unclog drains and re-pipe kitchens. He wanted to be a movie star. So, naturally (for him) he headed to Bombay, India. When told that the place to go to become a rich and famous movie star is Hollywood, he responded, “Sure, if you want to do it the easy way!” Gonzo, suffice it to say, never does anything the easy way.
Gonzo never made it to Bombay, but his penchant for combining high culture with a high tolerance for pain was noted by Kermit the Frog who gave Gonzo his very own spot on the first episode of “The Muppet Show.” After a few appearances (i.e. eating a steel-belted radial tire while humming “Flight of the Bumblebee,” or reciting Hamlet’s soliloquy while being shot out of a cannon), Gonzo was star. The rest is history…
After supporting roles in “The Muppet Movie,” “The Great Muppet Caper,” “The Muppets Take Manhattan” and “Muppet Treasure Island,” Gonzo took on the role of Charles Dickens in “The Muppet Christmas Carol.” He played his first lead role in the feature film “Muppets From Space,” and returned to his plumbing roots in the international hit movie, “The Muppets” and “Muppets Most Wanted.” Gonzo was recently hired as the head writer of “Up Late with Miss Piggy” and oversees a diverse team of rats, prawns and humans.
Pepé The King Prawn
Writer on “Up Late with Miss Piggy” on ABC’s “The Muppets”, ABC, The Muppets
First of all, Pepé is a King Prawn…NOT a shrimp. (This is not a mistake you want to make, trust us!) Born off the coast of Mallorca, Spain, Pepé was discovered during an early morning casting call. Unfortunately, the casting was done by a fisherman using a net, and the role was as a seafood entree at a local eatery.
While being breaded, Pepé realized there was literally no future in the seafood industry and decided to go into show business. After washing ashore in Hollywood, Pepé joined the Muppets and first appeared on the ABC television show “Muppets Tonight.” This led to his breakthrough role in feature film—“Muppets From Space,” “The Muppets,” and “Muppets Most Wanted.”There’s been no stopping him since. He was recently hired as a writer for the syndicated late night show, “Up Late with Miss Piggy.”
An inveterate schemer, Pepé is forever trying to get Kermit (whose name he mispronounces as “Karmen”) to go along with his usually less-than-honest plans. It is not that Pepé is a bad guy — it’s just that he prefers to get everything for free and not have to do any work to get it. In addition to his many monetary pursuits, Pepé is a self-styled hot-&-spicy ladies’ prawn, always looking for the woman of his dreams…or any other attractive lady who is willing to give him the time of day.
Miss Piggy
Host of “Up Late with Miss Piggy” on ABC’s “The Muppets”, ABC, The Muppets
International star of television and feature film, author, supermodel, fashion icon! It is no wonder that she is considered “the paradigm of porcine pulchritude.” And yet, though her millions of fans around the world can’t remember a time when she wasn’t a superstar, Miss Piggy has not always been “in the pink.”
Born and raised on a farm, Miss Piggy enjoyed a typically happy agricultural childhood—if hunkering down in mud is your idea of a good time. But these early years—which, be forewarned Miss Piggy does not like to talk about—were soon put behind her as she left the rural life to pursue her dream of becoming a celebrity of the highest wattage.
Miss Piggy left home as a teenager, having graduated from a charm school and karate dojo where she became a perfect lady, and learned how to break boards…and other things. On her own, she managed to find employment selling gloves in a department store. Unfortunately, her salary was too meager to cover her extensive wardrobe costs (despite the employee discount). Strapped for funds, Miss Piggy was forced to pose for some ads, one of them for a certain product that is often combined with lettuce and tomato on a sandwich. (This whole incident is too painful for her to talk about, and we know better than to say the word aloud in her presence — don’t say you haven’t been warned).
Soon, Miss Piggy’s luck changed and she was able to get frequent work as a hand model, a gig which oddly enough led to her entering the Miss Bogen Country Beauty Pageant that was to change her life forever. There she met her adored frog, Kermit. And the rest, as they say, is history…
Miss Piggy soon moved to London and worked in the chorus of “The Muppet Show.” Of course, she wasn’t fated to remain in the chorus for long. Actually, her stint out of the spotlight lasted for only half a musical number during the very first episode of “The Muppet Show.” Soon, she made her presence known and became lead chanteuse and femme fatale on the show, and Kermit’s constant companion.
Quickly, her career expanded to include television specials, home videos, records and books. Her “how to” volume of advice on absolutely everything, Miss Piggy’s Guide to Life, became a national bestseller. Other books to her credit include a celebrity cookbook entitled In The Kitchenwith Miss Piggy and Miss Piggy’s Rulesand the recent bestseller The Diva Code. Miss Piggy’s memorable divine face has been featured on the cover of countless magazines too numerous to mention (all right…Time, TV Guide, InStyle and People to name a few).
With Kermit, Miss Piggy has starred in all eight Muppet feature films including “The Muppet Movie,” “The Great Muppet Caper,” “The Muppets Take Manhattan,” “The Muppet Christmas Carol,” “Muppet Treasure Island,” “Muppets From Space” and “The Muppets” where Miss Piggy starred as fashion editor for Paris Vogue.After spending more than a year preparing for the role, by living in Paris and buying expensive fashion, Miss Piggy was convinced this was the movie that would lead to her finally winning an Oscar. Unfortunately, Hollywood has yet to overcome its species bias against actresses who don’t happen to be human. (As a consolation, she did “borrow” the Oscar won by songwriter Brett McKenzie for Best Song, “Man or Muppet”). Most recently, she starred in “Muppets Most Wanted” which released March 2014. Currently, Miss Piggy hosts the late night syndicated show, “Up Late with Miss Piggy.”
The Electric Mayhem
House Band for “Up Late with Miss Piggy,” featured on “The Muppets”, ABC, The Muppets
Dr. Teeth
Dr. Teeth is the leader and keyboard player for the junk-rock super group, The Electric Mayhem. Dr. Teeth is also the absolute authority on what is cool.
Sgt. Floyd Pepper
Sgt. Floyd Pepper is the laid back bass player for The Electric Mayhem. In addition, he plays the vibes, sings solo, and keeps track of the group’s drummer, Animal. Floyd is a mixture of 50’s beat, 60’s hip and timeless cool.
Zoot
Zoot is the shades-wearing, almost totally silent saxophone player for The Electric Mayhem. He usually speaks in barely audible mumbles, preferring to let his sax do the talking for him.
Animal
Animal is rampant, he is an appetite on two legs whose desires in life are very simple—drums, sleep, pain, food, and women! Yet for all of his unchecked passion, Animal is a totally innocent spirit. While his behavior may sometimes wreak havoc, he never intentionally causes harm.
Janice
Part flower child, part valley girl, and completely organic, Janice is the left-handed guitarist and sometimes tambourine player for The Electric Mayhem.
Lips
A trumpet virtuoso who adds jazzy brass to The Electric Mayhem’s repertoire, and amazingly enough, he speaks even less than Zoot. So if you want to know what’s up with Lips— Talk to the horn.
| i don't know |
A group of which fish is known as an army? | Collective Nouns
Collective Nouns
One of the many oddities of the English language is the multitude of different names given to collections or groups, be they beasts, birds, people or things. Many of these collective nouns are beautiful and evocative, even poetic.
A colony of auks (flock, raft)
A colony of avocets
A flock of birds (dissimulation, fleet, flight, parcel, pod, volary, )
A sedge of bitterns (siege)
A chain of bobolinks
A brood of chickens (cletch, clutch, peep)
A chattering of choughs (clattering)
A covert of coots ( commotion, cover, fleet, flock, pod, rasp, swarm)
A flight of cormorants (gulp)
A sedge of cranes (herd, sedge, siege)
A murder of crows ( hover, muster, parcel)
A head of curlews (herd)
A trip of dotterels
A dole of doves ( dule, flight, piteousness, pitying, prettying)
A flush of ducks (badelynge, brace, bunch, dopping, flock, paddling, plump, raft, safe, skein, sord, string, team)
A flight of dunbirds (rush)
A fling of dunlins
A convocation of eagles (aerie)
A cast of falcons
A charm of finches (chirm, trembling, trimming)
A stand of flamingos
A gaggle of geese (flock, plump, skein, team, wedge)
A charm of goldfinches (chattering, drum, troubling)
A dopping of goosanders
A covey of grouse (brace, brood, flight, pack)
A bazaar of guillemots
A mews of hawks (aerie, cast, kettle, mew, moulting, screw, stream)
A brood of hens
A sedge of herons (flight, hedge, rookery, siege)
A charm of hummingbirds (chattering, drum, troubling)
A colony of ibises
A band of jays (party, scold)
A desert of lapwings (deceit)
A parcel of linnets
An exaltation of larks (ascension, bevy, flight)
A congregation of magpies (charm, flock, gulp, murder, tiding, tittering, tribe, )
A sord of mallards (flush, puddling, sute)
A plump of moorhens
A watch of nightingales (match, pray)
A pride of ostriches (flock)
A parliament of owls (stare)
A fling of oxbirds
A company of parrots (flock, pandemonium, psittacosis)
A covey of partridges (bevy, bew, clutch, warren)
A muster of peacocks (ostentation, pride)
A pod of pelicans (scoop)
A colony of penguins (parcel, rookery)
A cadge of peregrines
A nye of pheasants (bouquet, head, nide, warren, )
A flight of pigeons (flock, kit, passel, )
A knob of pintails [small number]
A congregation of plovers (band, flight, leash, stand, wing)
A rush of pochards (flight, knob[small number])
A run of poultry
A bevy of quails (covey, drift)
An unkindness of ravens (aerie, conspiracy)
A crowd of redwings
A parliament of rooks (building, clamour, congregation, shoal, wing)
A hill of ruffs
A dopping of sheldrakes (doading)
A walk of snipes (wisp)
A host of sparrows (meinie, quarrel, tribe, ubiquity)
A murmuration of starlings (chattering, cloud, congregation, clutter)
A mustering of storks (flight, phalanx)
A flight of swallows (gulp)
A herd of swans (bank, bevy, drift, eyrar, game, herd, lamentation, sownder, squadron, team, wedge, whiteness, whiting)
A flock of swifts
A spring of teals (bunch, coil, knob, raft)
A mutation of thrushes
A flock of turkeys (dole, dule, raffle, raft, rafter, posse)
A pitying of turtledoves
A colony of vultures (committee, wake)
A plump of waterfowls (bunch, knob, raft)
A company of widgeons (bunch, coil, flight, knob, trip)
A trip of wildfowls (bunch, knob, lute, plump,scry, skein, sord, sute)
A fall of woodcocks (covey, flight, plump)
A descent of woodpeckers
A cluster of antelopes (herd, tribe)
A shrewdness of apes (troop)
A pace of asses (drove, coffle, herd)
A congress of baboons (flange, troop)
A cete of badgers (colony)
A cloud of bats (colony)
A sloth of bears (sleuth)
A colony of beavers (family, lodge)
A herd of bisons (gang)
A sute of bloodhounds
A herd of boars (singular)
A sounder of (wild) boars [12+]
A herd of bucks (leash)
A gang of buffalos (herd, obstinacy)
A drove of bullocks
A flock of camels (caravan, herd, train)
A herd of caribous
A clowder of cats (glaring, cluster, clutter)
A destruction of (wild) cats (dout, dowt)
A herd of cattle (drift, drove, mob)
A herd of chamois
A rake of colts (rack, rag)
A bury of conies (game)
A flink of cows [12+]
A pack of coyotes (band, rout)
A litter of cubs
A herd of deers (bunch, leash, mob, parcel, rangale)
A pack of dogs (kennel)
A pod of dolphins (flock, school, team)
A herd of donkeys (drove)
A herd of elands
A herd of elephants (parade)
A gang of elks (herd)
A business of ferrets (cast, fesnying)
A skulk of foxes (earth, lead, leash, troop)
A brace of geldings
A journey of giraffes (corps, group, herd, tower)
A herd of gnus (implausibility)
A trip of goats (flock, herd, trip, tribe)
A band of gorillas (whoop)
A leash of greyhounds
A group of guinea pigs
A horde of hamsters
A drove of hares (down, flick, herd, husk, kindle, leash, trace, trip)
A herd of harts
A array of hedgehogs (prickle)
A parcel of hinds
A bloat of hippopotami (crash, herd, pod, school, thunder)
A drift of hogs (drove, parcel)
A stable of horses (drove, harras, herd, remuda, string, stud, team)
A pack of hounds (cry, hunt, kennel, leash, meet, mute, stable, sute)
A clan of hyenas
A mob of kangaroos (troop)
A kindle of kittens (litter)
A fall of lambs
A leap of leopards (lepe)
A kindle of leverets
A pride of lions (flock, sault, sawt, sowse, troop)
A herd of llamas
A richness of martens (richesse)
A mischief of mice (horde, nest, trip)
A labour of moles (company, movement)
A band of mongooses (pack)
A troop of monkeys (cartload, mission, tribe, wilderness)
A herd of moose
A barren of mules (pack, rake, span)
A family of otters (bevy, raft, romp)
A team of oxen (drove, herd, meinie, span, yoke)
A pomp of pekingese
A drove of pigs (drift, flock, herd)
A doylt of (tame) pigs
A sounder of (wild) pigs
A farrow of piglets (litter)
An aurora of polar bears (pack)
A chine of polecats
A string of ponies (herd)
A prickle of porcupines
A school of porpoises (herd, pod)
A coterie of prairie dogs (town)
A litter of pups
A colony of rabbits (bury, drove, flick, kindle, leash, nest, trace, warren, wrack)
A field of racehorses (string)
A nursery of raccoons (gaze)
A colony of rats (horde, mischief, swarm)
A crash of rhinoceroses (herd, stubbornness)
A bevy of roe deers
A colony of seals (harem, herd, pod, rookery, spring)
A flock of sheep (down, drift, drove, fold, herd, meinie, mob, parcel, trip)
A surfeit of skunks
A dray of squirrels (colony)
A pack of stoats (trip)
A drove of swine (herd)
A doylt of (tame) swine (drift, trip)
A sounder of (wild) swine [12+]
An ambush of tigers (streak)
A blessing of unicorns
A huddle of walruses (herd, ugly)
A mob of wallabyies
A sneak of weasels (gang, pack)
A grind of bottle-nosed whales
A school of whales (float, gam, herd, mob, pod, run, shoal, troup)
A destruction of wildcats (dout)
A herd of wildebeests
A pack of wolves (herd, rout)
A mob of wombats
A colony of ants (army, bike, swarm)
A swarm of bees (bike, cast, cluster, drift, erst, game, grist, hive, rabble, stand)
A bike of (wild) bees
A flight of butterflies (kaleidoscope, rabble, swarm)
An army of caterpillars
A swarm of flies (business, cloud, grist, hatch)
A cloud of gnats (horde, rabble, swarm)
A cloud of grasshoppers (cluster, swarm)
A bike of hornets (nest, swarm)
A flight of insects (horde, plague, rabble, swarm)
A flock of lice (colony, infestation)
A plague of locusts (cloud, swarm)
A scourge of mosquitoes (swarm)
A clutter of spiders (cluster)
A colony of termites (swarm)
A colony of wasps (bike, nest)
A company of angel fish
A company of archer fish
A battery of barracudas
A fleet of bass (shoal)
A grind of blackfish
A school of butterfly fish
A school of cod
A swarm of dragonet fish
A troop of dogfish
A shoal of fish (catch, draught, fray, haul, run, school)
A glide of flying fish
A glint of goldfish (troubling)
A glean of herrings (army, shoal)
A shoal of mackerels
A shoal of minnows (steam, stream, swarm)
A pack of perch
A shoal of pilchards (school)
A cluster of porcupine fish
A party of rainbow fish
A shoal of roach
A bind of salmons(draught, leap, run, school, shoal)
A family of sardines
| Herring |
English singer/songwriter Paloma Faith played Andrea in which 2007 film? | Collective Nouns
Collective Nouns
One of the many oddities of the English language is the multitude of different names given to collections or groups, be they beasts, birds, people or things. Many of these collective nouns are beautiful and evocative, even poetic.
A colony of auks (flock, raft)
A colony of avocets
A flock of birds (dissimulation, fleet, flight, parcel, pod, volary, )
A sedge of bitterns (siege)
A chain of bobolinks
A brood of chickens (cletch, clutch, peep)
A chattering of choughs (clattering)
A covert of coots ( commotion, cover, fleet, flock, pod, rasp, swarm)
A flight of cormorants (gulp)
A sedge of cranes (herd, sedge, siege)
A murder of crows ( hover, muster, parcel)
A head of curlews (herd)
A trip of dotterels
A dole of doves ( dule, flight, piteousness, pitying, prettying)
A flush of ducks (badelynge, brace, bunch, dopping, flock, paddling, plump, raft, safe, skein, sord, string, team)
A flight of dunbirds (rush)
A fling of dunlins
A convocation of eagles (aerie)
A cast of falcons
A charm of finches (chirm, trembling, trimming)
A stand of flamingos
A gaggle of geese (flock, plump, skein, team, wedge)
A charm of goldfinches (chattering, drum, troubling)
A dopping of goosanders
A covey of grouse (brace, brood, flight, pack)
A bazaar of guillemots
A mews of hawks (aerie, cast, kettle, mew, moulting, screw, stream)
A brood of hens
A sedge of herons (flight, hedge, rookery, siege)
A charm of hummingbirds (chattering, drum, troubling)
A colony of ibises
A band of jays (party, scold)
A desert of lapwings (deceit)
A parcel of linnets
An exaltation of larks (ascension, bevy, flight)
A congregation of magpies (charm, flock, gulp, murder, tiding, tittering, tribe, )
A sord of mallards (flush, puddling, sute)
A plump of moorhens
A watch of nightingales (match, pray)
A pride of ostriches (flock)
A parliament of owls (stare)
A fling of oxbirds
A company of parrots (flock, pandemonium, psittacosis)
A covey of partridges (bevy, bew, clutch, warren)
A muster of peacocks (ostentation, pride)
A pod of pelicans (scoop)
A colony of penguins (parcel, rookery)
A cadge of peregrines
A nye of pheasants (bouquet, head, nide, warren, )
A flight of pigeons (flock, kit, passel, )
A knob of pintails [small number]
A congregation of plovers (band, flight, leash, stand, wing)
A rush of pochards (flight, knob[small number])
A run of poultry
A bevy of quails (covey, drift)
An unkindness of ravens (aerie, conspiracy)
A crowd of redwings
A parliament of rooks (building, clamour, congregation, shoal, wing)
A hill of ruffs
A dopping of sheldrakes (doading)
A walk of snipes (wisp)
A host of sparrows (meinie, quarrel, tribe, ubiquity)
A murmuration of starlings (chattering, cloud, congregation, clutter)
A mustering of storks (flight, phalanx)
A flight of swallows (gulp)
A herd of swans (bank, bevy, drift, eyrar, game, herd, lamentation, sownder, squadron, team, wedge, whiteness, whiting)
A flock of swifts
A spring of teals (bunch, coil, knob, raft)
A mutation of thrushes
A flock of turkeys (dole, dule, raffle, raft, rafter, posse)
A pitying of turtledoves
A colony of vultures (committee, wake)
A plump of waterfowls (bunch, knob, raft)
A company of widgeons (bunch, coil, flight, knob, trip)
A trip of wildfowls (bunch, knob, lute, plump,scry, skein, sord, sute)
A fall of woodcocks (covey, flight, plump)
A descent of woodpeckers
A cluster of antelopes (herd, tribe)
A shrewdness of apes (troop)
A pace of asses (drove, coffle, herd)
A congress of baboons (flange, troop)
A cete of badgers (colony)
A cloud of bats (colony)
A sloth of bears (sleuth)
A colony of beavers (family, lodge)
A herd of bisons (gang)
A sute of bloodhounds
A herd of boars (singular)
A sounder of (wild) boars [12+]
A herd of bucks (leash)
A gang of buffalos (herd, obstinacy)
A drove of bullocks
A flock of camels (caravan, herd, train)
A herd of caribous
A clowder of cats (glaring, cluster, clutter)
A destruction of (wild) cats (dout, dowt)
A herd of cattle (drift, drove, mob)
A herd of chamois
A rake of colts (rack, rag)
A bury of conies (game)
A flink of cows [12+]
A pack of coyotes (band, rout)
A litter of cubs
A herd of deers (bunch, leash, mob, parcel, rangale)
A pack of dogs (kennel)
A pod of dolphins (flock, school, team)
A herd of donkeys (drove)
A herd of elands
A herd of elephants (parade)
A gang of elks (herd)
A business of ferrets (cast, fesnying)
A skulk of foxes (earth, lead, leash, troop)
A brace of geldings
A journey of giraffes (corps, group, herd, tower)
A herd of gnus (implausibility)
A trip of goats (flock, herd, trip, tribe)
A band of gorillas (whoop)
A leash of greyhounds
A group of guinea pigs
A horde of hamsters
A drove of hares (down, flick, herd, husk, kindle, leash, trace, trip)
A herd of harts
A array of hedgehogs (prickle)
A parcel of hinds
A bloat of hippopotami (crash, herd, pod, school, thunder)
A drift of hogs (drove, parcel)
A stable of horses (drove, harras, herd, remuda, string, stud, team)
A pack of hounds (cry, hunt, kennel, leash, meet, mute, stable, sute)
A clan of hyenas
A mob of kangaroos (troop)
A kindle of kittens (litter)
A fall of lambs
A leap of leopards (lepe)
A kindle of leverets
A pride of lions (flock, sault, sawt, sowse, troop)
A herd of llamas
A richness of martens (richesse)
A mischief of mice (horde, nest, trip)
A labour of moles (company, movement)
A band of mongooses (pack)
A troop of monkeys (cartload, mission, tribe, wilderness)
A herd of moose
A barren of mules (pack, rake, span)
A family of otters (bevy, raft, romp)
A team of oxen (drove, herd, meinie, span, yoke)
A pomp of pekingese
A drove of pigs (drift, flock, herd)
A doylt of (tame) pigs
A sounder of (wild) pigs
A farrow of piglets (litter)
An aurora of polar bears (pack)
A chine of polecats
A string of ponies (herd)
A prickle of porcupines
A school of porpoises (herd, pod)
A coterie of prairie dogs (town)
A litter of pups
A colony of rabbits (bury, drove, flick, kindle, leash, nest, trace, warren, wrack)
A field of racehorses (string)
A nursery of raccoons (gaze)
A colony of rats (horde, mischief, swarm)
A crash of rhinoceroses (herd, stubbornness)
A bevy of roe deers
A colony of seals (harem, herd, pod, rookery, spring)
A flock of sheep (down, drift, drove, fold, herd, meinie, mob, parcel, trip)
A surfeit of skunks
A dray of squirrels (colony)
A pack of stoats (trip)
A drove of swine (herd)
A doylt of (tame) swine (drift, trip)
A sounder of (wild) swine [12+]
An ambush of tigers (streak)
A blessing of unicorns
A huddle of walruses (herd, ugly)
A mob of wallabyies
A sneak of weasels (gang, pack)
A grind of bottle-nosed whales
A school of whales (float, gam, herd, mob, pod, run, shoal, troup)
A destruction of wildcats (dout)
A herd of wildebeests
A pack of wolves (herd, rout)
A mob of wombats
A colony of ants (army, bike, swarm)
A swarm of bees (bike, cast, cluster, drift, erst, game, grist, hive, rabble, stand)
A bike of (wild) bees
A flight of butterflies (kaleidoscope, rabble, swarm)
An army of caterpillars
A swarm of flies (business, cloud, grist, hatch)
A cloud of gnats (horde, rabble, swarm)
A cloud of grasshoppers (cluster, swarm)
A bike of hornets (nest, swarm)
A flight of insects (horde, plague, rabble, swarm)
A flock of lice (colony, infestation)
A plague of locusts (cloud, swarm)
A scourge of mosquitoes (swarm)
A clutter of spiders (cluster)
A colony of termites (swarm)
A colony of wasps (bike, nest)
A company of angel fish
A company of archer fish
A battery of barracudas
A fleet of bass (shoal)
A grind of blackfish
A school of butterfly fish
A school of cod
A swarm of dragonet fish
A troop of dogfish
A shoal of fish (catch, draught, fray, haul, run, school)
A glide of flying fish
A glint of goldfish (troubling)
A glean of herrings (army, shoal)
A shoal of mackerels
A shoal of minnows (steam, stream, swarm)
A pack of perch
A shoal of pilchards (school)
A cluster of porcupine fish
A party of rainbow fish
A shoal of roach
A bind of salmons(draught, leap, run, school, shoal)
A family of sardines
| i don't know |
What is the first name of British footballer Wayne Rooney’s second child, born in May 2013? | Wayne Rooney's baby Klay and the trend for K-names - BBC News
Wayne Rooney's baby Klay and the trend for K-names
By Vanessa Barford BBC News Magazine
22 May 2013
Close share panel
Image caption Klay, Wayne, Kai and Coleen Rooney
Footballer Wayne Rooney and his wife Coleen have called their second son Klay. The name is more usually spelt Clay. It's part of a wider trend that is seeing "c" being substituted with "k".
Think of famous people whose names start with the letter K - when they once would have been a C - and one word springs to mind.
Kardashian.
There's Kourtney Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian and mother Kris.
Sister Kim might not fit the bill, but then she used to be married to a Kris. Now's she dating another K - Kanye West.
The Kardashians aren't the only family who have colonised the letter K.
Former US baseball star Roger Clemens and his wife also adopted it, taking the alphabet association one step further by given their four sons - Koby, Kory, Kacy and Kody - second names beginning with the letter A.
The K calling was to honour Clemens's strikeouts - each known as a "K".
The Rooneys' first son is called Kai. So by adding Klay - which commentators have speculated could have been inspired by Muhammad Ali's birth name Cassius Clay - to the family, they have joined a growing club.
Image caption Will Kim and Kanye continue the K theme?
"Substituting a C for a K has been the single favourite trick of creative baby namers over the last decade. Substituting a Y for an I is another favourite," says Laura Wattenberg, author of the Baby Name Wizard.
"And K attracts people who like alliterative kids names, pairs of names. The letter stands out in look and sound, you can't miss it."
There's even a term for this type of creative spelling - "kree8iv" - according to Pamela Redmond Satran, co-owner of Nameberry, who cites the US actor Patrick Wilson, who called his son Kassian, and skateboarder Tony Hawk, who called his daughter Kadence, as other converts.
Boys' names such as Kameron, Konnar and Kaylob, and girls' names such as Kaydince and Klaira are also on the rise.
"The substitution is part of trend which is seeing parents come up with inventive ways to make their children's names more unusual.
"Personally, I think old vintage names or ethnic names are a better way to make a child's name individual, but people love creative spellings. I think the Kardashians have made it tacky chic," Satran says.
The Magazine on names
The consequences of having a 'foreign' name
Parenting club Bounty.com's spokeswoman Lisa Penney agrees celebrities have a huge influence on baby name trends.
"After the Rooneys named their first son Kai, it leapt up the charts to the 48th most popular boy's name for us, and it's still ranked 60th.
"We've had over 24 kids called Keegan already this year, and 54 Rios, probably after Rio Ferdinand. And Hugo made it into the top 100 last year, climbing 61 places, which we put down to the popularity of Made in Chelsea," she says.
When it comes to Clay or Klay, Penney says there have been 284 spellings of the name starting with the letter C on the site since 1995, versus 28 starting with the letter K.
But she says she wouldn't be surprised if Klay climbed up the ranks.
And it's not just baby names that are seeing the K effect catch on.
Ian Brookes, consultant editor for Collins Dictionaries, says brands, goods and retail establishments have increasingly been using K instead of C, or Z instead of S, over the past 20 years because people have felt less restrained by traditional forms of spelling.
"K, X and Z in particular can be seen as fun and funky letters, which can be used in unusual circumstances to give punch and effect.
"Kids Korner and Kidz clubs are pretty common nowadays. And people have been buying Rice Krispies and Heinz Beanz for ages," he says.
In fact, Brookes says there is no real need to have the letter C in the alphabet, because the sounds it creates can be replicated by a K or an S.
"Most English words which begin with K are borrowed from German or Japanese, like karate or karaoke. So by using K or Z, it could be that we are suggesting something exotic in some way," he adds.
But linguistics expert Prof Vivian Cook thinks it is quite the contrary.
"In the UK it has been used by businesses mostly at the cheap end of the market."
You can follow the Magazine on Twitter and on Facebook
| Klay |
Which television dramatist wrote the BBC television drama ‘The Black Stuff’ in 1978? | Coleen Rooney leaves hospital with new baby Klay and husband Wayne by her side - Mirror Online
Celebs
Coleen Rooney leaves hospital with new baby Klay and husband Wayne by her side
The star has headed home with her second son after giving birth in the early hours of the morning
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Baby Klay has been released - in more ways than one
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Coleen Rooney has left hospital looking happy and healthy after the birth of her second son.
The WAG and her footballer husband Wayne, both 27, were seen leaving Liverpool Women's Hospital today as Coleen carried some balloons with congratulatory messages on them.
The television personality popped out the sprog during the early hours and later took to Twitter to let fans know her news.
She wrote: "At 2.11am our Beautiful Son... Klay Anthony Rooney entered the world. He weighed 7lb 11 1/2 oz. We're all so happy and doing well. X"
And proud father Wayne added: "Boy Klay and Coleen are find... We're all delighted!"
Earlier in the day football star Wayne posted the first picture of his second mini-me on Twitter.
In the image, Coleen is seen cradling the baby and smiling at the camera.
Wayne captioned the image: "My family with our new baby boy Klay."
| i don't know |
Who directed the 1969 film ‘Women In Love’, starring Oliver Reed and Alan Bates? | Women in Love (1969) - IMDb
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The battle of the sexes and relationships among the elite of Britain's industrial Midlands in the 1920s. Gerald Crich and Rupert Berkin are best friends who fall in love with a pair of ... See full summary »
Director:
D.H. Lawrence (novel), Larry Kramer (written for the screen by)
Stars:
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Title: Women in Love (1969)
7.6/10
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Won 1 Oscar. Another 5 wins & 18 nominations. See more awards »
Photos
Piano teacher Peter Ilych Tchaikovsky struggles against his homosexuality by marrying, but unfortunately he chooses a nymphomaniac whom he cannot satisfy.
Director: Ken Russell
Composer Gustav Mahler's life, told in a series of flashbacks as he and his wife discuss their failing marriage during a train journey.
Director: Ken Russell
Composer and pianist Franz Liszt attempts to overcome his hedonistic lifestyle while repeatedly being drawn back into it by the many women in his life and fellow composer Richard Wagner.
Director: Ken Russell
Biographical film of the life of French sculptor Henri Gaudier-Brzeska.
Director: Ken Russell
In 17th-century France, Father Urbain Grandier seeks to protect the city of Loudun from the corrupt establishment of Cardinal Richelieu. Hysteria occurs within the city when he is accused of witchcraft by a sexually repressed nun.
Director: Ken Russell
The assistant stage manager of a small-time theatrical company (Polly Browne) is forced to understudy for the leading lady (Rita) at a matinée performance at which an illustrious Hollywood ... See full summary »
Director: Ken Russell
Romantic comedy about a pair of clandestine lovers in a London-Spain tryst.
Director: Melvin Frank
A young woman deals in her own personal way with the trials of adolescence and young adulthood in early 1900s England.
Director: Ken Russell
The Shelleys visit Lord Byron and compete to write a horror story.
Director: Ken Russell
Divorced working woman Alex and well-to-do Jewish family doctor Daniel Hirsh share not only the same answering service but also the favours of young Bob Elkin who bed-hops between them as ... See full summary »
Director: John Schlesinger
In 1926 the tragic and untimely death of a silent screen actor caused female moviegoers to riot in the streets and in some cases to commit suicide - that actor was Rudolph Valentino. ... See full summary »
Director: Ken Russell
A psychosomatically deaf, dumb and blind boy becomes a master pinball player and, subsequently, the object of a religious cult.
Director: Ken Russell
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Storyline
The battle of the sexes and relationships among the elite of Britain's industrial Midlands in the 1920s. Gerald Crich and Rupert Berkin are best friends who fall in love with a pair of sisters Gudrun, a sculptress and Ursula Brangwen, a schoolteacher. Rupert marries Ursula, Gerald begins a love affair with Gudrun, and the foursome embarks upon a Swiss honeymoon. But the relationships take markedly different directions, as Russell explores the nature of commitment and love. Rupert and Ursula learn to give themselves to each other; the more withdrawn Gerald cannot, finally, connect with the demanding and challenging Gudrun. Written by alfiehitchie
The relationship between four sensual people is limited: They must find a new way.
Genres:
25 March 1970 (USA) See more »
Also Known As:
Did You Know?
Trivia
Glenda Jackson was pregnant throughout the shoot. In referring to her nude scenes, she said she'd never had such a "wonderful bosom." See more »
Goofs
Ursula is seen toasting pre-sliced bread in front of the fire. Pre-sliced bread wasn't invented until 1928, eight years after the action. See more »
Quotes
The embodiment of the Avant-Garde style.
9 August 1999 | by Autonome
(Portland, Oregon) – See all my reviews
By it's mere cinemagraphic style and on screen personalities, this film introduced me to the idea of the avant-garde, existential and 'esoteric ritual' perspective of ordinary events. Their true mystery. For me, the style of the film went far beyond its content or dialogue. This film taught me the idea of an intelligent stylishness, and how erotic Glenda Jackson's character could be sheerly by virtue of her brilliant and cunning personal style. Pretty surprising, but then, seducing his audience in great new ways has been one of Russell's great talents. His films always seemed at the cutting edge, and I was seeing them 12 years later!
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| Ken Russell |
For which film did Audrey Hepburn win her only Oscar (Academy Award)? | WOMEN IN LOVE - YouTube
WOMEN IN LOVE
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Published on Mar 24, 2013
From 1969, directed by Ken Russell, based on the classic novel by D. H. Lawrence.
Oliver Reed, Alan Bates, Glenda Jackson, Jennie Linden.
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| i don't know |
Ranidaphobia is the irrational fear of which creatures? | Ranidaphobia | definition of Ranidaphobia by Medical dictionary
Ranidaphobia | definition of Ranidaphobia by Medical dictionary
http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Ranidaphobia
Also found in: Wikipedia .
Morbid fear of frogs
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| Frog |
What is the surname of Dick and Jane in the 2005 film ‘Fun With Dick and Jane’, starring Jim Carrey and Tea Leoni? | Fear of Animals Phobia – Zoophobia
You are here: Home / Phobias / Fear of Animals Phobia – Zoophobia
Fear of Animals Phobia – Zoophobia
Phobias are anxiety disorders. Man is known to develop a fear of anything and everything and Zoophobia is one of the most common specific phobias. Research conducted on this phobia has shown that humans have a genetic predisposition to fear certain types of animals. Often animals like snakes, spiders, insects etc stimulate a disgust/fear response in us. To an extent, this fear is necessary for the survival of human species. The degree or extent to which humans fear certain animals is directly correlated to the animal’s characteristics, fear-evoking properties and their discrepancy from human form.
Surveys conducted on the fear of animals phobia have shown interesting results. These studies mainly required dividing the animals in 2 categories namely: ‘fear relevant’ and ‘fear irrelevant’ animals. Simply explained; some animals can be considered cute or harmless, others as ferocious or wild and a third category as ‘slimy or disgusting’. In majority of the countries where the survey was conducted, it was observed that the ‘disgust relevant animals’ category had a greater fear score as compared to animals in the other two categories.
Typically, people with Zoophobia tend to fear slimy animals like lizards (Scoliodentosaurophobia), frogs (Ranidaphobia), snakes (Ophidiophobia), spiders (Arachnophobia), cockroaches (Kastaridaphobia), maggots (Scoleciphobia), rats (Musophobia), worms (Vermiphobia), moths (Mottephobia) etc.
Causes of Zoophobia
Phobia of animals is common and exists all around the world. Typically it arises from a negative childhood experience involving certain animal/s. In some cases, the fear resolves on its own without any specific treatment. In other extreme cases, the phobia persists lifelong.
Most common reason behind acquiring Zoophobia is the intense anxiety or stress that develops in the individual’s mind. This emotion manifests deep into the brain and is recalled each time the individual is placed in a stressful situation. (This typically includes being placed in the same environment as the animal the individual is afraid of).
It is essential to note that not all fear of animals can be labeled as Zoophobia. The latter is a persistent, unwarranted and irrational fear of animals no matter how non dangerous or harmless they are. In other cases, the fear of snakes and spiders can be considered as quite common and necessary.
Symptoms of fear of animals phobia
The Mayo Clinic states that the symptoms of Zoophobia might present themselves not only when the individual is faced with the object of his fears but even when s/he thinks of it. Common physical and emotional symptoms of the fear include:
Feeling dizzy, fainting
Experiencing an elevated heart rate
Rapid and shallow breathing
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Who defeated Bobby Riggs in the ‘Battle of the Sexes’ tennis match in September 1973? | The Battle of the Sexes, 1973 - YouTube
The Battle of the Sexes, 1973
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Published on Mar 16, 2012
In 1973, middle-aged Bobby Riggs challenged reigning women's champion Billie Jean King to an exhibition match which drew the largest crowd ever to watch tennis.
Audio from the book "And the Crowd Goes Wild."
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| Billie Jean King |
Apart from the special stars, how many categories of stars are there embedded in the pavements on the Hollywood Walk of Fame? | Bobby Riggs vs. Billie Jean King: Tennis Battle of the Sexes (TV Movie 1973) - IMDb
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Bobby Riggs vs. Billie Jean King: Tennis Battle of the Sexes ( 1973 )
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Title: Bobby Riggs vs. Billie Jean King: Tennis Battle of the Sexes (TV Movie 1973)
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Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy. See more awards »
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(United States) – See all my reviews
One of the great sporting events of the twentieth century was given first- class coverage in this truly epic live broadcast. As a personal challenge and grudge match, it offered high drama, incredible excitement, and mesmerizing television. Anyone who saw this take place live will echo the acclaim given here to what was the greatest tennis match of all time. Nothing like it has happened since and it's almost impossible to equal something of this magnitude. Unforgettable in every way, this staggering event fulfilled the potential of television to capture the attention of a nation and overwhelm viewers with pure emotion. It was simply television at its very finest, breathtaking in presentation and spectacularly produced.
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The One-Eyed Bagman is a story -teller in which novel by Charles Dickens? | Chapters 13-14
Chapters 13-14
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Summary
At Eatanswill, a noisy, contentious election is taking place between the Blues and the Buffs. Each party does its utmost to frustrate and harass the opposition. The Pickwickians arrive in the middle of a shouting contest between a mob of Blues and a mob of Buffs, and Mr. Pickwick tells his companions to yell with the largest mob.
The Pickwickians locate Mr. Perker, now an election adviser for the Blues. Perker tells them about the underhanded tactics of both parties to gain votes, and he introduces them to the editor of the Blue paper, a pompous windbag named Mr. Pott, who invites Pickwick and Winkle to stay at his home. They accept and find that Mrs. Pott treats her husband with condescending sarcasm. Mr. Pott forces Mr. Pickwick to listen to old editorials, while Mrs. Pott takes an interest in young Winkle.
The next morning, election excitement is at fever pitch. As the two men prepare for the day's events, Sam Weller tells Mr. Pickwick of how his coachman-father dumped a group of voters in a canal. The Pickwickians are in the Blue procession, which is roughed up by the Buffs.
After the Blue candidate, Samuel Slumkey, shakes hands and kisses babies, the nominating and polling procedures get underway amid a deafening hubbub. There is a tie between Samuel Slumkey and his Buff opponent, Horatio Fizkin, which is resolved in Slumkey's favor when Mr. Perker bribes a final group of electors.
In the "commercial room" at the Peacock Inn at Eatanswill, Snodgrass and Tupman become interested in an argument about women, which induces a one-eyed bagman to tell a story about Tom Smart, a poor commercial traveler. Smart is caught in a terrible storm on the heath and barely manages to reach an inn, which is owned by a buxom widow. Tom Smart finds things extremely pleasant there, except for a tall man who is courting the widow. Smart covets the inn and the widow, and goes to bed drunk and disgruntled. He is awakened by an old chair that assumes the features of a sly, elderly man and that tells him how to get rid of the tall man, who is a scoundrel. The next morning Smart finds an incriminating letter, which he shows to the widow, who then decides to marry him. The bagman's listeners remain skeptical.
Analysis
These two chapters contrast the frenetic exertions of an election with the relaxation to be had in a bar with an experienced storyteller. Dickens' coverage of the election is rendered in a coy, ironic prose that exposes the silliness of the event while pretending to take it at its face value. And in the following chapter the style is easy-going, colloquial, conversational, and it captures the moods of a hotel bar gathering especially well. The two prose styles are wonderfully balanced and show Dickens' growing finesse with prose.
The main point about the election is that there are no real issues, merely a lot of commotion, rudeness, and trickery. The two parties are identical; there is no choice or meaning in the election. Slumkey and Fizkin are like Tweedledum and Tweedledee. This fact makes all the passion and violence, all the chicanery and flattery, absurd. The ridiculousness of the event is epitomized when one of Slumkey's committeemen addresses a group of young boys as "men of Eatanswill" and delivers an oration.
At one point Dickens reveals another aspect of Mr. Pickwick's character — his gallantry. When Mrs. Pott waves to him from a rooftop he waves a kiss to her, which the crowd interprets as lechery. Mr. Pickwick becomes indignant, not because of the vulgar remarks about himself, but because Mrs. Pott's honor is slandered. In details like this, Dickens is building up a complex and appealing portrait of Mr. Pickwick.
However, Mrs. Pott's honor is rather flexible. She has taken a romantic interest in Winkle and spends much of her time with him — an interest that Winkle will have cause to regret. There is no compatibility between her and Mr. Pott. If he is a public lion, he is also a domestic mouse. Mr. Pott habitually talks an editorial jargon, as if he were addressing a crowd. One can understand Mrs. Pott's scorn for him and her regard for young Winkle. The themes of henpecking and cuckolding are an ancient source of humor, probably because men have always viewed women as the weaker sex. However, Winkle is innocent. Dickens could only go so far in suggesting impropriety, but the theme of henpecking will recur several times.
The bagman's tale is perfect for a "commercial room" (hotel bar) and an all-male audience; it assumes women are fair game, it has a leering shrewdness, and it shows how a little fellow triumphs over his flashier and taller rival. Tupman, who hears the story, must have been quite receptive to it after the rascally Jingle had just taken Rachael from him. Another contrast is implicit in this tale, which depicts a widow as being a defenseless, amiable prey for a man with pluck. In the novel widows are predatory, while men are the defenseless victims.
Time is given a severe wrench in Chapter 13, where Mr. Pott pulls out his files for 1828 to read two-year-old editorials to Mr. Pickwick. At Cobham in June 1827, Mr. Pickwick said the group would go to Eatanswill in a few days, and here three years have vanished. In this novel time has its warps and lapses, much as it does in surrealist literature.
| The Pickwick Papers |
What was the the last animated film personally supervised by Walt Disney and released in October 1967? | The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, by Charles Dickens : chapter48
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, by Charles Dickens
CHAPTER XLVIII
Relates how Mr. Pickwick, with the Assistance of Samuel Weller, essayed to soften the Heart of Mr. Benjamin Allen, and to mollify the Wrath of Mr. Robert Sawyer
Mr. Ben Allen and Mr. Bob Sawyer sat together in the little surgery behind the shop, discussing minced veal and future prospects, when the discourse, not unnaturally, turned upon the practice acquired by Bob the aforesaid, and his present chances of deriving a competent independence from the honourable profession to which he had devoted himself.
‘Which, I think,’ observed Mr. Bob Sawyer, pursuing the thread of the subject —‘which, I think, Ben, are rather dubious.’
‘What’s rather dubious?’ inquired Mr. Ben Allen, at the same time sharpening his intellect with a draught of beer. ‘What’s dubious?’
‘Why, the chances,’ responded Mr. Bob Sawyer.
‘I forgot,’ said Mr. Ben Allen. ‘The beer has reminded me that I forgot, Bob — yes; they ARE dubious.’
‘It’s wonderful how the poor people patronise me,’ said Mr. Bob Sawyer reflectively. ‘They knock me up, at all hours of the night; they take medicine to an extent which I should have conceived impossible; they put on blisters and leeches with a perseverance worthy of a better cause; they make additions to their families, in a manner which is quite awful. Six of those last-named little promissory notes, all due on the same day, Ben, and all intrusted to me!’
‘It’s very gratifying, isn’t it?’ said Mr. Ben Allen, holding his plate for some more minced veal.
‘Oh, very,’ replied Bob; ‘only not quite so much so as the confidence of patients with a shilling or two to spare would be. This business was capitally described in the advertisement, Ben. It is a practice, a very extensive practice — and that’s all.’
‘Bob,’ said Mr. Ben Allen, laying down his knife and fork, and fixing his eyes on the visage of his friend, ‘Bob, I’ll tell you what it is.’
‘What is it?’ inquired Mr. Bob Sawyer.
‘You must make yourself, with as little delay as possible, master of Arabella’s one thousand pounds.’
‘Three per cent. consolidated bank annuities, now standing in her name in the book or books of the governor and company of the Bank of England,’ added Bob Sawyer, in legal phraseology.
‘Exactly so,’ said Ben. ‘She has it when she comes of age, or marries. She wants a year of coming of age, and if you plucked up a spirit she needn’t want a month of being married.’
‘She’s a very charming and delightful creature,’ quoth Mr. Robert Sawyer, in reply; ‘and has only one fault that I know of, Ben. It happens, unfortunately, that that single blemish is a want of taste. She don’t like me.’
‘It’s my opinion that she don’t know what she does like,’ said Mr. Ben Allen contemptuously.
‘Perhaps not,’ remarked Mr. Bob Sawyer. ‘But it’s my opinion that she does know what she doesn’t like, and that’s of more importance.’
‘I wish,’ said Mr. Ben Allen, setting his teeth together, and speaking more like a savage warrior who fed on raw wolf’s flesh which he carved with his fingers, than a peaceable young gentleman who ate minced veal with a knife and fork —‘I wish I knew whether any rascal really has been tampering with her, and attempting to engage her affections. I think I should assassinate him, Bob.’
‘I’d put a bullet in him, if I found him out,’ said Mr. Sawyer, stopping in the course of a long draught of beer, and looking malignantly out of the porter pot. ‘If that didn’t do his business, I’d extract it afterwards, and kill him that way.’
Mr. Benjamin Allen gazed abstractedly on his friend for some minutes in silence, and then said —
‘You have never proposed to her, point-blank, Bob?’
‘No. Because I saw it would be of no use,’ replied Mr. Robert Sawyer.
‘You shall do it, before you are twenty-four hours older,’ retorted Ben, with desperate calmness. ‘She shall have you, or I’ll know the reason why. I’ll exert my authority.’
‘Well,’ said Mr. Bob Sawyer, ‘we shall see.’
‘We shall see, my friend,’ replied Mr. Ben Allen fiercely. He paused for a few seconds, and added in a voice broken by emotion, ‘You have loved her from a child, my friend. You loved her when we were boys at school together, and, even then, she was wayward and slighted your young feelings. Do you recollect, with all the eagerness of a child’s love, one day pressing upon her acceptance, two small caraway-seed biscuits and one sweet apple, neatly folded into a circular parcel with the leaf of a copy-book?’
‘I do,’ replied Bob Sawyer.
‘She slighted that, I think?’ said Ben Allen.
‘She did,’ rejoined Bob. ‘She said I had kept the parcel so long in the pockets of my corduroys, that the apple was unpleasantly warm.’
‘I remember,’ said Mr. Allen gloomily. ‘Upon which we ate it ourselves, in alternate bites.’
Bob Sawyer intimated his recollection of the circumstance last alluded to, by a melancholy frown; and the two friends remained for some time absorbed, each in his own meditations.
While these observations were being exchanged between Mr. Bob Sawyer and Mr. Benjamin Allen; and while the boy in the gray livery, marvelling at the unwonted prolongation of the dinner, cast an anxious look, from time to time, towards the glass door, distracted by inward misgivings regarding the amount of minced veal which would be ultimately reserved for his individual cravings; there rolled soberly on through the streets of Bristol, a private fly, painted of a sad green colour, drawn by a chubby sort of brown horse, and driven by a surly-looking man with his legs dressed like the legs of a groom, and his body attired in the coat of a coachman. Such appearances are common to many vehicles belonging to, and maintained by, old ladies of economic habits; and in this vehicle sat an old lady who was its mistress and proprietor.
‘Martin!’ said the old lady, calling to the surly man, out of the front window.
‘Well?’ said the surly man, touching his hat to the old lady.
‘Mr. Sawyer’s,’ said the old lady.
‘I was going there,’ said the surly man.
The old lady nodded the satisfaction which this proof of the surly man’s foresight imparted to her feelings; and the surly man giving a smart lash to the chubby horse, they all repaired to Mr. Bob Sawyer’s together.
‘Martin!’ said the old lady, when the fly stopped at the door of Mr. Robert Sawyer, late Nockemorf.
‘Well?’ said Martin.
‘Ask the lad to step out, and mind the horse.’
‘I’m going to mind the horse myself,’ said Martin, laying his whip on the roof of the fly.
‘I can’t permit it, on any account,’ said the old lady; ‘your testimony will be very important, and I must take you into the house with me. You must not stir from my side during the whole interview. Do you hear?’
‘I hear,’ replied Martin.
‘Well; what are you stopping for?’
‘Nothing,’ replied Martin. So saying, the surly man leisurely descended from the wheel, on which he had been poising himself on the tops of the toes of his right foot, and having summoned the boy in the gray livery, opened the coach door, flung down the steps, and thrusting in a hand enveloped in a dark wash-leather glove, pulled out the old lady with as much unconcern in his manner as if she were a bandbox.
‘Dear me!’ exclaimed the old lady. ‘I am so flurried, now I have got here, Martin, that I’m all in a tremble.’
Mr. Martin coughed behind the dark wash-leather gloves, but expressed no sympathy; so the old lady, composing herself, trotted up Mr. Bob Sawyer’s steps, and Mr. Martin followed. Immediately on the old lady’s entering the shop, Mr. Benjamin Allen and Mr. Bob Sawyer, who had been putting the spirits-and-water out of sight, and upsetting nauseous drugs to take off the smell of the tobacco smoke, issued hastily forth in a transport of pleasure and affection.
‘My dear aunt,’ exclaimed Mr. Ben Allen, ‘how kind of you to look in upon us! Mr. Sawyer, aunt; my friend Mr. Bob Sawyer whom I have spoken to you about, regarding — you know, aunt.’ And here Mr. Ben Allen, who was not at the moment extraordinarily sober, added the word ‘Arabella,’ in what was meant to be a whisper, but which was an especially audible and distinct tone of speech which nobody could avoid hearing, if anybody were so disposed.
‘My dear Benjamin,’ said the old lady, struggling with a great shortness of breath, and trembling from head to foot, ‘don’t be alarmed, my dear, but I think I had better speak to Mr. Sawyer, alone, for a moment. Only for one moment.’
‘Bob,’ said Mr. Allen, ‘will you take my aunt into the surgery?’
‘Certainly,’ responded Bob, in a most professional voice. ‘Step this way, my dear ma’am. Don’t be frightened, ma’am. We shall be able to set you to rights in a very short time, I have no doubt, ma’am. Here, my dear ma’am. Now then!’ With this, Mr. Bob Sawyer having handed the old lady to a chair, shut the door, drew another chair close to her, and waited to hear detailed the symptoms of some disorder from which he saw in perspective a long train of profits and advantages.
The first thing the old lady did, was to shake her head a great many times, and began to cry.
‘Nervous,’ said Bob Sawyer complacently. ‘Camphor-julep and water three times a day, and composing draught at night.’
‘I don’t know how to begin, Mr. Sawyer,’ said the old lady. ‘It is so very painful and distressing.’
‘You need not begin, ma’am,’ rejoined Mr. Bob Sawyer. ‘I can anticipate all you would say. The head is in fault.’
‘I should be very sorry to think it was the heart,’ said the old lady, with a slight groan.
‘Not the slightest danger of that, ma’am,’ replied Bob Sawyer. ‘The stomach is the primary cause.’
‘Mr. Sawyer!’ exclaimed the old lady, starting.
‘Not the least doubt of it, ma’am,’ rejoined Bob, looking wondrous wise. ‘Medicine, in time, my dear ma’am, would have prevented it all.’
‘Mr. Sawyer,’ said the old lady, more flurried than before, ‘this conduct is either great impertinence to one in my situation, Sir, or it arises from your not understanding the object of my visit. If it had been in the power of medicine, or any foresight I could have used, to prevent what has occurred, I should certainly have done so. I had better see my nephew at once,’ said the old lady, twirling her reticule indignantly, and rising as she spoke.
‘Stop a moment, ma’am,’ said Bob Sawyer; ‘I’m afraid I have not understood you. What IS the matter, ma’am?’
‘My niece, Mr. Sawyer,’ said the old lady: ‘your friend’s sister.’
‘Yes, ma’am,’ said Bob, all impatience; for the old lady, although much agitated, spoke with the most tantalising deliberation, as old ladies often do. ‘Yes, ma’am.’
‘Left my home, Mr. Sawyer, three days ago, on a pretended visit to my sister, another aunt of hers, who keeps the large boarding-school, just beyond the third mile-stone, where there is a very large laburnum-tree and an oak gate,’ said the old lady, stopping in this place to dry her eyes.
‘Oh, devil take the laburnum-tree, ma’am!’ said Bob, quite forgetting his professional dignity in his anxiety. ‘Get on a little faster; put a little more steam on, ma’am, pray.’
‘This morning,’ said the old lady slowly —‘this morning, she —’
‘She came back, ma’am, I suppose,’ said Bob, with great animation. ‘Did she come back?’
‘No, she did not; she wrote,’ replied the old lady.
‘What did she say?’ inquired Bob eagerly.
‘She said, Mr. Sawyer,’ replied the old lady —‘and it is this I want to prepare Benjamin’s mind for, gently and by degrees; she said that she was — I have got the letter in my pocket, Mr. Sawyer, but my glasses are in the carriage, and I should only waste your time if I attempted to point out the passage to you, without them; she said, in short, Mr. Sawyer, that she was married.’ ‘What!’ said, or rather shouted, Mr. Bob Sawyer.
‘Married,’ repeated the old lady.
Mr. Bob Sawyer stopped to hear no more; but darting from the surgery into the outer shop, cried in a stentorian voice, ‘Ben, my boy, she’s bolted!’
Mr. Ben Allen, who had been slumbering behind the counter, with his head half a foot or so below his knees, no sooner heard this appalling communication, than he made a precipitate rush at Mr. Martin, and, twisting his hand in the neck-cloth of that taciturn servitor, expressed an obliging intention of choking him where he stood. This intention, with a promptitude often the effect of desperation, he at once commenced carrying into execution, with much vigour and surgical skill.
Mr. Martin, who was a man of few words and possessed but little power of eloquence or persuasion, submitted to this operation with a very calm and agreeable expression of countenance, for some seconds; finding, however, that it threatened speedily to lead to a result which would place it beyond his power to claim any wages, board or otherwise, in all time to come, he muttered an inarticulate remonstrance and felled Mr. Benjamin Allen to the ground. As that gentleman had his hands entangled in his cravat, he had no alternative but to follow him to the floor. There they both lay struggling, when the shop door opened, and the party was increased by the arrival of two most unexpected visitors, to wit, Mr. Pickwick and Mr. Samuel Weller.
The impression at once produced on Mr. Weller’s mind by what he saw, was, that Mr. Martin was hired by the establishment of Sawyer, late Nockemorf, to take strong medicine, or to go into fits and be experimentalised upon, or to swallow poison now and then with the view of testing the efficacy of some new antidotes, or to do something or other to promote the great science of medicine, and gratify the ardent spirit of inquiry burning in the bosoms of its two young professors. So, without presuming to interfere, Sam stood perfectly still, and looked on, as if he were mightily interested in the result of the then pending experiment. Not so, Mr. Pickwick. He at once threw himself on the astonished combatants, with his accustomed energy, and loudly called upon the bystanders to interpose.
This roused Mr. Bob Sawyer, who had been hitherto quite paralysed by the frenzy of his companion. With that gentleman’s assistance, Mr. Pickwick raised Ben Allen to his feet. Mr. Martin finding himself alone on the floor, got up, and looked about him.
‘Mr. Allen,’ said Mr. Pickwick, ‘what is the matter, Sir?’
‘Never mind, Sir!’ replied Mr. Allen, with haughty defiance.
‘What is it?’ inquired Mr. Pickwick, looking at Bob Sawyer. ‘Is he unwell?’
Before Bob could reply, Mr. Ben Allen seized Mr. Pickwick by the hand, and murmured, in sorrowful accents, ‘My sister, my dear Sir; my sister.’
‘Oh, is that all!’ said Mr. Pickwick. ‘We shall easily arrange that matter, I hope. Your sister is safe and well, and I am here, my dear Sir, to —’
‘Sorry to do anythin’ as may cause an interruption to such wery pleasant proceedin’s, as the king said wen he dissolved the parliament,’ interposed Mr. Weller, who had been peeping through the glass door; ‘but there’s another experiment here, sir. Here’s a wenerable old lady a — lyin’ on the carpet waitin’ for dissection, or galwinism, or some other rewivin’ and scientific inwention.’
‘I forgot,’ exclaimed Mr. Ben Allen. ‘It is my aunt.’
‘Dear me!’ said Mr. Pickwick. ‘Poor lady! Gently Sam, gently.’
‘Strange sitivation for one o’ the family,’ observed Sam Weller, hoisting the aunt into a chair. ‘Now depitty sawbones, bring out the wollatilly!’
The latter observation was addressed to the boy in gray, who, having handed over the fly to the care of the street-keeper, had come back to see what all the noise was about. Between the boy in gray, and Mr. Bob Sawyer, and Mr. Benjamin Allen (who having frightened his aunt into a fainting fit, was affectionately solicitous for her recovery) the old lady was at length restored to consciousness; then Mr. Ben Allen, turning with a puzzled countenance to Mr. Pickwick, asked him what he was about to say, when he had been so alarmingly interrupted.
‘We are all friends here, I presume?’ said Mr. Pickwick, clearing his voice, and looking towards the man of few words with the surly countenance, who drove the fly with the chubby horse.
This reminded Mr. Bob Sawyer that the boy in gray was looking on, with eyes wide open, and greedy ears. The incipient chemist having been lifted up by his coat collar, and dropped outside the door, Bob Sawyer assured Mr. Pickwick that he might speak without reserve.
‘Your sister, my dear Sir,’ said Mr. Pickwick, turning to Benjamin Allen, ‘is in London; well and happy.’
‘Her happiness is no object to me, sir,’ said Benjamin Allen, with a flourish of the hand.
‘Her husband IS an object to ME, Sir,’ said Bob Sawyer. ‘He shall be an object to me, sir, at twelve paces, and a pretty object I’ll make of him, sir — a mean-spirited scoundrel!’ This, as it stood, was a very pretty denunciation, and magnanimous withal; but Mr. Bob Sawyer rather weakened its effect, by winding up with some general observations concerning the punching of heads and knocking out of eyes, which were commonplace by comparison.
‘Stay, sir,’ said Mr. Pickwick; ‘before you apply those epithets to the gentleman in question, consider, dispassionately, the extent of his fault, and above all remember that he is a friend of mine.’
‘What!’ said Mr. Bob Sawyer. ‘His name!’ cried Ben Allen. ‘His name!’
‘Mr. Nathaniel Winkle,’ said Mr, Pickwick.
Mr. Benjamin Allen deliberately crushed his spectacles beneath the heel of his boot, and having picked up the pieces, and put them into three separate pockets, folded his arms, bit his lips, and looked in a threatening manner at the bland features of Mr. Pickwick.
‘Then it’s you, is it, Sir, who have encouraged and brought about this match?’ inquired Mr. Benjamin Allen at length.
‘And it’s this gentleman’s servant, I suppose,’ interrupted the old lady, ‘who has been skulking about my house, and endeavouring to entrap my servants to conspire against their mistress. — Martin!’
‘Well?’ said the surly man, coming forward.
‘Is that the young man you saw in the lane, whom you told me about, this morning?’
Mr. Martin, who, as it has already appeared, was a man of few words, looked at Sam Weller, nodded his head, and growled forth, ‘That’s the man.’ Mr. Weller, who was never proud, gave a smile of friendly recognition as his eyes encountered those of the surly groom, and admitted in courteous terms, that he had ‘knowed him afore.’
‘And this is the faithful creature,’ exclaimed Mr. Ben Allen, ‘whom I had nearly suffocated! — Mr. Pickwick, how dare you allow your fellow to be employed in the abduction of my sister? I demand that you explain this matter, sir.’
‘Explain it, sir!’ cried Bob Sawyer fiercely.
‘It’s a conspiracy,’ said Ben Allen.
‘A regular plant,’ added Mr. Bob Sawyer.
‘A disgraceful imposition,’ observed the old lady.
‘Nothing but a do,’ remarked Martin. ‘Pray hear me,’ urged Mr. Pickwick, as Mr. Ben Allen fell into a chair that patients were bled in, and gave way to his pocket– handkerchief. ‘I have rendered no assistance in this matter, beyond being present at one interview between the young people which I could not prevent, and from which I conceived my presence would remove any slight colouring of impropriety that it might otherwise have had; this is the whole share I have had in the transaction, and I had no suspicion that an immediate marriage was even contemplated. Though, mind,’ added Mr. Pickwick, hastily checking himself —‘mind, I do not say I should have prevented it, if I had known that it was intended.’
‘You hear that, all of you; you hear that?’ said Mr. Benjamin Allen.
‘I hope they do,’ mildly observed Mr. Pickwick, looking round, ‘and,’ added that gentleman, his colour mounting as he spoke, ‘I hope they hear this, Sir, also. That from what has been stated to me, sir, I assert that you were by no means justified in attempting to force your sister’s inclinations as you did, and that you should rather have endeavoured by your kindness and forbearance to have supplied the place of other nearer relations whom she had never known, from a child. As regards my young friend, I must beg to add, that in every point of worldly advantage he is, at least, on an equal footing with yourself, if not on a much better one, and that unless I hear this question discussed with becoming temper and moderation, I decline hearing any more said upon the subject.’
‘I wish to make a wery few remarks in addition to wot has been put for’ard by the honourable gen’l’m’n as has jist give over,’ said Mr. Weller, stepping forth, ‘wich is this here: a indiwidual in company has called me a feller.’
‘That has nothing whatever to do with the matter, Sam,’ interposed Mr. Pickwick. ‘Pray hold your tongue.’
‘I ain’t a-goin’ to say nothin’ on that ‘ere pint, sir,’ replied Sam, ‘but merely this here. P’raps that gen’l’m’n may think as there wos a priory ‘tachment; but there worn’t nothin’ o’ the sort, for the young lady said in the wery beginnin’ o’ the keepin’ company, that she couldn’t abide him. Nobody’s cut him out, and it ’ud ha’ been jist the wery same for him if the young lady had never seen Mr. Vinkle. That’s what I wished to say, sir, and I hope I’ve now made that ‘ere gen’l’m’n’s mind easy.
A short pause followed these consolatory remarks of Mr. Weller. Then Mr. Ben Allen rising from his chair, protested that he would never see Arabella’s face again; while Mr. Bob Sawyer, despite Sam’s flattering assurance, vowed dreadful vengeance on the happy bridegroom.
But, just when matters were at their height, and threatening to remain so, Mr. Pickwick found a powerful assistant in the old lady, who, evidently much struck by the mode in which he had advocated her niece’s cause, ventured to approach Mr. Benjamin Allen with a few comforting reflections, of which the chief were, that after all, perhaps, it was well it was no worse; the least said the soonest mended, and upon her word she did not know that it was so very bad after all; what was over couldn’t be begun, and what couldn’t be cured must be endured; with various other assurances of the like novel and strengthening description. To all of these, Mr. Benjamin Allen replied that he meant no disrespect to his aunt, or anybody there, but if it were all the same to them, and they would allow him to have his own way, he would rather have the pleasure of hating his sister till death, and after it.
At length, when this determination had been announced half a hundred times, the old lady suddenly bridling up and looking very majestic, wished to know what she had done that no respect was to be paid to her years or station, and that she should be obliged to beg and pray, in that way, of her own nephew, whom she remembered about five-and-twenty years before he was born, and whom she had known, personally, when he hadn’t a tooth in his head; to say nothing of her presence on the first occasion of his having his hair cut, and assistance at numerous other times and ceremonies during his babyhood, of sufficient importance to found a claim upon his affection, obedience, and sympathies, for ever.
While the good lady was bestowing this objurgation on Mr. Ben Allen, Bob Sawyer and Mr. Pickwick had retired in close conversation to the inner room, where Mr. Sawyer was observed to apply himself several times to the mouth of a black bottle, under the influence of which, his features gradually assumed a cheerful and even jovial expression. And at last he emerged from the room, bottle in hand, and, remarking that he was very sorry to say he had been making a fool of himself, begged to propose the health and happiness of Mr. and Mrs. Winkle, whose felicity, so far from envying, he would be the first to congratulate them upon. Hearing this, Mr. Ben Allen suddenly arose from his chair, and, seizing the black bottle, drank the toast so heartily, that, the liquor being strong, he became nearly as black in the face as the bottle. Finally, the black bottle went round till it was empty, and there was so much shaking of hands and interchanging of compliments, that even the metal-visaged Mr. Martin condescended to smile.
‘And now,’ said Bob Sawyer, rubbing his hands, ‘we’ll have a jolly night.’
‘I am sorry,’ said Mr. Pickwick, ‘that I must return to my inn. I have not been accustomed to fatigue lately, and my journey has tired me exceedingly.’
‘You’ll take some tea, Mr. Pickwick?’ said the old lady, with irresistible sweetness.
‘Thank you, I would rather not,’ replied that gentleman. The truth is, that the old lady’s evidently increasing admiration was Mr. Pickwick’s principal inducement for going away. He thought of Mrs. Bardell; and every glance of the old lady’s eyes threw him into a cold perspiration.
As Mr. Pickwick could by no means be prevailed upon to stay, it was arranged at once, on his own proposition, that Mr. Benjamin Allen should accompany him on his journey to the elder Mr. Winkle’s, and that the coach should be at the door, at nine o’clock next morning. He then took his leave, and, followed by Samuel Weller, repaired to the Bush. It is worthy of remark, that Mr. Martin’s face was horribly convulsed as he shook hands with Sam at parting, and that he gave vent to a smile and an oath simultaneously; from which tokens it has been inferred by those who were best acquainted with that gentleman’s peculiarities, that he expressed himself much pleased with Mr. Weller’s society, and requested the honour of his further acquaintance.
‘Shall I order a private room, Sir?’ inquired Sam, when they reached the Bush.
‘Why, no, Sam,’ replied Mr. Pickwick; ‘as I dined in the coffee-room, and shall go to bed soon, it is hardly worth while. See who there is in the travellers’ room, Sam.’
Mr. Weller departed on his errand, and presently returned to say that there was only a gentleman with one eye; and that he and the landlord were drinking a bowl of bishop together.
‘I will join them,’ said Mr. Pickwick.
‘He’s a queer customer, the vun-eyed vun, sir,’ observed Mr. Weller, as he led the way. ‘He’s a-gammonin’ that ‘ere landlord, he is, sir, till he don’t rightly know wether he’s a-standing on the soles of his boots or the crown of his hat.’
The individual to whom this observation referred, was sitting at the upper end of the room when Mr. Pickwick entered, and was smoking a large Dutch pipe, with his eye intently fixed on the round face of the landlord; a jolly-looking old personage, to whom he had recently been relating some tale of wonder, as was testified by sundry disjointed exclamations of, ‘Well, I wouldn’t have believed it! The strangest thing I ever heard! Couldn’t have supposed it possible!’ and other expressions of astonishment which burst spontaneously from his lips, as he returned the fixed gaze of the one-eyed man.
‘Servant, sir,’ said the one-eyed man to Mr. Pickwick. ‘Fine night, sir.’
‘Very much so indeed,’ replied Mr. Pickwick, as the waiter placed a small decanter of brandy, and some hot water before him.
While Mr. Pickwick was mixing his brandy-and-water, the one-eyed man looked round at him earnestly, from time to time, and at length said —
‘I think I’ve seen you before.’
‘I don’t recollect you,’ rejoined Mr. Pickwick.
‘I dare say not,’ said the one-eyed man. ‘You didn’t know me, but I knew two friends of yours that were stopping at the Peacock at Eatanswill, at the time of the election.’
‘Oh, indeed!’ exclaimed Mr. Pickwick.
‘Yes,’ rejoined the one-eyed man. ‘I mentioned a little circumstance to them about a friend of mine of the name of Tom Smart. Perhaps you’ve heard them speak of it.’
‘Often,’ rejoined Mr. Pickwick, smiling. ‘He was your uncle, I think?’
‘No, no; only a friend of my uncle’s,’ replied the one-eyed man.
‘He was a wonderful man, that uncle of yours, though,’ remarked the landlord shaking his head.
‘Well, I think he was; I think I may say he was,’ answered the one-eyed man. ‘I could tell you a story about that same uncle, gentlemen, that would rather surprise you.’
‘Could you?’ said Mr. Pickwick. ‘Let us hear it, by all means.’
The one-eyed bagman ladled out a glass of negus from the bowl, and drank it; smoked a long whiff out of the Dutch pipe; and then, calling to Sam Weller who was lingering near the door, that he needn’t go away unless he wanted to, because the story was no secret, fixed his eye upon the landlord’s, and proceeded, in the words of the next chapter.
| i don't know |
Which planet in our solar system has a year which is around 24 and a half Earth years? | How Long Is A Year On The Other Planets? - Universe Today
Universe Today
How Long Is A Year On The Other Planets?
Article Updated: 29 Jan , 2016
by Matt Williams
Here on Earth, we to end to not give our measurements of time much thought. Unless we’re griping about Time Zones, enjoying the extra day of a Leap Year, or contemplating the rationality of Daylight Savings Time, we tend to take it all for granted. But when you consider the fact that increments like a year are entirely relative, dependent on a specific space and place, you begin to see how time really works.
Here on Earth, we consider a year to be 365 days. Unless of course it’s a Leap Year, which takes place every four years (in which it is 366). But the actual definition of a year is the time it takes our planet to complete a single orbit around the Sun. So if you were to put yourself in another frame of reference – say, another planet – a year would work out to something else. Let’s see just how long a year is on the other planets, shall we?
A Year On Mercury:
To put it simply, Mercury has an orbital period of 88 days (87.969 to be exact), which means a single year is 88 Earth days – or the equivalent of about 0.241 Earth years. But here’s the thing. Because of Mercury’s slow rotation (once every 58.646 days) and its rapid orbital speed (47.362 km/s), one day on Mercury actually works out to 175.96 Earth days.
MESSENGER maps of Mercury – a monochrome map at 250 m/pixel and an eight-color (left), 1-km/pixel color map. Small gaps will be filled in during the next solar day (right). Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins University APL/Carnegie Institution of Washington
So basically, a single year on Mercury is half as long as a Mercurian (aka. Hermian) day. This is due to Mercury being the closest planet to the Sun, ranging from 46,001,200 km at perihelion to 69,816,900 km at aphelion. At that distance, the planet shoots around the Sun faster than any other in our Solar System and has the shortest year.
In the course of a year, Mercury experiences intense variations in surface temperature – ranging from 80 °K (-193.15 °C;-315.67 °F) to 700 °K (426.85 °C; 800.33 °F). However, this is due to the planet’s varying distance from the Sun and its spin, which subjects one side to extended periods of extremely hot temperatures and one side to extended periods of night. Mercury’s low axial tilt (0.034°) and its rapid orbital period means that there really is no seasonal variation on Mercury. Basically, one part of the year is as hellishly hot, or horribly cold, as any other.
A Year On Venus:
The second closest planet to our Sun, Venus completes a single orbit once ever 224.7 days. This means that a single year on Venus works out to about 0.6152 Earth years. But, once again, things are complicated by the fact that Venus has an unusual rotation period. In fact, Venus takes 243 Earth days to rotate once on its axis – the slowest rotation of any planet – and its rotation is retrograde to its orbital path.
The planet Venus, as imagined by the Magellan 10 mission. Credit: NASA/JPL
Combined with its orbital period, this means that a single solar day on Venus (the time between one sunup to the next) is 117 Earth days. So basically, a single year on Venus is lasts 1.92 Venusian (aka. Cytherean) days. Again, this would make for some confusing time-cycles for any humans trying to make a go of it on Venus!
Also, Venus has a very small axial tilt – 3° compared to Earth’s 23.5° – and its proximity to the Sun makes for a much shorter seasonal cycle – 55-58 days compared to Earth’s 90-93 days. Add to that its unusual day-night cycle, variations are very slight. In fact, the temperate on Venus is almost always a brutal 736 K (463 °C ; 865 degrees °F), which is hot enough to melt lead!
A Year On Earth:
Comparatively speaking, a year on Earth is pretty predictable, which is probably one of the reasons why life is able to thrive here. In short, our planet takes 365.2564 solar days to complete a single orbit of the Sun, which is why we add an extra day to the calendar every four years (i.e. a Leap Year, which 2016 happens to be).
But because our axis is tilted, there is considerable variation in the seasons during the course of a year. During the winter, when one hemisphere is pointed away from the Sun, the Sun’s distance from the equator changes by up to 23.5°. As a result, between the summer and winter, the length of days and nights, temperatures, and seasons will go through significant changes.
Above the Arctic Circle, an extreme case is reached where there is no daylight at all for part of the year – up to six months at the North Pole itself, in what is known as a “polar night”. In the southern hemisphere the situation is exactly reversed, with the South Pole experiencing a midnight sun, a day of 24 hours, again reversing with the South Pole. Every six months, the order of this is reversed.
A Year On Mars:
Mars has one of the highest eccentricities of any planet in the Solar System, ranging from 206,700,000 km at perihelion and 249,200,000 km at aphelion. This large variation and its greater distance from the Sun, leads to a rather long year. Basically, Mars takes the equivalent of 687 (Earth) days to complete a single orbit around the Sun, which works out to to 1.8809 Earth years, or 1 year, 320 days, and 18.2 hours.
On the other hand, Mars has a rotation period that is very similar to Earth’s – 24 hours, 39 minutes, and 35.244 seconds. So while the days on Mars are only slightly longer, the seasons are generally twice as long. But this is mitigated by the fact that seasonal changes are far greater on Mars, owing to its eccentricity and greater axial tilt (25.19°).
During the winter, the global atmospheric pressure on Mars is 25% lower than during summer. This is due to temperature variations and the complex exchange of carbon dioxide between the Martian dry-ice polar caps and its CO2 atmosphere. As a result, Martian seasons vary greatly in duration than those on Earth, change roughly every six months, and do not start on the same Earth day every Martian year.
Mars 2001 Global Dust Storm, as captured by the Hubble Space Telescope. Credit: NASA/J. Bell (Cornell)/M. Wolff (SSI)/Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)
A Year On Jupiter:
Jupiter is another interesting case. Whereas the gas giant only takes 9 hours 55 minutes and 30 seconds to rotate once on its axis, it also takes alson 11.8618 Earth years to complete an orbit around the Sun. This means that a year on Jupiter is not only the equivalent of 4,332.59 Earth days, but 10,475.8 Jovian days. That’s a lot of sunrises!
Much like Venus, Jupiter has an axial tilt of only 3 degrees, so there is literally no seasonal variation between the hemispheres. In addition, temperature variations are due to chemical compositions and depths rather than seasonal cycles. So while it does have “seasons”, which change very slowly due to its distance from the Sun – each season lasts 3 years – they are not similar to what terrestrial planets experience.
A Year On Saturn:
Much like its fellow gas giant Jupiter, Saturn takes it time completing a single orbit of the Sun, but rotates on its axis very rapidly. All told, a year on the planet lasts the equivalent of 10,759 Earth days (or about 29 1?2 years). But since it only takes 10 hours, and 33 minutes to complete a single rotation on its axis, a year on Saturn works out to 24,491.07 Saturnian (aka. Cronian) days.
This portrait looking down on Saturn and its rings was created from images obtained by NASA’s Cassini spacecraft on Oct. 10, 2013. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute/G. Ugarkovic
Due to its axial tilt of almost 27 degrees (slightly more than Mars), Saturn experiences some rather long seasonal changes. But due to it being a gas giant, this does not result in variations in temperature. Combined with its distance from the Sun (at an average distance of 1,429.39 million km or 9.5 AU), a single season lasts more than seven years.
A Year On Uranus:
Uranus has some of the strangest annual and seasonal variations of any planet in the Solar System. For one, the gas/ice giant takes about 84 Earth years (or 30,688.5 Earth days) to rotate once around the Sun. But since the planet takes 17 hours, 14 minutes and 24 seconds to complete a single rotation on its axis, a year on Uranus lasts 42,718 Uranian days.
However, this is confounded due to Uranus’ axial tilt, which is inclined at 97.77° towards the Sun. This results in seasonal changes that are quite extreme, and unique to Uranus. In short, when one hemisphere is pointed towards the Sun (i.e. in summer), it will experience 42 years of continuous light. In winter, the situation is reversed, with this same hemisphere experiencing 42 years of continuous darkness.
A Year On Neptune:
Given its distance from the Sun, Neptune has the longest orbital period of any planet in the Solar System. As such, a year on Neptune is the longest of any planet, lasting the equivalent of 164.8 years (or 60,182 Earth days). But since Neptune also takes comparatively little time to rotate once on its axis (16 hours, 6 minutes and 36 seconds), a single year lasts a staggering 89,666 Neptunian days.
Reconstruction of Voyager 2 images showing the Great Black spot (top left), Scooter (middle), and the Small Black Spot (lower right). Credit: NASA/JPL
What’s more, with an axial tilt close to Earth and Mars’ (28.5 degrees), there is some seasonal variation on the planet. Essentially, a single season lasts more than 40 years. But like all gas/ice giants, this does not result in noticeable temperature variations.
| Saturn |
How wide, in feet, is an NBA regulation basketball court? | Planet Earth: Facts About Its Orbit, Atmosphere & Size
Planet Earth: Facts About Its Orbit, Atmosphere & Size
By Charles Q. Choi, Space.com Contributor |
December 11, 2014 10:49pm ET
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Credit: NASA
Earth, our home, is the third planet from the sun. It is the only planet known to have an atmosphere containing free oxygen, oceans of liquid water on its surface, and, of course, life.
Earth is the fifth largest of the planets in the solar system — smaller than the four gas giants, Jupiter , Saturn , Uranus and Neptune , but larger than the three other rocky planets, Mercury , Mars and Venus .
Earth has a diameter of roughly 8,000 miles (13,000 kilometers), and is round because gravity pulls matter into a ball, although it is not perfectly round, instead being more of an "oblate spheroid" whose spin causes it to be squashed at its poles and swollen at the equator.
Roughly 71 percent of Earth's surface is covered by water, most of it in the oceans. About a fifth of Earth's atmosphere is made up of oxygen, produced by plants. While scientists have been studying our planet for centuries, much has been learned in recent decades by studying pictures of Earth from space .
Orbital characteristics
Earth spins on an imaginary line called an axis that runs from the North Pole to the South Pole, while also orbiting the sun. It takes Earth 23.439 hours to complete a rotation on its axis, and roughly 365.26 days to complete an orbit around the sun.
Earth's axis of rotation is tilted in relation to the ecliptic plane, an imaginary surface through Earth's orbit around the sun. This means the northern and southern hemispheres will sometimes point toward or away from the sun depending on the time of year, varying the amount of light they receive and causing the seasons .
Earth's orbit is not a perfect circle, but is rather an oval-shaped ellipse, like that of the orbits of all the other planets. Earth is a bit closer to the sun in early January and farther away in July, although this variation has a much smaller effect than the heating and cooling caused by the tilt of Earth's axis. Earth happens to lie within the so-called "Goldilocks zone" around its star, where temperatures are just right to maintain liquid water on its surface.
Orbit & rotation
Some statistics about Earth, according to NASA :
Average distance from the sun: 92,956,050 miles (149,598,262 km)
Perihelion (closest approach to the sun): 91,402,640 miles (147,098,291 km)
Aphelion (farthest distance from the sun): 94,509,460 miles (152,098,233 km)
Length of solar day (single rotation on its axis): 23.934 hours
Length of year (single revolution around the sun): 365.26 days
Equatorial inclination to orbit: 23.4393 degrees
Earth's formation and evolution
Scientists think Earth was formed at roughly the same time as the sun and other planets some 4.6 billion years ago, when the solar system coalesced from a giant, rotating cloud of gas and dust known as the solar nebula . As the nebula collapsed because of its gravity, it spun faster and flattened into a disk. Most of the material was pulled toward the center to form the sun.
Other particles within the disk collided and stuck together to form ever-larger bodies, including Earth. The solar wind from the sun was so powerful that it swept away most of the lighter elements, such as hydrogen and helium, from the innermost worlds, rendering Earth and its siblings into small, rocky planets.
Scientists think Earth started off as a waterless mass of rock . Radioactive materials in the rock and increasing pressure deep within the Earth generated enough heat to melt Earth's interior, causing some chemicals to rise to the surface and form water, while others became the gases of the atmosphere. Recent evidence suggests that Earth's crust and oceans may have formed within about 200 million years after the planet had taken shape.
The history of Earth is divided into four eons — starting with the earliest, these are the Hadean, Archean, Proterozoic and Phanerozoic. The first three eons, which together lasted nearly 4 billion years, are together known as the Precambrian . Evidence for life has been found in the Archaean about 3.8 billion years ago, but life did not become abundant until the Phanerozoic.
The Phanerozoic is divided into three eras — starting with the earliest, these are the Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic. The Paleozoic Era saw the development of many kinds of animals and plants in the seas and on land, the Mesozoic Era was the age of dinosaurs, and the Cenozoic Era we are in currently is the age of mammals.
Most of the fossils seen in Paleozoic rocks are invertebrate animals lacking backbones, such as corals, mollusks and trilobites. Fish are first found about 450 million years ago, while amphibians appear roughly 380 million years ago. By 300 million years ago, large forests and swamps covered the land, and the earliest fossils of reptiles appear during this period as well.
The Mesozoic saw the ascendence of dinosaurs , although mammals also appear in the fossil record about 200 million years ago. During this time, flowering plants became the dominant plant group and continue to be so today.
The Cenozoic began about 65 million years ago with the end of the age of dinosaurs, which many scientists think was caused by a cosmic impact. Mammals survived to become the dominant land animals of today.
Composition & structure
Atmosphere
Earth's atmosphere is roughly 78 percent nitrogen, 21 percent oxygen, with trace amounts of water, argon, carbon dioxide and other gases. Nowhere else in the solar system can one find an atmosphere loaded with free oxygen, which ultimately proved vital to one of the other unique features of Earth — us.
Air surrounds Earth and becomes thinner farther from the surface. Roughly 100 miles (160 km) above Earth, the air is so thin that satellites can zip through with little resistance. Still, traces of atmosphere can be found as high as 370 miles (600 km) above the surface.
The lowest layer of the atmosphere is known as the troposphere, which is constantly in motion, causing the weather. Sunlight heats the planet's surface, causing warm air to rise. This air ultimately expands and cools as air pressure decreases, and because this cool air is denser than its surroundings, it then sinks, only to get warmed by the Earth once again.
Above the troposphere, some 30 miles (48 km) above the Earth's surface, is the stratosphere. The still air of the stratosphere contains the ozone layer, which was created when ultraviolet light caused trios of oxygen atoms to bind together into ozone molecules. Ozone prevents most of the sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation from reaching Earth's surface.
Water vapor, carbon dioxide and other gases in the atmosphere trap heat from the sun, warming Earth. Without this so-called " greenhouse effect ," Earth would probably be too cold for life to exist, although a runaway greenhouse effect led to the hellish conditions now seen on Venus.
Earth-orbiting satellites have shown that the upper atmosphere actually expands during the day and contracts at night due to heating and cooling.
Magnetic field
The northern lights are more formally known as auroras, and are caused by interactions between the solar wind and the Earth's magnetic field. See how the northern lights work in this Space.com infographic .
Credit: Karl Tate, SPACE.com Contributor
Earth's magnetic field is generated by currents flowing in Earth's outer core. The magnetic poles are always on the move, with the magnetic North Pole recently accelerating its northward motion to 24 miles (40 km) annually, likely exiting North America and reaching Siberia in a few decades.
Earth's magnetic field is changing in other ways, too — globally, the magnetic field has weakened 10 percent since the 19th century , according to NASA. These changes are mild compared to what Earth's magnetic field has done in the past — sometimes the field completely flips, with the north and the south poles swapping places.
When charged particles from the sun get trapped in Earth's magnetic field, they smash into air molecules above the magnetic poles, causing them to glow, a phenomenon known as the aurorae , the northern and southern lights.
Chemical composition
Oxygen is the most abundant element in rocks in Earth's crust, composing roughly 47 percent of the weight of all rock. The second most abundant element is silicon at 27 percent, followed by aluminum at 8 percent, iron at 5 percent, calcium at 4 percent, and sodium , potassium , and magnesium at about 2 percent each.
Earth's core consists mostly of iron and nickel and potentially smaller amounts of lighter elements such as sulfur and oxygen. The mantle is made of iron and magnesium-rich silicate rocks. (The combination of silicon and oxygen is known as silica, and minerals that contain silica are known as silicate minerals.)
Internal structure
Earth's core is about 4,400 miles (7,100 km) wide, slightly larger than half the Earth's diameter and roughly the size of Mars . The outermost 1,400 miles (2,250 km) of the core are liquid, while the inner core — about four-fifths as big as Earth's moon at some 1,600 miles (2,600 km) in diameter — is solid.
Above the core is Earth's mantle, which is about 1,800 miles (2,900 km) thick. The mantle is not completely stiff, but can flow slowly. Earth's crust floats on the mantle much as a wood floats on water, and the slow motion of rock in the mantle shuffles continents around and causes earthquakes, volcanoes, and the formation of mountain ranges.
Above the mantle, Earth has two kinds of crust. The dry land of the continents consists mostly of granite and other light silicate minerals, while the ocean floors are made up mostly of a dark, dense volcanic rock called basalt. Continental crust averages some 25 miles (40 km) thick, although it can be thinner or thicker in some areas. Oceanic crust is usually only about 5 miles (8 km) thick. Water fills in low areas of the basalt crust to form the world's oceans. Earth has more than enough water to completely fill the ocean basins, and the rest of it spreads onto edges of the continents, areas known as the continental shelf.
Earth gets warmer toward its core. At the bottom of the continental crust, temperatures reach about 1,800 degrees F (1,000 degrees C), increasing about 3 degrees F per mile (1 degree C per kilometer) below the crust. Geologists think the temperature of Earth's outer core is about 6,700 to 7,800 degrees F (3,700 to 4,300 degrees C), and the inner core may reach 12,600 degrees F (7,000 degrees C), hotter than the surface of the sun. Only the enormous pressures found at the super-hot inner core keep it solid.
Recent exoplanet surveys such as NASA’s Kepler mission suggest that Earth-size planets are common throughout the Milky Way galaxy. Nearly a fourth of sun-like stars observed by Kepler have potentially habitable Earth-size planets .
Earth's moon
Earth's moon is 2,159 miles (3,474 km) wide, about one-fourth of Earth's diameter. Earth has one moon, while Mercury and Venus have none and all the other planets in our solar system have two or more.
The leading explanation for how the moon formed was that a giant impact knocked off the raw ingredients for the moon off the primitive molten Earth and into orbit. Scientists have suggested the impactor was roughly 10 percent the mass of Earth, about the size of Mars.
Species overview
Earth is the only planet in the universe known to possess life. There are several million known species of life, ranging from the bottom of the deepest ocean to a few miles into the atmosphere, and scientists think far more remain to be discovered. Scientists figure there are between 5 million and 100 million species on Earth , but science has only identified about 2 million of them.
Earth is the only body in the solar system known to host life, although scientists suspect that other candidates — such as Saturn’s moon Titan or Jupiter’s moon Europa — have the potential to house primitive living creatures. Scientists have yet to precisely nail down exactly how complex life rapidly evolved on Earth from more primitive ancestors. One solution suggests that life first evolved on the nearby planet Mars, once a habitable planet, then traveled to Earth on meteorites hurled from the Red Planet.
Additional reporting by Nola Taylor Redd, Space.com Contributor
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Which colour represents Line 5 of the Paris Metro rail system? | paris metro Archives - Paris by Train
Paris by Train
By Ben Lam | August 1, 2016 | in Metro
Overview
Costs per journey (with an individual Ticket t+ , price)
Children 4-9, cost is . Discounted individual children tickets no longer available.
Children 3 and under ride for free.
Books of 10 tickets are discounted: adults ( each), ( each) children 4-9 years old
First train in morning begins running at 05:30
Last trains in evening at 00:40. Last train on Fridays, Saturdays and nights before holidays 01:40
Paris Metro
The Parisian subway is known as the Metro, short for “chemin de fer Métropolitain” [metropolitan railway]. The network of underground rail lines has 245 stations scattered throughout central Paris’ 20 “arrondissements” [districts].
Tickets for the Paris Metro are purchased from blue or green “billetteries” [ticket vending machines] or from “guichets” [manned ticket windows] within stations. The current price () for a single ticket known as a “Ticket t+” is . Tickets can also be purchased as a book of ten or twenty, known as a “carnet” [booklet], for a slight discount (booklet of ten Ticket t+ is or each).
During your journey, keep your ticket with you until you arrive at your destination station and pass through the exit gates or turnstiles. “Controleurs” [ticket inspectors] may stop you at any point during your journey to ask to see a valid ticket or pass. Failure to provide a valid fare will result in a fine of €35, payable on the spot through credit card.
Paris Metro stations are mostly located underground with a few above ground due to local geography. Entry into the Metro stations is free up until the turnstiles which mark the area from which you must have a valid transportation ticket or pass. Some station entrances are unmanned, having no ticket window nor ticket vending machines, only turnstiles which accept tickets and smart card passes ( Pass Navigo ) for entry.
Metro lines are numbered from 1 to 14, each a different color, with two “bis” [b or secondary] lines making 16 in total.
Each Metro line has two (or more) terminus stations. These end-of-line stations are used to note the direction the train is traveling. Each Metro line platform within a station will be marked with the line number and the direction the trains will travel from that platform.
Signs within Paris Metro stations mark the way to train platforms on a given line, in a given direction. Metro lines are signified by the letter M within a circle.There are several Metro stations that serve multiple lines in various directions. This causes some stations to have several vertical levels accessible sometimes only by stairs, but often with escalators and sometimes with elevators for extremely deep stations.
As you make you way toward the line platforms within a station, stairs often descend or ascend onto the either side of the rails. Each stairwell is often marked with a detailed Metro line sign showing number, direction, and stations that will be visited as the train travels toward the terminus.
(photo by roboppy )
Exits from Metro stations are marked by blue “sortie” [exit] signs and often note the street or area they give access to.
(photo by kygp )
Stations often have several exits leading out to various streets and pathways. There is often a map provided within the station, outside of the ticketed turnstile area, but still within the station, showing all exits in relation to above ground streets and establishments.
Links
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Paris Metro Schedules
The Paris Metro runs from roughly 05:30 till 00:40 (5:30am – 12:40am) Sunday thru Thursday and 05:30 – 01:40 on Fridays, Saturdays and on days before a holiday. Frequency between most trains range from 2 minutes during rush hour up to 8-10 minutes during off hours, holidays, and sundays.
Download a schedule/timetable of first and last Paris Metro trains . Updated January 2013. (Even though this is quite old, the times are roughly unchanged and the RATP has stopped producing this full schedule.) Times are approximate! This includes schedule of first/last Paris RER A ( Disneyland ) and RER B ( airport ) trains.
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Route Planning
The RATP offers a route planner via their website which can use street addresses, station names or well known locations to create a travel itinerary for you, including necessary connections and total travel time. Route options under “Criteria” can be chosen for fewest connections, least amount of walking and quickest route (the default).
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Tickets & Passes
There are a wide variety of tickets available including single ride tickets, books of 10 or 20, single day passes, multi-day passes, Monday to Sunday week passes, monthly passes and year passes.
Single Use Tickets
Single tickets for the Metro are known as “Ticket t+”. These tickets are valid for a single continuous journey of any length, throughout the Metro system, including changes to other Metro lines and RER interurban trains within Zone 1 . These tickets are sold as single units or in books of 10.
Tickets can be purchased from ticket windows inside stations or through automated ticket vending machines accepting Euro coins and smart chip credit cards. The single ticket price is .
Books of ten, called a “carnet” [kar-nay], are sold at a discount for ( each, a little under 20% off the regular fare). Children from ages 4 to 9 years old (inclusive) can use reduced fare tickets, which are available only in books of 10, for per book of ten. Children 3 and under ride for free. Keep in mind that non-smart chip credit cards will not work at either the automated ticket machines nor at ticket windows, thus Euro cash or coin would be required.
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Day tickets
A day ticket is called the Ticket Mobilis which is good for unlimited rides on the Metro system during operating hours for the day it is used. (Not valid for airports, see note below.) Physically it’s a coupon of about the same size as the Paris Metro Ticket t+.
Ticket Mobilis is available in various fare zone coverage from 1-2 zones to 1-5 zones. If you’ll be traveling strictly within central Paris, zones 1 & 2 cover the entire Metro system, and a 1-2 zone Ticket Mobilis is the recommended ticket. Price is .
The complete price schedule for this Paris day ticket is as follows:
Price schedule courtesy of RATP
As the Ticket Mobilis can be purchased on one day and used someday in the future you must print the date of use on the ticket before use. To prevent people sharing tickets, first and last names are also required.
Note: Ticket Mobilis day pass is not valid for Paris CDG Airport nor Paris Orly Airport except by using Paris airport bus 350 or Paris airport bus 351 for CDG Airport and buses 183 or 285 for Orly Airport. (Non-express city buses, 2-3X travel time.) This means that RER B train, Roissybus, Orlybus, Orlyval train are all not valid for the Mobilis day ticket.
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Multi-Day Paris Metro Tickets
Multi-day tickets aimed at tourists and visitors are known as the Paris Visite, available in 3 zone and 5 zone versions, for 1, 2, 3 or 5 day lengths. Prices for duration and zones are as follows (updated ):
Price schedule courtesy of RATP
The Carte Paris Visite is a multi-use paper ticket coupon (similar to a Ticket Mobilis or Ticket t+). Formerly (prior to 2014) the Paris Visite also came with a black folding card which required the printed name of the bearer and the ticket coupon requires the card number and date of use to be written on in pen, as to avoid ticket sharing between passengers. This is no longer in practice as of mid-2014. You will only receive the white paper Paris Visite ticket itself.
Discounts to attractions in and around Paris are included with the Paris Visite card. (See the discounts on Paris Visite .) To take advantage of the discount at the attractions, simply present your Paris Visite ticket during its validity period (which you must mark on the ticket itself using a pen, along with your first & last name).
Buy Paris Visite Online – You can buy Paris Visite tickets online for home delivery through the Paris Visitor Bureau website, but I wouldn’t recommend it due to the delivery cost. For USA/Canada/Australia/Japan (anywhere overseas) the cost of delivery is 24€ through DHL Express. In United Kingdom, delivery of Paris Visite is 14,50€. There is one free “delivery” option for buying Paris Visite online – pickup your Paris Visite at the Paris Visitor Bureau. But, I can’t imagine why you’d purchase Paris Visite online to have it delivered to the Paris Visitor Bureau, in Paris, which would require a Metro ride in itself, a trip that would likely take 90 minutes round-trip from your hotel. You could just purchase the Paris Visite at any Metro ticket machine or ticket window, anywhere in Paris, at CDG/Orly airports or at any of the major intercity train stations throughout Paris.
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Paris Metro Week Tickets/Passes
Week long tickets are sold in the form of plastic contactless smartcards known as the Pass Navigo Découverte .
This pass is valid for travel strictly from Monday till Sunday, rather than any continuous 7 day period, which makes it less attractive for visitors arriving mid-week. It is purchasable for use in the current week from ticket windows at most Metro, RER and large train stations up until Thursday 11:59 PM. Starting from Friday, week passes for the following week are on sale. The Pass Navigo Découverte week pass is not available from automated ticket vending machines. 4 different fare zones are available although nearly everyone will want all zones which covers central Paris out to zone 5. The other three zones available (2-5, 3-5, 4-5) do not include central Paris. Pass Navigo prices are as follows (Tarifs Semaine = Weekly Price, Tarifs Mois = Monthly Price, updated ):
Price schedule courtesy of RATP
Zones 1-5 will cover travel to & from Airports Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Orly (ORY, by Orlybus, not Orlyval train), which are in zones 5 and 4 respectively and Paris-Versailles trains (zone 4).
The prices above do not include the 5€ fee for the plastic card itself, non-refundable, unlike the London Oyster card.
To purchase the pass Navigo Découverte you will be required to present and attach a face photo measuring 3cm tall x 2.5cm wide to the paper nominative card that comes in addition to the plastic smartcard.
Home printing of this photo, black & white or colour, is acceptable. You will be required to print your name on this card as well. After the paper card is completed a self-adhesive clear plastic cover is folded over the face of the card, protecting the picture and name of the holder. The contactless smart card and the paper card must be carried together to be valid for travel.
There is some confusion between the Carte Orange and Pass Navigo in terms of week passes. Carte Orange was previously a physical coupon like ticket (much like the Ticket Mobilis) and paper nominative photo card that is now no longer in use. This coupon and paper card has been replaced by the new contactless smart cards known as the Pass Navigo and Pass Navigo Découverte (for non-residents of France). The Paris regional transit authority has phased out the name “Carte Orange” as the name of the weekly or monthly “subscriptions” that you must purchase and “add” to your Pass Navigo or Pass Navigo Découverte .
Riding the Paris Metro
Paris Airports
Paris airports are accessible via the RER train system, rather than the Paris Metro. See instructions on the RER B from CDG to Paris , Orly to Paris and Paris Beauvais Airport Train for more information.
Paris Stations & Metro Tickets
Most of Paris’ 300 Metro stations are located underground with a handful above ground. Stations are marked with various styles of signs as shown below.
Photo jmanners
Photo tinkerbells
Photo SarahR89
Some Metro stations are joined with large train stations (“gare”) serving other types rail transport such as intercity surface trains and RER regional express trains which travel both above and below ground. Some notable large stations within Paris serving all three types of train transport include: Gare St. Lazare, Gare du Nord , Gare de l’Est, Gare de Lyon , Gare d’Austerlitz and Gare Montparnasse . Most stations and Paris Metro lines are not handicap accessible save for a few exceptions . Stations have multiple entrances/exits, up to ten for the largest underground station, Chatelet Les Halles.
Photo Mirka23
Street maps are posted throughout central Paris providing information on the local district (“arrondissement”). These maps can be useful in locating nearby Metro stations.
Within a Metro station, tickets can be purchased from manned ticket windows and from automated ticket vending machines. Most passes are only sold from ticket windows although the Ticket Mobilis day ticket is available via the machines.
Photo squarejer
Ticket windows may not be open nor manned at all times thus requiring use of the vending machines. Certain entrances to stations may give direct access to train platforms, which require that you already have your ticket or pass. Ticket vending machines such as the one shown in the photo accept Euro coins (for purchases up to 30€) and smartchip credit cards. Cash notes or bills are not accepted at these machines. See the guide on using Paris Metro ticket vending machines for more information.
Access to Metro train platforms is controlled via turnstiles or gate type barriers which are operated by either magnetic stripe coupon tickets (Ticket t+, Mobilis, etc.) or contactless smart cards such as the Pass Navigo Decouverte. To operate the barrier with a ticket, insert the ticket magnetic stripe side down, into a turnstile that is not marked with a red X or red circle which indicates an exit only turnstile. The ticket slot should be on your right while inserting the ticket (see the photo below). The ticket will be ejected on the top of the turnstile which you must retrieve to unlock the barrier.
If the ticket is accepted a short high pitched buzzing sound will be emitted, sometimes along with a message displayed on the turnstile requesting you take your ticket back (“Reprenez votre ticket”). Remove the ticket and walk through the turnstile or approach closely the gate barrier and wait for it to open. Some gates are slow to open, especially side swinging double door gates. If your ticket appears to have been accepted, yet the gate has not swung open, be sure you are sufficiently close to the gates in order to trip the sensor. Be patient and don’t panic. The gate should swing open within 5 seconds maximum. A ticket that is not accepted will cause the turnstile to emit a longer, lower pitched (unpleasant) buzzing noise, sometimes with a message in red indicating your ticket was not valid. See an employee at a ticket window or information booth for help in this case. They will usually open a wheelchair accessible gate for you to pass through.
Operating barriers with contactless smart cards works by passing the card over the purple reader zone on the tops of the turnstiles or barriers. The smart cards may take a second or two to be recognized by the transponders, so keep the pass over the reader area until a “ding” sound is emitted for an accepted pass. Keep in mind that passes near expiration will cause the barrier to emit a buzzing noise instead of a ding, along with a message noting the date of expiry. Pass through the turnstile or gate as per normal.
Many Metro stations serve multiple lines through several different train platforms within a single station. To find your way to the correct platform in the correct direction requires that you to keep a mindful eye on signs posted throughout the pedestrian tunnels.
Photo roboppy
At each subterranean intersection you will see Metro line numbers and possibly station names which are used to denote direction of travel. Direction of travel is always denoted by the terminus station, the last station or stop on the line, rather than magnetic pole directions such as north, south, east, west. To understand whether the line is going in the direction you wish to travel, you should refer a Paris Metro map , which are posted near station entrances and on all train platforms.
Nearly all train platforms have overhead signs showing the time remaining till the next two trains arrive at the station, denoted in minutes. These signs are also a way to verify that you’re on the correct line, heading in the correct direction. The photo below shows Metro Line 4 in direction of Porte d’Orleans with 4 minutes remaining till the next train arrives. On the opposite side of this platform will be another sign of exact same color and number, but the direction will be marked as Porte de Clignancourt, the opposite direction.
Keep in mind that the train arrival times posted on these signs are only estimates and are not always accurate. Due to traffic congestion and rider issues minutes may be added or subtracted at any moment.
On rare occasion, but worth mentioning, some Metro line platforms are accessed by traversing another platform for a different line. This means you’ll arrive at a platform and think the current platform is the correct one, but in reality, your desired line is further along. Pay special attention to the overhead signs and the system maps posted on the platform walls to ensure you’re on the correct platform.
Metro train cars come in a variety of different shapes, colours and sizes.
Photo daveknapik
Nearly all Metro cars require manual operation to open their doors. This is done through either a lever or a button on the door itself near the centre opening. Metro Line 14 is a notable exception being completely automated and driver-less.
Photo otherthings
Fold-down seats are available just inside Metro train car doors, but these seats should only be used when there is sufficient space for travelers to easily enter and exit the train car. Rush hours will generally be too busy to use these seats. Rush hour travel on the Metro in Paris is a chance to exercise your “personal space” limits. Don’t be surprised if you end up completely pressed up against other passengers. It’s normal, it’s accepted… it’s simply a slice of commuter life in Paris. Don’t worry about not being able to descend the train when your stop arrives. Simply say “Excusez-moi” and people will immediately begin making room for you to alight, even if it requires that they descend the train also, just to let you off. Parisiens are very well versed in Metro manners and if you’ve read up to this point… you are now as well.
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Exiting
After having arrived at your desired station you can make your way out of the station by following the blue “Sortie” signs.
These signs will often be mixed with directional signs for various Metro lines shared by a station. This photo shows the multitude of exits and lines available for both the Metro and the RER at the world’s largest underground station: Chatelet Les Halles.
Each exit is usually referred to by the street or landmark upon which it exits.
Photo carboncopyrocks!
To determine which exit is best for you refer to an exit map located within the Metro station, usually just after exiting the fare paid zone (see next paragraph).
To exit the fare paid zone within stations you’ll either pass through exit turnstiles (look for green lights on the face of the turnstiles or for open gates) or through doors opened by pressure plates or infrared sensors.
(Pressure activated doors are visible on the left hand side of the photo below.)
Frequently Asked Questions
Paris Metro vs. RER – What’s the difference?
The Metro is a classic subway system: mostly underground, many stops, frequent service, short line distances, serving the urban city centre, non-scheduled train timings. The RER (Réseau Express Régional) is a commuter train system that covers much of the greater metropolitan area of Paris ( Ile-de-France ), much further out than that covered by the Metro, including specifically both Paris Airports: Paris Roissy-Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Paris-Orly (ORY) , Disneyland® Paris , and Chateau Versailles . The confusing part is that the RER traverses central Paris with a handful of stations, acting like an express Metro system with fewer stops, larger trains and faster movement. Paris fare zones apply to the RER train system, unlike the Metro and there are six of them. Using a Metro ticket, the Ticket t+, is permitted on the RER, but only to the limits of Zone 1, the true center of Paris, bordered by the ring road surrounding it, the Boulevard Periphérique .
Have a question? Ask it at the ParisByTrain forums and I’ll answer it. Commonly asked questions will be reposted here.
Have a suggestion on improving this article? Don’t hesitate to post a comment or edit this article directly.
Further Reading
By Ben Lam | June 2, 2016 | in Tickets
This is a step-by-step visual guide to ticket vending machines for the Paris Metro , Bus, Tram and RER.
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In the above photo we see a Paris Transit Authority ticket vending machine. You’ll often find these machines just beside manned Metro ticket windows. At large Metro stations such as Chatelet Les Halles or Gare de Lyon you’ll find these machines placed throughout the station, usually embedded into walls.
Machine Layout
Let’s analyze the layout of the machine clockwise from the red button.
The red button is the “No” or “Cancel” button. When you’ve taken a wrong step, made an erroneous choice, press this button to go “back” or to answer “No” to a question.
The large display screen is not a touch screen, unlike Billetterie Ile-de-France ticket machines. To make choices on the screen, we use the rollbar located directly beneath the screen.
On the right, (mostly cut-off from my poor picture taking,) is the debit card slot, with a pinpad just beneath it. These machines accept debit cards, but not credit cards, and also euro coins through a slot, not visible in the picture. Further right, again, not visible (sorry), is a purple Navigo pass card slot. Pass Navigo and Pass Navigo Decouverte cards can be loaded or charged at these machines. Remember to remove the plastic protective cover from your card (if your card has one) before trying to insert the card.
Below that we have the green “Yes” or “Accept” button used to make selections.
Below the green Validez button is a ticket delivery slot, where bought tickets and receipts will be delivered upon completion of a purchase.
To the left of the Yes button we have the infamous roll bar. Rolling this bar moves the selection “cursor” on the video screen. Rolling this bar up with your hand moves to the next item “up” from the current position. Rolling the bar down, scrolls the highlighted item to the next item down on the screen. To make a selection, press the green Validez (“Validate”) button.
Start / Welcome Screen
Let’s analyze what we see on the start screen, what you’ll see when you first arrive at the machine.
At the top left corner we see the RATP logo and what station you’re currently at (Chatelet Les Halles) along with which fare zone you’re in (zone 1). At the top right we have the current date and time. You’ll notice that there is no language choice on this starting screen, but there will be one on the next page.
The Blue rectangle is the currently selected item or “cursor”. Upon start, the item selected is “Tournez le rouleau, puis appuyez sur valider” which in English is “Turn the rollbar, then push Validate”.
The starting screen has two selections:
Buy tickets, coupons (“Acheter des tickets, coupons”)
Recharge a Pass Navigo (“Recharger un passe Navigo “)
Rolling the bar upwards will move the blue “highlight cursor” to “Acheter des tickets, coupons”. Pressing the Green “Validez” button will select that item and bring you to the next screen.
Buying Tickets
To buy a Paris Metro ticket, also good for the bus or tram, roll the bar upwards to highlight “Acheter des tickets, coupons” then press the green button.
On this next screen we have four selections, the bottommost being language choices for this machine (“English, Español, Deutsch, Italiano”). I did not make a language selection, so the rest of the screens are still in French.
First choice (already highlighted in blue) is Paris Metro Ticket t+ for the Metro, Bus and Tram in Paris , Second class (“2e classe”), Full Price (“Plein Tarif”). These tickets are always Second Class, since First Class Metro cars no longer exist. Full Price tickets means Adult Price, which is currently () per ticket, bought singly. Children’s fares or half price tickets (“Demi Tarif or Tarif Réduit”) can be purchased through the Billets Ile-de-France, RATP, SNCF Autres coupons, Aeroports selection (3rd from the top).
Second choice is a booklet (“carnet”) of ten Paris Metro Tickets , again for Metro, Bus or Tram. The total price for 10 tickets is , making each ticket , a discount of about 20% off the full price of . I believe you can purchase a maximum of two booklets at once (twenty tickets total). A booklet of 10 tickets for children 4-9 (inclusive) costs .
Third choice is for reduced price tickets (for children or other discount pass holders) and Billets Ile-de-France (station to station tickets , destinations outside of central Paris) such as tickets to Airport Charles de Gaulle ( one way), and day passes such as Ticket Mobilis.
Fourth choice takes you to a languages selection page where you can change the language used by the ticket machine.
On the right side of the screen we see the current station (Chatelet Les Halles), the date, payment types accepted and min./max. values (debit card is accepted for purchases totaling 1€ or more, Euro coins up to 30€ maximum) and a note saying that this machine will make change.
On the next screen above we choose the quantity of individual tickets we’re wanting to buy. Nine individual tickets is the maximum since ten would make a carnet, which is 20% cheaper. Roll the selection bar to the desired value and press the green Validate button.
Following the quantity selection we’re asked if we would like a receipt for the purchase. Useful if your travel costs are reimbursed.
Finally we come to the payment screen which unlocks the coin slot and the card reader checks for debit cards. As far as I know, you cannot mix and match payment types, either all coins or all debit card. North American debit cards will most likely not work.
If paying by debit card, you’ll have to enter your PIN number via the keypad to the right of the display screen. These machines can be slow to read debit cards, so expect upwards of ten seconds for the machine to respond after inserting your card.
Once you’ve completed the payment of your purchase, your tickets and possibly a receipt will be dropped into the ticket collection slot below the green Validez button.
I’ll attempt to get some more screen shots of ticket vending machine usage in English and for purchasing Billets Ile-de-France for Aeroport Charles de Gaulle or Airport Paris-Orly .
Optile buses (Paris suburban bus)
Montmartre Cable car (Funiculaire de Montmartre)
Paris Metro Ticket t+ is currently priced at for a single ticket (). A package of 10 tickets, a carnet [“car-nay”] costs .
Transfers Allowed
Paris Metro tickets are valid for transfers within 1 hour 30 minutes of first use, but only between certain methods of transport and depending on the type of transport used. You cannot mix and match the transfers listed below, each bullet point should be regarded as separate transfer type. For example, you cannot transfer from Paris Metro to Bus. Paris Metro Ticket transfers are allowed between:
One Metro line to another, without exiting the confines of a station, or
Metro to RER trains, or
2 RATP (city) Bus lines, or
1 RATP Bus and 1 Optile (suburban) bus, or
Tramway and any bus lines that cross it, or
Noctilien (night) buses (except on Noctilien buses requiring special fares)
Notice that there are no “and“s in the above list. That’s on purpose. You can’t mix any of the above transfer situations.
Special note: single transit tickets purchased on buses, directly from drivers are not valid for any transfers and cost . With these tickets you will not be able to transfer to another bus nor tramway.
Paris Metro Passes
By Ben Lam | July 30, 2008 | in Metro
Here are ten ways to ride the Paris Metro like a local (or better).
Plan your route. Before making a trip, use a Metro map and the official RATP Paris Metro route planner to find the shortest route with the least number of line changes. Station to station a Metro train will take just over a minute. Making connections will cost you about 3 minutes at small interchanges with few intersecting lines and up to fifteen minutes at mega stations Chatelet Les Halles, Gare du Nord , Gare Montparnasse , Saint-Lazare. These stations are enormous, sprawling, multi-level, and likely confusing (especially Chatelet Les Halles). You could be walking up to a kilometer to reach the next train platform. If you’re changing trains more than twice, search for a more direct route.
Don’t wait till Monday morning or the first day of the month to buy your Paris Metro tickets or Navigo Semaine for the week. The lineups for both vending machines and ticket windows are extremely long on these particular days, since Navigo Semaine expires on Sunday evening / last day of the month. Thus, an unusually large number of people will be renewing their pass.
Take the RER if you can, even if it means back tracking on the Metro. With far fewer stops and higher speed, the RER is almost always faster than the Metro. Use it as much as possible.
At rush hour on the station platform, walk to the far end, furthest away from the entrance stairwell. People tend to bunch up just next to the platform entrance, reducing your chance of getting on the train. You’ll also get last second “jumpers” who push themselves onto the last metro car as the doors are about to close, squishing everyone else already on the over-packed car.
Time flies: Most platforms have overhead signs showing minutes till the next train. These are hardly atomic clocks. 2 minutes can mean immediate arrival or actually 6 minutes. Don’t wander off in the meantime.
Choose the best train car. Many people stand at the edge of the platform near the rails to be closer to a car door when the train arrives thinking this will guarantee they get on. This is untrue. Trains often arrive with cars which are full and no one is descending. If you happen to be waiting at the doorstep of such a train car, you’re not getting on. Furthermore, when you turn around to go to the next train door, you’re no longer at the head of the line, you’re at the rear, as everyone else behind you has turned toward the next train car as well, and you’re behind them. By standing back, you can survey the train cars as they pass, allowing you to quickly move to the one that is not overly full and where there are people descending. Stand back as the train arrives to watch multiple doors. Some train cars will have many people descending, some none at all. Your best chance of getting on a busy Metro train is with a car somewhere in between these two extremes. Standing back from the fray allows you to see the action from afar and choose the best train car.
Take off your backpack & keep it near your feet/between your legs. You’ll take the personal space (at a premium on the Metro) of two people with it on your back. It’s bad form, screams “ignorant tourist” and is more prone to having uninvited “inspections” for wallets and other valuables (not common, but possible).
During rush hour, stand, don’t use the folding seats near the train doors, which allows more people to be crammed into the train car, a national past time in Paris.
Prepare for takeoff: Make your way to the door (carefully) before the train arrives at your station. If this is not possible at least make motions that you’re getting off at the next stop. Everyone reads that body language and will prepare to get out of your way when it’s time. This allows you to alight quickly so that others have time to enter the train before it departs.
Wash your hands after your journey. The amount of other people’s lives on handles and poles on a Metro train would make the monkey in Outbreak shudder .
| Orange |
Who is the English voice of Ernest Penfold in the television cartoon series ‘Danger Mouse’? | Paris – Travel guide at Wikivoyage
Districts[ edit ]
The city of Paris itself is officially divided into 20 districts called arrondissements, numbered from 1 to 20 in a clockwise spiral from the centre of the city (which is known as Kilomètre Zéro and is located at the front of Notre Dame). Arrondissements are named according to their number. You might, for example, stay in the "5th", which would be written as 5e in French. The 12th and 16th arrondissements include large suburban parks, the Bois de Vincennes, and the Bois de Boulogne respectively.
The very best map you can get for Paris is called "Paris Pratique par Arrondissement" which you can buy for about €5 at any news stand. It makes navigating the city easy. The various tourist information centres and hotels in Paris also provide various city and metro maps for free and which contain all the essential details for a tourist.
Each arrondissement has its own unique character and selection of attractions for the traveller:
The Layout of Paris by district
1st (1er) . The geographical centre of Paris and a great starting point for travellers. The Musée du Louvre, the Jardin des Tuileries, Place Vendôme, Les Halles shopping centre, Palais Royal, Comédie-Française, théatre du Châtelet, Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, and the western half of Île de la Cité (Paris's largest island).
2nd (2e) . The central business district of the city — the Bourse (the Paris Stock Exchange), Opéra-Comique, Théâtre des Variétés, Passage des Panoramas, Théâtre des Bouffes Parisiens and the former Bibliothèque Nationale are here.
3rd (3e) . Archives Nationales, Musée Carnavalet, Conservatoire des Arts et Métiers, Hôtel de Soubise, the former Temple fortress, and the northern, quieter part of the Marais.
4th (4e) . Notre-Dame de Paris, the Hôtel de Ville (Paris city hall), Hôtel de Sully, Beaubourg, Rue des Rosiers and the Jewish Quarter, Le Marais, Bazar de l'Hôtel de Ville, Mémorial de la Shoah, Centre Georges Pompidou, l'atelier Brancusi, Place des Vosges, Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal, Saint-Jacques Tower and the Parisian island Île Saint-Louis as well as the eastern half of Île de la Cité.
5th (5e) . This is the eastern part of the Quartier latin (Latin Quarter). Jardin des Plantes, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Musée de Cluny, the Panthéon, La Sorbonne, Montagne Sainte-Geneviève, Église Saint-Séverin, La Grande Mosquée, Le Musée de l'AP-HP.
6th (6e) . This contains the western part of the Quartier latin. Jardin du Luxembourg as well as its Sénat, Place Saint-Michel, Église Saint-Sulpice and Saint-Germain-des-Prés.
7th (7e) . Tour Eiffel and its Parc du Champ de Mars, Les Invalides, Musée d'Orsay, Assemblée nationale and its subset administrations, École Militaire, Musée du quai Branly, and Parisian mega-store Le Bon Marché.
8th (8e) . Champs-Élysées, Arc de Triomphe, Place de la Concorde, le Palais de l'Élysée, Église de la Madeleine,Jacquemart-André Museum, Gare Saint-Lazare, Grand Palais, Petit Palais, and the western half of Boulevard Haussman.
9th (9e) . Opéra Garnier, Galeries Lafayette, Musée Grévin, Folies Bergère, and the eastern half of Boulevard Haussman.
10th (10e) . Canal Saint-Martin, Gare du Nord, Gare de l'Est, Porte Saint-Denis, Porte Saint-Martin, Passage Brady, Passage du Prado, and Église Saint-Vincent-de-Paul.
11th (11e) . The bars and restaurants of Rue Oberkampf, Bastille, Nation, New Jewish Quarter, Cirque d'Hiver, and Église Saint-Ambroise.
12th (12e) . Opéra Bastille, Bercy Park and Village, AccorHotels Arena, Promenade Plantée, Quartier d'Aligre, Gare de Lyon, Cimetière de Picpus, Viaduc des arts, the Bois de Vincennes, and the Zoo de Vincennes.
13th (13e) . Quartier Asiatique (Asian Quarter), Place d'Italie, La Butte-aux-Cailles, Bibliothèque Nationale de France (BNF), Gare d'Austerlitz, Manufacture des Gobelins, the Olympiades, the Tolbiac district, Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital.
14th (14e) . Cimetière du Montparnasse, Gare Montparnasse, La Santé Prison, Denfert-Rochereau, Parc Montsouris, Stade Charléty, Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris, and the public entrance to the catacombs.
15th (15e) . Tour Montparnasse, Porte de Versailles, Front de Seine, La Ruche, Parc André Citroën, Aquaboulevard and quartiers Saint-Lambert, Necker, Grenelle and Javel.
16th (16e) . Palais de Chaillot, Musée de l'Homme, the Bois de Boulogne, Cimetière de Passy, Parc des Princes, Musée Marmottan-Monet, Trocadéro, Maison de la Radio, and Avenue Foch.
17th (17e) . Palais des Congrès, Place de Clichy, Parc Monceau, Marché Poncelet, and Square des Batignolles.
18th (18e) . Montmartre, Pigalle, Barbès, Basilica of the Sacré Cœur, Église Saint-Jean-de-Montmartre, and Goutte d'Or can be found here.
19th (19e) . Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie, Parc de la Villette, Bassin de la Villette, Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, Cité de la Musique, Canal de l'Ourcq, and Canal Saint-Denis can be found here.
20th (20e) . Cimetière du Père-Lachaise, Parc de Belleville, and quartiers Belleville and Ménilmontant.
La Défense . Although it is not officially part of the city, this skyscraper district on the western edge of town is on many visitors' must-see lists for its modern architecture and public art.
Beyond central Paris, the outlying suburbs are called La Banlieue . Schematically, those on the west of Paris ( Neuilly-sur-Seine , Boulogne-Billancourt , Saint Cloud , Levallois ) are wealthy residential communities. Those to the northeast are poorer communities, much populated by immigrants.
Understand[ edit ]
Due to high expectations, a tight schedule, and large crowds and long lines during high season, the city might disappoint some visitors. Foreign visitors who have an idealized view of Paris, might be shocked by the typical challenges of visiting any large city; crime, traffic noise, pollution, garbage, and relatively high costs. In the worst case, visitors might experience the Paris syndrome; a psychological state of delusion.
To enjoy the wonders of Paris, make realistic plans. The amounts of attractions and landmarks is overwhelming; visiting only the most famous ones takes more than a week. The city has also more to offer for people who take time for a calm stroll along the backstreets. If your time in the city is short, be selective, and save some attractions for your next visit.
History[ edit ]
Paris started life as the Celto-Roman settlement of Lutetia on the Île de la Cité, the island in the Seine currently occupied by the Cathédral de Nôtre Dame. It takes its present name from the name of the dominant Gallo-Celtic tribe in the region, the Parisii. At least that's what the Romans called them, when they showed up in 52 BCE and established their city Lutetia on the left bank of the Seine, in what is now called the "Latin Quarter" in the 5th arrondissement .
The Romans held out here for as long as anywhere else in the Western Empire, but by 508 CE they were gone, replaced by Clovis of the Franks, who is considered by the French to have been their first king. Clovis' descendants, aka the Carolingians, held onto the expanded Lutetian state for nearly 500 years through Viking raids and other calamities, which finally resulted in a forced move by most of the population back to the islands which had been the centre of the original Celtic village. The Capetian Duke of Paris was voted to succeed the last of the Carolingians as King of France, ensuring the city a premier position in the medieval world. Over the next several centuries Paris expanded onto the right bank into what was and is still called le Marais (The Marsh). Quite a few buildings from this time can be seen in the 4th arrondissement .
The medieval period also witnessed the founding of the Sorbonne. As the "University of Paris", it became one of the most important centres for learning in Europe—if not the whole world, for several hundred years. Most of the institutions that still constitute the University are found in the 5th , and 13th arrondissements .
In the late 18th century, there was a period of political and social upheaval in France and Europe, during which the French governmental structure, previously a monarchy with feudal privileges for the aristocracy and Catholic clergy, underwent radical change to forms based on Enlightenment principles of nationalism, citizenship, and inalienable rights. Notable events during and following the revolution were the storming of the Bastille 4th arrondissements , and the rise and fall of Napoleonic France. Out of the violent turmoil that was the French Revolution, sparked by the still known Passion des Français, emerged the enlightened modern day France.
The Paris of today was built long after the Capetian and later the Bourbon Kings of France made their mark on Paris with the Louvre and the Palais Royal, both in the 1st . In the 19th century, Baron von Hausmann set about reconstructing the city, by adding the long straight avenues and replacing many of the then existing medieval houses, with grander and more uniform buildings.
The Eiffel Tower
New wonders arrived during La Belle Époque, as the Parisian golden age of the late 19th century is known. Gustave Eiffel's famous tower, the first metro lines, most of the parks, and the streetlights (which are partly believed to have given the city its epithet "the city of light") all come from this period. Another source of the epithet comes from Ville Lumière, a reference not only to the revolutionary electrical lighting system implemented in the streets of Paris, but also to the prominence and aura of Enlightenment the city gained in that era.
The twentieth century was hard on Paris, but thankfully not as hard as it could have been. Hitler's order to burn the city was thankfully ignored by the German General von Choltitz who was quite possibly convinced by a Swedish diplomat that it would be better to surrender and be remembered as the saviour of Paris, than to be remembered as its destroyer. Following the war, the city recovered quickly at first, but slowed in the 1970s and 1980s when Paris began to experience some of the problems faced by big cities everywhere: pollution, housing shortages, and occasionally failed experiments in urban renewal.
During this time however, Paris enjoyed considerable growth as a multi-cultural city, with new immigrants from all corners of the world, especially La Francophonie, including most of northern and western Africa as well as Vietnam and Laos. These immigrants brought their foods and music, both of which are of prime interest for many travellers.
Immigration and multi-culturalism continues in the 21st century with a marked increase in the arrival of people from Latin America, especially Mexico , Colombia , and Brazil . In the late 1990s, it was hard to find good Mexican food in Paris, whereas today there are dozens of possibilities from lowly taquerias in the outer arrondissements to nice sit-down restaurants on the boulevards. Meanwhile Latin music from salsa to samba is all the rage (well, alongside Paris lounge electronica).
The 21st century has also seen vast improvements in the general liveability of Paris, with the mayor's office concentrating on reducing pollution and improving facilities for soft forms of transportation including a huge network of cycle paths, larger pedestrian districts and newer faster metro lines. Visitors who normally arrive car-less are the beneficiaries of these policies as much as the Parisians themselves are.
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In Western Europe, Paris has a maritime climate with cool winters and warm summers. The moderating effect of the Atlantic Ocean helps to temper temperature extremes in much of western Europe, including France. Even in January, the coldest month, temperatures nearly always exceed the freezing point with an average high of 7°C (45°F). Snow is not common in Paris, although it will fall a few times a year, with major snowstorms occurring every few years. Most of Paris's precipitation comes in the form of light rain year-round.
Summers in Paris are warm and pleasant, with an average high of 25°C (78°F). Spring and fall are normally cool and wet.
By plane[ edit ]
Paris is served by two international airports - for more information, including arrival/departure times, check the official sites.
Charles de Gaulle International Airport (Roissy)[ edit ]
Main article: Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport
CDG is the main airport of the city. It is located north of Paris and is connected by train, bus and taxi. For detailed information on arriving and departing Paris from this airport please consult the main article linked above.
Transit Summary: The RER train line "B" connects CDG airport to central Paris and is the fastest and most economical option for most travelers. Signs in the airport will direct you to the platform. Self-serve electronic kiosques sell tickets. The kiosques provide service in multiple languages, including English. Some trains will stop at each station along the way to Paris. Express trains with fewer stops are available during off-peak hours. The stations Gare du Nord, Châtelet-Les Halles, Saint-Michel Notre-Dame, Luxembourg, Port-Royal, Denfert-Rochereau and Cité Universitaire are always served. Your ticket will allow you to transfer at one of the aforementioned stations to the Metro and other RER lines within Paris to complete your journey. The one-way trip costs €10 (July 2015).
If you want to take RER B to catch an early flight, make sure you bring enough change, because you can only buy tickets at the coins-only machines before the counter opens.
If you arrive to CDG Airport at night you'll need a Noctilien bus to get to the city centre. The bus stops at all three terminals (in terminal 2F it will be the second level in the departure section, difficult to find, but it really exists). The bus leaves every 30 min after 12:30 (see timetable [1] ). The buses you'll need are N140 and N143; the price is 4 T+ tickets (€8 if bought on board).
Orly International Airport[ edit ]
Main article: Paris Orly Airport
Orly IATA : ORY, this older international airport is southwest of the city and is used mainly by Air France for domestic departures, and international departures by European carriers. It consists of two terminals: Terminal Sud (south) and Terminal Ouest (west) connected by light rail. The airport is connected with Paris by bus and light rail. For detailed information on arriving and departing Paris from this airport please consult the main article linked above.
Orly is roughly 40 min from Paris via the OrlyBus, which departs from Métro Denfert-Rochereau (line 6); the price is €7.70 (2015). There are buses every 10-15 minutes from the Orly Sud (Platform 4) and it stops at Orly Ouest on its way to the city. Tickets can be bought at a counter near the baggage claim area or directly at the counter in Platform 4. The tickets need to be validated once on the bus. Another option is tramway T7 that takes you to the Métro Villejuif - Louis Aragon (Metro 7) in 30 min, but it stops on the way and is designed for commuters and not for travellers. Tramway T7 costs a single T+ (metro/bus/tram) ticket (€2 if bought on board the bus) and runs every 10 min, stopping at airport level -1. Passes covering zones 1-4 are accepted, excepted the day pass "Mobilis" on the Orlybus.
Via rail the airport can be reached by a southern branch of the RER-B line that heads from Paris in the direction of Saint-Rémy-les-Chevreuse (not Robinson). At Antony station RER-B line connects with the Orlyval light rail that carries passengers to both terminals of the airport. Orlyval runs every 4-7 min and costs €12.05 (2015) for transfer to Paris, including connections to central area metro stations. The RER B from Antony runs through Paris to Aéroport Charles de Gaulle. The airport can be also reached by RER-C trains heading from Paris to Massy or Pont de Rungis. From Pont de Rungis-Aéroport d'Orly station passengers get to the airport within 10 minutes by a shuttle bus. The travel from Paris downtown to the airport by RER-C and the shuttle costs €6.85 (2015).
Wi-Fi Internet access is provided free of charge.
Beauvais (Aéroport de Beauvais Tillé)[ edit ]
Beauvais ( IATA : BVA), a distance north of the city, is a smaller regional airport that is used by some low-cost carriers such as Ryanair and WizzAir. Like many small airports there is a cartel in operation in the form of the airport operated shuttle service connecting with the Métro at Porte Maillot station. Buses run even during the small hours of the morning (06:00). Buses leave 20 min after each flight arrives, and a few hours before each flight departs. Exact times can be found on the Beauvais Airport website . The journey will take about an hour in good traffic conditions, and costs €16 each way, there is no reduced price for children over the age of 2 years. Unless you hire a car this is the most realistic way to head toward Paris, hence why the airport charge the price they do. The alternative is a train service between Gare du Nord and Beauvais, and a connecting shuttle or taxi to the airport. This journey costs more and takes longer. Missing the shuttle bus could mean a taxi fare well over €100.
Airline Shuttles[ edit ]
In addition to public transport, Air France operates shuttles between Charles de Gaulle and Paris (€17), Orly and Paris (€12) and between the two airports (€20). Discounts apply for young/group travellers and online bookers. Note that if you have connecting Air France flights that land and depart from different airports, you would still generally need to fetch your luggage after landing, catch either the Air France shuttle or a taxi (readily available at all airports) to the other airport and check-in again. This altogether could take up to 2 hours, particularly if traffic is at its worst. It is also common to lose time during disembarking, as passengers often need to get off on the tarmac and get on buses which will take them to the terminal. Be sure you have sufficient time between flights to catch your connection. Check-in counters usually close 30 min before the flight departs, longer if flights are international.
By train[ edit ]
Paris is well connected to the rest of Europe by train. There are seven different terminus stations in central Paris and although they are not all in the same district, they are all connected to the Metro and RER networks. You will probably want to know in advance at which station your train is arriving, so as to better choose a hotel and plan for transport within the city.
Gare du Nord, ( 10th ), Métro: Gare du Nord - TGV trains to and from Belgium , the Netherlands , west Germany (Aachen, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Duisburg, Essen) (Thalys), and the United Kingdom (Eurostar from London and Kent ) and regular trains from Northern Europe.
Gare d'Austerlitz, ( 13th ), Métro: Gare d'Austerlitz - regular trains to and from the center and southwest of France ( Orléans , Limoges , Toulouse the long way) and the majority of night trains.
Gare de l'Est, ( 10th ), Métro: Gare de l'Est - TGV to and from Luxembourg , ICE/TGV to and from south Germany ( Saarbrücken , Kaiserslautern , Mannheim , Frankfurt , Karlsruhe , Stuttgart , Augsburg , and Munich ), RZD night train to and from Russia (Moscow), Belarus (Minsk), Poland (Warsaw, Poznan) and Germany (Berlin, Erfurt).
Gare de Lyon, ( 12th ), Métro: Gare de Lyon - regular and TGV trains to and from southern and eastern France: French Alps , Marseille , Lyon , Dijon , Switzerland ( Basel , Geneva , Lausanne , Bern , Zurich ) and southwest Germany ( Müllheim , Freiburg im Breisgau ). You can also catch dat ( Turin , Milan ) and overnight trains ( Milan , Verona , Padua , Venice ) from and to Italy .
Gare de Bercy, ( 12th ), Métro: Bercy. Regular trains to Auvergne and Burgundy .
Gare St Lazare, ( 8th ) Métro: St-Lazare - trains to and from Basse-Normandie , Haute-Normandie .
Gare Montparnasse, ( 15th ), Métro: Montparnasse-Bienvenüe - TGV and regular trains to and from the west and south-west of France ( Tours , Brest , Rennes , Nantes , Bordeaux , Toulouse the fastest way and Irún in Spain ). Gare Vaugirard is an extension of Gare Montparnasse.
The SNCF (French national railway authority) operates practically all trains within France excluding the Eurostar to London, the Thalys to Brussels and onward to the Netherlands and Germany , and some low-cost services such as iDTGV and Ouigo (although they are owned by the SNCF, they are considered as different rail companies). There are also a few local lines of high touristic interest which are privately owned. All SNCF, Eurostar and Thalys tickets can be bought in railway stations, city offices and travel agencies (no surcharge). SNCF relies on travel agencies for selling tickets online, the main one being Voyages SNCF (you will need to use a chip-enabled card, and have to have the one used to pay the tickets with you to retrieve the actual tickets in any SNCF station, some foreign cards won't be accepted) and Trainline (easier to use, and you can retrieve your ticket at any counter or machine with just your name and booking reference). You can also find tickets in online and physical travel agencies. You can book and buy tickets up to three months in advance. There are significant discounts if you book weeks ahead. Reduced ticket prices are different for each day and each train and can be used only on the train the reservation is for.
Trains between Paris and south Germany (Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Munich) as well as the Marseille-Frankfurt TGV are jointly operated by SNCF and Deutsche Bahn, but each of the two operators will sell tickets at its own price! Make sure to check the price offered by each operator before you buy, or use Trainline since they automatically compare SNCF and DB prices.
There are a number of different kinds of high-speed and normal trains:
TER: The regional trains (Train Express Régional); cheapest tickets, though prices are variable on the time of day of departure (and the day of departure as well). TER are sometimes slower, stopping at almost all stations. TER tickets bought at the train station are valid two months from the date indicated on the ticket, as long as you travel in the right fare period ("période bleue", the cheapest, "période blanche", for high-demand hours). There is no seat reservation, so arrive early enough or you may have to travel without a seat.
Intercités: A bundling of the former Intercités, Téoz, and Lunéa train categories. There are two kinds: the regular trains, which are priced the same as the TER and the trains you'll find yourself on if you have a Eurail or InterRail pass and don't want to pay extra for reservations, and the trains à réservation obligatoire, which require a reservation and are priced differently from the regular Intercités trains.
TGV: The world-famous French high-speed trains (Trains à Grande Vitesse) run very frequently to the southeast Nice (5-6 hr), Marseille (3 hr) and Avignon (2.5 hr), the east Geneva (3hr) or Lausanne , Switzerland and Dijon (1 hr 15 min), the southwest Bordeaux (3 hr), the west Rennes (2 hr) and the north Lille (1 hr). Thalys to Brussels (1 hr 20 min) use almost identical trains. Reservations are obligatory.
ICE: German high-speed trains , operating most services between Paris and Frankfurt .
Thalys: A high-speed train service running daily to/from the Netherlands , Belgium and Germany . It can be a bit expensive compared to normal trains, but cheap enough if you buy in advance.
IZY: A subsidiary of Thalys, offering slower (~2 hr 15 min) but cheaper trains between Paris and Brussels.
Eurostar: The Eurostar service connects Paris with London St. Pancras directly and Brussels indirectly, as well many other destinations indirectly through the various west European rail services. Travel time between Paris Gare du Nord and London St Pancras International currently averages at 2hr 15 min, following the opening of a new rail link in late 2007. Eurail and InterRail passes are not valid for this train, though pass holders can benefit from a reduced price. You must arrive at the station 30 minutes before the departure of the train to complete security and passport controls.
Ouigo - a subsidiary of SNCF running TGV's with a second class only layout intended and marketed as a lower cost service, often serving secondary train stations with lower station access charges like Marne-la-Vallée (Disneyland)
Thello: night trains between Paris and Venice (with intermediate stops).
RŽD: Russian railways operate a sleeper train between Paris and Moscow with stops through Germany (Karlsruhe, Frankfurt/Main, Erfurt, Berlin, Frankfurt/Oder), Poland and Belarus.
Transfer between Train Stations[ edit ]
From Gare d'Austerlitz[ edit ]
Gare d'Austerlitz – Gare de Bercy (15 min): Bus 24 to École Vétérinaire de Maisons-Alfort.
Gare d'Austerlitz – Gare de l'Est (20 min): métro line 5, direction Bobigny.
Gare d'Austerlitz – Gare Montparnasse (25 min): métro line 10 direction Boulogne, change at Odéon for métro line 4 direction Mairie de Montrouge. Alternatively, Bus 91 to Montparnasse, get off at Gare Montparnasse for the ticket office, local trains and most long-distance-trains; get off at the last stop Montparnasse 2–gare TGV if your train leaves from gare de Vaugirard or to reach the front carriages of TGV trains.
Gare d'Austerlitz – Gare de Lyon: it's a 5- to 10 min walk (follow the signs). Alternatively, take Bus 91 in front of the station (on the same side of the street) towards Bastille and get off at Gare de Lyon–Diderot.
Gare d'Austerlitz – Gare du Nord (20 min): métro line 5 direction Bobigny.
Gare d'Austerlitz – Gare Saint-Lazare (25 min): métro line 10 direction Boulogne, change at Sèvres-Babylone for line 12 direction Aubervilliers–Front Populaire; alternatively walk 10 min to Gare de Lyon then take métro line 14 direction Gare Saint-Lazare.
From Gare de l'Est[ edit ]
Gare de l'Est – Gare d'Austerlitz (20 min): métro line 5 direction Place d'Italie.
Gare de l'Est - Gare de Bercy (25 min) : Metro line 4 direction Mairie de Montrouge, stop at Châtelet, then Metro line 14 direction Olympiades, stop at Bercy.
Gare de l'Est - Gare de Lyon (20 min) : Metro line 5 direction Place d'Italie, stop at Quai de la Rapee and follow pedestrian signs to Gare de Lyon. Alternatively, Métro line 5 in the same direction to Bastille and then Metro line 1 direction Château de Vincennes to Gare de Lyon.
Gare de l'Est - Gare du Nord (8 min) : Metro line 5 direction Bobigny or Metro 4 direction Porte de Clignancourt. By foot, it is also about 8 minutes, but you will have to climb set of stairs.
Gare de l'Est - Gare Montparnasse (30 min): Metro line 4 direction Mairie de Montrouge.
Gare de l'Est – Gare Saint-Lazare (15 min): RER E direction Haussman–Saint-Lazare; alternatively (less walking, but more stairs) métro line 4 direction Mairie de Montrouge, change at Strasbourg-Saint-Denis for line 3 direction Pont de Levallois–Bécon.
From Gare de Lyon[ edit ]
Gare de Lyon – Gare d'Austerlitz: it's a 5- to 10-minute walk (follow the signs). Alternatively, take bus 91 towards Montparnasse.
Gare de Lyon - Gare de Bercy (15 mins): A free shuttle runs between the two every half hour if you have a SNCF train ticket including a transfer between these two stations. Alternatively, Metro line 14 direction Olympiades to Bercy.
Gare de Lyon - Gare de l'Est (25 mins): Metro line 14 to Chatelet, direction St. Lazare followed by Metro line 4 direction Porte de Clignancourt.
Gare de Lyon - Gare Montparnasse (30 min): Bus 91 to Gare Montparnasse. Another option is Metro line 14 to Chatelet, direction St. Lazare followed by Metro line 4 direction Mairie de Montrouge.
Gare de Lyon - Gare du Nord (20 min): RER A direction Saint-Germain-en-Laye/Cergy Le Haut/Poissy to Châtelet Les Halles and then RER B direction Aéroport Charles de Gaulle/Mitry Claye to Gare du Nord (on the other side of the platform); if the RER A is not working take RER D heading to Orry la Ville or Creil; both will go to Gare du Nord .
Gare de Lyon – Gare Saint-Lazare (15 mins): métro line 14 direction Saint-Lazare.
From Gare Montparnasse[ edit ]
Gare Montparnasse – Gare d'Austerlitz (25 min): métro line 4 direction Porte de Clignancourt, change at Odéon for métro line 10 direction Austerlitz. Alternatively, take Bus 91 (a little faster unless it gets caught in traffic).
Gare Montparnasse - Gare de Lyon (30 min): Metro line 4 to Chatelet, direction Porte de Clignancourt followed by Metro line 14 direction Olympiades
Gare Montparnasse - Gare du Nord OR Gare de I'Est (30 min): Metro line 4 direction Porte de Clignancourt
Gare Montparnasse – Gare Saint-Lazare (15 min): métro line 13 direction Asnières/Genevilliers or Saint-Denis. (Line 12 is also a possibility but requires a long walk from the Montparnasse train station to the northern half of the metro station. It is a good option when coming from the shopping area near boulevard Montparnasse.)
From Gare du Nord[ edit ]
Gare du Nord – Gare d'Austerlitz (20 min): métro line 5 direction Place d'Italie.
Gare du Nord - Gare de Bercy (25 min): Follow the directions for Gare de Lyon, then switch to Métro line 14 direction Olympiades to Bercy.
Gare du Nord - Gare de l'Est (8 min): Metro line 4 direction Mairie de Montrouge. By foot, it is also about 8 minutes, but you will have to descend a set of stairs.
Gare du Nord - Gare de Lyon (20 min): RER D direction Melun/Malesherbes; alternatively, if the RER D is not operational, RER B direction Robinson/Saint-Rémy-les-Chevreuse to Châtelet Les Halles and then RER A direction Marne-la-Vallée/Boissy-Saint-Léger to Gare de Lyon (this change only involves getting off the RER B train and getting on the RER A train on the other side of the same platform)
Gare du Nord - Gare Montparnasse (30 min): Metro line 4 direction Mairie de Montrouge
Gare du Nord – Gare Saint-Lazare (15 min): RER E direction Haussman–Saint-Lazare; alternatively (slower, less walking, but more stairs) métro line 4 direction Mairie de Montrouge, change at Strasbourg-Saint-Denis for line 3 direction Pont de Levallois–Bécon.
From Gare Saint-Lazare[ edit ]
Gare Saint-Lazare – Gare d'Austerlitz (25 min): métro line 12 direction Mairie d'Issy, change at Sèvres-Babylone for line 10 direction Austerlitz; alternatively métro line 14 direction Olympiades to Gare de Lyon, then cross the Seine river to Gare d'Austerlitz (10 min walk).
Gare Saint-Lazare – Gare de Bercy (20 min): métro line 14 direction Olympiades.
Gare Saint-Lazare – Gare de l'Est (15 min): RER E direction Chelles–Gournay, Villiers-sur-Marne or Tournan; alternatively (less walking, but more stairs) métro line 3 direction Gallieni and change at Strasbourg-Saint-Denis for line 4 direction Porte de Clignancourt.
Gare Saint-Lazare – Gare de Lyon (15 min): métro line 14 direction Olympiades.
Gare Saint-Lazare – Gare Montparnasse (15 min): métro line 13 direction Châtillon–Montrouge. (Line 12 is also a possibility but requires a long walk from the Montparnasse train station to the northern half of the metro station. It is a good option when coming from the shopping area near boulevard Montparnasse.)
Gare Saint-Lazare – Gare du Nord (15 min): RER E direction Chelles–Gournay, Villiers-sur-Marne or Tournan; alternatively (slower, less walking, but more stairs) métro line 3 direction Gallieni and change at Strasbourg-Saint-Denis for line 4 direction Porte de Clignancourt.
From Gare de Bercy[ edit ]
For most train stations, take the Metro line 14 to Gare de Lyon and follow the directions given from Gare de Lyon.
Gare de Bercy – Gare d'Austerlitz (15 min): bus 24 towards gare Saint-Lazare.
By bus[ edit ]
While domestic bus lines were tightly regulated until 2015, the similar experience in Germany, where Intercity buses were deregulated in 2013, have lead to a heavily competitive and fast growing market. Most companies serve Paris, including:
Eurolines . A trans-European bus company that offers trips to and from Paris. Generally offers prices significantly cheaper than the train at the cost of much longer journeys. The Parisian office is located at Bagnolet, adjacent to the Gallieni metro station.
Isilines . A partner of Eurolines with the same office, serving other French cities and towns with promotional fares available.
Megabus , arrêt Megabus, quai de Seine , 208 quai de Bercy 75012 Paris (Metro to Bercy and then walk for 500 meters along the Bercy Arena towards the parking lot of the arena along the banks of the river). A British low-cost bus company that offers routes to and from Paris from throughout the UK, Amsterdam, and Brussels. They now have multiple services across France with destinations like Marseille, Lyon, Nantes, Bordeaux and other cities. Seats start at €1.00. Fares depend on the availability and have a rating scheme like those of low cost airlines. Their pick-up and drop-off location is in the parking lot of the Bercy Arena.
OUIBUS (iDBUS). A subsidiary of the SNCF, offering routes between Paris and London, Brussels, Amsterdam, Milan, Turin, along with other cities and towns in France.
Flixbus , ☎ +49 30 300 137 300 , e-mail: [email protected] . Originally a German company, they serve many routes in and out of Paris, both domestic and international with destinations in Germany, Belgium or even London (updated Apr 2016)
By car[ edit ]
Several autoroutes (expressway, motorway) link Paris with the rest of France: A1 and A3 to the north, A5 and A6 to the south, A4 to the east and A13 and A10 to the west. Not surprisingly, traffic jams are significantly worse during French school holidays.
The multi-lane highway around Paris, called the Périphérique (BP), is probably preferable to driving through the center. Another beltway nearing completion; L'A86 (also A186 and A286) loops around Paris about 10 km further out from the Périphérique. A third, incomplete beltway is much further out and called La Francilienne (N104).
It is advised not to drive in the Paris Metro Area. It is better to drive to a suburban train station with a parking lot and then use the train to continue your trip throughout Paris. Most of Paris' roads were created long before the invention of automobiles. Traffic inside the city tends to be heavy, especially at rush hour; driving, however, may be rather easy and efficient in the evening. Parking is also difficult. Furthermore, the medieval nature of parts of the city's street system makes it very confusing, and traffic will almost never allow one to stop or slow down to get one's bearings. If you are unfamiliar with the streets and still insist on driving in the city, make sure you have a navigator in the passenger seat with you.
In Paris, there are many car rental agencies offering a large number and wide range of vehicles for rental. Additionally, there are numerous car rental agencies located off-site which provide free airport transfers from their location and may offer lower prices well.
Get around[ edit ]
The best and cheapest way to get around Paris is on foot, and secondly, using the Metro which is €1.90 for a one-way trip of any length.
On foot[ edit ]
Paris walking 101
To get a great orientation of the city on foot while seeing many of Paris' major sights, you can do a West to East walk along the Axe Historique from the Arc de Triomphe to Île de la Cité (Notre Dame). This walk takes about 1-2 hours without any stops. Start at the top of the Champs Elysées (at the Arc de Triomphe) and begin walking down the Champs Elysées towards Place ('square') de la Concorde.
On the way towards the obelisk on the square, you'll see the major stores and restaurants of Paris' most famous avenue.
Once you've passed the main shopping area, you'll see the Petit Palais and the Grand Palais to your right.
At Place de la Concorde, you'll be able to see many of Paris' major monuments around you. In front of you is the Tuileries, behind you is the Champs-Elysees and Arc de Triomphe, behind you to your right is the Tour Eiffel and Musee d'Orsay, and finally, to your left is the Madeleine.
Continue straight ahead and enter the Tuileries Gardens passing by fountains, flowers, and lovers in the park.
As you continue straight ahead, and out of the garden, you'll see the pyramid entrance to the Louvre directly in front of you.
With the pyramid directly in front of you, and the Tuileries directly behind you, turn to your right and walk towards the Seine.
Now you can walk along the Seine (eastwards) until you reach Pont Neuf. Cross Pont Neuf and walk through the Latin Quarter, cross the river again to reach Notre Dame cathedral on Ile de la Cité.
Walking in Paris is one of the great pleasures of visiting the City of Light. It is possible to cross the entire city in only a few hours, but only if you can somehow keep yourself from stopping at numerous cafés and shops. In fact within a few years walking combined with biking and the Metro may be the only way to get around the very centre of Paris as plans develop to reduce access to cars in the city centre.
The smartest travellers take advantage of the walk-ability of this city, and stay above ground as much as possible. A metro ride of less than 2 stops is probably best avoided since walking will take about the same amount of time and you'll be able to see more of the city. That said, pay attention to the Métro stations that you may pass by on your journey; the Métro network is very dense within the city and the lines are virtually always located directly underneath major boulevards, so if you become lost it is easy to regain your bearings by walking along a major boulevard until you find a Métro station.
You may have heard of the hazard of walking into dog droppings in Paris. The problem is now virtually nonexistent due to fines as high as €180 and an extensive street cleaning operations.
It's always fun to experience the city by foot, and there are numerous walking tours around Paris, whether self-guided (with the help of a guidebook or online guide) or with a touring guide (booked through your travel agency or hotel). The city is best explored by foot, and some of the most marvelous memories you will have of Paris is walking through secret found places.
By Métro[ edit ]
Paris has an excellent underground train system, known as the Métro (short for Chemin de fer métropolitain, Metropolitan Railway). Although you will probably take the RER subway train from the airport to Paris, don't be confused: RER is a French-language acronym that translates to "Regional Express Network," and is mostly used by commuters. Look for the Métro stations, marked with a large "M" sign.
Schematic plan of the Métro, Dec. 2012
Using the métro and the suburban train[ edit ]
There are 16 Métro lines (lignes) (1-14, 3bis, and 7bis) on which trains travel all day at intervals of a few minutes. The service starts on each end of every line at 05:30, and the last metro arrives on each end at 01:15 (service ends an hour later on Friday and Saturday nights, and the day before a holiday), stopping at all stations on the line. Some lines have rare trains that terminate at an intermediate station; if that happens, get off the train with the rest of the crowd and board the next train on the same track or on the other side of the platform (the driver will usually make an announcement in French). Lines 7 and 13 have a fork, so if you take line 13 north of La Fourche or line 7 south of Maison Blanche, make sure to board the train for the correct destination which is indicated by a lit arrow on the sign in the middle of the platform and on colour-coded binders in each carriage. Times for trains can be seen on an electronic scroll board above the platform. Scheduled times for first and last trains are posted in each station on the centre sign. Generally, except for early and late hours, travellers should not worry about specific Metro train times; just get to your station and take the next train. Trains usually come 2–3 minutes apart during rush hour and 5–10 minutes apart during other times, depending on the line.
The lines are named according to the names of their terminal stations (the end of the line). If you ask the locals about directions, they will answer something like : take line number n towards "end station 1", change at "station", take the line nn towards "end station 2" etc. The lines are also colour-coded.
Visitors travelling to or from the airport/train stations with heavy luggage need to keep in mind that changing metro lines might be difficult at times, especially at major metro intersections. Moving from one platform to another generally involves walking up and down multiple flights of stairs. Very few stations have elevators (only the newest line 14 is wheelchair-accessible at all stations, except when the elevators are out of order). Only the busiest ones have escalators. It might be a good idea to check out the Bus routes and timings and see if one can find a convenient bus connection.
Next trains on RER B
In addition, there are five commuter train lines that cross Paris: RER A , B , C , D , and E . RER trains run at intervals varying from about 3 minutes (RER A) to 6 minutes (RER D), and stop at every station within Paris. The rest of the regional network, called "Transilien", departs from the main train stations (Lyon for line R, Est for line P, Nord for lines H and K, St-Lazare for lines J and L, Montparnasse for line N) and La Défense (line U). Trains can run up to every 5 minutes during rush hour, and you will never have to wait for more than 1 hour between two trains, even on the least served lines in the evening or on the weekend.
Information on service OKRE (Last stop Torcy)
RER and Transilien will stop at every station within Paris (zone 1), but may skip stations outside Paris, so if you're going to the suburbs make sure your RER stops where you need! Information about the stops to be made by the next incoming train is presented on a separate board also hanging from the ceiling. Four letter codes (KRIN, DIPA, TORE, etc.) are used for the RER and Transilien trains; the first letter indicates the station where the train terminates, and the other three indicate the route and stops. Each line has its own nomenclature. You can look up what these codes mean on information panels in the station, but the easiest and fastest way is often to check the information screens along the platforms.
The Métro and RER move staggering numbers of people into, out of, and around Paris (6.75 million people per day on average), and most of the time in reasonable comfort. Certain lines, however, are operating at or near capacity, sometimes being so full that you'll have to let one or two trains pass before being able to board. If you can help it, avoid Métro lines 1, 4, and 13 and RER line A and B during rush hours as these are the most congested lines in the system.
RATP (website) is responsible for most public transport including metro, buses, and about half of the RER A and B. The rest of the RER, as well as Transilien, is operated by SNCF . However, both companies take the same tickets, so the difference is of little interest for most people except in case of strikes (RATP may strike without SNCF doing so or the other way round).
Fares[ edit ]
A ticket t allows you to use Paris métro network, as well as bus and tramway lines. RER access is authorized within Paris city only.
A single ticket, ticket t+, allows you to either:
Make a metro/RER trip, with as many connections as you want between them, during 2 hours, as long as you don't exit the network (there are a few exceptions: to transfer between RER C and the métro at Javel (with métro line 10), at Musée d'Orsay (with métro line 12 at Assemblée Nationale or Solférino), at Avenue Henri-Martin (with métro line 9 at Rue de la Pompe), and at Pont de l'Alma (with métro line 9 at Alma-Marceau), you need to exit and cross the street but you can reuse the same ticket). While you can reach any metro station (regardless of its zone), you're only allowed to reach RER stations that are within zone 1 (Paris).
Make a bus/tram trip, with as many connections as you want between them, during 90 minutes (between the first and last validation), regardless of the "zones" system. You need to validate your ticket every time you get on a new bus or tram. Roissybus and Orlybus are exceptions, and cannot be used with a ticket t+.
It costs €1.90 (2016), or €2 if bought on board of the bus (you can not buy a ticket inside of a tram). However, it is generally not advisable to buy tickets by the unit: instead, a carnet of ten tickets can be bought for €14.50 (10 tickets for the price of 7.6) at any station. Tickets named tarif réduit may be purchased for children under the age of 10 but only in a carnet of 10 for €7.25. Tickets do not expire, but note that they are magnetic and thus should be kept away from some metallic objects such as coins.
Beware that traveling outside the city centre without a valid RER ticket will get you fined, and the packs of inspectors who roam the system show no mercy to tourists pleading ignorance. In particular, the airports and the Versailles Palace are not within the city, and you'll need to purchase a more expensive RER ticket to get there (see Get in ).
If you're going to the suburbs, an origine-destination ticket allows you to make a one-way trip on the exact route printed on the ticket (no matter which direction). Price is distance-based (prices can be found here . You can also buy packs of 10 (with a 20% discount), or single or packs of 10 "demi-tarif" tickets (for children aged 4-10, 50% discount for single tickets, 60% for packs of 10). For long same-day return trips, a day pass (see below) can be cheaper than a return ticket (for example a round-trip between Paris and Provins costs €22.70, while a Mobilis day pass costs €17.30).
If your ticket leaves from or goes to Paris, or includes a transfer "via section urbaine", you can also connect with other metro or RER lines prior to /after your main trip to / from the suburbs.
For the following kind of tickets, you need to know that the Île-de-France region is divided into 5 concentric zones. Paris represents zone 1, all of Paris' immediate neighbours (including Vincennes and Saint-Denis) are in zone 2, La Défense is in zone 3, Orly and Versailles are in zone 4, and Fontainebleau, Provins, Disneyland and Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport are in zone 5. The few stations outside Île-de-France that are served by the Transilien system are "hors tarification Île-de-France", meaning it is necessary to buy a special fare not affected by the zonal system.
A one-day ticket, Mobilis, allows you to make an unlimited number of trips between 12:00am and 11:59pm on the date you wrote on the ticket, within the zones it is valid for, on bus, tram, metro (a zones 1-2 pass is valid for the whole metro network), RER, Transilien. You do need to write your name and the date of validity on it you've chosen before using it. Prices range from €7.30 (zones 1-2) to €17.30 (zones 1-5). It is NOT valid from/to Charles de Gaulle airport on RER B, Roissybus, Orlybus, Orlyval.
For travelers under the age of 26, there is a special ticket (Jeunes Week-end) that you can purchase for unlimited travel between 12:00am and 11:59pm on the day written on the ticket on the weekends or holidays, on bus, tram, metro (a zones 1-2 pass is valid for the whole metro network), RER, Transilien.. The price varies depending on the zones you wish to cover (zones 1-3 is €4, zones 1-5 is €8.70, and zones 3-5 is €5.10). It is NOT valid from/to Charles de Gaulle airport on RER B, Roissybus, Orlybus, Orlyval. The date and your name must be written on the ticket as for the Mobilis ticket described above.
If you are staying a bit longer, you can buy a Navigo Découverte (DAY-koo-VERT) pass for €5 (you will need to write your name and put a photo on it, otherwise it will be considered as invalid), and load it with either a 1 week pass (€22.15 for all zones, will have to start on a Monday) or a montly pass (€73 for all zones, will have to start on the 1st day of the month). You can choose between zones 2-3, 3-4, 3-5, 4-5, or "all zones", but most visitors of Paris will simply choose the "all zones" pass. Everything related to a "Navigo" pass is in purple (like the target for the pass in the turnstiles). You need to validate your Navigo every time you get on a bus or a tram as well. If you're not holding a "all zones" pass, weekend travel is free throughout the entire Île-de-France region for passengers holding a monthly or yearly Navigo pass, despite which zones are covered during the week. Navigo allows you to reach Orly (zone 4) or Roissy-Charles de Gaulle (zone 5) airports with any public transit line, except for Orlyval light-rail to Orly airport where it's not valid.
RATP and SNCF sell passes dedicated to tourists called Paris Visite , more expensive than the one they offer to locals, but they do include something more (a map, and some discounts on selected attractions). Depending on which attractions you consider visiting, it can be an attractive option... or not. Although not as good a deal for adults in most cases as the Mobilis or Navigo, the Paris Visite passes might still be a bargain for kids of ages 4–11 for trips on Monday-Friday (when the Ticket jeunes is not valid), starting at €5.55 per day for travel within zones 1-3.
Keep your ticket or pass with you at all times as you may be checked. You will be cited and forced to pay on the spot if you do not have a ticket. The most likely spots for being checked are just behind the turnstiles at big métro stations or during métro line changes (correspondances). RATP agents may be present in the métro stations even on Sunday nights.
Métro stations have both ticket windows and automatic vending machines. The majority of automatic vending machines do not take notes, only coins or European credit cards with a pin-encoded chip on the front. Therefore, to use either euro bills or a non-European credit card with a magnetic stripe, it is necessary to make the purchase from the ticket window. Be advised that some ticket vending machines do not give change, so use exact change or go to the ticket window. If you look at the vending machines closely, you may find one in the group that takes euro bills and will give change; these machines can be found at major or touristy stations such as Tuileries, Gare de Lyon or La Défense-Grande Arche.
Access[ edit ]
Some larger stations have secondary entrances, where there is no ticket booth. These are labelled voyageurs munis de billets (passengers with tickets).
When entering the turnstile with a ticket or Navigo pass, it will only work once for that particular station and can only be reset if you use it at another station. Once you have passed your ticket or card, promptly move through the turnstile as it will not let you through if you attempt to use it again.
Avoid suburban charges
If you have any tickets or Navigo passes for zone 1-2 (inside the Paris area, the lower rate), they allow you to use any metro station, regardless of its actual zone. For example if you want go to La Défense (zone 3) from Châtelet, you have to take the Métro (Line 1). You can take the RER A (and save a few minutes), but you have to pay an additional fare because of the zone system for RER.
Each station displays a detailed map of the surrounding area with a street list and the location of buildings (monuments, schools, places of worship, etc.,) as well as exits for that particular metro. Maps are located on the platform if the station has several exits or near the exit if there is only one exit.
Except for Métro 1, 2, 4, 5, 9 and 14, the doors will not open automatically. In such a case, there are handles or buttons located both inside and outside the train that you have to push or unlatch in order to open the door. Many locals may try to squeeze into the trains after the alarm has sounded to signal the closing of the doors. While one can occasionally pass through on lines with a driver, the automatic doors on Métro 1 and 14 will continue to close despite the presence of a limb or article of clothing. It is strongly advised to wait for the second train than to chance being caught between the doors.
Strikes are a regular occurrence on the Paris public transit system. Generally during a strike, there will be reduced or no service on certain lines but parts of the network will continue to operate; however, in some cases the entire network may shut down completely. Visit the RATP and SNCF websites for information on which routes are affected by a strike. Generally, Metro lines 1 and 14 will be running during a strike because they are operated without human drivers - if you are caught by a strike, it is best to use it whenever possible.
By bus[ edit ]
Since the Métro is primarily structured around a hub-and-spoke model, there are some journeys for which it can be quite inefficient, and in these cases, it is worth seeing if a direct bus route exists, despite the complexity of the bus network. A bus ride is also interesting if you want to see more of the city. The Parisian bus system is quite tourist-friendly. It uses the same single-ride tickets and Navigo as the Métro, and electronic displays inside each bus tell riders its current position and what stops remain, eliminating a lot of confusion.
These same payment devices are also valid in the Noctilien, the night bus. Night buses run regularly through the central hub at Chatelet to outlying areas of greater Paris. There is also a circle line connecting the main train stations. It pays to know one's Noctilien route ahead of time in case one misses the last Métro home. Women travellers should probably avoid taking the Noctilien on their own to destinations outside Paris.
Another option for travelers who want to see the sights of Paris without a stop on every street corner is the Paris L'Opentour Bus, an open-topped double decker bus that supplies headsets with the most up to date information on the attractions in Paris. Your ticket is good for four routes ranging in time from 1-2 h. Get off when you want, stay as long as you need, get back on the bus and head for another site. You can purchase tickets at the bus stop. A one-day pass is €25 for adults and €15 for children. A two-day pass is €32 for adults or €15 for children.
By boat[ edit ]
A bateau mouche near the Pont Neuf
There are several excellent boat services which make use of the Seine. As well as providing easy, cheap transport to much of central Paris, excellent photo opportunities abound. You can buy a day or 3 day ticket and hop on and off the boat as needed. The boats take a circular route from the Eiffel Tower, down past the Louvre, Notre Dame, botanical gardens then back up the other bank past Musée d'Orsay. Batobus offers a regular shuttle service between the main touristic sights (closed Jan); other companies such as the famous Bateaux Mouches offer sightseeing cruises.
By bicycle[ edit ]
Directions
If you find yourself lost in the streets, a good idea is to find the nearest Hotel and ask the concierge for directions. Most speak English well. A simple "Bonjour Monsieur, parlez-vous anglais?" should suffice.
Renting a bike is a very good alternative over driving or using public transport and an excellent way to see the sights. Riding a bike anywhere in the city is far safer for the moderately experienced cyclists than almost any town or city in the United States. The French are very cognizant of cyclists, almost to a point of reverence. A few years ago Paris wasn't the easiest place to get around by bike but that has changed dramatically in recent years. The city government has taken a number of steps in strong support of improving the safety and efficiency of the urban cyclist as well, in establishing some separated bike lanes, but even more important a policy of allowing cyclists to share the ample bus lanes on most major boulevards. Paris also has many riversides which are perfect for cycling. The Paris bike network now counts over 150 km of either unique or shared lanes for the cyclist. In addition, the narrower, medieval side streets of the central arrondissements make for rather scenic and leisurely cycling, especially during off-hours of the day when traffic is lighter. Do remember to bring a good map, since there is no grid plan to speak of and almost all of the smaller streets are one-way.
Note that, while the streets of Paris are generally fairly easy on novice cyclists, there are some streets in the city that should be avoided by those who do not have sufficient urban cycling experience. Rue de Rivoli, Place de la Bastille, and Place de la Nation are particularly hairy, especially during weekdays and the Saturday evening rush, and should not be navigated by anyone not confident in their ability to cycle in heavy traffic. Avenue des Champs-Elysées, Place de l'Étoile, and voie Georges Pompidou (the lower-level express lanes along the banks of the Seine) should be avoided at all times.
You can find an excellent map of the bike network called Paris à vélo - Le bon plan ) at the information centre in the Hôtel de Ville.
Vélib , ☎ +33 1 30 79 79 30 . In July 2007 the municipality of Paris introduced the Vélib program (vélo Liberté or Freedom Bikes) by which it is possible to rent a bike for a very modest price. Numerous stations are to be found around the city (at major landmarks and metro stations, basically every 300 m). With a credit card with a "puce" smart-chip (that means that American Visa and MasterCard cards do not work, however American Express cards should work even though they don't have a chip), you can subscribe for 1 day (€1.70) or 7 days (€8) with a security deposit of €150 and then get a bike. The first 30 min are free, the following 30 min costs €1, following 30 min cost €2, etc., to avoid long rentals. Thus the game is to get to another station in 25 min and get another bicycle. This rental system has been designed to allow you to "pick & drop" a bike, not rent the same one all day long. Try it! If your card works in the machines it's a great way to get around! The bicycles are wonderful cruiser bikes, with a front basket to put a purse or bag. If the saddle is turned around, it most probably means the bike is out of order (it's a convention among Velib users, so do the same if you notice your Velib has problems). Be aware that if you use a non-French credit card, a deposit of €150 will be charged from your card, and refunded a few days later. €1.70 per day.
By scooter or motorbike[ edit ]
Paris is an incredibly open city, with its many "grande boulevards" and monuments with large open spaces around it makes for a city perfect to be explored and viewed from on a scooter. A lot of people think it is a dangerous city to drive a scooter or motorbike, and when you're sitting in a corner cafe watching it may look that way, but in reality it is actually quite a safe city because the drivers are very conscious of one another, a trait that drivers certainly do not have in most other countries of the world! There are so many scooters in Paris, and there has been scooters in Europe forever really, so when people learn to drive here they learn to drive among the scooters. The French do drive quite fast, but they respect one another and it is rare that a driver will suddenly changes lanes or swing to the other side of the road without signalling. When you're driving a scooter or motorbike in Paris you can expect to be able to "lane-split" between the rows of cars waiting in traffic and go straight to the front of the lights. Parking-wise there is plenty of 'deux roues' (two wheel) parking all over the city. Do be careful of parking on the sidewalk though, especially on shopping streets or around monuments.
Paris By Scooter , (Scooter always delivered to your hotel), ☎ +33 6 28 35 39 30 , e-mail: [email protected] . 08:00-21:00. All Vespa scooter rentals and Paris guided City tours include the collect and picked up from, your hotel in Paris. From €60.
Left Bank Scooters (Scooter delivered to your hotel), ☎ +33 6 78 12 04 24 . 08:00-20:00. Scooter rental that is delivered to, and picked up from, your hotel in Paris. All scooter are Vespas, 50cc or 125cc available. Must have a car license to rent the 50cc, and a motorcycle license to rent the 125cc. From €60.
On skates[ edit ]
Paris is the Mecca of city skating. This is due to the large, smooth surfaces offered by both the pavements and the roads. Skating on the pavement is legal all around Central Paris (zone 1) and its suburbs (zones 2+).
By car[ edit ]
In a word: don't. It is generally a very bad idea to rent a car to visit Paris. Traffic is very dense during the day, and parking is, on average, exceedingly difficult and expensive. This is especially true in areas surrounding points of touristic interest, since many of these are in areas designed long before automobiles existed. A majority of Parisian households do not own cars, and many people who move to the city find themselves selling their cars within a month or two.
That said, driving may be an option for going to some sights in the suburbs such as Vaux-le-Vicomte castle or the castle and city at Fontainebleau , or for starting to other places in France. You may prefer to rent from a location outside Paris proper.
Traffic rules in Paris are basically the same as elsewhere in France, with the exception of having to yield to incoming traffic on roundabouts. However, driving in dense traffic in Paris and suburbs during commute times, can be especially strenuous. Be prepared for traffic jams, cars changing lanes at short notice, and so on. Another issue is pedestrians, who tend to fearlessly jaywalk more in Paris than in other French cities. Be prepared for pedestrians crossing the street on red, and expect similar adventurous behaviour from cyclists. Remember that even if a pedestrian or cyclist crossed on red, if you hit him, you (in fact, your insurance) will have to bear civil responsibility for the damages, and possibly prosecution for failing to control your vehicle.
Paris has several beltway systems. There is a series of boulevards named after Napoleonic-era generals (Boulevard Masséna, Boulevard Ney, and so forth), and collectively referred to as boulevard des maréchaux. These are normal wide avenues, with traffic lights. Somewhat outside of this boulevard is the boulevard périphérique, a freeway-style beltway. The périphérique intérieur is the inner lanes (going clockwise), the périphérique extérieur the outer lanes (going counter-clockwise). Note that despite the looks, the périphérique is not an autoroute: the speed limit is 70 and, very unusually, incoming traffic has the right of way, at least theoretically (presumably because, otherwise, nobody would be able to enter during rush hour).
By taxi[ edit ]
To stop a taxi...
... watch the sign on the roof: if the white sign is lit, the cab is on duty and available, if the white sign is off and a colored light is lit under it (blue, orange), it's on duty and busy, if the white sign is off and no coloured light is on, the taxi is off duty. Same thing with the colored signs (the two systems exist in Paris, but it tells nothing about the company): if the wide sign is green, the cab is available, if it is red, the cab is busy, if it is off, the cab is off
Taxis are comparatively cheap especially at night when there are no traffic jams to be expected. There are not as many as one would expect, and sometimes finding a taxi can be challenging. In the daytime, it is not always a good idea to take a taxi, as walking or taking the metro (See: Métro) will often be faster. If you know you will need one to get to the airport, or to a meeting, it is wise to book ahead by phone (see below).
Initial fare is €2.40 and the meter increases by around €1.10 each kilometer and around 50 cents each minute spent at red lights or in traffic jams. Fares are fixed by the city law and every driver complies to them. Fares vary according to the day of the week, the hour of the day and the area you're crossing.
If you call a taxi, the meter starts when you call and not when you get in. You should expect a €5 to €10 fare on the meter when the taxi arrives after you call it.
Remember if a taxi is near a 'taxi station', they're not supposed to pick you up except at the station where there may be people waiting for a taxi. Taxi stations are usually near train stations, big hotels, hospitals, large crossings.
There are a number of services by which you can call for taxis or make a reservation in advance. The two largest fleet are Taxis G7 and Taxis Bleus:
Taxis Bleus , ☎ +33 891 70 10 10 .
As in many other cities a taxi can be difficult to stop; you may have to try several times. When you do get a taxi to stop, the driver will usually roll down his window to ask you where you want to go. If the driver can't (or doesn't want to) go where you want, he might tell you that he's near the end of his work day & can't possibly get you where you want before he has to go off-duty.
There is a €6.40 minimum (2012) on all taxi rides, mandated by city law, but the meter does not show this amount, which can result in being asked to pay more than the metered amount on short rides. In Paris taxis are required by law to charge for the trip with a meter, charging a flat rate is illegal, except from/to Charles de Gaulle airport (€50 from the right bank of the Seine, €55 from the left bank) and Orly airport (€35 from the right bank, €30 from the left bank). Frequently the taxi driver will not want to drive you all the way to the doorstep, but will prefer to let you out a block or so away if there are one or more one-way streets to contend with. Try to look at this as a cost-savings rather than an inconvenience. You should pay while still seated in the cab as in New York and not through the front window London style.
The driver will not let you sit in the front seat (unless there are 3 or 4 of you, which is a rare case usually expedited by more money). Taxi-drivers come in all types, some nice, some rude, some wanting to chat, some not. Smoking in taxis is generally not allowed, however it might be that the taxi driver himself wants a cigarette in which case the rule might become flexible.
Many drivers prefer that you avoid using your cellphone during the ride; if you do have to, make an apologizing gesture & sound, and do make a short call.
A tip is included in the fare price; If you're especially satisfied with the service, you can give something (basically 10%), but you don't have to.
There is an extra charge for baggage handling.
If for any reason you wish to file a complaint about a Paris taxi, take note of the taxi's number on the sticker on the left hand backseat window.
Beware of illegal taxis (see the 'Stay Safe' section).
By chauffeur (Limo)[ edit ]
Known as car services or livery cabs, these cars are not allowed to cruise the street or airports for fares. You need to booked them before they can pick you up. They are flat rate rather than metered (ask for the fare before getting in), and There are two types of licence: the "Grande Remise" that allows the car & driver to pick-up & drop-off passengers anywhere in France, and the "carte verte" that allows pick-up & drop-off in the department or region where the company is based. The Grande Remise cars have a GR on their front plate. They provide more service than a normal cab.
You can find two kind of cab: private and shared.
Shared shuttle: Have to share the shuttle with other customers. Can have delay since the shuttle need to pick up other customers and perhaps drop them off before you, cheaper than private shuttle.
Private shuttle: Will pick you up on-time and drop you off directly to the address specified while booked.
With children[ edit ]
Metro and bus. The metro and buses are free for children under the age of 4. Older kids (4-9) can buy a carnet (a collection of 10 tickets) at half-price for discounted travel. Other passes, including the Paris-Vistes pass for unlimited travel over 1 to 5 days are also available at half-price for children below 9 years of age.
Taxis. Parisien taxis tend to be standard cars (sedans or minivans) so almost all strollers will need to be folded and placed in trunk. Be aware that taxi drivers are proud of their cars and keep them very clean and are not big fans of messy kids.
VTC. All strollers will need to be folded and placed in trunk. VTC provide you all the safety equipment for your children (baby seats and boosters)
Talk[ edit ]
First and foremost, French (français) is of course the country's official language. Any native French person will speak French and it helps if you can speak a bit of it. In the parts of the city that tourists frequent the most (Tour Eiffel, Le Louvre, Champs-Elysées), the shopkeepers, information booth attendants, and other workers are likely to answer you in English, even if your French is advanced. These workers tend to deal with thousands of foreign-speaking tourists, and responding in English is often faster than repeating themselves in French. This is not the case for the rest of the city.
Reading up
Before you leave you may want to read a book like French or Foe by Polly Platt or Almost French by Sarah Turnbull — interesting, well written records from English speaking persons who live in France.
For most Parisians, English is something they had to study in school, and thus seems a bit of a chore. People helping you out in English are making an extra effort, sometimes a considerable one. Parisians younger than 40 are much more likely to be fluent in English. Immigrants, often working in service jobs, are less likely (often, still struggling to learn French.) If it's your first time in France you will have some problems understanding what people are saying (even with prior education in French). Unlike most language education tapes, real French people often speak fast, use slang, and swallow some letters.
When attempting to speak French, do not be offended if people ask you to repeat, or seem not to understand you, as they are not acting out of snobbery. Keep your sense of humour, and if necessary, write down phrases or place names. And remember to speak slowly and clearly. Unless you have an advanced level and can at least sort of understand French movies, you should also assume that it will be difficult for people to understand what you are saying (imagine someone speaking English to you in an indiscernible accent, it's all the same).
When in need of directions what you should do is this: find a younger person, or a person reading some book or magazine in English, who is obviously not in a hurry; say "hello" or "bonjour" (bon-zhor); start by asking if the person speaks English, "Parlez-vous anglais?" (Par-LAY voo on-glay?) even if the person can read something in English, speak slowly and clearly; write down place names if necessary. Smile a lot. Also, carry a map (preferably Paris par Arrondissement); given the complexity of Paris streets it is difficult to explain how to find any particular address in any language, no matter how well you speak it. If anything, the person may have an idea as to the place you are looking for, but may not know exactly where it may be, so the map always helps.
On the other hand you will probably get the cold shoulder if you stop a random person in the métro (like, say, some middle-aged hurried person who has a train to take), fail to greet them and say "where is place X or street Y".
Now, if you speak French, remember two magic phrases : "Excusez-moi de vous déranger" [ex-kuh-zay mwuh duh voo day-rawn-ZHAY] ("Sorry to bother you") and "Pourriez-vous m'aider?" [por-EE-AY voo may-DAY] ("Could you help me?") especially in shops; politeness will work wonders.
It is considered polite to always say "bonjour" or "bonsoir" to employees when entering any type of shop even if you have no intention of buying anything. Upon leaving you should say "merci" to thank the shopkeeper for allowing you to browse and say "bonne journée" (bun zhur-nay) or "bonne soirée" (bun swa-ray) to wish them a good day or evening. "Bonne nuit" is only used when telling someone "goodnight" when going to bed.
The Pont des Arts (Bridge of the Arts) and just behind, the pont Neuf ("New Bridge", but actually the oldest in Paris) and the île de la Cité.
See[ edit ]
Louvre Museum, and the Pyramid by architect I.M. Pei
One of the best value and most convenient ways to see the sights of Paris is with the Paris Museum Pass , a pre-paid entry card that allows entry into over 70 museums and monuments around Paris (and the Palace of Versailles) and comes in 2-day (€48), 4-day (€62) and 6-day (€74) denominations (Aug 2016). Note these are "consecutive' days". The card allows you to jump lengthy queues, a big plus during tourist season when line can be extensive, and is available from participating museums, tourist offices, FNAC branches and all the main Métro and RER train stations. You will still need to pay to enter most special exhibitions. To avoid waiting in the first long queue to purchase the museum pass, stop to purchase your pass a day or more in advance after mid-day. The pass does not become active until your first museum or site visit when you write your start date. After that, the days covered are consecutive. Do not write your start date until you are certain you will use the pass that day and be careful to use the European date style as indicated on the card: day-month-year.
Also consider the ParisPass , a pre-paid entry card + queue jumping to 60 attractions including The Louvre, The Arc de Triomphe, as well as a river cruise and allows free metro & public transport travel. Also note a cheaper alternative with this new combined pass available since September 2008 is the Paris ComboPass , which comes in Lite/Premium versions.
Planning your visits: Several sites have "choke points" that restrict the number of visitors that can flow through. These include: The Eiffel Tower, Sainte-Chapelle, the catacombs and the steps to climb to the top of the Notre Dame Cathedral. To avoid lines, you should start your day by arriving at one of these sites at least 30 minutes before opening time. Otherwise, expect a wait of at least an hour. Most museums and galleries are closed on either Monday or Tuesday. Examples: The Louvre museum is closed on Tuesdays while The Orsay Museum is closed on Mondays. Be sure to check museum closing dates to avoid disappointment! Also, most ticket counters close 30-45 min before final closing.
All national museums are open free of charge on the first Sunday of the month. However, this may mean long lines and crowded exhibits. Keep away from Paris during Easter week due to crowding. People have to queue up at the Eiffel Tower for several hours even early in the morning. However, this wait can be greatly reduced, if fit, by walking the first two levels, then buying an elevator ticket to the top. Entry to the permanent exhibitions at city-run museums is free at all times (admission is charged for temporary exhibitions).
These listings are just some highlights of things that you really should see if you can during your visit to Paris. The complete listings are found on each individual district page (follow the link in parenthesis).
Good listings of current cultural events in Paris can be found in Pariscope or Officiel des spectacles, weekly magazines listing all concerts, art exhibitions, films, stage plays and museums. Available from all kiosks. timeout.fr/paris/en And also online
Landmarks[ edit ]
Notre Dame de Paris
Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile. ( 8th ) — The Arc de Triomphe exudes grandeur and offers a central view of the city Métro/RER Charles de Gaulle-Etoile (1, 2, 6, A)
Catacombs. ( 14th ) — Used to store the exhumed bones from the overflowing Paris cemetery. (There is a limit to the number of visitors allowed within the Catacombs at one time (200 persons). So, if you arrive just after opening, you must wait until someone exits, approximately 45–60 minutes, before anyone is admitted). Métro Denfert-Rochereau (4, 6, B)
Eiffel Tower (Tour Eiffel). ( 7th ) — No other monument better symbolizes Paris. Métro Bir-Hakeim (6) or RER Champ de Mars-Tour Eiffel (C)
Grande Arche de la Défense. ( La Défense ) — A modern office-building variant of the Arc de Triomphe. Métro/RER La Défense (1, A)
Notre Dame Cathedral. ( 4th ) — Impressive Gothic cathedral that was the inspiration for Victor Hugo's novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Climb to the top! Métro Cité (4) or RER Saint-Michel-Notre Dame (B, C)
Opera Garnier. ( 9th )— Masterpiece of theatre architecture of the 19th century built by Charles Garnier and inaugurated in 1875 housing the Paris Opera since it was founded by Louis XIV. Métro Opéra (3, 7, 8)
Pantheon. ( 5th )— Underneath, the final resting place for the great heroes of the French Republic including Voltaire, Victor Hugo, and Marie Curie; above, a marvellous view of the city. Métro Cardinal Lemoine (10) or RER Luxembourg (B)
Père-Lachaise Cemetery. ( 20th )— Unlike any cemetery in the world. Ornate grave stones, monuments set among tree lined lanes. See the graves of Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, and Frédéric Chopin, among many others. Métro Père Lachaise (2, 3)
Sacré Coeur
Sacré Coeur. ( 18th )— A church perched on top of the highest point in Paris. Behind the church is the artists' area, in front are spectacular views of the whole city. Métro Anvers (2) or Abbesses (12), then climb the stairs on Rue Foyatier or take the funicular to the top of the hill.
Sainte Chapelle. ( 1st )— Exquisite stained glass chapel. More beautiful interior than the gloomy Notre Dame Cathedral. Métro Cité (4)
Museums and galleries[ edit ]
All national museums and monuments are free for all every first Sunday of the month.
l'Eglise du Dome, church of Les Invalides, site of Napoleon's tomb
The Louvre. ( 1st )— One of the finest museums in the world of art and culture. Home of the Mona Lisa and innumerable others. Enormous building and collection, plan at least two visits. Métro Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre (1, 7)
Musée d'Orsay. ( 7th )— Incredible collection housed in a former railway station. Works by the great artists of the 19th century (1848-1914) including Monet's "Blue Water Lilies, Renoir's "Bal du moulin de la Galette", van Gogh's "Bedroom in Arles", Whistler's "The Artists Mother", etc. RER Musée d'Orsay (C) or Métro Solférino (12)
Rodin Museum. ( 7th )— His personal collection and archives, in a charming home with garden. Métro Varenne (13)
Picasso Museum. ( 3rd )— Contains the master's own collection. Métro Saint-Paul (1) or Chemin Vert (8)
Musée Marmottan-Monet. ( 16th )— Over 300 paintings of Claude Monet. Also, the works of Berthe Morisot, Edgar Degas, Édouard Manet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. "Impression Soleil Levant" by Monet is on display. Métro La Muette (9)
Musée de l'Orangerie. ( 1st )— [Jardin des Tuileries] Houses "The Water Lilies" (or "Nymphéas") - a 360 degree depiction of Monet's flower garden at Giverny. Also, impressionist and post-Impressionist paintings by Cézanne, Matisse, Modigliani, Picasso, Renoir, Rousseau, Soutine, Sisley and others. Métro Concorde (1, 8, 12)
Musée Delacroix. Housed in the home of painter Eugène Delacroix. Métro Mabillon (10) or Saint-Germain-des-Près (4)
Centre Georges Pompidou. ( 4th )— The museum of modern art. The building and adjoining Stravinsky Fountain are attractions in themselves. Métro Rambuteau (11)
Les Invalides. ( 7th )— Very impressive museum of arms and armor from the Middle Ages to today. Also contains the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte. Métro Varenne (13)
Cluny. ( 5th )— A medieval museum exhibiting the five "The Lady and the Unicorn" tapestries, housed in a part Roman, part medieval building. Métro Cluny-La Sorbonne (10)
Le Musee des Arts Decoratifs. ( 1st )— Showcasing eight centuries of French savoir-faire. Métro Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre (1, 7)
Carnavalet. ( 3rd )— Museum of Paris history; exhibitions are permanent and free. Métro Saint-Paul (1) or Chemin Vert (8)
Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie - La Villette. ( 19th )— Science museum primarily for children. Métro Porte de la Villette (7)
Mémorial de la Shoah. ( 4th )— Paris's Holocaust Memorial Museum, in the heart of the Marais on rue Geoffroy l'Asnier. Free Entry, weekly guided tours. Second Sunday of the month there is a free tour in English. Métro Pont Marie (7)
Jacquemart-Andre Museum. ( 8th )— Private collection of French, Italian, Dutch masterpieces in a typical 19th-century mansion. Métro Miromesnil (9, 13)
The Moulin Rouge at night in rain
Events[ edit ]
It seems like there's almost always something happening in Paris, with the possible exceptions of the school holidays in August and February, when about half of Parisians are to be found not in Paris, but in the South of France or the Alps respectively. The busiest season is probably the fall, from a week or so after la rentrée scolaire or "back to school" to around Noël (Christmas) theatres, cinemas and concert halls book their fullest schedule of the year.
Even so, there are a couple of annual events in the winter, starting with a furniture and interior decorating trade fair called Maison & Object in January.
In February le nouvel an chinois (Chinese New Year) is celebrated in Paris as it is in every city with a significant Chinese and Vietnamese population. There are parades in the 3rd and 4th arrondissements and especially in the Quartier Asiatique (Asian Quarter) in the 13th south of Place d'Italie. Also in February is the Six Nations Rugby Tournament which brings together France, England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Italy.
The first of two Fashion weeks occurs in March: Spring Fashion Week, giving designers a platform to present women’s prêt-à-porter (ready to wear) collections for the following winter.
The French Tennis Open in which the world’s top players battle it out on a clay court runs during two weeks starting on the last Sunday in May. When it concludes in June, a whole range of festivities start up. Rendez-vous au Jardin is an open house for many Parisian gardens, giving you a chance to meet real Parisian gardeners and see their creations. The Fête de la Musique celebrates the summer solstice (21 June) with this city-wide free musical knees-up. Finally on the 26th of June is the Gay Pride parade, featuring probably the most sincere participation by the mayor's office of any such parade on the globe.
The French national holiday Bastille Day on the 14th of July celebrates the storming of the infamous Bastille during the French Revolution. Paris hosts several spectacular events that day of which the best known is the Bastille Parade which is held on the Champs-Élysées at 10:00 and broadcast to pretty much the rest of Europe by television. The entire street will be crowded with spectators so arrive early. The Bastille Day Fireworks is an exceptional treat for travellers lucky enough to be in town on Bastille Day. The Office du Tourisme et des Congress de Paris recommends gathering in or around the champ de Mars, the gardens of the Eiffel Tower.
Also in July, Cinema en Plein Air is the annual outdoor cinema event that takes place at the Parc de la Villette, in the 19th on Europe’s largest inflatable screen. For most of the months of July and August, parts of both banks of the Seine are converted from expressway into an artificial beach for Paris Plages . Also in July the cycling race le Tour de France has a route that varies annually, however it always finishes on the last Sunday of July under the Arc de Triomphe.
On the last full weekend in August, a world-class music festival Rock en Seine draws international rock and pop stars to the Domaine national de Saint-Cloud, just west of Paris.
During mid-September DJs and (usually young) fans from across Europe converge on Paris for five or six days of dancing etc. culminating in the Techno parade - a parade whose route traces roughly from Place de la Bastille to the Sorbonne, and around the same time the festival Jazz à la Villette brings some of the biggest names in contemporary jazz from around the world.
The Nuit Blanche transforms most of central Paris into a moonlit theme-park for an artsy all-nighter on the first Saturday of October, and Fashion Week returns shortly thereafter showing off Women’s Prêt-à-Porter collections for the following summer; as we've noted winter collections are presented in March.
The third Thursday in November marks the release of Le Beaujolais Nouveau and the beginning of the Christmas season. This evening, the Christmas lights are lit in a ceremony on the Champs-Élysées, often in the presence of hundreds (if not thousands) of people and many dignitaries, including the president of France.
Unfortunately, there are no comprehensive event guides covering concerts, clubs, movies or special events. For theatre, movies and exhibitions pick up the Pariscope and L'officiel du Spectacle, available at newsstands for €0.40. For (especially smaller, alternative) concerts pick up LYLO, a small, free booklet available in some bars and at FNAC. There is no user-friendly online version of these guides.
Cafe Philo in English , Cafe de Flore, 172, Blvd St-Germain. Cafe Philo in English meets on the first Wednesday of each month upstairs at the famous Cafe de Flore. Everyone is invited. You don't have to be knowledgeable about philosophy. Meetings begin with a two round voting process to determine a topic. The topic is discussed for two hours. Free.
Photography[ edit ]
Paris is considered by many as the birthplace of photography, and while one may debate the correctness of this claim, there is no debate that Paris is today a photographer's dream. The French capital offers a spectacular array of photographic opportunities to the beginner and the pro alike. It has photogenic monuments (e.g., Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, the obelisk at Concorde, and countless others); architecture (the Louvre, Notre Dame and the Museum of the Arab World, to name just a few) and urban street scenes (e.g., in the Marais, Montmartre and Belleville). When you tire of taking your own photos, visit one of the many institutions dedicated to photography (e.g., European Museum of Photography, the Jeu de Paume Museum or the Henri Cartier Bresson Foundation). At these and other institutions, you can learn the about the rich history of Paris as the place of important developments in photography (e.g., the Daguerrotype) and as the home of many of the trade's great artists (e.g., Robert Doisneau, André Kertész, Eugene Atget and Henri Cartier Bresson).
Better Paris Photos , 32 Avenue de Suffren, ☎ +33 6 74 04 21 84 , e-mail: [email protected] . By appointment, tours last from 4 hours. Better Paris Photos offers instructional tours and workshops that combine hands-on learning of essential photographic techniques with guiding to, and commentary about, the most photogenic spots of Paris. Led by English-speaking photographers and instructors, these tours are open to all skill levels and interest. From €195/half day; €290/full day.
Sab's Secret Paris Photo and Curiosity Tours , ☎ +33 6 18 38 68 33 , e-mail: [email protected] . Tours are private and last around 4 hours. Paris fanatic Sab Will combines high quality street photography instruction with intriguing commentary on the many quirks and curios of the city. Sab's most popular tours include Montmartre, the Latin Quarter, the Marais and the Louvre/Palais Royal area but many people choose to create their own exclusive tours with Sab's help. The balance between photography and history/curiosities is decided by the client. The type of camera you have and your experience level doesn't matter as Sab concentrates on developing the photographer's 'eye' and an appreciation for composition and capturing unexpected moments creatively. €150/half day, discounts for couples, friends and families.. (updated Jun 2016)
Movies[ edit ]
The Cinémas of Paris are (or at least should be) the envy of the movie-going world. Of course, like anywhere else you can see big budget first-run films from France and elsewhere. That though, is just the start. During any given week there are at least half-a-dozen film festivals going on, at which you can see the entire works of a given actor or director. Meanwhile there are some older cult films like say, What's new Pussycat or Casino Royal which you can enjoy pretty much any day you wish.
Many non-French movies are subtitled (called "version originale" "VO" or "VOstfr" as opposed to "VF" for version française).
There are any number of ways to find out what's playing, but the most commonly used guide is Pariscope, which you can find at newsstands for €0.70. Meanwhile there are innumerable online guides which have information on "every" cinema in Paris.
Theatres[ edit ]
The Paris Opera , as well as its associated ballet company, the Paris Opera Ballet, are considered to be among the premier classical performance companies in the world.
If you are under 26, there is a flat rate of €10 for every private theatre of the town every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday night. This fare does not apply to public theatres nor opera.
With children[ edit ]
Luxembourg Gardens and Palais du Luxembourg (Sénat) in April
Cité des enfants in the 19th , a museum for kids within the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie, is interactive, fun, and educational. There are two separate sections for the 3-5 set and the 5-12 set. The tots section has simple exhibits designed to be pushed, prodded, and poked. The section for older kids is more sophisticated with scientific experiments and TV studios. Métro Porte de la Villete (7)
Jardin du Luxembourg in the 6th . It would be counted as a travesty not to take your under 10 year old to the Jardin du Luxembourg, long a favourite with Parisian children. With its world famous merry-go-round, a pond for sail boats, a puppet theater, pony rides, chess players, children's playground, it has something for every kid (with comfortable chairs for weary parents thrown in!). The marionettes du Luxembourg, the puppet theatre, stages classic French puppet shows in French but should be easy to understand. There are numerous places for a snack. RER Luxembourg (B) or Métro Odéon (4, 10)
Parc des Buttes-Chaumont in the 19th . Buttes-Chaumont is great for those with children that like to run, climb, and explore. Built on the site of an abandoned quarry, the park is roughly bowl-shaped with a 30-meter-tall peak situated in the middle of a pond at the park's center. There are trails up the rock, caves, waterfalls, a suspension bridge, and a small stone gazebo on the top of the rock with a 360-degree view. There is also a puppet theater and a playground. Métro Buttes-Chaumont (7bis), Botzaris (7bis), or Laumière (5)
Parc Zoologique in the 12th . This zoo is different because of a 236 foot artificial mountain bang in its center. Take elevators to the top and enjoy the view or watch the mountain goats do their stuff on the sides. Lions, tigers, and everything designed to delight kids can be found in the zoo if the mountain doesn't do it for your kids. RER/Métro Gare d'Austerlitz (5, 10, C)
The Jardin d'Acclimatation in the 16th has a number of rides, including pint-sized roller coasters suitable for children as young as three years, as well as a mini-zoo and the estimable Musée en Herbe. Métro Les Sablons (1)
Learn[ edit ]
Alliance Française . One of the world's largest schools of French language, the Paris Alliance Française has a wide variety of courses for a visitor to choose from.
Ecole France Langue . France Langue have a variety of different courses, starting as short as one week up to long-term tuition. Classes are taught entirely in French, with students (who come from all parts of the world) discouraged from speaking in their native languages at all during lessons. The emphasis is more on speaking and listening rather than on writing and grammar. The school is spread over a number of locations around Place Victor Hugo in the 16e.
Université Paris IV. Offers 'scholastic' as well as 'university' courses for foreigners in French language and culture, which start at various times of year.
[dead link]Schiller International University , 9 rue Yvart, 75015, ☎ +33 1-45-38-56-01 .
Paris is the seat of other places to learn about a variety of topics.
The American Library in Paris (5 min walking from the Eiffel Tower). A great place to visit in Paris is the American Library, this is a non-profit institution entirely dependent on donations in order to keep its doors open. Visitors can purchase a day pass or other short term memberships. The Library has Wi-Fi and if you have your laptop then you can access the internet for no charge other than the day pass to use the library. It has excellent books, recent American magazines, and the occasional celebrity patron.
Culinary[ edit ]
How better to get to know a culture than to learn the ins and outs of its native cuisine. After sampling your fair share of Macarons and Magret de Canard around Paris, you might enjoy taking an afternoon to learn how to make these delicacies yourself and take the recipes home with you. While there are many cooking schools around Paris, only a few offer classes in English.
Le Foodist , 59 Rue du Cardinal Lemoine, Paris 75004, ☎ +33 6 71 70 95 22 , e-mail: [email protected] . Register online, classes last 2-6 hours. In the Latin Quarter, Le Foodist is an cooking school that offers French Cooking, Pastry and Baking Classes, Wine Tastings initiations, Food Tours and Hosted Gastronomic Dinners. Led by French Chefs, courses are made in english, small classes, with the ambition of teaching both the technique and the history of traditional french recipes. Prices range from €35 for a Wine Tasting Initiation to €180 for a Market class.
Le Cordon Bleu Paris , 8 Rue Léon Delhomme, Paris 75015, ☎ +33 1 53 68 22 50 , fax: +33 1 48 56 03 96, e-mail: [email protected] . Offering both long-term professional programs as well as short term hourly sessions, Le Cordon Bleu is one of the most famous culinary schools located in the heart of Paris. Le Cordon Bleu is considered to be the guardian of French culinary technique through its culinary programs that continue to preserve and pass on the mastery and appreciation of the culinary arts that have been the cornerstone of French gastronomy for over 500 years.
La Cuisine Paris , 80 Quai de L'Hôtel de Ville, Paris 75004, ☎ +33 1 40 51 78 18 , e-mail: [email protected] . Register online, classes last 2-4 hours. La Cuisine Paris is an English-friendly culinary school located in the heart of Paris, right on the Seine that offers expert teaching of the essential techniques of cuisine française. Led by an international group of English-speaking chefs all trained in classic French cooking, these classes are open to all skill levels and tastes. Prices range from €69 for a two hour Macaron class to €160 for a 4 hour Market class.
Work[ edit ]
Work in Paris, especially for non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens, entails a very long and arduous process. Unless you possess one of a number of in-demand skills, it will almost certainly be necessary to obtain a job offer from an employer before arriving. Your employer, for their part, will have to have the offer approved by the relevant governmental authorities, as well. If you opt for unreported work, such as babysitting, you need not fret about going through the process to obtain a Carte de séjour, i.e., a formal visitor's identity card. However, if you do choose a change in location, it is advisable to obtain a Carte de séjour prior to finding any job whatsoever, as the process can be longer than expected. Note however that a Carte de séjour is often necessary to open a bank account and the like, and by extension for accomplishing any number of other tasks involved in modern life, so unless you're very comfortable transacting everything in cash you should probably bite the bullet and keep things on the up-and-up.
If you go to Paris for a conference, there's a very good chance you'll end up in a meeting or exhbiting at CNIT (Centre of New Industries and Technology). This conference and convention space is one of the oldest buildings in the La Defense area of Paris and still looks modern even though it's been eclipsed in height by surrounding buildings and hotels near the CNIT are mainly catered to those staying in the area on business.
Remember, the city of Paris has a huge network of immigrants coming and going, and it is always great to tap into that network. The city holds a great abundance of work ready to be found, even if the search feels nerve-wracking at first.
Buy[ edit ]
Paris is one of the great fashion centres of the Western world, up there with New York , London , and Milan , making it a shopper's delight. While the Paris fashion scene is constantly evolving, the major shopping centres tend to be the same. High end couture can be found in the 8th arrondisement. In summer, there is nothing better than browsing the boutiques along Canal St-Martin, or strolling along the impressive arcades of the historic Palais-Royal, with beautifully wrapped purchases swinging on each arm.
A good note about Le Marais is that as it is a mostly Jewish neighborhood, most of the shops in Le Marais are open on Sundays. The stores in this area are intimate, boutique, "Parisian" style clothing stores. You will no doubt find something along each street, and it is always well worth the look.
Other great areas to shop around in are around the area Sèvres Babylone (Métro Line 10 and Line 12). It is in this area you will find the Le Bon Marché 7th , particularly rue de Cherche Midi 6th . The area boasts some of the major fashion houses (Chanel, Jean Paul Gaultier, Versace, etc.) and also has smaller private boutiques with handmade clothing.
In the Quartier Saint-Germain-des-Prés, you can find a handful of vintage clothing shops, carrying anything from couture early 20th century dresses, to 70s Chanel sunglasses. Walking along Boulevard Saint-Germain, you will find major brands. However, if in search of eclectic finds, opt to walk the northern side of the Boulevard, especially along rue Saint André des Arts, where you can always find a nice café to stop in. The area south of Saint-Germain is just as nice, and comes with a price tag to match.
In the artsy quarters of 1 and 4, there are many bargains to be had, once again, if you are prepared to look. Souvenirs are easily found and can be fairly inexpensive as long as you don't buy from the tourist sites. For cheap books of French connection, try the University/Latin quarter as they sell books in all languages starting from half a euro each.
Flea Markets[ edit ]
Paris has 3 main flea-markets, all on the outskirts of the central city. The most famous of these is the Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen (Porte de Clignancourt) (Clignancourt Flea Market), Métro: Porte de Clignancourt, in the 18th , a haven for lovers of antiques, second-hand goods, and retro fashion. The best days to go are Saturday and Sunday. Note that there are particular times of the week when only antique collectors are allowed into the stalls, and there are also times of the day when the stall owners take their Parisian siesta, and enjoy a leisurely cappuccino for an hour or so. The best times to visit the flea markets are in the spring and summertime, when the area is more vibrant. In and around the metro station, you may find the area a little wild, but still safe.
Musical Instruments[ edit ]
Rue de Rome, situated near Gare St. Lazare, is crowded with luthiers, brass and woodwind makers, piano sellers, and sheet music stores. Subway station Europe. The area south of the metro station Pigalle is also packed with music shops (more oriented towards guitars and drums).
Artwork[ edit ]
For art lovers, be sure to check out Quartier Saint-Germain-des-Prés, which is renowned for its galleries, and it is impossible to turn a street without finding a gallery to cast your glance in. On Fridays, most open until late. Most even have the benefit of bottles of wine so you can wander in with your glass of wine and feel very artistique. Great roads to walk along are rue de Seine, rue Jacob, rue des Beaux Arts, Rue Bonaparte, and Rue Mazarine. Also, be sure to visit the historical district of Montparnasse and quartier Vavin where artists like Modigliani, Gauguin and Zadkine used to work.
Eat[ edit ]
Paris is one of Europe's culinary centres, where the haute cuisine has flourished since at least the French revolution. It may however come as a surprise that Paris isn't considered the culinary capital of French cuisine , rather some people prefer the French cooking found in small rural restaurants, outside of the city, closer to the farms and with their focus on freshness and regional specialities. Even among French cities, Paris has long been considered by some people as second to Lyon for fine dining.
There have been other challenges in the last 20 years or so as restaurateurs in places like San Francisco and Sydney briefly surpassed their Parisian fore bearers, again with an emphasis on freshness of ingredients but also borrowings from other cuisines. Parisian cooks didn't just rest on their laurels during this time, rather they travelled, taught, and studied, and together with Paris's own immigrant communities, have revitalized the restaurant trade. Today you can find hundreds of beautiful restaurants with thoughtful (or just trendy) interior design and well-planned and executed cartes and menus offering a creative mélange of French and exotic foreign cuisines. It's safe to say that Paris is once again catching up with or edging ahead of its Anglophone rivals.
Of course there are also some traditional offerings, and for the budget conscious there are hundreds of traditional bistros, with their sidewalk terraces offering a choice of fairly simple (usually meat centred) meals for reasonable prices.
For the uninitiated, it is unfortunately possible to have a uniformly poor dining experience during a stay in Paris, mainly because many attractions are situated in upscale areas of town, and that mass tourism attracts price gougers. It is frequent to hear of people complaining of very high Parisian prices for poor food and poor service, because they always tried to eat close to major tourist magnets. For good food and great service, try to go eat where the locals eat.
Many restaurants are tiny and have tables close together - square metres are at a premium and understandably restaurateurs need to make the most of limited space. In some cases when the restaurant is crowded, you may have to sit beside strangers at the same table. If that does not appeal to you, go to a more upscale place where you will pay for the extra space.
Trendy restaurants often require reservations weeks, if not months in advance. If you haven't planned far enough ahead, try to get a reservation for lunch which is generally easier and less expensive.
For an easy-to-manage eating budget while in Paris, consider: breakfast or "petit déjeuner" at a restaurant, possibly in your hotel, consisting of some croissants, coffee, and maybe a piece of fruit. Get a 'walking lunch' from one of Paris' many food stands—a panino in the centre of the city, a crepe from a crepe stand, a felafel pita or take-out Chinese in the Marais. Traiteurs serving Chinese and/or Vietnamese food are ubiquitous in the city and good for a cheap lunch and many pâtisseries sell inexpensive coffee and sandwiches. All these are cheap (about the same as breakfast), easy, and allow you to maximize your sightseeing and walking time while enjoying delicious local or ethnic food. For dinner, stroll the streets at dusk and consider a €20-40 prix-fixe menu. This will get you 3 or 4 courses, possibly with wine, and an unhurried, candlelit, magical evening. If you alternate days like this with low-budget, self-guided eating (picnicking, snacking, street food) you will be satisfied without breaking the bank.
If one of the aims of your trip to Paris is to indulge in its fine dining, though, the most cost-effective way to do this is to make the main meal of your day lunch. Virtually all restaurants offer a good prix-fixe deal. By complementing this with a bakery breakfast and a light self-catered dinner, you will be able to experience the best of Parisian food and still stick to a budget.
Self catering[ edit ]
Budget travellers will be very pleased with the range and quality of products on offer at the open air markets (e.g. the biggest one on Boulevard Richard Lenoir (near the Bastille), Rue Mouffetard, Place Buci, Place de la Madeleine and over the Canal Saint-Martin in the 11th or in any other arrondissement). If your accommodation has cooking facilities you're set, especially for wine and cheese, a decent bottle of French wine will set you back all of about €3-5, while the fairly good stuff starts at around €7. Bottles for less than €3 are not recommended. Keep in mind that the small épiceries which open until late are more expensive than the supermarchés (Casino, Monoprix, Franprix, etc.). For wine, the price difference can be up to €2.
Buy a baguette, some cheese and a good bottle of wine and join the Parisian youth for a pique-nique along the Seine (especially on the Île Saint-Louis) or along the Canal Saint-Martin. The finest food stores are Lafayette Gourmet in the Galeries Lafayette or La Grande Epicerie in the luxury department store Le Bon Marché. They are worth discovering. You will find a large variety of wines there, otherwise try wine stores (cavistes) that are present everywhere in the city, and sell all kind of good French wine that you won't find in a supermarket. The owners usualy know their wines and will be happy to help you choose among their huge selection. Some also sell good food. You can search for one online or ask a local. There are also some "wine supermarkets" such as Nicolas or Le Relais de Bacchus (all over the city) that sell more common wines.
Some specialities[ edit ]
For seafood lovers, Paris is a great place to try moules frites (steamed mussels and French fries) (better in fall and winter), oysters, sea snails, and other delicacies. Meat specialties include venison (deer), boar, and other game (especially in the fall and winter hunting season), as well as French favourites such as lamb, veal, beef, and pork.
Prices[ edit ]
Eating out in Paris can be expensive. However don't believe people when they say you can't do Paris on the cheap - you can! The key is to stay away from the beaten tracks and the obviously expensive Champs Elysées. Around the lesser visited quarters especially, there are many cheap and yummy restaurants to be found. The area around Fontaine Saint-Michel, the fountain facing Notre Dame is crowded by particularly tasty places to eat, with good ambiance, cheap prices and excellent service, with the advantage of being very centric of many places of interest. The key is to order from the prix-fixe menu, and not off the A la Carte menu unless you want to pay an arm and a leg. In many places a three course meal can be found for about €15. This way you can sample the food cheaply and is usually more "French". Ask for "une carafe d'eau" (oon karaaf doe) to get free tap water.
Kosher dining[ edit ]
Paris has the largest number of Kosher restaurants in any European city. Walk up and down Rue des Rosiers to see the variety and choices available from Israeli, Sushi, Italian and others. You will also find a wide assortment of Kosher restaurants in the 9th arrondissement of Paris near the rue Richer and rue Cadet areas. See the district guides for examples. Kosher restaurants and snacks usually display a big orange rectangle on their front, which ensure clients that they are Beth din certified.
Vegetarian dining[ edit ]
For vegetarians, eating traditional French food will require some improvisation, as it is heavily meat-based. That being said, Paris has several excellent vegetarian restaurants, and many non-vegetarian restaurants will provide vegetarian dishes.
When eating in a traditional restaurant, be careful before ordering dishes labelled as "vegetarian". Many French people presume that fish and seafood are vegetarian dishes. This is a widely spread misunderstanding all around the country. Additionally, French people tend to confuse "real" vegetarians with vegans. When explaining that you're a vegetarian that won't eat fish, people will often presume that you won't eat milk or egg-based products.
Look for spots such as Aquarius in the 14th or and Le Grenier de Notre-Dame in the 5th just to name a few. See the arrondissement pages for more listings. For fast food and snacks, you can always find a vegetarian sandwich or pizza. Even a kebab shop can make you something with just cheese and salad, or perhaps falafel.
There are also lots of Italian, Thai, Indian, and Mezo-American places where you will have little problem. The famous South Indian chain Saravana Bhavan have their branch near Gare Du Nord. In Rue des Rosiers (4th arrondissement) you can get delicious falafel in the many Jewish restaurants. Another place to look for falafel is on Rue Oberkampf (11th arrondissement). Take away falafel usually goes for €5 or less.
Moroccan and Algerian cooking is common in Paris - vegetarian couscous is lovely. Another good option for vegetarians - are traiteurs, particularly around Ledru Rollin (down the road from Bastille) take away food where you can combine a range of different options such as pomme dauphinoise, dolmas, salads, vegetables, nice breads and cheeses and so on.
Lebanese restaurants and snack shops abound as well, offering a number of vegetarian mezze, or small plates. The stand-bys of course are hummas, falafel, and baba-ganouche (caviar d'aubergine). A good place to look for Lebanese is in the pedestrian zone around Les Halles and Beaubourg in the 1st and 4th .
Tourists and locals[ edit ]
When you are looking for a restaurant in Paris, be wary of those where the staff speak English a bit too readily. These restaurants are usually - but not always - geared towards tourists. It does make a difference in the staff's service and behaviour whether they expect you to return or not.
Sometimes the advertised fixed price tourist menus (€10-15) are a good deal. If you're interested in the really good and more authentic stuff (and if you have learned some words of French) try one of the small bistros where the French go during lunch time.
Drink[ edit ]
The bars scene in Paris really does have something for everyone. From bars which serve drinks in baby bottles, to ultra luxe clubs that require some name dropping, or card (black Amex) showing, and clubs where you can dance like no one's watching, (although they will be). To start your night out right, grab a drink or two in a ubiquitous dive bar, before burning up the dance floor and spreading some cash, at one of the trendy clubs.
Canal St Martin. Many cozy cafés and other drinking establishments abound around the Canal St Martin in the 10th .
The Marais. The Marais has a large number of trendier new bars mostly in the 4th and to a lesser extent the 3rd with a few old charmers tossed into the mix. A number of bars and restaurants in the Marais have a decidedly gay crowd, but are usually perfectly friendly to straights as well. Some seem to be more specifically aimed at up-and-coming hetero singles.
Bastille. There is a very active nightlife zone just to the northeast of Place de Bastille centered around rue de Lappe, rue de la Roquette, rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine (especially the amazing Club Barrio Latino) and rue de Charonne in the 11th . Many of the bars closest to Bastille have either a North, Central, or South American theme, with a couple of Aussie places mixed in for good measure, and as you continue up rue de Charonne the cafés have more of a traditionally French but grungy feeling.
Quartier Latin - Odeon. If you're looking for the nouvelle vague (new wave) style, student and intellectual atmosphere of Paris in the 60s and 70s, you'll find a lot of that (and more hip + chique) places in the quartier Latin and between place Odeon and the Seine. The neighborhood is also home of many small artsy cinemas showing non-mainstream films and classics (check 'Pariscope' or 'l'officiel du spectacle' at any newspaper stand for the weekly programme).
Rue Mouffetard and environs. The area in the 5th on the south side of the hill topped by the Panthéon has a little bit of everything for the nighthawk, from the classy cafés of Place de la Contrescarpe to an Irish-American dive bar just down the way to a hip, nearly hidden jazz café at the bottom of the hill.
Châtelet. In some ways the Marais starts here in the 1st between Les Halles and Hôtel de Ville but with between all of the tourists and the venerable Jazz clubs on rue des Lombards the area deserves some special attention.
Montmartre. You'll find any number of cozy cafés and other drinking establishments all around the Butte Montmartre in the 18th , especially check out rue des Abbesses near the Métro station of the same name.
Oberkampf-Ménilmontant. If you are wondering where to find the hipsters (bobos for bohemian-bourgeois), then this is where to look. There are several clusters of grungy-hip bars all along rue Oberkampf in the 11th , and stretching well into the 20th up the hill on rue de Ménilmontant. It's almost like being in San Francisco 's Haight-Fillmore district.
Bagnolet. There are a cluster of bar/restaurant/nightclubs along the southern end of the Père Lachaise cemetery in the 20th including probably the best place in Paris for nightly local and touring punk rock.
Rues des Dames-Batignolles. Another good place to find the grungy-chic crowd is the northern end of the 17th around rue des Dames and rue des Batignolles, and if you decide you want something a little different Montmartre is just around the corner.
Port de Tolbiac. This previously deserted stretch of the river Seine in the 13th was reborn as a center for nightlife (and Sunday-afternoon-life) a few years ago when an electronic music cooperative opened the Batofar. Nowadays there are a number of boats moored along the same quai, including a boat with a Caribbean theme, and one with an Indian restaurant.
Saint Germain des Prés. This area has two of the most famous cafés in the world: Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots, both catering to the tourists and the snobs who can afford their high prices. This part of the 6th is where the Parisian café scene really started, and there still are hundreds of places to pull up to a table, order a glass, and discuss Sartre deep into the evening.
For individual bar listings see the various Arrondissement pages under Drink.
Of course there are lots of interesting places which are sort of off on their own outside of these clusters, including a few like the Hemingway Bar at the Ritz which are not to be missed in a serious roundup of Parisian drinking, so check out the listings even in those arrondissements we haven't mentioned above.
Some nightclubs in Paris that are worth it: Folies Pigalle (pl. Pigalle, 18th, very trashy, €20), Rex Club (near one of the oldest cinemas on earth, the Grand Rex, house/electro, about €15). You might also want to try Cabaret (Palais Royal), Maison Blanche, le Baron (M Alma-Marceau). Remember when going out to dress to impress, you are in Paris! Torn clothing and sneakers are not accepted. The better you look, the more likely you will get past the random decisions of club bouncers. Also important to remember if male (or in a group of guys) that it will be more difficult to enter clubs; try to always have an equal male/female ratio.
Hotels[ edit ]
Being often declared the most popular travel destination in the world, Paris has far over a thousand hotels to choose from, and even more in the surrounding Ile-de-France region. The choice may be overwhelming, but should be made carefully. There are huge differences in standards and location is key to make your stay in Paris enjoyable and time used well. Be prepared to pay the price for Paris' popularity - even the cheap hotels are relatively expensive.
Despite the popularity with tourists, global hotel chains have relatively low penetration of the Parisian market. A notable exception is the French-based Accor, which boasts over 300 hotels in the Paris area, although with large swathes of central Paris largely uncovered. There is a fair amount of Best Westerns as well, but most international chains limit their presence to very few exclusive (and expensive) hotels in key locations. Travellers loyal to a particular brand may find their loyalty challenged, be forced to pay for it (rather than be rewarded) or unable to find their hotel brand of choice in Paris.
Hotels in the central arrondissements tend to be expensive, although very cheap ones can also be found. With few exceptions, they tend to offer small rooms - be aware of the fact that the difference in price between hotels can translate into difference in service, facility and appointment levels, but not necessarily room size. Rooms of 12-16 square metres (which is roughly half of standard hotels rooms e.g. in the USA) are the norm in central Paris, regardless of hotel standards.
Cheaper hotels in popular arrondissements tend to be older, less attractive properties, whose facilities and appointments may be very worn and outdated, far behind standards one would expect from the capital of all things pretty and fine. Even updated and restored hotels may exhibit wide variance in standards between room categories, and keep some of the rooms not refurbished or only minimally touched up to be able to offer attractive, eye-catching pricing for them and then upsell to more comfortable room categories. Always check out latest reviews, preferably with photos, to precisely determine what to expect from a given hotel and given room category.
Hotels outside of the city centre, or even outside of the Peripherique and Paris itself, can be far cheaper and better value for money than ones in central Paris, while still having good transit links via metro or RER. That said, you should check thoroughly how far from the metro / RER station the given hotel is, and whether the connection to the POIs you want to visit is direct, quick and easy. Do also factor in the added cost of transportation to outer zones, as well as the time spent to travel to and from the city and obviously resulting limitations.
Because of local preferences, a bathtub in the bathroom is a norm in most hotels, even if it means squeezing it into a very small bathroom, further limiting space. If you prefer a walk-in shower, you need to look for a hotel that specifically offers those (called "douche italienne" by the French), and you should generally look at newer, purpose-built properties.
Paris hotels, almost without regard to category or price, observe high and low seasons. These differ slightly from one hotel to another, but usually the high season roughly corresponds to late spring and summer, and possibly a couple of weeks around the Christmas season.
For individual hotel listings see the various Arrondissement pages.
Apartment rentals[ edit ]
For those staying for a week or more, renting a furnished apartment might be a more comfortable and money-saving option, especially for 3 or more adults. Furnished apartments can differ considerably in location and quality, offer different accommodations and selections of appliances and kitchen features, or may be well-above street level with no elevator. Expect apartment sizes to be modest. Access to local public transport can also vary widely. So choose carefully only after getting a full description of an interesting property.
Many websites will help you find rentals. Some do a more disciplined job of locating and describing properties and their locale. Most charge a commission of 10% or more; some offer insurance covering some risks. Some may offer a few apartments for shorter stays, usually at somewhat higher cost per day.
In late-spring and summer months, desirable properties may be in short supply. If your plans are fairly firm for those periods, you would be wise to "reserve" a unit well in-advance. Owners will often ask for a non-refundable deposit of up to 50% of the total cost of your stay. Means of payment can range from money order to PayPal or (occasionally) charge card. (Take great care of how and with whom you share any charge card account number.) You should send no payment to any post office box or similarly anonymous place or account...even after exchanging e-mails with a purported owner; most are no more than "blind" scams to take your money.
The city government has recently passed ordinances that require owners renting properties for short periods to collect a tax previously collected only by hotels. This substantial tax may not be collected by some owners, or may be demanded by them but not mentioned in their rates until you arrive. Tax enforcement and collection remain in a state of flux.
Also note that some agencies, rental brokers or web sites, that seem amicable, attractive or claim reputations, do not abide by French law to carefully vet and select landlords and apartments they offer for rent. There are a certain number of guarantees, which are required in France before renting an apartment, and an insurance policy, which aims at protecting the tenants during their stay.
Crime[ edit ]
Though Paris is a safe city, there has been a significant rise in petty crime in recent years, especially pickpocketing . It is only some of the outer suburbs of the metropolitan area (the banlieues) such as Clichy-sous-Bois and Bondy which one would consider 'rough' by western standards. The most prevalent crime by far is petty theft . Pickpockets and scams, of which there are many, are the most common crime. While not common, purse snatching and muggings do happen. Violent crime is rare. Watch yourself at ATMs and other places where your cash may be visible. Keep your money in front pockets, and avoid ATMs that are open to the outside, especially at night.
The police can be reached by phone by dialing 17. Not all police officers speak English, but those found around touristy areas almost always will. They are usually friendly and perfectly approachable should you have to.
Theft in public transit[ edit ]
The métro is also a popular place for pickpockets. Hold things tightly and be aware of your surroundings. While trains are usually crowded, if someone is insisting and hovers over you, they are probably going through your pockets. It is important to know that a majority of these belong to a gang. These gangs usually use young children as young as seven, with groups of them going around the metro stations pickpocketing tourists and locals alike. If there is a group of three or more suspicious looking people, be careful of your belongings.
Common tactics are two of them blocking you as you try to board the subway, with two behind you quickly going through your bag. Seconds before the doors close, the two jump off, leaving you on the metro without even realizing what has happened. Take note of what locals do. If someone warns you to be careful, there are probably some suspicious types hoping to steal from you. Also be aware that phone-snatching is the most reported crime, and avoid using your cellphone on metro platforms and in the metro itself.
Pickpockets are active on the rail link (RER B) from Charles de Gaulle airport to downtown Paris, which passes through the poor suburbs of Seine-Saint Denis. Try to take the trains which are nonstop between the airport and Paris proper (Gare du Nord) - EKLI/EKIL from Paris to CDG and KRIN/KROL from CDG to Paris. These are faster and are less crowded than the alternative.
There have also been problems with thieves physically fighting people in order to steal their belongings. The most common targets are those with suitcases and backpacks, i.e. tourists. Thieves usually coin their acts with the closing of the doors. Newer trains have cameras everywhere, and thieves are much less likely to use them. Otherwise, stow luggage on the racks above the seat (which is not possible in newer trains) and hold on to your bags so no one can grab them and then run out. You are much less likely of being a victim if the train is crowded with locals headed to work, usually at rush hour.
The train conductors are widely aware of these crimes and will usually wait a few seconds to leave the station after the doors have closed, just in case thieves have quickly jumped off with belongings. There are also emergency cords that one can pull if willing to chase after the attackers. People will usually be helpful and gladly call the police if you do not have a cell phone.
Theft in tourist hotspots[ edit ]
Pickpockets are most likely to be found working at crowded tourists hotspots, so keep your wallet and phone in your front pockets and hold your backpack tightly when in a crowd.
A common place for phone/camera/wallet snatching is in tourist friendly dining areas scattered all over Paris where exposed outdoor tables are commonly right on busy sidewalks. Common practice by many Western tourists is to leave an aforementioned item of value on the table (most commonly a smartphone) in front of them. Some of the criminals, working in groups of three to five people, approach your table and shove what appears to be a survey directly under your nose thus blocking your view of your valuable. While the gang members are yelling in a foreign language another one will slip a hand below your view and take your item of value from the table. This occurs very quickly (less than five seconds) and the perpetrators disappear around the corner just as quick as they arrived.
Key landmarks like the Louvre or the Eiffel tower have been plagued with gangs of pickpockets, which typically operate in groups of about five. As many as half a dozen of these gangs may be active at a particularly famous, crowded venue at any one time; occasionally there are fights between rival gangs of thieves. Asian visitors are often targeted due to a presumption that they are visiting from affluent nations. Venue staff have complained of being spat at, threatened, abused or assaulted by pickpocketing gangs; the Louvre closed briefly in 2013 (as did the Eiffel tower in 2015) due to worker protests of unsafe conditions due to criminal activity. Token attempts to deploy more police have not solved the problems.
Scams[ edit ]
The men who will try to tie strings on your fingers
At Sacré-Cœur (called Montmartre by the locals), there are many men who will try to tie strings or bracelets on your finger (often called "string muggers"). Not only will they demand an obscene fee for the cheap trinkets (usually over 15€), they will also try to pickpocket you or threaten you with force if you do not give them money. They are usually only at the base of the monument and can be avoided by taking the Funicular of Montmartre. Otherwise, you can quickly walk past them and ignore them, though they will readily grab people's arms and have even been known to target children of tourists. Yelling at them may cause unwanted attention and cause them to back off, but be careful. Sacré-Cœur appears to be the only area where they congregate, but they have been sighted also near the Eiffel Tower.
Besides them, you will notice many people walking around with cheap trinkets at touristic areas, especially the Trocadéro, Eiffel Tower, and Louvre Museum. They are generally not rude but bear in mind that buying things from them is illegal and hurts small businesses. This of course causes them to bolt at the sight of the police, and you may end up in the middle of a stampede!
Be careful around Barbès-Rochechouart and the bars near Moulin Rouge. A very common clip joint trick is played here which might cost you up to 500€. The agents standing outside will force you to enter a bar and just have a look for 5 minutes. The moment you order a drink (about 5€), a girl will approach you and start talking generally, and leave in 10–15 minutes. After a harmless conversation with the girls when you request a bill, you will encounter a charge of say 200-500€ as 'service fees' for the services rendered by the girl! In case you resist paying, the bouncers will start intimidating you to try to extract money from your wallet. In such cases, threaten them that you are calling the police and informing the local embassy. Try to buy some time and start creating a ruckus. However, do not try to start a fight with the bouncers. Note that this trick is common to many European big cities.
One scam involves a "helpful" local buying a ticket for you. Normally, tourists buy 1-day, 3-day or longer Paris Visite passes. They would tell you that your single trip ticket has expired and bring you to the ticketing machine to purchase day passes. Then they would select the 3 day pass for adults (even though you may be a student) and deliberately show you the price on the screen. Everything else is in French so you would not understand a thing. They would proceed to purchase with a credit card and while entering the PIN code, get you to turn your back on them. They then sneakily change the ticket to a single trip ticket and ask for payment for a 3-day ticket from you. Unsuspecting tourists would pay the full sum thinking it is a 1-day or 3-day pass when it is only a useless ticket. Buy the tickets yourself to avoid situations like these, as machines are available in English and other languages. If you feel threatened, call the police and don't physically handle the ticket if they forcibly purchase without your agreement.
Another common scam is found along the banks of the Seine river and involves a ring. This involves thieves "finding" a ring which they give to you. They then ask you if you own it. When you say no, they insist you keep it, saying it goes against their religion or they cannot wear rings. A few moments later, they ask you for money to buy something to eat, eventually following you and becoming more annoying. You can either yell at them or steer them towards an area where there are likely to be police present, at which point they will quickly run away.
The most common scam (besides pickpocketing) that has taken over Paris by storm since June 2011 involves women coming up to tourists with pledge sheets. They pretend to be deaf people collecting money for one charity or another. Once you are distracted with the petition, an accomplice pickpockets you and takes your belongings. In addition, once you sign, they point to a thing that reads "minimum ten euro donation." While they may at first insist on this, shaking your head and walking away will usually make them pester someone else. Otherwise, simply waving them off and a loud no should make them give up. If they are in a large group, as is common, be careful of your belongings! This is a ploy to pickpocket you as you are surrounded by them. At this point, yelling for the police will make them disperse quickly. This is most commonly found around major tourist sites, but has also been a problem at Gare du Nord, though this has gotten much better.
Never bet money on a 3 card game as you will always lose. This trick is played by con artists on some of the bridges on River Seine near the Eiffel Tower.
It is a good idea to steer clear of the suburb of Seine Saint-Denis, as this suburb is known for its gangs and poverty, though there is of little interest to a tourists anyway (except the Basilique de Saint-Denis, but that is located near a métro station). You may want to avoid walking alone at night in the 18th and 19th arrondissements as well, as these can be a little shady at night. There is a large problem with youths from the depressed suburbs causing trouble with the police. If locals are moving away, it is most likely from a confrontation. While these groups rarely target people besides the police, be careful. Walk away from a situation that could lead to fights or worse.
In general, remember to be aware of pickpockets, as they act by trying to distract you. Avoid showing off expensive phones or a lot of money in public transportation or in open areas. Put your things in a money belt or your front pockets, but never in the back pockets.
Danger for identifiably Jewish people[ edit ]
Beware if you are obviously Jewish, for example if you wear a kippa/yarmulke. Many people who are easily recognisable as Jewish have faced harassment or worse, primarily from that subset of Muslims from within and outside the Paris area who have violent feelings toward Jews. As a result, many of the local Jews no longer wear identifiably Jewish clothing or symbols (such as Star of David pendants) while walking on the street or taking public transportation. The French government is taking this threat very seriously, and recently (as of 2015) assigned thousands of soldiers to guard places throughout France that are considered likely to be in possible danger from terrorists, but there is only so much that can be done to protect people from violence on the street, so consider taking the advice of local Jews regarding your behavior. For example, if you wear a kippa, consider wearing it under a hat that is not identifiably Jewish, or if you find it unacceptable to be in a place where your appearance might put you in danger, consider postponing your trip or going elsewhere.
Respect[ edit ]
Parisians have a reputation for being egocentric, rude and arrogant. While this is often only a stereotype, the best way to get along in Paris still is to be on your best behavior, acting like someone who is "bien élevé" (well brought up). It will make getting about considerably easier.
Parisians' abrupt exteriors will rapidly evaporate if you display some basic courtesies. A simple "Bonjour, Madame" when entering a shop, for example, or "Excusez-moi" when trying to get someone's attention, are very important; say "Pardon" or better "je suis désolé" if you bump into someone accidentally or make other mistakes; if you speak French or are using a phrasebook remember to always use the vous form when addressing someone you don't know, may transform the surliest shop assistant into a smiling helper or the grumpiest inhabitant to a helpful citizen. Courtesy is extremely important in France (where the worst insult is to call someone "mal élevé", or "badly brought up").
If you only learn one long phrase in French a good one would be "Excusez-moi de vous déranger, monsieur/madame, auriez-vous la gentillesse de m'aider?" (pardon me for bothering you, sir/madam, would you have the kindness to help me?) - this level of extreme politeness is about the closest one can come to a magic wand for unlocking Parisian hospitality. If you know some French, try it! But remember, too, that Parisians have places to go and things to do, so if they have no time and don't answer you, don't take it personally. Many Parisians, given time, will go out of their way to help, especially if you make an effort to speak their language and act polite to them.
Most foreigners tend to ignore two basic rules of courtesy in tube and train transport in Paris. If the car is full and you're sitting on a folding seat, you should consider standing up. If you stand next to the door, you are expected to get down to the platform at a stop so that people inside can find their way out. Once they have got out, you can go back. However, don't always expect that others will do the same for you and, if the train is full, get ready to get down with enough time in advance. In a corridor, when pushing a door, you are expected to hold it to the next person, so that it won't close abruptly. This rule is strictly observed in the tube, and quite commonly everywhere else.
In addition, if you are traveling to or from the airport or train station and have luggage with you, make certain that you are not blocking the aisles in the train by leaving your bags on the floor. The RER B (which links both Orly and Charles de Gaulle airports to the city) has luggage racks above the seats (on the newer trains, there are no such racks above the seats, but racks dedicated to luggage in between some seats); it is best to use them so you do not block the path of a local who is getting off the train before the airport stop. On the métro and especially in the RER, please don't take up extra seats with your luggage. There are luggage racks and spaces between the seats.
Be aware that there are hefty fines for littering in Paris, especially with dog droppings (often you'll find free plastic bags dispensers around parks or playgrounds).
Connect[ edit ]
One helpful thing about having official and numbered districts in Paris is that you can easily tell which arrondissement an address is in by its postal code, and can easily come up with the postal code for a Paris address if you know its arrondissement. The rule is just pre-pend 750 or 7500 to the front of the arrondissement number, with 75001 being the postal code for the 1st and 75011 being the postal code for the 11th, and so on. The 16th has two postal codes, 75016 for the portion south of Rue de Passy and 75116 to the north; all other arrondissements only have one postal code.
Phone cards are available from most "tabacs" but make sure you know where you can use them when you buy them, as some places still sell the cartes cabines which are hard to use as cabines are rare.
The city of Paris provides free Internet access via 400 Wi-Fi access points throughout the city, including many public parks. Look for the network called "PARIS_WI-FI_" (followed by some digits) on your laptop or PDA.
Other options include Starbucks, which is free. There is also McDonald's, Columbus Café, and certain Indiana Café locations. There is also the Wistro network which independent coffee chains offer. You can search by arrondissement. In general, a large number of cafés and restaurants offer free Wi-Fi.
Cope[ edit ]
Famous for its status as "fashion capital", Paris isn't as conservative in dress as one might think. Parisians will tolerate all kinds of clothes as long as they're worn "avec style" (with style). That's why men do not usually wear shorts shorter than above the knee outside of sporting events: it is not considered indecent but may stand out from the locals; shorts are for "schoolboys and football players" only.
Airlines[ edit ]
Adria Airways , 94 r Saint Lazare 75009. Mon to Fri 9AM to 1PM, 2PM to 5PM, Sat 9AM until noon.
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Chantilly - Wonderful 17th century palace and gardens (and the birthplace of whipped cream). 25 min train ride from Gare du Nord
Chartres - The 12th century cathedral of Notre Dame at Chartres is one of the highlights of Gothic architecture . 60 min train ride from Gare Montparnasse
Disneyland Paris - In the suburb of Marne-la-Vallée , to the east of Paris, from where it can be reached by car, train, or bus (the train is probably your best bet).
Fontainebleau - A lovely historic town south of Paris (55.5 km or 35 mi). A favourite weekend getaway for Parisians, it is renowned for its large and scenic forest, as well as for its château. 35 min train ride from Gare de Lyon
Giverny - The inspirational house and gardens of the Impressionist painter Claude Monet are but a day-trip away. The gardens and its flowers are the most interesting part of the visit, so avoid rainy days.
The Loire Valley - a beautiful wine-making stretch of the river Loire that is chock full of renaissance châteaux, including Chambord , as well as medieval cities such as Blois , Orléans and Tours . Trains take 1–2.5 hours from Gare Montparnasse and Gare d'Austerlitz.
The Orient Express , which historically ran Paris- Istanbul , has been partially recreated as a seasonal luxury tourist train , but tickets are not cheap.
Saint Denis - On the northern edge of the metropolis, site of the Stade de France and St Denis Abbey, burial place of French royalty.
Versailles - On the southwestern edge of Paris, the site of the Sun King Louis XIV's magnificent palace. 20-40 min train ride by RER (line C) from central Paris.
This city travel guide to Paris has guide status. It has a variety of good, quality information including hotels, restaurants, attractions and travel details. Please contribute and help us make it a star !
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In humans, Iatromisia is an intense dislike for which profession? | miso-, mis-, -misia - Word Information
miso-, mis-, -misia
(Greek: hate, hater, hatred; disgust for; revulsion of; contempt for; abhorrence of)
Don't confuse this miso-, mis- unit with the following units: mis- , "bad, wrong"; miss-, -miss, -mis- "send, throw".
computermisia (kuhm PYOO tuhr MIS ee uh) (s) ( noun ), computermisias (pl)
1. An intense dislike or a pathological hatred of cyber equipment: Computermisia causes such a dread of having anything to do with computers, or computerization, that some people have symptoms of nausea, dizziness, cold sweat, and high blood pressure.
2. Etymology: from Latin computare, "to count, to sum up; from com-, "together" + putare, "to count, to reckon, to consider" + Greek misos, "hatred".
— Word Info image © ALL rights reserved.
iatromisia (igh AT roh MIS ee uh) (s) ( noun ), iatromisias (pl)
1. An intense aversion for the medical profession or for medical doctors: Jane was suffering from iatromisia; so, she always became very tense and anxious just with the thought of going to any doctor; and, although she didn't go very often, when it was absolutely necessary, she always asked her best friend to go with her.
One fear or iatromisia about going to see doctors is because patients associate them with illnesses or injuries and so they are afraid of getting germs or diseases from them or other patients who are in the waiting room.
2. Etymology: from Greek iatro-, "physician, medicine" + Greek misos, "hatred"; from miseo, "I hate".
iatromisiac (IGH atroh MIS ee ak) (s) ( noun ), iatromisiacs (pl)
A person who abhors going to see a doctor or any other medical person: Some iatromisiacs fear undressing in front of others and so they hate going to doctors because they know that patients are often required to disrobe during a physical exam.
There are iatromisiacs who become so upset or anxious just by being in the doctor's office that their blood pressure increases, a phenomenon known as "white coat" hypertension.
— Word Info image © ALL rights reserved.
logomisia (LOH goh MIS ee uh) (s) ( noun ), logomisias (pl)
A disgust or abhorrence of certain words or for a particular word: Because Linda often connected the term "argument" with bad memories between her parents, that started with normal conversation then developed into loud and angry voices, all of which turned her into a person with logomisia.
misandria (s) ( noun ), misandrias (pl)
Often a woman who has an extreme dislike of males, frequently based on unhappy experiences as to how she was treated as a child by her father: Although her parents had been divorced for more than two years, 17-year-old Diana still didn't want to go out with boys because she recalled her father mistreating her mother and being very loud and aggressive; and as a result, she developed a case of misandria for all men by not trusting any of them.
misandrist (s) ( noun ), misandrists (pl)
Those who have a hatred of men; especially, women who can't tolerate them because of some past infidelities or mistreatment: Some women got together and formed a club based on their distressful experiences with men which was called "The club for misandrists".
misandronist (s) ( noun ), misandronists (pl)
A fanatical person who has the belief that men are the primary cause of all of the world's problems: Anita had read about misandronists in a magazine, in which it said that generally the world could be ruled more successfully and peacefully by women because there have been so many hostilities between nations ruled by men which have caused too many armed conflicts and wars.
misandrous ( adjective ), more misandrous, most misandrous
Pertaining to the loathing of men in general and; sometimes, especially for some particular man: Since her breakup with her husband, Kelly has serious misandrous feelings towards him that are filled with abhorrence and she never wants to have anything to do with him again.
misandry (s) ( noun ), misandries (pl)
1. A hatred of, or an animosity, towards a man or men in general: Some women have been so mistreated by certain males that they have strong misandries for all of the other masculine genders, too.
2. An extreme dislike of men, frequently based upon unhappy experiences or upbringing as a child: Some authors have used the topic of misandry in their novels, as Charles Dickens did in his novel Great Expectations when Miss Havisham, characterized as being a misandry, because she was so devastated when the man she expected to marry never showed up and so she had an animosity towards men all the rest of her life.
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so you can see more of Mickey Bach's cartoons.
misanthrope (MIS-uhn-throhp, MIZ-uhn-throhp) (s) ( noun ), misanthropes (pl)
1. Someone who has a hatred or distrust of all of mankind: After seeing terrible news on TV and reading the newspapers about the horrible wars in the world which never seem to end, it's no wonder that some people become misanthropes, giving up all hope and faith that the world will someday be peaceful again.
2. Anyone who avoids social contacts with people whenever possible: Irene was always a very shy person, even when she was a child; and as a grown-up, she had a tendency to be a misanthrope because she preferred being alone at home and not with other people.
3. Etymology: from Greek misanthropos, "hating mankind"; from misein, "to hate" + anthropos, "man".
A misanthrope is a person who always believes the worst about other people, at first, and never changes his or her mind.
Someone who has little faith in mankind, and even less in womankind.
—Based on quotes by
so you can see more of Mickey Bach's cartoons.
misanthropic (mis" uhn THROHP ik; miz" uhn THROHP ik) ( adjective ), more misanthropic, most misanthropic
1. Descriptive of a bitterness or contempt for humans in general: Gregory was a very misanthropic person who generally abhorred the behavior of people because not only were the topics on politics in the newspapers and on TV so distressful, but also the articles about so much crime in the city where he lived.
2. Referring to avoiding the company of other people because of a strong preference to be alone and away from others: If anyone says something, or does anything, that is especially hostile or obviously untrue; this is probably coming from a misanthropic individual.
In Walden, the author, Henry David Thoreau, describes his misanthropic and solitary life in the woods, where he lived alone, at least a mile away from any neighbor and had a quiet and independent life.
misanthropical ( adjective ), more misanthropical, most misanthropical
1. A reference to having a hatred of people as a rule: Some children have had very disturbing experiences with their parents, not knowing when to trust them nor to believe what they have said, because their actions have often proven to be the opposite; so, it certainly wouldn’t be surprising if such young people decide to lead misanthropical lives.
2. Characterized by believing the worst about human nature and motives: As a misanthropical person, Burton usually stayed away from people as much as possible; so, he only left his apartment to go shopping for necessities very early in the morning and he earned a living by working with his computer at home instead of associating with others at a job site.
misanthropically ( adverb ), more misanthropically, most misanthropically
Conveying an animosity for, or aversion to, all mankind or people: Jerome is misanthropically avoiding everyone by hiding in a cave and surviving on whatever he can find in the forest to eat because he doesn't want anything to do with any other person.
misanthropism (s) ( noun ), misanthropisms (pl)
A significant lack of respect or regard for the human species: There are some individuals who have misanthropisms for other inhabitants of this world as indicated by the multitudes of cruelties we keep hearing about in the news.
misanthropist (mis AN thruh pist; miz AN thruh pist) (s) ( noun ), misanthropists (pl)
A strong pessimistic distrust of humans as expressed in thoughts and behaviors: As a misanthropist, the elderly lady preferred to be surrounded by her cats and had very little to do with people.
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Which American actor founded his own martial art style called Chun Kuk Do? | Expanding the Role of Ethics in Legal Education - Resources - More - Focus Areas - Markkula Center for Applied Ethics - Santa Clara University
Markkula Center for Applied Ethics
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Expanding the Role of Ethics in Legal Education
Expanding the Role of Ethics in Legal Education
Deborah Rhode
From an Ethics at Noon presentation given at Santa Clara University on Jan. 17, 2002, part of the 2001-2002 Markkula Ethics Center Lecture Series. This article draws on the first chapter of Deborah Rhode's recently published book, In the Interests of Justice: Reforming the Legal Profession (Oxford University Press, 2000).
If a medievalist were drawing a map of contemporary debates on legal scholarship, "professionalism" would be at the edge of the earth, marked off with lions and tigers and warnings to venture no further. What Robert Gordon described as declension rhetoric (the decline of profession into business) is a swamp of soggy lamentations, war-weary cliches and mixed metaphors far worse than the one I just constructed.
For a considerable period I shared Monroe Friedman's view that the only solution was a professionalism non-proliferation treaty. But as so often happens in our line of work, one thing led to another. And despite my best instincts of intellectual self-respect, I found myself lapsing into the genre.
What set me off was a mix of frustration as a policy critic and curiosity as a cultural anthropologist about the mismatch between how the public views the problems of the legal profession and how the profession views itself.
Lawyers belong to a profession permanently in decline. Or so it appears from the chronic laments by critics within and outside the bar. If ever there was a true fall from grace it must have occurred quite early in the profession's history, since similar comments have been traced for centuries.
Given this historical context, it is tempting to discount the recent chorus of complaints about the profession as familiar variations on familiar themes. But while the novelty of recent critiques should not be overstated, their significance should not be undervalued. Discontent with legal practice is increasingly pervasive and is driven by structural factors that are widening the distance between professional ideals and professional practice. Yet what is most disheartening about the profession's current plight is the gap between the bar's and the public's perception of the problem, and the failure of both groups to confront its underlying causes and the need for structural solutions.
Let me say a word about the problem from the public perspective and the problem from the profession's perspective. What the public doesn't like about lawyers could fill a lengthy list. Although the rank order of grievances shifts somewhat over time, certain continuities persist. Recent survey data, together with the critiques and caricatures that most often surface in popular culture, raise two primary concerns. The first involves character defects associated with lawyers. Three-fifths of Americans think lawyers are greedy, and only one-fifth think either "honest and ethical" or "caring and compassionate" describe most lawyers. These views are well captured in anti-lawyer humor, quips such as "a lawyer is a learned gentleman who rescues your estate from your enemies and keeps it for himself," or "How do you know when a lawyer is lying? His lips are moving."
A second set of complaints involves problems in the advocate's role and problems in the adversary system for which lawyers are held responsible. Two-thirds of surveyed Americans believe that attorneys are no longer "seekers of justice," and a quarter believe that they inappropriately "manipulate the legal system without regard to right or wrong." Everyone hears tales of disputes that are too big for courts, disputes that are too small, and disputes that should never have been disputes at all. At one end of the spectrum are the legal stegosauri that can amble on for decades, leaving in their paths endless paper trails and exorbitant legal bills. At the other extreme are the "trivial pursuits": football fans suing referees, suitors suing dates, or beauty contestants suing each other. About half of surveyed individuals blame lawyers for filing too many lawsuits, and three quarters believe that the United States has too many lawyers. The most mean-spirited anti-lawyer humor endlessly replays these themes. "Why does New Jersey have so many toxic waste dumps and California have so many lawyers? New Jersey got first choice."
From the public's vantage, problems in the legal system frequently are of the profession's own making. Members of the bar working as lobbyists, legislators and judges have created a structure that seems far too complex, expensive, and open to abuse. As newspaper columnist Art Buchwald once put it, "It isn't the bad lawyers who are screwing up the justice system in this country--it's the good lawyers."
Problems with the Problem as the Public Sees It
For many lawyers, these public perceptions have been a source of longstanding frustration. When asked to identify the most important problems facing the profession, lawyers consistently have put public image and credibility at the top of the list. Yet when confronted with specific complaints, attorneys' response typically has alternated between irritation and resignation. From their vantage, popular perceptions seem unfair and uninformed, largely a result of bad press. But the bar's own commissioned research suggests a more complicated picture. Most Americans have had direct contact with attorneys. Three quarters of the public have retained lawyers and half have had some dealings with them on a more than occasional basis. Moreover, the individuals most likely to have negative impressions of attorneys are those with the most knowledge and personal experience. Corporate clients are among lawyers' harshest critics. By contrast, those who know relatively little about the legal profession and the legal system, and who get their information primarily from television, have the most favorable impressions. Contrary to widespread perceptions, televised portraits are overwhelmingly favorable.
While lawyers are probably right that newspaper coverage is skewed in the opposite direction, much of the adverse press coverage is consistent with people's personal experience. The problem, in short, is more with the reality of lawyering than its image.
Yet finding solutions is more difficult than the public typically acknowledges. A large part of popular dislike of lawyers stems from aspects of the legal system that are not readily changed. Indeed some discontent is endemic to any system of dispute resolution. The contexts in which people encounter the profession are often unpleasant: divorce, bankruptcies, personal injuries, or contractual disputes. This unpleasantness inevitably affects perceptions of lawyers who are profiting from others' miseries. Attorneys are also the messengers of unwelcome messages about the law, so they readily become scapegoats when the justice system fails to deliver justice as participants perceive it.
America's adversarial system compounds popular frustration. Litigation is rarely a win-win enterprise and losers are apt to put some of the blame on lawyers. The targets of resentment are not, however, only-or even primarily-the parties' own attorneys. Between two-thirds and three-quarters of surveyed individuals are satisfied with their lawyers. The public's major grievances involve perceived abuses by other peoples' lawyers and a system that fails to prevent them. As one columnist notes, "Everyone would hate doctors, too, if every time you went in the hospital, your doctor was trying to take your appendix out, and the other guy's doctor was standing right there trying to put it back in."
It is, however, by no means clear that the public would prefer a substantially different structure in which lawyers played a substantially different role. In fact, Americans are ambivalent. Much of what people dislike about opposing counsel is what they value in their own. One of the most positive traits that the public associates with lawyers is that their first priority is loyalty to their clients. Yet one of the most negative traits is lawyers' willingness to manipulate the system on behalf of clients without regard to right or wrong. People hate a hired gun until they need one themselves.
The public is similarly conflicted about the tension between money and justice. Americans dislike the fact that lawyers are for sale and that law is accessible only to those who can afford it. But Americans also dislike efforts to remedy that imbalance. Justice is what we proclaim on courthouse entrances, not in redistributive policies. Over three-quarters of the legal needs of low-income households remain unmet. As one Denver legal aid attorney observes, "The only thing less popular than a poor person these days is a poor person with a lawyer."
Although part of the public's discontent with lawyers reflects misplaced or displaced frustrations, not all of its complaints should be so readily dismissed. Many criticisms of professional conduct and regulatory processes have a strong basis in fact. On matters such as excessive fees, unresponsive disciplinary structures, and overly broad protections of the professional monopoly, the public does not appear ambivalent, and its concerns do not seem unwarranted.
In short, on some important issues of professional regulation, the problem is not so much that the public is uninformed or undecided, but rather that it is unorganized and uninvolved. For the vast majority of Americans, such issues are not a priority. Although egregious abuses occasionally galvanize the public into action, non-lawyers seldom have sufficient incentives to organize around questions involving regulation of lawyers. By contrast, the legal profession has every incentive to pursue regulatory concerns and to block initiatives that advance public interests at the expense of its own.
Yet the conditions for building a reform constituency within the profession have seldom been better. Discontent among attorneys is pervasive and increasing. A majority of lawyers report that they would choose another career if they had the decision to make over, and three-quarters would not want their children to become lawyers. The symptoms of professional malaise are also reflected in health-related difficulties. An estimated one-third of American attorneys suffer from depression or from alcohol or drug addiction--a rate three to four times that of other Americans. Although the primary sources of lawyers' discontent vary somewhat across different areas of practice and demographic groups, the most common themes involve the culture of the profession, the structure of their workplaces, and the performance of the justice system.
At the most general level, many lawyers express concern about the "decline of professionalism," which captures a range of more specific complaints. About three-quarters of surveyed lawyers believe that practitioners are more "money conscious," half think they are less civil, and a third report that they are more likely to lie than in earlier eras. A sense of decline also appears in prominent critiques of professional culture, most prominent The Lost Lawyer by Yale Law School Dean Anthony Kronman. To borrow one bar association description, it is as if lawyers are "searching for their lost wigs."
That search is bumping up against several recent developments in the market for legal services. Increases in the number of lawyers have increased the level of professional competition and diminished the force of informal community sanctions. Price consciousness among corporate clients, together with the relaxation of bar restrictions on competition within and across professions, also have intensified economic pressures in private practice, and have led to increased instability in lawyer-client relationships. As a consequence attorneys face intense pressure to serve clients short-term interests at the expense of other values.
Part of the dishonesty, incivility, and acrimony that lawyers find troubling in current practice seems driven by these profit dynamics. As Richard Posner points out, competitive markets are "no fun for most sellers." Law is not an exception and fun is not the only casualty.
Legal practice has become more competitive within as well as among law firms. Partnership means less and is harder to obtain. As the likelihood of promotion diminishes, the competition among young lawyers intensifies. Incoming associates are wined and dined, then worked to death. Most lawyers now bill over 200 hours a month, and to charge honestly at that level, they need to work about a sixty-hour week. Especially in large firms, where hourly demands are often higher, all work and no play is fast becoming the norm rather than the exception.
What loses out is not just leisure. It is also the opportunities for pro-bono service, civic involvement, and breadth of experience that build professional judgment and sustain a professional culture. So too, almost half of American attorneys feel that they don't have enough time for their families.
For women, who still assume about 70 percent of the domestic responsibilities in the average dual career household, the puritan-ethic-run-amok poses special difficulties. Recent reports on women's status in law firms describe, in deadening detail, the sweatshop schedules for many full-time attorneys and the glass ceilings for part-time practitioners. Female lawyers speak of not seeing their children awake for a week, of leaving their social life on perpetual hold, and of negotiating with a "very understanding" supervisor in order to work only from six a.m. to six p.m.
Those with greatest family commitments often drift off the partnership track, leaving behind a decision making structure insulated from their concerns. Such patterns help account for the persistent under-representation of women in positions of greatest professional status and reward. The problem in some of these settings is not only the quantity of work but also the quality--as Steve Gillers puts it, too much of practice is "nasty, narrow . . . relentlessly repetitive, and strangely unconnected to a dimly recollected purpose in choosing law."
This lack of larger purpose accounts for the greatest gap between expectations and experience among American lawyers. In the ABA's mid-l990s survey of career satisfaction, less than a fifth of surveyed attorneys felt that legal practice had "very well" lived up to their expectations in contributing to the social good. A quarter felt that law had "not at all" satisfied this aspiration.
There are a number of problems with the problem as the profession perceives it . One is the bar's highly selective historical memory--what Marc Galanter terms "the golden age of legal nostalgia." In fact, on certain measures of professionalism, not everything is getting worse. For some, we don't know what once it was--for example, public service and pro-bono work. For others, such as diversity and professional ethics education, the problems are clearly getting better.
It does not follow, however, that the current sense of disquiet is inappropriate or unimportant. The problems rather are that the bar's descriptions are selective and simplistic and their prescriptions are superficial and occasionally sophomoric.
The driving force of much of what lawyers dislike, but also very much like, about legal practice is money. This is an awkward fact the bar is reluctant to face. There are occasional suggestions that lawyers should rise above their baser instincts, but this approach, which theorist Stanley Fish describes as "just say no to greed," appears to have fallen somewhat short.
Although lawyers often acknowledge that money is part of the problem, they generally manage to place responsibility anywhere and everywhere else. In no context is this more apparent than law firms. Partners blame mercenary and unrealistic associates, while associates blame mercenary and unfeeling partners. In fact, there is plenty of blame to go around. Much evidence suggests that both groups overvalue income as a source of satisfaction. In private practice, too much emphasis is put on salaries at the expense of other values.
A related problem involves the tension between moral independence and more worldly rewards. Professional rhetoric tends to paper over this conflict by making a virtue out of expedience. Under prevailing norms of professional responsibility, morally independent lawyers should not choose to exercise moral independence within their professional roles. Rather, their preeminent ethical obligation is fidelity to client interests. Over the last century, the bar's codes of conduct have progressively narrowed the moral discretion that lawyers are expected to exercise once they have accepted representation. The assumption underpinning bar ethical codes is that the most effective way to discover truth and preserve rights is through an adversarial process in which lawyers have "undivided fidelity to each client's interests as the client perceives them." This assumption remains plausible only if all interests have comparable access to information and legal representation. Such conditions seldom prevail in the world that most lawyers encounter. The result is a dispiriting disjunction between current norms and traditional aspirations.
A final problem, similarly unacknowledged in professionalism debates, involves the tension between professional autonomy and public respect. While many practitioners resent the level of popular animosity toward the profession, they generally resist efforts to address its sources, or to acknowledge any tension between public accountability and professional autonomy. Rather, the assumption frequently repeated in ethical codes and professionalism discussions is that the bar's power of self-regulation serves the public interest, by helping to "maintain the legal profession's independence from government domination."
Almost never do bar leaders acknowledge the possibility that self-interest has skewed lawyers' sense of the public interest and the structure of self-regulation. Yet studies of these regulatory processes uniformly find serious flaws in their responsiveness to non-client interests and to ordinary consumer grievances. As long as lawyers resist greater public accountability, they are unlikely to win greater public confidence.
Alternatives
If lawyers are seriously committed to fostering professionalism, they first must develop a clearer sense of what it means and the tradeoffs it requires. The bar needs a vision beyond the wistful nostalgia and wishful exhortation that dominate current debates.
Although this is not the occasion for a full-scale blueprint of that alternative vision, certain guiding principles bear emphasis. These involve diversity within the profession, moral responsibilities of lawyers, access to legal services, and public accountability for professional regulation.
The first of these principles calls for adequate recognition of variation among lawyers. This is an era of "postmodern professionalism," with identities fractured along lines of personal background, substantive specialty, and practice setting. The profession needs to recognize in form what is true in fact. Lawyers with diverse backgrounds and practice contexts need different preparation and sources of guidance. Our current one-size-fits-all model of legal education and professional regulation badly needs revision; it needs more diverse regulatory and credentialing processes than ABA-approved ethical codes, admission and disciplinary structures.
In a profession that is sharply divided and scarcely disinterested, current codes end up reflecting too high a level of abstraction and too low a common denominator of conduct. A true commitment to professionalism will require supplementing codes with more specific and more demanding standards. That process is already underway, but much could be done to expand its reach. If specialized associations like the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers certified lawyers who comply with such standards, the consequence could be a more efficient market in reputation and a more effective reward structure for ethical performance. So too, if heightened conduct requirements were reinforced by courts, bar ethics committees and workplace policies, the result might be improved practice norms for much of the profession.
Adequate recognition of diversity within the profession will also require more adequate equal opportunity initiatives and more flexible workplace cultures with greater attention to quality of life issues. Lawyers have long been leaders in the national struggle for equal opportunity. The challenge remaining is for them to confront the barriers in their own profession.
A second guiding principle calls for lawyers to accept personal moral responsibility for the consequences of their professional acts. To satisfy this principle, lawyers' conduct needs consistent, disinterested, and generalizable foundations. If lawyers see themselves as officers of the court, they must accept greater obligations to pursue justice. No longer should ethical analysis be short-circuited through appeals to some idealized vision of the adversary process. Rather, attorneys need to consider the consequences of their advocacy against a realistic social backdrop in which not all interests are adequately represented.
Lawyers will, of course, differ over how to weigh the values at issue. And in some contexts, the need for a categorical rule may appropriately restrict individual attorneys' discretion. But any such rules must satisfy commonly accepted ethical principles, not just the restricted universe of client-centered concerns underlying bar ethical codes.
A third guiding principle calls for equitable access to legal services. One of the public's central concerns about lawyers and legal processes involves their expense and inaccessibility. To address those concerns, more efforts should focus on reducing the need for legal assistance, lowering the costs of services available, and expanding the reach of subsidized alternatives. Examples include procedural simplification, increased access to non-lawyers, expanded programs of pro-bono assistance, and more widely distributed legal aid.
To make these changes plausible, a final guiding principle demands greater public accountability for professional regulation. Acting under their inherent power to regulate the practice of law, courts have overvalued professional autonomy and have delegated too much of their own oversight responsibility to the organized bar. The result has been a governance structure that fails to address legitimate public concerns, particularly those involving the cost and accessibility of legal services, the protection of non-client interests, and the sanctions for unethical conduct. All too often, bar ethical codes and enforcement committees have resolved conflicts between professional and societal objectives in favor of those doing the resolving.
The term "profession" has its origins in the Latin root, "to profess" and in the European tradition of requiring members to declare their commitment to shared ideals. The American bar has maintained the form but lost the substance of that tradition. Entering lawyers may still profess to serve justice as officers of the court, but that declaration has little moral content in contemporary practice. Efforts to revive a richer sense of professionalism have foundered on the lack of consensus about what those ideals should require and how to reconcile them with more worldly interests.
In this context, it makes sense to view professionalism not as a fixed ideal but rather as an ongoing struggle. The problems facing lawyers involve not just public image, but also personal identity. The challenge is to work toward understandings of professional responsibility that are both more and less demanding. They must ask more than current codes and enforcement structures, but they must offer a vision that also seems plausible in practice. Recent debates on professionalism have suffered from overly ambitious aspirations and overly limited initiatives.
That mismatch is by no means inevitable. On matters of public interest not involving their own regulation, lawyers have been crucial in bridging the distance between ideals and institutions. By turning similar energies inward, the bar may give more substantial content to its highest traditions.
Deborah Rhode is the Ernest W. McFarland Professor of Law at Stanford University. For a list of publications by Deborah Rhode, go to http://www.law.stanford.edu/faculty/rhode/ .
Jan 17, 2002
Parts of history have been, and will always be, encrypted.
Although we want to understand (and learn from) the past, we don't owe history our secrets.
500 El Camino Real,
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The Bronze statue of David by Donatello shows David holding what in his right hand? | Donatello: David w/ Gold Guilding - RENAISSANCE MASTERS
RENAISSANCE MASTERS
“DAVID”
c. 1440’s
Donatello's masterpiece is obviously a work that sprang from a crystal-clear vision and months of meticulous construction and fastidious planning.
Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi
Ital. 1386 – December 13, 1466
Medium
Bronze Sculpture, Brown Patina with Gold Guild (posthumous casting)
1/1
Unique – At request of Italian Minister of Culture
H: 60“ x W: 32 “ w D: 22”
850 lb approx.
Donatello's David
There are so many striking and unique parts to Donatello's David; nearly everything about the statue - from the material from which it was sculpted to the subject's "clothing" - was moldbreaking in some way. Scholars and artists have studied David for centuries in an attempt to both learn more about the man behind it and to more fully discern its meaning. It's clear that there are no accidental compositional elements to David.
Donatello was commissioned to carve a statue of David in 1408. The commission came from the operai of the cathedral of Florence, who intended to decorate the buttresses of the tribunes of the cathedral with 12 statues of prophets. Nanni di Banco was commissioned to carve a marble statue of Isaiah, at the same scale, in the same year. One of the statues was lifted into place in 1409, but was found to be too small to be easily visible from the ground and was taken down; both statues then languished in the workshop of the opera for several years. In 1416 the Signoria of Florence commanded that the David be sent to their palazzo; evidently the young David was seen as an effective political symbol, as well as a religious hero. Donatello was asked to make some adjustments to the statue (perhaps to make him look less like a prophet), and a pedestal with an inscription was made for it: PRO PATRIA FORTITER DIMICANTIBUS ETIAM ADVERSUS TERRIBILISSIMOS HOSTES DII PRAESTANT AUXILIUM (To those who fight bravely for the fatherland the gods lend aid even against the most terrible foes). [
The Bronze David
Donatello's bronze statue of David (circa 1440s) is famous as the first unsupported standing work of bronze cast during the Renaissance, and the first freestanding nude male sculpture made since antiquity. It depicts David with an enigmatic smile, posed with his foot on Goliath's severed head just after defeating the giant. The youth is completely naked, apart from alaurel-topped hat and boots, bearing the sword of Goliath.
The Minister of Culture of Italy asked
Ferdinando Marinelli to take a mould
from the original Donatello David
(foreground pedestal)
and make an Original Bronze
1/1 with gold gilding
traces were discovered
gracing the original.
This piece was requested by the Medici family to be placed in the center of the courtyard of the Medici Palace in Florence. This daring move showed that the Medici family thought that they could take ownership of David, a symbol of the city of Florence. Because this was such a scandalous idea at the time, Donatello put some shifts on the subject matter that could explain away the identity of David as "just another sculpture". Goliath's helmet has a feather protruding that can be seen as attached to David's foot, and thus characterized as Hermes, the Greek god. The David also has slight breasts which could classify him as a woman if seen from the side where his leg is blocking his testicles. The Medici were exiled from Florence in 1494, and the statue was moved to the courtyard of the Palazzo della Signoria (the marble David was already in the palazzo). It was moved to the Pitti Palace in the 17th century, to the Uffizi in 1777, and then finally, in 1865, to the Bargello museum, where it remains today.
Left side of Donatello's David
According to Vasari, the statue stood on a column designed by Desiderio da Settignano in the middle of the courtyard of the Palazzo Medici; an inscription seems to have explained the statue's significance as a political monument. Giorgio Vasari, Le Vite..., ed. G. Milanesi, Florence, 1878–1885, III, 108. A quattrocento manuscript containing the text of the inscription is probably an earlier reference to the statue; unfortunately the manuscript is not dated. Although a political meaning for the statue is widely accepted, exactly what that meaning is has been a matter of considerable debate among scholars.
Most scholars assume the statue was commissioned by Cosimo de' Medici, but the date of its creation is unknown and widely disputed; suggested dates vary from the 1420s to the 1460s (Donatello died in 1466), with the majority opinion recently falling in the 1440s, when the new Medici Palace designed by Michelozzo was under construction. The iconography of the bronze David follows that of the marble David: a young hero stands with sword in hand, the decapitated head of his enemy at his feet. Visually, however, this statue is startlingly different. David is both physically delicate and remarkably effeminate. The head has been said to have been inspired by classical sculptures of Antinous, a favorite of Hadrian renowned for his beauty.
The statue's physique, contrasted with the absurdly large sword in hand, shows that David has overcome Goliath not by physical prowess, but through God. However, the intention of Donatello is still debated among scholars. The boy's nakedness further implies the idea of the presence of God, contrasting the youth with the heavily-armored giant. David is presented uncircumcised, which is generally customary for male nudes in Italian Renaissance art.
The Biblical Text
The story of David and Goliath comes from 1 Samuel 17. The Israelites are fighting the Philistines, whose best warrior – Goliath – repeatedly offers to meet the Israelites' best warrior in man-to-man combat to decide the whole battle. None of the trained Israelite soldiers are brave enough to fight the giant Goliath, until David – a shepherd boy who is too young to be a soldier – accepts the challenge. Saul, the Israelite leader, offers David armor and weapons, but the boy is untrained and refuses them. Instead, he goes out with his sling, and confronts the enemy. He hits Goliath in the head with a stone, knocking the giant down, and then grabs Goliath's sword and cuts off his head. The Philistines honorably retired as pacted and the Israelites are saved. David's special strength comes from God, and the story illustrates the triumph of good over evil.
Controversary
There are no indications of contemporary responses to the David, however the fact that the statue was not placed in the town hall of Florence in the 1490s indicates that it was viewed as controversial. In the early 16th century, the Herald of the Signoria mentioned the sculpture in a way that suggested there was something unsettling about it: "The David in the courtyard is not a perfect figure because its right leg is tasteless." By mid-century Vasari was describing the statue as so naturalistic that it must have been made from life. However, among 20th- and 21st-century art historians there has been considerable controversy about how to interpret it. Some scholars believed that viewers also became engrossed in distinct achievement and stressed life in this world, as divergent to preparation for afterlife.
While the Bible describes David as a beautiful youth, and we can accept a classical basis for the pose and the nudity of the statue (Greco-Roman heroes were typically portrayed as nude males standing in contrapposto), there are nevertheless several disconcerting elements to Donatello's David. David's pose is languid and his expression dreamy, neither of which seems to express the narrative moment. A pre-pubescent boy could not be expected to have the muscular development of an adult, but the softness of his body and the emphasis on his lower stomach strike most viewers as surprisingly effeminate. The nudity can be explained by David's refusal to wear armor in his confrontation with Goliath, as well as by references to classical heroes, but the fact that he wears a hat and boots makes no sense in terms of either the Biblical narrative or the classical connection and tends to make his lack of clothing seem strange. He places his left foot on Goliath's head; on the one hand, this pose allows Donatello to connect David more strongly to his fallen foe than he did in the marble version.
On the other hand, there's something disturbing about the way the beard on the decapitated head curls around David's sandaled foot. Goliath is wearing a winged helmet. David's right foot stands firmly on the short right wing, while the left wing, considerably longer, works its way up his right leg to his groin.
The strangeness of the figure has been interpreted in a variety of ways. One has been to suggest that Donatello was homosexual and that he was expressing that sexual attitude through this statue. A second is to suggest that the work refers to homosocial values in Florentine society without expressing Donatello's personal tendencies. During Classical antiquity, homosexuality had been something that was practiced regularly, and men believed that they could only achieve great love with other men. However, during the time of the Renaissance, when the statue was created, sodomy was illegal, and over 14,000 people had been tried in Florence for this crime. So this homosexual implication was very risky and dangerous. A third interpretation is that David represents Donatello's effort to create a unique version of the male nude, to exercise artistic license rather than copy the classical models that had thus far been the sources for the depiction of the male nude in Renaissance art. What is certain in this statue is that Donatello has not followed any traditions, and the representation is far from bland.
| goliath s sword |
What is the surname of Carrie in Steven King’s novel ‘Carrie’? | Statue of David
Statue of David
Michelangelo's Sculpture Is World Famous, Yet
There's More Than One David in Florence...
The Statue of David by Michelangelo at the Accademia Gallery is just one of the famous Davids in Florence.
Many artists have created their likeness of the biblical hero, one of the main symbols of Florence.
Read here about the David's that came before (and after) Michelangelo's.
Knowing the differences and the similarities between the statues, and how each great work fed off the others will enrich your experience of seeing these unique Renaissance sculptures.
Who Was David?
The Philistine army was fighting the Israelis.
A giant, Goliath, was part of the Philistine army and the Israelis were terrified of him.
David was a young boy – not part of the army – but who was nearby.
He saw how Goliath taunted and mocked the Israeli soldiers and he got angry.
David volunteered to fight the giant.
Not being a soldier, David wasn’t familiar with armor or weapons, and refused both.
He went with his simple tunic and slingshot.
David felt that his people were in the right and God would protect him – justice would prevail in spite of the weapons that the Philistine giant had.
With one shot of his sling, he got a stone to pierce Goliath’s head, the giant collapsed, and David then took Goliath’s sword and cut off the giant’s head.
The Connection Between David and Florence
Ever since Renaissance times, Florence has seen David as an emblem of the city.
David’s strength, courage and youthful confidence were the image that Florence wanted to project.
In the 1500’s Florence had regained its status as a republic. David symbolized the city’s independence from outside domination, both foreigners and the aristocracy.
Like Florence, David turns out to be more powerful than he looks.
Standing guard outside the government offices, the statue is also a reminder of the example to follow: defend boldly and lead justly.
The statue of David by Michelangelo
Michelangelo’s statue of David has become practically a synonym for Florence.
The making of this famous sculpture had a difficult history.
The marble block that Michelangelo used to make the David had been sitting in the courtyard of today’s Museum of the Works of the Duomo for over 20 years.
Two other artists had previously tried to satisfy the Wool Guild's request for a gigantic David, but had found the quality of the marble poor and the massive size too difficult to work with and had given up.
So, the partially chiselled mass lay abandoned and exposed to the elements while the commissioners kept hoping to find another sculptor who could make something of it.
Michelangelo thought he could do it, and took on the job.
He started in 1501 and three years later, on 24 June 1503 (the holiday celebrating the patron saint of Florence, St. John the Baptist) Michelangelo’s outdoor workshop was opened to the public.
Like Donatello’s marble David, the sculpture was originally meant to stand on one of the pedestals near the cupola of the Duomo.
However, whereas Donatello’s David was considered too small to be seen from the ground, Michelangelo’s statue was considered too great to be ‘hidden away’ in such a spot.
It was clear right away that the David was far too special to be put high up on a church buttress.
The picture below shows how this would have looked.
A committee was formed to decide the most suitable location to put the masterpiece.
The committe was made up of Florence's most authoritative citizens, including fellow artists.
It was decided to put the David in front of the main entrance to the town hall.
A funny note: Leonard da Vinci was on the committee to choose the best place to put the David.
Rather than at the entrance to the building, he suggested a niche on the side of the Loggia – a much more concealed spot.
This is considered an apparent case of artistic jealousy between the two geniuses, who supposedly weren't bosom buddies.
One of the most notable and unique aspects of Michelangelo's David was that the artist had broken away from his predecessors.
Michelangelo was the first artist to depict David getting ready to fling his slingshot, rather than after having defeated the giant.
As a result, this is the only Renaissance David that doesn’t include the severed head of Goliath.
This choice by Michelangelo would influence later depictions of David.
One example is the 17th century sculptor Bernini whose statue of David (below) also shows the hero ‘before the fact’.
Moreover, Michelangelo’s statue of David seems to have a deeper meaning than the others.
His hero abounds in both intellect and strength: his eyes squint ever so much in concentration, his mind is calm and deeply focused and there is perfect harmony between David’s muscles and the power they exude.
This David seems to represent more than just the one battle, just the one historic moment.
Some say that Michelangelo wanted to express his vision of modern man, or the man of the future even.
Just like David, he seems to be saying that man is master of his own fate, capable – through his God given gifts – of previously unthought-of accomplishments.
Michelangelo's David can be seen at the Accademia Gallery.
The First David by Donatello
Donatello was the first Renaissance sculptor commissioned to make a statue of David in 1408.
This David was sculpted in marble and is quite traditional.
The young hero is seen from the front, dressed in robes, with the head of Goliath victoriously at his feet.
The statue is more-or-less life sized at just over 6 feet.
David is seen in the conventional posture of a triumphant youth with classical features similar to sculptures found in ancient Greece or Rome.
The work was commissioned by the Operai (literally, ‘workers’) of the cathedral who were in charge of the art work in the basilica.
The original idea was to have statues of biblical figures placed on the ledges around the terrace of the Duomo.
Once the statues were placed on the buttresses though, they turned out to be too small to be seen from the ground and were removed.
In 1416 the government of Florence (the Signoria) requested that the David, which had not found a ‘home’ yet, be displayed in Palazzo Vecchio , the town hall.
David had already acquired political meaning for the city of Florence.
Donatello’s Second Statue of David
Made in the 1440’s, this statue was cast in bronze and stands at just over 5 feet.
This second David couldn’t be more different from his first.
To begin with, the boy is completely naked, except for – of all things – a stylish wide-brimmed hat (or helmet) with a floral arrangement on top, and a pair of boots tight to the calves.
This is a bizarre get-up that scholars still have a hard time explaining.
It’s been described as ‘David with a fetish’ by some.
Then, David – although certainly a hero – does not give off the aura of strength or virility.
In fact, he’s quite effeminate.
His hand is on his hip which is pushed out to the right in an almost flirty pose.
There’s also his expression: it doesn’t seem fitting for the occasion.
He has a far-off look, a wistful air about him, in contrast to a young man who has just slain a giant, sword still in hand and head at his feet.
His lack of muscles and visible power could be seen as consistent with the age of a very young boy, although his slight paunch in the belly seem to, undoubtedly, be making an effeminate reference.
This is also the only statue of David that depicts the hero with long hair hanging way down his back in ringlets.
Some think Donatello meant his David to be homosexual, although there is no factual evidence to back up this theory.
The most widely accepted explanation for such an original take on the figure of David by Donatello is that the artist merely wanted to break away from all classical and traditional ideas of the male nude.
Like all great creative minds, he was an innovator.
And the result is sublime.
This statue of David was likely commissioned by the Medici.
The sculpture was in the courtyard of their home and was later sold by the family to the Signoria of the town hall.
Both of Donatello’s Davids are on display at the Bargello museum .
The statue of David by Verrocchio
Verrocchio was a Renaissance artist who, for most of his life, worked for the Medici.
He had an even more famous Renaissance artist as a pupil in his Florence workshop, namely Leonardo Da Vinci.
It has been said, in fact, that it was the young and handsome Leonardo who was the model for Verrocchio’s David.
Verrocchio’s David (circa 1475) is a delicate bronze statue that is just over 4 feet tall.
This statue was also commissioned by the Medici.
Verrocchio’s David is clothed in a sort of tunic.
One original touch that Verrocchio added was to put gold paint to the trim of David’s clothes and the waves in his hair.
The head of Goliath is not a part of the whole statue, but was cast on its own and is a separate piece placed at the feet of the boy.
Donatello’s David clearly inspired Verrocchio’s, although not in anti-conventionality.
They’re both in bronze, both Davids have their left arm bent and leaning on their hip, and both have the head of Goliath at their feet.
Both boys are holding Goliath’s sword in their right hand.
They differ in that Verrocchio’s statue of David is modestly dressed whereas Donatello’s is bold and brash in his nudity.
They both have a slight smirk, typical of adolescent swaggering.
Where Donatello’s depiction is cheekily unique in its beauty, Verrocchio’s is traditionally and poetically striking.
Verrocchio’s statue of David can also be seen at the Bargello Museum.
Sculpting a Bronze Statue
I highly recommend that you go to see Donatello's and Verrocchio's Davids.
(I'm taking it for granted that you are going to go to the Accademia Gallery to see Michelangelo's statue)
If you do, you might find yourself wondering how an artist can 'sculpt' something in bronze, a metal.
It's certainly not like chiseling into clay, plaster or marble, right?
The answer is, you don’t.
You sculpt into wax.
First the artist builds a sort of skeletal ‘base’ made of metal rods and clay that has more or less the shape and size that the final statue will have, but not the details.
On top of this sturdy foundation, a thin layer of wax is spread and the artist sculpts the details into this material.
Then, the wax original is covered in soft plaster.
When the plaster is hardened, holes are put into it and the wax inside is heated, until it melts away (really melts OUT of the plaster cast, passing through holes).
Once the plaster cast is hollowed, the molten bronze can be poured into it.
The liquid bronze fills the nooks and crannies left by the now-gone wax.
Once it’s cooled and hardened, the plaster outside is removed, and voila!
The statue of David by Donatello and Verrocchio were made using this 'lost wax' method.
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Which country was the first to have a woman elected Head of State? | Woman Heads of State and Government
Woman Premier Ministers of External Territories
17.12.1917-09.03.1918 Acting Head of the Government Evheniya Bohdanivna Bosch, Ukraine
Евгения Богдановна Бош, Yevgeniya Bogdanovna Bosh, or Yevheniya Bohdanivna Bosh was People's Commissioner of Inteir, and it was regulated by a number of documents that the holder of this office was the Acting Head of the Executive Power. She had been a socialist activist from 1890s, Head of the Kyiv Committee of the Russian Social Democratic Worker�s Party (RSDRP) 1911-12 until she was imprisoned and a deprived of civil rights and exiled to Siberia for life. After the revolution she became Secretary of Regional Committee of RSDRP(B). She resigned from the government in protest to the Brest-Litovsk Peace, according to which Soviet Russia occupied Ukraine. Afterwards she worked on different party and Soviet posts outside Ukraine. When the pain of her disease became unbearable, she committed suicide. She was of German-Jewish origin, and she originally named Gotlibovna Maysh, and lived (1879-1925).
06.04.1940-11.10.1944 Head of State Khertek Anchimaa-Toka, Peoplenids Republic of Tannu Tuva
As Chairperson of the Presidium of the Parliament, the Little H�ral, Khertek Amyrbitovna was the Head of the state which became Independent in 1921, a People's Republic in 1926, was incoroprated into the Soviet Union in 1944. She had held various jobs in local administration and the party administration, Chairperson of the Women Department of the Central Committee of the Tuvinian People's Revolutionary Party 1938-1940. Married to the First Secretary of the TPRP, Salchak Kalbakkhorekovich Toka in 1940, Deputy Chairperson of Oblast Executive Committee 1944-1961 and Deputy Chairperson of the Council of Ministers of Tuva 1961-1972. She lived (1912-2008).
21.07.1960-27.03.1965 Prime Minister Sirimavo Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike, Sri Lanka
29.05.1970-23.07.1977 Prime Minister
14.11.1994-10.8.2000 Prime Minister
Chairperson 1960-93 and 1993-2000 President of Sri Lanka Freedom Party, 1965-70 and 1988-94 Leader of The Opposition, 1976 Chairperson of the Association of Non Aligned Nations. As Prime Minister, she also held the posts as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Defence, Finance etc, and before her appointment to Prime Minister in 1994, she was Senior Minister without Portfolio (Second in Cabinet) in her daughter, Chandrika's cabinet. She was the widow of Solomon B., Premier of Ceylon 1956-59 until he was assassinated. Her father Mr. Ratwatte was a Senator. She is mother of three children. She lived (1916-2000).
19.01.1966-24.03.1977 Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, India
14.01.1980-31.10.1984 (�) Prime Minister
President 1959-60 and 1966-77 Leader of the Congress Party. She was Minister of Information 1964-66 and member of Rajya Sabha 1964-67 and of Lok Sabha 1967-77, 1978 and 1980-84. In 1975 she declared a stated of emergency and ruled as a dictator. She lost the 1977-elections and imprisoned. After her release she was leader of Congress (I) 1978-84 and as Premier she also held posts of Minister of Foreign Affairs, Defence, Finance, Home Affairs etc. Killed by Sikh bodyguard. She was daughter of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru (1947-64(�)), married to Feroze Gandhi in 1942. Her younger son Rajiv Ghandi, was Prime Minister (1984-89(�)). She lived (1917-84).
31.10.1968-24.02.1972 Acting Head of State Song Qingling, China
06.07.1976-05.03.78 Joint Acting Head of State
1979-1980 "Honorary President"
Born into a rich Christian family, she was educated in the USA. In 1927-29 Member of Government Council, 1929-49 Leader of Opposition against her brother-in-Law President Chiang Kai-chek and 1948 Honorary Chairperson of the Kuomintang, 1949-54 Deputy Premier Minister, 1954-59 Vice-Chairperson of The Peoples' Republic (Deputy Head of State), 1954-76 and 1975-78 Vice-Chairperson of the National People�s Congress, Vice-Chairperson of China People�s Consultative Consultative Conference, CPPCC. In 1968-74 the Post of Chair of the Republic was vacant and she and the other Vice-Chairperson, Dong Biw shared the Presidential Powers. In 1976 the Chairman of the NPC died and the 21 vice-chairmen, including Song, acted as collective heads of state until 1978 when a replacement was elected. 1980 she was Chairperson of the 3rd Session of the National People�s Congress. Soong Qingling was widow of Sun Yat-Sen, Provisoric President of China in 1911. Her sister Soong May-ling (b. 1897) played a crucial role as wife of Chiang Kai-chek, President of China till 1945 and of Taiwan 1945-75. And her brother, T. V. Soong, was Premier Minister in Taiwan. A third sister was a business magnate. She lived (1893-1981).
17.03.1969-10.04.1974 Minister President Golda Me�r, Israel
Ambassador to USSR 1948-49, Minister of Labour 1949-56 and Minister of Foreign Affairs 1956-64, 1964-69 Secretary General and 1969-74 Leader of Labour. When she became Foreign Minister her last name was hebrewnized. She was born in Russia as Golda Mabovic and later immigrated to USA. Mother of two children and she lived (1898-1978)
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01.07.1974- 24.03.1976 Executive President Maria Estella Mart�nez de Per�n, Argentina
Isabel Peron was Vice-President and President of the Senate 1973-74. As Executive President she was also head of the Cabinet. Chairperson of Partido Justicial, The Peronist party 1974-85, removed by a coup d'etat and in Prison 1976-78, Exile in Spain 1981-93. She was married to General Juan Peron, who was President two times. (b. 1931-).
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As Premier Minister she was also Deputy Head of State and acted as President on occasions when President Bokassa was abroad. Also vice-President of the ruling Social Evolution Movement of Black Africa (MESAN) 1975-79. She criticized the plans of her cousin, Jean Bedel Bokassa, who had been chief of state since 1966, who wanted to become emperor, and in effect he sacked her. After his fall from power in 1979 she was imprisoned and tried in February 1980. She later became an influential businesswoman in Bangui, Married to the chief of the Mobaye Canton-Mayorship. She lived (1925-2005).
...08-1977-...09.1977 Minister President Lucinda E. da Costa Gomez-Matheeuws, The Netherlands Antilles (Self Governing Dutch External Territory)
Minister of Health and Environment, Welfare, Youth, Sports, Culture and Recreation 1970-77 and in 1977 Minister Presidente and Minister of General Affairs. She was also Vice-President of The Nationale Volkspartij 1971-76 and around 1995 Member of the Raad van Advies, the Council of Advisors. She is the widow of Dr. M.F. da Costa Gomez (1907-66), Premier of the state 1951-54. (b.1929-).
03.05.1979-22.11.1990 Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, United Kingdom of Great Britain
MP 1959-90, Parliamentary Secretary of Pensions and National Insurance 1961-64, Secretary of State of Education 1970-74, Shadow Minister of Environment and Housing 1974-75, Shadow Special Minister of Finance and Public Expenditure 1975, Leader of The Conservative Party 1975-90, Leader of Her Majesty's Opposition 1975-79. As Prime Minister she was also First Lord of the Treasury and Minister of the Civil Service. In 1990 she was Created Baroness Thatcher of Kestaven and became a member of the House of Lords. Mother of twins. She lived (1925-2013).
01.08.1979-3.01.1980 President of the Council of Ministers Dr. Maria de Lourdes Ruivo da Silva de Matos Pintasilgo, Portugal
Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo was Secretary of State of Social Affairs 1974, Ambassador to UNESCO 1975-79, Minister of Social Affairs 1974-75, Member of Council of State 1979-86 and Presidential Candidate in 1986. Member of the European Parliament
1979-86. Unmarried. She lived (1930-2004)
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17.11.1979-18.07.1980 Interim Executive President Lidia Gueiler Tejada, Bolivia
As President she was also Head of the Cabinet. Lidia Gueiler was member of Parliament 1956-64 and afterwards in exile for 15 years. Circa 1978 Subsecretary for Agriculture, 1978 President of Camera de Diputados. Acting President of the Congress and acting Deputy Head of State 1978-79.She was President of Partido Revolucionario de los Izquierda Nazional Gueiler 1979-94, Exile in France 1980-82, Ambassador in Embassy to West Germany 1982-83, and to Venezuela 1983-86 and since 1993 She was deposed by the 129th Coup d�etat in the history of Bolivia, shortly before elections was due. She lived (1921-2011).
21.07.1980-14.06.1995 Prime Minister Dame M. Eugenia Charles, Dominica
Leader of Dominican Liberty Party 1964-94 and 1974-80 Leader of the Opposition. During her tenure as Premier she was also Minister of External Affairs, Finance, Trade and Industry, Defence, Minister of Information and Public Relations. In 1992 she was Knighted by Queen Elizabeth of the United Kingdom, the former Head of State of Domenica. Unmarried and lived (1916-2005)
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01.08.1980-01.08.1996 President Vigd�s Finnbogad�ttir, Iceland
In 1972-80 Director of Iceland�s National Theatre was the world�s first democratically elected female President. Since 1996 she has been involved in a wide range of international humanitarian and cultural organizations. She was a divorcee and mother of an adopted a daughter. (b.1930-)
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04.02.1981-14.10.1981 Minister of State Gro Harlem Brundtland, Norway
09.05.1986-16.10.1989 Minister of State
30.11.1990-25.10.1996 Minister of State
Minister of Environmental Protection 1974-79, Deputy Leader 1975-81, Deputy Parliamentary Leader1980-81, Leader 1981-93 and Parliamentary Leader, Parliamentary Leader of Arbeiderpartiet, Labour, 1980-81 and 1989-90 Chairperson of the Foreign and 1989-90 of the Finance Committees, From 1998 Director General of the World Health Organization, WHO, and Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations. A medical doctor, daughter of Gudmond Harlem (1917-88) a former Minister and mother of 4 children. (b. 1939-).
01.04.1981-01.10.1981 Captain Regent Maria Lea Pedini Angelini, San Marino
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Commissioner of Belize City 1970-77
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14.05.1984-29.01.1990 Governor General The Rt. Hon. Jeanne Sauv�, Canada
Minister of State of Science 1972, 1974-75 Minister of Environment, 1975-79 Minister of Communication and Culture and 1980-84 Speaker of the House of Commons. She lived (1922-93).
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Member of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde (PAIGC) since 1962 and later Political Commissioner for the Southern Front, and only female member of the 24 members Committee Executivo da Luta (CEL). In 1973-84 Deputy President of Assembl�ia Nacional Popular, 1975-80 President of the Parliament of Cap Verde (which was in union with Guinea Bissau at the time) 1981-83 Minister of Health and Social Affairs 1984-89 President of Assembl�ia Nacional Popular, 1989-94 Member the Council of State and 1990-91 Minister of State (Deputy Premier) for Social Affairs. She acted as head of state after Jo�o Bernardo Viera, Head of state since 1980, was elected President in 1984. In 1999 he was deposed after a military coup d�etat.
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17.051988-25.12.1993 Minister President
Health Councillor 1977-78 and Lieutenant-Governor of Cura�au 1982. Minister of Economy 1982-83 and 1984-86 also, Minister of General Affairs and the Interior, Health and Environment. She resigned as Premier after she had lost a referendum on the autonomy of Cura�au. She was also Chairperson of the Nationale Volkspartij/Partido Nashional de Peuplo (PNP) 1984-98 and 2002-04. (b. 1941-).
25.2.1986-30.06.1992 Executive President Maria Corazon Sumulong Cojuangco Aquino, The Philippines
Cory Aquino became leader of the opposition after the murder of her husband Ninoi Aquino in 1986, and was brought to power by the so-called "People Power", which protested about President Marcos's attempts to remain in power. She was also Head of the Cabinet. 1998 among the senior advisors of the new President Estrada. During her term in office she fought off 8 attempted coup d'etats. Constitutionally barred from running for re-election. Mother of 4 children. She lived (1933-2009).
05.10.1987-30.12.1987 Prime Minister Princess Stella Margaret Nomzamo Sigcau, Transkei (Nominally Independent Homeland in South Africa)
Minister of Education 1970-73, the Interior (Including Industry, Trade and Tourism) 1973-78, Internal Affairs 1979-81, Post and Telecommunication 1981-87, Leader Transkei National Independence Party in 1987, Minister of Public Enterprises 1994-98 and of Public Works 1998-2006 in the Government of South Africa for ANC. She was daughter of Chief Botha Jongilizwe Sigcau of East-Pontoland (1912-78) who was President of Transkei (1976-78) and the mother of four children. She lived (1937-2006).
02.12.1988-06.08.1990 Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan
19.10.1993-05.11.1996 Prime Minister
Co-Chairperson 1984-94 and Leader of Pakistan People's Party 1994-2007, in house arrest 1977-84 and in exile 1984-86. She also held the Portfolios of Defence, Atomic Energy, Finance, Economy, Information and Establishment. Both in 1990 and 1996 she was removed from office by the President on charges of corruption and later convinced. Returned to Pakistan in 2007 after 10 years in exile in United Kingdom and Dubai to contest elections in January 2008, which she was widely expected to win, but was killed by a suicide bomb in December 2007. . She was daughter of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the former President and Prime Minister, who was executed after the coup d�etat in 1979. Her three children were born in 1988, 1989 and 1993. She lived (1953-2007).
13.03.1990-07.02.1991 Acting President Ertha Pascal-Trouillot, Haiti
She was the first female High Court Judge 1986-90, and became acting President during the turbulent political situation in Haiti in a period where one Coup d�etat followed the other. Soldiers attempting a coup held her hostage on one occasion. (b. 1943-).
17.03.1990-10.01.1991 Minister President Kasimiera Prunskienė, Lithuania
Deputy Premier and Minister of Economy 1989-90 and one of the leaders of the struggle for independence. She became leader of the government after the declaration of independence at 11.3.90, which was internationally recognized at 6.9.91. In 1991 Chairperson of Democratic Party, and from 1995-2001 Chairperson of Women�s Party, 1996-2000 Group Chairperson of the independent MP�s, and Chairperson of the Peasants and New Democratic Parties Union 2001-04. Presidential Candidate in 2002, 2004 and 2009 and Minister of Agriculture 2004-08. (b. 1945-).
05.04.1990-02.10.1990 Acting Head of State Dr. Sabine Bergmann-Pohl, East-Germany
As President of the People's Chamber she was acting as the last Head of State of the German Democratic Republic, DDR/GDR before the reunification. After the reunification she was Federal Minister without Portfolio for the New Bundesstates 1990-91 and Parliamentary State Secretary of Health 1991-98. Mother of two children. (b. 1946-).
25.04.1990-10.01.1997 Executive President Violeta Barrios de Chamorro, Nicaragua
In 1979 Do�a Violeta was member of the Ruling Junta after the overthrow of the Somoza-dictatorship but left because of disagreement with the Sandinistas. 1979-90 Publisher of the opposition newspaper La Prensa after the murder of her husband, opposition leader Joaqu�n Chamorro Cardenal. As Executive President she was also Head of the Cabinet and Minister of Defence. She did not run for re-election. (b. 1929- ).
20.11.1990-21.03.1996 Governor General Dame Catherine Tizard, New Zealand
In 1983-90 Mayor of Auckland. Her daughter, Judith Tizard became a Minister in 1999. Also Commander-in-Chief and President of the Executive Council. (b. 1931-)
03.12.1990-12.09.1997 President Mary Robinson, Ireland
In 1969 she was appointed Professor of Law, 1970-90 she was Labour-senator, Assistant Secretary General and United Nations High Commissioner of Human Rights 1997-2002 and since then director of the Ethical Globalization Initiative, a new venture established to support human rights. Mother of two children. (b. 1944-).
20.03.1991-30.03.1996 Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh
01.09.2001-29.10.2006 Prime Minister
Vice-Chairperson of The Nationalist Party 1982-84 and Leader since 1984. Her husband, President Zia-ur-Rahman, was Premier Minister 1976-77 and President 1977-81 until he was assassinated. Khaleda was detained seven times during nine years of autocratic rule. In the face of mass upsurge spearheaded by the seven-party alliance, led by Khaleda, and the eight-party combine, led by Hasina, Ershad resigned in 1990 and handed over power to neutral caretaker government, bringing an end to his nine-year autocratic rule. During her first tenure as Premier she was also Minister of Defence, Establishment, Cabinet Diversion and Planning, Information Energy and Resources. 1996-2001 Leader of the Opposition. Resigned in October 2006 to prepare for the elections later in the year, but the military took power. Her sons, Tareque Rahman and Arafat Rahman Koko were arrested on corruption charges in March and April 2007, and In September the same year she was herself charged with corruption and the military supported care-taker government tried to pressure her into exile. The charges against her was dropped in 2008. (b. 1945- )
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01.10.1991-01.04.1992 Captain Regent Edda Ceccoli, San Marino
Member of the leadership of Partito Democratico Cristano Sammarinese.
15.05.1991-02.04.1992 Premier Ministre Edith Cresson, France
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, External 1981-83, Trade 1983-84, Industry 1984-86, European Affairs 1988-90. She was European Union Commissioner for Science, Research, Education and Youth 1995-99. In march 1999 she brought along the downfall of the EU-Commission as she refused the step down after a rapport had demonstrated that she was responsible of nepotism and mismanagement. (b. 1934-).
08.07.1992-26.10.1993 Minister President Hanna Suchocka, Poland
As Minister President she was also Vice-President of the National Security Council. Member of Solidarity in 1980 and member of the Sejm 1982-85 and again 1989-2002 for various parties. 1991-97 member of Committee for Foreign Affairs and the Constitutional Committee. Vice-President of the Council of Europe 1991-92. In 1994 she was co-founder of the new Freedom Union (UW, liberal and social democratic) and member of it's leadership. The following year she was candidate in the party's primary for Presidential candidate, 1997-2000 Minister of Justice and Procurator-General. 1999 official Polish candidate for the office of the secretary general of the Council of Europe. Since 2002 Ambassador to the Vatican. Unmarried. (b. 1946-).
25.01.1993-15.09.1994 Premier Marita Petersen, The Faeroe Islands (F�royar/ F�r�erne) (Self Governing Danish External Territory)
A former Leader of the Teacher's Union, she was Minister of Justice, Education Culture and Church Affairs 1991-93. As Premier she was also Minister of External Relations, the Underground, Administration and Public Wages. Chairperson of the Social Democrats 1993-96, Chairperson of the L�gting (Assembly) 1994-95 and 1998-2001 substitute member of the Danish Folketing. She lived (1940-2001).
01.04.1993-01.10.1993 Captain Regent Patrizia Busignani, San Marino
1983-90 President of Partito Socialista Unitario. From around 1997 she was Chief of the Parliamentary Group of Socialisti per le Riforme
.
25.06.1993-07.03.1996 Minister President Tansu �iller, Turkey
Assistant Professor 1974-83 and 1983-90 Professor of Economics at Bosphorus University. Minister of State and Chief Economic Coordinator 1991-93, Deputy Premier and Minister of Foreign Affairs 1996-97. She was Deputy Chairperson 1990-93 and 1993-2002 Chairperson of DYP, The True Path Party. On 1.6.97 Premier Minister Erbakan, leader of the Islamic Party resigned in order with the purpose of her taking over as Premier, but President Demirel chose Meshut Yilmaz, who managed to form a government among others because of defections from her party. Mother of two children. (b. 1946-).
25.06.1993-04.11.1993 Prime Minister A. Kim Campbell, Canada
Executive Director, Office of British Columbia Premier 1985-86, Progressive Conservative MP 1988-93, Minister of State (Indian Affairs and Northern Development) 1989-90, Minister of Justice and Attorney-General 1990-93 and Minister of Defence and Minister of Veteran Affairs in 1993. As Prime Minister, 1993, she was also Minister responsible for Federal-Provincial Relations. She was leader of the Progressive Conservative party, 13.06.1993-13.12.1993, resigning after the party lost all but two seats in the House of Commons in the 1993 election in spite of gaining about 16% of the vote. She became a lecturer at Harvard University and has been Consul General of Canada in Los Angeles since 1996. Married with a stepdaughter. (b. 1947-).
10.07.1993-11.02.1994 Premier Ministre Sylvie Kinigi, Burundi
27.10.1993-05.02.94 Acting Head of State
By the time of her appointment as Premier she was Head of the Economic Planning Office in the President�s Office. During the Civil War the President was killed and as the highest ranking remaining official, she became Acting President (27.10.93-5.2.94). After her resignation she left politics and joined the Burundi�s Commercial Bank. (b. 1952-).
18.07.1993-07.05.1994 (�) Premier Ministre Agathe Uwilingiymana, Rwanda
Minister of Education from 1992 till her appointment as Premier. On the 06.05 1994 the Hutu President Habyarimana was killed together with his Burundian colleague, Cyprien Ntaryamira, when their plane was rocketed on its way to Kigali airport. Agathe, a Hutu, was killed by the Tutsi Presidential guard together with her family and 10 Belgian soldiers, the day before she was supposed to step down as Premier Minister. The two killings sparked off the civil war and genocide of approximately 1 million Hutus and Tutsies. Mother of about 6 children. She lived (1953-94)
.
25.12.1993-28.12.1993 Minister President Suzanne Camelia-R�mer, Nederlandse Antillen (Self Governing Dutch External Territory)
14.05.1998-08.12.1999 Minister President
Suzi R�mer (Suzanne Francisco Coromoto Camelia-R�mer) had been Minister of Justice since 1992 when she became acting Premier after the resignation of Mrs. Liberia-Peters. 1999-2002 Vice-Premier and Minister of Economy and the National Recovery Plan, and 1998-2002 Leader of the Partido Nashional di Pueplo (b. 1959-).
19.8.1994-14.11.1994 Prime Minister Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, Sri Lanka
14.11.1994-19.11.2005 Executive President
Vice-President 1984-86 and President of Sri Lanka Maha Jana Party 1984-86, Leader of United Socialist Alliance 1988 and since 1993 Leader of People�s Alliance and Deputy Leader of Sri Lanka Freedom Party, 1993-94 Chief Minister of the Colombo Province and in a few months in 1994 Prime Minister. As Executive President she was also Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and held the Portfolio of Defence and Finance and Planning 1994-2001 and was Minister of Defence, Information and Interior from November 2003. She is the first person in the world to be daughter of two premier ministers, Solomon and Sirivamo Bandaranaike and the first to have appointed her mother to the post of Prime Minister. Her husband politician Vijaya K. was assassinated 1988, and during the Presidential campaign in 2000 she survived an assassination-attempt but lost vision in one eye. She was not allowed to stand for re-election in 2005. She is mother of 2 children. (b. 1945-).
16.10.1994-25.01.1995 Interim Minister President Reneta Ivanova Indzhova, Bulgaria
Also know as Reneta Injova she was leader of an interim government consisting of technocrats. Her Deputy Premier, Minister of Economy and Finance was Hristina Vucheva. In 1995 she was mayoral candidate in Sofia, 2001 Presidential Candidate and the same year she became Chairperson of the Democratic Alliance. (b. 1953-).
06.06.1990-19.12.1995 (†) Governor General Dame Nita Barrow, Barbados
Head of a number of national and international nurse-organizations, North American President of the World Council of Churches 1983-91, President of the World YWCA 1975-83 and worked with the WHO before becoming Ambassador to the UN, Cuba and the Dominican Republic 1986-90, candidate for the post of UN General Assembly President in 1988. She was the sister of Errol W. Barrow (1920-87), Prime Minister 1966-76 and 1986-87. She lived (1916-95).
07.11.1995-27.02.1996 Premier Minister Claudette Werleigh, Ha�ti
An economist, she became Minister of Social Affairs 1990-91, Minister of Foreign Affairs 1993-95 and was Executive Director of the Washington Office of Haiti 1993. Later an UN official. (b. 1946- ),
23.06.1996-15.7.2001 Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed, Bangladesh
06.01.2009- Prime Minister
Her father, Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (1920-72-75), and most of her family was killed during a military coup in 1975 when she and her sister were abroard. Returned to Bangladesh in 1981, President of the Awami Leauge from 1981, Opposition Leader 1986-87 and 1991-96 and 2001-06. In 1983, she formed the 15-party alliance to launch a movement to oust General Ershad from power and was in and out of prison throughout the 1980s and was under house arrest a few times. Her party, along with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, led by Begum Khaleda Zia, was instrumental in the movement against the military rule. 2007 she was arrested on corruption and murder charges, but was allowed to go to USA for medical treatment in 2007 though the military supported care-taker government tried to pressure her into exile. Returned in November 2008 to lead her party in the election campaign, which her party won overwhelmingly. Married to the nuclear scientist Dr M. A. Wazed Miah and mother a son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and a daughter, Saima Wazed Putul, who both lives in the USA. (b. 1947- ).
19.07.1996-04.11.1998 President Biljana Plavsic, Republic of Srpska, (Bosnia-Herzegovina)
1992-94 Member of the Presidency of Bosnia-Herzegovina, 1994-96 Vice-President of Srpska. In 1998 she lost the bit for re-election as the first female incumbent President ever. 2002 she was convicted for war crimes during the Bosnian war. (b. 1930-).
03.09.1996-02.08.1997 Chairperson of the Council of State Ruth Sando Perry, Liberia
Ruth Sando Fahnbulleh Perry was a senator 1985-96. Appointed to chair the Council of State preparing the transfer to democracy after many years of civil war. From 1999 Ruth Perry was 1. Vice-Chairperson of the Organization for African Unity. She lived (1939-2017).
09.02.1997-11.02.1997 Acting Executive President Rosalia Arteaga Serrano de Fern�ndez de C�rdova, Ecuador
A former minister, she was Vice-President 1994-98 and Presidential Candidate in 1998. She was inaugurated as Acting President after her predecessor was removed from office but two days after the Congress nominated someone else. As Executive President she was also Head of the Cabinet. Presidential Candidate in 1997. (b. 1953-).
17.03.1997-22.12.1997 Prime Minister Janet Jagan, Guyana
19.12.1997-11.08.99 Executive President
As Premier Minister she also held the title of 1. Vice-President and she was Minister of Mines. Her political career started in 1950 and she held many positions. In 1997 her husband, Dr. Cheddi Bharat Jagan, died, and she was chosen to replace the Premier who succeeded Mr. Jagan as President. Janet was chosen as her party's candidate in the following Presidential elections, which she won. Afterwards she re-appointed the former President to the post of Prime Minister after being sworn in as President . She was born as Janet Rosenberg in Chicago, mother of two children and lived (1920-2009).
17.09.1997- Governor General Dame C. Pearlette Louisy, St. Lucia
Teacher, administrator, Vice-Principal and then Principal of St. Lucia's College. (b. 1946-)
11.11.1997-11.11.2011 President Mary McAleese, Ireland
Professor of Law and 1993-97 Pro-chancellor of University of Belfast, the first person from Northern Ireland to be elected President of Ireland. During the 1997-elections 5 candidates were female and there was only one token male candidates finishing a distant last. 2004 she was returned unopposed for a second term. (b. 1951-).
08.12.1997-10.12.1999 Prime Minister Jenny Shipley, New Zealand
Minister of Women's Affairs 1990-98, Social Affairs 1990-93, Minister of Health 1993-96, Transport, State Services and State-Owned Enterprises, Accident Rehabilitation and Compensation Insurance 1996-97. As Premier she was also Minister in charge of the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service. She ousted then Prime Minister Jim Bolger as leader of the National Party and after his resignation she became leader of the government. 1999-2001 she was Leader of the Opposition. Mother of two children. (b. 1952-)
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27.03.1997-10.12.1998 Premier Pamela Felicity Gordon, Bermuda (Self Governing Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom)
Parliamentary Secretary of Community Development, Culture and Youth 1992, Minister of Youth, Sport and Recreation 1992-96, Environment, Planning and National Resources 1996-97. As Premier she was also Minister of Information and Attorney General. She was former Deputy Chairperson and was elected to succeed the previous Premier after his resignation. She was Leader of the United Bermuda Party 1997-2001 and leader of the Opposition 1998-2001. (b. 1955-).
31.08.1998
-23.09.1998 Acting Prime Minister Anne Enger Lahnstein, Norway
Acting Premier during Kjell Magne Bondevik's sick leave because of stress and psychological problems. She was Deputy Leader 1983-91, Parliamentary Leader, 1989-91 and Leader of The Centre Party 1991-99. 1. Deputy to the Prime Minister and Minister of Culture of the centre-right-government 1997-99, Vice Chairperson of the Defence Committee of Stortinget 1999-2001 and Governor of �stfold since 2003. (b. 1950-).
10.12.1998-29.07.2003 Premier Jennifer Meridith Smith, Bermuda (Self Governing Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom)
Deputy Opposition Leader 1994-96, Opposition Leader 1996-98 as Leader of the Progressive Labour Party, PLP. As Premier she also held the Portfolios of Education and Human Affairs.
Her own party ousted her just three days after she led it to an historic General Election victory. (b. circa 1948-).
01.01.1999-31.12.1999 President of the Confereration Ruth Dreifuss, Switzerland
A former trade union-leader, she was Councillor of Interior in 1992-2002 and Vice-President 1998-99. (b. 1939-).
01.04.1999-01.10.1999 and 01.04.2008-01.10.2008 Captain Regent Rosa Zafferani, San Marino
Director in the Department of Finance, Budget and Programs before she was elected to the Consiglio Grande e Generale in 1998. Secretary of State of Health, Social Security and Provision 2002-04, Secretary of State of Public Education, University and Cultural Institutions from 2004 and 2005-06 also in charge of Internal Affairs. (b. 1960 in USA.
03.05.1999-10/18.05.1999 Acting Minister President Irena Degutien�, Lithuania
27.10.1999-03.11.1999 Acting Minister President
Medical Doctor, 1994-97 Vice-Minister of Health and Minister of Labour and Social Affairs 1997-2000, Deputy Speaker of the Seimas 2008-09 and from 2012, Speaker 2009-12. (b. 1949-).
17.06.1999-08.07.2007 President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, Latvia
Born in Latvia and grew up in refugee camps in Germany, went to school in French Morocco, University studies in Canada. Retired from the Universite de Montreal in 1998, after being a professor of psychology there since 1965 and involved in various scientific and administrative committees, among others as Vice-Chairperson of the Science Council of Canada. She moved to Latvia as Director of the newly created Latvian Institute in Riga. Candiate for the Post of Secretary General of the United Nations in 2006. Married to her fellow countryman, Imants Freibergs, also exiled in Canada, who moved to Latvia in October 1999. Mother of a son and a daughter. (b. 1937-)
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22.07.1999-30.07.1999 Acting Minister President Tuyaa Nyam-Osoryn, Mongolia
A former journalist and director in the Foreign Ministry, she was Minister of Foreign Affairs 1998-2000 and appointed acting Premier after her predecessor's resignation. (b. 1958-).
01.09.1999-01.09.2004 Executive President Mireya Moscoso Rodr�gez, Panama
Since 1991 President of the Arnolfist Party, 1994 Presidential Candidate. As Executive President she is also head of the Cabinet, and she is the first female President to have officially appointed a First Lady - her sister, Ruby Moscoso de Young. She was constitutionally barred from running for re-election. Mireya was first married to President Rodriguez de Arias Madrid (1901-88) who was President of Panama 1940-41, 1949-51 and 1968. Married to Mr. Gruber 1991-97 and mother of an adopted a child. (b. 1946-).
07.11.1999-27.09.2005 Governor General Adrienne Poy Clarkson, Canada
First Governor General of Asian origin. Broadcaster and Journalist, Agent-General of Ontario in Paris 1982-87. She married her longtime partner John Saul (b. 1947-) shortly before taking office. Mother of three children. Born in Hong Kong as Ng Bing Tse, which was changed to Adrienne Poy. (b. 1939-)
10.12.1999-19.11.2008 Prime Minister Helen Clark, New Zealand
MP since 1981. Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs and Defence Select Committee 1984-87, Minister of Housing and Conservation 1987-89, Deputy Premier and Minister of Labour and Health 1989-90, Deputy Leader of Labour and of the Opposition 1990-93 and Leader of Labour of the Opposition 1993-99. As Prime Minister she also held the Portfolio of Arts and Culture and Security Intelligence Service and Ministerial Services. Candidate for UN Secretary General in 2016. In 1981 she married Dr. Peter Davis. No children. (b. 1950-).
01.03.2000-01.03.2012 President Tarja Halonen, Finland
Member of Parliament 1979-2000, 1984-87 Chairperson of the Social Affairs Committee and Member of the Presidium of the Parliament, 1987-1990 Second Minister of Health and Social Affairs (Health Minister) and 1989-1991 Minister of Nordic Co-operation, 1989-91 Co-leader of Soumen Sosialidemokraattinen Pulolue, The Social Democrats. 1990-1991 Minister of Justice 1995-2000 Minister of Foreign Affairs. The position as President is very powerful - especially concerning foreign politics. Mother of one daughter. In August 2000 she married her partner trough a decade, Pentti Araj�rvi. They did not live together before they moved into the Presidential palace. Mother of one daughter. (b. 1943-)
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01.04.2000-01.10.2000 Captain Regent Maria Domenica Michelotti, San Marino
Former lecturer at San Marino University and Member of the Consiglio Grande e Generale since 1998. She is widow and her married name was Casadei Michelotti. Mother of two girls (b. 1952-).
20.01.2001-30.06.2010 Executive President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, The Philippines
As executive GMA is also Head of the Cabinet. 1987-1989 she was Assistant Secretary and 1989-92 Undersecretary of Trade and Industry and Senator 1992-98. Secretary of Social Development and Welfare 1998-2000 and The President charged her with the leadership of the Cabinet Meetings. In 2000 she resigned from her cabinet-post after President Estrada was accused of accusations. In January 2001 he was forced to vacate the presidency and she succeeded him. 2002 and from 2003 also Minister of Foreign Affairs, 2003 and 2006-07 Minister of Defence. 2004 she was re-elected to the post of President. In 2011 she was arrested on charges for electoral fraud. Daughter of the late President Diosdado Macapagal and Dr. Evangeline Macaraeg-Macapagal, mother of two sons and a daughter (b. 1947-).
02.02.2001-02.02.2005 Governor Sila Maria Calder�n Serra, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico (Self Governing External Territory of the United States of America)
As governor she was Leader of the Governor. She was Chief of Staff of the Governor 1985, 1986-90 Secretary of Interior, 1988-90 Secretary of State and Deputy to the Governor and 1996-2001 Mayor of San Juan (The Capital). Since 1999 she has been President of Partido Popular Democr�tico. She did not seek re-election. (b. 1942-)
03.03.2001-04.11.2002 Premier Ministre Mame Madior Boye, S�n�gal
Former assistant to the Attorney General of the Republic, judge and first vice President of the Regional High Court in Dakar and former President of the Court of Appeal in Dakar. Councillor to the Supreme Court of Appeal and Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals in 2000-2001. In 2002 she took over as Minister of Defence after the former incumbent resigned after almost 1.000 persons died in a ferry-disaster. (b.1940-).
22.03.2001-04.04.2001 Acting Governor General Dame Sian Elias, New Zealand
04.08.2006-23.08.2006 Acting Governor General
23.08.2011-31.08.2011 Acting Governor General
As Chief Justice of New Zealand since 1999, she is the first deputy of the Governor General and acts in her place when she is abroad or otherwise incapacitated. Her official title when she acts as Governor General is Administrator of the Government. (b. 1949-).
04.04.2001-04.04.2006 Governor General Dame Silvia Cartwright, New Zealand
In 1989 she became the first female Chief Justice of a District Court and in 1993 the first woman in the Supreme Court. She was also Commander-in-Chief and President of the Executive Council. From 2006 one of two international judges on Trial Chamber of the Cambodian War Crimes Tribunal. (b. 1943-).
23.07.2001-20.10.2004 Executive President Megawati Sukarnoputri, Indonesia
When Megawati Setyawati Soekarnoputri became leader of the Democratic Party in 1993, she triggered the opposition against President Quarto. In 1999 her party won the most seats in the Parliament, but Abdulrahman Wahid was elected President. This caused serious riots all over the country and she was elected vice-President the following day. In August 2000 the ailing President Wahid charged her with the running of the daily business of the government and state and she chaired the cabinet meetings. At the 23rd of July he was ousted and she inaugurated as President. In 2004 she lost her bid for re-election. Ibu Mega, as she is known, is daughter of Indonesia's founding father Sukarno, is married for the 3rd time and mother of 3 children. (b. 1946-)
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11.07.2002-31.07.2002 Acting Prime Minister Chang Sang, South Korea
Appointed Acting Prime Minister upon her designation, which was vetoed by the parliament at the 30.7 and about one month later the parliament also rejected President Kim Dae Jung's nominee as her successor. She holds a doctorate in philosophy from Princeton Theological College in the United States. She has been President of Ewha Women's University since 1996. (b. 1939-).
03.10.2002-16.07.2003 Prime Minister Maria das Neves Ceita Batista de Sousa, Republic of S�o Tom� e Pr�ncipe
23.07.2003-18.09.2004 Prime Minister
Maria das Neves worked as a civil servant in the Ministry of Finance and in the African Development Bank. 1999-2001 Minister of Economics, Agriculture, Fisheries, Commerce and Tourism, 2001-02 Minister of Finance and 2002 Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism. Vice-President of the National Assembly since 2010 and Presidential Candidate in 2011. (b. 1958-).
03.06.2002-06.09.2002 Acting Governor General Monica Jessie Dacon, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
As Deputy Governor General since 2001, she acted during the ilness and death of the Governor General until a successor was appointed. Acting Governor General on numerous occations. (b. 1934-).
30.12.2002-04.02.2004 Acting President Natasa Micic, Serbia
As President of the Assembly since 2001, she became Acting President since the attempt to elect a President failed twice. She continued her duties as Chairperson of the Parliament. (b.1965-).
17.04.2003-24.06.2003 Minister of State Anneli J��tteenm�ki, Finland
1991-94 and 1999-2000 Deputy Parliamentary Leader and since 2000 leader of Suomen Keskusta/Centern i Finland, 1994-95 Minister of Justice. In 2003 Speaker of the Parliament. On 18.06 she tendered in her resignation application after it was revealed that she had used confidential material to aid her election campaign and then lying about how she had got the documents. The Assistant Prime Minister conducted her duties until 24.06. (b. 1955-).
28.06.2003-15.12.2003 President of the Council of Ministers Dr. Beatriz Merino Lucero, Peru
Senator 1990-92, Member of the Congress 1995-2000, Vice-Presidential Candidate 2000 and Superintendent of the National Tax Administration before becoming a very popular Prime Minister, until she was sacked by the extremely unpopular President. (b. 1949-).
11.09.2003-03.06.2004 Minister-President Mirna Louisa-Godett, Nederlandse Antillen (Self Governing External Territory of The Netherlands)
Sister of the Leader of Frente Obrero Liberashon 30 di Mei (FOL) Anthony Godett, who could not become Premier because he was charged with and later convicted for corruption and fraud. Married to a member of the Legislature for FOL, Johnny Louisa. She became head of a coalition government . (b. 1954-).
01.10.2003-31.03.2004 Captain Regent Valeria Ciavatta, San Marino
Member of the Grand and General Council for the Alianza Populare since 1993 and Chairperson of the Council Group from 2002. As Captain Regent, she was joint head of a state with a man, and also President of the Parliament and Head of Government. Mother of twins. (b. 1959-)
| Sri Lanka |
VE (Victory in Europe) Day was celebrated in 1945 during which month of the year? | Female world leaders currently in power
FEMALE WORLD LEADERS CURRENTLY IN POWER
The following is a list of female presidents, prime ministers, and other heads of state who are presently in power as of January 22, 2015.
All data comes care of Rulers.org , WorldStatesmen.org , or Regnal Chronologies .
CURRENT TOTAL: 22
We are currently living under a record-high number of simultanious female world leaders.
For several years now, the stable status quo has been around 20 female world leaders at any given time. For much of 2014, the number was 22 — a record high.
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President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner
Dec. 10, 2007 -
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed
Jan. 6, 2009 -
Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller
Jan. 5, 2012 -
Feb. 18, 2015 -
elected
"Elected" refers to women leaders who were elected in democratic elections, including both direct election and parliamentary election.
"Succeeded" refers to leaders who automatically assumed their position following the resignation or impeachment of a predecessor, and were thus not specifically elected to their post.
"Appointed" refers to leaders who were appointed to office by a ruling party or executive, and were thus not specifically elected to their post.
"Coup" refers to a leader who staged a coup or revolution to take office through force.
Sometimes leaders who were originally appointed to office managed to win election. In such cases both dates are noted.
NOTE: the "head of state" issue
In colloquial speech, a "head of state" is simply a world leader; be she a president, a prime minister, a ruling monarch, or in rare cases, some other office entirely. However, political scientists — and indeed, many national constitutions — define this term in a more narrow sense, with the "head of state" being the person who symbolically "embodies" the nation as its highest legal authority and highest-ranking ceremonial representative. A person who actually "runs" the government, in contrast, is called the "head of government." In many countries, the head of state and head of government is the same person, but in many other countries, the "head of state" is a symbolic president or monarch while the prime minister is the "head of government."
Identifying "heads of state" in this sense is a complicated matter I am not interested in here. Let it merely be noted that the women listed below consist simply of people who could be accurately described as "world leaders" of one sort or another, but some might regard it as technically incorrect to describe them as all "heads of state."
Queens or Vice-Regal Females in power
A few countries have reining female queens, or, if they are a member of the British Commonwealth, a female governor general representing Queen Elizabeth as head of state. As they are merely symbolic figureheads chosen to represent the actual head of state, they are not usually counted as "full" world leaders.
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Sep. 5, 2008 -
All countries with female presidents, past and present
A president is either the executive leader of a country, or a ceremonial figurehead chosen to "represent the nation" but not exercise any real political power.
Country
Jul. 1, 1974 - Mar. 24, 1976
succeeded, wife
Aug. 1, 1980 - Jul. 31, 1996
elected
Feb. 15, 1982 - Feb. 15, 1987
elected
Feb. 25, 1986 - Jun. 30, 1992
elected, wife*
Apr. 25, 1990 - Jan. 10, 1997
elected
Dec, 3, 1990 - Sep. 12, 1997
elected
Nov. 12, 1994 - Nov. 19, 2005
elected, daughter
Nov. 11, 1997 - Nov. 11, 2011
elected
Dec. 19, 1997 - Aug. 11, 1999
elected, wife
Jan. 1, 1999 - Dec. 31, 1999
appointed
Jul. 8, 1999 - Jul. 8, 2007
elected
Sep. 1, 1999 - Sep. 1, 2004
elected, wife
Jan. 20, 2001 - June 30, 2010
succeeded 2001, elected 2004, daughter
Indonesia
Jul. 23, 2001 - Oct. 20, 2004
succeeded, daughter
Dec. 30, 2002 - Jan. 27, 2004
appointed
Mar. 11, 2006 - Mar. 11, 2010
elected
Jan. 1, 2007 - Dec. 31, 2007
appointed
Feb. 22, 2007 - Mar. 17, 2011
elected
Jul. 25, 2007 - Jul. 25, 2012
elected
President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner
Dec. 10, 2007 -
Jan. 1, 2010 - Dec. 31, 2011
appointed
Apr. 7, 2010 - Dec. 1, 2011
coup
May 8, 2010 - May 8, 2014
elected
Jan. 1, 2011 - Dec. 31, 2011
appointed
Jan. 1, 2012 - Dec. 31, 2013
appointed
Apr. 7, 2012 - May 31, 2014
succeeded
"Wife" indicates leaders whose husband was also president at one time.
"Daughter" indicates leaders whose father was also president at one time.
* though not a wife of a president, Ms. Aquino's political career was largely the result of her marriage to a very prominent senator, who was later assasinated. Her son, interestingly, would also later serve as president.
Less than a year in power (acting, interim leaders, etc)
The following female leaders all assumed office on some sort of interim basis and cannot be properly regarded as a "full" president. They often held the presidency while simultaniously holding some other office of government, usually speaker of parliament..
Country
Sep. 23, 1953 - Jul. 7, 1954
Bolivia
Nov. 17, 1980 - Jul. 18, 1980
Guinea-Bissau
May 14, 1984 - May 16, 1984
Haiti
Mar. 13, 1990 - Jan. 7, 1991
East Germany
Apr. 5, 1990 - Oct. 2, 1990
Liberia
Sep. 3, 1996 - Aug. 2, 1997
Ecuador
Feb. 9, 1997 - Feb. 11, 1997
Georgia (1st time)
Nov. 23, 2003 - Jan. 25, 2004
Georgia (2nd time)
Nov. 25, 2007 - Jan. 20, 2008
Israel
Jan. 25, 2007 - Jul. 15, 2007
South Africa
Jun. 10, 2009 - Oct. 16, 2009
Mauritius
Mar. 31, 2012 - Jul. 21. 2012
Serbia
Apr. 4, 2012 - May 31, 2012
All countries with female prime ministers, past and present
A prime minister is, in most circumstances, the leader of the national parliament. How much power she exercises can vary greatly based on the country, and how strong the president (or in some cases, monarch) that sits above her is.
Country
Jul. 21, 1960 - Mar. 27, 1965
elected, wife
Jan. 19, 1966 - Mar. 24, 1977
elected, daughter
Mar. 17, 1969 - Jun. 3, 1974
appointed 1969, elected 1971
May 29, 1970 - Jul. 23, 1977
"
Jan. 2, 1975 - Apr. 7, 1976
appointed*
May 4, 1979 - Nov. 28, 1990
elected
Jan. 14, 1980 - Oct. 31, 1984
"
Prime Minister Dame Eugenia Charles
Jul. 21, 1980 - Jun. 14, 1995
elected
Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland
Feb. 4, 1981 - Oct. 14, 1981
elected
May 16, 1982 - May 15, 1986
appointed*
Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland
May 9, 1986 - Oct. 16, 1989
"
Dec. 2, 1988 - Aug. 6, 1990
elected, daughter
Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland
Nov. 3, 1990 - Oct. 25, 1996
"
Mar. 20, 1991 - Mar. 30, 1996
elected, daughter
Jul. 8, 1992 - Oct. 26, 1993
appointed
Jun. 25, 1992 - Mar. 6, 1996
appointed
Oct. 19, 1993 - Nov. 5, 1996
"
Nov. 14, 1994 - Aug. 10, 2000
"
Dec. 8, 1997 - Dec. 10, 1999
appointed
Dec. 10, 1999 - Nov. 19, 2008
elected
Prime Minister Mame Madior Boye
Mar. 2, 2001 - Nov. 4, 2002
appointed
Oct. 10, 2001 - Oct. 29. 2006
"
Prime Minister Maria das Neves
Oct. 7, 2002 - Sep. 18, 2004
appointed
Feb. 17, 2004 - Jan. 16, 2010
appointed 2004, elected 2009
Jan. 24, 2005 - Sep. 8, 2005
elected
Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller
Mar. 30, 2006 - Sep. 11, 2007
appointed
Prime Minister Han Myung Sook
Ap. 19, 2006 - Mar. 7, 2007
appointed
Dec. 18, 2007 - Mar. 11, 2010
"
Sep. 5, 2008 - Nov. 11, 2009
appointed
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed
Jan. 6, 2009 -
Feb. 1, 2009 - May 23, 2013
appointed 2009, elected 2009
Jul. 6, 2009 - Dec. 2011
appointed
Jun. 24, 2010 - Jun. 27, 2013
appointed 2010, elected 2010
Jun. 22, 2010 - Jun. 22, 2011
appointed
Jul. 8, 2010 - Apr. 4, 2012
elected
Aug. 8, 2011 - May 7, 2014
elected
Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller
Jan. 5, 2012 -
Mar. 20, 2013 - Sep. 18, 2014
elected
Less than a year in power (acting, interim leaders, etc)
Country
Prime Minister Maria de Lurdes Pintassilgo
Aug. 1, 1979 - Jan. 3, 1980
Lithuania (1st time)
Mar. 17, 1990 - Jan. 10, 1991
France
May 15, 1991 - Apr. 2, 1992
Burundi
Jul. 10, 1993 - Feb. 7, 1994
Canada
Jun. 25, 1993 - Nov. 4, 1993
Rwanda
Jul. 18, 1993 - Apr. 7, 1994
Bulgaria
Oct. 17, 1994 - Jan. 25, 1995
Sri Lanka
Aug. 19, 1994 - Nov. 12, 1994
Haiti
Nov. 7, 1995 - Mar. 6, 1996
Guyana
Mar. 17, 1997 - Dec. 22, 1997
Lithuania (2nd time)
May 4, 1999 - May 18, 1999
Lithuania (3rd time)
Oct. 27, 1999 - Nov. 3, 1999
Mongolia
Jul. 22, 1999 - Jul. 30, 1999
South Korea
Jul. 11, 2002 - Jul. 31, 2002
Finland
Apr. 17, 2003 - Jun. 24, 2003
Peru (1st time)
June 28, 2003 - Dec. 15, 2003
Macedonia (1st time)
May 12, 2004 - Jun. 2, 2004
Macedonia (2nd time)
Nov. 18, 2004 - Dec. 17, 2004
São Tomé and Príncipe
Prime Minister Maria do Carmo Silveira
Jun. 8, 2005 - Apr. 21, 2006
Moldova
Mar. 31, 2008 - Sep. 14, 2009
Madagascar
Dec. 18, 2009 - Dec. 20, 2009
Peru (2nd time)
Mar. 19, 2011 - Jul. 28, 2011
Mali
Prime Minister Cissé Mariam Kaïdama Sidibé
Apr. 3, 2011 - March 22, 2012
Cyprus (North)
Jun. 13, 2013 - Sep. 2, 2013
Senegal (2nd time)
Sep. 3, 2013 - Jul. 14, 2014
All countries with female governor-generals
In a Commonwealth country, a governor general is a politician appointed by the prime minister to serve as "acting" head of state on behalf of the British monarch, the legal chief of state.
Canada (1st time)
May 14, 1984 - Jan. 29, 1990
Barbados
Jun. 6, 1990 - Dec. 19, 1995
New Zealand (1st time)
Nov. 20, 1990 - Mar. 21, 1996
Saint Lucia
Oct. 7, 1999 - Sep. 27, 2005
New Zealand (2nd time)
Apr. 4, 2001 - Aug. 23, 2006
Bahamas
Nov. 13, 2001 - Nov. 25, 2005
Canada (3rd time)
Sep. 27, 2005 - Oct. 1, 2010
Antigua and Barbuda
Jul. 17, 2007 - Aug. 13, 2004
Australia
Sep. 5, 2008 - Mar. 28, 2014
Historic female monarchs
Historically speaking, the principle of heritary monarchism has tended to supercede the principle of gender discrimantion, meaning even very sexually regressive socieites have allowed female monarchs to rule them from time to time, if that's how the monarchical birth lottery goes. Here are all the historic female monarchs of countries that still exist in some form today.
Denmark (1st time)
Aug. 10, 1387 - Jan. 23, 1396
Portugal (1st time)
Oct. 22, 1383 - Apr. 6, 1385
Spain (1st time)
Queen Isabella I of Castile
Dec. 11, 1474 - Nov. 26, 1504
Spain (2nd time)
Nov. 26, 1504 - Apr. 12, 1555
England (1st time)
Jul. 6, 1553 - Jul. 19, 1553
England (2nd time)
Jul. 19, 1553 - Nov. 17, 1558
England (3rd time)
Nov. 17, 1558 - Mar. 24, 1603
Sweden (1st time)
Nov. 16, 1632 - Jun. 16, 1654
England (4th time)
Feb. 23, 1689 - Jan. 7, 1695
England (4th time)
Mar. 19, 1702 - Aug. 12, 1714
Sweden (2nd time)
Feb. 2, 1719 - Apr. 4, 1720
Russia (2nd time)
Feb. 8 1725 - May 17, 1727
Russia (3rd time)
Feb. 13, 1730 - Oct. 28, 1740
Russia (4th time)
Dec. 6, 1741 - Jan. 5, 1762
Russia (5th time)
Tsar Catherine II the Great
Jul. 8, 1762 - Nov. 17, 1796
Portugal and Brazil (2nd time)
Queen Maria
Feb. 24, 1777 - Mar. 20, 1816
Portgual (3rd time)
Queen Maria II the Great
Mar. 3, 1828 - Nov. 15, 1853
England (5th time)
Queen Empress Victoria the Good
Jun. 20, 1837 - Jan. 22, 1901
China
Feb. 25, 1875 - Mar. 4, 1889
Netherlands (1st time)
Dec. 8, 1890 - Aug. 31, 1898
Netherlands (2nd time)
Aug. 31, 1898 - Sep. 4, 1948
Luxembourg (1st time)
Feb. 25, 1912 - Jan. 15, 1919
Luxembourg (2nd time)
Jan. 15, 1919 - Nov. 12, 1964
Netherlands (3rd time)
Sep. 4, 1948 - Apr. 30, 1980
Netherlands (4th time)
Apr. 30, 1980 - Apr. 30, 2013
Special cases
Switzerland has one of the world's most unusual political systems, with the nation's highest political authority vested in a "federal council" comprised of seven members of parliament. The chair of the council serves as president of Switzerland, but the position rotates every year. Since the federal council always contains at least one women, Switzerland has a higher than one-in-seven chance of having a female president in any given year, which explains Switzerland's unusually high tally in this regard.
The tiny European nation of San Marino elects two members of parliament to serve as "campaigns regent" for a six-month term. San Marino law (the nation has no constitution) declares that these captains serve "jointly" as head of state. Maria Lea Pedini Angelini served as San Marino's first female captain regent in 1981; since then there have been 15 others. I have elected not to include a full list of San Marino's post-1981 female captains partially ensure this most unusual of offices in this most minuscule of nations does not clutter the lists above.
Countries that have had more than one female leader (includes acting, interim leaders etc)
Switzerland (6)
One president, two prime ministers
Haiti (3)
One president, two prime ministers
Finland (3)
One president, two prime ministers
South Korea (3)
Two prime ministers, one president
Lithuania (3)
One president, two prime ministers
Argentina (2)
One president, one prime minister
Guyana (2)
One president, one prime minister*
Iceland (2)
One president, one prime minister
India (2)
One president, one prime minister
Ireland (2)
One president, one prime minister
Liberia (2)
São Tomé and Príncipe (2)
Two prime ministers
Sengal (2)
Two prime ministers
*Switzerland has seen six female presidential terms, though two of those were held by the same woman. Guyana's tally is also debatable, since their female prime minister and female president were the same person.
Historic firsts
Sükhbaataryn Yanjmaa of Mongolia (1953-1954)
World's first female (acting) president
Sirimavo Bandaranaike of Sri Lanka (1960-1965)
World's first female prime minister
Isabel Peron of Argentina (1974-1976)
World's first female (non-acting) president
Margaret Thatcher of the United Kingdom (1979-1990)
World's first female prime minister who was elected without being either an incumbent or a relative of a male leader.
Vigdís Finnbogadóttir of Iceland (1980-1996)
World's first female elected president, and first female president who was elected without being either an incumbent or a relative of a male leader.
Mary McAleese of Ireland (1997- 2011)
First time that a female president directly succeed another female president.
Sri Lanka (1994-2000)
First time that a nation possessed a female prime minister and a female president simultaneously. Sri Lanka in 1994 also marked the first time a female prime minister directly succeeded another female prime minister.
Jóhanna Sigurdardóttir of Iceland (2009-2013)
World's first lesbian world leader, first female world leader to wed a same-sex partner while in office.
History's most important female world leaders
Prime Minister Golda Meir of Israel (1969-1974)
b. 1898 - d. 1978
Born in Russia but raised in the United States, Golda Meir was one of many young Jews who emigrated to the British colony of Palestine in the early 20th century. A leading Zionist and labor activist, she was one of the signatories of Israel's 1948 declaration of independence. In 1949 she was elected as a Labor Party delegate to the first Israeli parliament, and served in a number of cabinet positions under prime ministers David Ben-Gurion and Levi Eshkol, before succeeding to the office of prime minister herself, following Eshkol's 1969 death.
As prime minister, Meir's term was dominated by the so-called "Yom Kippur War" of 1973, in which Israel was unexpectedly invaded by Egypt and Syria. Though the war severely tested Meir's leadership, Israel was ultimately victorious, once again demonstrating the country's military strength in the face of hostile neighbors.
Prime Minister Indira Gandhi of India (1966-1977, 1980-1984)
b. 1917 - d. 1984
Though not related to the famed Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi, Indira was the daughter of India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru and was elected to lead his political party, the Indian National Congress in 1960, following his death. After serving in the cabinet of Prime Minister Bahadur Shastri, she in turn succeeded to the office of prime minister following his death in 1966.
Gandhi's two terms were tumultuous and eventful, and saw episodes such as a 1971 war with Pakistan over the disputed territory of Kashmir, the development of an Indian nuclear weapons program, and a so-called "Green Revolution" in farming that transformed the country's agriculture. Her tenure was not a positive time for civil liberties, however, and for much of her rule parliamentary democracy was all but suspended. She was assassinated in 1984.
Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher of the United Kingdom (1979-1990)
b. 1925 - d. 2013
The daughter of a shopkeeper, Margaret Thatcher was elected to the British Parliament in 1959, and served in the cabinet of Conservative Prime Minister Edward Heath from 1970 to 1974. In 1975 she was elected leader of the Conservatives, and was elected Britain's first female prime minister in 1979. Re-elected twice before resigning in 1990, she remains one of the longest-serving female world leaders of all time.
Fiercely ideological, Thatcher was best known for steering her political party and country sharply to the right through an aggressive agenda of tax cuts, privatizations, union-busting, and cuts to government spending. In 1982 she led her country in a brief, successful war against Argentina to liberate Britain's Falkland Islands from foreign invasion.
President Corazon Aquino of the Philippines (1986-1992)
b. 1933 - d. 2009
Corazon Aquino rose to prominence as the wife of Benigno Aquino, a leading opposition politician under the long dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos. Following her husband's assassination in 1983, she assumed the leadership of the anti-Marcos opposition, eventually emerging as the leading opposition candidate in the 1986 presidential election, which she won, despite massive fraud from the Marcos campaign. Her inspirational story earned her the title of TIME magazine's 1986 "Person of the Year."
As president, Aquino led a highly reformist government that introduced a new, democratic constitution and removed the various political restrictions that had contributed to the repression of the Marcos years.
Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan (1988-1990, 1993-1996)
b. 1953 - d. 2007
Educated in England, Benazir Bhutto assumed the leadership of the Pakistan People's Party in 1979, following the execution of her father, former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. A leading opposition figure under the dictatorship of Gen. Zia-ul-Haq, she was elected prime minister of a coalition government in 1988 after his death.
Bhutto's two terms in office helped democratize Pakistan after years of dictatorship, but her government was also accused of widespread corruption. After losing office a second time in 1996, she spent much of her later life once again in opposition, this time to the new dictatorship of Gen. Pervez Musharraf. After a period of exile, she was assassinated in 2007, shortly after returning to the country. Her husband was then elected president in her place.
Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany (2005- )
b. 1954
Merkel grew up in East Germany where she worked as a chemist. She became active in politics following the reunification of east and west Germany, and in 1991 she was elected to the unified parliament under the conservative Christian Democratic Party and served as a cabinet minister under the government of Helmut Kohl. In 2000, she became head of the party and in 2005 was elected chancellor (prime minister).
Following the crippling worldwide economic recession of 2008, Merkel has emerged as one of the world's most powerful leaders, due to her tight command of the Europe Union's largest economy. Though her government has been financially generous towards some of Europe's more troubled nations, she has also pressed hard for austerity reforms to play a prominent role in any plan for long-term economic recovery, both at home and abroad.
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia (2006 - )
b. 1938
An economist by profession, Sirleaf was educated in the United States before returning to Liberia to serve in the government of President William Tolbert, until his overthrow in 1980. Living mostly in exile, for the next 25 years she would make numerous attempts at a political comeback, but routinely faced jail terms and charges of treason for her activities. In 2005 she assumed the leadership of the united opposition to new dictator Charles Taylor and in 2006 was elected president following his exile.
Sirleaf's presidency has focused mostly on rebuilding Liberia's democratic institutions and fostering national reconciliation after decades of civil war and oppression, as well as helping modernize the country's economy. In 2011 she became the first-ever female world leader to be awarded a Nobel Peace Prize.
Has there ever been a female dictator?
Most observers would probably say no, though it does depend somewhat on how you define "dictator." There has certainly never been a female equivalent of someone like Saddam Hussein or Kim Jong Il, which is to say, an all-powerful tyrant who led a totalitarian regime of extreme murder and oppression. There have been, however, a few women who served as prime ministers in undemocratic regimes, came to power through undemocratic means, or ran governments that can be fairly described as "authoritarian."
Élisabeth Domitién (1925-2005) served as prime minister of the Central African Republic for little over a year under the government of President Jean-Bédel Bokassa. Bokassa — who would later declare himself emperor — was a mad and eccentric tyrant often considered one of Africa's worst dictators, and is associated with many horrific human rights abuses. Prime Minister Domitién was certainly aware of these, but the prime minister's office was extraordinarily weak under Bokassa, so it is probably unfair to consider her too culpable in his crimes — particularly given her short tenure.
Milka Planinc (1924-2010) served as prime minister of Yugoslavia from 1982 to 1986, at a time when it was still a Communist republic. Following the death of longtime dictator Joseph Broz Tito in 1980, the presidency of Yugoslavia reverted back to a collective, with a chairmanship that rotated every year. This increased the power of the prime ministership, and Planinc was unquestionably the most powerful politician in the country during this time. Her regime was moderate, but committed to the Communist system. It would be fair to consider her a dictator, if perhaps not a particularly flashy one.
Biljana Plavsi (b. 1930) became president of the Serb Republic within the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1996. Bosnia and Herzegovina had declared itself independent from Yugoslavia in 1992, and the Serb Republic was declared around the same time. The Republic's first president was the infamous Radovan Karadzic, who waged a vicious war of "ethnic cleansing" against non-Serbs in the region. When he was forced to resign amid western pressure in 1996, Vice President Plavsi took over, and largely continued her predecessors' brutal policies. Both were eventually charged with crimes against humanity. Though Plavsi is perhaps the most infamous female politician of modern times, her regime was at least nominally democratic. The Bosnian "Serb Republic" (not to be confused with the Republic of Serbia) is also not a sovereign country, though it considered itself independent during the Yugoslav civil war.
Sabine Bergmann-Pohl (b. 1946) in her capacity as head of the East German parliament, served the final, acting head of state of Communist East Germany for a few months in 1990 at a time when the country was in the process of being incorporated into West Germany. Though she was nominally in charge of a Communist regime, her caretaker rule was too short and transient to be seriously considered here.
Rosa Otunbayeva (b. 1950) became president of Kyrgyzstan in the spring of 2010, following an uprising against dictator Kurmanbek Bakiev. Though characterized as a "revolution," like most revolutions it was in practice a coup, with Bakiev being driven from the capital during a state of violent chaos. Otunbayeva, the former foreign minister, declared herself head of a transitory regime, and she made good on the promise, helping introduce a more democratic constitution that lessened the power of the presidency. She resigned in December of 2011.
Indira Gandhi (1917-1984) served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister of India that overlapped significant portions of the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. Though India is a parliamentary democracy with constitutionally-protected civil rights, in 1975 Gandhi took advantage of a worsening political climate to declared a state of emergency that gave her office sweeping powers to crackdown on dissent, including the censorship of media and the arrest of political opponents. Many consider India's "emergency rule" phase to be akin to a sort of dictatorship, though it is worth noting that public backlash to the move resulted in it eventually being lifted, and Gandhi was voted out of office and arrested shortly thereafter.
MAP SUMMARY:
| i don't know |
Who was the first female US Secretary of State? | Madeleine Korbel Albright - People - Department History - Office of the Historian
Madeleine Korbel Albright - People - Department History
Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Madeleine Korbel Albright (1937–)
Introduction
Madeleine Korbel Albright was nominated to be the first woman Secretary of State by President William Jefferson Clinton on December 5, 1996, confirmed by the U.S. Senate on January 22, 1997, and sworn in the next day. She served in the position for four years and ended her service on January 20, 2001.
Madeleine Korbel Albright, 64th Secretary of State
Rise to Prominence
Albright was born Marie Jean “Madlenka” Korbel on May 15, 1937, in Prague, Czechoslovakia. Her father, Josef, was a member of the Czechoslovak Foreign Service and served as press attaché in Belgrade, Yugoslavia and later became Ambassador to Yugoslavia. After the communist coup in 1948, the family immigrated to Denver, Colorado. Albright Americanized her name to Madeleine, became a U.S. citizen in 1957, and earned a B.A. in political science with honors from Wellesley College in 1959. She earned the Ph.D. in Public Law and Government at Columbia University in 1976.
Albright served as chief legislative assistant to Senator Edmund Muskie (D-Me) from 1976 to 1978. From 1978 to 1981, she served as a staff member in the White House under President Jimmy Carter and on the National Security Council under National Security Adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski.
In 1982 she was appointed Research Professor of International Affairs at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and Director of its Women in Foreign Service Program. In 1993 she was appointed Ambassador to the United Nations by President Clinton and served in the position until her appointment as Secretary of State in 1996.
Influence on American Diplomacy
As Secretary of State, Albright promoted the expansion of NATO eastward into the former Soviet bloc nations and the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons from the former Soviet republics to rogue nations, successfully pressed for military intervention under NATO auspices during the humanitarian crisis in Kosovo in 1999, supported the expansion of free-market democratization and the creation of civil societies in the developing world, favored the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol on Global Climate Change, and furthered the normalization of relations with Vietnam.
Born 1937
Presentation of Credentials: January 27, 1993
Termination of Mission: January 21, 1997
Entry on Duty: January 23, 1997
Termination of Appointment: January 19, 2001
| Madeleine Albright |
What type of creature is a Bobolink? | First Black female Secretary of State in America | African American Registry
First Black female Secretary of State in America
Condoleezza Rice
Date:
Tue, 2004-11-16
On this date in 2004, Condoleezza Rice became the first African American Secretary of State in America.
She was appointed by President George W. Bush The former National Security Adviser since 2001 was the second Black (after Colin Powell) and second female (after Madeleine Albright) to serve as Secretary of State.
Reference:
| i don't know |
In the British royal family, the wife of Princess Anne’s son Peter is named after which season of the year? | Who's the Canadian marrying into the Royal Family? - World - CBC News
Who's the Canadian marrying into the Royal Family?
What do we know about Autumn Kelly?
By Ann MacMillan London Bureau Chief, CBC News
Posted: May 16, 2008 4:10 PM ET Last Updated: May 16, 2008 5:01 PM ET
Peter Phillips, left, the son of Britain's Princess Anne, and his fiancée, Canadian Autumn Kelly, arrive for Easter Service in St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on March 23, 2008. The couple attended the service with Phillips's grandmother, the Queen. ((Sang Tan/Associated Press))
You might think a Canadian marrying into the Royal Family would want the world to know. Not Autumn Kelly.
When we contacted Buckingham Palace asking whether Kelly would be available for an interview before her marriage to Peter Phillips, the Queen's eldest grandson, we got a flat "no." When we phoned family and friends in Quebec and Ontario, they said, "No comment. The Palace has told us not to say anything to the media."
The secretary at the high school Kelly attended said, "I know what you want, and you're not getting it," when we requested a copy of the 1995 yearbook in which Kelly's photograph appeared. Even a glossy spread in Hello magazine did not reveal much about the newest addition to Britain's Royal Family.
In an "intimate, first-ever" interview — for which the couple was reportedly paid close to $1 million — we learned Autumn Kelly met Peter Phillips at the Montreal Grand Prix in 2003. She was working in the BMW hospitality suite, and he was working for Formula One racing team BMW Williams. He invited her to a post-race Formula One party, and the rest is history. She told the magazine that she didn't realize she was dating Princess Anne's son until six weeks after they met. She and her mother were watching a television documentary about Prince William, and there he was: Peter Phillips, William's first cousin.
"Oh, Autumn," her mother exclaimed. "What have you gotten yourself into?" Kelly also told Hello that the only time her name appeared in the papers until now was when she was hit in the face by a hockey puck. She'd been watching the Canadiens play and ended up with 17 stitches over one eye and a concussion.
What we do know
Autumn Kelly walks with Peter Phillips at the Badminton Horse Trials in Badminton, England, on May 4, 2008. ((Barry Batchelor/PA/Associated Press))
In spite of the media blackout, we have managed to find that Patricia Autumn Kelly was born on May 3, 1978, and grew up in Pointe Claire. She went to St. John Fisher Primary School, St. Thomas High School and McGill University, where she got a BA majoring in East Asian studies. She has a twin brother, Chris, a bricklayer, and an older brother Kevin, who works as a chef. Her parents, Kathleen and Brian, divorced when Kelly was eight. Both have since remarried. Kathleen Kelly stayed in Pointe Claire, and Brian Kelly now lives in Peterborough, Ont.
When she was at McGill, Kelly worked as a bartender and a model, and had a minor role in the children's movie Rainbow. She also played hockey. One of the few people who agreed to speak to us, Gordon Razza, who owns Marlowe's Bar in Pointe Claire, said, "She played on our hockey team. She grew up playing ringette, but she's a pretty good hockey player, too. She can stand her own in the crease. She's not only intelligent and very pretty, but she's one of the boys. She can stand her ground."
Being able to stand her ground in the House of Windsor could prove difficult. Diana, Princess of Wales, and Sarah, Duchess of York, both complained of callous treatment from members of the Royal Family and their advisers, but Peter Phillips is said to be a firm favourite of his grandparents, the Queen and Prince Philip.
Head boy at Gordonstoun
Phillips's mother decided that her children, Peter and Zara, would not have titles, so they are plain Mr. and Miss. She tried hard to give them as normal an upbringing as possible. Phillips was head boy of the Scottish boarding school Gordonstoun. He was a talented rugby player and now works for the Royal Bank of Scotland on its motor racing sponsorship. Andrew Pierce, assistant editor of the Daily Telegraph, says Phillips does not seek attention like some of the younger royals.
"Peter Phillips likes it out of the spotlight, and people who know him say he is a nice guy, but a bit dull, so out of the spotlight is probably best for him."
When she met Phillips, Kelly was a Roman Catholic. She has since become an Anglican. Peter Phillips is 11th in line to the throne, and under the 1701 Act of Settlement, he would have had to give up his place in the succession if he married a Catholic.
Phillips's grandmother, the Queen, is titular head of the Church of England. Kelly told Hello magazine that if she has children, they will be brought up as Anglicans. Kelly also said that she plans to continue working as a personal assistant to well-known British personality Michael Parkinson "because we need both incomes."
After they become newlyweds, the Phillipses hope to continue a life out of the spotlight. Given the huge tabloid interest in Princes William and Harry, and the vow of silence taken by those close to Autumn Kelly, it looks as if they will get their wish.
| Autumn |
Who plays an ordinary man mistaken for the Messiah in the 1979 film ‘Monty Python’s Life of Brian’? | Princess Anne's style is not to all tastes but our thriftiest royal will even dust off a look she's not worn for 32 years | Daily Mail Online
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This hat was worn in the official Christening pictures of baby Zara in 1981 (left) and sunny side up yet again, on a visit to Lake Windermere with the Queen on July 17 this year (right). For Olympian Anne that’s a gold-medal-winning gap of 32 years. Another notable thing about the Princess Royal: unlike the rest of the population, she actually looks good in yellow
Second, at 29 years — this fur-lined blue coat is filed under ‘church outings, winter’. First, meeting a clerical dignitary with then husband Captain Mark Phillips in 1983 (left). Then it reappeared when she accompanied her son Peter Phillips and his wife Autumn to church last Christmas Day (right)
Taking bronze, in third place at 27 years, this yellow-and-white floral dress with ‘scrambled egg’ hat was first seen at Charles and Diana’s wedding in 1981 (left) then the nuptials of the Duke of Gloucester’s daughter Lady Rose Windsor to George Gilman back in 2008 (right). Perhaps she thought none of the guests would do a double take — after all, the groom wasn’t even born when she wore the outfit in 1981
Fourth place, with 20 years of service, goes to this rhubarb-and-custard evening outfit. It first got an outing in 1990 at the premiere of NeverEnding Story II (left) and in a never-ending story of its own, it reappeared at Constantine of Greece’s 70th birthday party in London in 2010 (right)
Another highlight of her Dynasty years is this pink satin blouse and pink-and-black checked evening skirt. First seen at the 1990 Baftas (left); then at the Save The Children Festival Of Trees 17 years later in 2001. The big sleeves had been deflated in the intervening years, though. Probably wise
This snow queen dress had an outing at the Waitangi Day dinner at Grosvenor House to honour the founding of New Zealand in 1990 (left), then again at the Save The Children Festival at the Natural History Museum, 14 years later (right)
From one steely lady to another, this is Anne paying fashion-homage to Margaret Thatcher. A sensible pale green tweed suit with contrasting pussy-bow blouse first worn to a church service for Save The Children in Windsor in 1991 (left)and at her most Iron Ladyish ten years later for a school visit in Banstead, Surrey
Pure Eighties ballgown — those stripes, that silver, those billowing sleeves — and Anne wore it first to that quintessential event of the decade, the 1984 Berkeley Square Ball (left). It performs an encore nine years later at a charity performance by the Bolshoi Ballet at the Royal Albert Hall in 1993 (right) and she doesn’t seem to have aged a bit
This was the Princess Royal’s lucky Olympic fund-raising dress. Those comedy collars were an Eighties special: this green-and-white number was worn to launch the British Olympic Appeal in London in 1987 (left) and it must have gone well because she wore it again nine years later in 1996 (right) at Bonhams in London, in aid of the same cause
This rather stylish blue shantung coat made its first appearance at Charles and Camilla’s wedding in 2005 — even Anne wasn’t cheeky enough to turn out in the same ensemble she’d worn to his first wedding — and again with a different hat eight years later at a Buckingham Palace Garden Party
Only two years apart, in 2009 (left) and 2011 (right) but most of us wouldn’t have the courage to wear this outfit once! All that navy and yellow, and the bow, and the stripes in the hat — she looks like a character in children’s comic Where’s Wally? First time round was an official visit to Gibraltar — perhaps to wind up the Spaniards — and second, to wake up the old boys with a jolt at the 90th anniversary of the Royal British Legion
Different hat, different shoes — but there’s no mistaking this jolly brocade floral jacket and coral dress with pleated skirt. She wore it, yes, new as far we can tell, as mother of the bride at her daughter’s wedding to Mike Tindall in 2011 and a year later at Royal Ascot — surely just the first of many cheerful re-runs
| i don't know |
Which British monarch instituted The Distinguished Service Order? | Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom | Military Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia
Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom
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The British honours system is a means of rewarding individuals' personal bravery, achievement, or service to the United Kingdom and the British Overseas Territories . The system consists of three types of award: honours, decorations and medals:
Honours are used to recognise merit in terms of achievement and service.
Decorations tend to be used to recognise specific deeds.
Medals are used to recognise bravery, long and/or valuable service and/or good conduct.
Contents
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Although the Anglo-Saxon monarchs are known to have rewarded their loyal subjects with rings and other symbols of favour, it was the Normans who introduced knighthoods as part of their feudal government. The first English order of chivalry, the Order of the Garter , was created in 1348 by Edward III . Since then the system has evolved to address the changing need to recognise other forms of service to the United Kingdom .
Modern honours
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As the head of state, the Sovereign remains the " fount of honour ", [1] but the system for identifying and recognising candidates to honour has changed considerably over time. Various orders of knighthood have been created (see below) as well as awards for military service, bravery, merit, and achievement which take the form of decorations or medals. Most medals are not graded. Each one recognises specific service and as such there are normally set criteria which must be met. These criteria may include a period of time and will often delimit a particular geographic region. Medals are not normally presented by the Sovereign. A full list is printed in the "order of wear", published infrequently by the London Gazette.
Orders of Honours
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Honours are split into classes ("orders") and are graded to distinguish different degrees of achievement or service. There are no criteria to determine these levels; various honours committees meet to discuss the candidates and decide which ones deserve which type of award and at what level. [2]
New Year and Birthday Honours
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A complete list of approximately 1350 names is published twice a year, at New Year and on the date of the Sovereign's (official) birthday . Since their decisions are inevitably subjective, the twice-yearly honours lists often provoke criticism from those who feel strongly about particular cases. [3] [4] Candidates are identified by public or private bodies, by government departments or are nominated by members of the public. Depending on their roles, those people selected by committee are submitted either to the Prime Minister, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, or Secretary of State for Defence for their approval before being sent to the Sovereign for final approval. Certain honours are awarded solely at the Sovereign's discretion, such as the Order of the Garter , [5] the Order of the Thistle, the Royal Victorian Order , [6] the Order of Merit [7] and the Royal Family Order . The awards are then presented by the Sovereign or her designated representative. The Prince of Wales , the Duke of Cambridge and the Princess Royal have deputised for the Queen at investiture ceremonies at Buckingham Palace.
New Year Honours lists
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Orders were created for particular reasons at particular times. In some cases these reasons have ceased to have any validity and orders have fallen into abeyance, primarily due to the decline of the British Empire during the twentieth century. Reforms of the system have sometimes made other changes. For example the British Empire Medal ceased to be awarded in the UK in 1993, as was the companion level award of the Imperial Service Order (although its medal is still used). The British Empire Medal was revived however in 2012 with 293 BEMs awarded for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. In addition, BEM is used by the Cook Islands and by some other Commonwealth nations.
The Order of St Patrick
Quis Separabit? ("Who will separate us?")
At the monarch's pleasure
The Order of St Patrick was founded in 1783 by George III for the Kingdom of Ireland , and after the Acts of Union 1800 continued for Irish peers in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland . After the Irish Free State's secession in 1922, only members of the royal family were appointed to the order, the last in 1936. The last surviving knight was Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester , who died on 10 June 1974. Although dormant, the order technically still exists, and may be awarded at any time. Queen Elizabeth II is the current sovereign of this order.
Imperial orders
King George VI
Long, faithful and honourable service of members of certain armed forces in Burma
These orders, relating to the British Raj or the British Indian Empire, are also dormant. The senior order, the Order of the Star of India, was divided into three grades, Knight Grand Commander, Knight Commander and Companion, of which the first and highest was conferred upon the Princes and Chiefs of Indian states and upon important British civil servants working in India. Women were not eligible to receive the award. The junior order, the Order of the Indian Empire, was divided into the same ranks and also excluded women. The third order, the Order of the Crown of India, was used exclusively to honour women. Its members, all sharing a single grade, consisted of the wives and close female relatives of Indian Princes or Chiefs; the Viceroy or Governor-General; the Governors of Bombay, Madras and Bengal; the Principal Secretary of State for India; and the Commander-in-Chief in India. Upon Indian independence in 1947, appointments to all these orders ceased.
H.H. Maharaja Tej Singh Prabhakar Bahadur of Alwar , who was a KCSI and the last surviving member of the Order of the Star of India , died in February 2009, aged 97. The sole surviving member of the Order of the Indian Empire , H.H. Maharaja Meghrajji III of Dhrangadhra-Halvad , a KCIE died in August 2010, aged 87. Queen Elizabeth II was appointed to the Order of the Crown of India (then as Princess Elizabeth) and is the last surviving former member of that order. The Queen remains also the Sovereign of the Indian orders as they have never been abolished.
The Order of Burma was created in May 1940 by King George VI of the United Kingdom to recognise subjects of the British colony of Burma (Myanmar). This order had one class which entitled the member to the postnominal letters OB but no title. It was originally intended to reward long and faithful service by military and police. In 1945 the Royal Warrant was altered to allow for membership for acts of gallantry as well as meritorious service. The Order was one of the rarest awarded with only 33 appointments by the time appointments were discontinued in 1948 when Burma declared independence.
Orders formerly associated with the British monarch
Since 1841 (Hanoverian House Order)
Prince Regent (later George IV)
Nec Aspera Terrent (Not afraid of difficulties)
At the monarch's pleasure
The Royal Guelphic Order , also known as the Hanoverian Guelphic Order, was an honour founded by George, Prince Regent in the name of his father King George III in 1815. In the United Kingdom it was used only briefly, until the death of William IV in 1837 that resulted in the ending of the personal union with the Kingdom of Hanover due to succession to the throne of Hanover following the Salic Law, unlike in the United Kingdom where women could inheirit the throne. The order continued for some time as a national order of Hanover until the defeat and forced dissolution of the kingdom by Prussia in 1866. Since then the order has been a house order to be awarded by the House of Hanover . The order's current head is Ernst August Prinz von Hanover , head of the house of Hanover. The Order includes two Divisions, Civil and Military. During the personal union of the United Kingdom and Hanover it originally had three classes, but with several reorganizations since 1841 as house order today it has four classes and an additional Cross of Merit.
Decorations
The decorations awarded are, in order of wear: [15]
Complete name
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There are five ranks of hereditary peerage: Duke , Marquess , Earl, Viscount and Baron. Until the mid 20th century, peerages were usually hereditary (bar legal peerages - see below) and, until the end of the 20th century, English, British and UK peerages (except, until very recent times, those for the time being held by women) carried the right to a seat in the House of Lords.
Hereditary peerages are now normally only given to members of the Royal Family. The most recent were the grants to the Queen's youngest son, the Earl of Wessex , on his marriage in 1999, and to the Queen's grandson Prince William who was made the Duke of Cambridge on the morning before his marriage to Catherine Middleton on 29 April 2011. No hereditary peerages were granted to commoners after the Labour Party came to power in 1964, until Margaret Thatcher tentatively reintroduced them by two grants to men with no sons in 1983, respectively the Speaker of the House of Commons George Thomas and the former Deputy Prime Minister William Whitelaw . Both these titles died with their holders. She followed this with an Earldom in 1984 for the former Prime Minister Harold Macmillan not long before his death, reviving a traditional honour for former Prime Ministers. Macmillan's grandson succeeded him on his death in 1986. No hereditary peerages have been created since, and Thatcher's own title was a life peerage (see further explanation below). The concession of a baronetcy (i.e. hereditary knighthood), was granted to Margaret Thatcher's husband Denis following her resignation (explained below, see Baronet).
Hereditary peerages are not "honours under the crown" and so cannot be withdrawn. A peerage can only be revoked by an Act of Parliament. Most recently, when changes were made to the House of Lords register of interests, making further declarations mandatory, peers sitting in the house were allowed to disclaim their peerage in order to leave the house and avoid the register. Only 5 peers did so, and all were life peers.
Life peerage
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Modern life peerages were introduced under the Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876 , following a test case (the Wensleydale Peerage Case ) which established that non-statutory life peers would not have the right to sit in the House of Lords. At that time, life peerages were intended only for Law Lords , there being a desire to introduce legal expertise into the chamber to assist appellate law work, without conferring rights on future generations of these early working peers because the future generations might contain no legal experts.
Subsequently, under the Life Peerages Act 1958 , life peerages became the norm for all new grants outside the Royal Family, this being seen as a modest reform of the nature of the second legislative chamber. However, its effects were gradual because hereditary peers, and their successors, retained until recently their rights to attend and vote with the life peers. All hereditary peers except 92 – chosen in a secret ballot of all hereditary peers – have now lost their rights to sit in the second chamber. All hereditary peers retain dining rights to the House of Lords, retaining its title as "the best club in London".
All Life Peers hold the rank of Baron and automatically have the right to sit in the House of Lords. The title exists only for the duration of their own lifetime and is not passed to their heirs (although the children even of life peers enjoy the same courtesy titles as hereditary peers). Some life peerages are created as an honour for achievement, some for the specific purpose of introducing legislators from the various political parties (known as working peers) and some under the Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876, with a view to judicial work. There is a discrete number appointed as "People's Peers", on recommendation of the general public. Twenty-six Church of England bishops have a seat in the House of Lords.
As a life peerage is not technically an "honour under the Crown", it cannot be withdrawn once granted. Thus, while knighthoods have been withdrawn as "honours under the Crown", convicted criminals who have served their sentences have returned to the House of Lords. In the case of Lord Archer of Weston-super-Mare , he has chosen only to exercise dining rights and has yet to speak following his release from his conviction for perjury.
Baronetcy
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This is a hereditary honour carrying the title Sir. Baronetcies are not peerages; they are commonly (albeit incorrectly) considered a species of knighthood, albeit a senior one.[ citation needed ]
When a baronetcy becomes vacant on the death of a holder, the heir, if he wishes to be addressed as "Sir", is required to register the proofs of succession. The Official Roll of Baronets is kept at the Ministry of Justice (transferred from the Home Office in 2001) by the Registrar of the Baronetage. Anyone who considers that he is entitled to be entered on the roll may petition the Crown through the Lord Chancellor. Anyone succeeding to a baronetcy therefore must exhibit proofs of succession to the Lord Chancellor. [18] A person who is not entered on the roll will not be addressed or mentioned as a baronet or accorded precedence as a baronet, effectively declining the honour. The baronetcy can be revived at any time on provision of acceptable proofs of succession. [19] As of 2008, 158 baronetcies are listed as presumedly not extinct, but awaiting proofs of succession. [20]
As with hereditary peerages, baronetcies generally ceased to be granted after the Labour Party came to power in 1964. The sole subsequent exception was a baronetcy created in 1990 for the husband of Margaret Thatcher , Sir Denis Thatcher , later inherited by their son Mark Thatcher .
Knighthood
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Ribbon of a Knight Bachelor
Descended from mediaeval chivalry , knights exist both within the orders of chivalry and in a class known as Knights Bachelor . Regular recipients include High Court judges and senior civil servants. Knighthood carries the title Sir; the female equivalent Dame only exists within the orders of chivalry.
Order of St John
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Ribbon of the Order of St John
Members of the Most Venerable Order of St John of Jerusalem (founded 1888) may wear the Order's insignia but the ranks within the Order of St John do not confer official rank in the order of precedence and, likewise, the abbreviations or postnominal initials associated with the various grades of membership in the Order of St John do not indicate precedence among the other orders. Thus someone knighted in the order does not take precedence with the knights of other British orders nor should they be addressed as "Sir" or "Dame".
Other orders
Other British and Commonwealth orders, decorations and medals which do not carry titles but entitle the holder to place post-nominal letters after his or her name also exist, as do a small number of Royal Family Orders.
Honorary awards
For a more comprehensive list, see List of honorary British knights and dames .
Citizens of countries which do not have the Queen as their head of state sometimes have honours conferred upon them, in which case the awards are "honorary". In the case of knighthoods, the holders are entitled to place initials behind their name but not style themselves "Sir" as they are not entitled to receive the accolade . [21] [22] Examples of foreigners with honorary knighthoods are Billy Graham , Bill Gates , Bob Geldof , Bono and Rudolph Giuliani , while Arsène Wenger and Gérard Houllier are honorary OBEs. Honorary knighthoods arise from Orders of Chivalry rather than as Knights Bachelor as the latter confers no postnominal letters.
Recipients of honorary awards who later become subjects of Her Majesty may apply to convert their awards to substantive ones. [23] Examples of this are Marjorie Scardino , American CEO of Pearson PLC , and Yehudi Menuhin , the American-born violinist and conductor. They were granted an honorary damehood and knighthood respectively while still American citizens, and converted them to substantive awards after they assumed British nationality, becoming Dame Marjorie and Sir Yehudi. Menuhin later accepted a life peerage with the title Lord Menuhin.
Sir Tony O'Reilly , who holds both British and Irish nationality , [24] uses the style "Sir", but has also gained approval from the Irish Government to accept the award as is necessary under the Irish Constitution . [25] Elisabeth Schwarzkopf , the German soprano, became entitled to be known as "Dame Elisabeth" when she took British nationality. Irish-born Sir Terry Wogan was initially awarded an honorary knighthood, but by the time he collected the accolade from the Queen in December 2005, he had obtained dual nationality [24] and the award was upgraded to a substantive knighthood.
Bob Geldof is often erroneously referred to as "Sir Bob"; he is not entitled to this style as an honorary knight as he is a citizen of the Republic of Ireland.
There is no law in the UK preventing foreigners from holding a peerage (e.g. Newburgh ), though only Commonwealth and Irish citizens may sit in the House of Lords. This has yet to be tested under the new arrangements. However, some other countries have laws restricting the acceptances of awards granted to would-be recipients by foreign powers. In Canada, where the Canadian House of Commons has opposed the granting of titular honours with its Nickle Resolution , then Prime Minister Jean Chrétien advised the Queen not to grant Conrad Black a titular honour while he remained a Canadian citizen. [26]
Ceremony
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Each year, around 2,600 people receive their awards personally from The Queen or a member of the Royal Family . Approximately 22 investitures are held annually in Buckingham Palace, one or two at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh and one in Cardiff. There are approximately 120 recipients at each Investiture. The Queen usually conducts the investitures, although the Prince of Wales , The Princess Royal or, more recently, the Duke of Cambridge also hold some investitures on behalf of the Queen.
During the ceremony, the Queen enters the ballroom of Buckingham Palace attended by two Gurkha orderly officers, a tradition begun in 1876 by Queen Victoria . On duty on the dais are five members of the Queen's Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard , which was created in 1485 by Henry VII ; they are the oldest military corps in the United Kingdom. Four gentlemen ushers are on duty to help look after the recipients and their guests.
The Queen is escorted by either the Lord Chamberlain or the Lord Steward . After the National Anthem has been played, he stands to the right of the Queen and announces the name of each recipient and the achievement for which they are being decorated. The Queen is provided with a brief background for each recipient by her equerry as they approach to receive their award.
Those who are to be knighted kneel on an investiture stool to receive the accolade , which is bestowed by the Queen using the sword used by her father, George VI as Duke of York and Colonel of the Scots Guards . Occasionally an award for gallantry may be made posthumously and in this case the Queen presents the decoration or medal to the recipient's next-of-kin in private before the public investiture begins.
After the award ceremony, those honoured are ushered out of the Ballroom into the Inner Quadrangle of Buckingham Palace, where the Royal Rota of Photographers are stationed. Here recipients are photographed with their awards. In some cases, members of the press may interview some of the more well-known people who have received honours.
Refusal or forfeiture
For a more comprehensive list, see List of revocations of appointments to orders and awarded decorations and medals of the United Kingdom .
A small number of people each year refuse the offer of an award, usually for personal reasons. Conversely, honours are sometimes removed (forfeited), for example if a recipient is subsequently convicted of a criminal offence . The Honours Forfeiture Committee is an occasional committee convened under the chairmanship of the Head of the Home Civil Service , [27] to consider cases where information has been received which indicates an individual is unsuitable to hold an award. Sometimes the original decision to grant an honour was made on the basis of inaccurate information (including through manipulation of the public nominations system), but normally cases relate to actions that took place after the award was made. Recommendations are made to The Monarch of the United Kingdom, who has the sole authority to rescind an honour. [28]
In 2009, Gordon Brown confirmed [29] that the process remains as set out in 1994 by the then Prime Minister John Major in a written answer to the House of Commons:
The statutes of most orders of knighthood and the royal warrants of decorations and medals include provision for the Queen to "cancel and annul" appointments and awards. Cancellation is considered in cases where retention of the appointment or award would bring the honours system into disrepute. There are no set guidelines for cancellations, which are considered on a case-by-case basis. Since 1979, the London Gazette has published details of cancellations of 15 appointments and awards—three knighthoods, one CBE, five OBEs, four MBEs and two BEMs.
Notable examples of persons who forfeited their honours include:
Kaiser Wilhelm II was a Knight of the Garter prior to the start of the First World War, when it was revoked.
Emperor Hirohito of Japan was a Knight of the Garter prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor. It was revoked soon afterwards.
Anthony Blunt , knighted as Surveyor of the Queen's Pictures for his services to Art, lost his knighthood in the 1980s when he was revealed to be the "Fourth Man" in the early 1950s Burgess and Maclean spying scandal which also touched on the 1960s Philby spying affair, as a result of which he confessed to the security services. Although Blunt was never charged or convicted, the honour was withdrawn on the advice of the then Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher.
Roger Casement had been honoured for his human rights work while a British diplomat; however, upon being convicted on 30 June 1916 of High Treason for his role in the Irish 1916 Easter Rising , the King directed that Casement would cease to be a member of the Order of St Michael and St George, his name being stricken from the register, and letters patent were also issued "degrading" him "from the degree, title and dignity of Knight Bachelor". [30] He was executed that August.
Nicolae Ceauşescu forfeited his honorary knighthood that he earlier received for his friendship with Western democracies.
Albert Henry was the former Premier of the Cook Islands. He was later convicted of electoral fraud in the 1980s.
Terry Lewis , knighted for his services to Queensland police, was stripped of his knighthood in 1993 after being sentenced to prison on charges of corruption and forgery as a result of the findings of the Fitzgerald Inquiry .
Jack Lyons, who had received his knighthood for his huge charitable donations and services to industry, lost it when he was convicted of fraud in the 1980s.
Robert Mugabe was stripped of his honorary GCB after calls from the Government to the Royal Family due to the crisis in Zimbabwe under his régime, including hyperinflation , and violence in the 2008 Presidential elections.
Lester Piggott , the high-profile jockey, had his OBE removed after being convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for tax evasion.
Fred Goodwin , the former CEO of Royal Bank of Scotland had his knighthood annulled, after the Financial Services Authority found that the failure of RBS had an important role in the financial crisis of 2008-9, because Fred Goodwin was the dominant decision maker at the time.
James Crosby , former CEO of HBOS and non-Executive Director of the Financial Services Authority was formally stripped of his Knighthood at his request in April 2013 as the result of the banks collapse during the UK financial crisis.
Order of wear
Edit
Honours, decorations and medals are arranged in "order of wear", an official list [31] which describes the order in which they should be worn. Additional information on the social events at which an award may be worn is contained in the insignia case given to each recipient.
The list places the Victoria and George Crosses at the top, followed by the orders of knighthood arranged in order of date of creation. Individuals of a higher rank precede those of a lower rank. For instance, a Knight Grand Cross always precedes a Knight Commander. For those of equal rank, members of the higher-ranked Order take precedence. Within the same Order, precedence is accorded to that individual who received the honour earlier.
Not all orders have the same number of ranks. The Order of Merit, the Order of the Companions of Honour, the Distinguished Service Order and the Imperial Service Order are slightly different, being single-rank awards, and have been placed at appropriate positions of seniority. Knights Bachelor come after knights in the orders, but before those with the rank of Commander or lower.
Decorations are followed by medals of various categories, being arranged in date order within each section. These are followed by Commonwealth and honorary foreign awards of any level. Miscellaneous details are explained in notes at the bottom of the list.
The order of wear is not connected to and should not be confused with the Order of precedence .
Style
For peers, see Forms of address in the United Kingdom .
For baronets, the style Sir John Smith, Bt (or Bart) is used. Their wives are styled simply Lady Smith. The rare baronetess is styled Dame Jane Smith, Btss.
For knights, the style Sir John Smith, [ postnominals ] is used, attaching the proper postnominal letters depending on rank and order (for knights bachelor, no postnominal letters are used). Their wives are styled Lady Smith, with no postnominal letters. A dame is styled Dame Jane Smith, [postnominals]. More familiar references or oral addresses use the first name only, e.g. Sir John, or Dame Joan.
Wives of knights and baronets are officially styled Lady Smith, although customarily no courtesy title is automatically reciprocated to male consorts.
Recipients of orders, decorations and medals receive no styling of Sir or Dame, but they may attach the according postnominal letters to their name, e.g. John Smith, VC. Recipients of gallantry awards may be referred to in Parliament as "gallant", in addition to "honourable", "noble", etc.: The honourable and gallant Gentleman.
Bailiffs or Dames Grand Cross (GCStJ), Knights/Dames of Justice/Grace (KStJ/DStJ), Commander Brothers/Sisters (CStJ), Officer Brothers/Sisters (OStJ), Serving Brothers/Sisters (SBStJ/SSStJ)and Esquires (EsqStJ) of the Order of St John do not receive any special styling with regards to prenominal address i.e. Sir or Dame. They may, however, attach the relevant postnominal initials. In the Priory of Australia, the award of Serving Brother/Sister is no longer granted. The award now granted is referred to as Member of the Order of St John for both males and females.
For honours bestowed upon those in the entertainment industry (e.g., Anthony Hopkins , Maggie Smith ), it is an accepted practice to omit the title for professional credits. [32]
Reform
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Reforms of the system occur from time to time. In the last century notable changes to the system have included a Royal Commission in 1925 following the scandal in which Prime Minister David Lloyd George was found to be selling honours. The sale of British Honours, including titles is now prohibited by the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925 . There was a further review in 1993 when Prime Minister John Major created the public nominations system.
In July 2004, the Public Administration Select Committee (PASC) of the House of Commons and, concurrently, Sir Hayden Phillips, Permanent Secretary at the Department of Constitutional Affairs , both concluded reviews of the system. The PASC recommended some radical changes; Sir Hayden concentrated on issues of procedure and transparency. In February 2005 the Government responded to both reviews by issuing a Command paper detailing which of the proposed changes it had accepted. These included diversifying and opening up the system of honours selection committees for the Prime Minister's list and also the introduction of a miniature badge.
As of 2012, same-sex civil partners of individual recipients of British honours are not themselves granted honours by way of their partnered relation. In July 2012, Conservative MP Oliver Colvile announced a private member's bill , titled "Honours (Equality of Titles for Partners) Bill", to amend the honours system to both allow husbands of those made dames and for civil partners of recipients to receive honours by their relationship statuses. [33]
Controversies
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A scandal in the 1920s was the sale by Maundy Gregory of honours and peerages to raise political funds for David Lloyd George .
In 1976, the Harold Wilson era was mired by controversy over the 1976 Prime Minister's Resignation Honours , which became known as the "Lavender List".
Main article: Cash for Honours
In 2006 the Sunday Times newspaper revealed that every donor who had given £1,000,000 or more to the Labour Party since 1997 was given a Knighthood or a Peerage. On top of this, the government had given honours to 12 of the 14 individuals who have given Labour more than £200,000 and of the 22 who donated more than £100,000, 17 received honours. An investigation by the Crown Prosecution Service did not lead to any charges being made.
See also
| Queen Victoria |
Who was named ‘Time Magazine’s Man of the Year’ in 1940? | British Monarchy – twiggietruth
King George V 3 June 1865 – The Man with the spooky Eyes
George was born on 3 June 1865, in Marlborough House, London. His full name was George Frederick Ernest Albert.
He was the second son of the Prince and Princess of Wales, Albert Edward & Alexandra (later King Edward VII & Queen Alexandra).
His father was the eldest son of Queen Victoria & Prince Albert, and his mother was the eldest daughter of King Christian IX of Denmark. As a son of the Prince of Wales, George was styled His Royal Highness Prince George of Wales at birth.
As a younger son of the Prince of Wales, there was little expectation that George would become king. He was third in line to the throne, after his father & elder brother, Prince Albert Victor. Albert Victor died aged 28 from influenza in the pandemic of 1889–92.
Portrait photograph of Prince George of Wales, later King George V, wearing a Lieutenant Naval uniform, 1886
Three-quarter length portrait photograph of Prince George of Wales wearing his Lieutenant Naval uniform with the Star of the Order of the Garter. The Prince is holding a pair of white gloves and the handle of his sword in his left hand, and has his right hand resting on a table.
The Duke and Duchess of York (later George V & Queen Mary) on their wedding day 6 Jul 1893
Photograph of the Duke and Duchess of York, later King George V and Queen Mary: full length portrait, Princess Mary seated in her wedding gown of ivory silk satin, trimmed with Honiton lace and orange blossom. The Duke in full military uniform decorated with many orders.
Photograph of King George V, when George Duke of York, standing in left side profile as he holds his infant son, Prince Edward of York, who later became King Edward VIII then the Duke of Windsor.
The portrait was probably taken when Prince Edward was Christened at White Lodge, Richmond, on the 16th July 1894 by the Richmond firm of photographers, Gunn and Stuart.
The Duke and Duchess of York (later King George V & Queen Mary) at the Devonshire House Ball, 2 Jul 1897.
Photograph of King George V when Duke of York standing facing the viewer and wearing fancy dress costume in the 16th Century style. On his right stands Queen Mary when Duchess of York also standing, facing the viewer and wearing a pearl necklace with Warwick sun brooch.
On her bodice she wears the necklace that was a wedding gift from the ‘Ladies of England’. She also wears the Kensington Bow brooch and the Dorset Bow brooch.
George, Duke of York (later George V) & Nicholas II of Russia (Nikolai II), Jul 1893
Queen Victoria with the Duke and Duchess of York (later King George V & Queen Mary), 12 Aug 1893
George, Duke of York, later King George V, as Captain on HMS Crescent Jun or Aug 1898 He holds telescope in right hand; taken on deck of HMS Crescent.
Prince George of Wales, later King George V, wearing Full Field Marshal’s Uniform, 1905
Photograph showing half length portrait of Prince George of Wales. He faces three-quarters left and wears Full Field Marshall’s uniform with the Order of the Bath, Thistle and St. George.
The Prince and Princess of Wales (later King George V & Queen Mary) and their six children. The Prince and the older boys wear Highland dress, which was usually worn at Balmoral so presumably this photograph was taken at Balmoral; within archway.
Photograph of King George V & Queen Mary with their six children (from left to right): Princess Mary (later Princess Royal) (b.1897-d.1965), Prince John (b.1905-d.19), in his mother’s arms, Prince Henry, later Duke of Gloucester (b.1900-d.74) (seated), Prince George, later Duke of Kent (b.1902- d.42). Prince Edward (later King Edward VIII, then Duke of Windsor) (b.1894-d.1972), Prince Albert (later King George VI) (b.1895-d.1952).
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King Edward VII, King George V, when Prince of Wales, and Nicholas II, Emperor of Russia on the deck of the Russian Imperial Yacht Standart during the Cowes Regatta, 1909
The ageing King Edward VII stands at the centre of the group, with the Prince of Wales (George V) to the left & Nicholas II to the right. All are wearing ceremonial naval uniform & holding swords.
In August 1909 Nicholas II, Emperor of Russia & his family attended the annual Cowes Regatta. Their visit was hosted by King Edward VII, an uncle of the Emperor.
Photograph of King Edward VII (b.1841-d.1910), the Prince of Wales (b.1865-d.1936), later King George V, & Nicholas II, Emperor of Russia (b.1868-d.1918) on the deck of the Russian Imperial Yacht Standart during the Cowes Regatta, Isle of White 1909
On 6 May 1910, King Edward VII died, and George became king. He wrote in his diary, “I have lost my best friend and the best of fathers … I never had a [cross] word with him in my life. I am heart-broken and overwhelmed with grief but God will help me in my responsibilities and darling May will be my comfort as she has always been. May God give me strength and guidance in the heavy task which has fallen on me”.
George had never liked his wife’s habit of signing official documents and letters as “Victoria Mary” and insisted she drop one of those names. They both thought she should not be called Queen Victoria, and so she became Queen Mary. Later that year, a radical propagandist, Edward Mylius, published a lie that George had secretly married in Malta as a young man, and that consequently his marriage to Queen Mary was bigamous. The lie had first surfaced in print in 1893 but George had shrugged it off as a joke. In an effort to kill off rumours, Mylius was arrested, tried and found guilty of criminal libel, and was sentenced to a year in prison.
George objected to the anti-Catholic wording of the Accession Declaration that he would be required to make at the opening of his first parliament. He made it known that he would refuse to open parliament as long as he was obliged to make the declaration in its current form. As a result the Accession Declaration Act 1910 shortened the declaration and removed the most offensive phrases.
King George and Queen Mary at the Delhi Durbar, 1911
George and Mary’s coronation took place at Westminster Abbey on 22 June 1911, and was celebrated by theFestival of Empire in London. In July, the King and Queen visited Ireland for five days; they received a warm welcome, with thousands of people lining the route of their procession to cheer.
Reign 1910
HM King George V and Queen Mary at the Red Fort during the Delhi Durbar, Dec 1911
Photograph of King George V wearing Coronation robes and the Imperial Crown of India turns, smiling, to face the viewer. On his left is seated Queen Mary who also turns to face the viewer. She wears the Durbar diadem and State robes. In the foreground are seated Indian boys and men dressed in traditional Indian costume. Photographed in the Red Fort, Coronation Park.
The Delhi Durbar, was a mass assembly at Coronation Park, Delhi, India, to mark the succession of an Emperor or Empress of India. Also known as the Imperial Durbar, it was held three times, in 1877, 1903, and 1911, at the height of the British Empire. The 1911 Durbar was the only one attended by the sovereign, who was George V. The term was derived from common Mughal term durbar.
Formal portrait of George, Duke of York (later King George V wearing formal dress with Garter Star and the Order of Malta Cross.
House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
The House of Windsor is the royal house of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms. It was founded by King George V by royal proclamation on 17 July 1917, when he changed the name of the British Royal Family from the German Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (a branch of the House of Wettin) to the English Windsor, due to the anti-German sentiment in the British Empire during World War I
King George V and Queen Mary with the Duke and Duchess of York on board the Royal Yacht, Cowes circa 1935. Photograph showing King George V and Queen Mary, the Duke of York (later George VI) and the Duchess of York (later Queen Elizabeth) on board the Royal Yacht, Cowes, Isle of Wight
Titles and styles
3 June 1865 – 24 May 1892: His Royal Highness Prince George of Wales
24 May 1892 – 22 January 1901: His Royal Highness The Duke of York
22 January 1901 – 9 November 1901: His Royal Highness The Duke of Cornwall and York
9 November 1901 – 6 May 1910: His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales
in Scotland: His Royal Highness The Duke of Rothesay
6 May 1910 – 20 January 1936: His Majesty The King
and, occasionally, outside of the United Kingdom, and with regard to India: His Imperial Majesty The King-Emperor
His full style as king was “His Majesty George V, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India” until the Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act 1927, when it changed to “His Majesty George V, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas, King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India”.
British honours
KG: Knight of the Garter, 4 August 1884
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry and the third most prestigious honour (after the Victoria Cross and George Cross) in England and of the United Kingdom, and is dedicated to the image and arms of St. George as England’s patron saint.
KT: Knight of the Thistle, 5 July 1893
KP: Knight of St Patrick, 20 August 1897
The Most Illustrious Order of Saint Patrick is a dormant British order of chivalry associated with Ireland. The Order was created in 1783 by George III at the request of the then Lord-Lieutenant, Lord Buckingham. The regular creation of knights of Saint Patrick lasted until 1921, when most of Ireland became independent as the Irish Free State.
GCSI: Knight Grand Commander of the Star of India, 28 September 1905
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:
Knight Grand Commander (GCSI)
Companion (CSI)
GCMG: Knight Grand Cross of St Michael and St George, 9 March 1901
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is a British order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later King George IV,[1][2] while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, King George III.
It is named in honour of two military saints, St Michael and St George.
GCIE: Knight Grand Commander of the Indian Empire, 28 September 1905
GCVO: Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, 30 June 1897
The Imperial Service Order was established by King Edward VII in August 1902. It was awarded on retirement to the administration and clerical staff of the Civil Service throughout the British Empire for long and meritorious service.
Royal Victorian Chain, 1902
The Royal Victorian Chain is an award instituted in 1902 by King Edward VII as a personal award of the monarch (i.e. not an award made on the advice of any Commonwealth realm government). Although it is similarly named (and has a similar insignia and ribbon), the chain is not an award of the Royal Victorian Order.
PC: Privy Counsellor, 18 July 1894
Her Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the sovereign in the United Kingdom. Its membership is mostly made up of senior politicians who are (or have been) members of either the House of Commons or the House of Lords.
Privy Counsellor (Ireland), 20 August 1897
Queen Victoria Golden Jubilee Medal, with 1897 bar
The Golden Jubilee Medal was instituted in 1887 by Royal Warrant as a British decoration to be awarded to participants of Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee celebrations.
King Edward VII Coronation Medal
The King Edward VII Coronation Medal was a commemorative medal issued in 1902 to commemorate the coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra.
Military appointments
September 1877: Cadet, HMS Britannia
8 January 1880: Midshipman, HMS Bacchante and the corvette HMS Canada
3 June 1884: Sub-Lieutenant, Royal Navy
8 October 1885: Lieutenant, HMS Thunderer; HMS Dreadnought; HMS Alexandra; HMS Northumberland
21 June 1887: Personal Aide-de-Camp to the Queen
July 1889 I/C HMS Torpedo Boat 79
By May 1890 I/C the gunboat HMS Thrush
24 August 1891: Commander, I/C HMS Melampus
2 January 1893: Captain, Royal Navy
1 January 1901: Rear-Admiral, Royal Navy
25 February 1901: Personal Naval Aide-de-Camp to the King
26 June 1903: Vice-Admiral, Royal Navy
1 March 1907: Admiral, Royal Navy
1910: Admiral of the Fleet, Royal Navy
1910: Field Marshal, British Army
1919: Chief of the Royal Air Force (title not rank)
1 January 1901: Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Marine Forces
29 November 1901: Honorary Colonel of the 4th County of London Yeomanry Regiment (King′s Colonials)
21 December 1901: Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers
Foreign honours
Knight of the Order of the Elephant (Denmark), 11 October 1885
Badge of the Order of the Dannebrog (Denmark)
Knight of the Order of the Seraphim (Sweden), 14 June 1905
Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece (Spain)
Order of Saint Hubert (Bavaria)
Knight of the Order of the Most Holy Annunciation (Italy)
House Order of Hohenzollern (Prussia)
Order of the Wendish Crown (Mecklenburg)
Order of Osmanieh (Ottoman Empire)
Order of St. Andrew (Russian Empire)
Knight of the Order of the Black Eagle (Prussia)
Saxe-Ernestine House Order (Saxe-Coburg)
Knight of the Order of the Rue Crown (Saxony)
Order of the Red Eagle (Prussia)
Order of the White Falcon (Saxe Weimar)
Badge of the Order of the Redeemer (2nd type) (Greece)
King Christian IX Jubilee Medal (Denmark)
King Christian IX and Queen Louise of Denmark Golden Wedding Commemorative Medal (Denmark)
Cross of Liberty (Estonia), 1st class, 17 June 1925
Grand Cross of the Order of the Colonial Empire (Portugal), 19 February 1934
Honorary foreign military appointments
1 February 1901: À la suite of the German Navy
26 January 1902: Colonel-in-Chief of the Rhenish Cuirassier Regiment “Count Geßler” No. 8 (Kingdom of Prussia)
Honorary degrees and offices
8 June 1893: Royal Fellow of the Royal Society,installed 6 February 1902
1899: Doctor of Laws (LLD), University of the Cape of Good Hope
1901: Doctor of Laws (LLD), University of Sydney
1901: Doctor of Laws (LLD), University of Toronto
1901: Doctor of Civil Law (DCL), Queen’s University, Ontario
1902: Doctor of Laws (LLD), University of Wales
1901: Chancellor of the University of Cape Town
1901–1912: Chancellor of the University of the Cape of Good Hope
1902–1910: Chancellor of the University of Wales
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The Royal Order of Victoria & Albert was a British Royal Family Order instituted on 10 February 1862 by Queen Victoria, & enlarged on 10 October 1864; 15 November 1865; & 15 March 1880. No awards were made after the death of Queen Victoria.
The order had four classes & was only granted to female members of the British Royal Family & female courtiers. For the first three classes, the badge consisted of a medallion of Queen Victoria & Albert, The Prince Consort, differing in the width & jewelling of the border as the classes descend, whilst the fourth substitutes a jeweled cipher. All four were surmounted by a crown, which was attached to a bow of white silk moiré ribbon. The honour conferred no rank or title upon the recipient, but recipients were entitled to use the post-nominal letters “VA”.
The last holder of the Order, Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, died in 1981.
Like other British Orders which have fallen into disuse, it has never been formally abolished. Each British monarch since Victoria has become Sovereign of the Order upon accession to the throne. The current monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, thus has been Sovereign of the Order since 1952.
There are too many recipients to mention, but here are a few; .
Victoria, Princess Royal, German Empress (21 November 1840 – 5 August 1901)
Queen Alexandra (1 December 1844 – 20 November 1925) .
Queen Mary (26 May 1867 – 24 March 1953) .
Among the Foreign recipients were;
Louise of Hesse-Kassel, Queen of Denmark (7 September 1817 – 29 September 1898) .
Augusta Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein, German empress and queen of Prussia (22 October 1858 – 11 April 1921) .
Alexandra Feodorovna (Alix of Hesse), Empress consort of Russia (6 June 1872 – 17 July 1918) .
Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands (31 August 1880 – 28 November 1962) .
Royal Family Order
The Royal Family Order is an order awarded by the sovereign of a monarchy to female members of the royal family, as female members of the royal family typically do not wear the commemorative medals that men wear.
The order is more of a personal memento rather than a state decoration although it can be worn during state occasions. The only way to know who the order has been given to is to see the recipient wearing it.
The first Royal Family Order was issued during & after the regency of George IV. Prior to 1820, he started the practice of presenting the order to ladies & gentlemen of the Court, particularly female members of the Royal family. His order was rather ornate in appearance, & the frame that surrounded his portrait was of diamond oak leaves & acorns. The badge was suspended from a white silk bow which varied for men & women. As a young woman, Princess Victoria of Kent (later Queen Victoria) received this badge from her uncle.
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Lahar is an Indonesian term that describes a hot or cold mixture of water and rock fragments flowing from what? | USGS: Volcano Hazards Program
Volcano Hazards Program
VHP Publications
Lahars move rapidly down valleys like rivers of concrete.
If you are on the floor of a valley that leads from a volcano and become aware of an oncoming lahar, seek high ground.
Lahar is an Indonesian term that describes a hot or cold mixture of water and rock fragments that flows down the slopes of a volcano and typically enters a river valley. Small seasonal events are sometimes referred to as "debris flows", especially in the Cascades. Lahars generally occur on or near stratovolcanoes, such as those of the Aleutian volcanic arc in Alaska and the Cascade Range in the Western U.S.
A moving lahar looks like a roiling slurry of wet concrete, and as it rushes downstream, the size, speed, and amount of material carried can constantly change. The initial flow may be relatively small, but a lahar may grow in volume as it entrains and incorporates anything in its path – rocks, soil, vegetation, and even buildings and bridges. The flowing slurry may consume additional water through melting of snow and ice or by engulfing river or lake water. Voluminous lahars commonly grow to more than 10 times their initial size as they move downslope. In steep areas lahar speeds can exceed 200 km/hr (120 mi/hr), but as they move farther away from a volcano and decelerates in lowland areas, they eventually begins to deposit some of the load and decrease in size.
Lahars can occur with or without a volcanic eruption.
Eruptions may trigger lahars by melting snow and ice or by ejecting water from a crater lake. Pyroclastic flows can generate lahars when extremely hot, flowing rock debris erodes, mixes with, and melts snow and ice as it travel rapidly down steep slopes.
Lahars can also be formed when high-volume or long-duration rainfall occurs during or after an eruption. On steep slopes, rainwater can easily erode and transport fine-grained, loose volcanic sediment and form a slurry, especially if vegetation has not had time to grow back on recent volcanic deposits.
Some of the largest lahars begin as landslides of wet, hydrothermally altered rock on the steep flanks of volcanoes. These types of collapse and resultant lahars are natural events during a stratovolcano 's life history and can occur long after it stops erupting.
Lake breakout floods that occur without an eruption can also lead to lahars . They commonly occur after a stream becomes blocked by a volcanic landslide or pyroclastic flow that forms a natural dam. The most frequent cause of a lake breakout is the overflow of water across a newly formed natural dam, followed by rapid erosion of the loose rock debris. By further erosion and entrainment of sediment and water, the initial flood can transform into a slurry and increase in volume as it races downvalley.
Lahars and excess sediment cause serious economic and environmental damage to river valleys and flood plains.
Large lahars can crush, abrade, bury, or carry away almost anything in their paths. Buildings and valuable land may be partially or completely buried. By destroying bridges and roads, lahars can also trap people in areas vulnerable to other hazardous volcanic activity, especially if the lahars leave fresh deposits that are too deep, too soft, or too hot to cross.
Over a period of weeks to years after a volcanic eruption, the erosion and transportation of loose volcanic deposits can lead to severe flooding in areas far downstream from a volcano. Intense rainfall easily erodes loose sediment on steep slopes to produce lahars that travel onto flood plains and bury entire towns and valuable agricultural land. These rainfall-induced lahars can wreak havoc on rivers and streams, sometimes depositing so much sediment that chronic flooding also becomes a problem.
Seasonal debris flows commonly occur on glacier-clad volcanoes.
Ice-clad volcanoes are common locations for the initiation of small debris flows, owing to their steep slopes, abundant loose rocks and surface water, and diurnal, seasonal, and long-term variability of surface water flow. These events have some seasonality—one population of events occurs after the snowpack has diminished during mid-to late summer, and the other is triggered by early-season intense rains of winter before the snowpack has accumulated. The Cascades Volcano Observatory offers additional information about these events.
Research addresses lahar trigger mechanisms, flow dynamics, forecasting, and improved warning systems.
To understand lahars , scientists observe and quantify what happens when these events occur naturally, derive equations to describe lahar behavior, and perform controlled experiments in a 310-foot (95-m) long debris flow flume. The results help us to understand flow dynamics and develop improved technologies for mitigating the destructive effects of lahars and other debris flows.
Because of the danger presented by lahars , scientists are ready to deploy lahar-detection systems when eruptions are imminent. Officials near Mount Rainier in Washington State maintain a permanent lahar-detection system and accompanying public notification system.
Find out more about lahar safety in the .
Additional information about lahars
| Volcano (1997 film) |
In July 1992, Yitzhak Rabin became Prime Minister of which country? | Vulnerable Populations At-Risk to Mount Rainier Lahars
Vulnerable Populations At-Risk to Mount Rainier Lahars
description:
Mount Rainier poses as severe threat to the people that live and work in the Puget Sound region should it ever erupt. Mount Rainier,is a stratovolcano that when it erupts will generate a lahar that would impact much of the populated areas of Pierce County, WA.
This map focuses on the impact such a lahar would potentially have on the vulnerable populations that exist within Pierce County, WA. Vulnerable populations studied and mapped include daycares, schools, and nursing homes. A list of the sources of this data are included below.
What is a Lahar?
Lahar is an Indonesian term that describes a hot or cold mixture of water and rock fragments flowing down the slopes of a volcano and (or) river valleys. When moving, a lahar looks like a mass of wet concrete that carries rock debris ranging in size from clay to boulders more than 10 m in diameter. Lahars vary in size and speed. Small lahars less than a few meters wide and several centimeters deep may flow a few meters per second. Large lahars hundreds of meters wide and tens of meters deep can flow several tens of meters per second--much too fast for people to outrun. Lahars almost always occur on or near stratovolcanoes (such as Mount Rainier) because this type of volcano tends to erupt explosively and their tall, steep cones are either snow covered, topped with a crater lake, constructed of weakly
consolidated rock debris that is easily eroded, or internally weakened by hot hydrothermal fluids. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey; http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hazards/lahar/)
When Disasters Strike, Who is Vulnerable?
Individuals in need of additional response assistance before, during, and after a disaster.
These include people with disabilities, people who live in institutionalized settings, the
elderly, children, people from diverse cultures, have limited English proficiency
or are non-English speaking, and people who lack adequate transportation.
(Source: FEMA- National Response Framework; http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/32230?id=7371)
Data Sources:
U.S. Geological Survey; Open-File Report 2007-1220, Digital Data for Volcano Hazards from Mount Rainier, Washington, Revised 1998, http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2007/1220/data.html
Washington State Geospatial Data Archive (WAGDA); Pierce County GIS Data; http://wagda.lib.washington.edu/
Child Care Aware of Tacoma/Pierce County; http://www.cityoftacoma.org/cms/one.aspx?objectId=9098
Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction; Washington State Report Card; http://reportcard.ospi.k12.wa.us/summary.aspx?year=2011-12
Washington State Department of Social & Health Services; Nursing Home Locator; https://fortress.wa.gov/dshs/adsaapps/lookup/NHAdvLookup.aspx
type:
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Jirisan National Park lies in which Asian country? | Jirisan National Park | Gyeongsang Guide | Rough Guides
Jirisan National Park
Asia » South Korea » Gyeongsang » Jirisan National Park
Korea’s largest national park, JIRISAN (지리산 국립 공원), pulls in hikers from all over the country, attracted by the dozen peaks measuring over 1000m in height, which includes Cheonwangbong, the South Korean mainland’s highest. It has also found fame for its resident bear population; a park camera spotted an Asiatic Black Bear wandering around in 2002, almost two decades after the last confirmed Korean sighting. The bear group was located and placed under protection, and continue to breed successfully. Although you’re extremely unlikely to see them, it lends the park’s various twists and turns an extra dash of excitement – nowhere else in Korea will you be fretting over the sound of a broken twig. Jirisan is one of the only national parks in the country with an organized system of overnight shelters – there are few more atmospheric places to fall asleep in this corner of Korea. This makes multiday hikes an exciting possibility; one popular route heads across the main spine of the park from east to west, and takes three days to walk. There are large peaks all the way along this central ridge, from which numerous picturesque valleys drop down to the fields and foothills below. It’s impossible to detail all of the possible hikes and sights in the park, better instead to arm yourself with the park map (available at park entrances and nearby tourist offices for W1000) and find your own lofty piece of paradise.
The park actually sprawls across three provinces, with its most popular access point – the temple of Hwa-eomsa – on the west of the park, and actually located across the provincial border in Jeonnam. The eastern side of Jirisan, in Gyeongnam province, lacks such a focal point – there are dozens of entrances, but though none are particularly popular or easy to get to, this usually makes for a quieter visit than you’d get at other national parks. One of the most popular trails is up from Ssanggyesa (쌍계사), a beautifully located temple at the south of the park. There’s little of historical note here, bar a stone tablet apparently dating from 887, but the surroundings are delightful, particularly in the early morning before the sun has risen beyond Jirisan’s muscular peaks; it may also be Korea’s noisiest temple in terms of birdlife. Daewonsa (대원사) is another pretty temple, this one on the park’s eastern fringe, and also has trails leading up to the peaks.
Gyeongsang
| South Korea |
In June 1991, the first Sonic the Hedgehog game was published by which video game company? | Hiking Korea’s Treasured Jirisan ParkDestinAsian | DestinAsian
By Rachel Will - March 4, 2014
Cho Hoe-eun, owner of the Persimmons Flower in May guesthouse.
Paper lanterns at Silsangsa temple.
Prayer halls on the grounds of Silsangsa temple.
A view of the Jirisan range on the climb to Baraebong Peak.
Namulbap (rice infused with mountain herbs) with beef patties, deodeok root, and condiments at Jirisan Namulbap restaurant in Inwol.
Hikers on the section of trail between Inwol and Unbong.
Tracing country roads and old village paths, the Jirisan Dullegil comprises a diverse range of walking routes, though trekkers looking for untamed wilderness can easily veer onto the mountain itself.
The writer inspects a sign on the trail.
A bridge pavilion at Cheoneunsa temple.
Ornate carvings adorn the roofs of temples.
Click image to view full size
A trail network encircling the foothills of Jirisan National Park provides adventurous walkers with a steady diet of bucolic scenery, rural hospitality, and farm-fresh food, all set against the rugged backdrop of South Korea’s second-highest mountain
By Jonathan Hopfner
Photographs by Craig C. Lewis
Even in a country covered with mountains, some peaks loom larger in the imagination than others. Over years of visiting and living in South Korea I had climbed ridges overlooking the frozen border with the North, scrabbled up volcanic cones on subtropical Jeju Island, and hiked the densely wooded slopes of the peninsula’s interior.
But I had studiously avoided Jirisan, the highest mountain on the South Korean mainland. Beloved by trekkers for its scenic beauty but notorious for its grueling trails, Jirisan, the only place in the country with a native bear population, had always struck me as a tad too wild.
Then I got wind of the Jirisan Dullegil, a recently completed, 300-kilometer-long circuit of walking trails that rings the mountain’s base, rolling gently through Korea’s largely rural southwest. Promising abundant scenery, quaint farming villages, and some of the tastiest food in the country, a stroll on the Dullegil sounded like the perfect way to experience Jirisan’s natural wonders—from a respectful distance.
And so I find myself on a high-speed train from Seoul, hurtling toward the southern city of Namwon on a warm autumn day. Returning to Korea is always a pleasure for me, but never more so than in fall, when, as the local saying goes, the “sky is high and the horses are fat.” As Seoul’s gray sprawl gives way to a vast dome of blue sky and rice fields ripened to a burnished gold, the expression couldn’t be more apt.
Just under three hours by rail from the capital, Namwon is one of several gateways to Jirisan National Park, whose 472 square kilometers range across three different provinces—North Jeolla, South Jeollanam, and South Gyeongsang. The park was established in 1967 as South Korea’s first such preserve, a rare acknowledgement of the possibilities of leisure by the development-obsessed dictator then running the country, Park Chung-hee. Jirisan also marks the southernmost point of the massive Baekdudaegan (White Head Great Ridge) range, a chain of peaks that stretches all the way to North Korea’s border with China.
For those expecting the train doors to open onto untrammeled wilderness, Namwon’s drab cityscape can be a bit of a letdown. But after climbing into a taxi and enduring a few minutes of blaring horns and crowded roundabouts, Hong Kong–based photographer Craig Lewis and I are zipping eastward down a highway into the bucolic district of Sannae (literally, “inside mountain”), overshadowed by an undulating wave of tree-thick hills. Pulling up to a quiet cluster of houses a stone’s throw from a somnolent-looking town hall, we get our first taste of local hospitality when the owner of the minbak (guesthouse) we’ve booked, the lyrically named Persimmons Flower in May, races out to meet us, fussing over our bags and pelting us with offers of food and refreshments.
After reassuring her that we aren’t on the brink of starvation, Cho Hoe-eun ushers us through sturdy wooden gates to an 80-year-old house that embraces a courtyard and an unruly garden. The house’s walls are of the yellow earth (hwangto) favored in the oldest Korean homes, supported by rough-hewn timber and scrawled with flowers and other motifs. Sliding doors open onto small rooms where bedding is rolled out on the floor, warmed from underneath by a wood-burning furnace. It’s cozy, unassuming, and a little ramshackle. In other words, perfect.
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Which country has the largest number of UNESCO World Heritage sites? | Countries with the Largest Number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites - best, most, greatest of everything ranked User Contributed Rankings - ShareRanks.com
Countries with the Largest Number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites
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Everything that we have today came from our past. Our cultures and heritages are the source of our identity. Regardless of who we are or where we are from, we each have our own unique identity to share with others. Below is a list of countries that have the largest number of UNESCO World heritage sites to share with the entire world.
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2.
China
Although an empire that started with the First Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang in 221 BC, China’s rich history dated back over 500.000 years ago to the time of the Peking Man. Even though she is not listed as the top ranking country with World heritage sites, with the number of sites that are on the “Tentative list”, she could easily surpass every country in the world with her rich cultural heritages. Some of her legacies are: • Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian • Mausoleum of the First Qin Emporer • Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in Beijing and Shenyang • The Great Wall • Temple and Cemetery of Confucius, and the Kong Family Mansion in Qufu • Historic Monuments of Macao
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France
Decorated Grottoes of the Vézère Valley Vézelay, Church and Hill Palace and Park of Versailles Chartres Cathedral Mont-Saint-Michel and its Bay Cistercian Abbey of Fontenay Arles, Roman and Romanesque Monuments Roman Theatre and its Surroundings and the "Triumphal Arch" of Orange Amiens Cathedral Palace and Park of Fontainebleau From the Great Saltworks of Salins-les-Bains to the Royal Saltworks of Arc-et-Senans, the production of open-pan salt Gulf of Porto: Calanche of Piana, Gulf of Girolata, Scandola Reserve Abbey Church of Saint-Savin sur Gartempe Place Stanislas, Place de la Carrière, and Place d'Alliance in Nancy Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct) Strasbourg-Grande îsle Cathedral of Notre-Dame, Former Abbey of Saint-Remi and Palace of Tau, Reims Paris, Banks of the Seine
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Spain
The Spanish were also a power to be reckoned with during the middle ages. Thus, she possesses some of richest cultural sites that can be seen in the world. • Tower of Hercules • Alhambra, Generalife and Albayzin, Granada • Monastery and Site of the Escurial, Madrid • Burgos Cathedral • Works of Antoni Gaudí • Historic Centre of Cordoba • Historic City of Toledo
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Italy
Currently at the top of list is this country. Not surprising as this country represented the centre of the Roman Empire as well as the centre of Christendom. Some of the heritage sites in this country are: • Historic Centre of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura • Church and Dominican Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie with "The Last Supper" by Leonardo da Vinci • Historic Centre of Florence • Piazza Del Duomo, Pisa • Venice and its Lagoon • Archaeological Areas of Pompei, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata
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Turkey
Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia, Great Mosque and Hospital of Divrigi, Hattusha: the Hittite Capital, Nemrut Mountain, Hierapolis–Pamukkale, Xanthos Letoon, City of Safranbolu, Archaeological Site of Troy, Selimiye Mosque and its Social Complex, Neolithic Site of Çatalhöyük, Historic Areas of Istanbul...
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18.
Germany
Roman Monuments, Cathedral of St. Peter and Church of Our Lady in Trier Frontiers of the Roman Empire Hanseatic City of Lübeck Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin Abbey and Altenmünster of Lorsch
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| Italy |
What is the title of late actress Elizabeth Taylor’s last feature film? | Which Country has the Most UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Which Country has the Most UNESCO World Heritage Sites
04 Oct, 2011 facts
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A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a location that is selected by a special committee for its cultural or natural significance. The committee was established in 1972 and nominated sites must meet a specific set of criteria. There are over 930 World Heritage Sites on Earth and the majority of these (about 720) are sites of cultural significance. The idea behind the World Heritage Sites is to protect these important locations for generations to come. A site can also receive funding from the organization to help with preserving and protecting the area. A site can lose its status if it is not managed or protected properly, such as a natural site being damaged by logging. As of 2011 there have only been two sites removed from the list. Let’s take a look at the country with the most World Heritage Sites.
The country with the most World Heritage Sites
Italy is the country with the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites. As of November 2011, the country has a total of 47 sites. 3 of these sites are shared with other countries. The first site in Italy was the Rock Drawings in Valcamonica that were listed in 1979 and they were the 94th site listed by UNESCO. They are one of the largest collections of ancient rock drawings in the world.
The country with the second most number of World Heritage sites is Spain (43) and the third most is China (41). They are the only other countries with over 40 World Heritage Sites.
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Which British darts player is known as The Crafty Cockney? | Eric _, darts player known as the Crafty Cockney - crossword puzzle clues & answers - Dan Word
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Eric _, darts player known as the Crafty Cockney
Today's crossword puzzle clue is a general knowledge one: Eric _, darts player known as the Crafty Cockney. We will try to find the right answer to this particular crossword clue. Here are the possible solutions for "Eric _, darts player known as the Crafty Cockney" clue. It was last seen in British general knowledge crossword. We have 1 possible answer in our database.
Possible answer:
| Eric Bristow |
A group of which birds is known as an Exultation? | Patrick Chaplin: Eric Bristow - The Crafty Cockney The Autobiography
Patrick Chaplin: Book & Product Reviews
Eric Bristow -
The Crafty Cockney The Autobiography
Over two decades on from his first venture into biography in 1985, so much has happened to Eric Bristow most of which not even the brash 26-year old back then could have predicted.
Deryk Brown’s biography of the then three-time Embassy world champion and four-time World Master (The Official Biography of Eric Bristow – The Crafty Cockney, (London: Queen Anne Press, 1985) left us with the press wondering if Eric and Maureen Flowers would be married soon and Eric looking forward to more world titles yet predicting in the closing chapter that John Lowe would be at the top ‘for another four or five years’.
Brown also wrote ‘If a middle-aged man … brings in [to The Crafty Cockney pub] an awkward, stringy lad … with a rare style when he chucks darts, Bristow will be up at that hockey in a trice. If a kid has got the will, and the nerve, and the personality he can sometimes go a long way.’ Ironically, Brown added, ‘What Bristow achieves over the next ten years depends more on the way darts develops than on Bristow himself.’
In actuality it was Bristow himself (or rather the attack of dartitis) that dictated much of the future of this former world number one. A lot can happen in twenty-plus years and today nothing is the same for Eric. His relationship with Maureen Flowers disintegrated years ago and John Lowe (like Bristow) is still very much with us. The ‘kid with the will’ turned out to be Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor who Eric took under his wing and – in his own words – ‘turned into a monster’.
When I talked to Eric briefly in Manchester in 2008 at the launch of the League of Legends, he told me in no uncertain terms that his forthcoming autobiography would ‘upset of few people’. It will do that, I agree but The Crafty Cockney is not as savage a work as I expected and it is, in my opinion, all the better for that. In fact it is one of the best (and most honest) sports biographies I have ever read.
From humble beginnings in London’s East End, Eric managed to detach himself from the gang culture (as one-time cat burglar, shoplifter and thug) to reach the very apex of the sport he loved. Eric owed a lot to his father and mother both of whom encouraged his interest in darts as he made a meteoric climb to stardom and eventually five Embassy world championship titles. Similarly he acknowledges his debt to Olly and Lorna Croft.
The Crafty Cockney is a whirlwind of a book. It moves so fast that, at times, it is difficult to keep up with the action. It is packed with darting anecdotes (some of which I had already heard in a different form). Drinking bouts with Cliff Lazerenko are legendary and the stories from oches around the planet will bring tears to your eyes; mostly of laughter but sometimes of sadness.
Eric being Eric cannot help taking a pop at some of his fellow dart players. Keith Deller comes in for some scathing criticism as does US darting legend Conrad Daniels, who beat Eric in the first round of the inaugural Embassy; Eric writing of Daniels “I lost to an idiot.”
Eric refers in his book to the first Embassy being ‘the best of eleven sets’. This is an error as the final of the inaugural world championships was played over the best of 21 legs (Rees beating Lowe 11 legs to 7). Another unfortunate error is when Eric refers, on at least two occasions to the late great Bill Lennard and spells his surname ‘Leonard.’ But that is just me being picky.
Importantly The Crafty Cockney reveals the real, human side of the most famous darts player of all time. His near-death experience on board a plane with Maureen, his personal battle with dartitis, his marital breakdown, the discovery of a brother he never knew he had and the devastation he felt when his beloved mother died of cancer, all go to show that behind that somewhat arrogant and egotistical façade there lies a man with a heart who cares about those closest to him and what people think of him.
For a player who thought he had done everything in darts he could do by 1981, Eric Bristow proved resilient in the face of many setbacks and, despite what Phil Taylor continues to achieve, Eric will, in my opinion, always be remembered as the greatest and most popular (and hated) darts player who ever lived. But he is not finished yet.
Eric has signed up for the League of Legends for 2009 but says that “after that I’ll probably retire” adding, sadly, “I don’t get a buzz out of it and don’t want to keep making a prat of myself on stage.” I cannot see him retiring yet a while. He tried it in 2001 and failed. Darts is what Eric does best. Eric Bristow is darts. I feel that when 2010 arrives Eric will still be touring with the ‘Legends’ and drawing the crowds at other exhibitions and events to the sound of fans singing “There’s only one Eric Bristow!” But not even Eric knows what lies round the next corner for ‘The Crafty Cockney.
The Crafty Cockney – The Autobiography is an absolute must for all darts fans. If you do not receive a copy for Christmas go out and buy a copy. The book is published on 18th December by Century, costs £18.99 and is available from all good bookshops and online via Amazon.com. and a very limited number of copies of Deryk Brown’s The Official Biography of Eric Bristow – The Crafty Cockney (1985) are available via www.patrickchaplin.com.
© 2008 Patrick Chaplin
ERIC BRISTOW – THE CRAFTY COCKNEY
THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY REVIEW
I was a young teenager in the eighties when Eric Bristow hit the darts seen with all his flare, self confidence and the verbal put downs of his opponents. In those days you either loved him or hated him; a bit like marmite. I love marmite!
Eric appeared in ten world darts finals winning five of them. Three of his wins were in concurrent years 1984,1985 & 1986. He was the Phil Taylor of his day and along with a few well recognised darts players such as John Lowe, Jocky Wilson, Leighton Rees, Alan Evans, Keith Deller, Bobby George, Bob Anderson, Mike Gregory, and Dave Whitcombe put darts on the map. People came to watch his unusual style of throw, some willing him on but many wanting him to lose; however most of the time he didn’t disappoint his fans and if losing wasn’t enough his suffering opponents had to endure his lip!
Back in the eighties Eric was full of lip given the nickname by other players as the southern lip! Eric would verbally castrate virtually anyone whether they be fellow dart players or supporters; he just couldn’t help himself and for anyone thinking he has changed he hasn’t one bit. If you think it is all show think again what you see is what you get.
I have long awaited the arrival of Eric’s autobiography ‘The Crafty Cockney’ and all I can say it doesn’t disappoint. Eric has never suffered fools gladly and coming from a tough East London upbringing he tells his story with all the grace you would expect from him. We have all lived different lives but I doubt many of you have lived such a colourful life as Eric.
I think most people would cut out parts of their life if it’s something they may not want people to hear but not with Eric. You take as you find, warts and all. His is back with a vengeance. The way his describes some of the fellow players may be an eye opener to some but not to the players themselves. Hard nosed, hard facts and speak as you mean is Eric’s way and I loved the book.
Eric as you would expect covers his early childhood, his gang involvement, his rise to fame, the M.B.E., the break with the BDO and the dreaded dartitis which he really has never got fully over. He even writes down some of the weird cures fans sent him but I think someone is having a laugh here! The relationships in his life haven’t been a bed of roses but he still covers details I thought he may have glossed over.
Eric has never been a good boy living his life as he feels fit and being outspoken is his way. The many mad nights out he has had with the lads and players had me in stitches. I will never look at Keith Deller the same way again. Sorry Keith but you are in for some stick here but saying that not many get away lightly. Nor will I ever buy a kebab again without thinking of Eric, all I will say if he is in the shop steer clear! Something always seems to happen but you will have to read the book to find out what!
This is a book long overdue and even if you are not a darts fan I am sure you will find the insight to one of the greatest ever dart players a really good read. A fan or not, Eric is one of those few characters who doesn’t disappoint even in his retirement, if you can call it that!
This book is an ideal Christmas present for any darts fan and I am sure this will feature in the top autobiography lists.
The book is due to be published by Century on 18th December 2008 to coincide with the 2009 PDC World Darts Championships.
The book can be pre-ordered on-line at Waterstone's , Amazon.co.uk and will be available in all good leading book shops from 18th December 2008
David King
Author: Eric Bristow
Guest Reviewer: Glen Huff
“The Crafty Cockney,” by Eric Bristow, MBE, was scheduled to be published by Century publishing, 18 Dec, 2008 in the UK to coincide with the World Championship.
Eric Bristow, MBE, “The Crafty Cockney” is a true legend worldwide in the sport of darts. He began playing darts as a teenager in the early 1970’s taught by his father George. Before he was 20 he was playing for England, and was already a multiple World Champion and legend in the game before his mid-20s. His tournament wins are too numerous to mention but some notable highlights are: 5-time winner of the Embassy World Professional championship: 1980, 1981, 1984, 1985, and 1986, was also a 5-time champion of the Winmau World Masters, 4-time winner of the North American Open, and was winner on numerous World Cup teams. Not only did he become one of the few players ever to win the “News of the World” tournament twice, he was the only person, other than the late Tom Barrett, who won that tournament two years in succession during its 50-plus year existence. Deryk Brown published a biography of Eric in 1985, “The Crafty Cockney” (Queen Anne Press, London, 1985) which covered Eric’s life up to that point, and this new book by Eric picks up his story from then to the present.
I heartily recommend Eric’s new autobiography, “The Crafty Cockney,” to anyone with even a passing interest in darts. It is a fascinating account of his youth in Stoke Newington, a very tough part of East London, then his discovery of darts, his rise to multiple World Champion, and the peaks and valleys in the more than 20 years since his last World Championship. Once his father George had taught Eric darts, Eric took off like a racehorse, and very quickly rose to the top, right as darts was entering its’ “Golden Age” of television coverage in the UK in the late 70s and 80s. Other pros such as Leighton Rees, Alan Evans, Jocky Wilson, John Lowe, Bobby George, “Big Cliff “ Lazarenko, all became household names in the UK along with Eric, with Eric at the top of the list.
His description of the birth of professional darts in the 70s and 80’s, his accounts of his epic battles on the oche with John Lowe, Dave Whitcombe, and Jocky Wilson during that period, and his insights into the eventual BDO / WDC (later PDC) split, which rocked the sport in 1993, are revelatory, and make for some absorbing reading.
Many parts of this book had me in stitches, from accounts of his world travels with his fellow pros, particularly “Big Cliff” Lazarenko, Jocky Wilson, and Keith Deller, to the hilarious account of Eric being awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire), by Queen Elizabeth II, for services to darts.
He also gives great insights into his mentoring and friendship with 13-time World Champion Phil “The Power” Taylor, who has dominated the sport of darts like no other player.
Not only does Eric cover the high points of his career, but he also covers unfortunate events and shocks in his life ranging from his battle with dartitis, to the breakup of his marriage to his wife Jane, his discovery of a brother he never knew he had, and his Mother’s death from cancer. That he conveys both the highs and the lows, warts and all, makes it real for the reader.
Eric is truly a unique sportsman, and truly a charismatic individual, and as of this book was not proof enough of that – his fans and supporters sing “There’s only one Eric Bristow” when he is on stage.
This is one of the best biographies I’ve read in a long while — well worth reading.
Glen Huff is President of the Emerald City Darting Organization (ECDO) and has been involved in the league and darts since he was just a little fellow.
This review first appeared in DartOnion, the Official Newsletter of the ECDO, Volume 2, Issue 1, Quarter 1, 2009 and is reproduced with permission.
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Which silent comedy star appears in the the famous clock-hanging scene in the 1923 film ‘Safety Last’? | Safety Last Movie Review & Film Summary (1923) | Roger Ebert
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It is by general agreement the most famous shot in silent comedy: a man in a straw hat and round horn-rim glasses, hanging from the minute hand of a clock 12 stories above the city street. Strange, that this shot occurs in a film few people have ever seen. Harold Lloyd's "Safety Last" (1923), like all of his films, was preserved by the comedian but rarely shown; having been through most of Charlie Chaplin and virtually everything by Buster Keaton , I viewed it for the first time last week, and it was my first Harold Lloyd. Others now have their chance, as a retrospective of Lloyd's work, meticulously restored, tours the country in advance of a DVD package.
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Lloyd was "the third genius," the silent film historian Kevin Brownlow declared in a documentary of the same name. Lloyd's films outgrossed those of Chaplin and Keaton in the '20s, if only because he made many more than Chaplin, and his everyman appealed to a wider audience than Keaton. But he is not a genius in their sense, creating comedy out of inspiration and instinct and an angle on the world.
"He had to think it all out," Walter Kerr says of Lloyd in his invaluable 1975 book The Silent Clowns. "Lloyd was an ordinary man, like the rest of us: ungrotesque, uninspired. If he wanted to be a successful film comedian, he would have to learn how to be one, and learn the hard way."
Lloyd played an early would-be Chaplin character named Lonesome Luke, then saw a silent film where the character calmly replaced his glasses after an action scene, and adopted the glasses as his own. To the degree Lloyd's famous character has a name at all, it is "Glasses," and in "Safely Last," he is billed merely as The Boy. The glasses make distinct a face that is otherwise pleasant, even handsome, but not remarkable in the way that Keaton's deadpan gaze and Chaplin's toothbrush moustache are distinctive.
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Nor was Lloyd's character remarkable -- not in the sense of Chaplin's Little Tramp, whose every movement expressed an attitude toward life, or Keaton's characters, always on the run, always deadly earnest about goals of overwhelming importance. The Glasses character in "Safety Last" would have blended with the background of the department store where he worked if it had not been for action imposed upon him. But what action!
The plot: The Boy promises the Girl (Mildred Davis, Lloyd's real-life wife) that he will go to the city, make good and send for her. He gets a lowly job as a dry goods clerk, but impresses her with such inventive letters that she hurries to the city to join him. The Boy poses as the manager of the store, is exposed and decides to risk everything for a $1,000 prize offered to anyone who can lure more traffic to the store. His idea: Have his roommate (Bill Strother), a human fly, climb the building.
This is a splendid idea, as far as it goes. It doesn't take into account that the roommate has earlier angered a cop (the silent veteran Noah Young) and escaped from him by climbing up the side of the building. Now, as the roommate prepares to repeat the stunt, the cop appears and gives chase, and The Boy is forced to substitute as the climber. The theory is that the roommate will replace him on the second floor, or the third, or sooner or later, but Glasses ends up scaling the entire building, despite hazards on every floor. A child showers him with peanuts, which attract hungry pigeons. A mouse climbs up his pants leg. A window swings out and almost brushes him to his death. A weathervane changes direction and nearly dooms him. And finally there he is, hanging from the clock. A little later, he does some remarkably casual walking or even dancing on the building's roof ledge.
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It looks real. That is the whole point. It seems to really be Harold Lloyd, really climbing the building, over a real drop that would be fatal. Kerr emphasizes in his book: "virtually every shot in it keeps the street below in view."
Well, was it Lloyd? It certainly wasn't special effects, which were not capable in 1923 of creating such illusions. In many shots, it is clearly Lloyd because we can see his face. In longer shots, as Kerr points out, the climber is certainly not the shorter and stockier Strother, who was a human fly in real life.
Analysis of the camera angles suggests that the height was exaggerated by using a building on a hill and by selecting dramatic camera angles. Lloyd himself said he had a platform with mattresses on it placed one, two or three stories below him. After his death in 1971, according to the critic Dennis Schwartz, "it was finally revealed that the famous climb up the 12-story building was done with the aid of a stuntman." With the aid. What exactly does that mean? Having seen a high-resolution 35mm print in which I am clearly looking at Harold Lloyd much of the time, I am prepared to believe that certain shots may have been doubled, but that in others the star himself was in mortal danger.
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That was not unique for the period. Buster Keaton did virtually all of his own stunts, allowing a building to fall around him in a hurricane, running on the top of a train, dangling over a waterfall. I accept without question that there were times in "Safety Last" when Harold Lloyd could have fallen to his death. The question becomes: Is that funny?
I didn't find myself laughing, but I watched in fascination. I don't love the Glasses character with the intensity I reserve for Buster and the Little Tramp. But I was there with him every inch of the way up that building, and I shared the physical joy of his triumph at the top. I could understand why Lloyd outgrossed Chaplin and Keaton in the 1920s: Not because he was funnier or more poignant, but because he was merely mortal and their characters were from another plane of existence. Lloyd is a real man climbing a building; Keaton, as he stands just exactly where a building will not crush him, is an instrument of cosmic fate. And Chaplin is a visitor to our universe from the one that exists in his mind.
While Chaplin and Keaton seemed to float on waves of inspiration and invention, "Lloyd knew that he didn't know what he was doing," Kerr wrote, "and detested himself for it. ... In due time, Lloyd acquired skills that were superb of their kind. But they were acquired skills. He got no gift from the gods." Perhaps that is what makes him special: He is determined to be a great silent comedian, and succeeds by experimentation, courage and will. His films are about his triumph over their making.
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Now I can test that theory. I have all the rest of Harold Lloyd still ahead of me. I would rather have all of Keaton or all of Chaplin, and yet I am pleased to have Lloyd still to explore. In a way that later films could never duplicate, silent films, especially comedies, have a documentary level beneath their fictions: They're often shot on real locations and use the locations, and the backgrounds are often unrehearsed and real. Into this actual universe steps a character who for reasons of his own will do extraordinary things.
Born in 1893, Lloyd began as an extra by mingling with a crowd of other extras returning from their lunch break. He met another extra named Hal Roach, later to become a giant among early producers, and was assigned by Roach to be a comedian. He made dozens of shorts before finding his rhythm and footing. He worked steadily to establish his character, had no time for Chaplin's perfectionism, had a better head for business than the dreamy Keaton.
He saved his money, preserved his films, kept them out of release for decades, was unconcerned when his legacy seemed to be falling behind those of the other two geniuses. His granddaughter Suzanne is now supervising the re-release of films that were never lost, never threatened with decay or destruction, and essentially look as fresh as they day they were premiered. It is like going to new movies that happen to have been made 80 years ago.
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"Safely Last" plays at 4 and 9 p.m. Sunday and Monday at the Music Box. Nine other newly released Harold Lloyd films are also in the retrospective; for the schedule, see www.musicboxtheatre.com.
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How many times did Silvio Berlusconi serve as Prime minister of Italy? | Safety Last! - Buy, Rent, and Watch Movies & TV on Flixster
Derek Smith
Tiny Mix Tapes
The climb itself is a masterful feat of physical acting and comic timing, surpassed only by the best works of Chaplin and Keaton.
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
The clock-hanging climax that caps this generally charming tale of a country boy out to make his fortune in the big city is a superb example of his ability to mix suspense and slapstick.
Sean Axmaker
Seanax.com
... the most famous of Harold Lloyd's silent comedies and first of his "thrill pictures," films that he built around slapstick ingenuity in the midst of daredevil stunts. This one has a doozy...
Eric Melin
Scene-Stealers.com
harold lloyd is so cute :)
Walter M.
[font=Century Gothic][color=blue]I have seen plenty of silent comedies starring Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton before but I really do not think I had seen… More [font=Century Gothic][color=blue]I have seen plenty of silent comedies starring Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton before but I really do not think I had seen one starring Harold Lloyd before I saw "Safety Last" yesterday. At least in this picture, Lloyd has a mild-mannered demeanor. In this film, he has gone to the big city to make it big, only to end up working behind the counter at a department store. This is only the set-up for some hilarious gags. "Safety Last" combines the best of sight gags with some amazing physical derring-do to make for a truly excellent silent comedy.[/color][/font]
Stephen Earnest
One of those silent films that has had an infinite amount of influence of modern cinema, "Safety Last!" features the instantly likable Harold Lloyd, a… More One of those silent films that has had an infinite amount of influence of modern cinema, "Safety Last!" features the instantly likable Harold Lloyd, a twisty narrative and a hilarious turn of events. The stunt work is quite phenomenal and that iconic clock-hanging scene is just as much of spectacle today as it was back then.
Luke Baldock
Enjoyable slapstick comedy with a lot of inventiveness that still impresses. Simple shots such as the hiding on the coat hanger scene are still great to watch… More Enjoyable slapstick comedy with a lot of inventiveness that still impresses. Simple shots such as the hiding on the coat hanger scene are still great to watch and it is the idea that amazes more than the stunt itself. The first shot was genuinely laugh out loud funny, and many moments after continued to bring a grin. If you are in the mood for a live action Looney Tune then this could be it. Suffers from a climax that is overlong and it is disappointing to see such a strong film lose the comedy towards the end.
Antonius Block
I'm not an expert on the silent era by any means, but I have to say, this seems like a must-see movie for those who are interested in this period of… More I'm not an expert on the silent era by any means, but I have to say, this seems like a must-see movie for those who are interested in this period of filmmaking. It includes the iconic moment of Harold Lloyd dangling from a clock face many stories off the ground, and also many wonderful sight gags and a cute story. We see Lloyd accidentally getting on a horse-drawn ice wagon instead of the train in the beginning, as he goes off to the city to earn enough money to get married to his sweetheart. We see him and his buddy putting their coats on, hanging themselves up on hooks, and pulling their legs up out of sight to avoid the landlady who is looking for rent in a brilliant scene. He gets a job as a salesman, and we see him handle a crowd of women all going berserk over a fabric sale in all sorts of inventive ways. The scenes of him climbing perilously up a building wall take place over the final 20 minutes of the film, and has him dodging nuts dumped out by a child, being mobbed by pigeons, being hit with a net from above and a giant wooden beam for the side before reaching the clock face. He then hangs from the clock hands in a scene that is both funny and thrilling, since you know it's real, and the framing of the scene is absolutely perfect. As he ascends he'll also dangle from a rope, have a mouse crawl up his leg, and walk precipitously on the edge of a couple of ledges. You're not going to be laughing out loud, but Lloyd is likeable and charming, and you will probably marvel at his inventiveness, as well as the danger in performing the climbing stunt, which he did himself for the most part, with nothing but a mattress a few stories below (off-screen) for safety. It was 'safety last' in the real sense as well! Definitely worth seeing if you get a chance.
Lauren Donis
It was ok. I didn't find it funny at all, but it was ok.
Daniel Hetteix
Brilliant, perhaps the finest and most famous of the silent-era comedies. Technically amazing, and hilarious to boot.
Chris Browning
Being a big fan of both Chaplin and Keaton, this was my first experience with Harold Lloyd (thanks to The Criterion Collection's beautifully remastered… More Being a big fan of both Chaplin and Keaton, this was my first experience with Harold Lloyd (thanks to The Criterion Collection's beautifully remastered Blu-ray version) and man was I impressed. The film was amazingly staged and was hilarious from start to finish as well as unnerving in the amazing stunts performed by Lloyd. I rarely laugh out loud during films but I was dying laughing throughout the film. The building climbing finale is both expertly staged and terrifying to watch as Lloyd teeters on the edge and dangles from multiple places on his long journey upwards. Watch a great comedy of the everyman Glasses character and one that most people then and now could relate to in some way or another. Highly recommended!
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The US television medical drama ‘Nurse Jackie’ is set in which city? | 'Nurse Jackie': On the Set With Edie Falco as Show Says Goodbye for Good | Hollywood Reporter
9:00am PT by Ashley Lee
'Nurse Jackie': On the Set With Edie Falco as Show Says Goodbye for Good
Jessica Chou
"A lot of people think [wrapping the show] is bittersweet," says episode director Jesse Peretz (far right, with Falco and Schulze). "But for me, it's heartbreaking. Jackie is an antihero — she's somebody the audience loves despite her flaws."
Showtime's New York-based ER dramedy throws one last party as Falco reflects on her Emmy-winning role and career: "I feel like I'm still in high school dreaming of becoming an actress."
This story first appeared in a special Emmy issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine.
It was not TV's first gay wedding — that was in 1991, on a Fox sitcom called Roc, followed by same-sex marriages on Northern Exposure, Roseanne and Friends — but it was quite possibly the first to use blown-up surgical gloves as balloons.
The hastily arranged nuptials of Thor (Stephen Wallem) and Reuben (Kevin Cahoon) on Nurse Jackie, filmed in November on the show's chapel set at the Kaufman Astoria Studios in New York, were supposed to provide some romantic relief for the staff at the fictional All Saints Hospital, who all think they're about to lose their jobs as a Scandinavian medical firm prepares to take over the facility.
But the ceremony also succeeded in cheering up the cast — Edie Falco as the show's titular addict nurse, Paul Schulze as disgraced pharmacist Eddie, Betty Gilpin as Dr. Carrie Roman and Emmy winner Merritt Wever as peppy nurse Zoey — who were pondering their own post-Jackie careers as Showtime's edgy comedy contender neared its final episodes.
"It doesn't matter how many years I have been acting — and it's been a while now — I still can't believe I get to do it," says Falco, who won a 2010 Emmy for playing Jackie (on top of the three she won for The Sopranos; she's the only actress to win lead Emmys for both comedy and drama). "I feel like I'm still in high school dreaming of becoming an actress. It's insane. I am beyond blessed."
With only four episodes left in the series — the wedding episode aired May 31; the series finale will be June 28 — castmembers brought family members to the set to watch from the sidelines. One onlooker's baby threw up on a director's chair. And not everyone understood this particular wedding scene. "I don't get what this scene is about," said Falco's young son, Anderson, looking up periodically from his iPad. His mom gently explained, "It's about two boys getting married."
| New York |
‘Can I have a P please Bob’ is a catchphrase from which UK television game show? | Nurse Jackie (TV Series 2009–2015) - IMDb
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A drug-addicted nurse struggles to find a balance between the demands of her frenetic job at a New York City hospital and an array of personal dramas.
Creators:
Zoey reveals to Akalitus that she believes Jackie is using again, prompting a demand by Akalitus for a drug test. Seeing no other alternative Jackie attempts to flee New York but a car crash on her ...
9.0
Cruz purposely pushes Jackie to the breaking point, and then uses her reaction as grounds to fire her. Jackie enrolls Grace in public school. O'Hara goes into labor.
8.9
As Jackie's drug use intensifies, she realizes she needs to clear the decks of the people closest to her if she wants to keep using. She notices Grace and Frank's son getting a little too close for ...
8.8
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Title: Nurse Jackie (2009–2015)
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Nominated for 5 Golden Globes. Another 15 wins & 84 nominations. See more awards »
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A woman struggles to find a balance between her dissociative identity disorder and raising a dysfunctional family.
Stars: Toni Collette, John Corbett, Rosemarie DeWitt
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Stars: Laura Linney, Oliver Platt, Gabriel Basso
When a suburban mother turns to dealing marijuana in order to maintain her privileged lifestyle after her husband dies, she finds out just how addicted her entire neighborhood already is.
Stars: Mary-Louise Parker, Hunter Parrish, Alexander Gould
A polygamist and his relationship with his three wives.
Stars: Bill Paxton, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Chloë Sevigny
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A drug-addicted nurse struggles to find a balance between the demands of her frenetic job at a New York City hospital and an array of personal dramas.
Trauma queen [season five] See more »
Genres:
8 June 2009 (USA) See more »
Also Known As:
Untitled Edie Falco Project See more »
Filming Locations:
Dominic Furmusa, like Edie Falco and Paul Schulze, also appeared in The Sopranos. See more »
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User Reviews
Outspoken. Raw and visually revealing blended with laughs, yet at the same time it's touching and emotional.
(Petersburg, Virginia) – See all my reviews
I must say give a big thumbs up for the new hit Showtime series "Nurse Jackie" which features one of the best and most hard working TV actresses around Edie Falco. Unlike Edie's award winning days as Carmela Soprano the elegant and naive mob housewife on HBO's "The Sopranos" this time her character is more blue collar yet she still has a dark nature to her no matter how caring she is. Edie is Jackie Peyton a nurse who charms and lights it up in this dark natured and raw funny comedy series one of the better made for TV in a long time.
Jackie is tough and outspoken and tells the doctors like it is in the ER she certainly has a caring heart for all patients. Yet she's hardly a saint her life and work doesn't come without problems for one she's trying to cope with a bad back that gives her chronic pain. This problem has lead her to become a pill popping and snorting addict which the scenes vividly display. Also she's having a bump and grind love affair with the hospital pharmacist(Paul Schulze)who's also her pill provider. Also the drama is always at an interesting and tense pacing while she deals with Dr. Cooper(Peter Facinelli)who's a cocky young hotshot who thinks he knows it all. Plus juggling a friendship with a gay nurse and fellow co worker Mo-Mo(Haaz Sleiman)as with most jobs she also puts up with a wicked witch of a supervisor who's watches her every move and turn while she trains up and coming nurses. And to top all that off she has her marriage to manage with hubby(Dominic Fumusa)and plus raise her two daughters.
So that sounds like some interesting stuff for the goings and happenings of a New York city hospital and it shows that this is one nurse with a complex and mixed up life. As always Falco shines and the supporting cast blends in well, it looks like Showtime has found another winner for a TV series. This is one drama that shows the pains and drama stress of real life and it shows how it's connected with work life something that many can relate to. So big thumbs up for this smart, outspoken, and visually raw and emotionally affecting new series.
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Alliumphobia is the irrational fear of which plant? | Alliumphobia - garlic fear, garlic phobia, fear of garlic, phobia of garlic
Websites
Welcome to my site for Alliumphobia. In hopes of trying to provide some helpful information, I have searched the Internet looking for information on Alliumphobia (garlic fear, garlic phobia, fear of garlic, phobia of garlic). Please note I am not a doctor and only provide this site for informational purposes. I hope you will find some benefit in the site. Best wishes! ~Edd~
What is Alliumphobia?
Alliumphobia is the fear of garlic. People who fear garlic may also avoid other plants that have pungent odors, such as chives, onions or shallots. The origin of the word allium is Latin (meaning garlic bulb) and phobia is Greek (meaning fear). Alliumphobia is considered to be a specific phobia, which is discussed on the home page.
What are the causes?
It is generally accepted that phobias arise from a combination of external events (i.e. traumatic events) and internal predispositions (i.e. heredity or genetics). Many specific phobias can be traced back to a specific triggering event, usually a traumatic experience at an early age. Social phobias and agoraphobia have more complex causes that are not entirely known at this time. It is believed that heredity, genetics, and brain chemistry combine with life-experiences to play a major role in the development of phobias. (Wikipedia - phobia).
What are the symptoms?
As with any phobia, the symptoms vary by person depending on their level of fear. The symptoms typically include extreme anxiety, dread and anything associated with panic such as shortness of breath, rapid breathing, irregular heartbeat, sweating, excessive sweating, nausea, dry mouth, nausea, inability to articulate words or sentences, dry mouth and shaking. .
Can I take medicine?
Medicine can be prescribed, but please note that these medications can have side effects and/or withdrawal systems that can be severe. It is also important to note that medicines do not cure phobias, at best they only temporarily suppress the systems. However, there are treatments for phobias, which include counseling, hypnotherapy, psychotherapy, and Neuro-Linguistic programming. Please click on the link at the top of the page called “Treatment Information” to find out more information on these types of treatments.
Note: If you are going to do a search, some common Alliumphobia search terms include Alliumphobia, garlic fear, garlic phobia, fear of garlic, phobia of garlic.
DISCLAIMER: PLEASE READ - By printing, downloading, or using you this information, you agree to the following: 1) I am only providing this material for information and research purposes. 2) The information is "AS IS", "WITH ALL FAULTS". 3) You understand the information was gathered by doing a general search on Internet search engines for the following terms: Alliumphobia, garlic fear, garlic phobia, fear of garlic, phobia of garlic. 4) User assumes all risk of use, damage, or injury. 5) Information may have errors or be outdated. 6) Some information is from historical sources or represents opinions of the author. 7) You agree that we have no liability for any damages. 8) I are not liable for any consequential, incidental, indirect, or special damages. Finally, if you do not agree to terms, do not use the information. It is for informational and research purposes only! If you have any questions please contact me [email protected]
| Garlic |
What is the name of the dragon in the 1937 novel ‘The Hobbit’? | Do You Suffer From Alliumphobia?
Do You Suffer From Alliumphobia?
Symptoms of alliumphobia:
Your fear of garlic can result in the following symptoms:
breathlessness, dizziness, excessive sweating, nausea, dry mouth, feeling sick, shaking, heart palpitations, inability to speak or think clearly, a fear of dying, becoming mad or losing control, a sensation of detachment from reality or a full blown anxiety attack.
You are not the only one to suffer from this type of phobia. Most sufferers are surprised to learn that they are far from alone in this surprisingly common, although often unspoken, phobia.
While adults with fear of garlic realize that these fears are irrational,they often find that facing, or even thinking about facing, the feared situation brings on a panic attack or severe anxiety.
There is a Way Out
Imagine what your life will be like when you know that you are not "defective". When you can be confident and at ease in situations where you used to feel your alliumphobia. And when you can talk about your former fear of garlic symptoms as though you are describing a movie where the character is someone else, not you.
Phobia Secrets Revealed
My free Phobia Secrets Revealed E-Course will reveal phobia secrets so you can learn how to vanquish phobia and fear forever without taking any pills.
Enter your name and email address to instantly get your first Phobia Secrets Revealed lesson
Fill in your information below and I will send you this 5 day free E-Course. You'll receive your first lesson in about five minutes where I explain the entire system in step-by-step format.
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An Amazing Discovery
Several years ago, a psychologist specializing in phobias like alliumphobia, made an amazing discovery.
He kept up-to-date with all the leading therapies. And he tried them all. And no matter what therapy modality he tried, the cure rate of phobias was less than 5%. Oh sure, patients made progress. But it was only incremental. And therapy took years, not months.
Let's face it. It's possible that a small percentage of people would be "cured" even if left alone.
Then he made an amazing discovery and his ability to eliminate alliumphobia soared to over 80%.
This was a radical change from years of therapy.
What was the discovery? It was so simple, but nobody thought of looking there before.
Here it is, and it is called The Discovery Statement:
"The cause of all negative emotions
is a disruption in the body's energy system."
Note what he didn't say. He didn't say that it was in your thoughts, habits, beliefs, strategies or any other thing (although they do play a factor). Those are "the branches".
The energy system is "the root". And from this root the field of Energy Psychology was born.
Since this discovery, other innovators have emerged in Energy Psychology. And they offer solutions to emotional issues such as alliumphobia.
A really nice feature of Energy Psychology is that in many cases self-help is sufficient.
Does It Work for Everyone?
In a word, no it doesn't. It's not perfect. It only works about 85% of the time. But that is a radical shift from about 5% rate for some methods.
A reason it may not work is that frankly some people are afraid to give up their alliumphobia. Their identity is wrapped up in it. They have had their phobia so long that they don't know who they would be without it. Fortunately, the same methods can be used to eliminate this fear first, should it arise.
Finally, some people just love to talk about their fear of garlic. That's one reason why some people may spend years in talk therapy. They love to have someone who cares about them listen to their alliumphobia problems.
Energy Psychology isn't about talk. It's about results. Fast, effective, lasting results.
A lot of talking about problems keeps people in the "stuck" state and is counterproductive. So people who really want to talk about their phobia because they are not really ready to let them go may not achieve optimal results.
People like this may be better satisfied with talk therapy, even if it means extensive sessions, much higher expense and a lower success rate. But it is what some people want and seem to need.
So Energy Psychology is not perfect. And it's not for everyone, perhaps only 80% or so of the population. Is it for you? Only you can decide. But it is worth a try. With the guarantees offered, the only thing you have to lose is your alliumphobia.
Energy psychology is an emerging method that is rapidly gaining favor because instudies it is shown to be rapid, safe, effective and long-lasting. For moreinformation on a safe and effective way to eliminate Alliumphobia click here for Self Help Solutions .
Don'tsuffer needlessly. Don't wait any longer to eliminate this unnecessary sufferingfrom your life. Click here for Alliumphobia Self Help Solutions .
Tired of Tiptoeing Around Your Fears?
5 Days From Now, You Could Be Phobia-Free. Yes, Cured!
Whatever your phobia, regardless of how long you have suffered from it, despite the dreadful life limitations you have endured because of your fear, your phobia can be cured.
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What is a female lemur called? | WHAT DO YOU CALL A FEMALE LEMUR?
What do you call a female lemur?
Answer: princess
A female lemur is called a princess. Lemurs make up the infraorder Lemuriformes and are members of a group of primates known as prosimians. The term lemur is derived from the Latin word lemures, meaning spirits of the night or ghosts. This likely refers to their large, reflective eyes and the wailing cries of some species (the Indri in particular). The term is generically used for the members of the four lemuriform families, but it is also the genus of one of the lemuriform species, the Ring-tailed Lemur (Lemur catta). The two so-called flying lemur species, that are also called colugos, are not lemurs or even primates.
| Princess |
In cookery, Zwiebel is German for which vegetable? | WHAT DO YOU CALL A FEMALE LEMUR?
What do you call a female lemur?
Answer: princess
A female lemur is called a princess. Lemurs make up the infraorder Lemuriformes and are members of a group of primates known as prosimians. The term lemur is derived from the Latin word lemures, meaning spirits of the night or ghosts. This likely refers to their large, reflective eyes and the wailing cries of some species (the Indri in particular). The term is generically used for the members of the four lemuriform families, but it is also the genus of one of the lemuriform species, the Ring-tailed Lemur (Lemur catta). The two so-called flying lemur species, that are also called colugos, are not lemurs or even primates.
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What colour are the ‘Ladies’ in the 1978 film ‘Grease’? | Grease (1978) - IMDb
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Good girl Sandy and greaser Danny fell in love over the summer. When they unexpectedly discover they're now in the same high school, will they be able to rekindle their romance?
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Famous Directors: From Sundance to Prominence
From Christopher Nolan to Quentin Tarantino and every Coen brother in between, many of today's most popular directors got their start at the Sundance Film Festival . Here's a list of some of the biggest names to go from Sundance to Hollywood prominence.
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Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 3 wins & 7 nominations. See more awards »
Videos
Spending the summer at a Catskills resort with her family, Frances "Baby" Houseman falls in love with the camp's dance instructor, Johnny Castle.
Director: Emile Ardolino
A Brooklyn teenager feels his only chance to succeed is as the king of the disco floor. His carefree youth and weekend dancing help him to forget the reality of his bleak life.
Director: John Badham
An English student at a 1960's American high school has to prove himself to the leader of a girls' gang whose members can only date greasers.
Director: Patricia Birch
After a young man is murdered, his spirit stays behind to warn his lover of impending danger, with the help of a reluctant psychic.
Director: Jerry Zucker
A city teenager moves to a small town where rock music and dancing have been banned, and his rebellious spirit shakes up the populace.
Director: Herbert Ross
When a worldly singer witnesses a mob crime, the police hide her as a nun in a traditional convent where she has trouble fitting in.
Director: Emile Ardolino
A poet falls for a beautiful courtesan whom a jealous duke covets.
Director: Baz Luhrmann
A man in a legal but hurtful business needs an escort for some social events, and hires a beautiful prostitute he meets... only to fall in love.
Director: Garry Marshall
Cady Heron is a hit with The Plastics, the A-list girl clique at her new school, until she makes the mistake of falling for Aaron Samuels, the ex-boyfriend of alpha Plastic Regina George.
Director: Mark Waters
A pretty, popular teenager can't go out on a date until her ill-tempered older sister does.
Director: Gil Junger
A rich high school student tries to boost a new pupil's popularity, but reckons without affairs of the heart getting in the way.
Director: Amy Heckerling
A Pittsburgh woman with two jobs as a welder and an exotic dancer wants to get into ballet school.
Director: Adrian Lyne
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Storyline
A musical about teens in love in the 50's! It's California 1959 and greaser Danny Zuko and Australian Sandy Olsson are in love. They spend time at the beach, and when they go back to school, what neither of them knows is that they both now attend Rydell High. Danny's the leader of the T-Birds, a group of black leather jacket-wearing greasers while Sandy hangs with the Pink Ladies, a group of pink-wearing girls led by Rizzo. When they clash at Rydell's first pep rally, Danny isn't the same Danny from the beach. They try to be like each other so they can be together. Written by Alex Schultz <NedSDeclassified2967>
Grease is the word See more »
Genres:
Rated PG-13 for sexual content including references, teen smoking and drinking, and language | See all certifications »
Parents Guide:
16 June 1978 (USA) See more »
Also Known As:
$12,705,463 (USA) (27 March 1998)
Gross:
110 min
Sound Mix:
DTS (re-release) (1998)| Dolby Digital (re-release) (1998)| Dolby (35 mm prints) (original release)| 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) (original release)
Color:
Did You Know?
Trivia
John Travolta revealed in a 1998 interview that Linda Ronstadt was considered for Sandy. See more »
Goofs
Vi, the waitress, pushes the light switch with her elbow but her elbow is clearly no where near the light switch. See more »
Quotes
Sandy : I'm going back to Australia; I might never see you again.
Danny : Don't... don't talk that way, Sandy.
Sandy : But it's true! I've just had the best summer of my life, and now I have to go away. It isn't fair.
[Danny starts kissing her]
Sandy : Danny, don't spoil it!
Danny : It's not spoiling it, Sandy, it's only making it better.
Sandy : Danny... is this the end?
Danny : Of course not; it's only the beginning.
The beginning credits show the main characters in cartoon form. See more »
Connections
(fairview, nj) – See all my reviews
GREASE (1978) **** John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Jeff Conaway, Stockard Channing, Dinah Manoff, Eve Arden, Sid Caesar, Edd `Kookie' Byrnes, ShaNaNa, Frankie Avalon, Joan Blondell, Ellen Travolta, Eddie Deezen, Lorenzo Lamas. One of the best Broadway musicals ever adapted for the big screen largely thanks to producer Allan Carr and director Randal Kleiser set at Rydell High circa 1950s with Travolta (in his other iconic role) as leather jacket wearing, hunky hood with a heart-of-gold Danny Zuko recalling his `Summer Nights' with Aussie sexpot Newton-John (in her sunny to sultry iconic turn) as goody-goody Sandy who learns some things from The Pink Ladies' tough yet tender leader Rizzo (Channing, ditto). Good old fashioned knuckle-headed comedy and toe-tapping tunes that will have you dancing and singing along to `Greased Lightning' (imagine Elvis doing this!) , the dance contest's hyper-paced `Hand Jive' sequence and the closer `We Go Together'. Title tune by Franki Valli. A film I've seen probably a hundred times and never tire of.
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| Pink |
The Lower Usuma Dam is in which African country? | View All Photos (10)
Movie Info
"Grease," said the poster and the Barry Gibb song, "is the word." Transferring its setting from Chicago to sunny California, and adding a dash of disco to the ersatz '50s score, producer Allan Carr and director Randal Kleiser turned this long-running Jim Jacobs-Warren Casey Broadway smash into the biggest blockbuster of 1978. 1950s teens Danny (John Travolta) and Australian transfer Sandy (Olivia Newton-John) spend their "Summer Nights" falling in love, but once fall comes, it's back to Rydell High and its cliques. As one of the bad-boy T-Birds, Danny has to act cool for best pal Kenickie (Jeff Conaway) and their leather-clad mates Sonny (Michael Tucci) and Doody (Barry Pearl, in the role Travolta played on-stage). Despite befriending Frenchy (Didi Conn), one of the rebel Pink Ladies, virginal Sandy is "too pure to be Pink," as the Ladies' leader, Rizzo (Stockard Channing), acidly observes. Declaring their devotion in such ballads as "Hopelessly Devoted to You" and "Sandy," Sandy and Danny split, reconcile, and split again amidst a pep rally, dances, drive-ins, and a drag race, before deciding "You're the One That I Want" at the climactic carnival. With Travolta white-hot from Saturday Night Fever (1977), Grease soundtrack singles climbed the charts and summer movie crowds poured in. With the presence of Joan Blondell, Eve Arden, Sid Caesar, Edd "Kookie" Byrnes, and Frankie Avalon appealing to grown-up memories, Grease became the highest-grossing film of 1978, the highest-grossing movie musical ever, and the third most popular film of the new blockbuster '70s after Star Wars (1977) and Jaws (1975). Its sequel, Grease 2, did not exactly set the world on fire in 1982. ~ Lucia Bozzola, Rovi
Rating:
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Fish use their gills to extract what from the water around them? | Why do fish have gills? - Quora
Quora
Written Sep 16, 2011
Fish use their gills to extract oxygen from the water. So they need them as much as you need your lungs.
The main difference between lungs and gills (other than water vs. air) is that lungs are tidal - air flows in one way, and back out the other way. With gills, water flows in through the mouth, over the gills, and is expelled through the gill slits. Because water is heavier, this is more efficient, as the water can just move in one direction. It also allows fish to extract a greater proportion of the oxygen from the water, because the concentration of oxygen is much lower than in air.
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I poll people regularly about how overwhelmed and distracted they feel. I simply ask them to rate, on a scale from 1-10, how overwhelmed they feel, and how distracted they feel. The average answer to both questions is about 8 out of 10.
As a rule, people are overwhelmed in the modern world.
Years ago I discovered a simple and very effective procedure for clearing yo...
| Oxygen |
Which English Leicester-born boxer fought Marvin Hagler in 1983 for the WBC and WBA World Middleweight titles and lost by a technical knockout in the sixth round? | If water is made up of hydrogen and oxygen, why can't we breathe underwater? | HowStuffWorks
If water is made up of hydrogen and oxygen, why can't we breathe underwater?
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One thing about chemicals is that, once they react in certain ways, they form compounds that are nothing like the original elements. For example, if you react carbon, hydrogen and oxygen together one way you get glucose (C6H12O6) (see How Food Works ). If you react them together another way you get vinegar (C2H4O2). If you react them another way you get fat (see How Fat Works ). If you react them another way you get ethanol (C2H5OH). Glucose, fat, ethanol and vinegar are nothing like each other, but they are all made from the same elements.
In the case of hydrogen and oxygen gas, if you react them together one way you get liquid water (H2O). The reason we cannot breathe liquid water is because the oxygen used to make the water is bound to two hydrogen atoms, and we cannot breathe the resulting liquid. The oxygen is useless to our lungs in this form.
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How Bath Salts Work
The oxygen that fish breathe is not the oxygen in H2O. Instead, the fish are breathing O2 (oxygen gas) that is dissolved in the water. Many different gases dissolve in liquids, and we see an example all the time in carbonated beverages. In these beverages, there is so much carbon dioxide gas dissolved in water that it rushes out in the form of bubbles.
Fish "breathe" the dissolved oxygen out of the water using their gills. It turns out that extracting the oxygen is not very easy -- air has something like 20 times more oxygen in it than the same volume of water. Plus water is a lot heavier and thicker than air, so it takes a lot more work to move it around. The main reason why gills work for fish is the fact that fish are cold-blooded, which reduces their oxygen demands. Warm-blooded animals like whales breath air like people do because it would be hard to extract enough oxygen using gills.
Humans cannot breathe underwater because our lungs do not have enough surface area to absorb enough oxygen from water, and the lining in our lungs is adapted to handle air rather than water. However, there have been experiments with humans breathing other liquids, like fluorocarbons. Fluorocarbons can dissolve enough oxygen and our lungs can draw the oxygen out -- see the last link below for some fascinating details!
Here are several interesting links:
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How many chambers does a giraffe have in its stomach? | The Ruminant Stomach - Online Biology Dictionary
The Ruminant Stomach
EUGENE M. MCCARTHY, PHD Google+ Profile
Ruminant stomach
The ruminant stomach is a multi-chambered organ found in ruminants (see picture at right). It is usually composed of four separate chambers and allows digestion of large quantities of plant matter that would be relatively indigestible for most other types of mammals, in particular grass and the leaves.
The upper part of this stomach is where fermentation of green foliage takes place with help from anaerobic bacteria . These bacteria allow ruminants to break down cellulose , a major component of all leaves. The slow fermentation and digestive processes that occur within this complex stomach also allow better absorption nutrients as they go on from the stomach to pass through the intestines . Having a ruminant stomach is a big advantage because it makes it so easy to find something to eat (cellulose is the most abundant organic compound on earth).
What are ruminants?
Goat chewing cud ( Enlarge )
Ruminants are mammals that chew cud, that is, they regurgitate partially digested solids (the cud), and chew them again. They then re-swallow the cud. This re-chewing of the cud to further break down the semi-digested food is called “ruminating.”
Such animals include many members of the order Artiodactyla, such as cattle, goats, sheep, bison, yaks, water buffalo, antelope, deer, and giraffes, but not pigs, which are also artiodactyls. The stomach of a pig is simple like that of a human being, except for the presence of a small pouch or diverticulum at its cardiac end. Camelids (camels, alpacas, and llamas) are artiodactyls and ruminate, but they have three-chambered stomachs.
How a ruminant stomach works
A ruminant begins by chewing and swallowing its food. The ingested matter is then softened within the first two chambers of the stomach, the rumen and reticulum , which communicate freely with each other (considered as a single unit, these two chambers are called the “reticulorumen”). Microbes convert the food, particularly cellulose , into less indigestible substances. The animal regurgitates the cud, and chews it again, and re-swallows it.
The liquid portion of the material within the reticulorumen, passes on to the next chamber, the omasum . Here, water and minerals are absorbed into the blood. The remaining matter moves into the fourth chamber, the abomasum , which is equivalent to the ordinary stomach found in non-ruminants.
Leaf Monkeys
Hanuman Langur at Mudumalai National Park, India ( Enlarge )
Leaf monkeys, primates of the genera Semnopithecus amd Trachypithecus, also ruminate. Like other ruminants, the slow fermentation that occurs within their chambered stomachs allows them to digest high-cellulose leaves that most other types of mammals cannot, even leaves containing toxins . It also allows them to eat a wider variety of other types of foods than do other monkeys. For example, the Hanuman Langur (Semnopithecus entellus) regularly eats fruits with high strychnine content that would kill most monkeys. So leaf monkeys can not only feed off a wider variety of food items than other monkeys, but also digest those foods more efficiently than do other primates.
Some marsupials ruminate
( Enlarge Image )
Kangaroos and certain other Australian marsupials also ruminate. Marsupials are mammals in which the young emerge from the womb at a very early stage of development and attach themselves to the mother's nipples. Many, but not all, marsupials have a pouch in which development of the offspring occurs. The Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana) is a well known example (though it is an American marsupial and does not ruminate).
| four |
Queen Grimhilde, Happy and Doc are all characters in which Disney film? | How many stomachs does a giraffe have | www.QACollections.com
How many stomachs does a giraffe have
How many stomachs does a giraffe have?
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| i don't know |
In mathematics, what is 3 cubed? | Cubes and Cube Roots
Cubes and Cube Roots
To understand cube roots, first we must understand cubes ...
How to Cube A Number
To cube a number, just use it in a multiplication 3 times ...
Example: What is 3 Cubed?
3 Cubed
Note: we write down "3 Cubed" as 33
(the little 3 means the number appears three times in multiplying)
Some More Cubes
A cube root goes the other direction:
3 cubed is 27, so the cube root of 27 is 3
3
The cube root of a number is ...
... a special value that when cubed gives the original number.
The cube root of 27 is ...
... 3, because when 3 is cubed you get 27.
Note: When you see "root" think
"I know the tree, but what is the root that produced it?"
In this case the tree is "27", and the cube root is "3".
Here are some more cubes and cube roots:
4
216
Example: What is the Cube root of 125?
Well, we just happen to know that 125 = 5 × 5 × 5 (if you use 5 three times in a multiplication you will get 125) ...
... so the answer is 5
The Cube Root Symbol
This is the special symbol that means "cube root", it is the "radical" symbol (used for square roots) with a little three to mean cube root.
You can use it like this:
(we say "the cube root of 27 equals 3")
You Can Also Cube Negative Numbers
Have a look at this:
When we cube 5 we get 125:
When we cube −5 we get −125:
So the cube root of −125 is −5
Perfect Cubes
The Perfect Cubes are the cubes of the whole numbers :
3375
...
It is easy to work out the cube root of a perfect cube, but it is really hard to work out other cube roots.
Example: what is the cube root of 30?
Well, 3 × 3 × 3 = 27 and 4 × 4 × 4 = 64, so we can guess the answer is between 3 and 4.
Let's try 3.5: 3.5 × 3.5 × 3.5 = 42.875
Let's try 3.2: 3.2 × 3.2 × 3.2 = 32.768
Let's try 3.1: 3.1 × 3.1 × 3.1 = 29.791
We are getting closer, but very slowly ... at this point, I get out my calculator and it says:
3.1072325059538588668776624275224...
... but the digits just go on and on, without any pattern. So even the calculator's answer is only an approximation !
(Further reading: these kind of numbers are called surds which are a special type of irrational number )
| 27 |
The towns of Milton Keynes and High Wycombe are in which English county? | What is cubic meter (meter cubed)? - Definition from WhatIs.com
memory dump attack
The cubic meter is the unit of volume in the International System of Units. The symbol for cubic meters is m3. Less formally, cubic meter is sometimes abbreviated cu m.
When calculating volume, it is important to realize that volume is proportional to the cube of the linear dimension. Thus, if all linear dimensions are doubled, the volume becomes eight times (23) as great; if all linear dimensions are cut to 1/3, the volume becomes 1/27 (1/33) as great. A volume of 1 m3 is equal to 1,000,000 centimeters cubed (106 cm3) or 1,000,000,000 millimeters cubed (109 mm3). In the opposite sense, 1 m3 is equal to 0.000000001 kilometer cubed (10-9 km3).
When converting between cubic meters and non-SI units of volume such as cubic inches (cu in) or cubic miles (cu mi), the linear-unit conversion factor must be cubed. For example, one meter is approximately 39.37 inches (39.37 in); therefore 1 m3 = 39.373 = 6.102 x 104 cu in (approximately). As another example, 1 meter is about 0.0006215 mile (6.215 x 10-4 mi); therefore 1 m3 = (6.215 x 10-4)3 = 2.401 x 10-10 cu mi (approximately).
Also see meter , square meter, and International System of Units ( SI ).
This was last updated in September 2006
Related Terms
| i don't know |
Who directed the 2001 film ‘The Pledge’, starring Jack Nicholson? | The Pledge (2001) - IMDb
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A retiring police chief pledges to catch the killer of a young child.
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1 win & 6 nominations. See more awards »
Videos
Freddie Gale is a seedy jeweler who has sworn to kill the drunk driver who killed his little girl.
Director: Sean Penn
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The sequel to Chinatown (1974) finds Jake Gittes investigating adultery and murder... and the money that comes from oil.
Director: Jack Nicholson
Publisher Will Randall becomes a werewolf and has to fight to keep his job.
Director: Mike Nichols
A Vietnam vet comes home to his small town and finds himself in conflict with rules that his brother has vowed to uphold.
Director: Sean Penn
A corrupted border agent decides to clean up his act when an impoverished woman's baby is put up for sale on the black market.
Director: Tony Richardson
Edit
Storyline
The night he retires as a Nevada sheriff, Jerry Black pledges to the mother of a murdered girl that he will find the killer. Jerry doesn't believe the police arrested the right man; he discovers this is the third incident in the area in the recent past with victims young, blond, pretty, and small for their age. So he buys an old gas station in the mountains near the crimes in order to search for a tall man who drives a black station wagon, gives toy porcupines as gifts, and calls himself the wizard: clues from a drawing by the dead girl. Jerry's solitary life gives way to friendship with a woman and her small, blond daughter. Has Jerry neglected something that may prove fatal? Written by <[email protected]>
See All (130) »
Taglines:
Detective Jerry Black has made a promise he can't break, to catch a killer he can't find. See more »
Genres:
Rated R for strong violence and language | See all certifications »
Parents Guide:
19 January 2001 (USA) See more »
Also Known As:
$5,765,347 (USA) (19 January 2001)
Gross:
Did You Know?
Trivia
Jack Nicholson 's secretary in the movie, Jean, is played by director Sean Penn 's mother, actress Eileen Ryan . See more »
Goofs
When Jerry flips the light switches on when Lori comes to the station for the first time, the lights come on before he flips the switches. See more »
Quotes
In memory of our Brothers In Arms Michael D. Haller and Jack Nitzsche See more »
Connections
(Englewood, New Jersey) – See all my reviews
Faithful to the book in most regards, the film is excellent, and Nicholson's performance is beyond reproach. While the denouement may have had issues (not with the point or the meaning, but rather the delivery), the film is still outstanding.
Nicholson's relationship with the girl (he is beautiful as an aged father) and his inexorable obsession with the murderer are perfect in the film. Sadly, Penn's pacing is inconsistent, as is the sense of "detective" that Duerenmatt was careful to give his novel: the film's heartbeat ranges from driving to rambling, and most thematically appropriate may have been a measured beat which is lacking here.
Nonetheless, the film is gripping, and captures the point, spirit and feel of the novel perfectly. It may not pull off the trick of being both faithful and profitable, but the film is true, and the acting impeccable.
64 of 76 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?
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| Sean Penn |
Which ELO song features Wagner, Beethoven, Puccini and Verdi? | The Pledge
The Pledge
Review by Ross Anthony
Detective Black (Nicholson) leaves his own retirement party to investigate a horrific rape/homicide crime scene. The victim is only seven years old. Though there's a flurry of cops on the scene, Nicholson finds himself delivering the news to the trembling parents. Oddly, with no passing of time shown for them to recover from the news, Nicholson starts in with the questions, eventually finding himself in the midst of a "pledge" to capture the perpetrator. Though he "swears on his soul salvation on a cross made by the daughter" this scene plays with little intensity when, in fact, it should have set the theater resonating, sending chills down our spines.
Director Sean Penn, takes his sweet time getting to this starting point. And from here, he relaxes even further. Moving with the speed of a paddle-boat upstream, the bulk of the movie is about as exciting as watching someone fish (in fact, that's the film's allegorical "hook").
In order to rescue this "made for TV" story from the cliche of it's genre, the filmmakers rewrite a predictable ending -- leaving us with a conclusion we would have never guessed; but had we foreseen, we would have chosen some other film to watch.
Acting across the board is expectedly at a high level and the story itself is told respectably via editing. I'm a huge huge fan of Sean Penn the actor, but I just don't like this story. There are times, too, when more artistic sequences are indulged in much too long. Additionally, some earlier unmounted camera work dizzies the viewers unnecessarily. Lastly, the audio occasionally lags, leaving much dialogue swimming in the bass end. Aside from these technical faults, most of the production is of solider quality.
If the talents of Jack Nicholson and Sean Penn draw you to their films (as they do me!), let my viewing of "The Pledge" save you a disappointing evening out. Wait for their next efforts.
The Pledge. Copyright © 2001. Rated R.
Starring Jack Nicholson, Robin Wright Penn, Sam Shepard, Aaron Eckhart, Vanessa Redgrave, Michael O'Keefe, Mickey Rourke, Harry Dean Stanton, Helen Mirren, Benicio Del Toro, Patricia Clarkson.
Directed by Sean Penn.
| i don't know |
Which Marvel superhero is mention in the T Rex single ‘Teenage Dream’? | Marvel Characters Who Deserve Their Own Movie << Movie & TV News and Interviews – Rotten Tomatoes
Click bait. And I fell for it.
RetailWire
terrible.
Daily
No, not needed at all. In fact they should cut some of the franchises they have brought to the silver screen. They have released a few really crap films.
Realistically
Well no, first off 3 of them are spider-man variations and we have so many good spider-man films already/s.
Although if ever there was a spider-man movie that needed a sequal then miles would fit awesomely with the death of peter.
Carnage,just no, that is deadpools spot of mindless violence, but an Agent Venom movie would blow everybodies mind, and you can tie him in with the guardians of the galaxy afterwards;
Namor is never going to happen mainly because he is aquaman and black adam put into one, and DC already has the best actors for both heroes.
Squirrel girl is just a joke by Marvel which stuck around.
Hercules is normal Hercules only set in the Marvel universe nothing too far out of the original to make him feel special out of the non-marvel Hercs.
Ms.Marvel is wonder woman in terms of powers.
Personally only cloak and dagger can bring something new as an idea but they are dangerously close to batman in tone so they have to be careful not to cross into that territory,or hawk and dove if they go for the dark/good personality motive.It can be done though,just gotta walk the fine edge.
The Bryce
Wonder Woman can shapeshift? First I’ve heard
Joe Mack
He is confusing this Ms Marvel (Kamala Khan) with the original Ms Marvel (Carol Danvers) who is now Captain Marvel and is getting her on movie in 2019.
Dick Bandit
Brown people and women! Who could’ve guessed?
James Zoller
#feminism making retarded shit since 2012
Nicholas Cage’s Pyramid Tomb
This is really only an issue if you hate women and non-whites.
James Zoller
have fun watching Squirrel Girl. we really need that to be released asap.
Nicholas Cage’s Pyramid Tomb
Your comment:
“PC af.
#feminism making retarded shit since 2012”
This is specifically directed at the fact that this list features women and non-whites. Not that you think a Squirrel themed superhero movie is a bad idea.
And by the way, I have no problem with sillier, smaller scale superhero movies. A Squirrel Girl movie would be fine.
James Zoller
False again. Aren’t you presumptuous.
I actually like.spider Gwen and cloAK and dagger idea.
What I dislike are political correctness run awry as it has all.over this country forcing feminist ideals in any way conceivable and the useless and more so damaging ideology that it represents.
I could care less whether a minority or women is in a movie, as log as it makes some sense. I actually watched a feminist movie with my girlfriend a couple weeks ago, called surrogate. You know the time when feminism was required and served a purpose for all mankind, not this useless man bashing first world cry me a river someone on the Internet doesn’t like me so ban them brand of feminism that is rampant on campuses, including my own. Though I love getting into debates with them as they quickly realize they are losing and resort to personal attacks about how I rape people and the like. I play a number of games with female protagonists but generally don’t make that categorization till well in the game as I am more concerned with the character, not their sex as you seem to be.
Fyi: the concept of surrogate was great though the story and characters were all 1 dimensional so the end result was known from the onset.
James Zoller
btw…. feminism has nothing to do with non-whites or racial concerns in ANY WAY… what are you talking about?
also my girlfriend just went through the list of the “top 15 feminist movies of 2015” and i’ve seen 8 of them. not because they were feminist movies, but because they seemed like quality movies.
she is also laughing at your uninformed and presumptuous nature as she knows me ever so slightly more than you do.
keep trying.
Nicholas Cage’s Pyramid Tomb
“btw…. feminism has nothing to do with non-whites or racial concerns in ANY WAY… what are you talking about?”
By the way, part of your comment mentioned political correctness, which isn’t limited to representing just women (otherwise you would’ve just mentioned feminism and left it at that). You’re also replying to a comment talking about “brown people”. It’s obvious what I’m talking about and you know it.
“also my girlfriend just went through the list of the “top 15 feminist movies of 2015″ and i’ve seen 8 of them. not because they were feminist movies, but because they seemed like quality movies.”
Again. you not liking the superheroes in this list is fine. The issue here is the fact that your initial comment is bitching about the fact that a lot of them are women and non-whites. If your actual issue here is the actual quality of the characters on this list, then you wouldn’t have felt the need to make a comment agreeing with someone who’s complaining about the list featuring women and non-whites. Stop trying to backpedal and make yourself seem like you aren’t an asshat.
“she is also laughing at your uninformed and presumptuous nature”
You literally agreed with a comment complaining about women and non-whites, then went on to complain about feminism and political correctness. There’s nothing to be presumptuous about. You literally did this.
James Zoller
i agreed with a comment forcing gender and race into movies. yes, never did i make any indication that i am anti-women/minorities. your a presumptuous asshat.
the comment i agreed with was valid… “what a surprise minorities and women” and lets balance it off with Hercules where marvel literally adds nothing to what we think of them. the majority of these characters do not even have enough material or interest for a movie to made about them to begin with. this is the point. how you miss this is clearly a sign of bias and again, assumptions on your part about my character and ideals.
and you still don’t know a damn thing about me, yet you have revealed enough about yourself.
Nicholas Cage’s Pyramid Tomb
“i agreed with a comment forcing gender and race into movies. yes”
What exactly would this even entail? Making a character not a white man?
“never did i make any indication that i am anti-women/minorities. your a presumptuous asshat.”
“PC af.
#feminism making retarded shit since 2012”
“the majority of these characters do not even have enough material or interest for a movie to made about them to begin with. this is the point.”
If that was the point then the fact that the list features minorities is besides the point, which, again, is the only thing you bothered to mention in your comment in the first place.
“you still don’t know a damn thing about me, yet you have revealed enough about yourself.”
Well so far I’ve revealed that I have no problem with minority superheroes and would be interested in seeing how a Squirrel Girl movie turns out. You got me by the balls man.
James Zoller
all you are doing and have done just like most SJWs on the net is contort what i am saying into your own narrative.
being openly against feminism is not equivalent to being against women you dumbass.
i didn’t realize on the onset that i would have to quite literally spell out a fucking novel as to what many people are bothered by this list.
what marvel characters need movies… hmmm ok lets look for the minorities and women and just make that the list. hercules will cover our tracks.
again have fun watching squirrel girl.
and no, i don’t have you by the balls.
you never had any to begin with.
Nicholas Cage’s Pyramid Tomb
“all you are doing and have done just like most SJWs on the net is contort what i am saying into your own narrative.”
How is going off something that you literally said contorting anything?
“being openly against feminism is not equivalent to being against women”
Considering feminism is about equal rights and representation of women, yeah, it kinda is. Being against extremists is a different story, and not one that’s relevant to this article. There was nothing extremist about this article.
“what marvel characters need movies… hmmm ok lets look for the minorities and women and just make that the list.”
3/11 of these characters are white men.
7/11 of these characters are white.
Only 4 of these 11 characters are racial minorities.
And only 6 of these 11 characters are women.
This list has a pretty solid variety. Women make up barely more than half the characters. You’re having a fit over fucking nothing.
The only real problem here is there are too many characters from Spiderman.
“i don’t have you by the balls.
you never had any to begin with.”
Whoa man sick burn.
Tiberian_Fiend…sounds like you’re an angry white person…have fun with that!
Dick Bandit
Another angry honkie on the web… who would have guessed.
Screech Screecher
Another racist proglodyte… who would have guess.
Tatiana Marie
excuse me, but the majority of people who read comics are white or asian – have you even been to a comic book convention? There are not many blacks or mexicans at the conventions.
blair houghton
Too busy dealing with the economic conditions white people leave them in.
drakejr
It’s a pretty bad list that reeks of looking for diversity instead of good books. Spider Gwen and Spider Woman have had quality runs. But there are some garbage characters in that list. Cloak and Dagger? Seriously? Squirrel Girl is a good joke that went on too long. Carnage should have ended with the ugly period of 90’s garbage that spawned him. Hercules was only interesting when he had a supergenius counterpoint in Amadeus Cho. As for Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, I think we can confidently state this list is maximum tryhard.
blair houghton
Teenage Mutant Ninja turtles started out as a parody. Then became the thing they were mocking, because $$$. Never discount the power of that galactic force.
blair houghton
Power-Man and Jessica Jones have their own weekly TV series, soon to be two. Much better than a movie, from a character standpoint and actor standpoint and culture standpoint. Just not a money standpoint.
blair houghton
Well, let me walk that back a bit. They have a TV series. It comes out all in a bunch instead of weekly. Still. Way more for your eyeball dollar.
The Bryce
Nicholas Cage’s Pyramid Tomb
Too many Spiderman variations/spinoffs.
coockie
This article is literally screaming feminism and race. Comic books are supposed to be stories about alternating universes that are entirely different from our own. And in alternate universes there are no such thing as race and feminism, just super powerful aliens and evil syndicates. Stop forcing cheezy characters to get their own movies just because they are currently mistreated and misrepresented in our own society. I read comics to enjoy myself not to get more of this racism and feminism rifraf shoved into my face. But those things aside half of these characters are a joke. And others are copy pasted.
radical
I guess you could also say you read comics to ignore social blight. Enjoy!
Nicholas Cage’s Pyramid Tomb
“Comic books are supposed to be stories about alternating universes that are entirely different from our own. And in alternate universes there are no such thing as race and feminism, just super powerful aliens and evil syndicates.”
I can’t tell if you’re joking or not, because the vast majority of comic books and fictional media in general go against your completely arbitrary requirements.
coockie
Look, to me this article looks like an indirect statement that says women deserve as much attention as men do and that other minor ethnicities matter and therefore they should get their own movie as well. But that is not what comic books are supposed to be about or atleast that is what i think. Comic books are not supposed to be a dumping ground for political and social dillema but a form of entertainment.
Nicholas Cage’s Pyramid Tomb
“Look, to me this article looks like an indirect statement that says women deserve as much attention as men do and that other minor ethnicities matter and therefore they should get their own movie as well.”
…Is this somehow bad?
“But that is not what comic books are supposed to be about or atleast that is what i think. Comic books are not supposed to be a dumping ground for political and social dillema but a form of entertainment.”
In other words you want comics to only feature white men because the acknowledgement that women and other races exist is somehow a political or social dilemma (even though it isn’t and that makes no sense).
Crewthief
Way to completely miss the point Mr. White Knight.
Nicholas Cage’s Pyramid Tomb
Please, explain the point then.
Crewthief
See, and that’s exactly the problem to begin with. I’m not going to spell this out for you.
Nicholas Cage’s Pyramid Tomb
In other words you have no idea.
ZrdFrv
And isn’t that an admirable goal? Is that a bad thing for you?
Schwinn
There’s no reason we can’t get the best of both worlds. I get not wanting overbearing political messages in all your superhero outings, but we can get the fun of superheros WHILE getting better representation of overlooked demographics in our media, which doesn’t require stuffing a message about equality in there, it’s simply a matter of representation. Even still there’s no reason political messages can’t make for an interesting story in the context of superheros. The X-Men have been fighting for gay rights–I mean mutant rights whoops–for the longest time you know. Politics are synonymous with conflict and every superhero needs conflict. And I’m not saying we need Batman walking about preaching feminism, they are better platforms to deal with that, but a balance can be met with clever story telling.
ZrdFrv
“And I’m not saying we need Batman walking about preaching feminism, they are better platforms to deal with that…”
Jessica Jones and Agent Carter are my top choice for that.
Sean
“Comic books are not supposed to be a dumping ground for political and social dillema but a form of entertainment.”
…wait… you’re kidding, right? Comic books rather routinely tackle sociopolitical issues. The fact that you’re complaining about these comic book characters inherently addressing those issues kinda proves that. As do a buttload of comic books and comic book characters.
SkulloManiac
” Comic books are not supposed to be a dumping ground for political and social dillema but a form of entertainment.”
I take it you aren’t currently reading Marvel and DC comics, right? Because everything both companies are publishing these days is boring PC crap.
NC
Yeah, not like Captain America was written by two Jews who wanted the US to enter WWII or anything.
…except that’s exactly how it happened. It goes all. The way. Back. To the start.
Gog Magog
Stories always have a symbolic level, even when they don’t intend it. The superhero genre itself is about more than punching bad guys. Early on, creators realized this. Wonder Woman herself was specifically designed as a feminist figure. Patriotic characters were supposed to represent American values. Crimefighters represent the triumph of good over evil. From early on in his history, Black Panther, the first black superhero who was created during the civil rights era, has been used to deal with issues of racism. EC comics regularly dealt with social issues in their comic series Shock Suspenstories and at times did the same in their regular horror comics. It’s only now when the backlash against feminism and the civil rights movement has seeped into the general culture that people complain when stories are about things they’d rather not think about. Comics have been dealing with these issues longer than you have been alive most likely.
Lee Glass
This coming from a person with a hentai avatar of a basically naked woman.
Hairbender
I hope I never meet you in person.
Luffy Senpai
your opinion isn’t the only one that matters or the right one. If you can’t handle what other people think then don’t come to online forums.
Todd Merrick Novak
Why do you care? Why does it offend you? My daughters are into superheroes. They’re 9 and 12. We saw Captain America last night and they told me that they wanted one of the girls to star in their own movie because they want to see a movie about someone THEY CAN RELATE TO! They don’t have a “feminist” agenda. They don’t even know what politically correct is yet. Are you saying that movies should be made only for people with your opinions and tastes?
Even if they did make these movies for politically correct reasons, why do you care? Captain America, Iron Man, Ant Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, Batman, Superman, Wolverine, Deadpool, all white superhero men with their own movies. Making movies with women or other races doesn’t seem to be a movement away from comic book movies starring white male leads. If you don’t want these movies, there is plenty still there for you. The idea that there is a focus on female or other race leads shouldn’t be an offense. For my daughters and myself it’s about tapping into something that I want to share with them by tapping into something that speaks to them. It isn’t a politically correct conspiracy. It’s much more human than that.
mister truman
70% Characters are just spiders.
Jesús Alonso
Cypher. And no, I’m not kidding. He’s perfect for a movie that takes full developement on the possibilities of the character.
Al Saulinsky
pfft, most of these characters are secondary at best and while I like Miles Morales, I dont think he is worthy of his own movie either. Whoever wrote this is a moron and knows nothing about comic books or their complex stories.
mroden26
clearly you haven’t read Hercules’ new MARVEL title, or any of the recent arcs where Namor is involved, or anything with Miles Morales or Kamala Khan
Al Saulinsky
Actually I do (or at least have) read all of those. Despite being a member of the Illuminati, Namor was a supporting character at best. He was a supporting character in the X titles, and he was a supporting character in the Secret Wars arcs, and now he’s dead. The new Ms. Marvel is a waste of paper (or electricity if you read digitally). That crap was made so Marvel could pander to an untapped market I guess. The story is abysmal and her abilities…really? Elasticman was a clown even over at DC. Now, if you read my post, I LIKE Miles Morales. The story so far has been pretty good and there is potential there. I do not however think the character, at this point, is worth a movie. The new Hercules series has promise, but it is too early in it’s run to give any informed judgements. I’ll even go so far as to say that the Sam Wilson Captain America is crap as well. The new Thor shows some promise, while the new Hulk does not. The Hawkeye series is garbage, but Old Man Logan could be one of the greats.
Todd Merrick Novak
You know, ripping down something that someone else likes doesn’t mean you have taste or that you represent anyone’s opinion but your own. Try focusing on what you like. Otherwise you’re just another guy on the internet who rips everyone else down. How original.
Not everyone shares your opinion. You throw the word crap around. It comes off as juvenile and it doesn’t represent you or your opinions well. It’s all too common on the web. Don’t be a cliche.
Who would have thought Scott Lang would have his own movie. Even Iron Man hadn’t been a top book since the 1970s. Namor, along with the original Human Torch, was one of the first Marvel characters and like Captain America he has a time spanning history.
Strider
Sorry, but this is simply a horrible list of characters. There are maybe 2 that would not simply be changing/rebooting existing characters like Gwen and Miles and even Spider Woman. Only do these characters if you are really trying to promote superhero movie fatigue. The Cloak and Dagger is pretty much the only one on the list that looks original or interesting.
Feels like the staff was simply picking random c list characters for this list.
theDiscreteOne
How is Doctor Strange not on this list? [rhetorical question]
Nicholas Cage’s Pyramid Tomb
Probably because his movie is already in production.
percy blakeney
okay for Cloak and Dagger.
Namor’s cool but Aquaman has more exposure and has been turned into a total Namor rip off over the years -so I don’t really see a gap in the market for it.
How about:
Nova? (Richard Rider)
Starhawk (but as Starkar or Aleta?)
Stating the obvious here but if we’re looking for a solo superheroine (on top of Carol Danvers of course) the Black Widow has got to be a banker atm. Just do it.
….aaaaaaaand a Squadron Supreme movie! Just coz it’d be funny if Marvel made a better JLA movie than DC.
Speaking of which why don’t DC make Legion of Superheroes flick? Now that’d be cool.
Avengers Squad
OHMIGOSH they should TOTALLY do Spider-Gwen or Spider-Woman! I have’nt read the Gwen one, but it sure looks cool! And Cloak and Dagger would be awesome, just hopefully not too dark–it’d be nice to have such a cool duo. I agree that they should do Shulkie as a TV show or something, Wrestlingroots Y’know what they really should do is a Power Pack movie or TV show, which might actually happen, according to Stan Lee. I’m glad they’re gonna do the New Mutants, it’ll be cool to see more teen heroes on screen! I’ve never heard of that Moon girl thing, but I love all-ages stuff, so I should check that out! Hopefully Marvel won’t make any more crap movies like Deadpool. 🙁
Martian_Manchowder
These could be superb dead virus inoculations against wanting to watch more people in rubber suits glower at each other.
lucky gmail
SQUIRREL GIRL?? really???
ZrdFrv
For me, almost all of them could fare well better for tv than in movies. Except for Namor, I think Namor could work being introduced in MCU as a movie supporting character(like they did with Blackwidow in IM2, or Hawkeye in Thor).
For my rundown;
Reading Spider-Gwen’s run, it is interesting, she is interesting(really loving the flip take where Pete’s the simple primer for Gwen to become her own character). Could work as a pure standalone spin-off series, unconnected to MCU.
Only read a few about Kamala Khan, but I really like how quirky her whole thing is. Could be a strong suit for a proper, fun, teenage adventure show.
Cloak and Dagger? Love these two. Netflix, period.
Hercules, really like his adventures with Amadeus Cho, now THAT, I find would really work best as a true saturday morning cartoon adventure.
Was really hoping Miles Morales is the spiderman they’d take to MCU. Standalone series then.
Moon Girl and devil Dinosaur? Have no idea who these folks are so comment.
Squirrel Girl, a single season animated series. An awkward, hilarious, Adam Reed style of humor revolving around a superheroine whose apparent superpower is the ability to defeat foes seemingly far more powerful than her.
Namor, I really like this arrogant asshat. Could do well introduced into MCU as a supporting character (like Blackwidow in IM2, or Hawkeye in Thor).
And SpiderWoman?, pfft, i’d rather have Jenn Walters! Now THAT character could be a good bridge between the Netflix Marvel characters(had a meet with Matt Murdock or Jessica Jones for some random case) and the movie Marvel ones(Bruce Banner’s cousin!)
Thanos
cat woaman ? big flop. twice.
does anyone really care about falcon?
doesn anyone really want to see any of the movies above?
asian/black/tranny superman?
the ghostbusters reboot and the new wonder woman wont shatter box office records…i may be wrong
NameNamerson
Punisher, wolverine, Ghost Rider and daredevil is the the only reason Dc were forced to be dark. Before MARVEL, dc was goofy Adam west. If it weren’t for real dark characters like Punisher, dc would still b stuck in the cornball age.
NameNamerson
Jessica jones makes dc look like sesame street.
NameNamerson
Daredevil vs Punisher made Batman vs Superman look silly.
MICHAEL
where did you see daredevil vs punisher?
Antman277
Probably in the Daredevil Netflix tv show.
MICHAEL
I just got netflix and the first episode of the second season where it starts is pretty good…
Grokenstein
Awwww, lookit all the pale man-infants. Cry louder, tiny little babymen.
Dark Shroud
You mean the majority of the people who actually read comics?
Rick Grubber
Sounds like you’re the only one doing all the blubbering, putzey wutzey!
MICHAEL
As an african american growing up average in a jewish neighborhood I relied on Marvel Universe to enrich life. Im not into political correctness (we saw how that ruined the fantastic 4 movies) not that they were that good in the first place. HOWEVER Stan Lee is clearly against racism and its obvious that 90% of FUCKING MOVIES have a white male lead…so thats the end of that why should non whites and women be bombarded with movies of white men doing good over evil? Stan Lee believes in fair play…as do I…I support the inclusion of minority heroes and whoever doesn’t has missed the point Mr. Stan Lee is trying to make…
Crewthief
What the fuck are you crying about?
Antman277
Why not put younger characters, like Ms. Marvel (Kamala Khan), Spider-Man (Miles Morals), Nova (Sam Alexander), Ms. America (America Chavez), and even Cassie Lang, who develops size changing abilities from exposure to Pym Particles, into a live action tv show or movie? This could be easily established in the MCU because Cassie Lang was shown in Ant-Man (Scot Lang), Siper-Man (Peter Parker) wouldn’t have to die, and Nova could also be in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies.
That being said, a second Spider-Man movie (After the first one comes out) having Peter Parker die and Miles Morals take his place would be really darn cool.
Also, I don’t know anything about Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, but it sounds to me like a really good idea for an animated tv show on Disney Junior, that can then introduce younger kids to Marvel, which will lead to them watching Avengers, Spider-Man, and Guardians of the Galaxy on Disney XD, which leads to the MCU, thus making Marvel a bunch more money, and entertaining young kids. When I was 4, 5, 6, or 7, I would have jumped at the thought of watching a tv show about an 8 year old genius and a dinosaur.
Todd Kaplan
NO. No one want’s to see this garbage.
Tatiana Marie
She-Hulk for sure! Also, Silver Sable.
camilo
So, no Moon Knight, Black Widow, Sentry or Black Cat? You know… the ones with actually interesting stories??? While Namor and Spider Woman would be interesting, Squirrel Girl and Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur just left me scratching my head in confusion…. no seriously, the second one has to be a joke -_- (And Spider Gwen? Right, because we don’t have enough Spider Man stuff in movies right?)
Bruno Xavier
Moon Knight? Ghost Rider? Blade? Runaways?
Josh Elliott
Spider-Gwen and Miles = No.. Either of these would confuse non comic book people to no end.
Namor = Might work… tough character to sell, might need a large amount of reimaging to make movie worthy
Hercules = No.. While Thor worked as a character cinematic wise, Hercules already has far too many movies/shows under his belt as a Greek character… would be confusing/meh for the non comic fans
Ms. Marvel = Sure
Cloak and Dagger = Yes please.
Spider-Woman = Yes please
Moon Girl = Maybe, I have no idea on this one. Marvel seems to be able to make non mainstream work (GotG)
Maximum Carnage = This is what I’ve been waiting for since the first Tobey Maguire Spidey movie.
Squirrel Girl can die in an apartment fire, but not from the fire itself, but carbon monoxide poisoning.
Pinkk
Spider-Gwen and Ms Marvel. Two new characters that have yet to prove themselves. No. They don’t deserve a movie (this doesn’t mean they can’t get one, but DESERVE is way to strong a word). Same with Moon Girl only she’s even more boring than Ms Marvel.
Squirrel Girl is a joke and doesn’t deserve a movie either :p
Miles sucks. He has yet to be a good Spider-Man and his own sales show it. Why they keep trying to push him on the comic crowd instead of some of the better ones, I have no idea.
Don’t think Hercules deserves his own movie either.
Now Cloak & Dagger, there is one deserving of a movie. Spider-Woman? For sure! Jessica Drew has been nothing but deserving of some screen time. Not a fan of Namor, but he could use one of his own.
Marie Teach
there is nothing wrong with hating muslims especially since most of them hate women and LGBT people, they are a cancer on any society they infest, 70% of the prison population of Europe are muslim filth because they can’t stop raping women and children
John (it true me am)
Forget the back and forth here about this being too PC, it is simply a bad list completely regardless. Spider-Gwen and Miles are typical alternate universe crap, the kind of stuff that bogs down U.S. comic books to the point that they have to destroy the multiverse every so often just to clean up their messes. Yeah maybe we are all getting sick of the 3rd Peter Parker reboot in recent history, but come on, do you really think either of those characters are going to sell tickets? The lineup is already bloated as is and we haven’t even touched a few huge staple heroes nor even gotten the mutants or F4 back from Fox.
Carnage is a villain, and an irredeemable one. They don’t get their own movies, period. As for him showing up in a spider-man movie, that is possible certainly. Why is he on this list?
Hercules and Namor are supporting characters, I could picture them showing up at some point in the MCU, but headlining a film? Laughable. Thor is already a little too borderline out of place, mythological god shoved in among superheroes for non-comics readers.
Squirrel Girl could only work in a Deadpool sequel (Deadpool v. Squirrel Girl: Dawn of something or other). No clue where her license lies though.
Ms. Marvel is still too green of a character. Could she work? Maybe as a Netflix series. Jessica Jones is an atrocious waste of space Bendis trash character and somehow they pulled off her series very well(thank you David). But yeah, not a movie.
Agree with most comments here that Cloak and Dagger are the best on the list. Cloak and Dagger would have made an excellent Netflix series, but unfortunately we are going to get some young adult Twilight crap. Hopefully not set in the MCU…
Spider-woman… If Mockingbird was a third tier Agents of SHIELD character, then why would The Inferior Spider-woman get a movie? Just toss her as a supporting cast member of SHIELD and be done with it. Jessica Jones already stole her spot in the big leagues. (If confused by that, the original Jessica Jones series was intended to be a Jessica Drew series but the editors weren’t keen on Bendis having Purple Man enslave and rape an established character.)
And Moongirl? Really? Toss her in a Deadpool movie and have him kill the stupid dinosaur and call it a day. That’s a license they should just give away… Or hey, I’ll be generous and say give them a Disney XD little kids show.
Seanzilla_97
2.) Namor
3.) Spider-Woman
4.) Beta Ray Bill- Maybe if they made a Thor movie that introduced him, rather than making him the main star. Almost like what they are doing with Black Panther in the upcoming Captain America movie.
5.) Cloak and Dagger
6.) Silver Surfer
7.) Brotherhood of Mutants- Interesting it would be an interesting take on to see the perspectives of an infamous enemy of the X-Men.
8.) Wolverine??????- Making another Wolverine movie? Yes, make the main focus on ALPHA FLIGHT!!!!!!! i think that this would make for an interesting movie. Cant be as bad as “X-Men Wolverine Origins…..”
9.) Hercules- Maybe if they made a Thor movie that introduced him, rather than making him the main star. Almost like what they are doing with Black Panther.
10.) She-Hulk
Maudite Balvenie
I doubt Marvel wants to release movies based on characters that are derived from original characters for fear of diluting the original’s brand.
Alex Coulombe
I gotta agree with everything they said.
Donnie The Lion
She-Hulk. If the success of Jessica Jones showed anything, it paved the way for She-Hulk on the big screen.
Wil☺
Chris Evans Naked………….. No! She is not Found
Tony Volious
I love Spider-Woman, would love to see her on TV… She-Hulk too!!!
Joel Drake
Little off topic, but can we say that Punisher clearly needs his own Netlifx show?
Sarah Fisher
Yeah, just what we need, 3 more Spider”men”. Cuz there’s no way overindulging in those could go wrong…
Guy Dudebreaux
Whoever wrote this article was just trying to get their SJW certification.
Fallen Prime
Well. This is certainly a list that someone wrote and posted on the Internet.
I’m not going to offer comment on Spider-Gwen due to knowing next to nothing about her, but Miles Morales could work. Hell, I don’t think I’d have been mad if they’s gone the Morales route for MCU Spidey, especially considering they take their fair share of cues from the Ultimate universe. Problem with including either now, and Spider-Woman as well, is that we’d end up with an oversaturation of web-slinging heroes. The comics are already juggling a ton of them, and it’d serve the MCU well to not try to churn them out, with the understandable exception of symbiote shenanigans.
I’d actually be totally okay with Ms. Marvel. Who knows, they could even write Kamala Khan into Captain Marvel’s film. Or even the TV shows, since Agents of SHIELD’s on an Inhuman high.
I’ve heard the pitch for Cloak and Dagger. They’ve greenlit it before even attaching anyone onto the project. That alone concerns me. I’ve heard they also want a YA romance angle, which is… certainly different for the MCU at present.
I don’t know about Marvel’s Hercules. The character as a Greco-Roman figure has been done to death by now, once even by Disney themselves. It could be fun to see how the MCU reconciles the coexistence of Olympus and Asgard, but I don’t think it’s necessarily required that we have that happen.
I have wanted Carnage since Raimi’s films. I am that level of trash. The symbiotes are one of my favorite things about Spider-Man’s history, and I ADORE Carnage for being a huge part of that. Baby steps, though; let Spidey grow into his own, and if the symbiotes are fated for the MCU treatment, start at Venom.
I have never heard of Moon Girl and only sort of know Devil Dinosaur. Guardians of the Galaxy is proof positive that the characters being obscure doesn’t doom the film, but I think this pairing crosses the acceptable silliness threshold established by the MCU.
Squirrel Girl, though. Give Squirrel Girl one of those One-Shots. I demand this to be a thing. There is no rationality behind this, I just want it.
Namor would be a very welcome addition to the MCU. I thought I heard something about his film rights being in all sorts of hell, though, which would go a decent way towards explaining his absence thus far.
Personally, I’d like to see Marvel get Ghost Rider right in the MCU. They’ve proven they could right wrongs with Daredevil, Punisher AND Elektra, and I’d love to see how they do with GR and his related cast. I’d also be thrilled with seeing Nova make an appearance in a Guardians movie, and I wouldn’t object if Moon Knight fans had their way.
And also the Fantastic Four, but… well, assuming Fox hasn’t tarnished the name forever by now, they STILL wouldn’t give ’em back. But seriously, the MCU NEEDS more Loki-scale villains, and Doctor Doom is one of the DEFINITIVE Marvel villains.
…fucking hell, I typed a LOT.
sunnavab
Cloak and Dagger, but it needs to be on Netflix. Seriously mature stuff if done right.
Hasan Ahmad
| Silver Surfer |
The DC superhero ‘Green Lantern’ features in which hit single by Donovan? | Marvel Characters Who Deserve Their Own Movie << Movie & TV News and Interviews – Rotten Tomatoes
Click bait. And I fell for it.
RetailWire
terrible.
Daily
No, not needed at all. In fact they should cut some of the franchises they have brought to the silver screen. They have released a few really crap films.
Realistically
Well no, first off 3 of them are spider-man variations and we have so many good spider-man films already/s.
Although if ever there was a spider-man movie that needed a sequal then miles would fit awesomely with the death of peter.
Carnage,just no, that is deadpools spot of mindless violence, but an Agent Venom movie would blow everybodies mind, and you can tie him in with the guardians of the galaxy afterwards;
Namor is never going to happen mainly because he is aquaman and black adam put into one, and DC already has the best actors for both heroes.
Squirrel girl is just a joke by Marvel which stuck around.
Hercules is normal Hercules only set in the Marvel universe nothing too far out of the original to make him feel special out of the non-marvel Hercs.
Ms.Marvel is wonder woman in terms of powers.
Personally only cloak and dagger can bring something new as an idea but they are dangerously close to batman in tone so they have to be careful not to cross into that territory,or hawk and dove if they go for the dark/good personality motive.It can be done though,just gotta walk the fine edge.
The Bryce
Wonder Woman can shapeshift? First I’ve heard
Joe Mack
He is confusing this Ms Marvel (Kamala Khan) with the original Ms Marvel (Carol Danvers) who is now Captain Marvel and is getting her on movie in 2019.
Dick Bandit
Brown people and women! Who could’ve guessed?
James Zoller
#feminism making retarded shit since 2012
Nicholas Cage’s Pyramid Tomb
This is really only an issue if you hate women and non-whites.
James Zoller
have fun watching Squirrel Girl. we really need that to be released asap.
Nicholas Cage’s Pyramid Tomb
Your comment:
“PC af.
#feminism making retarded shit since 2012”
This is specifically directed at the fact that this list features women and non-whites. Not that you think a Squirrel themed superhero movie is a bad idea.
And by the way, I have no problem with sillier, smaller scale superhero movies. A Squirrel Girl movie would be fine.
James Zoller
False again. Aren’t you presumptuous.
I actually like.spider Gwen and cloAK and dagger idea.
What I dislike are political correctness run awry as it has all.over this country forcing feminist ideals in any way conceivable and the useless and more so damaging ideology that it represents.
I could care less whether a minority or women is in a movie, as log as it makes some sense. I actually watched a feminist movie with my girlfriend a couple weeks ago, called surrogate. You know the time when feminism was required and served a purpose for all mankind, not this useless man bashing first world cry me a river someone on the Internet doesn’t like me so ban them brand of feminism that is rampant on campuses, including my own. Though I love getting into debates with them as they quickly realize they are losing and resort to personal attacks about how I rape people and the like. I play a number of games with female protagonists but generally don’t make that categorization till well in the game as I am more concerned with the character, not their sex as you seem to be.
Fyi: the concept of surrogate was great though the story and characters were all 1 dimensional so the end result was known from the onset.
James Zoller
btw…. feminism has nothing to do with non-whites or racial concerns in ANY WAY… what are you talking about?
also my girlfriend just went through the list of the “top 15 feminist movies of 2015” and i’ve seen 8 of them. not because they were feminist movies, but because they seemed like quality movies.
she is also laughing at your uninformed and presumptuous nature as she knows me ever so slightly more than you do.
keep trying.
Nicholas Cage’s Pyramid Tomb
“btw…. feminism has nothing to do with non-whites or racial concerns in ANY WAY… what are you talking about?”
By the way, part of your comment mentioned political correctness, which isn’t limited to representing just women (otherwise you would’ve just mentioned feminism and left it at that). You’re also replying to a comment talking about “brown people”. It’s obvious what I’m talking about and you know it.
“also my girlfriend just went through the list of the “top 15 feminist movies of 2015″ and i’ve seen 8 of them. not because they were feminist movies, but because they seemed like quality movies.”
Again. you not liking the superheroes in this list is fine. The issue here is the fact that your initial comment is bitching about the fact that a lot of them are women and non-whites. If your actual issue here is the actual quality of the characters on this list, then you wouldn’t have felt the need to make a comment agreeing with someone who’s complaining about the list featuring women and non-whites. Stop trying to backpedal and make yourself seem like you aren’t an asshat.
“she is also laughing at your uninformed and presumptuous nature”
You literally agreed with a comment complaining about women and non-whites, then went on to complain about feminism and political correctness. There’s nothing to be presumptuous about. You literally did this.
James Zoller
i agreed with a comment forcing gender and race into movies. yes, never did i make any indication that i am anti-women/minorities. your a presumptuous asshat.
the comment i agreed with was valid… “what a surprise minorities and women” and lets balance it off with Hercules where marvel literally adds nothing to what we think of them. the majority of these characters do not even have enough material or interest for a movie to made about them to begin with. this is the point. how you miss this is clearly a sign of bias and again, assumptions on your part about my character and ideals.
and you still don’t know a damn thing about me, yet you have revealed enough about yourself.
Nicholas Cage’s Pyramid Tomb
“i agreed with a comment forcing gender and race into movies. yes”
What exactly would this even entail? Making a character not a white man?
“never did i make any indication that i am anti-women/minorities. your a presumptuous asshat.”
“PC af.
#feminism making retarded shit since 2012”
“the majority of these characters do not even have enough material or interest for a movie to made about them to begin with. this is the point.”
If that was the point then the fact that the list features minorities is besides the point, which, again, is the only thing you bothered to mention in your comment in the first place.
“you still don’t know a damn thing about me, yet you have revealed enough about yourself.”
Well so far I’ve revealed that I have no problem with minority superheroes and would be interested in seeing how a Squirrel Girl movie turns out. You got me by the balls man.
James Zoller
all you are doing and have done just like most SJWs on the net is contort what i am saying into your own narrative.
being openly against feminism is not equivalent to being against women you dumbass.
i didn’t realize on the onset that i would have to quite literally spell out a fucking novel as to what many people are bothered by this list.
what marvel characters need movies… hmmm ok lets look for the minorities and women and just make that the list. hercules will cover our tracks.
again have fun watching squirrel girl.
and no, i don’t have you by the balls.
you never had any to begin with.
Nicholas Cage’s Pyramid Tomb
“all you are doing and have done just like most SJWs on the net is contort what i am saying into your own narrative.”
How is going off something that you literally said contorting anything?
“being openly against feminism is not equivalent to being against women”
Considering feminism is about equal rights and representation of women, yeah, it kinda is. Being against extremists is a different story, and not one that’s relevant to this article. There was nothing extremist about this article.
“what marvel characters need movies… hmmm ok lets look for the minorities and women and just make that the list.”
3/11 of these characters are white men.
7/11 of these characters are white.
Only 4 of these 11 characters are racial minorities.
And only 6 of these 11 characters are women.
This list has a pretty solid variety. Women make up barely more than half the characters. You’re having a fit over fucking nothing.
The only real problem here is there are too many characters from Spiderman.
“i don’t have you by the balls.
you never had any to begin with.”
Whoa man sick burn.
Tiberian_Fiend…sounds like you’re an angry white person…have fun with that!
Dick Bandit
Another angry honkie on the web… who would have guessed.
Screech Screecher
Another racist proglodyte… who would have guess.
Tatiana Marie
excuse me, but the majority of people who read comics are white or asian – have you even been to a comic book convention? There are not many blacks or mexicans at the conventions.
blair houghton
Too busy dealing with the economic conditions white people leave them in.
drakejr
It’s a pretty bad list that reeks of looking for diversity instead of good books. Spider Gwen and Spider Woman have had quality runs. But there are some garbage characters in that list. Cloak and Dagger? Seriously? Squirrel Girl is a good joke that went on too long. Carnage should have ended with the ugly period of 90’s garbage that spawned him. Hercules was only interesting when he had a supergenius counterpoint in Amadeus Cho. As for Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, I think we can confidently state this list is maximum tryhard.
blair houghton
Teenage Mutant Ninja turtles started out as a parody. Then became the thing they were mocking, because $$$. Never discount the power of that galactic force.
blair houghton
Power-Man and Jessica Jones have their own weekly TV series, soon to be two. Much better than a movie, from a character standpoint and actor standpoint and culture standpoint. Just not a money standpoint.
blair houghton
Well, let me walk that back a bit. They have a TV series. It comes out all in a bunch instead of weekly. Still. Way more for your eyeball dollar.
The Bryce
Nicholas Cage’s Pyramid Tomb
Too many Spiderman variations/spinoffs.
coockie
This article is literally screaming feminism and race. Comic books are supposed to be stories about alternating universes that are entirely different from our own. And in alternate universes there are no such thing as race and feminism, just super powerful aliens and evil syndicates. Stop forcing cheezy characters to get their own movies just because they are currently mistreated and misrepresented in our own society. I read comics to enjoy myself not to get more of this racism and feminism rifraf shoved into my face. But those things aside half of these characters are a joke. And others are copy pasted.
radical
I guess you could also say you read comics to ignore social blight. Enjoy!
Nicholas Cage’s Pyramid Tomb
“Comic books are supposed to be stories about alternating universes that are entirely different from our own. And in alternate universes there are no such thing as race and feminism, just super powerful aliens and evil syndicates.”
I can’t tell if you’re joking or not, because the vast majority of comic books and fictional media in general go against your completely arbitrary requirements.
coockie
Look, to me this article looks like an indirect statement that says women deserve as much attention as men do and that other minor ethnicities matter and therefore they should get their own movie as well. But that is not what comic books are supposed to be about or atleast that is what i think. Comic books are not supposed to be a dumping ground for political and social dillema but a form of entertainment.
Nicholas Cage’s Pyramid Tomb
“Look, to me this article looks like an indirect statement that says women deserve as much attention as men do and that other minor ethnicities matter and therefore they should get their own movie as well.”
…Is this somehow bad?
“But that is not what comic books are supposed to be about or atleast that is what i think. Comic books are not supposed to be a dumping ground for political and social dillema but a form of entertainment.”
In other words you want comics to only feature white men because the acknowledgement that women and other races exist is somehow a political or social dilemma (even though it isn’t and that makes no sense).
Crewthief
Way to completely miss the point Mr. White Knight.
Nicholas Cage’s Pyramid Tomb
Please, explain the point then.
Crewthief
See, and that’s exactly the problem to begin with. I’m not going to spell this out for you.
Nicholas Cage’s Pyramid Tomb
In other words you have no idea.
ZrdFrv
And isn’t that an admirable goal? Is that a bad thing for you?
Schwinn
There’s no reason we can’t get the best of both worlds. I get not wanting overbearing political messages in all your superhero outings, but we can get the fun of superheros WHILE getting better representation of overlooked demographics in our media, which doesn’t require stuffing a message about equality in there, it’s simply a matter of representation. Even still there’s no reason political messages can’t make for an interesting story in the context of superheros. The X-Men have been fighting for gay rights–I mean mutant rights whoops–for the longest time you know. Politics are synonymous with conflict and every superhero needs conflict. And I’m not saying we need Batman walking about preaching feminism, they are better platforms to deal with that, but a balance can be met with clever story telling.
ZrdFrv
“And I’m not saying we need Batman walking about preaching feminism, they are better platforms to deal with that…”
Jessica Jones and Agent Carter are my top choice for that.
Sean
“Comic books are not supposed to be a dumping ground for political and social dillema but a form of entertainment.”
…wait… you’re kidding, right? Comic books rather routinely tackle sociopolitical issues. The fact that you’re complaining about these comic book characters inherently addressing those issues kinda proves that. As do a buttload of comic books and comic book characters.
SkulloManiac
” Comic books are not supposed to be a dumping ground for political and social dillema but a form of entertainment.”
I take it you aren’t currently reading Marvel and DC comics, right? Because everything both companies are publishing these days is boring PC crap.
NC
Yeah, not like Captain America was written by two Jews who wanted the US to enter WWII or anything.
…except that’s exactly how it happened. It goes all. The way. Back. To the start.
Gog Magog
Stories always have a symbolic level, even when they don’t intend it. The superhero genre itself is about more than punching bad guys. Early on, creators realized this. Wonder Woman herself was specifically designed as a feminist figure. Patriotic characters were supposed to represent American values. Crimefighters represent the triumph of good over evil. From early on in his history, Black Panther, the first black superhero who was created during the civil rights era, has been used to deal with issues of racism. EC comics regularly dealt with social issues in their comic series Shock Suspenstories and at times did the same in their regular horror comics. It’s only now when the backlash against feminism and the civil rights movement has seeped into the general culture that people complain when stories are about things they’d rather not think about. Comics have been dealing with these issues longer than you have been alive most likely.
Lee Glass
This coming from a person with a hentai avatar of a basically naked woman.
Hairbender
I hope I never meet you in person.
Luffy Senpai
your opinion isn’t the only one that matters or the right one. If you can’t handle what other people think then don’t come to online forums.
Todd Merrick Novak
Why do you care? Why does it offend you? My daughters are into superheroes. They’re 9 and 12. We saw Captain America last night and they told me that they wanted one of the girls to star in their own movie because they want to see a movie about someone THEY CAN RELATE TO! They don’t have a “feminist” agenda. They don’t even know what politically correct is yet. Are you saying that movies should be made only for people with your opinions and tastes?
Even if they did make these movies for politically correct reasons, why do you care? Captain America, Iron Man, Ant Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, Batman, Superman, Wolverine, Deadpool, all white superhero men with their own movies. Making movies with women or other races doesn’t seem to be a movement away from comic book movies starring white male leads. If you don’t want these movies, there is plenty still there for you. The idea that there is a focus on female or other race leads shouldn’t be an offense. For my daughters and myself it’s about tapping into something that I want to share with them by tapping into something that speaks to them. It isn’t a politically correct conspiracy. It’s much more human than that.
mister truman
70% Characters are just spiders.
Jesús Alonso
Cypher. And no, I’m not kidding. He’s perfect for a movie that takes full developement on the possibilities of the character.
Al Saulinsky
pfft, most of these characters are secondary at best and while I like Miles Morales, I dont think he is worthy of his own movie either. Whoever wrote this is a moron and knows nothing about comic books or their complex stories.
mroden26
clearly you haven’t read Hercules’ new MARVEL title, or any of the recent arcs where Namor is involved, or anything with Miles Morales or Kamala Khan
Al Saulinsky
Actually I do (or at least have) read all of those. Despite being a member of the Illuminati, Namor was a supporting character at best. He was a supporting character in the X titles, and he was a supporting character in the Secret Wars arcs, and now he’s dead. The new Ms. Marvel is a waste of paper (or electricity if you read digitally). That crap was made so Marvel could pander to an untapped market I guess. The story is abysmal and her abilities…really? Elasticman was a clown even over at DC. Now, if you read my post, I LIKE Miles Morales. The story so far has been pretty good and there is potential there. I do not however think the character, at this point, is worth a movie. The new Hercules series has promise, but it is too early in it’s run to give any informed judgements. I’ll even go so far as to say that the Sam Wilson Captain America is crap as well. The new Thor shows some promise, while the new Hulk does not. The Hawkeye series is garbage, but Old Man Logan could be one of the greats.
Todd Merrick Novak
You know, ripping down something that someone else likes doesn’t mean you have taste or that you represent anyone’s opinion but your own. Try focusing on what you like. Otherwise you’re just another guy on the internet who rips everyone else down. How original.
Not everyone shares your opinion. You throw the word crap around. It comes off as juvenile and it doesn’t represent you or your opinions well. It’s all too common on the web. Don’t be a cliche.
Who would have thought Scott Lang would have his own movie. Even Iron Man hadn’t been a top book since the 1970s. Namor, along with the original Human Torch, was one of the first Marvel characters and like Captain America he has a time spanning history.
Strider
Sorry, but this is simply a horrible list of characters. There are maybe 2 that would not simply be changing/rebooting existing characters like Gwen and Miles and even Spider Woman. Only do these characters if you are really trying to promote superhero movie fatigue. The Cloak and Dagger is pretty much the only one on the list that looks original or interesting.
Feels like the staff was simply picking random c list characters for this list.
theDiscreteOne
How is Doctor Strange not on this list? [rhetorical question]
Nicholas Cage’s Pyramid Tomb
Probably because his movie is already in production.
percy blakeney
okay for Cloak and Dagger.
Namor’s cool but Aquaman has more exposure and has been turned into a total Namor rip off over the years -so I don’t really see a gap in the market for it.
How about:
Nova? (Richard Rider)
Starhawk (but as Starkar or Aleta?)
Stating the obvious here but if we’re looking for a solo superheroine (on top of Carol Danvers of course) the Black Widow has got to be a banker atm. Just do it.
….aaaaaaaand a Squadron Supreme movie! Just coz it’d be funny if Marvel made a better JLA movie than DC.
Speaking of which why don’t DC make Legion of Superheroes flick? Now that’d be cool.
Avengers Squad
OHMIGOSH they should TOTALLY do Spider-Gwen or Spider-Woman! I have’nt read the Gwen one, but it sure looks cool! And Cloak and Dagger would be awesome, just hopefully not too dark–it’d be nice to have such a cool duo. I agree that they should do Shulkie as a TV show or something, Wrestlingroots Y’know what they really should do is a Power Pack movie or TV show, which might actually happen, according to Stan Lee. I’m glad they’re gonna do the New Mutants, it’ll be cool to see more teen heroes on screen! I’ve never heard of that Moon girl thing, but I love all-ages stuff, so I should check that out! Hopefully Marvel won’t make any more crap movies like Deadpool. 🙁
Martian_Manchowder
These could be superb dead virus inoculations against wanting to watch more people in rubber suits glower at each other.
lucky gmail
SQUIRREL GIRL?? really???
ZrdFrv
For me, almost all of them could fare well better for tv than in movies. Except for Namor, I think Namor could work being introduced in MCU as a movie supporting character(like they did with Blackwidow in IM2, or Hawkeye in Thor).
For my rundown;
Reading Spider-Gwen’s run, it is interesting, she is interesting(really loving the flip take where Pete’s the simple primer for Gwen to become her own character). Could work as a pure standalone spin-off series, unconnected to MCU.
Only read a few about Kamala Khan, but I really like how quirky her whole thing is. Could be a strong suit for a proper, fun, teenage adventure show.
Cloak and Dagger? Love these two. Netflix, period.
Hercules, really like his adventures with Amadeus Cho, now THAT, I find would really work best as a true saturday morning cartoon adventure.
Was really hoping Miles Morales is the spiderman they’d take to MCU. Standalone series then.
Moon Girl and devil Dinosaur? Have no idea who these folks are so comment.
Squirrel Girl, a single season animated series. An awkward, hilarious, Adam Reed style of humor revolving around a superheroine whose apparent superpower is the ability to defeat foes seemingly far more powerful than her.
Namor, I really like this arrogant asshat. Could do well introduced into MCU as a supporting character (like Blackwidow in IM2, or Hawkeye in Thor).
And SpiderWoman?, pfft, i’d rather have Jenn Walters! Now THAT character could be a good bridge between the Netflix Marvel characters(had a meet with Matt Murdock or Jessica Jones for some random case) and the movie Marvel ones(Bruce Banner’s cousin!)
Thanos
cat woaman ? big flop. twice.
does anyone really care about falcon?
doesn anyone really want to see any of the movies above?
asian/black/tranny superman?
the ghostbusters reboot and the new wonder woman wont shatter box office records…i may be wrong
NameNamerson
Punisher, wolverine, Ghost Rider and daredevil is the the only reason Dc were forced to be dark. Before MARVEL, dc was goofy Adam west. If it weren’t for real dark characters like Punisher, dc would still b stuck in the cornball age.
NameNamerson
Jessica jones makes dc look like sesame street.
NameNamerson
Daredevil vs Punisher made Batman vs Superman look silly.
MICHAEL
where did you see daredevil vs punisher?
Antman277
Probably in the Daredevil Netflix tv show.
MICHAEL
I just got netflix and the first episode of the second season where it starts is pretty good…
Grokenstein
Awwww, lookit all the pale man-infants. Cry louder, tiny little babymen.
Dark Shroud
You mean the majority of the people who actually read comics?
Rick Grubber
Sounds like you’re the only one doing all the blubbering, putzey wutzey!
MICHAEL
As an african american growing up average in a jewish neighborhood I relied on Marvel Universe to enrich life. Im not into political correctness (we saw how that ruined the fantastic 4 movies) not that they were that good in the first place. HOWEVER Stan Lee is clearly against racism and its obvious that 90% of FUCKING MOVIES have a white male lead…so thats the end of that why should non whites and women be bombarded with movies of white men doing good over evil? Stan Lee believes in fair play…as do I…I support the inclusion of minority heroes and whoever doesn’t has missed the point Mr. Stan Lee is trying to make…
Crewthief
What the fuck are you crying about?
Antman277
Why not put younger characters, like Ms. Marvel (Kamala Khan), Spider-Man (Miles Morals), Nova (Sam Alexander), Ms. America (America Chavez), and even Cassie Lang, who develops size changing abilities from exposure to Pym Particles, into a live action tv show or movie? This could be easily established in the MCU because Cassie Lang was shown in Ant-Man (Scot Lang), Siper-Man (Peter Parker) wouldn’t have to die, and Nova could also be in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies.
That being said, a second Spider-Man movie (After the first one comes out) having Peter Parker die and Miles Morals take his place would be really darn cool.
Also, I don’t know anything about Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, but it sounds to me like a really good idea for an animated tv show on Disney Junior, that can then introduce younger kids to Marvel, which will lead to them watching Avengers, Spider-Man, and Guardians of the Galaxy on Disney XD, which leads to the MCU, thus making Marvel a bunch more money, and entertaining young kids. When I was 4, 5, 6, or 7, I would have jumped at the thought of watching a tv show about an 8 year old genius and a dinosaur.
Todd Kaplan
NO. No one want’s to see this garbage.
Tatiana Marie
She-Hulk for sure! Also, Silver Sable.
camilo
So, no Moon Knight, Black Widow, Sentry or Black Cat? You know… the ones with actually interesting stories??? While Namor and Spider Woman would be interesting, Squirrel Girl and Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur just left me scratching my head in confusion…. no seriously, the second one has to be a joke -_- (And Spider Gwen? Right, because we don’t have enough Spider Man stuff in movies right?)
Bruno Xavier
Moon Knight? Ghost Rider? Blade? Runaways?
Josh Elliott
Spider-Gwen and Miles = No.. Either of these would confuse non comic book people to no end.
Namor = Might work… tough character to sell, might need a large amount of reimaging to make movie worthy
Hercules = No.. While Thor worked as a character cinematic wise, Hercules already has far too many movies/shows under his belt as a Greek character… would be confusing/meh for the non comic fans
Ms. Marvel = Sure
Cloak and Dagger = Yes please.
Spider-Woman = Yes please
Moon Girl = Maybe, I have no idea on this one. Marvel seems to be able to make non mainstream work (GotG)
Maximum Carnage = This is what I’ve been waiting for since the first Tobey Maguire Spidey movie.
Squirrel Girl can die in an apartment fire, but not from the fire itself, but carbon monoxide poisoning.
Pinkk
Spider-Gwen and Ms Marvel. Two new characters that have yet to prove themselves. No. They don’t deserve a movie (this doesn’t mean they can’t get one, but DESERVE is way to strong a word). Same with Moon Girl only she’s even more boring than Ms Marvel.
Squirrel Girl is a joke and doesn’t deserve a movie either :p
Miles sucks. He has yet to be a good Spider-Man and his own sales show it. Why they keep trying to push him on the comic crowd instead of some of the better ones, I have no idea.
Don’t think Hercules deserves his own movie either.
Now Cloak & Dagger, there is one deserving of a movie. Spider-Woman? For sure! Jessica Drew has been nothing but deserving of some screen time. Not a fan of Namor, but he could use one of his own.
Marie Teach
there is nothing wrong with hating muslims especially since most of them hate women and LGBT people, they are a cancer on any society they infest, 70% of the prison population of Europe are muslim filth because they can’t stop raping women and children
John (it true me am)
Forget the back and forth here about this being too PC, it is simply a bad list completely regardless. Spider-Gwen and Miles are typical alternate universe crap, the kind of stuff that bogs down U.S. comic books to the point that they have to destroy the multiverse every so often just to clean up their messes. Yeah maybe we are all getting sick of the 3rd Peter Parker reboot in recent history, but come on, do you really think either of those characters are going to sell tickets? The lineup is already bloated as is and we haven’t even touched a few huge staple heroes nor even gotten the mutants or F4 back from Fox.
Carnage is a villain, and an irredeemable one. They don’t get their own movies, period. As for him showing up in a spider-man movie, that is possible certainly. Why is he on this list?
Hercules and Namor are supporting characters, I could picture them showing up at some point in the MCU, but headlining a film? Laughable. Thor is already a little too borderline out of place, mythological god shoved in among superheroes for non-comics readers.
Squirrel Girl could only work in a Deadpool sequel (Deadpool v. Squirrel Girl: Dawn of something or other). No clue where her license lies though.
Ms. Marvel is still too green of a character. Could she work? Maybe as a Netflix series. Jessica Jones is an atrocious waste of space Bendis trash character and somehow they pulled off her series very well(thank you David). But yeah, not a movie.
Agree with most comments here that Cloak and Dagger are the best on the list. Cloak and Dagger would have made an excellent Netflix series, but unfortunately we are going to get some young adult Twilight crap. Hopefully not set in the MCU…
Spider-woman… If Mockingbird was a third tier Agents of SHIELD character, then why would The Inferior Spider-woman get a movie? Just toss her as a supporting cast member of SHIELD and be done with it. Jessica Jones already stole her spot in the big leagues. (If confused by that, the original Jessica Jones series was intended to be a Jessica Drew series but the editors weren’t keen on Bendis having Purple Man enslave and rape an established character.)
And Moongirl? Really? Toss her in a Deadpool movie and have him kill the stupid dinosaur and call it a day. That’s a license they should just give away… Or hey, I’ll be generous and say give them a Disney XD little kids show.
Seanzilla_97
2.) Namor
3.) Spider-Woman
4.) Beta Ray Bill- Maybe if they made a Thor movie that introduced him, rather than making him the main star. Almost like what they are doing with Black Panther in the upcoming Captain America movie.
5.) Cloak and Dagger
6.) Silver Surfer
7.) Brotherhood of Mutants- Interesting it would be an interesting take on to see the perspectives of an infamous enemy of the X-Men.
8.) Wolverine??????- Making another Wolverine movie? Yes, make the main focus on ALPHA FLIGHT!!!!!!! i think that this would make for an interesting movie. Cant be as bad as “X-Men Wolverine Origins…..”
9.) Hercules- Maybe if they made a Thor movie that introduced him, rather than making him the main star. Almost like what they are doing with Black Panther.
10.) She-Hulk
Maudite Balvenie
I doubt Marvel wants to release movies based on characters that are derived from original characters for fear of diluting the original’s brand.
Alex Coulombe
I gotta agree with everything they said.
Donnie The Lion
She-Hulk. If the success of Jessica Jones showed anything, it paved the way for She-Hulk on the big screen.
Wil☺
Chris Evans Naked………….. No! She is not Found
Tony Volious
I love Spider-Woman, would love to see her on TV… She-Hulk too!!!
Joel Drake
Little off topic, but can we say that Punisher clearly needs his own Netlifx show?
Sarah Fisher
Yeah, just what we need, 3 more Spider”men”. Cuz there’s no way overindulging in those could go wrong…
Guy Dudebreaux
Whoever wrote this article was just trying to get their SJW certification.
Fallen Prime
Well. This is certainly a list that someone wrote and posted on the Internet.
I’m not going to offer comment on Spider-Gwen due to knowing next to nothing about her, but Miles Morales could work. Hell, I don’t think I’d have been mad if they’s gone the Morales route for MCU Spidey, especially considering they take their fair share of cues from the Ultimate universe. Problem with including either now, and Spider-Woman as well, is that we’d end up with an oversaturation of web-slinging heroes. The comics are already juggling a ton of them, and it’d serve the MCU well to not try to churn them out, with the understandable exception of symbiote shenanigans.
I’d actually be totally okay with Ms. Marvel. Who knows, they could even write Kamala Khan into Captain Marvel’s film. Or even the TV shows, since Agents of SHIELD’s on an Inhuman high.
I’ve heard the pitch for Cloak and Dagger. They’ve greenlit it before even attaching anyone onto the project. That alone concerns me. I’ve heard they also want a YA romance angle, which is… certainly different for the MCU at present.
I don’t know about Marvel’s Hercules. The character as a Greco-Roman figure has been done to death by now, once even by Disney themselves. It could be fun to see how the MCU reconciles the coexistence of Olympus and Asgard, but I don’t think it’s necessarily required that we have that happen.
I have wanted Carnage since Raimi’s films. I am that level of trash. The symbiotes are one of my favorite things about Spider-Man’s history, and I ADORE Carnage for being a huge part of that. Baby steps, though; let Spidey grow into his own, and if the symbiotes are fated for the MCU treatment, start at Venom.
I have never heard of Moon Girl and only sort of know Devil Dinosaur. Guardians of the Galaxy is proof positive that the characters being obscure doesn’t doom the film, but I think this pairing crosses the acceptable silliness threshold established by the MCU.
Squirrel Girl, though. Give Squirrel Girl one of those One-Shots. I demand this to be a thing. There is no rationality behind this, I just want it.
Namor would be a very welcome addition to the MCU. I thought I heard something about his film rights being in all sorts of hell, though, which would go a decent way towards explaining his absence thus far.
Personally, I’d like to see Marvel get Ghost Rider right in the MCU. They’ve proven they could right wrongs with Daredevil, Punisher AND Elektra, and I’d love to see how they do with GR and his related cast. I’d also be thrilled with seeing Nova make an appearance in a Guardians movie, and I wouldn’t object if Moon Knight fans had their way.
And also the Fantastic Four, but… well, assuming Fox hasn’t tarnished the name forever by now, they STILL wouldn’t give ’em back. But seriously, the MCU NEEDS more Loki-scale villains, and Doctor Doom is one of the DEFINITIVE Marvel villains.
…fucking hell, I typed a LOT.
sunnavab
Cloak and Dagger, but it needs to be on Netflix. Seriously mature stuff if done right.
Hasan Ahmad
| i don't know |
Which rock star is mentioned in the song ‘Smoke on the Water’ by Deep Purple? | Deep Purple FAQ - Smoke on the Water story
Beat the Boots
discs, I think.)
They ended up at the Grand Hotel, closed for the winter season, where the recording eventually commenced during December 1971. They recorded the album with the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio, also mentioned in the lyrics.
Who's "Funky Claude" ?
Funky Claude in the lyrics is Claude Nobs, who helped them out. He's still involved in the Montreux Jazz Festival, and seems to be a very important man in the music business in the Swiss town.
As stated in the lyrics, he helped saving some kids during the fire at the Casino. He was also the man who found the Grand Hotel for them. There's a picture on him on the gatefold sleeve on the original LP release of the album.
"Break a leg , Frank!"
Actually, these were troubled times for Frank Zappa, who first lost all of his gear in the fire in Montreux. A couple of days later, when he played in London, a fan tore him off stage, and Zappa broke his leg as he fell into the orchestra pit.
This, again, led to Ian Gillan dropping the comment "Break a leg, Frank!" near the ending of
Smoke on the Water
at a March 1972 concert recorded for the BBC, available on the excellent EMI 2CD set
Deep Purple in Concert
.
The song itself was created more or less spontaneously; Roger Glover had the picture of the smoke spreading over the Lake Geneva in his head, and the line Smoke on the Water eventually stuck. He suggested to Ian Gillan that they should use it as a song title, but Ian shrugged it off, saying people would believe it was a drug song. Then Ritchie suddenly came up with the later hierostratically famous (and notorious!) riff, and things fell into place.
Here's the story about the lyrics and the title, in Roger Glover's own words:
"The only deviation to the story that IG has sometimes claimed is that it was written on a napkin as the fire burned. Actually it came to me in a sort of dream 1 or 2 mornings after the fire: I was alone in my bed (in the Eurotel, not the Eden Au Lac as IG insists although it's a better sounding name for the story) in that mystical time between deep sleep and awakening, when I heard my own voice say those words out loud. I woke up then and asked myself if I actually did say them out loud, and I came to the conclusion that I did. I pondered upon it and realised that it was a potential song title.
"This is how I characterized it later to IG but we both came to the conclusion that it sounded like a drug song and it was promptly filed away under "drug songs - not to be used." (what clean living boys we were!)
"Only later did it suggest itself as the vehicle by which we could tell the story of the fire. Even now, I've no idea where it came from but it's difficult not to start believing in some divine providence when one considers the subsequent history of the song.
"All I know is that I have always listened to my random thoughts ever since."
Roger Glover, Tue, 20 Aug 1996 21:35:12 -0400
Deep Purple themselves didn't seem to notice that the song had any potential, they hardly played it live early in 1972, and
Never Before
was chosen as the first single from the album. (An edited version of
Lazy
was chosen in the US.) It wasn't until 1973, when a single consisting of two edits of
Smoke on the Water
, studio version one side and
Made in Japan
version on the b-side, was released in the USA, that the song became the rock anthem that it later has become, and helped Deep Purple sail up as on of the world's biggest selling artists.
The events behind
Smoke on the Water
are also detailed in Ian Gillan's autobiography; " Child in Time : The Life of the Singer of Deep Purple".
Last updated on August 21, 1996
| Frank Zappa |
Which daughter of a Czar is mentioned in the Rolling Stones song ‘Sympathy for the Devil’? | DEEP PURPLE - SMOKE ON THE WATER LYRICS
Smoke On the Water Lyrics
Deep Purple - Smoke On the Water Lyrics
We all came out to Montreux
On the Lake Geneva shoreline
To make records with a mobile
We didn't have much time
Frank Zappa and the mothers
Were at the best place around
But some stupid with a flare gun
Burned the place to the ground
Smoke on the water
They burned down the gambling house
It died with an awful sound
Funky Claude was running in and out
Pulling kids out the ground
When it all was over
We had to find another place
But swiss time was running out
It seemed that we would lose the race
Smoke on the water
We ended up at the Grand Hotel
It was empty cold and bare
But with the rolling truck stones thing just outside
Just making our music there
With a few red lights and a few old beds
We made a place to sweat
No matter what we get out of this
I know, I know we'll never forget
Smoke on the water
Writer(s): Ian Gillan, Ian Paice, Roger Glover, Jon Lord, Ritchie Blackmore
Lyrics powered by www.musixmatch.com
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Jose Zamor
The lyrics of the song tell a true story: on 4 December 1971 Deep Purple were in Montreux, Switzerland, where they had set up camp to record an album using a mobile recording studio (rented from the Rolling Stones and known as the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio—referred to as the "Rolling truck Stones thing" and "a mobile" in the song lyrics) at the entertainment complex that was part of the Montreux Casino (referred to as "the gambling house" in the song lyric). On the eve of the recording session, a Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention concert was held in the casino's theatre. This was to be the theatre's final concert before the casino complex closed down for its annual winter renovations, which would allow Deep Purple to record there. At the beginning of Don Preston's synthesizer solo on "King Kong", the place suddenly caught fire when somebody in the audience fired a flare gun toward the rattan covered ceiling, as mentioned in the "some stupid with a flare gun" line.[9][10] The resulting fire destroyed the entire casino complex, along with all the Mothers' equipment. The "smoke on the water" that became the title of the song (credited to bass guitarist Roger Glover, who related how the title occurred to him when he suddenly woke from a dream a few days later) referred to the smoke from the fire spreading over Lake Geneva from the burning casino as the members of Deep Purple watched the fire from their hotel. "It was probably the biggest fire I'd ever seen up to that point and probably ever seen in my life" said bass guitarist Roger Glover, "It was a huge building. I remember there was very little panic getting out, because it didn't seem like much of a fire at first. But, when it caught, it went up like a fireworks display". The "Funky Claude" running in and out is referring to Claude Nobs, the director of the Montreux Jazz Festival who helped some of the audience escape the fire.
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<table class="songlyrics" style="width: 100%; table-layout: fixed;"><col width="40" /><col /><tbody><tr><th colspan="2">Deep Purple - Machine Head Album Lyrics</th></tr><tr><td class="sl-td-left">1.</td><td class="sl-td-right"><a href="http://www.songlyrics.com/deep-purple/highway-star-lyrics/" title="Highway Star Lyrics Deep Purple">Highway Star</a></td></tr><tr><td class="sl-td-left">2.</td><td class="sl-td-right"><a href="http://www.songlyrics.com/deep-purple/smoke-on-the-water-lyrics/" title="Smoke On the Water Lyrics Deep Purple">Smoke On the Water</a></td></tr><tr><td class="sl-td-left">3.</td><td class="sl-td-right"><a href="http://www.songlyrics.com/deep-purple/never-before-lyrics/" title="Never Before Lyrics Deep Purple">Never Before</a></td></tr><tr><td class="sl-td-left">4.</td><td class="sl-td-right"><a href="http://www.songlyrics.com/deep-purple/pictures-of-home-lyrics/" title="Pictures of Home Lyrics Deep Purple">Pictures of Home</a></td></tr><tr><td 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Which song by Elton John is about late actress Marilyn Monroe? | Candle In The Wind by Elton John Songfacts
Candle In The Wind by Elton John Songfacts
Songfacts
This song is a tribute to Marilyn Monroe, a famous actress and sex symbol who died of a drug overdose in 1962. The "candle in the wind" represents her short, but eventful life.
The song makes various references to the press coverage of Monroe. The famous opening line, "Goodbye Norma Jean," refers to her birth name: Norma Jean Mortenson, and how she gave up both her name and her privacy for the sake of celebrity.
The lyrics were written by Elton's writing partner, Bernie Taupin, who got the idea for the title from a quote he read about Janis Joplin. According to Taupin, the song is more of a take on fame and celebrity than an ode to Marilyn Monroe. Said Taupin: "I think the biggest misconception about 'Candle In The Wind' is that I was this rabid Marilyn Monroe fanatic, which really couldn't be further from the truth. It's not that I didn't have a respect for her. It's just that the song could just as easily have been about James Dean or Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain. I mean, it could have been about Sylvia Plath or Virginia Woolf. I mean, basically, anybody, any writer, actor, actress, or musician who died young and sort of became this iconic picture of Dorian Gray, that thing where they simply stopped aging. It's a beauty frozen in time.
In a way, I'm fascinated with that concept. So it's really about how fame affects the man or woman in the street, that whole adulation thing and the fanaticism of fandom. It's pretty freaky how people really believe these people are somehow different from us. It's a theme that's figured prominently in a lot of our songs, and I think it'll probably continue to do so."
When Elton got the lyrics, he had no trouble writing the music. He understood the stress caused by constant media attention, and felt Monroe must have been in terrible pain her whole life.
On April 7, 1990 Elton dedicated this to Ryan White, one of the first high-profile AIDS patients, when he performed it at Farm Aid 4. White, who got the disease from a blood transfusion, died the next night at age 18.
This wasn't released as a single in the US until 1987, when a live version came out from Elton's Live In Australia album featuring the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. This version made #6 in the US, and in the UK, where it was also released, made #5. When it was first released as a single in the UK in 1973, it hit #11.
Elton's lyricist, Bernie Taupin, rewrote the lyrics to this song after Diana, Princess of Wales, was killed in a car accident on August 31, 1997. The 36-year-old princess had divorced Prince Charles, but remained a beloved celebrity, revered for her humanitarian efforts and grace. Diana was friends with Elton John and also a big fan - she identified with the sentiment in "Candle In The Wind," especially the lyrics, "They made you change your name, never knowing who to cling to when the rain set in" and "even when you died, the press still hounded you."
With the song rewritten, most notably with the first line changed from "Goodbye Norma Jean" to "Goodbye England's Rose," Elton played it at Princess Diana's funeral on September 6. The global TV audience for the funeral was estimated at 2.5 billion, and Elton's heartfelt performance provoked an outpouring of support for the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund. The new version of the song, which was produced by Sir George Martin of Beatles fame, was released as a single as "Candle In The Wind '97," this time dedicated to Princess Diana and with proceeds going to the fund.
Within a month, it became a #1 UK hit, where it topped the charts for five weeks. In America, it had an even more sensational chart run, going to #1 on October 11, and staying there for an astounding 14 weeks. The only song with a longer stay at the top of the American charts is " One Sweet Day " by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men.
The sales milestones attributed to the 1997 version of this song are a little confusing. In the UK, the single sold 1.54 million copies the first week and has since sold close to 5 million, both of which are records. These figures are tracked by BPI, which certifies sales of British music.
In America, the RIAA certified sales of 11 million copies of the single, making it the only single in history to earn a Diamond certification for sales of more than 10 million. While this is a record for the Rock Era, it's likely that Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" has sold more, although sales figures are unreliable. Where the numbers get really fudgy is in attempting to chart worldwide sales numbers, as these figures can be easily manipulated. The authority most often cited for worldwide sales is the Guinness Book of World Records, which estimates "Candle In The Wind '97" at 37 million sales worldwide and "White Christmas" at 50 million. Both numbers seem ridiculously inflated to us (if "Candle" sold 16 million between American and the UK, that means it moved 21 million elsewhere, which we don't buy), but evidence does suggest that "Candle In The Wind '97" is one of the top worldwide sellers ever.
Elton was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1997 shortly after the death of Princess Diana. He is a close friend to the Royal Family, and offered emotional support after the tragic incident. Because of his close friendship with the Royal Family, he refuses to play that version at concerts, and his performance at the funeral was his only live rendition of the song. Radio stations quit playing it a month after her death.
Another good friend of Elton's, designer Gianni Versace, died shortly before Princess Diana. >>
Suggestion credit:
Patrick - Conyers, GA
Elton and his songwriter Bernie Taupin got some heat from muggles who objected to the 1997 rewrite of this song, feeling that is should remain a tribute to Marilyn Monroe. Taupin responded by stating, "As regards that remake, I'm not really sure what to make of it. I did it because EJ asked me to and I felt good enough. I don't know why it seems to bend a lot of people out of shape, which is rather peculiar, if you consider the outcome. I mean, it's a bit uncharitable. After all, it raised I think something like $14 million for the Princess trust. And then my original handwritten lyrics fetched like a further half million at auction for the LA Children's Hospital.
So, you know, I guess my conscience is clean. Hey, I guess if you hear anything enough, it's going to get up your nose. But at the same time, in this case, I think it might be in your best interest to hold your breath and cut it some slack. Whatever you think of it, it's totally your prerogative. But it would serve you much better to get up in the morning, look in the mirror, and say, 'I wonder what I can do today to really make a difference.' So, you know what they say, people in glass houses and all that."
Elton John won the 1997 Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for "Candle In The Wind '97."
The Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album was recorded in France at the Château d'Hérouville studio (the "Honky Château"), where Elton had recorded his previous two albums. The first attempts at recording the album took place in Jamaica, where the crew envisioned a creative paradise but encountered dilapidated equipment and unaccommodating locals. Bernie Taupin planed to write many of the lyrics for the album there, but ended up doing them in France while recording was going on. For both "Candle In The Wind" and " Roy Rogers ," he drew inspiration from movies and TV shows he watched as a kid.
| Candle in the Wind |
Which Canadian singer/songwriter is mentioned in the song ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ by Lynryd Skynryd? | Elton John - Love Songs - Amazon.com Music
Elton John
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Whether he's collaborating with longtime lyricist Bernie Taupin or other songwriters (such as his Lion King partner, Tim Rice) Elton John has written and performed some of the most cherished love songs in the pop-music canon. This career-spanning retrospective spotlights that particular aspect of his artistry, focusing on classics such as "Your Song," "Believe," "The One," "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word," and "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me." The album takes a rather expansive view of the concept--there are also tracks here such as "Daniel," which is less a love song than a tribute to a wounded war veteran, and a live take of "Candle in the Wind," which, kiddies, was once a song about Marilyn Monroe, not Princess Diana. John's Lion King triumphs--"Can You Feel the Love Tonight" and "Circle of Life"--are included, as are a pair of new tracks, "You Can Make History (Young Again") and "No Valentines." The album may stray from the topic a bit, but there's little doubt that these songs are among his most essential. --Daniel Durchholz
Amazon.com
Whether he's collaborating with longtime lyricist Bernie Taupin or other songwriters (such as his Lion King partner, Tim Rice) Elton John has written and performed some of the most cherished love songs in the pop-music canon. This career-spanning retrospective spotlights that particular aspect of his artistry, focusing on classics such as "Your Song," "Believe," "The One," "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word," and "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me." The album takes a rather expansive view of the concept--there are also tracks here such as "Daniel," which is less a love song than a tribute to a wounded war veteran, and a live take of "Candle in the Wind," which, kiddies, was once a song about Marilyn Monroe, not Princess Diana. John's Lion King triumphs--"Can You Feel the Love Tonight" and "Circle of Life"--are included, as are a pair of new tracks, "You Can Make History (Young Again") and "No Valentines." The album may stray from the topic a bit, but there's little doubt that these songs are among his most essential. --Daniel Durchholz
Track Listings
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In the single ‘Waterloo Sunset’ by The Kinks, what are the names of the two people who meet at Waterloo Station every Friday night? | Waterloo Sunset by The Kinks Songfacts
Waterloo Sunset by The Kinks Songfacts
Songfacts
Written by Kinks lead singer Ray Davies, he called this "a romantic, lyrical song about my older sister's generation."
Waterloo Bridge is in London, and the lyrics are about a guy looking out of a window at two lovers meeting at Waterloo Station. Davies used to cross Waterloo Bridge every day when he was a student at Croydon Art School.
Ray Davies brought this to the band while they were in the middle of recording the album. He was reluctant to share the lyrics because they were so personal. In a Rolling Stone magazine interview, his brother (and Kinks guitarist) Dave Davies said Ray felt "it was like an extract from a diary nobody was allowed to read."
It is often claimed that the line, "Terry meets Julie, Waterloo Station every Friday night" is about the relationship between actor Terence Stamp and actress Julie Christie. However, Ray Davies denied this in his autobiography. He subsequently revealed that it was "a fantasy about my sister going off with her boyfriend to a new world and they were going to emigrate and go to another country."
According to Kinks biographer Nick Hasted, Terry was Ray's nephew Terry Davies, whom he was close to in early teenage years.
Further confusing the matter, Davies told Rolling Stone in 2015 that Julie and Terry were "big, famous actors at the time."
Ray Davies started writing this a few years before The Kinks recorded it. At first, it was called "Liverpool Sunset," but when The Beatles released " Penny Lane ," he changed the words so it wouldn't look like a rip-off.
On February 23, 2003 David Bowie was joined on stage by Ray Davies and performed a duet of this song at Carnegie Hall in New York City for the Tibet House benefit. >>
Suggestion credit:
Mo - Newark, NJ
The perfectionist Ray Davies, before releasing the single, revisited the song's location at sunset to ensure "the atmosphere was right."
Ray Davies (From Uncut magazine January 2009): "It came to me first as a statement about the death of Merseybeat. But I realized that Waterloo was a very significant place in my life. I was in St. Thomas' Hospital when I was really ill as a child, and I looked out on the river. I went to Waterloo every day to go to college as well. The song was also about being taken to the Festival of Britain with my mum and dad. I remember them taking me by the hand, looking at the big Skylon tower, and saying it symbolized the future. That, and then walking by the Thames with my first wife (Rasa, who left Ray, taking his two daughters, in 1973) and all the other dreams that we had. Her in her brown suede coat that she wore, that was stolen. And also about my sisters, and about the world I wanted them to have. The two characters in the song, Terry and Julie, are to do with the aspirations of my sisters' generation, who grew up during the Second world War and missed out on the '60s.
Sometimes when you're writing and you're really on good form, you get into the frame of mind where you think, I can relate to any of these things. It's something I learned at art school-let all the ideas flow out. But if you listen to the words without the music, it's a different thing entirely. The lyrics could be better. But they dovetail with the music perfectly."
Popular British singer Paul Weller has said this is his favorite song.
Ray Davies performed this with Jackson Browne on Davies' 2010 collaborative album See My Friends. In an interview for Daniel Rachel's book The Art of Noise: Conversations with Great Songwriters, Davies recalled that Browne was taken with a particular lyric: "He said, 'I don't need no friends?' He said it twice. I said, 'Yeah.' He said, 'That's the most beautiful thing I've ever had to sing. It doesn't make sense on the page but when you put it with the music...'
I hadn't thought about it that way. The melody takes the curse off the grammar fault. The choice of words, the way they're pronounced, sometimes gives an emotion that's unexpected. Don't is the killer word because it's not correct. Great lines are only great because of what precedes them, maybe sometimes when they happen after."
| terry and julie |
Which UK Christmas number one single featured ‘Two Ton Ted from Teddington’? | The Top Ten Songs About London | Spinditty
The Top Ten Songs About London
The Top Ten Songs About London
Updated on April 20, 2016
London's Tower Bridge, 2002 | Source
London has been in the spotlight this summer with the Olympics and Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations. The city has also provided inspiration for several pop songs written over the last 50 years. Ten of these tunes make up the list of my favorite songs about England’s capital:
1) London Calling by The Clash (1979)-“London Calling” was the title track of The Clash’s 1979 double album. The phrase “This is London Calling” was used on air to identify the BBC World Service’s shortwave radio broadcasts during World War Two. Written by the group’s Joe Strummer and Mick Jones, the song reached number 11 on the UK singles chart in December 1979. In the U.S., “London Calling” ended up as the “B” side to the band’s first American hit single, “Train in Vain”.
“London Calling” paints a post apocalyptic view of London. Strummer sings such lyrics as ,“The ice age is coming, the sun’s moving in/Meltdown expected, the wheat is growing thin” and “A nuclear error but I have no fear/’Cause London is drowning and I live by the river”. The nuclear error line refers to the U.S. Three Mile Island partial meltdown in 1979. Surprisingly, “London Calling” was heard in commercials advertising Jaguar cars in 2002. A decade later, NBC used the song in its promos for their London Summer Olympics coverage. This wasn’t the first Clash song to appear in a commercial. “Should I Stay or Should I Go” was used in a U.K. Levi’s jeans ad in 1991.
London Calling music video,1979
2) London’s Brilliant Parade by Elvis Costello (1994)-This track and single from the 1994 album, “Brutal Youth”, was a mini London travelogue, but with Costello’s biting lyrics. In the liner notes to the “Brutal Youth” CD reissue, he explained, “Lyrically, it was a more affectionate look at the city in which I was born than I could ever have managed when I was actually living there.” Still, he doesn't sound totally positive when he sings, “Just look at me/ I’m having the time of my life/ Or something quite like it/When I’m walking out and about/In London’s brilliant parade". The song included references to such locations as Regent’s Park, site of the London Zoo; Kensington, where the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Royal Albert Hall are located; and Camden Town, the northwest London district where Amy Winehouse lived a decade after this song was written.
“Brutal Youth” brought Costello and his band The Attractions together to record for the first time in eight years ,since the “Blood and Chocolate” album.
London's Brilliant Parade, 1994
3) Waterloo Sunset by The Kinks (1967)-Kinks lead singer and main songwriter Ray Davies said in a 2010 interview the song was originally titled “Liverpool Sunset”, but the lyrics are all about London. “Waterloo Sunset” reached number two on the UK singles chart , but wasn't a hit in the U.S. In his 2007 autobiography, “X-Ray”, Davies said the lyrics were based on memories of his childhood home on a hill overlooking the Waterloo underground (tube) station in London. As one line in the song describes, “Millions of people swarming like flies 'round Waterloo Underground." According to the song’s lyrics, the two protagonists Terry and Julie, meet every Friday night at the Waterloo station. However, the song’s narrator (Davies) isn't lonely or jealous. He sings, “ But I don't need no friends/ As long as I gaze on Waterloo sunset/I am in paradise”. Davies is rumored to be singing this song as part of the London Summer Olympics closing ceremony.
Waterloo Station, 1988 | Source
The Kinks on Beat Club, 1967
4) Baker Street by Gerry Rafferty (1978)- Rafferty’s song sold four million copies worldwide, and was number two on the U.S. singles chart for six weeks. Andy Gibb’s disco hit “Shadow Dancing” kept “Baker Street” out of the top U.S. spot, but It did reach number one in Canada. Scottish musician Raphael Ravenscroft performed "Baker Street"'s distinctive saxophone parts. Rafferty wrote the song about his contract problems with his former band, Stealer’s Wheel. The group’s big hit was 1973’s “Stuck in the Middle with You”, co-written by Rafferty and Joe Egan, and produced by legendary songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Rafferty had a friend who lived in a flat off of Baker Street, and often visited him to talk or play guitar there overnight. Surprisingly, the song’s been covered by such varied artists as Foo Fighters, David Lee Roth, Waylon Jennings, and even the London Symphony Orchestra. Of course, such fictional characters as Sherlock Holmes, Basil from Disney’s “Great Mouse Detective”, and Danger Mouse all lived on Baker Street.
Baker Street music video, 1978
5) West End Girls by Pet Shop Boys (1985) –This synth pop dance smash from Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, Pet Shop Boys, had that late night feel of the mid 1980’s London dance club scene. In the booklet included with the pair's reissued “Please” CD, Tennant said “West End Girls” was inspired by Grandmaster Flash’s song,“The Message”. Tennant also explained,” I loved the whole idea of the pressure of living in a modern city, and I decided to write a rap which could be done in an English accent over this piece of music." In this case , the “West End Girls” lyrics deal with the class differences of people in London’s more affluent West End versus the city’s East End. Helena Springs, formerly a backing vocalist for Bob Dylan, provided the brief female vocals for the track.The video, directed by Eric Watson, went perfectly with the song. Tennant, dressed in a long dark overcoat, followed by Lowe, were filmed walking through the London streets and in a train station. Meanwhile, intercut with this footage were shots of a London double decker bus, aerial sequences filmed above Tower Bridge and Big Ben, and more.
West End Girls music video, 1985
6) Hometown Glory by Adele (2007): The last track on Adele’s debut album “19”, the London tribute song “Hometown Glory”, was written by the singer herself. It was her debut single in the U.K., released in 2007 on the indy label Pacemaker Recordings. It was re released a year later on the XL label. Adele told Pete Lewis of Blues and Soul Magazine, that “Hometown Glory” was the first song she ever wrote from start to finish. The song is loosely based on Adele and her mother disagreeing on where Adele would attend university. Adele wanted to stay in London and go to school there, while her mother preferred she attend a university in Liverpool.
So, Adele wrote “Hometown Glory” as an ode to the town she's always lived in, London. “Hometown Glory” has the mostly vocal and piano (along with strings) backing that would work so well on “Someone Like You” from the "21" album. While “Hometown Glory” did not make the U.S. Billboard singles chart, it was used in such television shows as “One Tree Hill”, “Grey’s Anatomy”, and “So You Think You Can Dance”.
Hometown Glory music video, 2009
7) Werewolves of London by Warren Zevon (1978)-Zevon’s very witty song from his album, “Excitable Boy”, reached number 21 on the U.S. Billboard singles chart. The tune with the catchy piano riff also had Fleetwood Mac’s rhythm section of John McVie and Mick Fleetwood playing on it.“Werewolves” was part of the 1986 film “The Color of Money”’s soundtrack album and sampled in 2008 for Kid Rock’s hit single, “All Summer Long”. Zevon ‘s lyrics mention the Mayfair and Soho areas of London, as well as the horror movie acting team of Lon Chaney Jr. and Sr. “walkin' with the queen." And how can you not like a song with the lines, “”I saw a werewolf drinkin’ a pina colada at Trader Vics/And his hair was perfect.”
Werewolves of London music video, 1978
8) London Town by Paul McCartney and Wings (1978)-The title track of the 1978 album from McCartney’s post Beatles group, consisting at this point in time of Paul and his wife Linda McCartney and Denny Laine. While not made up of doom filled lyrics like “London Calling”, this song is not all cheerful, as the narrator sings the line, “Silver rain was falling down/Upon the dirty ground of London Town”. He also asks in the lyrics,“Oh where are there places to go/Someone somewhere has to know.” The “London Town” album reached number two in the U.S. (kept from the top spot by the monster selling “Saturday Night Fever” soundtrack) and number four in the U.K. A bit of trivia is that most of the “London Town” album was recorded in 1977 on a boat in the Caribbean, far from the “silver rain” of London. Not a bad place for a “working holiday”.
London Town music video, 1978
9) We are London by Madness (2009):Their renditions of “Our House” and “It Must Be Love” on the roof of Buckingham Palace, along with a great light show, was a highlight of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Concert last month. 2009 saw The “Nutty Boys” release their strongest album in years with “The Liberty of Norton Folgate”. This track from “that album, would have been perfect for the opening ceremony of London’s 2012 Summer Olympics.
Like Costello’s “London’s Brilliant Parade”, the tune name drops a lot of London locations, the most of any of the songs on this list. But, it’s a fond tribute to London, and how the city’s residents should all be able to live together and get along. That includes the city’s Muslims (“From Regent’s Park Mosque on to Baker Street” as the lyric says), the gays of Old Compton Street, the band’s buddies from Camden Town, and the clubbers and rock fans going to shows at The Roundhouse. As Madness lead singer Suggs said in the tune, “You can make it your own hell or heaven/Live as you please/Can we make it if we all live together/As one big family?”
We are London, 2009
10) Up the Junction by Squeeze (1979)-A great slice of life song by Squeeze’s songwriting duo of Glenn Tillbrook and Chris Difford. While not overtly about London, it does have a couple of references to the capital. The song begins, “I never thought it would happen with me and the girl from Clapham”, a district in the southwest area of London. The “Junction” referred to here is the Clapham Junction railway, or train station. The song’s title came from a 1963 British novel, later produced as a BBC play, and then a feature film. The phrase Up the Junction can also mean in deep trouble or pregnant.
"Up the Junction" was almost a mini soap opera of lyrics in the guise of a three minute pop song. The narrator gets his girlfriend pregnant, so he takes a job working for Stanley (“He said I’d come in handy”). The girlfriend has a baby girl, but leaves the narrator for a soldier as the dad/boyfriend starts drinking heavily. So, he really is “Up the Junction”. The song reached number two on the U.K. Singles Chart.
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Which Genesis song features Ethel, Jacob, Mr Lewis, Mr Farmer and Miss Mort? | I Know What I Like Lyrics - Genesis
It's one o'clock and time for lunch,
When the sun beats down and I lie on the bench
I can always hear them talk.
There's always been ethel:
Jacob, wake up! you've got to tidy your room now.
And then mister lewis:
Isn't it time that he was out on his own?
Over the garden wall, two little lovebirds - cuckoo to you!
Keep them mowing blades sharp...
I know what I like, and I like what I know;
Getting better in your wardrobe, stepping one beyond your show.
Sunday night, mr farmer called, said:
Listen son, you're wasting your time; there's a future for you
In the fire escape trade. come up to town!
But I remebered a voice from the past;
Gambling only pays when you're winning
- I had to thank old miss mort for schooling a failure.
Keep them mowing blades sharp...
I know what I like, and I like what I know;
Getting better in your wardrobe, stepping one beyond your show.
When the sun beats down and I lie on the bench,
I can always hear them talk.
Me, I'm just a lawnmower - you can tell me by the way I walk.
| I Know What I Like |
Who is the fourth person to be mentioned in the Marvin Gaye hit single ‘Abraham, Martin and John’? | Letra de I Know What I Like de Genesis
Letra de canci�n de I Know What I Like de Genesis lyrics
It's one o'clock and time for lunch
When the sun beats down and I lie on the bench
I can always hear them talk
There's always been Ethel:
"Jacob, wake up! You've got to tidy your room now."
And then Mr. Lewis:
"Isn't it time that he was out on his own ?"
Over the garden wall, two little lovebirds - cuckoo to you!
Keep them mowing blades sharp ...
I know what I like, and I like what I know
Getting better in your wardrobe, stepping one beyond your show
Sunday night, Mr. Farmer called, said:
"Listen son, you're wasting time
There's a future for you in the fire escape trade
http://www.coveralia.com/letras/i-know-what-i-like-genesis.php
But I remembered a voice from the past:
"Gambling only pays when you're winning"
- I had to thank old Miss Mort for schooling a failure
Keep them mowing blades sharp ...
I know what I like, and I like what I know
Getting better in your wardrobe, stepping one beyond your show
I know what I like, and I like what I know
Getting better in your wardrobe, stepping one beyond your show
When the sun beats down and I lie on the bench
I can always hear them talk
Me, I'm just a lawnmower - you can tell me by the way I walk
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The oldest known living tree in the world, a bristlecone pine, is situated in which US state? | What Is the Oldest Tree in the World | Worlds Oldest Tree
What Is the Oldest Tree in the World?
By Kate Goldbaum, Staff Writer |
August 23, 2016 12:40pm ET
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Credit: Thomas Ramsauer | Shutterstock.com
The planet's trees have seen plenty of history pass by their trunks. In fact, they began to populate Earth 385 million years ago, toward the end of the Devonian period. Considered living historical records, the organisms can withstand generations of development and change.
But which tree has been around the longest?
Until 2013, the oldest individual tree in the world was Methuselah, a 4,845-year-old Great Basin bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva) in the White Mountains of California. Researchers at the Rocky Mountain Tree-Ring Research Group then announced the age of another P. longaeva also located in the White Mountains — this one 5,062 years old.
Europe's oldest tree , crowned in 2016, is a 1,075-year-old Bosnian pine (Pinus heldreichii) growing in Greece. The tree — named Adonis after the Greek god of beauty, youth and desire — took root in A.D. 941, when the Vikings were still raiding along European coastlines. Europe is home to some even longer-lived trees, but these have yet to be officially dated. [ Nature's Giants: Photos of the Tallest Trees on Earth ]
"Adonis," A Bosnian Pine living high in the mountains of Greece, is Europe's oldest officially dated tree, at 1,075 years.
Credit: Dr Oliver Konter, Mainz
For instance, living in a churchyard of the Llangernyw village in North Wales, the Llangernyw Yew is estimated to be at least 4,000 years old. The yew tree (Taxus baccata) is believed to have taken root sometime during Britain's Bronze Age .
Clonal trees
Though these are some of the oldest individual trees in the world, they are technically not the oldest living organisms . There are several clonal colonies — which are made up of genetically identical trees connected by a single root system — that are much older.
For example, the Pando, or "trembling giant," is a clonal colony made up of more than 40,000 individual quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) trees, according to the U.S. Forest Service . Located in Fishlake National Forest in south-central Utah, the colony is estimated to be an astounding 80,000 years old.
Called Old Tjikko, this 9,550-year-old trunk from a clonal Norway spruce is a record-breaker.
Credit: Leif Kullman
In 2008, peculiar circumstances led to the discovery of the world's oldest individual from a clonal tree: Old Tjikko, a 9,550-year-old Norway spruce located the in Fulufjället Mountains in Sweden, according to scientists at Umeå University. Old Tjikko is suspected to be the only living trunk of an ancient clonal colony like the Pando.
The tree's true age was revealed by carbon-14 dating its root system. According to a statement from Umeå University , scientists found four generations of spruce remains at the site, all with the same genetic makeup. Spruce trees can multiply with the root penetrating branches to produce exact copies of themselves, so while the individual trunk is younger, the organism has been cloning itself for at least 9,550 years.
Umeå University also reported that a cluster of around 20 spruces were found in the Swedish mountains that are estimated to be over 8,000 years old. The trees are able to survive very harsh weather conditions, but a warming climate has allowed them to thrive.
Compared with all of these ancient trees, the oldest living animal , a 183-year-old tortoise, is a young whipper snapper.
Editor's Note: This article was first published in 2013 and updated with new information in 2016.
Original article on Live Science.
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| California |
Ne Win was head of state of which country from 1962 to 1981? | Keepers of Prometheus: The World’s Oldest Tree | UANews
Galleries
A grove of Bristlecones keeps a silent vigil atop the White Mountains of eastern California. “The idea of a single individual surviving for 5,000 years rooted in place is truly remarkable and I think strikes awe in most of us,” said UA dendrochronologist Chris Baisan, who first established the age of Prometheus, the oldest known tree. (Image: Rex Adams/LTRR)
Keepers of Prometheus: The World’s Oldest Tree
After a nearly 5,000-year vigil upon a Nevada mountaintop, an ancient tree now finds its home in the UA Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research. A member of the long-lived Bristlecone pine species, the tree called Prometheus is the oldest individual ever known to have lived. Its age was not accurately known until a few years ago.
Shelley Littin
Jan. 23, 2013
Resources for the Media
UA dendrochronologist Rex Adams holds up the innermost piece of the roughly 5,000-year-old tree, Prometheus. (Image: Beatriz Verdugo/UANews)
The 7-foot radius of Prometheus, the oldest individual organism ever known, adorns the wall of the UA Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research. (Image: Beatriz Verdugo/UANews)
A dendrochronologist extracts a thin core from a tree using a tool called a Swedish increment borer. The method leaves only a tiny hole in the tree's trunk. The tree's annual growth rings are visible as thin bands on the core. (Image: Daniel Griffin/LTRR)
A Bristlecone pine in eastern California's White Mountains. (Image: Rex Adams/LTRR)
On a craggy, windswept peak in a lonely Nevada wilderness stands a grove of old-growth trees. Gnarled and twisted, shaped by the weather and whirling winds into erratic growth forms, their roots have clung to the pebble-strewn mountainside for literally millennia.
On the far side of the Earth, the great pyramids were erected in Egypt and Homer wrote his epic tales, the ancient Roman Empire rose and fell, and humans built the North American cities, roads and railways of today – all in the lifespan of these trees.
This is not just any old-growth grove. These are members of the species Pinus longaeva, or Bristlecone pine, the world’s longest-living individual trees.
“There is an argument that unless there’s an extremely stressful period of time or they’re struck by lightning or killed by fire, there’s not a physiological reason for these trees to die,” said Rex Adams, senior research specialist at the University of Arizona’s Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research .
The lab houses pieces of the oldest Bristlecone pine ever known to have lived, a tree called Prometheus after the Titan of Greek mythology. But how the pieces came there is a tragic tale.
In the summers of 1963 and 1964, Donald Currey, a graduate student at the University of North Carolina, climbed Wheeler Peak in Nevada’s Snake Range to where the Bristlecone pines stand in the cold mountain wind.
Currey, a student in geography, wanted to find a minimum date for the formation of the local glacial features. He decided to determine the age of the trees, reasoning that the earliest they could have become established on the mountainside would have coincided with the recession of the glaciers.
As a tree ages, it grows outward, forming a new ring around its trunk each year. Its age can be determined by counting the annual growth rings from the living layer just below the bark all the way to the pith, the center of the tree from which the rings emanate.
Dendrochronologists, who study tree rings, can sample most trees with skill and patience and a tool called a Swedish increment borer that harmlessly removes a slender core from the trunk, which shows the rings of the tree but does no lasting damage.
Since the living part of the tree is the outer layer just below the bark, and all the wood inside is dead, the injury done by an increment borer to a living tree is very small, about equivalent to the skin prick of a human flu shot.
Currey extracted cores from the Bristlecone trees, but found counting the sometimes paper-thin rings of the twisted and gnarly wood an impossible task. He decided only a complete cross-section would give him an accurate ring count. With permission from the U.S. Forest Service, Currey selected an especially old tree, dubbed WPN 114 for his study, and he cut it down.
Only later in his hotel room, counting the rings on the cross-sections of wood that his chainsaw had rendered, did Currey realize that the tree he had felled was more than 4,800 years old – older than any known living tree.
“The tragedy of Prometheus is that it would have been possible with one or two cores to establish the age of the tree with great accuracy – much greater than was possible for Currey by having it cut down and trying to count its rings,” said Chris Baisan, a dendrochronologist at the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research.
Amidst public outcry in the wake of the event, Wes Ferguson, then a graduate student at the tree-ring laboratory, was tasked with returning to Wheeler Peak to see if he could find a living tree older than the one chopped down by Currey. He didn’t.
And the purloined tree was left to lie on the mountainside for the scientists who followed, seeking the knowledge of centuries past contained in its rings. Ferguson collected some of the wood, and brought it back to the UA.
The age of the ancient one
Wander down the concrete stairs to the basement on the northwest corner of the Math East building on the UA campus to a shut door bearing the somewhat ominous sign: “Please keep this door closed. The Fire Marshall requires that we do this!”
Past the door you will find the cause of the fire marshall’s concern: Boxes full of wood, circular cross sections of tree trunks, whole logs and branches, boards and remnants of dead wood fill up rows of shelves – and oftentimes the aisles – from the sawdust-strewn floor to the dusty ceiling.
On one wall, a 7-foot slab of wood is mounted with care: A cross section of the radius of the tree known as Prometheus.
A second collection of wood from Prometheus came to the UA only a few years ago, after Currey’s passing. Among this collection was a piece containing the pith, the center of the tree. For the first time, a tree-ring scientist was able to date the wood to establish Prometheus’ age.
By overlapping the rings on the pith piece with a chronology of measured ring-widths from trees in the region provided to him by fellow UA dendrochronologist Matt Salzer and UA Regents' Professor Malcolm Hughes, Baisan established the age of the tree with great accuracy.
“I had never seen a piece with the pith and was curious to see where it dated,” Baisan said. “The match was really unequivocal from the first test. A reasonable age estimate is right at 5,000 years – an estimate because of the time to grow to about 7 feet, the height from which the piece with the pith came, is subject only to a reasonable guess."
Prometheus is not alone in its great age. Many of the other trees in the grove on Wheeler Peak also are estimated at near 5,000 years old, although none have been found that are as old as Prometheus.
“The odds of by chance selecting the oldest individual of a species of hundreds of thousands, or millions, of individuals spread across the rugged and remote Great Basin terrain are simply not credible,” Baisan said.
“I cannot believe that Prometheus was ever ‘the oldest’ Bristlecone pine. As for finding an older individual,” he added, “this would be a difficult and thankless task for which there is no real research incentive.”
Now the oldest publicly known individual, named Methuselah after the oldest person mentioned in the Bible, and known to be more than 4,700 years old, abides upon a slope of the White Mountains of eastern California. Its exact location is not advertised in an effort to protect the tree from a plight of tourists and plunderers.
And Currey? “His career was OK,” Adams said. “To most people, he was just professor Currey. Nothing bad happened to him, except he died relatively young, and that’s the mysterious part.”
The curse of the old trees
“There’s this urban myth that goes with the Bristlecone,” Adams explained. “That handling the wood, you’re going to be cursed by the old trees.”
From Edmund Schulman, the dendrochronologist who first established the great age of the Bristlecone pines and died himself at 49, to Currey, Ferguson and other Bristlecone pine researchers, many have died at an alarmingly young age. In one incident, a 32-year-old Forest Service employee who returned with Currey and others to remove the chopped-up pieces of Prometheus from the mountainside suffered a fatal heart attack on the way down.
As improbable as the myth may seem, its portents are dark enough to prevent some from ever touching the wood of the Bristlecones, especially that of Prometheus.
But the myth hasn’t kept all contemporary dendrochronologists away from the old trees. “There are some folks now who are fiddling with the wood,” Adams said. “Some researchers here are working on climatic effects on Bristlecone.”
And then there’s Adams himself. “I’ve handled a lot of old wood, and I’m sitting here now holding a piece that really is supposed to be the cursed piece.” He cradled the pith piece of Prometheus in one arm. “But then I am showing my age these days,” he added and laughed. “So maybe I shouldn’t be touching this.”
He leaned over and gently lay down on the table the remnant of a tree that once weathered the storms of millennia atop lonely Wheeler Peak.
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Noodling is the Australian term for the mining of which gemstone? | gemstones mined in australia
gemstones mined in australia
Australian Sapphires - Sapphire Mining - Gemstone Information
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Napoleon Bonaparte was given sovereignty of which island in 1814? | How to find OPAL by Noodling | Liz Kreate - YouTube
How to find OPAL by Noodling | Liz Kreate
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Published on Oct 17, 2012
Prospecting for Gems can be a rewarding hobby. Here at White Cliffs, Australia, anyone can "Noodle" for Opals and knowing what to look for can be a bit tricky. Tips and tricks for a productive trip.
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In January 1993, who was the first British cabinet minister to visit Argentina since the 1982 Falklands Islands conflict? | Project MUSE - Margaret Thatcher’s Diplomacy and the 1982 Lebanon War
Margaret Thatcher’s Diplomacy and the 1982 Lebanon War
Anthony M. Eames (bio)
The year 1982 emerged as pivotal in the Atlantic Alliance and the relationship between President Ronald Reagan and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. On 6 June 1982, Israeli Defense Forces breached the Lebanese border in a maneuvre to eradicate the Palestinian Liberation Organization. The campaign opened a violent episode in the decades- old Arab- Israeli conflict. Almost immediately the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office recognized the challenge to the international community. The crisis in the Middle East occurred during a period of substantial turnover in the foreign policy communities of both London and Washington. Subsequent improved bilateral relations between the United States and the United Kingdom paved the way for greater cooperation in international diplomacy between respective national executives.
Keywords
Thatcher and Reagan, Atlantic Alliance, Lebanon War, Operation Peace for Galilee
The year 1982 emerged as a pivotal year in the Atlantic Alliance and the relationship between President Ronald Reagan and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Improved bilateral relations between the United States and the United Kingdom paved the way for greater cooperation in international diplomacy between the respective national executives. On 6 June 1982, Irsrael Defense Forces breached the Lebanese border in a maneuver to eradicate the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). The campaign, code-named Operation Peace for Galilee, opened a new violent episode in the decades-old Arab-Israeli conflict. Israel committed more than 75,000 troops, 800 tanks, and over 625 aircraft, heavily outmatching the forces of the PLO and its allies. Almost immediately the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) recognized the challenge to the international community and reported, “The Israeli invasion has given the Middle East kaleidoscope a thorough shake.” 1 The crisis in the Middle East occurred during a period of substantial turnover in the foreign policy communities of both London and Washington.
Upheaval in the British and American foreign policy communities converged with conflict in the Middle East to provide Thatcher and Reagan an opportunity to coordinate diplomatic efforts independent of the FCO and US Department of State. This partnership depended on Thatcher finding a new [End Page 27] diplomatic role. She reversed the direction of British foreign policy from its priority of European foreign policy cooperation and began to favor American objectives in the Middle East. She became Reagan’s chief lieutenant in European and international diplomacy. Thatcher’s alignment with the Reagan administration’s Middle East agenda came at the expense of closer ties with the FCO and fellow Conservatives as she asserted her centrality in British foreign relations. The FCO’s policy direction favored a more intimate connection with the European Community (EC), whose primary interests in the Middle East revolved around secure oil supplies and stable markets for arms exports. Her diplomatic response to Operation Peace for Galilee tested her aptitude for reconciling British economic interests, energy concerns, geostrategic needs, and the EC with US Middle East policy. Thatcher demonstrated her willingness to play Reagan’s deputy in international affairs through her direction of British actions in the United Nations and negotiations with Arab states, while overcoming tensions in Anglo-Israeli relations.
European Political Cooperation and the Middle East
The connection between the industrialized economies of Western Europe and the Arab petrol states remains a legacy of the US-sponsored Marshall Plan. After World War II, the Marshall Plan supported the integration and rebuilding of European economies through oil-intensive industry, due to the political reliability and superior efficiency of oil compared to coal. 2 After American oil reserves supplied the allied efforts in World War II and the Soviets gained control of reserves in Eastern Europe, new production was needed to ensure the reconstruction of European economies. Arab states stepped in to fill the void as multinational oil corporations directed large quantities of Middle East oil to Europe. The flow of cash and oil created a mutual dependency between two uniquely different groups of nations —Western European industrialized states and the Arab petrol states. The new dependency provided Arab states with a lever—the so-called oil weapon—to affect policy across the world and undermined unified Western support for the newly created state of Israel. 3 [End Page 28]
The Yom Kippur War in 1973 marked the first effective use of the oil weapon by Arab states. In the 1950s, Arab nationalism forced the collapse of the postwar oil regime, leading to more equitable revenue sharing between petrol states and multinational oil corporations. 4 In the 1960s and 1970s, many large petrol states nationalized production and used their control of oil supply to exert pressure on Israel through the United States and Western Europe. 5 The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) took aim at the energy vulnerabilities of the EC and Japan, hoping to transform American allies into proxies for pro-Arab influence in Washington. 6 The tactic proved effective against Japan, the Netherlands, and other US allies. However, it failed to significantly alter the energy economies of American allies with major foreign policy influence in Washington, particularly the United Kingdom. Britain’s role in crafting UN Resolutions 242 and 338, in addition to its advocacy for Palestinian self-determination, provided the rationale for the “friendly” classification applied to the United Kingdom by OPEC members. For its efforts, the United Kingdom enjoyed uninterrupted access to Arab oil, forestalling a major energy crisis that could have forced the United Kingdom into deep recession, and placed enormous pressure on Washington to bail out its chief ally in the Cold War by bowing to Arab demands. 7
The use of the Arab oil weapon accelerated the creation of European Political Cooperation, agreed to in principle in 1969 and in process in 1973. The EC commissioner claimed Europe’s inability to form a cohesive energy policy in response to the oil weapon left the continent “weakened and humiliated.” 8 London’s refusal to share oil with the suffering Netherlands induced the EC to pursue a more formalized process of foreign policy cooperation. A coordinated foreign policy with the EC, which increasingly supported the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people, materialized as a point of controversy between a developing European power bloc and the United States.
In 1973, the drive for a coordinated foreign policy for the EC received [End Page 29] additional motivation from Henry Kissinger’s failed attempt to proclaim the “Year of Europe.” 9 European leaders scoffed at Kissinger’s comparison between the American “world role” and the “regional responsibilities of Europe.” 10 British officials pushed for multipolarization as well. Prime Minister Edward Heath insisted on establishing the EC as a third international power bloc. In October 1973, he countered Kissinger’s superpower diplomacy, asserting, “Washington and Moscow had to realize that Peking, Tokyo, Cairo, and Tel Aviv, as well as Western Europe, were vitally important too.” 11 The EC considered the shift in British alliance strategy encouraging. Oliver Wright, the British representative to the EC directors meeting, reported back to the FCO that France “had been pleasantly surprised to find that, far from being a Trojan horse, British views had proved [that] summer to be very European.” 12 Tension in Anglo-American relations, 13 combined with the January 1973 British entry into the European Economic Community, prompted a new international outlook for officials in London.
British sympathies for a cohesive European foreign policy following the turbulent year of 1973 persisted for the rest of the decade. However, serious policy discussions received less and less attention as price increases on Arab oil slowed after the cessation of hostilities in the Middle East. 14 The events of 1979 refocused international attention on the Middle East. Saudi Arabia’s close relationship with the United States contributed to the decline of its moderating influence in OPEC. Revolution in Iran transformed the country from an exporter of oil and defender of Western interests to an Islamic republic hostile toward the United States and its allies. As the year closed, the Soviet Union’s December invasion of Afghanistan added urgency to the EC’s drive to protect its interests in the Middle East through a unified foreign policy. 15 [End Page 30]
In June 1980, the EC gathered in Venice to establish a coherent Middle East policy. Throughout the summit, oil and arms were the primary economic considerations influencing the British delegation’s approach toward political declarations concerning the Middle East. The North Sea oil bonanza insulated the United Kingdom from domestic energy shortages. However, the possibility of reduced Arab oil imports to Europe and other UK trading partners linked the UK’s stance on the EC’s Middle East policy to international economies and geopolitical rivalry. The British cabinet’s Defense and Overseas Policy Committee reasoned, “Although North Sea oil protects us from the direct consequences of oil price increases for the balance of payments, our economy is highly vulnerable to the effect of the world economy.” Its report recognized Arab oil producers’ desire to have the full support of the EC in the Arab-Israeli conflict as a means of pressuring the United States to resolve the longstanding crisis. Policy researchers suggested that British diplomats argue that only the West could produce a “solution to the Arab-Israel dispute and that Western governments and public opinion are more likely to be responsive to Arabs’ concerns if there is a demonstrably cooperative relationship, beneficial to both sides.” 16
The export of arms to the Middle East offered the United Kingdom two distinct advantages. First, arming oil producers offered an additional measure of oil security from potential terrorist organizations or Soviet subversion. Second, British arms provided a balance of payments bonus and supplied a new source of revenue for the United Kingdom as it struggled to offset its economic decline. By the end of the 1970s the defense industry accounted for nearly 5 percent of all British exports. 17 Longstanding conflict in the Middle East made the region one of the most profitable points of export for the arms industry. Advisory and support roles for exported military equipment increased the value of arms contracts—adding emphasis to healthy political relationships with market countries. Since 1964, British policy had made special note of the military balance between the Arab states and Israel and managed its arms exports with this equilibrium in mind. 18 However, [End Page 31] when US-Saudi relations began to deteriorate in 1977, London jumped at the opportunity to expand exports to one of the largest arms markets in the world. British arms companies successfully lobbied the Thatcher government to guarantee a favorable “political decision at the top.” 19 In 1977, the Royal Saudi Air Force inked a five-year contract with British Aerospace worth over $900 million and two thousand jobs. The provision and installation of military communications for the Saudi National Guard in 1978 brought in an additional $600 million. 20 The influence of oil-producing states and the Saudi arms market paid major dividends for the Arab cause during the June 1980 summit of European powers in Venice.
The Venice Declaration of 13 June 1980 capped European efforts to develop a unified policy for the Middle East. With a clearly outlined agenda that heavily favored Arab demands in the region, the EC intended to avoid another oil weapon offensive by OPEC an unwelcome opportunity for political disunion and economic disruption. Thatcher’s government endorsed the summit’s declaration that peace settlements “must apply to all parties concerned, and thus to the Palestinian people, and to the PLO, which will have to be associated with negotiations.” 21 Much of the European plan complemented US president Jimmy Carter’s efforts at Camp David, specifically that “the representatives of the Palestinian people should participate in the negotiations on the resolution of the Palestinian problem in all its aspects,” but it sought to expand peacekeeping efforts beyond the Egyptian-Israeli dialogue. 22
By late 1981, there were few signs of British policy slowing its advance toward European Political Cooperation in favor of matching policies with the Washington. Lord Carrington, the secretary of state for foreign and commonwealth affairs, announced, “The Community of Ten [EC including the United Kingdom] nowadays provides increasingly the context in which Britain frames its domestic and foreign policies.” The United Kingdom’s ascension to the presidency of the EC provided additional incentive to align European [End Page 32] policies while being seated at the head of the table. Those in Whitehall, along with others in the policy community, demonstrated an unrelenting shift toward Europe and a desire to create a new policy foothold in the Middle East in contrast to President Carter’s agenda. Eager to replace the ineffectual framework implemented at Camp David, Lord Carrington proclaimed, “The Camp David process was for various reasons in the doldrums and likely to remain so for some time.” Carrington continued to carve out a role for the Community of Ten, adding, “The European Community, whose economic interests are even more directly involved in the region than [those of] the United States, suggested some principles for progress.” 23
Emerging support for Europe’s new independent role in the Middle East extended beyond Conservative Party boundaries. The Labour Party had endorsed Israel for decades, but the actions of the Yom Kippur War provoked a wave of anti-Israeli sentiment in the party. Influenced by the leftward protests of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and the anti-apartheid movements, the early 1980s witnessed the development of Labour’s radical humanitarian approach to foreign policy. The Middle East proved no exception. The PLO extended invitations to labor unions in the United Kingdom to observe Palestinian conditions in the Middle East. The PLO’s outreach paid dividends as the unions embraced the Palestinian cause, relating to themes of oppression. Trade Union Friends of Palestine, established in 1980, provided an effective lobby framework for Palestinian causes in Whitehall. 24 Once the bastion of pro-Zionism, the Labour Party conference produced repeated calls for actions against Israel in favor of the PLO. At the 1967 conference, the party voted on thirty pro-Israeli motions, compared to five in support of Palestine. By 1982, motions supporting Israel completely dried up, while those in favor of Palestinian nationalism skyrocketed to twenty-five—with the composite motion in support of Palestine carrying over 52 percent of the vote. 25 However, the momentum behind pro-Arab advocacy sustained by the majority [End Page 33] of Labour voters, influential Conservative policymakers, and the EC found resistance in Thatcher. The prime minister’s view of the United Kingdom’s role in the Arab-Israeli conflict was complicated by her own ties to Israel, the United Kingdom’s economic position, its recent conflict in the Falklands, and her vehement anticommunist position.
Margaret Thatcher’s Diplomatic Motives
Thatcher had cultivated a pro-Israel reputation throughout her political career. 26 Her Finchley constituency included a substantial Jewish population, and she relished the endorsement of several influential Jewish organizations. 27 Former president of the Board of Deputies of British Jewry Vivian Wineman summed up Thatcher’s ties to the Jewish community: “When she entered Parliament, her relationship with local Jewish institutions blossomed and continued throughout her career.” 28 During her tenure in Parliament, Thatcher showed little interest in foreign relations. Her limited actions in the world of international diplomacy fell in line with her domestic loyalties to Jewish voters. Shortly after the Six-Day War in early June of 1967, Thatcher showed support for Israel, declaring at a rally for the Anglo-Israel Friendship League, “I believe that Israel should not withdraw from her new territories until she has her borders guaranteed.” 29 Thatcher sustained her sympathies for the Jewish state during the remainder of her time in Parliament. Perhaps the best encapsulation of her pro-Israeli stance is the image of her in full Israeli military attire, inspecting the Golan Heights from an observation post during her visit in 1976. 30 Reports from Tel Aviv confirmed Thatcher’s positive effect on Anglo-Israeli relations; the British Embassy cabled back to the FCO that her March 1976 visit was “by any criteria . . . a real success.” 31 [End Page 34] Warm relations among Thatcher, the British Jewish community, and Israel continued as she ascended to the office of prime minister. Upon victory in the general election, Thatcher received warm and intimate congratulations from Israel’s prime minister Menachem Begin: “I write to you in the knowledge of your friendship for Israel over many years, having stood by our people and country in difficult as well as in good times. It is my confident hope that this spirit of friendship will be sustained in the future.” 32
Thatcher’s pro-Israel credentials prior to her move to 10 Downing Street conflicted with the Cold War paradigm at the center of her government’s foreign policy. She quickly recognized that Israeli provocations in the Middle East might tilt Arab sympathies toward the Soviet Union. 33 Her meeting with Begin, two weeks after his congratulatory letter, confirmed her fears. She lamented Begin’s lack of “comprehension of the broader aspects of security and that there was no basis in which he could be persuaded to change his narrow concept of it,” adding later that it could “kill the whole process of the search for a comprehensive settlement in the Middle East.” 34 Thatcher hoped the United Kingdom’s efforts with the EC at Venice might induce Begin and his ruling Likud party to work more intensely toward peace. She wrote Begin, “This will be an opportunity to establish a constructive relationship between Israel and the nine, including Britain, and put any misunderstandings which have arisen behind us.” 35 Begin, aware of the impact British arms sales in the Middle East, crafted his disappointment in a diplomatic reply to Thatcher, but he questioned the UK refusal to provide Israel with military equipment. 36 Begin feared that European arms contracts to Arab states would undermine the perception of Israeli military superiority in the region. 37 The Israeli cabinet opted for a more bellicose posture entrenched in [End Page 35] ideological struggle. Israeli ministers publicly threatened that “nothing will remain from the Venice Resolution but its bitter memory” and continued with comparisons to Mein Kampf and Europe’s appeasement of Hitler.
In the two years between the Venice Declaration and the Israeli invasion of the Lebanon, the changing political environment in the Middle East complicated policy formulation in London. Under newly elected French president François Mitterrand and with the promise of a major arms contract with Saudi Arabia, France moved even closer to Arab peace demands in the region. 38 In June 1981, the Israeli airstrike on the Iraqi Osiris class nuclear reactor enflamed Arab-Israeli tensions. The breach of international law warranted Thatcher’s guarded condemnation. 39 With the assassination of Egyptian prime minister Anwar Sadat in early October, Western policymakers reassessed the plausibility of the Camp David Accords and the Venice Declaration. 40 Western leaders worried that the Saudi-sponsored Fahd Plan, which pressed Arab demands through eight points, might produce another violent outburst in the Arab-Israeli conflict. Thatcher desperately wrote Reagan concerning the increasing alienation of the Arab world from the West, in part due to the perceived one-sided support the United States lent Israel. 41 President Reagan produced a quick antidote and sponsored the sale of the Airborne Warning and Control Systems to Saudi Arabia. 42 Still, Washington remained inactive in pushing for a new approach to settling the Arab-Israeli conflict. Over late 1981 and early 1982, the FCO grew increasingly active in backing Arab demands and calling for increased pressure on the United States to reign in Israeli aggression. 43 Thatcher’s relationship with Reagan regarding the upgrade to the British nuclear deterrent and support for the British military operation in the Falklands left her reluctant to accept FCO recommendations. [End Page 36]
Disagreement over policy prescriptions in Whitehall fomented tensions between Thatcher and her advisors. Sir John Hoskyns, head of Thatcher’s policy unit from 1979 to 1982, wrote the prime minister in August of 1981, saying, “Your own credibility and prestige are draining away very fast,” and he warned her not to follow the same path of “another failed Tory prime minister, sitting with Heath.” Hoskyns added that Thatcher broke “every rule of good man-management.” 44 While Lord Carrington enjoyed a relaxed personal relationship with Thatcher during his time as foreign secretary, he did not respect her knowledge of international relations. 45 Carrington built substantial clout in the Conservative Party and earned the admiration of the international community. Thatcher’s relative inexperience in foreign affairs led to an uneasy reliance on Carrington’s FCO during the first two years of her government. 46 The two argued specifically over the Middle East and rapprochement with the PLO. In February 1981, Thatcher attacked Carrington, arguing that because of his “policy in the Middle East . . . I’ll lose my seat in Finchley,” before storming out of the room; Carrington responded, “And I’ll lose my temper!” 47 Their strained relationship fueled Carrington’s acerbic reference to the prime minister as a “fucking stupid, petit bourgeois woman.” 48 Carrington’s opposition to Thatcher’s position left him little room for error. The Argentinean invasion of the Falkland Islands in early April of 1982 forced his resignation. Carrington’s departure from the FCO granted Thatcher a temporary reprieve from rhetoric endorsing European Foreign Policy Cooperation over the strengthening of the special relationship with the United States. With a respite from Eurocentric foreign policy logic, Thatcher expanded her role in international diplomacy and restructured internal British foreign policy goals. Her increased oversight coincided with new tensions in the Anglo-Israeli relationship, which forced her to choose between a hard-line stance toward Israel or support for Washington’s moderate approach to Israeli aggression.
In May of 1982, reports of Israel’s arms contracts with Argentina following the outbreak of hostilities in the Falklands surfaced in London. The [End Page 37] accusations cast doubt on guarantees from Israeli foreign minister Yitzhak Shamir that the Jewish state would “stay out of the Falklands dispute and had concluded no arms deals since the crisis erupted.” 49 By 10 June, British suspicions triggered a government investigation into possible Israeli-Argentinean arms deals agreed to after the Falkland invasion. The final British intelligence summary concluded, “There is no doubt that the contract for this deal was signed after the invasion of the Falklands.” The investigation revealed that Israel laundered Mirage III aircraft and substantial amounts of ammunition through Brazilian back-channels. 50 Meanwhile, the 3 June 1982 attempted assassination in London of Israel’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, Shlomo Argov, by a rival organization of the PLO hastened Israel’s advance into Lebanon and hampered the Thatcher government’s ability to engage Begin’s government.
The Falklands War, in part, produced the conditions for Thatcher’s support of Reagan’s agenda in the Middle East. The United Kingdom expended significant diplomatic capital in gaining American support and securing UN condemnation of the Argentinean invasion. The logistical challenge put further strain on British resources. By the end of the British campaign, 51 warships, 54 civilian ships, 140 helicopters, and 9,000 men had made the 8,000 mile journey. 51 President Reagan recognized Thatcher’s tenuous domestic position, one already damaged by a sputtering economy. Washington feared British humiliation in the Falklands would result in Thatcher losing the premiership, leaving Reagan without his most familiar ally. The foreign policy goals of the Reagan administration fundamentally opposed those of Thatcher’s Labour rivals in the United Kingdom. The Conservative-run FCO also demonstrated its willingness to side with the European agenda over foreign policy cooperation with the United States. 52 British domestic politics motivated Reagan as he directed Secretary of State Alexander Haig to offer intelligence and logistical support while “giv[ing] Maggie enough to carry on.” 53 [End Page 38] On 30 April 1982, the United States abandoned its supposed neutrality and came out in support of the United Kingdom. The declaration bolstered international approval of Britain’s position, adding to the covert American intelligence and military equipment that supplied the British effort in the South Atlantic. 54 The role American support played in the British victory on 15 June 1982 compelled Thatcher to ignore Anglo-Israeli tensions and use British influence to limit the EC’s backing of the PLO. She further supported the Reagan agenda by rejecting the invitation of Arab leaders to claim a leadership role in the Middle East, while managing their resentment of US hegemony in the Middle East.
In mid-June, Thatcher wrote to Reagan. “Arab opinion is running violently against the United States,” she said, and she feared that “the Arabs, including some of our friends in the Arabian Peninsula, will look increasingly to the Soviet Union unless they see some move soon in their direction.” 55 Thatcher’s strategic-based appeals to Washington were based on pleas from moderate Arab leaders. President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, the most invested Arab leader in the delicate Arab-Israeli peace settlement, telegrammed London, writing that Operation Peace for Galilee “deals a devastating blow to the efforts we are exerting tirelessly in order to widen the scope of peace.” 56 King Hussein of Jordan begged London, “In the name of human decency . . . exert your immediate and maximum effort on behalf of your nation to bring to an end the unprecedented holocaust enacted on Lebanon’s soil.” 57 The king later argued, “Not only does this tragedy give rise to radicalism, but it also weakens nationalist moderate states.” He concluded, “The integrity of the US and her allies has been further discredited.” 58 Prince Saud of Saudi Arabia 59 and Habib Chatty, secretary-general of the Islamic Conference, echoed parallel sentiments in their direct petitions to Thatcher. 60 [End Page 39]
Backing the Reagan Agenda
The response from Washington inspired little hope for Anglo-American intervention in Lebanon in relief of the Palestinian/Arab cause. Britain’s ambassador in Washington, Nicholas Henderson, summarized American concerns of “the extent to which the Israelis have misled them at every stage of their Lebanese Operation.” Secretary of State Haig’s outsized hawkish influence contributed to Henderson’s assessment that the “pro-Israeli faction will have its way” in Washington. 61 Reagan’s reply to Thatcher indicated his interest in British support for the effort of his administration’s special envoy, Philip Habib, in brokering a cease-fire and larger peace settlement in the region. 62 With this indication, Thatcher moved her diplomatic support behind American efforts. However, her success still depended on the United Kingdom’s ability to craft an image of international credibility independent of American foreign policy prescriptions. In public, the Thatcher government upheld resolutions from the Community of Ten and the UN in order to appear as an unbiased arbiter in world affairs. 63
Resources and economic challenges certainly played a role in the United Kingdom’s initial refusal to intervene militarily in the Lebanon War. Nevertheless, Thatcher’s willingness to defend American goals in the Middle East over the plans of European and Arab allies determined the United Kingdom’s diplomatic behavior in the UN. The Venice Declaration echoed many of the principles laid out in UN Resolutions 242 and 338—guaranteeing the Palestinian people both the right to participate in the peace process and self-determination. 64 The United States openly condemned Operation Peace for Galilee, but Israeli authorities charged, “Based on trustworthy intelligence, Israel was confident that the United States would welcome a military operation in Lebanon if it struck at the base of Moscow’s allies—the Palestine Liberation Organization.” 65 Many others suspected Haig gave the green light [End Page 40] to the Israeli operation. 66 Conversations between US under secretary of state Lawrence Eagleburger and Ambassador Henderson revealed that Washington was “scathing about [French] efforts . . . to preserve the PLO.” 67 Putting US goals over EC objectives, Thatcher stymied efforts to oppose the unspoken American guarantee of Israeli operations and endorsed American negotiations for a cease-fire led by Habib.
The United Kingdom’s mission to the UN voiced concerns regarding French attempts to construct a policy foothold in the Middle East and guide international reconciliation of the Arab-Israeli conflict away from American hands. The United Kingdom’s permanent representative to the UN and later special advisor to Thatcher, Anthony Parsons, reported back to London that UN Security Council attempts to produce a cease-fire were derailed by “startling incompetent and arrogant French chairmanship.”After the French angrily accused the British mission of “concocting a maneuver with the Americans,” Parsons responded that he would “not contemplate putting anything to the vote which would be vetoed by an ally and partner.” Parsons’ overture to Washington produced a “long silence” and halted French momentum during the seventeen-hour-long Security Council consultations. 68
The obstructionist actions of the United Kingdom’s envoys to the UN in support of Reagan’s separate agenda were matched by Thatcher’s harsh rejection of PLO representatives. Thatcher’s initial refusals to meet with PLO representatives in search for a peace settlement were directly opposed to Article 7 of the Venice Declaration, which guaranteed a “just solution to be found to the Palestinian problem,” necessitating the involvement of the “Palestinian people, and the PLO, which will have to be associated with the negotiations.” 69 Thatcher forcefully rebuffed the FCO’s recommendations to engage in high-level diplomatic talks with the PLO. She reasoned that the “PLO will still continue their terrorist activities.” 70 The FCO’s supplementary attempts to use Thatcher’s friendship with Reagan as a counterweight to the close relationship between the United States and Israel found little traction, as she rejected multiple letter drafts to Reagan—adding that she “very much [End Page 41] doubts whether he [Reagan] would be prepared to make it plain publicly that an Israeli attack on Beirut would not have his support.” 71
Thatcher’s diplomatic prominence in Middle East conflict grew as Reagan’s State Department fractured from the top down. Like Carrington in Thatcher’s government, Haig endeavored to define Washington’s foreign policy during the first eighteen months of the Reagan presidency. 72 Throughout 1981–82, US unilateralism in world affairs damaged relations with Europe. 73 Haig’s feuds with senior aides and cabinet members, most notably Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger, produced policies at cross purposes coming out of Washington. 74 Following Reagan’s first international tour as president in June 1982, he looked increasingly to Thatcher to persuade European allies and Arab states of the benefits of the American agenda. Senior White House officials acknowledged the impact of the European tour on Reagan’s approach to foreign policy, noting “the President no longer felt dependent on Al Haig.” 75 As Reagan’s dependency on Haig diminished, the controversial secretary of state maneuvered to assume greater control of American foreign policy. First, Haig reversed the US support of UN resolutions concerning a cease-fire in the Falklands War without Reagan’s knowledge. The American flip-flop infuriated Thatcher and provoked Reagan into reassessing Haig’s position in the administration. 76 When Haig submitted a directive to the president to relinquish control in international affairs to the secretary of state, Reagan forced his resignation. George Schultz eventually assumed the office, but crucial negotiations took place within the EC and with Arab states during the three weeks between Haig’s resignation and Schultz’s 16 July 1982 appointment. In the absence of an American secretary of state, Thatcher stepped in to help win Arab favor of Reagan’s efforts in the Arab-Israeli peace process and direct the EC toward partnership with the US in the Middle East. [End Page 42]
On 3 July 1982 the British embassy in Washington summarized Habib’s delicate cease-fire breakthrough and US expectations of the United Kingdom moving forward. 77 With confidential knowledge of US plans and the support of the FCO, Thatcher agreed to high-level negotiations with the Arab League and PLO representatives. In talks with the Arab League, Thatcher directed the United Kingdom’s minister to Europe, Douglas Hurd, to sell Habib’s option for a cease-fire. The Arab League Delegation offered that the PLO was prepared to make a “dignified exit” but issued a call for the United Kingdom to “urge American pressure on Israel to disengage.” Hurd responded with qualified support of American aims, saying that the United Kingdom “agreed to the need for a durable cease-fire. What did the PLO regard as a dignified exit? UK Policy differed from the Americans’, but we considered Habib was genuinely trying to achieve a cease-fire and then a solution for Lebanon.” He further backed US over UN solutions, noting, “It was not realistic to replace the US with the UN secretary-general or anyone else. It would be wise for everyone to seek a dignified agreement through Habib. We sympathize with the French proposals, but doubted they could be a substitute.” The Thatcher government’s continued support of the Habib envoy and the Reagan administration’s designs in Lebanon helped create the international mandate for the multinational force that attempted to remove the PLO and Israel from Lebanon. Thatcher’s line with the Arab League Delegation paralleled Reagan and Habib’s efforts with Lebanese government, Israel, and the PLO. 78
Habib’s progress negotiating a cease-fire in early July stalled for over a month until Reagan issued an ultimatum to the Israeli cabinet on 12 August 1982. 79 British support of Washington’s agenda in the Middle East remained constant. The final constitution of the American led multinational force included contributions from France and Italy, while the United Kingdom supplied shipping for the evacuation of Beirut. 80 The initial absence of a British military contingent came not from lack of support for the Americans but from [End Page 43] a strain on resources in light of the recent campaign in the Falklands. 81 On the signing of the cease-fire agreement on 17 August 1982, Habib’s “almost unbelievable perseverance” received praise from officials in London. 82 In February 1983, the United Kingdom sent a military contingent, reiterating support for Reagan’s solution to the Lebanon crisis.
Conclusion
The spring and summer of 1982 witnessed a transformation in the relationship between Reagan and Thatcher. The Falklands War shocked the United Kingdom. The crisis weakened Thatcher’s rivals in the FCO and provided the opening for the prime minister to assume control of British foreign policy. Thatcher’s direction in foreign affairs realigned British foreign policy with the Reagan administration instead of cooperation with the EC. The 6 June Israeli invasion of Lebanon proved the beginning of the end for Haig’s rocky tenure as secretary of state. Following a visit to Europe, Reagan assumed greater responsibility for American foreign policy, forcing Haig to resign. With Reagan and Thatcher firmly in charge of their respective nations’ foreign policies, their response to the Arab-Israeli conflict became the first opportunity for the two to operate as diplomatic partners in seeking international approval for a solution in the Middle East. Thatcher successfully navigated British economic and energy concerns with American policies while restraining French-led European plans to find an alternative solution to Habib’s cease-fire negotiations. She further engaged Arab states to supplement Habib’s efforts. British support of Reagan’s agenda proved essential to producing the international mandate for a multinational force in Lebanon. Thatcher demonstrated to Reagan her willingness to trust his judgment and reconcile the United Kingdom’s interests with the geopolitical objectives of the United States. The increase in trust between the Reagan administration and the Thatcher government in world affairs laid the foundation for a more forceful geostrategic partnership during their remaining years in office. [End Page 44]
| Douglas Hurd |
What was the name of the online peer-to-peer audio file sharing service which operated between June 1999 and July 2001? | Project MUSE - Margaret Thatcher’s Diplomacy and the 1982 Lebanon War
Margaret Thatcher’s Diplomacy and the 1982 Lebanon War
Anthony M. Eames (bio)
The year 1982 emerged as pivotal in the Atlantic Alliance and the relationship between President Ronald Reagan and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. On 6 June 1982, Israeli Defense Forces breached the Lebanese border in a maneuvre to eradicate the Palestinian Liberation Organization. The campaign opened a violent episode in the decades- old Arab- Israeli conflict. Almost immediately the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office recognized the challenge to the international community. The crisis in the Middle East occurred during a period of substantial turnover in the foreign policy communities of both London and Washington. Subsequent improved bilateral relations between the United States and the United Kingdom paved the way for greater cooperation in international diplomacy between respective national executives.
Keywords
Thatcher and Reagan, Atlantic Alliance, Lebanon War, Operation Peace for Galilee
The year 1982 emerged as a pivotal year in the Atlantic Alliance and the relationship between President Ronald Reagan and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Improved bilateral relations between the United States and the United Kingdom paved the way for greater cooperation in international diplomacy between the respective national executives. On 6 June 1982, Irsrael Defense Forces breached the Lebanese border in a maneuver to eradicate the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). The campaign, code-named Operation Peace for Galilee, opened a new violent episode in the decades-old Arab-Israeli conflict. Israel committed more than 75,000 troops, 800 tanks, and over 625 aircraft, heavily outmatching the forces of the PLO and its allies. Almost immediately the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) recognized the challenge to the international community and reported, “The Israeli invasion has given the Middle East kaleidoscope a thorough shake.” 1 The crisis in the Middle East occurred during a period of substantial turnover in the foreign policy communities of both London and Washington.
Upheaval in the British and American foreign policy communities converged with conflict in the Middle East to provide Thatcher and Reagan an opportunity to coordinate diplomatic efforts independent of the FCO and US Department of State. This partnership depended on Thatcher finding a new [End Page 27] diplomatic role. She reversed the direction of British foreign policy from its priority of European foreign policy cooperation and began to favor American objectives in the Middle East. She became Reagan’s chief lieutenant in European and international diplomacy. Thatcher’s alignment with the Reagan administration’s Middle East agenda came at the expense of closer ties with the FCO and fellow Conservatives as she asserted her centrality in British foreign relations. The FCO’s policy direction favored a more intimate connection with the European Community (EC), whose primary interests in the Middle East revolved around secure oil supplies and stable markets for arms exports. Her diplomatic response to Operation Peace for Galilee tested her aptitude for reconciling British economic interests, energy concerns, geostrategic needs, and the EC with US Middle East policy. Thatcher demonstrated her willingness to play Reagan’s deputy in international affairs through her direction of British actions in the United Nations and negotiations with Arab states, while overcoming tensions in Anglo-Israeli relations.
European Political Cooperation and the Middle East
The connection between the industrialized economies of Western Europe and the Arab petrol states remains a legacy of the US-sponsored Marshall Plan. After World War II, the Marshall Plan supported the integration and rebuilding of European economies through oil-intensive industry, due to the political reliability and superior efficiency of oil compared to coal. 2 After American oil reserves supplied the allied efforts in World War II and the Soviets gained control of reserves in Eastern Europe, new production was needed to ensure the reconstruction of European economies. Arab states stepped in to fill the void as multinational oil corporations directed large quantities of Middle East oil to Europe. The flow of cash and oil created a mutual dependency between two uniquely different groups of nations —Western European industrialized states and the Arab petrol states. The new dependency provided Arab states with a lever—the so-called oil weapon—to affect policy across the world and undermined unified Western support for the newly created state of Israel. 3 [End Page 28]
The Yom Kippur War in 1973 marked the first effective use of the oil weapon by Arab states. In the 1950s, Arab nationalism forced the collapse of the postwar oil regime, leading to more equitable revenue sharing between petrol states and multinational oil corporations. 4 In the 1960s and 1970s, many large petrol states nationalized production and used their control of oil supply to exert pressure on Israel through the United States and Western Europe. 5 The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) took aim at the energy vulnerabilities of the EC and Japan, hoping to transform American allies into proxies for pro-Arab influence in Washington. 6 The tactic proved effective against Japan, the Netherlands, and other US allies. However, it failed to significantly alter the energy economies of American allies with major foreign policy influence in Washington, particularly the United Kingdom. Britain’s role in crafting UN Resolutions 242 and 338, in addition to its advocacy for Palestinian self-determination, provided the rationale for the “friendly” classification applied to the United Kingdom by OPEC members. For its efforts, the United Kingdom enjoyed uninterrupted access to Arab oil, forestalling a major energy crisis that could have forced the United Kingdom into deep recession, and placed enormous pressure on Washington to bail out its chief ally in the Cold War by bowing to Arab demands. 7
The use of the Arab oil weapon accelerated the creation of European Political Cooperation, agreed to in principle in 1969 and in process in 1973. The EC commissioner claimed Europe’s inability to form a cohesive energy policy in response to the oil weapon left the continent “weakened and humiliated.” 8 London’s refusal to share oil with the suffering Netherlands induced the EC to pursue a more formalized process of foreign policy cooperation. A coordinated foreign policy with the EC, which increasingly supported the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people, materialized as a point of controversy between a developing European power bloc and the United States.
In 1973, the drive for a coordinated foreign policy for the EC received [End Page 29] additional motivation from Henry Kissinger’s failed attempt to proclaim the “Year of Europe.” 9 European leaders scoffed at Kissinger’s comparison between the American “world role” and the “regional responsibilities of Europe.” 10 British officials pushed for multipolarization as well. Prime Minister Edward Heath insisted on establishing the EC as a third international power bloc. In October 1973, he countered Kissinger’s superpower diplomacy, asserting, “Washington and Moscow had to realize that Peking, Tokyo, Cairo, and Tel Aviv, as well as Western Europe, were vitally important too.” 11 The EC considered the shift in British alliance strategy encouraging. Oliver Wright, the British representative to the EC directors meeting, reported back to the FCO that France “had been pleasantly surprised to find that, far from being a Trojan horse, British views had proved [that] summer to be very European.” 12 Tension in Anglo-American relations, 13 combined with the January 1973 British entry into the European Economic Community, prompted a new international outlook for officials in London.
British sympathies for a cohesive European foreign policy following the turbulent year of 1973 persisted for the rest of the decade. However, serious policy discussions received less and less attention as price increases on Arab oil slowed after the cessation of hostilities in the Middle East. 14 The events of 1979 refocused international attention on the Middle East. Saudi Arabia’s close relationship with the United States contributed to the decline of its moderating influence in OPEC. Revolution in Iran transformed the country from an exporter of oil and defender of Western interests to an Islamic republic hostile toward the United States and its allies. As the year closed, the Soviet Union’s December invasion of Afghanistan added urgency to the EC’s drive to protect its interests in the Middle East through a unified foreign policy. 15 [End Page 30]
In June 1980, the EC gathered in Venice to establish a coherent Middle East policy. Throughout the summit, oil and arms were the primary economic considerations influencing the British delegation’s approach toward political declarations concerning the Middle East. The North Sea oil bonanza insulated the United Kingdom from domestic energy shortages. However, the possibility of reduced Arab oil imports to Europe and other UK trading partners linked the UK’s stance on the EC’s Middle East policy to international economies and geopolitical rivalry. The British cabinet’s Defense and Overseas Policy Committee reasoned, “Although North Sea oil protects us from the direct consequences of oil price increases for the balance of payments, our economy is highly vulnerable to the effect of the world economy.” Its report recognized Arab oil producers’ desire to have the full support of the EC in the Arab-Israeli conflict as a means of pressuring the United States to resolve the longstanding crisis. Policy researchers suggested that British diplomats argue that only the West could produce a “solution to the Arab-Israel dispute and that Western governments and public opinion are more likely to be responsive to Arabs’ concerns if there is a demonstrably cooperative relationship, beneficial to both sides.” 16
The export of arms to the Middle East offered the United Kingdom two distinct advantages. First, arming oil producers offered an additional measure of oil security from potential terrorist organizations or Soviet subversion. Second, British arms provided a balance of payments bonus and supplied a new source of revenue for the United Kingdom as it struggled to offset its economic decline. By the end of the 1970s the defense industry accounted for nearly 5 percent of all British exports. 17 Longstanding conflict in the Middle East made the region one of the most profitable points of export for the arms industry. Advisory and support roles for exported military equipment increased the value of arms contracts—adding emphasis to healthy political relationships with market countries. Since 1964, British policy had made special note of the military balance between the Arab states and Israel and managed its arms exports with this equilibrium in mind. 18 However, [End Page 31] when US-Saudi relations began to deteriorate in 1977, London jumped at the opportunity to expand exports to one of the largest arms markets in the world. British arms companies successfully lobbied the Thatcher government to guarantee a favorable “political decision at the top.” 19 In 1977, the Royal Saudi Air Force inked a five-year contract with British Aerospace worth over $900 million and two thousand jobs. The provision and installation of military communications for the Saudi National Guard in 1978 brought in an additional $600 million. 20 The influence of oil-producing states and the Saudi arms market paid major dividends for the Arab cause during the June 1980 summit of European powers in Venice.
The Venice Declaration of 13 June 1980 capped European efforts to develop a unified policy for the Middle East. With a clearly outlined agenda that heavily favored Arab demands in the region, the EC intended to avoid another oil weapon offensive by OPEC an unwelcome opportunity for political disunion and economic disruption. Thatcher’s government endorsed the summit’s declaration that peace settlements “must apply to all parties concerned, and thus to the Palestinian people, and to the PLO, which will have to be associated with negotiations.” 21 Much of the European plan complemented US president Jimmy Carter’s efforts at Camp David, specifically that “the representatives of the Palestinian people should participate in the negotiations on the resolution of the Palestinian problem in all its aspects,” but it sought to expand peacekeeping efforts beyond the Egyptian-Israeli dialogue. 22
By late 1981, there were few signs of British policy slowing its advance toward European Political Cooperation in favor of matching policies with the Washington. Lord Carrington, the secretary of state for foreign and commonwealth affairs, announced, “The Community of Ten [EC including the United Kingdom] nowadays provides increasingly the context in which Britain frames its domestic and foreign policies.” The United Kingdom’s ascension to the presidency of the EC provided additional incentive to align European [End Page 32] policies while being seated at the head of the table. Those in Whitehall, along with others in the policy community, demonstrated an unrelenting shift toward Europe and a desire to create a new policy foothold in the Middle East in contrast to President Carter’s agenda. Eager to replace the ineffectual framework implemented at Camp David, Lord Carrington proclaimed, “The Camp David process was for various reasons in the doldrums and likely to remain so for some time.” Carrington continued to carve out a role for the Community of Ten, adding, “The European Community, whose economic interests are even more directly involved in the region than [those of] the United States, suggested some principles for progress.” 23
Emerging support for Europe’s new independent role in the Middle East extended beyond Conservative Party boundaries. The Labour Party had endorsed Israel for decades, but the actions of the Yom Kippur War provoked a wave of anti-Israeli sentiment in the party. Influenced by the leftward protests of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and the anti-apartheid movements, the early 1980s witnessed the development of Labour’s radical humanitarian approach to foreign policy. The Middle East proved no exception. The PLO extended invitations to labor unions in the United Kingdom to observe Palestinian conditions in the Middle East. The PLO’s outreach paid dividends as the unions embraced the Palestinian cause, relating to themes of oppression. Trade Union Friends of Palestine, established in 1980, provided an effective lobby framework for Palestinian causes in Whitehall. 24 Once the bastion of pro-Zionism, the Labour Party conference produced repeated calls for actions against Israel in favor of the PLO. At the 1967 conference, the party voted on thirty pro-Israeli motions, compared to five in support of Palestine. By 1982, motions supporting Israel completely dried up, while those in favor of Palestinian nationalism skyrocketed to twenty-five—with the composite motion in support of Palestine carrying over 52 percent of the vote. 25 However, the momentum behind pro-Arab advocacy sustained by the majority [End Page 33] of Labour voters, influential Conservative policymakers, and the EC found resistance in Thatcher. The prime minister’s view of the United Kingdom’s role in the Arab-Israeli conflict was complicated by her own ties to Israel, the United Kingdom’s economic position, its recent conflict in the Falklands, and her vehement anticommunist position.
Margaret Thatcher’s Diplomatic Motives
Thatcher had cultivated a pro-Israel reputation throughout her political career. 26 Her Finchley constituency included a substantial Jewish population, and she relished the endorsement of several influential Jewish organizations. 27 Former president of the Board of Deputies of British Jewry Vivian Wineman summed up Thatcher’s ties to the Jewish community: “When she entered Parliament, her relationship with local Jewish institutions blossomed and continued throughout her career.” 28 During her tenure in Parliament, Thatcher showed little interest in foreign relations. Her limited actions in the world of international diplomacy fell in line with her domestic loyalties to Jewish voters. Shortly after the Six-Day War in early June of 1967, Thatcher showed support for Israel, declaring at a rally for the Anglo-Israel Friendship League, “I believe that Israel should not withdraw from her new territories until she has her borders guaranteed.” 29 Thatcher sustained her sympathies for the Jewish state during the remainder of her time in Parliament. Perhaps the best encapsulation of her pro-Israeli stance is the image of her in full Israeli military attire, inspecting the Golan Heights from an observation post during her visit in 1976. 30 Reports from Tel Aviv confirmed Thatcher’s positive effect on Anglo-Israeli relations; the British Embassy cabled back to the FCO that her March 1976 visit was “by any criteria . . . a real success.” 31 [End Page 34] Warm relations among Thatcher, the British Jewish community, and Israel continued as she ascended to the office of prime minister. Upon victory in the general election, Thatcher received warm and intimate congratulations from Israel’s prime minister Menachem Begin: “I write to you in the knowledge of your friendship for Israel over many years, having stood by our people and country in difficult as well as in good times. It is my confident hope that this spirit of friendship will be sustained in the future.” 32
Thatcher’s pro-Israel credentials prior to her move to 10 Downing Street conflicted with the Cold War paradigm at the center of her government’s foreign policy. She quickly recognized that Israeli provocations in the Middle East might tilt Arab sympathies toward the Soviet Union. 33 Her meeting with Begin, two weeks after his congratulatory letter, confirmed her fears. She lamented Begin’s lack of “comprehension of the broader aspects of security and that there was no basis in which he could be persuaded to change his narrow concept of it,” adding later that it could “kill the whole process of the search for a comprehensive settlement in the Middle East.” 34 Thatcher hoped the United Kingdom’s efforts with the EC at Venice might induce Begin and his ruling Likud party to work more intensely toward peace. She wrote Begin, “This will be an opportunity to establish a constructive relationship between Israel and the nine, including Britain, and put any misunderstandings which have arisen behind us.” 35 Begin, aware of the impact British arms sales in the Middle East, crafted his disappointment in a diplomatic reply to Thatcher, but he questioned the UK refusal to provide Israel with military equipment. 36 Begin feared that European arms contracts to Arab states would undermine the perception of Israeli military superiority in the region. 37 The Israeli cabinet opted for a more bellicose posture entrenched in [End Page 35] ideological struggle. Israeli ministers publicly threatened that “nothing will remain from the Venice Resolution but its bitter memory” and continued with comparisons to Mein Kampf and Europe’s appeasement of Hitler.
In the two years between the Venice Declaration and the Israeli invasion of the Lebanon, the changing political environment in the Middle East complicated policy formulation in London. Under newly elected French president François Mitterrand and with the promise of a major arms contract with Saudi Arabia, France moved even closer to Arab peace demands in the region. 38 In June 1981, the Israeli airstrike on the Iraqi Osiris class nuclear reactor enflamed Arab-Israeli tensions. The breach of international law warranted Thatcher’s guarded condemnation. 39 With the assassination of Egyptian prime minister Anwar Sadat in early October, Western policymakers reassessed the plausibility of the Camp David Accords and the Venice Declaration. 40 Western leaders worried that the Saudi-sponsored Fahd Plan, which pressed Arab demands through eight points, might produce another violent outburst in the Arab-Israeli conflict. Thatcher desperately wrote Reagan concerning the increasing alienation of the Arab world from the West, in part due to the perceived one-sided support the United States lent Israel. 41 President Reagan produced a quick antidote and sponsored the sale of the Airborne Warning and Control Systems to Saudi Arabia. 42 Still, Washington remained inactive in pushing for a new approach to settling the Arab-Israeli conflict. Over late 1981 and early 1982, the FCO grew increasingly active in backing Arab demands and calling for increased pressure on the United States to reign in Israeli aggression. 43 Thatcher’s relationship with Reagan regarding the upgrade to the British nuclear deterrent and support for the British military operation in the Falklands left her reluctant to accept FCO recommendations. [End Page 36]
Disagreement over policy prescriptions in Whitehall fomented tensions between Thatcher and her advisors. Sir John Hoskyns, head of Thatcher’s policy unit from 1979 to 1982, wrote the prime minister in August of 1981, saying, “Your own credibility and prestige are draining away very fast,” and he warned her not to follow the same path of “another failed Tory prime minister, sitting with Heath.” Hoskyns added that Thatcher broke “every rule of good man-management.” 44 While Lord Carrington enjoyed a relaxed personal relationship with Thatcher during his time as foreign secretary, he did not respect her knowledge of international relations. 45 Carrington built substantial clout in the Conservative Party and earned the admiration of the international community. Thatcher’s relative inexperience in foreign affairs led to an uneasy reliance on Carrington’s FCO during the first two years of her government. 46 The two argued specifically over the Middle East and rapprochement with the PLO. In February 1981, Thatcher attacked Carrington, arguing that because of his “policy in the Middle East . . . I’ll lose my seat in Finchley,” before storming out of the room; Carrington responded, “And I’ll lose my temper!” 47 Their strained relationship fueled Carrington’s acerbic reference to the prime minister as a “fucking stupid, petit bourgeois woman.” 48 Carrington’s opposition to Thatcher’s position left him little room for error. The Argentinean invasion of the Falkland Islands in early April of 1982 forced his resignation. Carrington’s departure from the FCO granted Thatcher a temporary reprieve from rhetoric endorsing European Foreign Policy Cooperation over the strengthening of the special relationship with the United States. With a respite from Eurocentric foreign policy logic, Thatcher expanded her role in international diplomacy and restructured internal British foreign policy goals. Her increased oversight coincided with new tensions in the Anglo-Israeli relationship, which forced her to choose between a hard-line stance toward Israel or support for Washington’s moderate approach to Israeli aggression.
In May of 1982, reports of Israel’s arms contracts with Argentina following the outbreak of hostilities in the Falklands surfaced in London. The [End Page 37] accusations cast doubt on guarantees from Israeli foreign minister Yitzhak Shamir that the Jewish state would “stay out of the Falklands dispute and had concluded no arms deals since the crisis erupted.” 49 By 10 June, British suspicions triggered a government investigation into possible Israeli-Argentinean arms deals agreed to after the Falkland invasion. The final British intelligence summary concluded, “There is no doubt that the contract for this deal was signed after the invasion of the Falklands.” The investigation revealed that Israel laundered Mirage III aircraft and substantial amounts of ammunition through Brazilian back-channels. 50 Meanwhile, the 3 June 1982 attempted assassination in London of Israel’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, Shlomo Argov, by a rival organization of the PLO hastened Israel’s advance into Lebanon and hampered the Thatcher government’s ability to engage Begin’s government.
The Falklands War, in part, produced the conditions for Thatcher’s support of Reagan’s agenda in the Middle East. The United Kingdom expended significant diplomatic capital in gaining American support and securing UN condemnation of the Argentinean invasion. The logistical challenge put further strain on British resources. By the end of the British campaign, 51 warships, 54 civilian ships, 140 helicopters, and 9,000 men had made the 8,000 mile journey. 51 President Reagan recognized Thatcher’s tenuous domestic position, one already damaged by a sputtering economy. Washington feared British humiliation in the Falklands would result in Thatcher losing the premiership, leaving Reagan without his most familiar ally. The foreign policy goals of the Reagan administration fundamentally opposed those of Thatcher’s Labour rivals in the United Kingdom. The Conservative-run FCO also demonstrated its willingness to side with the European agenda over foreign policy cooperation with the United States. 52 British domestic politics motivated Reagan as he directed Secretary of State Alexander Haig to offer intelligence and logistical support while “giv[ing] Maggie enough to carry on.” 53 [End Page 38] On 30 April 1982, the United States abandoned its supposed neutrality and came out in support of the United Kingdom. The declaration bolstered international approval of Britain’s position, adding to the covert American intelligence and military equipment that supplied the British effort in the South Atlantic. 54 The role American support played in the British victory on 15 June 1982 compelled Thatcher to ignore Anglo-Israeli tensions and use British influence to limit the EC’s backing of the PLO. She further supported the Reagan agenda by rejecting the invitation of Arab leaders to claim a leadership role in the Middle East, while managing their resentment of US hegemony in the Middle East.
In mid-June, Thatcher wrote to Reagan. “Arab opinion is running violently against the United States,” she said, and she feared that “the Arabs, including some of our friends in the Arabian Peninsula, will look increasingly to the Soviet Union unless they see some move soon in their direction.” 55 Thatcher’s strategic-based appeals to Washington were based on pleas from moderate Arab leaders. President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, the most invested Arab leader in the delicate Arab-Israeli peace settlement, telegrammed London, writing that Operation Peace for Galilee “deals a devastating blow to the efforts we are exerting tirelessly in order to widen the scope of peace.” 56 King Hussein of Jordan begged London, “In the name of human decency . . . exert your immediate and maximum effort on behalf of your nation to bring to an end the unprecedented holocaust enacted on Lebanon’s soil.” 57 The king later argued, “Not only does this tragedy give rise to radicalism, but it also weakens nationalist moderate states.” He concluded, “The integrity of the US and her allies has been further discredited.” 58 Prince Saud of Saudi Arabia 59 and Habib Chatty, secretary-general of the Islamic Conference, echoed parallel sentiments in their direct petitions to Thatcher. 60 [End Page 39]
Backing the Reagan Agenda
The response from Washington inspired little hope for Anglo-American intervention in Lebanon in relief of the Palestinian/Arab cause. Britain’s ambassador in Washington, Nicholas Henderson, summarized American concerns of “the extent to which the Israelis have misled them at every stage of their Lebanese Operation.” Secretary of State Haig’s outsized hawkish influence contributed to Henderson’s assessment that the “pro-Israeli faction will have its way” in Washington. 61 Reagan’s reply to Thatcher indicated his interest in British support for the effort of his administration’s special envoy, Philip Habib, in brokering a cease-fire and larger peace settlement in the region. 62 With this indication, Thatcher moved her diplomatic support behind American efforts. However, her success still depended on the United Kingdom’s ability to craft an image of international credibility independent of American foreign policy prescriptions. In public, the Thatcher government upheld resolutions from the Community of Ten and the UN in order to appear as an unbiased arbiter in world affairs. 63
Resources and economic challenges certainly played a role in the United Kingdom’s initial refusal to intervene militarily in the Lebanon War. Nevertheless, Thatcher’s willingness to defend American goals in the Middle East over the plans of European and Arab allies determined the United Kingdom’s diplomatic behavior in the UN. The Venice Declaration echoed many of the principles laid out in UN Resolutions 242 and 338—guaranteeing the Palestinian people both the right to participate in the peace process and self-determination. 64 The United States openly condemned Operation Peace for Galilee, but Israeli authorities charged, “Based on trustworthy intelligence, Israel was confident that the United States would welcome a military operation in Lebanon if it struck at the base of Moscow’s allies—the Palestine Liberation Organization.” 65 Many others suspected Haig gave the green light [End Page 40] to the Israeli operation. 66 Conversations between US under secretary of state Lawrence Eagleburger and Ambassador Henderson revealed that Washington was “scathing about [French] efforts . . . to preserve the PLO.” 67 Putting US goals over EC objectives, Thatcher stymied efforts to oppose the unspoken American guarantee of Israeli operations and endorsed American negotiations for a cease-fire led by Habib.
The United Kingdom’s mission to the UN voiced concerns regarding French attempts to construct a policy foothold in the Middle East and guide international reconciliation of the Arab-Israeli conflict away from American hands. The United Kingdom’s permanent representative to the UN and later special advisor to Thatcher, Anthony Parsons, reported back to London that UN Security Council attempts to produce a cease-fire were derailed by “startling incompetent and arrogant French chairmanship.”After the French angrily accused the British mission of “concocting a maneuver with the Americans,” Parsons responded that he would “not contemplate putting anything to the vote which would be vetoed by an ally and partner.” Parsons’ overture to Washington produced a “long silence” and halted French momentum during the seventeen-hour-long Security Council consultations. 68
The obstructionist actions of the United Kingdom’s envoys to the UN in support of Reagan’s separate agenda were matched by Thatcher’s harsh rejection of PLO representatives. Thatcher’s initial refusals to meet with PLO representatives in search for a peace settlement were directly opposed to Article 7 of the Venice Declaration, which guaranteed a “just solution to be found to the Palestinian problem,” necessitating the involvement of the “Palestinian people, and the PLO, which will have to be associated with the negotiations.” 69 Thatcher forcefully rebuffed the FCO’s recommendations to engage in high-level diplomatic talks with the PLO. She reasoned that the “PLO will still continue their terrorist activities.” 70 The FCO’s supplementary attempts to use Thatcher’s friendship with Reagan as a counterweight to the close relationship between the United States and Israel found little traction, as she rejected multiple letter drafts to Reagan—adding that she “very much [End Page 41] doubts whether he [Reagan] would be prepared to make it plain publicly that an Israeli attack on Beirut would not have his support.” 71
Thatcher’s diplomatic prominence in Middle East conflict grew as Reagan’s State Department fractured from the top down. Like Carrington in Thatcher’s government, Haig endeavored to define Washington’s foreign policy during the first eighteen months of the Reagan presidency. 72 Throughout 1981–82, US unilateralism in world affairs damaged relations with Europe. 73 Haig’s feuds with senior aides and cabinet members, most notably Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger, produced policies at cross purposes coming out of Washington. 74 Following Reagan’s first international tour as president in June 1982, he looked increasingly to Thatcher to persuade European allies and Arab states of the benefits of the American agenda. Senior White House officials acknowledged the impact of the European tour on Reagan’s approach to foreign policy, noting “the President no longer felt dependent on Al Haig.” 75 As Reagan’s dependency on Haig diminished, the controversial secretary of state maneuvered to assume greater control of American foreign policy. First, Haig reversed the US support of UN resolutions concerning a cease-fire in the Falklands War without Reagan’s knowledge. The American flip-flop infuriated Thatcher and provoked Reagan into reassessing Haig’s position in the administration. 76 When Haig submitted a directive to the president to relinquish control in international affairs to the secretary of state, Reagan forced his resignation. George Schultz eventually assumed the office, but crucial negotiations took place within the EC and with Arab states during the three weeks between Haig’s resignation and Schultz’s 16 July 1982 appointment. In the absence of an American secretary of state, Thatcher stepped in to help win Arab favor of Reagan’s efforts in the Arab-Israeli peace process and direct the EC toward partnership with the US in the Middle East. [End Page 42]
On 3 July 1982 the British embassy in Washington summarized Habib’s delicate cease-fire breakthrough and US expectations of the United Kingdom moving forward. 77 With confidential knowledge of US plans and the support of the FCO, Thatcher agreed to high-level negotiations with the Arab League and PLO representatives. In talks with the Arab League, Thatcher directed the United Kingdom’s minister to Europe, Douglas Hurd, to sell Habib’s option for a cease-fire. The Arab League Delegation offered that the PLO was prepared to make a “dignified exit” but issued a call for the United Kingdom to “urge American pressure on Israel to disengage.” Hurd responded with qualified support of American aims, saying that the United Kingdom “agreed to the need for a durable cease-fire. What did the PLO regard as a dignified exit? UK Policy differed from the Americans’, but we considered Habib was genuinely trying to achieve a cease-fire and then a solution for Lebanon.” He further backed US over UN solutions, noting, “It was not realistic to replace the US with the UN secretary-general or anyone else. It would be wise for everyone to seek a dignified agreement through Habib. We sympathize with the French proposals, but doubted they could be a substitute.” The Thatcher government’s continued support of the Habib envoy and the Reagan administration’s designs in Lebanon helped create the international mandate for the multinational force that attempted to remove the PLO and Israel from Lebanon. Thatcher’s line with the Arab League Delegation paralleled Reagan and Habib’s efforts with Lebanese government, Israel, and the PLO. 78
Habib’s progress negotiating a cease-fire in early July stalled for over a month until Reagan issued an ultimatum to the Israeli cabinet on 12 August 1982. 79 British support of Washington’s agenda in the Middle East remained constant. The final constitution of the American led multinational force included contributions from France and Italy, while the United Kingdom supplied shipping for the evacuation of Beirut. 80 The initial absence of a British military contingent came not from lack of support for the Americans but from [End Page 43] a strain on resources in light of the recent campaign in the Falklands. 81 On the signing of the cease-fire agreement on 17 August 1982, Habib’s “almost unbelievable perseverance” received praise from officials in London. 82 In February 1983, the United Kingdom sent a military contingent, reiterating support for Reagan’s solution to the Lebanon crisis.
Conclusion
The spring and summer of 1982 witnessed a transformation in the relationship between Reagan and Thatcher. The Falklands War shocked the United Kingdom. The crisis weakened Thatcher’s rivals in the FCO and provided the opening for the prime minister to assume control of British foreign policy. Thatcher’s direction in foreign affairs realigned British foreign policy with the Reagan administration instead of cooperation with the EC. The 6 June Israeli invasion of Lebanon proved the beginning of the end for Haig’s rocky tenure as secretary of state. Following a visit to Europe, Reagan assumed greater responsibility for American foreign policy, forcing Haig to resign. With Reagan and Thatcher firmly in charge of their respective nations’ foreign policies, their response to the Arab-Israeli conflict became the first opportunity for the two to operate as diplomatic partners in seeking international approval for a solution in the Middle East. Thatcher successfully navigated British economic and energy concerns with American policies while restraining French-led European plans to find an alternative solution to Habib’s cease-fire negotiations. She further engaged Arab states to supplement Habib’s efforts. British support of Reagan’s agenda proved essential to producing the international mandate for a multinational force in Lebanon. Thatcher demonstrated to Reagan her willingness to trust his judgment and reconcile the United Kingdom’s interests with the geopolitical objectives of the United States. The increase in trust between the Reagan administration and the Thatcher government in world affairs laid the foundation for a more forceful geostrategic partnership during their remaining years in office. [End Page 44]
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Sweyn Forkbeard was the father of which 11th Century English monarch? | Learn and talk about Sweyn Forkbeard, 10th-century English monarchs, 11th-century English monarchs, Anglo-Norse monarchs, Burials at Roskilde Cathedral
Chalcedonian Christianity
Sweyn Forkbeard ( Old Norse : Sveinn Tjúguskegg; Danish : Svend Tveskæg; 960 – 3 February 1014) was king of Denmark , England , and parts of Norway . His name appears as Swegen in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle . [1] He was the son of King Harald Bluetooth of Denmark, and the father of Cnut the Great .
In the mid-980s, Sweyn revolted against his father and seized the throne. Harald was driven into exile and died shortly afterwards in November 986 or 987. [2] In 1000, with the allegiance of Trondejarl , Eric of Lade , Sweyn ruled most of Norway. In 1013, shortly before his death, he became the first Danish king of England after a long effort.
Contents
Biography[ edit ]
Family and early life[ edit ]
Many details about Sweyn's life are contested. Scholars disagree about the various, too often contradictory, accounts of his life given in sources from this era of history, such as the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Adam of Bremen's Deeds of the Bishops of Hamburg , and the Heimskringla , a 13th-century work by Icelandic author Snorri Sturluson . [3] Conflicting accounts of Sweyn's later life also appear in the Encomium Emmae Reginae , an 11th-century Latin encomium in honour of his son king Cnut's queen Emma of Normandy , along with Chronicon ex chronicis by Florence of Worcester , another 11th-century author.
The Dictionary of National Biography states that his mother's name is unknown, [2] but the Danish encyclopedia Den Store Danske identifies her as Tove from the Western Wendland. Den Store Danske identifies Sweyn's wife as Gunhild, widow of Erik, king of Sweden , [4] but the Dictionary of National Biography, while agreeing that she was Erik's widow, describes her as an unnamed sister of Boleslav, ruler of Poland . [2]
The Battle of Svolder. Painting by Otto Sinding (1842–1909).
The map shows the division of Norway after the Battle of Svolder according to Heimskringla . Eiríkr Hákonarson ruled the purple area as a fiefdom from Sweyn Forkbeard. The yellow area was under Sveinn Hákonarson , his half-brother, held as a fief of Olof Skötkonung , the Swedish king. The red area was under direct Danish control, with Sweyn's ruling it as a Danish extension.
Many negative accounts build on Adam of Bremen's writings; Adam is said to have watched Sweyn and Scandinavia in general with an "unsympathetic and intolerant eye", according to some scholars. [5] Adam accused Forkbeard of being a rebellious pagan who persecuted Christians, betrayed his father and expelled German bishops from Scania and Zealand . According to Adam, Sweyn was sent into exile by his father's German friends and deposed in favour of king Eric the Victorious of Sweden , whom Adam wrote ruled Denmark until his death in 994 or 995.
Historians generally have found problems with Adam's claims, such as that Sweyn was driven into exile in Scotland for a period as long as fourteen years. As many scholars point out, he built churches in Denmark throughout this period, such as Lund and Roskilde , while he led Danish raids against England. [6]
Invasions of England[ edit ]
The " Chronicle of John of Wallingford " (c. 1225–1250) records Sweyn's involvement in raids against England during 1002–1005, 1006–1007, and 1009–1012 to avenge the St. Brice's Day massacre of England's Danish inhabitants in November 1002. Sweyn was believed[ by whom? ] to have had a personal interest in the atrocities, with his sister Gunhilde and her husband possibly amongst the victims. [7]
Sweyn campaigned in Wessex and East Anglia in 1003–1004, but a famine forced him to return to Denmark in 1005. Further raids took place in 1006–1007, and in 1009–1012 Thorkell the Tall led a Viking invasion into England. Simon Keynes regards it as uncertain whether Sweyn supported these invasions, but "whatever the case, he was quick to exploit the disruption caused by the activities of Thorkell's army". [8]
Some scholars have argued that Sweyn's participation may have been prompted by his state of impoverishment after having been forced[ by whom? ] to pay a hefty ransom. He needed revenue from the raids. [6] He acquired massive sums of Danegeld through the raids. In 1013, he is reported to have personally led his forces in a full-scale invasion of England. [9]
The contemporary Peterborough Chronicle (also called the Laud Manuscript), one of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles , states:
before the month of August came king Sweyn with his fleet to Sandwich . He went very quickly about East Anglia into the Humber 's mouth, and so upward along the Trent till he came to Gainsborough . Earl Uchtred and all Northumbria quickly bowed to him, as did all the people of the Kingdom of Lindsey , then the people of the Five Boroughs . He was given hostages from each shire . When he understood that all the people had submitted to him, he bade that his force should be provisioned and horsed; he went south with the main part of the invasion force, while some of the invasion force, as well as the hostages, were with his son Cnut. After he came over Watling Street , they went to Oxford , and the town-dwellers soon bowed to him, and gave hostages. From there they went to Winchester , and the people did the same, then eastward to London . [10]
But the Londoners put up a strong resistance, because King Æthelred and Thorkell the Tall , a Viking leader who had defected to Æthelred, personally held their ground against him in London itself. Sweyn then went west to Bath , where the western thanes submitted to him and gave hostages. The Londoners then followed suit, fearing Sweyn's revenge if they resisted any longer. King Æthelred sent his sons Edward and Alfred to Normandy, and himself retreated to the Isle of Wight, and then followed them into exile. [10] On Christmas Day 1013 Sweyn was declared King of England.
Based in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire , Sweyn began to organise his vast new kingdom, but he died there on 3 February 1014, having ruled England for only five weeks. His embalmed body was returned to Denmark for burial in the church he had built himself. Tradition locates this church in Roskilde , [8] but it is more plausible that it was actually located in Lund in Scania (now part of Sweden). [11] Sweyn's elder son, Harald II , succeeded him as King of Denmark, but the Danish fleet in England proclaimed his younger son Cnut king. In England, the councillors had sent for Æthelred, who upon his return from exile in Normandy in the spring of 1014 managed to drive Cnut out of England. But Cnut returned and became King of England in 1016, eventually also ruling Denmark, Norway, parts of Sweden, Pomerania , and Schleswig .
Sweyn's son Cnut and Cnut's own sons Harold Harefoot and Harthacnut ruled England for 26 years. After Harthacnut's death, the English throne reverted to the House of Wessex in the person of King Edward the Confessor (reigned 1042–1066).
Sweyn's descendants through his daughter Estrid continue to reign in Denmark to this day. One of his descendants, Margaret of Denmark , married James III of Scotland in 1469, introducing Sweyn's bloodline into the Scottish royal house. After James VI of Scotland inherited the English throne in 1603, Sweyn's descendants became monarchs of England again.
The Church and currency[ edit ]
Coin of Sweyn Forkbeard.
On the northern edges of the relatively recent Holy Roman Empire , with its roots in Charlemagne 's conquests about two hundred years prior to Sweyn's time, Sweyn Forkbeard had coins made with an image in his likeness. The Latin inscription on the coins read, "ZVEN REX AD DENER", which translates as "Sven, king of the Danes". [12] [13]
Sweyn's father, Harald Bluetooth , was the first of the Scandinavian kings to accept Christianity officially, in the early or mid-960s. According to Adam of Bremen , an 11th-century historian, Harald's son Sweyn was baptised Otto, in tribute to the German king Otto I , [14] who was the first Holy Roman Emperor . Forkbeard is not known to have ever officially made use of this Christian name.
Religion[ edit ]
Sweyn and the Jomsvikings at the funeral ale of his father Harald Bluetooth
Adam of Bremen's writings about Sweyn and his father may have been influenced by Adam's desire to emphasise Sweyn's father Harald as a candidate for sainthood . He claimed that Sweyn, who was baptised along with his father, was a heathen . This may have been true, as much of Scandinavia was pagan at the time, but there is no data to corroborate the assertion. German and French records support that Harald Bluetooth was baptised.
According to Adam, Sweyn was punished by God for leading the uprising which led to king Harald's death, and had to spend "fourteen years" abroad – perhaps a Biblical reference from an ecclesiastical writer, as it refers to the symbolic number seven. Adam purports that Sweyn was shunned by all those with whom he sought refuge, but was finally allowed to live for a while in Scotland. Adam's intention appeared to be to show that Sweyn belonged with heathens and was not fit to rule a Christian country. According to Adam, Sweyn only achieved success as a ruler after accepting Christianity.
Sweyn was tolerant of paganism while favouring Christianity, at least politically. By allowing English ecclesiastical influence in his kingdom, he was spurning the Hamburg-Bremen archbishop. Since German bishops were an integral part of the secular state, Sweyn's preference for the English church may have been a political move. He sought to pre-empt any threat against his independence posed by the German kings. [15] Contrary to Adam's writings, Sweyn did not appear to have re-established paganism. There is no evidence of reversion to pagan burial practices during Sweyn's reign. [16] Whether King Sweyn was a heathen or not, he enlisted priests and bishops from England rather than from Hamburg . [15] This may have been another reason for Adam of Bremen's apparent hostility in his accounts. Numerous converted priests of a Danish origin from the Danelaw lived in England, while Sweyn had few connections to Germany or its priests.
Sweyn must have known that once the Archbishop of Hamburg-Bremen gained influence in Denmark, the German Emperor Otto II would not be far behind. His Slavic neighbours to the south-east had been all but annexed by Germany once Otto's father Otto I divided their lands into bishoprics and put them under the "care" of the Holy Roman Emperor . Sweyn may have envisaged the same happening to his own territory.
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| Cnut the Great |
In 1957, which US President announced a two-year suspension of nuclear testing? | Sweyn Forkbeard (Ethelred the Pious) | Alternative History | Fandom powered by Wikia
Sweyn Forkbeard (Ethelred the Pious)
41,199pages on
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Sweyn Forkbeard was and remains a powerful symbol of Scandinavia's transitional era at the turn of the Eleventh Century . Besides being King of Denmark, he became the unifier and first King of England, building upon its Saxon and Jórvikish foundations to create the medieval English state.
Sweyn was born in 960, the son of Harald Bluetooth, King of Denmark, and his Queen, Gunhild. Though a baptized Christian, Sweyn saw faith as a very fluid thing. He did not allow his newfound salvation to temper either his ruthlessness or his practice of the religion of his ancestors. He would readily turn to both Odin and Jesus when it suited his purpose. He could behave as a pagan among pagans and a Christian among Christians. He was an ally of the religious leaders of both faiths in his realms in Denmark, England, and Ireland.
Invasion of England
Sweyn became King in 986 after his father's death. Thanks to his father's conquests in the Bloodaxe War , Sweyn's realm included the Kingdom of Østangeln in England, ruled by King Erik of Dyflin as a vassalage. It also included the Jarldom of Orkney and the Isles to the north of Britain.
After securing his position as king with the usual round of wars and assassinations, Sweyn embarked on a campaign to expand his empire in 994. He sailed to his land in Østangeln with a large fleet. With the ships, he began attacking the eastern coasts of the kingdom of Jórvik.
In 995, Sweyn marched an army into the English Midlands. There were victories and setbacks, but word of Sweyn's ruthlessness spread throughout the country. When he campaigned in the south of England the following year, most of the Scandinavian nobility joined his side willingly. But the South was still a largely Anglo-Saxon region in which shire officials competed for influence with the Nordic feudal lords. Some of the villages sought to resist Sweyn and were virtually destroyed.
In 997, Sweyn's advance took him up along Jorvik's northeastern coast. Erik of Dyflin saw that Sweyn's conquest of the kingdom could spell the end of his own independence. He joined with Hrolf of Jorvik to fight against his erstwhile overlord. In 998, Sweyn defeated Hrolf and Erik and captured the city of Jórvik.
King of England
Sweyn's kingdom
Now a conqueror, Sweyn held court at the city, summoning all the jarls, shire-reeves, lawspeakers, high priests, and bishops of both Jorvik and Ostangeln. They universally elected him King in the traditional Scandinavian fashion. Thenceforth, England was governed as one kingdom with its capital at York.
Sweyn remained in England four more years, shoring up his gains and forging political alliances. In 999 he sailed in the Irish Sea to secure his western coasts. He also traveled to Dyflin to be crowned King of that city. He betrothed his son Cnut to Ingigerd, the daughter of his vanquished foe Hrolf - thus uniting the House of Gorm to the English Ragnarætten .
In 1000 Sweyn and his army secured the Welsh marches. In 1001 he journeyed to Alba to make a pact of friendship with the Scots. The Scots were delighted to have a Christian ruling to the south, but they were understandably nervous about the consolidation of England as a single power. For a hundred years the two English kingdoms had fought one another and largely left Alba alone.
Later life
Sweyn returned to Denmark in 1002. He had been in England for eight years. He was distressed but hardly surprised to find his kingdom in the hands of the Swedes. He summoned the Danish nobles and swiftly re-conquered the country.
Sweyn died in 1018. Cnut ascended to the throne of a great Danish Empire: he was King of Denmark, England, and Dyflin and Lord of Orkney and the Isles.
| i don't know |
Who won the 1990 Men’s Wimbledon Singles Championship? | The History Of The Championships, Wimbledon, Wimbledon History
How did it all begin?
The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club was founded in 1868 and is responsible for the world's leading tennis tournament. Lawn tennis, originally known as ‘Sphairistike, was invented by Major Walter Clopton Wingfield and was introduced at the Club in 1875. Two years later, the Club was renamed “The All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club” and the first ever Lawn Tennis Championship took place. A new code of laws was drawn up and most of these laws still stand today.
During this first Championship, only one event took place; the Men’s Singles, which was won by Spencer Gore. Around 200 spectators paid one shilling each to watch the final.
Just five years later, in 1882, the Club’s main activity became lawn tennis and so in 1884, the All England Club (by this point the word “croquet” had been dropped from their name) decided to add two further events; the Ladies' Singles and Gentlemen's Doubles (Ladies' Doubles and Mixed Doubles were added in 1913).
By the early 1900s the Club had outgrown its home in
Worple Road
,
Wimbledon
, where it had been since its formation. A lot had changed since the first ever Lawn Tennis Championship in 1877 (in which the final attracted 200 spectators) and the old grounds were no longer able to cope with the huge crowds who flocked to the event each year.
And so, in 1920, the decision to move was taken. A site was chosen just a mile or so from the
Worple Road
site – and the major undertaking of designing and constructing the new
Centre Court
began. Well known architect Captain Stanley Peach was commissioned to design the new
Centre Court
. To convince the Club’s Committee, he built a huge scale model of
Centre Court
. His original blueprints for the
Centre Court
still exist (discovered recently in a basement storage area of the offices of Stanley Peach & Co).
A driving force throughout the project was Commander George Hillyard, secretary of the Club since 1907 and once a men’s doubles finalist. Hillyard collaborated with Peach on the ambitious design and his mission for the Club was clear:
‘‘Let us look to it that we construct and equip our ground that it will immediately be recognised as the finest, not only in
England
Wimbledon
is acknowledged to be the World’s premier tennis tournament and a Long Term Plan was unveiled in 1993 by the All England Lawn Tennis Club, which will improve the quality of the event for spectators, players, officials and neighbours in years to come.
The first stage of the Plan was completed in time for the 1997 Championships and involved building the new No. 1 Court, a Broadcast Centre, two extra grass courts, and a tunnel under the hill to link
Church Road
Somerset Road
.
The second stage involved the removal of the old No. 1 Court complex in order to make way for the new Millennium Building to provide extensive facilities for the players, press, officials and Members, and also the extension of the West Stand of Centre Court, creating a further 728 seats.
The third stage is currently under way with the recent redevelopment of the turnstile area, the construction of the new
Museum
Building
at Gate 3, a permanent 2,600 sq ft Wimbledon Shop, Club offices and Ticket Office, an increase in
Centre Court
capacity from 13800 to 15000, and a new restaurant and bars.
Rain has frequently interrupted play at The Championships and so this year, for the first time, a new retractable roof will be in use on
Centre Court
. During The Championships, this roof is to be kept primarily closed in an attempt to protect play from inclement. 2009 also sees an increase in the court’s capacity to 15,000 and the installation of new, wider padded seating for the comfort of the spectators.
Wimbledon
Over the years,
Wimbledon
has developed many unique traditions, including: strawberries and cream , royal patronage, a strict dress code for competitors, and ball boys and girls. However, one not so popular tradition of the rain stopping play should hopefully be avoided in 2009, with the installation of a retractable roof on
Centre Court
. This will come as a relief after the 2008 Men’s Final lasted 7 hours, ending in darkness and making it the longest Men’s Final in history.
The British are very proud of the tournament and such unique traditions help emphasise this fact but something we are no doubt less proud of is the fact that the Singles event hasn’t actually been won by a British man since Fred Perry in 1936 or a British woman since Virginia Wade in 1977.
Previous
FRED PERRY 1934, 1935, 1936
Ever since becoming world table-tennis champion as a 20-year-old in 1929 Fred Perry, the son a Labour MP, had set his sights on becoming as dominant on the larger stage. He had been playing the game for only seven years when in 1934, aged 25, he won the first of his three consecutive singles titles at
Wimbledon
.
His 1934 victory was against Crawford, the holder, in three sets in the final. The following year, he mastered the German, Baron Gottfried von Cramm, in the final in three sets. In 1936, Perry beat Don Budge in the semi-finals and in the final (the last singles Perry played in the Championships) he again beat von Cramm in straight sets.
There never was a more effectively forceful British player. At
Wimbledon
he took three successive titles and won 21 consecutive singles. The record stood until Björn Borg, arrived on the scene in the 1970s and Perry was the first to congratulate him.
BJöRN BORG 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980
Never in the history of lawn tennis did any player accomplish so much and in so brief a time as the Swede, Björn Borg. He was more coolly dominating and ruthless at Wimbledon than any previous modern challenger, precociously successful in
Paris
and on clay courts, clinically efficient in the Davis Cup and entirely a sporting phenomenon. Only the
US
title was to escape his grasp: he lost in the final four times.
Having won the junior tournament at Wimbledon in 1972 aged 16, it was in 1976 at his fourth attempt that Borg wove the first major strands in his unique
Wimbledon
tapestry. He lost a set to no-one, his victims including Guillermo Vilas, the hard serving Roscoe Tanner in the semis and the touch genius Ilie Nastase in the final. It would not be until 1981 that he next lost at
Wimbledon
. The span was from 1st July 1975, when Ashe beat him in the quarter finals, to 4th July 1981 with McEnroe his victor in the final: 41 matches in a continuity of victory and five successive titles!
After the first Borg’s subsequent titles were more onerously gained. In 1977, he overcame the American Vitas Gerulaitis in a brilliant five set semi final. In the final he survived in a five-setter against Jimmy Connors. In 1978 Borg made an awkward
start in his opening match but proceeded dominantly to the final beating Connors again, this time quite easily. In 1979, the final also had the champion against the ropes, before Borg beat Tanner in five sets.
In 1980 Borg had his notable confrontation with McEnroe in the final. It was among the best ever played at that stage. Borg won the final set by 8-6 to be champion for the fifth time. In 1981, though McEnroe at last got his hands on the famous gold cup with a victory in four sets. For Borg it was virtually the end. Only 25, the years of intense effort had taken their toll. Later, in 1981, he suddenly retired from the mainstream.
Idolised by young spectators and awesomely admired by all, Borg’s legacy was immense. His example made the double fisted backhand and patience an orthodoxy.
His coolness under pressure, his speed about the court, his utter dependability from the back of the court through the use of heavy topspin, his fast reflexes on the volley, his formidable serve, his bloody-minded refusal to lose – all these attributes, honed to perfection by coach Lennart Bergelin – pointed the way forward. Björn Borg ranks as one of the giants of the game.
PAT CASH 1987
Born in Melbourne, Australia in 1965, Patrick Hart Cash first came into the tennis spotlight in the early 1980s, and in 1981, he was ranked the top junior tennis player in the world.
The following year, Cash won the junior titles at both Wimbledon and the US Open and the same year, he turned professional, going on to win his first top-level singles title in Melbourne. He soon established a reputation as a hard-fighting serve-and-volleyer and for wearing his trademark black-and-white checked headband and his cross earring.
In 1983, aged just 17, he became the youngest player ever to win a singles Davis Cup final and a year later he reached the men’s singles semi-finals at both Wimbledon and the US Open, losing to John McEnroe and Ivan Lendl respectively. He was also the runner-up in the Men’s Doubles competition at Wimbledon with McNamee and again the following year with Fitzgerald.
In 1986, Cash claimed a 3-2 victory over Swede, Mikael Pernfors, in the Davis Cup and just a year later came the crowning in moment of his career, his triumph at the 1987 Wimbledon Championship, beating World No.1, Ivan Lendl in straight sets. This victory made him one of only a handful of players to win junior Wimbledon and senior Wimbledon singles titles (others include Stefan Edberg and Roger Federer).
Pat Cash continued on the full-time circuit until his retirement in 1997, despite Achilles tendon, knee and back injuries. Since retiring, Cash now lives in London and has coached many top players, including Greg Rusedski and Mark Philippoussis. Also during his retirement, he has opened a number of tennis academies and for The 2009 Championships, Keith Prowse is delighted to offer the exclusive opportunity for our guests to play tennis with Pat Cash on the morning of their visit to The Championships at the Speakeasy venue ; thereafter, Pat will join guests to discuss the order of play, his thoughts on the current players and sign autographs.
ROGER FEDERER 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
The career of Roger Federer is still unfinished. By the close of 2008, still only 27, the Swiss superstar has already achieved tennis immortality. His total of 13 Grand Slam victories among the men is second only to Pete Sampras’s 14. By reaching the final of ten consecutive Grand Slam championships and winning
Wimbledon
and the US Open back-to-back four times in a row, he set records that may never be equalled.
Until overtaken by Rafael Nadal in August 2008, Federer had been ranked number l in the world for 237 consecutive weeks. There was early evidence that Roger had exceptional talent: in 1998 he won the junior singles and doubles titles at
Wimbledon
(only two others have done that). He also beat 17 times champion Pete Sampras in the fourth round at
Wimbledon
Two years later he joined Björn Borg, Pat Cash and Stefan Edberg as
Wimbledon
’s only junior champions who went on the win the men’s singles. His victories over Andy Roddick in the semi final and Mark Philippousis now placed him at the top of the game.
Between 2004 and 2007, the confidence factor lifted Federer to another level. His further
Wimbledon
final victims have been Andy Roddick (2004 and 2005) and Rafael Nadal (2006 and 2007). His five wins in a row equalled Björn Borg’s record in the 1980s and the Swede was present on
Centre Court
in the Royal Box to witness Federer’s feat in 2007. Even when his reign came to an end in 2008 at the
hands of an inspired Nadal, Federer produced a performance of heroic proportions as he came back from two sets down and saved two match points in the fourth-set tiebreak before going down 9 7 in the fifth set of a compelling battle full of glorious shot making.
Two months later, a fifth consecutive US Open triumph saved Federer’s year. A natural athlete, Federer’s speed of thought and movement, when allied to an abundant talent with the racket, give him options that others envy. Many consider that we have been witnessing the greatest striker of a tennis ball who ever lived. As with Sampras, however, there is one piece still missing; the French Open title on clay has eluded his grasp, losing three finals in a row to Rafael Nadal. Perhaps his two finest weapons are his serve and his forehand. Both are hit with easy grace; both are deadly. A strong right wrist allows him to apply fizzing topspin on the forehand when necessary to create sharp angles; it also produces heavy slice or topspin on the serve. Federer has reminded us all how beautiful this game can be.
British Tennis Players
As one of the four major tennis tournaments, and possibly the toughest,
Wimbledon
is the tournament that all players set out to win during their career. Winning a singles title at the Championships automatically assures that a player goes down in
Wimbledon
tennis history.
The first Wimbledon Men’s Singles champion was British player, Spencer Gore, who won the first title back in 1877 and for the next 40 years, British males dominated the title. This was probably due to that fact that it was predominantly British males who entered the Championships in its early years. However, between 1907 and 1912 this trend changed and Australian players, Norman Brookes and Arthur Wilding, kick-started the dominance of international male players. Since then, few British tennis players have earned the title Men’s Singles Champion.
Fred Perry was the last British Men’s Singles Champion, winning the title for the third and final time in 1936. This is something which has become a long-standing joke among the British media in the weeks preceding the Championship as over the years, many British players have tried and failed to win the title.
Virginia Wade was the last British tennis player to win
Wimbledon
, winning the Ladies Singles title in the tournament’s centenary year. Throughout her long and successful career she won three Grand Slam singles titles and four Grand Slam doubles titles but winning
Wimbledon
in 1977 was the pinnacle of her career
Since Wade, no British play has won the Championships but perhaps the player who has come closest to claiming the title in recent years is Tim Henman. Henman appeared in four semi finals of
Wimbledon
; however, he never managed to get into a final.
Andy Murray is currently ranked the highest British player. In 2006,
Murray
reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time and last year he was knocked out at the quarter finals stage by eventual champion, Rafael Nadal. Could he become
Britain
’s next Wimbledon Champion in 2009?
When Does The
Tournament Take Place
?
Every year, the tournament begins on the Monday which falls between 20 and 26 June and is scheduled to last 14 days. Traditionally, there is no play on the “Middle Sunday” as this is considered to be a rest day. This tradition has only been broken three times in the history of the Championships; in 1991, 1997 and 2004, when rain forced play.
The Grounds
All of the nineteen courts which are used for Wimbledon are made of rye grass and the two main courts, Centre Court and No. 1 Court, are usually only used for the two weeks of the Championships (although under exceptional circumstances, play can be extended into a third week). The other seventeen courts are used throughout the year for other events. Today,
Wimbledon
is the only Grand Slam event still played on grass courts.
opened in 1922 when the Club moved from
Worple Road
to
Church Road
. It usually plays host to both the semi-finals and the finals of each of the main events, as well as many of the earlier matches. At the south end of the court is the Royal Box from which members of the Royal Family and other dignitaries are able to watch.
No.1 Court
The second most important court is No. 1 Court. The current court was built in 1997 with an increased capacity of 11,000
Ball boys and ball girls
Each year, ball boys and girls play an essential role in the smooth running of The Championships and since 1969 have been provided by local schools, having an average age of 15. Prospective candidates are nominated by their headteacher and must undergo and series of written and fitness tests before being selected
Wimbledon
Dark green and purple are the traditional colours of
Wimbledon
. Until 2005, Green clothing was worn by the chair umpire, linesmen, ball boys and ball girls but in 2006 a new navy blue and cream uniform designed by Ralph Lauren was introduced.
Trophies
The Men’s Singles champion receives a silver gilt cup. This trophy has been awarded since 1887 and bears the inscription: "The All England Lawn Tennis Club Single Handed Champion of the World." The Ladies' Singles champion receives a sterling silver salver commonly known as the "Venus Rosewater Dish". The salver is decorated with figures from mythology. Winners of the Men's Doubles, Ladies' Doubles, and Mixed Doubles events receive silver cups. The runner-up in each event receives an inscribed silver plate. The trophies are usually presented by the President of the All England Club, The Duke of Kent, and by his sister, Princess Alexandra, the Honourable Lady Ogilvy.
Hospitality at
| Stefan Edberg |
Which former British politician died on 8th April 2013 aged 87? | Wimbledon Champions: Men's top 25 - Telegraph
Wimbledon Champions: Men's top 25
9:41AM BST 28 Jun 2008
Former champion Bjorn Borg reveals his top 25 men while Mark Hodgkinson and Kaz Mochlinski profile the players.
Andre Agassi
1992
In his early, tennis-punk years, Andre Agassi skipped three Wimbledons, arguing that grass wasn't for him and also expressing some annoyance that the All England Club officials wouldn't allow him to wear his multi-coloured clothing. However, the showman from Nevada returned to Wimbledon in 1991, and with much speculation about whether he would stick to the Wimbledon white ruling, he teased the officials. Standing on court before his first match, he peeled off his tracksuit to reveal a white shirt, white shorts, white socks and white shoes. The white knight reached the quarter-finals and the following year went all the way, beating Goran Ivanisevic in the final to win his first grand slam title. At the moment of victory, the American flung himself back on to the grass – the surface he had once professed to loathe. And so began the metamorphosis of Agassi.
Borg on Agassi
Andre had such a big personality. That was a great thing for tennis as kids all over the world wanted to be just like him. They also wanted to look like him as he had his own special style with those cycling shorts. Andre had a great heart, you could see that on the court. The best part of his game was his service return and that was the shot that was key to him winning the Wimbledon title. Andre was loved all over the world and it was a big story when he won Wimbledon
Arthur Ashe
1975
Growing up in the American South, the black-skinned Arthur Ashe was subjected to years of racial abuse and was denied entry to clubs and competitions. But Ashe countered the racists with a Gandhi-like dignity. That same quiet composure and intelligence helped him to defeat one of the loud men of tennis, Jimmy Connors, in the 1975 Wimbledon final. Never mind that Connors was staring Ashe down during the changeovers. Ashe, pictured with the Wimbledon trophy after his victory, had devised a cute tactical plan on a napkin the night before and took most of the pace off his shots to give Connors nothing to play with. Ashe, the only black male to have won the Wimbledon title, was given an infected blood transfusion after an operation in the early Eighties and died of AIDS-related complications in 1993. One of the real good guys of men's tennis.
Borg on Ashe
When Arthur became the Wimbledon champion, that was an important moment in the sport's history as it showed that anyone can win tournaments. He did a lot of work outside tennis; he was a great champion. One of my regrets is that I never sat down with Arthur and had a deep conversation about the problems that he went through when he was growing up and starting out with his tennis. I was never that close to Arthur so I never had the chance to do that. But there is no doubt that he was an inspiring champion and an inspiring man.
Boris Becker
1985-86 &1989
Becker was an unseeded 17-year-old when he won the 1985 Championships, beating Kevin Curren in the final. This victory made Becker, pictured leaving Centre Court after the match, the youngest ever male winner, the first unseeded champion and the first German winner, and he became an overnight international sporting superstar. However, just to prove that his breakthrough victory had not been a fluke, Becker came back the next summer and successfully defended his golden Challenge Cup, with a win over Ivan Lendl. Still, he wasn't able to achieve a hat-trick of Wimbledon titles as he lost in the second round of the 1987 tournament. But the 19-year-old put the result into proper perspective: "No one died." Becker, with his 'Boom Boom' serve, won a third time by beating Stefan Edberg in the 1989 final – revenge after losing to the Swede in the previous year's final.
Borg on Becker
It was a phenomenal achievement for Becker to win Wimbledon when he was 17. He was so young but he played tennis with such power and had a phenomenal serve. He is a great champion and I always enjoyed watching all his matches. He came back the next year, at 18, to defend his title and that showed that it wasn't a fluke to have won when so young.
Jean Borotra
1924 & 1926
Jean Borotra, the Bounding Basque, was a ladies' man and often liked to chase down a wide shot as that would allow him to run into the crowd and sit himself down on a friendly lap. The Frenchman, one of the 'Four Musketeers' who dominated tennis in the late 1920s and early 1930s, also used to fling his trademark black beret at any mademoiselles who had caught his attention in the Wimbledon crowds. However, despite his lust for life and for women, Borotra could also play a mean game of tennis. He had an athletic style, bouncing and bounding across the turf, and he was the Wimbledon champion in 1924 and again two years later. He lost to his compatriots in three other finals – to René Lacoste in 1925, and Henri Cochet in 1927 and 1929.
Don Budge
1937-38
The American Don Budge was from the old school, playing in long, white flannel trousers and shoes that had been meticulously whitened. Budge also used an extremely heavy wooden racket and opted against using leather grips because he preferred bare wood. At the 1937 final he heard his opponent, Germany's Gottfried Von Cramm, take a telephone call from Adolf Hitler before they walked on court. Hitler told Cramm that he had to win for the Fatherland. "All we heard was him saying, 'Ja, mein Fuhrer'," Budge said. "Gottfried came out pale and serious and played every point as if his life depended on it." Budge beat his petrified opponent and then retained his title the following year by defeating Britain's Bunny Austin in the final.
Pat Cash
1987
The Australian Pat Cash may only have won one grand slam title, but it proved to be unforgettable. Not only was his serve-and-volley tennis magnificent, but he marked his 1987 Wimbledon success by climbing up through the Centre Court stands over the heads of spectators to the players' guests box to share his moment of glory with coach Ian Barclay and his father. Having shown great promise by lifting the Wimbledon boys' singles and doubles in 1982, Cash fulfilled all those expectations five years later by beating three world number ones in consecutive rounds: Mats Wilander in the quarter-finals, Jimmy Connors in the semi-finals and Ivan Lendl in the final, all without dropping a set. Injuries resulting from his all-action game meant he was never able to reach such heights again.
Jimmy Connors
1974 & 1982
His nickname of 'Jimbo' created the misleading impression that Jimmy Connors was friendly on court; in fact, he famously remarked that "some people don't seem to understand that it's damn war out there". The American was the master of changeover trash-talking and staring down his opponents – anything that might intimidate his rival. He was a street-fighter of a tennis player and wouldn't give up on a single point. He growled and grappled his way to two Wimbledon crowns – beating the Australian veteran Ken Rosewall in a one-sided final in 1974, and in 1982, pictured above, his fierce rival, John McEnroe.
Borg on Connors
He was the player who would never give up – he fought for every shot and every ball. He was also very consistent at Wimbledon, was always there at the business-end of tournaments.
Reggie Doherty
1897-1900
Although he won the Wimbledon men's singles one less time than his brother, Laurie, it is Reggie who is considered by many experts as the greatest British player ever. He was the champion from 1897 to 1900 and the runner-up in 1901, and it was only after he withdrew from playing in the singles at the Championships that his brother got his own first title. And Reggie did it despite unconventionally holding his racket the same way for both forehands and backhands. He further handicapped himself by playing in long-sleeved shirts with the cuffs unbuttoned. But each year he secured the singles crown, he also took the doubles with Laurie, eventually gaining a total of eight titles in the latter event, which is still a Wimbledon record for a men's doubles pair. He teamed up with his brother to win gold in the doubles at the Paris Olympics in 1900; an extra footnote was his victory in the first Olympic mixed-doubles final in 1900, partnering Charlotte Cooper. Like his brother Laurie, he suffered ill health while still young and died, aged only 38, in 1910.
Laurie Doherty
1902-1906
THE younger of the two Doherty brothers was the last Wimbledonian to win the men's singles at the All England Club. Along with his sibling, Reggie, he was born in the centre of Wimbledon in a house in Hartfield Road, just across the London & South Western Railway line from the old tournament venue in Worple Road. After finishing as the runner-up to his brother in 1898, he dominated the event – winning for five years from 1902 to 1906. His record as the winner of the most Wimbledon titles on the men's side, with a total of 13 in singles and doubles – when he was paired with his brother – remains to this day. In 1903 he became the first overseas man to succeed in the US Championships, the forerunner of the US???Open. In the same year he was part of the first British Isles team to win the Davis Cup, an event in which he never lost a match during the five years he played. Doherty also collected two Olympic gold medals – in the singles and doubles, with Reggie, at the Paris Games of 1900. Little wonder that The Times considered an obituary to be insufficient for him and marked his premature passing, in 1919 at the age of 43, with a leader article.
Stefan Edberg
1988 & 1990
While the Swede Stefan Edberg played an attacking serve-and-volley game that often fried the nerves of his supporters, he was an emotional flat-liner during matches, an implacable figure on Centre Court, one cool cat. Edberg rarely ever got more heated than a winter's day in downtown Stockholm. The risky tennis and the steadfast temperament took him to three successive Wimbledon finals against Germany's Boris Becker and two titles in 1988 and 1990. Britain's Tim Henman greatly admired his play. Edberg now makes his money through property and investments. Borg on Edberg I watched his three finals against Becker and enjoyed the rivalry they had. He was a very aggressive player with his serve-and-volley style of play and that is a type of tennis I really like to watch.
Henri Cochet
1927 & 1929
Such was Henri Cochet's languid manner and the unhurried way he moved on court that contemporary reports talked of Cochet dreaming he was playing on Centre Court before waking up to find he actually was. The Frenchman's lack of alacrity in coming to the net resulted in him having to become a master of the half-volley. It was to prove a key to him winning Wimbledon in 1927 and 1929. His first success remains one of the most extraordinary of any at the All England Club, as he managed to come back from two sets down in each of his quarter-final, semi-final and final matches, even saving six match points before winning the title contest against the defending champion, Jean Borotra. His game may have been unorthodox, but his disinterested appearance just masked his remarkable competitiveness.
Roy Emerson
1964-65
Growing up as the son of a dairy farmer in Black Butt in Queensland helped Roy Emerson's tennis – milking all those cows as a boy had helped him to develop the muscles needed for his time on court. 'Emmo' was a popular, friendly presence on the tennis circuit; he even shared a London flat with the fellow Australian he beat in the 1964 and 1965 Wimbledon finals – Fred Stolle. "On the day of the finals, I made sure that I cooked Fred breakfast," he recalled.
Roger Federer
2003-2007
THE golden stretch began in the summer of 2003 when Switzerland's world No 1 scored his first grand slam title on Centre Court by beating Australia's Mark Philippoussis. Four more golden Challenge Cups followed, with two wins against America's Andy Roddick and then two against Rafael Nadal; the second against the Spaniard, over five sets last summer, meant that he had equalled Bjorn Borg's record of five titles in succession. Borg was there to see him achieve it last July, watching it all from the front row of the Royal Box. There were tears from Federer. Afterwards, Federer and Borg met for what was described as "a Swedish hug". Borg on Federer I see a lot of myself in Roger as we're very similar on the court. He doesn't tend to show his emotions either, he doesn't let it all out. He keeps his cool. Of course, he has feelings and emotions just like every other human being, it's just that he doesn't like to show them in the stadium. But maybe he lets his emotions out to someone after he has left the stadium. I know that he cares a lot about it and after the match he's a very cool guy. Roger is such a special guy. On a grass court Roger has no weaknesses at all.
Lew Hoad
1956-57
One of the most laid-back characters to have won Wimbledon, it often seemed as though the Australian was as happy drinking cold beers with his mates as he was winning on Centre Court. Hoad, born in Sydney, had developed great strength by training as a boxer in his younger years and that muscularity often allowed him to squelch opponents. He won his first Wimbledon trophy in 1956 and successfully defended his golden pot a year later. If he had been a bit more serious-minded, if he had swapped the smiles for snarls, how many more Wimbledon titles could he have won?
Goran Ivanisevic
2001
It was Dipsy, Laa-Laa, Po and Tinky-Winky what won it for Goran Ivanisevic. The Croat is the only Wimbledon champion to have been inspired by watching tapes of Teletubbies, the children's television programme known for its gibberish and brightly-coloured silliness (well, the only one that we know of). Ivanisevic also proudly spoke of his Split personalities – Bad Goran, Good Goran and Emergency Goran. He ate the same meal at the same restaurant every night during the 2001 Championships, so, never mind his service action, how did his digestive system hold up for a fortnight? Ivanisevic, a semi-final conqueror of Britain's Tim Henman, beat Pat Rafter on a People's Monday, a day that highlighted all that is great about tennis. An anarchic, complicated, charismatic, brilliant champion.
Borg on Ivanisevic
I was so pleased for Ivanisevic when he finally won a Wimbledon title as I really felt as though he deserved it. His style of play was ideally suited to the grass and it was just a surprise that he only won one championship. That summer I think everyone was surprised that he came through the draw to lift the title. I think he was even surprised himself that he had done it.
Rene Lacoste
1925 & 1928
His name remains very prominent thanks to the incredible, continuing popularity of his tennis shirts. But Rene Lacoste would feel just as much at home on court in the modern era, where winning from the baseline on grass has again taken over from serve and volleying. Yet in 1928, when the Frenchman secured his second title following on from his 1925 triumph, it was to be the last time for half a century that Wimbledon was won from the back of the court, until Bjorn Borg's emergence. Physically very fragile, Lacoste made up for his weakness by an intimate knowledge of his opponents' strengths, keeping detailed notebooks on the other leading players of the day and using the information to tactically out-think them. He was known for playing in an unfashionable cream flat cap, but such was the success of his clothing line that Britain's Fred Perry copied the idea as a source of income in his retirement.
Rod Laver
1961-62 & 1968-69
The Australian was such a gifted striker of the ball that it was said that he probably could have put down his racket, gone into the kitchen to fetch a frying pan, and still have come back and slammed aces. Rod Laver, who had none of the pretence and bombast of some other, lesser players, put himself down as a 5ft 8in "runt". But others called him either the Rockhampton Rocket, after his home town Down Under, or simply, 'The Greatest'. Laver won four Wimbledon titles and could have had double that number. He was a class act and is Roger Federer's hero. He handed Federer the Australian Open trophy one year, and the Swiss player burst into tears.
Borg on Laver
When I was growing up Laver was my idol. I loved to watch his matches on television. Laver could do almost anything with a tennis ball – he was so talented and had so many shots at his disposal. He was great to watch and when I started on the tour I told everyone that he was my hero. It was such a thrill then when I had the chance to play him and was able to look across the net and see my idol. I played against him a few times but that was when he was coming towards the end of his career, so I didn't play him when he was at his best.
John McEnroe
1981, 1983-84
The casual tennis fan knows all about the New Yorker's "You cannot be serious" tantrums on Centre Court. John McEnroe probably did more than anyone to raise the standard of the officiating at the All England Club. Yet McEnroe was much more than just an excitable presence with his wild, curly hair erupting over the top of a flaming red headband; he was also a fabulous, fantastic tennis player, who won three Wimbledon titles. McEnroe lost the drama-filled 1980 final to Bjorn Borg, but the next year he came back and prevented the 'Ice Man' from winning six trophies in a row. In 1983 he beat New Zealand's Chris Lewis for the loss of just six games, and the year after that he dropped even fewer games for a 6-1, 6-1, 6-2 demolition of fellow American Jimmy Connors. But his greatest rivalry was with Borg; the 'Hot-head' and the Ice Man had the greatest respect for each other.
Borg on McEnroe
John and I had great respect for each other on and off the court. John was famous for his temper and for his outbursts, but I believe that he never got too worked up when he played against me. I think that was because he thought he had to be totally focused on the tennis when he faced me. There were never any problems between John and I on the court. We had some great matches and a great rivalry – we brought out some of the best tennis in each other.
John Newcombe
1967, 1970-71
The Australian was as likely to be found relaxing in the bar of the tournament hotel as on the practice courts. Yet his powerful serve-and-volley game was good enough to equal Rod Laver's feat of claiming Wimbledon titles in both the amateur and open eras. He won three times, in 1967, 1970 and 1971, but was denied a chance of three in a row after
Fred Perry
1934-36
It may be hard to believe, but there was a time when Fred Perry wasn't a statue in the grounds of the All England Club and was actually flesh and blood. Perry, from a working-class Stockport background, won three successive titles, from 1934-36, but he never endeared himself to some of the All England Club hierarchy. His name is still on the tip of everyone's tongue on the British tennis scene, as no British man has won Wimbledon since him, and Andy Murray has an endorsement deal with Fred Perry Clothing.
William Renshaw
1881-86 & 1889
There are not many sportsmen who can claim to have had a train station built because of them, but that was just part of Renshaw's achievement while winning Wimbledon seven times. Such was the rapid increase in the Championships' popularity during his reign as champion that the London & South Western Railway had to put in a special stop beside the old All England Club grounds in Worple Road, to which special excursions were then run. His pioneering of the smash led to it being known for years as the 'Renshaw smash'.
Pete Sampras
1993-95, 1997-2000
The American's game was built for the grass courts of south-west London and it brought him seven titles in all. Sampras won three trophies in a row from 1993-95 and then went on a streak of four trophies from 1997-2000. In beating Andre Agassi in the 1999 final he played tennis that was pretty close to perfection. But Sampras was denied a successive fifth title, which would have allowed him to equal Bjorn Borg's record, when he was beaten in the fourth round of the 2001 tournament by a certain Roger Federer. Borg made a light-hearted phone-call to Federer after that to thank him for keeping his record intact. The one true pity for Sampras was that he doesn't exactly have warm, gooey memories from his last appearance at the All England Club. That came in 2002 when, playing on the 'Graveyard of Champions' Court Two, he was beaten in the second round by a journeyman from Switzerland, George Bastl.
Borg on Sampras
His record at Wimbledon, with his seven titles, tells you everything you need to know. I think he always looked totally comfortable on grass and he was a player I used to enjoy watching.
Manuel Santana
1966
"Grass is for cows," Manuel Santana famously said, but that was before he won his Wimbledon title in the summer of 1966 by beating American Dennis Ralston. Santana was the first Spanish man to lift one of those golden Challenge Cups on Centre Court and he even managed to convert General Franco to lawn tennis. Previously, Franco had viewed tennis as a game for the rich, but suddenly he wanted to meet the player after his triumph. So Santana proved that grass isn't just for cows, but also for particular fascist dictators. All with a smile on his face. No Spanish man has won Wimbledon since.
Stan Smith
1972
The American Stan Smith may have won only once at the All England Club, but it was memorable enough for him to fully deserve a place in the pantheon of tennis greats. His 1972 success was one of Wimbledon's greatest finals, a five-set classic with him claiming the final set 7-5 to deny Romania's Ilie Nastase his best chance of winning the title. Smith's unfailing calmness and impeccable good manners earned him the nickname 'Gentleman Stan', which belied the aggressive play emanating from his 6ft 4in build.
Bill Tilden
1920-21 & 1930
During the 1920s and 1930s, there was no bigger star in tennis than Bill Tilden. He knew that, too. He was a triple champion at the All England Club, scoring his first title in 1920, defending it a year later and winning a third in 1930. But he is remembered as much for his colourful private life. The American was twice imprisoned after gay sex scandals and also ran with the outrageous Hollywood set. When he died, aged 60, in 1953, having been abandoned by tennis and most of his friends, he was alone in a motel room with less than $100 to his name.
| i don't know |
The English resort of Blackpool lies on which body of water? | Blackpool | Ron McMillan
Ron McMillan
Be careful what you wish for…
From The Gazette newspaper, Blackpool, England, 1899:
“If the front land is covered with howling cheap-jacks, swindling catchpenny trickeries, etc. while the shops behind are let for giantesses, fat women, penny-in-the-slot indecencies, etc. then what a disreputable pandemonium will Central Beach eventually become!”
A hundred-and-five years later, I’m in the century-old Yates’s Wine Lodge, mere metres from the very same Central Beach.
The pub is heaving and drink flows down the necks of a good-natured crowd just as fast as overworked staff can pour it. Tonight’s draw is Lionel Vinyl, a one-of-a-kind combination DJ/stand-up comic whose act pays tongue in cheek homage to the 1970s. He sports a trademark frizzy afro wig, and a fluorescent orange, one-piece polyester body suit. His phoney American DJ-speak, peppered with profanity and barbed observation, sends waves of bawdy laughter through the young, juiced-up audience.
Then, the moment. Lionel cranks up a song, ‘It’s Raining Men’ — the earthy original by the Weather Girls — and as the chorus breaks, the door from the street swings wide. Heads turn, and in walk two men wearing nothing but baby diapers. The audience roars a welcome, and the two oversized infants interrupt their beelines for the bar to flutter regal waves. Just another groom-to-be and his Best Man, out on the Stag Night raz in Blackpool by the sea.
They may not exactly constitute penny-in-slot indecencies or giantesses, and I’ve only been in town for a day or so, but already the episode sums up the enduring appeal of the Northern escape hatch that is Blackpool. Blackpool is raunchy, it is leery, it is risqué, it is close to the bone. But, above all, it is fun. The 1899 leader writer of the Gazette, if he could see Blackpool now, might not be too surprised.
The English, and the Scots and others besides, have been letting their hair down in Blackpool for a very long time. Long enough that the hedonism of today’s Blackpool visitor has roots going back centuries.
In the mid-1700s, the Northern England labour force that powered the Industrial Revolution sought out Lancashire’s Ffylde coast to partake of the bracing, clear air, the restorative waters and the broad flat beaches. As Northern industries expanded and workforces grew, so too did the need for escape from the workzone.
After the first road across the marshy coastal plain from industrial Preston opened in 1781, Blackpool’s popularity blossomed year after year, until the summer of 1828 brought about a tourist surfeit of quite biblical proportions. And so it came to pass that a heaving multitude slept in barns and stables. The arrival of the railway in 1846 put Blackpool squarely on the tourist map, and nearly 160 years later, the town remains one of the most popular recreational magnets in the entire U.K., attracting over eleven million adult visits a year.
With its entertainment roots set firmly for three centuries in the needs and expectations of Britain’s working classes, perhaps it should come as no surprise that, at the beginning of the third millennium, the town continues to cater so clearly for the working-class demographic. Fun, in a place like Blackpool, has a very real edge to it.
‘Kiss Me Quick’ hats, like the old cartoon postcards of busty damsels in various states of undress, always summed up the innocent naughtiness of the English seaside resort. At Blackpool’s Funny Girls, just along the waterfront from Lionel Vinyl’s show, the fun is as ribald as any postcard, and the busts every bit as phoney. But then again, Funny Girls is the most successful transvestite showbar in the country.
If you want to book a table at Funny Girls, don’t even think about getting one in the next six months. Which leaves the rest of us in the line for the standing-only bar area, a line that can number six hundred hopefuls at weekends. The showbar is open 364 days a year, and is always jammed.
The attraction here is the same old raunchy Blackpool, but with a twist. This is transvestite entertainment for the enjoyment of an audience aged from nineteen to ninety — straight, gay, or whatever.
A busty transsexual takes your money at the door. Statuesque, revealingly-clad transvestites serve drinks at the bars and deliver them to tables. And a cast of first-rate transvestite dancers, headed by Betty ‘Legs’ Diamond, break up the night with regular bouts of slick, high-production-value mimed song and dance routines on the showbar’s stage.
All of which is overseen by the hostess DJ, Zoe, another transvestite, one blessed with a store of wicked one-liners and an impressive, surgically-enhanced cleavage that she shows off at every opportunity. Like when she emerges for the dance finale, encased in a body-hugging, low-cut dress:
“I know what you’re thinking,” she says, “‘That dress would look good on my bedroom floor’.”
Earlier in the day, the Blackpool Tower Ballroom gives a very different insight to the resort’s long-running popularity. A spotlight bouncing off an old-fashioned ball of mirrors sends hundreds of lighted squares clambering over decor of the most monumental tackiness. If Liberace had a ballroom, it would surely have looked like this. Fake palm trees. Crystal chandeliers. Preposterous rococo flourishes. And banks of 1930s wood-and-velvet cinema seats clinging to twin balconies that reach towards a spaghetti disaster ceiling of curlicues and gilt.
Above the stage, in tall letters, an inscription reads:
“Bid Me Discourse, I Will Enchant Thine Ear.”
Later, much later, I look it up. It’s Shakespeare, from a poem called ‘Venus and Adonis’. And no, I still can’t work out what the heck it is doing in the Tower Ballroom.
Music is courtesy of a man in a white suit, who gently teases the keyboard of a Wurlitzer organ that earlier rose through a stage trapdoor — as it has done every afternoon for decades.
The cavernous hall mocks a tiny sprinkling of ageing ballroom dancers who exude genuine relish as they partake of the daily Tower Ballroom Afternoon Tea Dance. I watch one elderly lady in a luxuriant red dress limp painfully from table to floor, helped every step of the way by her partner. Then, when they assume the heads up in-your-face forced gentility of ballroom dancing professionals — they set off around the floor in seamless, flowing moves. The agonising disability of moments before is gone.
The Tower was the brainchild of a Blackpool businessman who came back from the Great Paris Exhibition of 1889 convinced that what his home town needed was a smaller version of the Eiffel Tower. Inside five years it was built, and more than a century later, it continues to dominate the promenade’s skyline, 160 metres of metallic sculpture that remains one of the town’s biggest attractions. Visit Blackpool and not go up the Tower? You must be joking.
The view from the top must be impressive if you’ve never been up the lift in a modern office building. Visitors tread gingerly around the perspex-floored ‘Walk of Faith’, and the building at the tower’s base is jammed with indoors activity that is immune to whatever the unpredictable climate can throw at it. The ballroom competes with childrens’ adventure playgrounds and fast-food restaurants, but for my money, the highlight in this complex is the Tower Circus.
Nestling in a gloriously intimate domed amphitheatre formed by the four arched legs of the tower structure is a 1600-seat circus that has operated since 1894, long outliving illustrious touring competition like the Barnum & Baileys Circus of 1898 and Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show of 1904. In 1906, in what was then the world’s greatest circus, one Tower act alone boasted forty polar bears. Incredibly, animal acts remained on the bill until at last they were outlawed in 1990.
The circus does two or three shows a day, seven days a week. Shows of the old school, with trapeze acts and jugglers and gymnasts and Mongolian contortionists and, of course, clowns. The clown with top billing today is Mooky, who has the unenviable task of filling the clown shoes of Charlie Caroli, for forty years the face of the Tower Circus until his retirement in 1968. But the wide-eyed kids in the audience have never heard of old Charlie, and as Mooky puts himself through another punishing routine, he is clearly the star of the show.
The finale is a water spectacular, for which the floor sinks to form a tank that fills with 320,000 litres of water. Just as it has done every day for over a century. Imagine that. A hundred-plus years of spectacular, dependable, British-engineered efficiency. Nobody who ever bought a British car or British vacuum cleaner would ever believe it.
In front of the Tower, three miles of 1870 promenade ties together the waterfront, and three, grand, 150-year-old wooden piers — ‘The Three Piers of the Realm’ — reach out to the Irish Sea. Every inch of waterfront is devoted to fleecing, sorry, serving the tourist. Burger bars, chip shops, slot-machine and amusement arcades. Whole shopfronts devoted to ‘rock’, tooth-rotting candy with ‘Blackpool’ all the way through. Clairvoyant fortune tellers, like the one ‘As seen on TV and also on radio’. Bingo halls. Waxworks. Aquaria. Karaoke Bars. And pubs. Pubs everywhere, none of them short of custom. Set inland are a host of grand theatres and show venues, ones whose past roll-calls boasted names like Lily Langtree, Sarah Bernhardt, Tallulah Bankhead, John Gielgud, Vivien Leigh and Noel Coward.
At the south end of all this tack and glitter lies the Pleasure Beach. A twenty-hectare funfair with over one-hundred-forty rides, the Pleasure Beach started out in 1896 with only one ride. Today it is Britain’s single-most popular tourist attraction, with over six million visitors annually. At the heart of it, the £12 million ‘Big One’, at 140 kph and 70 metres, is the tallest and fastest rollercoaster in Europe. The ride is blessedly short, and all that screaming is surely coming from the Lancashire lass sitting next to me.
How very Blackpool that its most popular beach is not a beach at all. For good measure, a nearby hotel is called the Beach View Hotel — a kilometre from the nearest sand, and with a view of the Pleasure Beach complex. (Irony is everywhere in Blackpool. Another guest house is called the ‘Imperial View Guest House’. From its windows, guests enjoy an uninterrupted profile of the Imperial Hotel.)
As Blackpool slides towards its fourth century of laying on entertainment for all, plans are afoot. Big plans. Changes to the nation’s gaming laws see major syndicates on the verge of megabucks development plans to turn Blackpool into the ‘Vegas of the North’. Huge casino and family entertainment complexes are talked of, and their touts present them as the answer to decades of declining tourist arrivals.
Blackpool re-invented as a British Las Vegas? It’s not so unimaginable, and hardly a threat to the resort’s enduring values, such as they are. So what if the town is forced to take on a slightly more tasteful veneer. It will only be a veneer. And the old Blackpool will always be there for the scratching.
| Irish Sea |
In April 2013, which three digit free-to-call, non-emergency number was introduced by the NHS to replace the telephone triage and advice services provided by NHS Direct? | English Channel Map, English Channel Location Facts, Major Bodies of Water, England - World Atlas
other bodies of water
Some 10,000 years ago as the last Ice Age melted away, new bodies of water formed including the English Channel and Irish Sea , Great Britain and Ireland were now islands and both would eventually benefit from that process.
The Roman Legions (40,000 strong) crossed the dangerous English Channel in 43 AD. Literally undefended, the Romans named this wild new province, Britannia, and for some 350 years they controlled and influenced it, until their own Empire collapsed upon itself in 410 AD.
Though many invasion attempts occurred via the channel over the centuries (some successful, some not) in modern times the English Channel has helped Britain and Ireland defend themselves from outside invaders, namely the German Army during World War II.
The English Channel is a part of the Atlantic Ocean , and it separates the island of Britain (part of the UK ) from northern France and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic Ocean . It is today one of the busiest shipping lanes on the planet. It's approximately 350 miles long, and at its narrowest in the Strait of Dover. It's somewhat shallow, with an average depth of less than 50 meters between Dover and Calais.
Completed in 1994, the Channel Tunnel, a 31-mile long rail tunnel beneath the English Channel at the Straits of Dover, connects France and England
| i don't know |
Sheading is each of the six administrative divisions of which European island? | sheading - definition of sheading in English | Oxford Dictionaries
Definition of sheading in English:
sheading
Each of the six administrative divisions of the Isle of Man.
Example sentences
‘As well as sheadings, the island was sectioned into 17 parishes, each having a patron saint from which it got its name.’
‘The need of this division, according to Young, was to give three parishes to each of the newly formed southern sheadings in the 14th Century.’
‘For hundreds of years, the Isle of Man has been divided into six sheadings, which in turn were subdivided into seventeen parishes.’
‘The grounds are laid out to reflect the sheadings of the island.’
‘Parish churches were established with three in each of the six sheadings (literally: sixths, with division into threes of the two sides, Northside and Southside, of Man), and within the parishes the taxation districts or treens were established.’
Origin
Late 16th century: variant of shedding (see shed).
Pronunciation
Which of the following is a type of amphibian?
amphiuma
Which of the following is a type of amphibian?
river salamander
Which of the following is a type of amphibian?
horned toad
Which of the following is a type of amphibian?
fire salamander
Which of the following is a type of amphibian?
cow frog
Which of the following is a type of amphibian?
siren
Which of the following is a type of amphibian?
bald frog
Which of the following is a type of amphibian?
cane toad
Which of the following is a type of amphibian?
mud puppy
Which of the following is a type of amphibian?
clawed frog
You scored /10 practise again?
Retry
Most popular in the world
Australia
| Isle of Man |
In which 1999 Sam Mendes film is Kevin Spacey married to Annette Bening? | sheading - definition of sheading in English | Oxford Dictionaries
Definition of sheading in English:
sheading
Each of the six administrative divisions of the Isle of Man.
Example sentences
‘As well as sheadings, the island was sectioned into 17 parishes, each having a patron saint from which it got its name.’
‘The need of this division, according to Young, was to give three parishes to each of the newly formed southern sheadings in the 14th Century.’
‘For hundreds of years, the Isle of Man has been divided into six sheadings, which in turn were subdivided into seventeen parishes.’
‘The grounds are laid out to reflect the sheadings of the island.’
‘Parish churches were established with three in each of the six sheadings (literally: sixths, with division into threes of the two sides, Northside and Southside, of Man), and within the parishes the taxation districts or treens were established.’
Origin
Late 16th century: variant of shedding (see shed).
Pronunciation
Which of the following is a type of amphibian?
amphiuma
Which of the following is a type of amphibian?
river salamander
Which of the following is a type of amphibian?
horned toad
Which of the following is a type of amphibian?
fire salamander
Which of the following is a type of amphibian?
cow frog
Which of the following is a type of amphibian?
siren
Which of the following is a type of amphibian?
bald frog
Which of the following is a type of amphibian?
cane toad
Which of the following is a type of amphibian?
mud puppy
Which of the following is a type of amphibian?
clawed frog
You scored /10 practise again?
Retry
Most popular in the world
Australia
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‘Just One More Thing’ is a 2006 autobiography by which late US actor? | Just One More Thing: Amazon.co.uk: Peter Falk: 9780099509554: Books
Just One More Thing
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Product details
Publisher: Arrow (7 Aug. 2008)
Language: English
Product Dimensions: 12.9 x 2.1 x 19.8 cm
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Product Description
Book Description
The reluctant actor who was nominated for two Oscars and who immortalised Lieutenant Columbo around the world shares his hilarious and often touching stories - in his own inimitable voice.
From the Publisher
The reluctant actor who was nominated for two Oscars and who immortalised Lieutenant Columbo around the world shares his hilarious and often touching stories in his own inimitable voice. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
By Mr. Stephen Kennedy VINE VOICE on 13 May 2008
Format: Paperback
Peter Falk turns out to have a talent for writing in much the same way he talks.. in wry commentary, with no small amount of wit.
He sets out his stall early on - he has no intention of telling you his life story, but instead wants to write a book that you can pick up for 10 minutes before bed, or in the bath, and enjoy a few entertaining stories. Nonetheless, in doing so (and in no particular order), we do learn much about his life, just little about what he thinks about the important events in his life - only some of what he enjoyed or found funny in it.
The end result leaves you much with the feeling of having sat down and had a chat with the man over a beer, swapping stories of people and places. Subjects covered range from his admiration and friendship with John Cassavetes, his role of Columbo (of course) and some of his leading ladies, to his wife, his early travels and quite a few of his favourite ad libs from other stars. Basically it feels like it is whatever came into his head on the day he sat down at the typewriter.
As such, this is a quiet success.. he uses much space on the page with different fonts and sizes of font to break up the text and make his point, so that there actually is very little reading in the book. There are plenty of photos and drawings (we find out he has a passion for sketching and drawing).
Entertaining as a light frothy read, although if you want more on his inner thoughts and life story, or an exposé of Hollywood, best look elsewhere. As a work of literature this may not rate highly, but for its intended audience (the folk who want that 10 minute read in the bath or before bed) it fits the bill nicely.
| Peter Falk |
A Clifden Nonpareil is what type of creature? | Peter Falk - Biography - IMDb
Peter Falk
Biography
Showing all 65 items
Jump to: Overview (4) | Mini Bio (1) | Spouse (2) | Trade Mark (6) | Trivia (47) | Personal Quotes (3) | Salary (2)
Overview (4)
5' 6" (1.68 m)
Mini Bio (1)
Peter Michael Falk was born on September 16, 1927, in New York City, New York. At the age of 3, his right eye was surgically removed due to cancer. He graduated from Ossining High School, where he was president of his class. His early career choices involved becoming a certified public accountant, and he worked as an efficiency expert for the Budget Bureau of the state of Connecticut before becoming an actor. On choosing to change careers, he studied the acting art with Eva Le Gallienne and Sanford Meisner. His most famous role is that of the detective Columbo; however, this was not his first foray into acting the role of a detective. During a high school play, he stood in for such a role when the original student actor fell sick. He has been married twice, and is the father of two children:Catherine, a private detective in real life, and Jackie. He was diagnosed with dementia in 2008, which was most likely brought on by Alzheimer's disease, from which he died on June 23, 2011.
- IMDb Mini Biography By: Rachel
Spouse (2)
New York accent
Trivia (47)
One of his greatest passions was drawing and sketching; has studio on grounds of Beverly Hills estate.
His right eye was surgically removed at the age of three, because of cancer.
Attended and graduated from Ossining High School on Ossining, New York.
President of his high school class.
Worked as an efficiency expert for the Budget Bureau of the state of Connecticut before becoming an actor. Studied acting with Eva Le Gallienne and Sanford Meisner .
Was a certified public accountant.
Falk put the damper on a rumor that his trademark Columbo raincoat had been placed in the Smithsonian Institution: said that it was in his upstairs closet.
In his first foray into acting, he took the role of detective in a high school play when original student-actor fell sick. He left college to serve as a cook in the Merchant Marines. He later received political science degree from New School in New York, then graduated from Syracuse University. He applied at the CIA, but was turned down. He took state budget department job in Hartford, Connecticut. Five years after he started taking acting lessons, he earned first Oscar nomination.
Harry Cohn , head of Columbia Pictures and renowned for his boorishness and vulgarity, rejected Falk, declaring, "For the same money, I can get an actor with two eyes!".
Peter's paternal grandparents, Louis and Ida Falk, were Russian Jewish immigrants. Peter's maternal grandfather, Peter Hochhauser, was a Hungarian Jew, and Peter's maternal grandmother, Rosa Heller, was a Czech Jewish immigrant (from what was then Bohemia).
Once when he was playing in a Little League game, the umpire called him out. Falk thought that he was safe. He pulled his glass eye out of its socket and handed it to the umpire, telling him, "Here, I think you might need this.".
His daughter Catherine Falk is a private detective in real life.
Lt. Columbo's first name is explicitly and even doggedly never revealed in the series (i.e. "What's your first name? Lieutenant...") However, with modern freeze-frame capabilities, when Columbo flashes his badge in the episode "Dead Weight", the name "Frank" can clearly be seen on his ID.
Columbo's wife, of whom he often speaks, is never seen in the series. Interestingly, most of the facts that are supposedly known about Lt. Columbo's private life are up in the air and sometimes contradictory. This may be due to his character being somewhat forgetful or may be due to him leading a suspect with a "likely story" hoping they will trip up and reveal a clue. His car, a 1959 Peugeot 403 Cabriolet, is in most every episode and is treated almost as a character.
Had two daughters with his wife Alyce Mayo: Catherine Falk and Jackie Falk.
Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith, pg. 153-154. New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387.
Began acting when he was 26, but did not officially declare himself an actor and move to New York until he was 28.
During the June 5, 2000, episode of The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn (1999), Craig Kilborn 's third question to Falk during "Five Questions" was this: "Use the words 'Falk' and 'you' in a sentence". Falk chuckled a bit, touched his nose, and replied simply: "Falk... you!".
Has his lookalike puppet in the French comedy show Les guignols de l'info (1988).
He and his good friend John Cassavetes made six movies together: Husbands (1970), Machine Gun McCain (1969), Mikey and Nicky (1976), Opening Night (1977), Big Trouble (1986), A Woman Under the Influence (1974) and one television movie: Columbo: Étude in Black (1972).
Had a street renamed after him in his hometown of Ossining, New York. To unveil the Peter Falk Place street sign, he pulled off a trademark raincoat covering the sign (2005).
Was close friends with the late Patrick McGoohan .
Avatar's voice in the animated movie Wizards (1977) (voiced by Bob Holt ) was modelled after Falk.
Has inspired at least two Hanna-Barbera cartoon characters. Dick Dastardly in Wacky Races (1968) was based on Falk's Max Meen from The Great Race (1965), and Mumbly, the detective dog on The New Tom & Jerry Show (1975) was loosely based on Columbo.
In 1961, he became the first actor nominated for an Oscar and an Emmy in the same year, receiving best supporting nominations for the movie Murder, Inc. (1960) and the television series The Law and Mr. Jones (1960). He followed up in 1962 by being doubly nominated again for supporting actor for the movie Pocketful of Miracles (1961) and best actor (he won) for "The Price of Tomatoes", an episode of The Dick Powell Theatre (1961).
Auditioned for the role of Ted Henderson in Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1969), which went to Elliott Gould .
He was involved in a car accident when he lost control while driving, sustaining a head injury. [June 2008]
Had a hip replacement. [June 2008]
Diagnosed with dementia, probably brought on by Alzheimer's disease, in 2007.
Had been a heavy cigarette smoker since he was 15, but after he started playing Columbo he began smoking cigars as well.
Wanted to join the United States Marine Corps when he was 17, but was rejected because of his blind eye.
Underwent a series of major dental operations in 2007.
He was awarded Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters by the Ministry of Culture of France; the medal was given to him by Gérard Depardieu in March 1996.
After high school, he briefly attended Hamilton College in upstate New York. He was a merchant marine after he dropped out of college. He went to New York City where he received his Bachelor's degree in Political Science from the New School for Social Research in New York City. He received his Master's degree in Public Administration from Syracuse University in Syracause, New York.
At 29 years old, he studied acting with the Mark Twain Masquers in Hartford, Connecticut, and studied with Eva Le Gallienne at the White Barn Theater in Westport, Connecticut.
Numerous press obits incorrectly stated that Falk won a 1972 Tony Award for Best Actor in a play for Neil Simon 's "The Prisoner of Second Avenue". As listed on a Tony Awards website search, Cliff Gorman won the 1972 Tony Award for the play "Lenny". In addition, Falk was never nominated for a Tony Award in his career.
When actors are required to move from one location to another during filming on a sound stage, the exact spot they are to move to is marked on the floor, usually with a piece of tape. This is to ensure that they stand in the area that is preset for the correct camera angle, lighting, sound, etc. Part of Falk's trademark behavior as Columbo was out of necessity, as he pretended to scratch or touch his forehead over his left eye. In reality, he blocked the camera view of his good eye, so as he was looking down, he could locate the tape on the floor. That is how his trademark "pensive Columbo look" got its start.
Adopted daughter, Catherine Falk , files for conservatorship, explaining that Falk has been suffering from Alzheimer's disease and, at age 81, he no longer recognizes anyone. Later sworn statements from the Falk family, family friends and associates report Catherine has been long-estranged from her father and would not handle his affairs in his best interest. [December 2008]
Shera Danese , Falk's wife of 32 years, files paperwork with the court, including sworn statements from longtime CPA, attorney, friends and family members, stating she is already attending to Falk's affairs, Falk named her as his guardian when first diagnosed with the disease, and long-estranged adopted daughter's attempt to gain conservatorship and control of his affairs is not in Falk's best interests. [January 2009]
Shera Danese , his wife, is awarded conservatorship of his affairs. [May 2009]
Best known by the public for his starring role as the title character on the television series Columbo (1971).
His remains were interred at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.
Peter Michael Falk passed away on June 23, 2011, three months away from what would have been his 84th birthday on September 16.
He was posthumously awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6654 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on July 25, 2013.
He was considered for the role of Tom Hagen in The Godfather (1972) before Robert Duvall was cast.
His mother died in 2003, only four years before Falk was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
His first wife Alyce Caroline Mayo died in March 2016 at the age of 85.
Personal Quotes (3)
[upon losing to Peter Ustinov for the 1961 Oscars] When I hit the seat, I turned to the press agent and said "You're fired!". I didn't want him charging me for another day.
[on Columbo's appeal] What are you hanging around for? Just one thing. You want to know how he gets caught.
Being chased by Columbo is like being nibbled to death by a duck.
Salary (2)
| i don't know |
Who plays the blind man in the 1989 comedy film ‘See No Evil, Hear No Evil’? | See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1989) - IMDb
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See No Evil, Hear No Evil ( 1989 )
R |
Dave is deaf, and Wally is blind. They witness a murder, but it was Dave who was looking at her, and Wally who was listening.
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Title: See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1989)
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Set up and wrongfully accused, two best friends will be sent to prison for a crime they didn't commit, however, no prison cell can keep them locked in.
Director: Sidney Poitier
On a long-distance train trip, a man finds romance but also finds himself in danger of being killed, or at least pushed off the train.
Director: Arthur Hiller
George has been in a mental hospital for 3 years and is finally ready to go out into the real world again. Eddie Dash, a dedicated con-man, is supposed to keep him out of trouble, but when ... See full summary »
Director: Maurice Phillips
On his way to work, Teddy spots Charlotte - an incredibly beautiful Woman in Red. He really wants to meet her - but what would his wife say?
Director: Gene Wilder
A minor-league baseball player has to spend $30,000,000 in thirty days in order to inherit $300,000,000. However, he's not allowed to tell anyone about the deal.
Director: Walter Hill
Completely innocent man, Michael Jordon, is drawn into a web of government secrets when a girl carrying a mysterious package gets into a taxi with him. When she's later murdered, Michael becomes the chief suspect and goes on the run.
Director: Sidney Poitier
In order to ruin a western town, a corrupt politician appoints a black sheriff, who promptly becomes his most formidable adversary.
Director: Mel Brooks
Larry Abbot, speaker in the radio horror shows of Manhattan Mystery Theater wants to marry. For the marriage he takes his fiancée home to the castle where he grew up among his eccentric ... See full summary »
Director: Gene Wilder
A neurotic baker travels to Hollywood to attend a talent search for an actor to rival the great Valentino. Although not an actor, through blind luck he succeeds - to a certain degree!
Director: Gene Wilder
A Polish rabbi wanders through the Old West on his way to lead a synagogue in San Francisco. On the way he is nearly burnt at the stake by Indians and almost killed by outlaws.
Director: Robert Aldrich
Edit
Storyline
A man is murdered. Two men witness it. A blind man who hears the killer, and a deaf man who sees them. The police don't think they're credible witnesses, but the killers don't want to take any chances. The two men must now work together to save themselves and bring the killers to justice. Written by Jean-Marc Rocher <tss.yh.nec.co.jp>
See All (98) »
Taglines:
MURDER! The blind guy couldn't see it. The deaf guy couldn't hear it. Now they're both wanted for it.
Genres:
12 May 1989 (USA) See more »
Also Known As:
Ciegos, sordos y locos See more »
Filming Locations:
Did You Know?
Trivia
After attending a screening, upper management from Braille Institute disavowed any connection to the film, turning down the offer of proceeds from opening night, which instead went to another nonprofit providing services to young blind people. Institute administrators objected to the film's language. See more »
Goofs
Wally and Dave's ice cream cones at the end. See more »
Quotes
Wally : These streets are bumpy.
Dave : You're driving on the sidewalk!
Referenced in Cleanflix (2009) See more »
Soundtracks
Dance version produced by Don Was , David Was and David McMurray
Was Not Was appears courtesy of Phonogram Records, Ltd / Chrysalis Records, Inc.
Richard Pryor is simply the best... better than all the rest!
11 December 2005 | by Cinema_Love
(Canada) – See all my reviews
Unfortunetely, I watch this movie two days before Richard Pryor dies from an heart attack, he was such a wonderful actor. The teacher of many black actors of nowadays including Eddie Murphy, Wesley Snipes and Chris Rock. As for the movie, it's the kind of comedy you want to watch every time you watch a comedy. You see? I don't! You hear? I don't!! That's two man, Richard Pryor as the blind guy (perfect choice by the way) and one of his best friends of all time, the talented Gene Wilder, who make the guy who can't hear. So he follow the words on the mouths of people. The plot is yet simple but effective. The beautiful Joan Severance and a unknown Kevin Spacey at that time make the villains in this movie. They are so credible, that you believe them. So I would say one thing about this movie and it's MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!! You have 2 talented actors and you don't even care about the script anymore because they are so talented than they can make look good any movie they are involved to. Here, we have a good storyline, so it helps even more. You laugh about all the time even when you think ''It's too stupid to make this'', yeap, but you laugh because you are watching one of the best comedies of all times. The writing stuff is genius, they make this movie and probably at that time, it was another movie like this, but as of today, it has become a cult classic for every Richard Pryor fans! Thank you Richard for everything!
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| Richard Pryor |
In Greek mythology, which hero of the Trojan war committed suicide after the armour of the dead Achilles was awarded to Odysseus and not him? | See No Evil, Hear No Evil | Film from RadioTimes
See No Evil, Hear No Evil
Arthur Hiller (1989)
Our Score
by Sue Heal
This dreadful comedy stars Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor in their third movie together, and it manages to waste both men's ability and bore and deeply offend most viewers at the same time. Quite a feat. Their characters are deaf and blind respectively, and the movie hinges on a series of appalling jokes and unoriginal situations, wrapped around a makeshift murder plot. As well as being an original comic talent, Richard Pryor has also had the dubious distinction of appearing in a plethora of truly execrable movies, and this is certainly one of them.
Summary
A blind man and his deaf friend go on the run to clear themselves of a trumped-up murder charge. However, all kinds of oddball characters are on their trail, determined to get hold of a top-secret microchip that the duo do not realise they have. Comedy, starring Richard Pryor, Gene Wilder, Kevin Spacey, Joan Severance, Alan North and Anthony Zerbe.
Cast & Crew
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What was the name of the band formed by Paul McCartney after the break-up of The Beatles? | Starting Over: Paul McCartney battled depression after the break-up of the Beatles |
“Success means having the courage, the determination, and the will to become the person you believe you were meant to be.” -George Sheehan
Determination to be successful, despite setbacks
The cost of success is firm resolution, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that you will win no matter the outcome. You have to apply the best of yourself to the challenge. Everyone must choose the path that they will walk. Failure is taking the path that everyone else does; success is making your own path. Success is determined by how resolute you are to succeed. Everyone experiences tough times. It is a measure of your determination and dedication, how you deal with them and finally come through them. You will always be challenged in life to see if you’re truly ready for ultimate victory. It is critical to have determination in order to capture the objective, and fulfill your eventual purpose.
The secret to success is to form superior habits. It will make all the difference in being successful, or failing. Be willing to put the same indomitable spirit into making your dreams come true as you would in facing a life or death situation. Do not wallow in your pity and blame others for your failures. No one wants to listen to a chronic complainer. Live as if you were to die tomorrow.
“It is only through labor and painful effort, by grim energ y and resolute courage, that we move on to better things.” – Theodore Roosevelt
The entrepreneur works a one hundred hour week, in order to not have to work forty hours for someone else. We enjoy the fruits of our labor. We want to win at all costs. We have our life to live, and it is our choice to accept the risks of being an entrepreneur. It is not glory that we seek. When the company prospers and we see the final product, and our clients are ecstatic with a job well done, that is what we live for. The f reedom to make our decisions right or wrong is the freedom that our country gives us. But there are times when it is not an easy road, when the accounts receivables grows beyond our control, when the government continues to burden us with excessive intrusion and taxes, when the gas prices go through the roof, and we still have to make payroll and persevere. At this point, it is determination and faith that help us to survive and then thrive. The strong will endure, the diligent will flourish, those of faith will see miracles, and those who are determined will triumph over all obstacles. – Thomas Cronin
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Mastertapes, Sir Paul McCartney said he had been at a loss when the band fell apart in acrimony in 1970. “It was difficult to know what to do after The Beatles. How do you follow that?” he told John Wilson. “I was depressed. You would be. You were breaking from your lifelong friends. So I took to the bevvies.”
“The business thing split us apart,” said Sir Paul, adding that all the “heavy meetings” were “doing my head in.” He became so depressed that he did not know “whether I was still going to continue in music.” Eventually, he moved to Scotland – partly to make himself unavailable for the business meetings – and hit the bottle. “It was Linda who said, ‘you’ve got to get it together…’ and that led to Wings.” – BBC
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Circumlocution is the term for using several ‘what’ when less or only one will do? | Paul McCartney Reveals Beatles Break-Up Depression - EpicTimes
Paul McCartney Reveals Beatles Break-Up Depression
May 24, 2016
EpicTimes 541 Views 0 Comment BBC , Beatles , Depression , Paul McCartney , Paul McCartney Interview , Paul McCartney on Beatles Breakup
Sir Paul McCartney has revealed the depth of his depression after the Beatles split up in 1970 and said he had turned to heavy drinking.
In an interview with John Wilson of BBC Radio 4's Mastertapes , the wide-ranging interview covered everything from his post-Beatles doldrums to his relationship with Kanye West.
McCartney also spoke the nasty manner in which the band split up in 1970.
"It was difficult to know what to do after The Beatles. How do you follow that?" he told Wilson.
"I was depressed. You would be. You were breaking from your lifelong friends. So I took to the bevvies (beverages)."
McCartney's depression became so great that he questioned if he would even be able to continue making music.
Eventually, he moved to Scotland - partly to make himself unavailable for the business meetings - and partly to indulge his drinking habit.
"I took to a wee dram. It was great at first, then suddenly I wasn't having a good time. I was far gone," he said.
Paul McCartney vs. Management
Although the Beatles officially broke up after the release of Let It Be in 1970, the beginning of the end came a year earlier when the band hired Allen Klein as their manager, against McCartney's wishes.
Although Klein helped restructure the band's record label, Apple, he also helped himself to a hefty share of their profits, and gave his own company the rights to press The Beatles' records in the US.
In order to divest himself of Klein's influence, Sir Paul had to sue his bandmates. The legal fall-out was the caustic agent that finally broke both the band, and his decades long friendship with John Lennon.
This breakup, both personal and professional led to a depression which, in turn, led to the creation of the band Wings.
"People said to me, 'Get a big supergroup with loads of stars,' but for some mad reason I wanted to go back to square one and do it as we did in The Beatles," he said,
McCartney explained that the band helped him out of feeling "depressed" after the break-up of The Beatles. "I was depressed," he said. "It was very depressing. You were breaking from your lifelong friends, we used to liken it to the army – we had been army buddies for a few years, and now you weren't going to see them again."
But the music legend acknowledged that for all the good Wings may have done for him emotionally, musically they weren't so good.
"We were terrible. We weren't a good group. People said, 'Well, Linda can't play keyboards', and it was true.
"But you know, Lennon couldn't play guitar when we started. We knew Linda couldn't play, we didn't know each other, but we learned.
"We had some funny experiences. Looking back on it, I'm really glad we did it."
Shows just how talented Paul McCartney is. A band formed on the rebound that wasn't very good ended up winning six Grammy awards.
The conversation also covered his recent collaborations with Kanye West, revealing: "We never appeared to write a song. A lot of what we did was just telling each other stories."
"People says he's eccentric... which you'd have to agree with. He's a monster. He's a crazy guy that comes up with great stuff."
A filmed version of Radio 4's Mastertapes with Paul McCartney is available above and on the Radio 4 website. The full, extended interview will then broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on Saturday 28th May, 10-11am.
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A Prion is what type of creature? | prion | bird | Britannica.com
Prion
fulmar
Prion, also called Whalebird, any of several species of small Antarctic seabirds of the genus Pachyptila, in the family Procellariidae (order Procellariiformes). All are blue-gray above and whitish below. Among the broad-billed species, the bill, unique among petrels, is flattened, with the upper mandible fringed with strainers (lamellae) not unlike those in the mouths of ducks. The thin floor of the mouth is distensible, forming a small pouch like that of the pelican. In feeding, the bird “hydroplanes,” skittering across the water with its wings out and propelling itself with its feet as it dips its bill into the water for small marine invertebrates, such as squid and crustaceans.
The smallest of the four species is the fairy prion (P. turtur), about 20 cm (8 inches) long; the largest is the broad-billed prion (P. forsteri) at about 27 cm. Most of the prions breed in burrows on Antarctic and sub-Antarctic islands. The broad-billed prion is more northerly in distribution, breeding on islands located between 35° and 60° S. A related bird, the short-tailed shearwater (Puffinus tenuirostris), is known in Alaska as the whalebird (see shearwater ).
Learn More in these related articles:
shearwater
any member of more than a dozen species of long-winged oceanic birds belonging to the family Procellariidae (order Procellariiformes), which also includes the fulmars and the petrels. Typical shearwaters are classified in the genus Puffinus, which has approximately 20 species. Shearwaters are drab,...
in procellariiform
any of the group of seabirds that includes the albatrosses (family Diomedeidae); shearwaters, fulmars, prions, and large petrels (Procellariidae); storm petrels (Hydrobatidae); and diving petrels (Pelecanoididae). There are approximately 117 living species of diverse sizes and ranges. All Procellariiformes are recognizable by their conspicuous tubular nostrils, which project upon the culmen...
1 Reference found in Britannica Articles
Assorted Reference
Prion - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)
any member of several species of small Antarctic seabirds, genus Pachyptila, family Procellariidae (order Procellariiformes); blue-gray above and whitish below; among broad-billed species, unique bill is flattened, with upper mandible fringed with strainers similar to those in the mouths of ducks; floor of the mouth is distensible, forming a small pelican-like pouch; feeds on small marine invertebrates, such as squid and crustaceans; range in size from 8 in. (20 cm) to 1012 in. (27 cm).
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Date Published: July 20, 1998
URL: https://www.britannica.com/animal/prion-bird
Access Date: January 20, 2017
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| Bird |
In the novel ‘Oliver Twist’ by Charles Dickens, what is the first name of Oliver’s mother? | prion | bird | Britannica.com
Prion
fulmar
Prion, also called Whalebird, any of several species of small Antarctic seabirds of the genus Pachyptila, in the family Procellariidae (order Procellariiformes). All are blue-gray above and whitish below. Among the broad-billed species, the bill, unique among petrels, is flattened, with the upper mandible fringed with strainers (lamellae) not unlike those in the mouths of ducks. The thin floor of the mouth is distensible, forming a small pouch like that of the pelican. In feeding, the bird “hydroplanes,” skittering across the water with its wings out and propelling itself with its feet as it dips its bill into the water for small marine invertebrates, such as squid and crustaceans.
The smallest of the four species is the fairy prion (P. turtur), about 20 cm (8 inches) long; the largest is the broad-billed prion (P. forsteri) at about 27 cm. Most of the prions breed in burrows on Antarctic and sub-Antarctic islands. The broad-billed prion is more northerly in distribution, breeding on islands located between 35° and 60° S. A related bird, the short-tailed shearwater (Puffinus tenuirostris), is known in Alaska as the whalebird (see shearwater ).
Learn More in these related articles:
shearwater
any member of more than a dozen species of long-winged oceanic birds belonging to the family Procellariidae (order Procellariiformes), which also includes the fulmars and the petrels. Typical shearwaters are classified in the genus Puffinus, which has approximately 20 species. Shearwaters are drab,...
in procellariiform
any of the group of seabirds that includes the albatrosses (family Diomedeidae); shearwaters, fulmars, prions, and large petrels (Procellariidae); storm petrels (Hydrobatidae); and diving petrels (Pelecanoididae). There are approximately 117 living species of diverse sizes and ranges. All Procellariiformes are recognizable by their conspicuous tubular nostrils, which project upon the culmen...
1 Reference found in Britannica Articles
Assorted Reference
Prion - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)
any member of several species of small Antarctic seabirds, genus Pachyptila, family Procellariidae (order Procellariiformes); blue-gray above and whitish below; among broad-billed species, unique bill is flattened, with upper mandible fringed with strainers similar to those in the mouths of ducks; floor of the mouth is distensible, forming a small pelican-like pouch; feeds on small marine invertebrates, such as squid and crustaceans; range in size from 8 in. (20 cm) to 1012 in. (27 cm).
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Date Published: July 20, 1998
URL: https://www.britannica.com/animal/prion-bird
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What is the title of late actor Charlie Chaplin’s last completed film, launched in the UK in 1967? | 10 Curious Facts About Charlie Chaplin - Listverse
10 Curious Facts About Charlie Chaplin
Dustin Koski
November 10, 2014
Not only was Charlie Chaplin the first world-famous film comedian, he is one of a handful of people from the silent era still remembered today by even casual movie audiences. From the Western world to Africa to China, he was a sensation.
In the interest of not seeming to engage in reckless hero worship, we should fully concede to his numerous personal failings, like desiring teenage women or pressuring lovers to get abortions . But for the most part, this list is about the odd aspects of his life and career.
10Surprising Vulgarity
Since Chaplin is mostly remembered today for sentimental comedy, it’s worth noting that when he was first becoming world famous in the 1910s, he was considered beneath middle-class sensibilities. Even the famous stylized walk he did as his Tramp character was characterized as “ that nasty little walk ” in a 1955 novel about perceptions of Chaplin around 1915. People even thought that Chaplin using a cane despite not needing it was debased because he might have used it to lift someone’s skirt. It didn’t help that, at the time, movies in general were considered a low-class, morally dubious form of entertainment.
To be fair, Chaplin did do gags that even today seem a little base, and we’re not just talking about slapstick. For example, in his 1918 film A Dog’s Life , the Tramp’s dog Scraps is digging a hole while the Tramp’s head is near her hind legs. He looks over, gets disgusted by the smell, and lowers the dog’s tail. Even in 1936, by which time Chaplin was in his more respectable period, the Tramp has a scene with a prison chaplain’s wife where he’s audibly trying not to fart and the gurgling of his stomach disturbs her dog. To be fair, such material is part of what made Chaplin’s appeal at the time so universal.
9Blood Test Precedent
Photo credit: Discovering Chaplin
In 1942, Chaplin got involved in one of the most scandalous affairs of his life and one of surprising significance. He had a short affair with a woman named Joan Barry while his latest marriage was just ending. Chaplin broke it off quickly. In 1943, though, Barry returned with a claim that Chaplin had fathered a child with her, and a paternity suit followed. At first, Chaplin won the case in 1944, when a blood test showed the child was not his .
But during a retrial in 1945, prosecuting attorney Joseph Scott was able to make a case that blood tests were inadmissible evidence . In the face of overwhelming scientific evidence, Chaplin had to pay tens of thousands of dollars in child support. Protests over the case instigated legislation which made sure that blood tests would be valid evidence in future paternity disputes.
8Smuggled Film
Chaplin’s first directorial smash was the 1921 film The Kid. The film has since become largely remembered for the child labor law brought about as a result of Chaplin’s child co-star Jackie Coogan losing most of the money he would have made from the film to his parents. Today, the film might not sit very comfortably with audiences, considering moments such as the Tramp flirting with an angel played by a 12-year-old actress named Lita Grey. (Chaplin would later accidentally impregnate Grey and marry her when she was supposed to star in The Gold Rush as a 15-year-old.) Even the ending—where the Tramp kisses the waif he’s rescued from the dreaded workhouses—might evoke the wrong kind of laughs today. At the time, it was an undisputed monetary success and launched Chaplin’s career in feature-length films.
But one of the more curious things that happened in the production was Chaplin’s smuggling. First, when he finished filming in California and began editing, Chaplin was also beginning divorce proceedings with his first wife, Mildred Harris. Concluding that his wife would want to seize the film he’d spent $500,000 shooting, Chaplin hit on a novel solution: He put the 122,000 meters (400,000 ft) of film in coffee cans , smuggled it to Salt Lake City—where it was beyond the reach of California divorce court—and began cutting the film in a hotel. Later, he had to smuggle the film to New Jersey for its final edit. During his prolonged smuggling operation, Chaplin traveled under an alias, because he was worried the courts would get him sooner or later.
7Sound: Nemesis And Friend
Years after Al Jolson’s 1927 hit The Jazz Singer convinced the film industry that sound was the way of the future, Chaplin stuck to making silent movies. Indeed, such was his disdain for the medium that in the opening of his beloved 1931 film City Lights, he lampooned the whole notion of sound-sync dialogue by having characters speak in kazoo noises . By the time he made his last mostly silent film Modern Times in 1936, he was pretty much the last commercial holdout of his era.
In 1942, though, Chaplin apparently became newly enraptured with sound. He took one of his old classics , The Gold Rush, and reedited it to include his own narration. Such was his preference for the version with sound that he didn’t bother to renew the copyright on the silent version, allowing it to lapse into public domain. All of his films after The Great Dictator were notably “talky” and heavily laden with storytelling that emphasized dialogue over visuals. There’s a lesson in that for the artists out there: If you’re the one person sticking to a particular aesthetic belief, you might find you’re denying yourself a lot of possibilities.
6His ‘Best’ Movie
The critical consensus regarding Chaplin’s films says that his silent movies were his best—some of the best of all time, in fact. For example, the American Film Institute’s ranking of the 100 best films of the 20th century puts City Lights at No. 11, The Gold Rush at No. 58, and Modern Times at No. 79. You’d think Chaplin would have considered one of those his best.
In fact, Chaplin thought his best movie was one most fans haven’t even heard of: His 1967 film A Countess from Hong Kong —the only color film Chaplin made. Starring Marlon Brando and Sophia Loren, it’s essentially a bedroom farce where Loren plays a Russian lady who is to be forced into prostitution until she finds a way out of it by blackmailing Brando’s character to help her escape to America. Critics and audiences disagreed immensely with Chaplin on the film’s quality, and it became a widely panned flop. The only successful aspect of the film was Petula Clark’s performance of “This is My Song,” which reached the No. 1 spot on the British charts (and was written by Chaplin).
5The ‘Communist’ Kick
Beginning in 1946, Chaplin was under official scrutiny by the Federal Bureau of Investigation on suspicion of being a crypto-communist. So exhaustive was the investigation that the FBI reached out to MI5—their equivalent in the UK—to find evidence of communist sympathies or, failing that, a reason to deport Chaplin. Although MI5 found no such evidence and the FBI itself found no evidence that he was performing espionage or was a danger to American interests, Chaplin was still denied reentry to the US in 1952.
In the process of trying to find something to deny Chaplin reentry, something surprisingly banal—even by the notoriously hysterical standards of the Red Scare—was hit upon. In 1917, in his short film The Immigrant , the Tramp is part of a crowd of mistreated immigrants loosely tied to a wall. As an immigration officer walks by, the Tramp kicks him lightly while facing away from him. This was particularly interesting to FBI head J. Edgar Hoover , who used it as a sign that Chaplin was unfit to reside in America more than 30 years later.
4Israel Thornstein: Frenchman
Photo credit: Charles Chaplin Film Corporation via Fan With a Movie Yammer
During the aforementioned investigation, a weird rumor about the iconic comedian came to light. Since the 1910s, it had been rumored that Chaplin’s real name was Israel Thornstein and that he was born across the Channel somewhere in France. Of course, evidence of this was nonexistent. However, evidence of something else was also found to be nonexistent: birth records of Chaplin being born in Britain. Indeed, although Chaplin immigrated to the United States in 1910, there weren’t any immigration records found for him prior to 1920 . However, that was more likely evidence of the unreliability of record keeping at the time rather than evidence of any deceptions.
So why the name Israel Thornstein specifically—one which doesn’t sound the least bit French? It was due to the persistent misconception that Chaplin was a Jew. Notably, Chaplin reacted to the rumor by casting himself as a heroic Jewish barber in The Great Dictator (pictured above). The one time Chaplin played a French person, he was a murderous thief Monsieur Verdoux in the 1947 film of the same name. That might give some indication as to which of those two Chaplin would rather be thought of as.
3Deleted Scenes: The Movie
In 1918, Chaplin decided to end his relationship with Essanay Studios and strike out as an independent filmmaker. Considering that he was still world famous at the time, there was huge demand for more of his films, even though he’d already made dozens of them for the studio by that time. Essanay came up with a terrible solution, decades ahead of its time: They took a bunch of discarded shots and even parts of an unfinished feature-length Chaplin film called Life. They brought in some actors to imitate the famous comedy troupe the “Keystone Cops” for a few connective scenes. The end result was called Triple Trouble .
Chaplin was furious that scenes he considered so embarrassingly bad that he’d wanted them destroyed were being screened for the public and denounced the film in the press. Critics, for the most part, agreed with Chaplin, and the film was a bomb. Historians noted that Chaplin listed the film as one of his credits in his 1964 autobiography and took that as evidence that he’d gotten over his grievances. It’s also possible that Chaplin had simply forgotten what Triple Trouble was by then.
2Fake Chaplins
In the late 1910s, a weird minor film genre of “people pretending to be Charlie Chaplin” sprung up. It wasn’t just a matter of people trying to copy his style to promote themselves. These actors would be dressed and made to look as much like Chaplin as possible, and film distributors explicitly said that the actor was Chaplin himself. These performers included Billie Ritchie, Stan Jefferson, and—most notably—Billy West, who did it for years .
Critics have said that while West managed to copy most of Chaplin’s mannerisms, the problem was that his movies never tried to do anything to make his bootleg version of the Tramp sympathetic, such as doing any sort of emoting. Instead, he just imitated Chaplin’s gags and walks . Also notable about West was that his antagonist in many of the faux-Chaplin shorts was played by Oliver Hardy (of Laurel and Hardy fame), essentially copying the sort of role that usually went to Eric Campbell in the real Chaplin’s movies.
1Disney’s Savior
Photo credit: IMDB
One of the more significant ways Chaplin’s influence is felt today is due to his part in the success of the 1937 film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. That film was largely responsible for the Walt Disney Company becoming as powerful as it is today. It had a record-breaking gross and was the first hit feature-length animation. However, there was considerable concern that Disney would not be able to pull off a feature-length film. Beyond simply laughing at Mickey Mouse, would audiences be able to empathize with a drawing of Snow White ? Would they be scared by spooky drawings of trees? It was going to be a huge gamble for the company.
Chaplin and Walt Disney had become friends and business associates by then, and Chaplin was fully encouraging Walt to go ahead with the production. When it was completed, Chaplin assisted Disney’s accountants with his own records from Modern Times, in order to get proper pricing for the film as the company RKO distributed it. Disney was effusive about Chaplin’s assistance, saying that without it they would have been “sheep in a den of wolves.”
Perhaps Chaplin would have been a bit more hesitant to aid Disney if he’d known what was coming. Within a decade of Chaplin helping to launch the Disney brand, Disney would be testifying before Congress regarding his belief that there was communist influence in Hollywood. By 1947, Disney would be supporting the sort of blacklist that got Chaplin essentially banished from America. That’s showbiz friendship for you.
Dustin Koski is also featured in the Listverse Bathroom Reader .
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Early years (1889–1913)
Background and childhood hardship
Charles Spencer Chaplin was born on 16 April 1889 to Hannah Chaplin (born Hannah Harriet Pedlingham Hill) and Charles Chaplin Sr . There is no official record of his birth, although Chaplin believed he had been born at East Street , Walworth , in South London . His mom and dad had married four years previously, at which time Charles Sr. became the legal carer of Hannah's illegitimate son, Sydney John Hill . At the time of his birth, Chaplin's parents were both music hall entertainers. Hannah, the daughter of a shoemaker, had a brief and unsuccessful career under the stage name Lily Harley, while Charles Sr., a butcher's son, was a popular singer. Although they never divorced, Chaplin's parents were estranged by around 1891. The following year, Hannah gave birth to a third son – George Wheeler Dryden – fathered by the music hall entertainer Leo Dryden . The child was taken by Dryden at six months old, and didn't re-enter Chaplin's life for 30 years.
Chaplin's childhood was fraught with poverty and hardship, making his eventual trajectory "the most dramatic of all the rags to riches storeys ever told" according to his authorised biographer David Robinson . Chaplin's early years were spent with his mom and brother Sydney in the London district of Kennington ; Hannah had no means of income, additional than occasional nursing and dressmaking, and Chaplin Sr. provided no financial support. As the situation deteriorated, Chaplin was sent to a workhouse when he had been seven years old. The council housed him at the Central London District School for paupers , which Chaplin remembered as "a forlorn existence". He had been briefly reunited with his mom 18 months later, before Hannah was forced to readmit her family to the workhouse in July 1898. The boys were promptly sent to Norwood Schools, another institution for destitute children.
"I was hardly aware of a crisis because we lived in a continual crisis; and, being a boy, I dismissed our troubles with gracious forgetfulness."
– Chaplin on his childhood
In September 1898, Hannah was committed to Cane Hill mental asylum – she had developed a psychosis seemingly brought on by an infection of syphilis and malnutrition. For the two months she had been there, Chaplin and his brother Sydney were sent to live with their father, whom the young boys scarcely knew. Charles Sr. was by then a severe alcoholic, and life there was bad enough to provoke a visit from the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children . Chaplin's dad passed away two years later, at 38 years old, from cirrhosis of the liver.
Hannah entered a period of remission, but in May 1903 became ill again. Chaplin, then 14, had the task of taking his mom to the infirmary, from where she had been sent back to Cane Hill. He lived alone for several days, searching for food and occasionally sleeping rough, until Sydney – who had enrolled in the Navy two years earlier – returned. Hannah was released from the asylum eight months later, but in March 1905 her illness returned, this time permanently. "There was nothing we could do but accept poor mother's fate", Chaplin later wrote, and she remained in care until her death in 1928.
Young performer
Between his time in the poor schools and his mom succumbing to mental illness, Chaplin began to perform on stage. He later recalled making his first amateur appearance at the age of five years, when he took over from Hannah one night in Aldershot . This was an isolated occurrence, but by the time he had been nine Chaplin had, with his mother's encouragement, grown interested in performing. He later wrote: "[she] imbued me with the feeling that I had a few sort of talent". Through his father's connections, Chaplin became a member of the Eight Lancashire Lads clog-dancing troupe, with whom he toured English music halls throughout 1899 and 1900. Chaplin worked hard, and the act was popular with audiences, but he wasn't satisfied with dancing and wished to form a comedy act.
In the years Chaplin was touring with the Eight Lancashire Lads, his mom ensured that he still attended school, but by age 13 he had abandoned education. He supported himself with a range of jobs, while nursing his ambition to become an actor. At 14, shortly after his mother's relapse, he registered with a theatrical agency in London's West End . The manager sensed potential in Chaplin, who was promptly given his first role as a newsboy in H. A. Saintsbury 's Jim, a Romance of Cockayne. It opened in July 1903, but the show was unsuccessful and closed after two weeks. Chaplin's comic performance, however, was singled out for praise in a large number of of the reviews.
Saintsbury secured a role for Chaplin in Charles Frohman 's production of Sherlock Holmes , where he played Billy the pageboy in three nationwide tours. His performance was so well received that he had been called to London to play the role alongside William Gillette , the original Holmes. "It was like tidings from heaven", Chaplin recalled. At 16 years old, Chaplin starred in the play's West End production at the Duke of York's Theatre from October to December 1905. He completed one final tour of Sherlock Holmes in early 1906, before leaving the play after more than two-and-a-half years.
Stage comedy and vaudeville
Chaplin soon found work with a new company, and went on tour with his brother – who was additionally pursuing an acting career – in a comedy sketch called Repairs. In May 1906, Chaplin joined the juvenile act Casey's Circus, where he developed popular burlesque pieces and was soon the star of the show. By the time the act finished touring in July 1907, the 18-year-old had become an accomplished comedic performer. He struggled to find more work, however, and a brief attempt at a solo act was a failure.
Meanwhile, Sydney Chaplin had joined Fred Karno 's prestigious comedy company in 1906, and by 1908 he had been one of their key performers. In February, he managed to secure a two-week trial for his younger brother. Karno was initially wary, and considered Chaplin a "pale, puny, sullen-looking youngster" who "looked much too shy to do any good in the theatre." But the teenager made an impact on his first night at the London Coliseum and he had been signed to a contract. Chaplin began by playing a series of minor parts, eventually progressing to starring roles in 1909. In April 1910, he had been given the lead in a new sketch, Jimmy the Fearless. It was a big success, and Chaplin received considerable press attention.
Karno selected his new star to join the section of the company that toured North America's vaudeville circuit. The young comedian headed the show and impressed reviewers, being described as "one of the best pantomime artists ever seen here". His most successful role was a drunk called the "Inebriate Swell", which drew him significant recognition. The tour lasted 21 months, and the troupe returned to England in June 1912. Chaplin recalled that he "had a disquieting feeling of sinking back into a depressing commonplaceness", and was therefore delighted when a new tour began in October.
Entering films (1914–1917)
Keystone
Six months into the second American tour, Chaplin was invited to join the New York Motion Picture Company. A representative who had seen his performances thought he could replace Fred Mace , a star of their Keystone Studios who intended to leave. Chaplin thought the Keystone comedies "a crude mélange of rough and rumble", but liked the idea of working in films and rationalised: "Besides, it would mean a new life." He met with the company, and signed a $150-per-week ($3,591 in 2016 dollars) [3] contract in September 1913.
Chaplin arrived in Los Angeles, home of the Keystone studio, in early December 1913. His boss was Mack Sennett , who initially expressed concern that the 24-year-old looked too young. He wasn't used in a picture until late January, throughout which time Chaplin attempted to learn the processes of filmmaking. The one-reeler Making a Living marked his film acting debut, and was released on 2 February 1914. Chaplin strongly disliked the picture, but one review picked him out as "a comedian of the first water". For his second appearance in front of the camera, Chaplin selected the costume with which he became identified. He described the process in his autobiography:
"I wanted everything to be a contradiction: the pants baggy, the coat tight, the hat small and the shoes large ... I added a small moustache, which, I reasoned, would add age without hiding my expression. I had no idea of the character. But the moment I was dressed, the clothes and the makeup made me feel the person he was. I began to know him, and by the time I walked on stage he had been fully born."
The film was Mabel's Strange Predicament , but " the Tramp " character, as it became known, debuted to audiences in Kid Auto Races at Venice – shot later than Mabel's Strange Predicament but released two days earlier. Chaplin adopted the character as his screen persona, and attempted to make suggestions for the films he appeared in. These ideas were dismissed by his directors. Throughout the filming of his eleventh picture, Mabel at the Wheel , he clashed with director Mabel Normand and was almost released from his contract. Sennett kept him on, however, when he received orders from exhibitors for more Chaplin films. Sennett additionally allowed Chaplin to direct his next film himself, after Chaplin promised to pay $1,500 ($35,914 in 2016 dollars) if the film was unsuccessful.
Caught in the Rain , issued 4 May 1914, was Chaplin's directorial debut and was highly successful. Thereafter he directed almost every short film in which he appeared for Keystone, at the rate of approximately one per week, a period which he later remembered as the most exciting time of his career. Chaplin's films introduced a slower form of comedy than the typical Keystone farce, and he developed a large fan base. In November 1914, he had a supporting role in the first feature length comedy film, Tillie's Punctured Romance , directed by Sennett and starring Marie Dressler , which was a commercial success and increased his popularity. When Chaplin's contract came up for renewal at the end of the year, he asked for $1,000 a week ($23,943 in 2016 dollars) – an amount Sennett refused as too large.
Essanay
The Essanay Film Manufacturing Company of Chicago sent Chaplin an offer of $1,250 a week with a signing bonus of $10,000. He joined the studio in late December 1914, where he began forming a stock company of regular players, including Leo White , Bud Jamison , Paddy McGuire and Billy Armstrong. He soon recruited a leading lady – Edna Purviance , whom Chaplin met in a cafe and hired on account of her beauty. She went on to seem in 35 films with Chaplin over eight years; the pair additionally formed a romantic relationship that lasted into 1917.
Chaplin asserted a high level of control over his pictures, and started to put more time and care into each film. There was a month-long interval between the release of his second production, A Night Out , and his third, The Champion . The final seven of Chaplin's 14 Essanay films were all produced at this slower pace. Chaplin additionally began to alter his screen persona, which had attracted a few criticism at Keystone for its "mean, crude, and brutish" nature. The character became more gentle and romantic; The Tramp (April 1915) was considered a particular turning point in his development. The use of pathos was developed further with The Bank , in which Chaplin created a sad ending. Robinson notes that this was an innovation in comedy films, and marked the time when serious critics began to appreciate Chaplin's work. At Essanay, writes film scholar Simon Louvish , Chaplin "found the themes and the settings that would define the Tramp's world."
During 1915, Chaplin became a cultural phenomenon. Shops were stocked with Chaplin merchandise, he had been featured in cartoons and comic strips, and several songs were written about him. In July, a journalist for Motion Picture Magazine wrote that "Chaplinitis" had spread across America. As his fame grew worldwide, he became the film industry's first international star. When the Essanay contract ended in December 1915, Chaplin – fully aware of his popularity – requested a $150,000 signing bonus from his next studio. He received several offers, including Universal , Fox , and Vitagraph , the best of which came from the Mutual Film Corporation at $10,000 a week.
Mutual
A contract was negotiated with Mutual that amounted to $670,000 a year, [4] which Robinson says made Chaplin – at 26 years old – one of the highest paid people in the world. The high salary shocked the public and was widely reported in the press. John R. Freuler, the studio president, explained: "We can afford to pay Mr. Chaplin this large sum annually because the public wants Chaplin and will pay for him."
Mutual gave Chaplin his own Los Angeles studio to work in, which opened in March 1916. He added two key members to his stock company, Albert Austin and Eric Campbell , and produced a series of elaborate two-reelers: The Floorwalker , The Fireman , The Vagabond , One A.M. and The Count . For The Pawnshop he recruited the actor Henry Bergman , who was to work with Chaplin for 30 years. Behind the Screen and The Rink completed Chaplin's releases for 1916. The Mutual contract stipulated that he release a two-reel film every four weeks, which he had managed to achieve. With the new year, however, Chaplin began to demand more time. He made only four more films for Mutual over the first ten months of 1917: Easy Street , The Cure , The Immigrant and The Adventurer . With their careful construction, these films are considered by Chaplin scholars to be amongst his finest work. [5] Later in life, Chaplin referred to his Mutual years as the happiest period of his career.
Chaplin was attacked in the British media for not fighting in the First World War . He defended himself, revealing that he would fight for Britain if called and had registered for the American draft, but he wasn't summoned by either country. Despite this criticism Chaplin was a favourite with the troops, and his popularity continued to grow worldwide. Harper's Weekly reported that the name of Charlie Chaplin was "a part of the common language of almost every country", and that the Tramp image was "universally familiar". In 1917, professional Chaplin imitators were so widespread that he took legal action, and it was reported that nine out of ten men who attended costume parties dressed as the Tramp. The same year, a study by the Boston Society for Psychical Research concluded that Chaplin was "an American obsession". The actress Minnie Maddern Fiske wrote that "a constantly increasing body of cultured, artistic people are beginning to regard the young English buffoon, Charles Chaplin, as an extraordinary artist, as well as a comic genius".
First National (1918–1922)
Mutual were patient with Chaplin's decreased rate of output, and the contract ended amicably. His primary concern in finding a new distributor was independence; Sydney Chaplin, then his business manager, told the press, "Charlie [must] be allowed all the time he needs and all the money for producing [films] the way he wants ... It is quality, not quantity, we're after." In June 1917, Chaplin signed to complete eight films for First National Exhibitors' Circuit in return for $1 million. He chose to build his own studio, situated on five acres of land off Sunset Boulevard , with production facilities of the highest order. It was completed in January 1918, and Chaplin was given freedom over the making of his pictures. [6]
A Dog's Life , released April 1918, was the first film under the new contract. In it, Chaplin demonstrated his increasing concern with storey construction, and his treatment of the Tramp as "a sort of Pierrot ". The film was described by Louis Delluc as "cinema's first total work of art". Chaplin then embarked on the Third Liberty Bond campaign, touring the United States for one month to raise money for the Allies of the First World War. He additionally produced a short propaganda film, donated to the government for fund-raising, called The Bond . Chaplin's next release was war-based, placing the Tramp in the trenches for Shoulder Arms . Associates warned him against making a comedy about the war but, as he later recalled: "Dangerous or not, the idea excited me." He spent four months filming the 45-minute-long picture, which was released in October 1918 with great success.
United Artists, Mildred Harris, and The Kid
After the release of Shoulder Arms, Chaplin requested more money from First National, which was refused. Frustrated with their lack of concern for quality, and worried about rumours of a possible merger between the company and Famous Players-Lasky , Chaplin joined forces with Douglas Fairbanks , Mary Pickford , and D. W. Griffith to form a new distribution company – United Artists , established in January 1919. The arrangement was revolutionary in the film industry, as it enabled the four partners – all creative artists – to personally fund their pictures and have complete control. Chaplin was eager to start with the new company, and offered to buy out his contract with First National. They declined this, and insisted that he complete the final six films he owed them.
Before the creation of United Artists, Chaplin married for the first time. The 17-year-old actress Mildred Harris had revealed that she had been pregnant with his child, and in September 1918 he married her quietly in Los Angeles to avoid controversy. Soon after, the pregnancy was found to be a false alarm. Chaplin was unhappy with the union and, feeling that marriage stunted his creativity, struggled over the production of his film Sunnyside . Harris was by then legitimately pregnant, and on 7 July 1919, gave birth to a son. Norman Spencer Chaplin was born malformed, and passed away three days later. The marriage eventually ended in April 1920, with Chaplin explaining in his autobiography that they were "irreconcilably mismated".
Losing a child is thought to have influenced Chaplin's work, as he planned a film which turned the Tramp into the caretaker of a young boy. For this new venture, Chaplin additionally wished to do more than comedy and, according to Louvish, "make his mark on a changed world." Filming on The Kid began in August 1919, with four-year-old Jackie Coogan his co-star. It occurred to Chaplin that it was turning into a large project, so to placate First National, he halted production and filmed A Day's Pleasure . The Kid was in production for nine months, until May 1920, and at 68 minutes it was Chaplin's longest picture to date. Dealing with issues of poverty and parent–child separation, The Kid is thought to have been influenced by Chaplin's own childhood [6] and was one of the earliest films to combine comedy and drama. It was released in January 1921 with instant success, and by 1924 had been screened in over 50 countries.
Chaplin spent five months on his next film, the two-reeler The Idle Class . Following its September 1921 release, he chose to return to England for the first time in almost a decade. He then worked to fulfil his First National contract, releasing Pay Day in February 1922. The Pilgrim – his final short film – was delayed by distribution disagreements with the studio, and released a year later.
Silent features (1923–1938)
A Woman of Paris and The Gold Rush
Having fulfilled his First National contract, Chaplin was free to make his first picture as an independent producer. In November 1922 he began filming A Woman of Paris , a romantic drama about ill-fated lovers. Chaplin intended it to be a star-making vehicle for Edna Purviance, and didn't appear in the picture himself additional than in a brief, uncredited cameo. He wished for the film to have a realistic feel, and directed his cast to give restrained performances. In real life, he explained, "men and women try to hide their emotions rather than seek to express them". A Woman of Paris premiered in September 1923 and was acclaimed for its subtle approach, then an innovation. The public, however, seemed to have little interest in a Chaplin film without his presence, and it was a box-office disappointment. The filmmaker was hurt by this failure – he had long wanted to produce a dramatic film and was proud of the result – and withdrew A Woman of Paris from circulation as soon as he could.
Chaplin returned to comedy for his next project. Setting his standards high, he told himself: "This next film must be an epic! The Greatest!" Inspired by a photograph of the 1898 Klondike Gold Rush , and later the storey of the Donner Party of 1846–47, he made what Geoffrey Macnab calls "an epic comedy out of grim subject matter." In The Gold Rush , the Tramp is a lonely prospector fighting adversity and looking for love. With Georgia Hale as his new leading lady, Chaplin began filming the picture in February 1924. Its elaborate production, costing almost $1 million, included location shooting in the Truckee mountains with 600 extras, extravagant sets, and special effects . The last scene wasn't shot until May 1925, after 15 months of filming.
Chaplin felt The Gold Rush was the best film he had made to that point. It opened in August 1925 and became one of the highest-grossing films of the silent era with a profit of $5 million. The comedy contains a few of Chaplin's most famous sequences, like the Tramp eating his shoe and the "Dance of the Rolls". Macnab has called it "the quintessential Chaplin film". Chaplin stated, "This is the picture that I want to be remembered by" at the time of the film's release.
Lita Grey and The Circus
While making The Gold Rush, Chaplin married for the second time. Mirroring the circumstances of his first union, Lita Grey was a teenage actress, originally set to star in the film, whose surprise announcement of pregnancy forced Chaplin into marriage. She had been 16 and he had been 35, meaning Chaplin could have been charged with statutory rape under California law. He therefore arranged a discreet marriage in Mexico on 25 November 1924. Their first son, Charles Spencer Chaplin, Jr. , was born on 5 May 1925, followed by Sydney Earl Chaplin on 30 March 1926.
It was an unhappy marriage, and Chaplin spent long hours at the studio to avoid seeing his wife. In November 1926, Grey took the children and left the family home. A bitter divorce followed, in which Grey's application – accusing Chaplin of infidelity, abuse, and of harbouring "perverted sexual desires" – was leaked to the press. Chaplin was reported to be in a state of nervous breakdown, as the storey became headline news and groups formed across America calling for his films to be banned. Eager to end the case without further scandal, Chaplin's lawyers agreed to a cash settlement of $600,000 – the largest awarded by American courts at that time. His fan base was strong enough to survive the incident, and it was soon forgotten, but Chaplin was deeply affected by it.
Before the divorce suit was filed, Chaplin had begun work on a new film, The Circus . He built a storey around the idea of walking a tightrope while besieged by monkeys, and turned the Tramp into the accidental star of a circus. Filming was suspended for 10 months while he dealt with the divorce scandal, and it was ordinarily a trouble-ridden production. Finally completed in October 1927, The Circus was released in January 1928 to a positive reception. At the 1st Academy Awards , Chaplin was given a special trophy "For versatility and genius in acting, writing, directing and producing The Circus. [7] Despite its success, he permanently associated the film with the stress of its production; Chaplin omitted The Circus from his autobiography, and struggled to work on it when he recorded the score in his later years.
City Lights
"I was determined to continue making silent films ... I was a pantomimist and in that medium I was unique and, without false modesty, a master."
—Chaplin explaining his defiance against sound in the 1930s
By the time The Circus was released, Hollywood had witnessed the introduction of sound films . Chaplin was cynical about this new medium and the technical shortcomings it presented, believing that "talkies" lacked the artistry of silent films. He had been additionally hesitant to change the formula that had brought him such success, and feared that giving the Tramp a voice would limit his international appeal. He therefore rejected the new Hollywood craze and began work on a new silent film. Chaplin was nonetheless anxious about this decision, and remained so throughout the film's production.
When filming began at the end of 1928, Chaplin had been working on the storey for almost a year. City Lights followed the Tramp's love for a blind flower girl (played by Virginia Cherrill ) and his efforts to raise money for her sight-saving operation. It was a challenging production that lasted 21 months, with Chaplin later confessing that he "had worked himself into a neurotic state of wanting perfection". One advantage Chaplin found in sound technology was the opportunity to record a musical score for the film, which he composed himself. [8]
Chaplin finished editing City Lights in December 1930, by which time silent films were an anachronism. A preview before an unsuspecting public audience wasn't a success, but a showing for the press produced positive reviews. One journalist wrote, "Nobody in the world but Charlie Chaplin could have done it. He is the sole person that has that peculiar something called 'audience appeal' in sufficient quality to defy the popular penchant for movies that talk." Given its general release in January 1931, City Lights proved to be a popular and financial success – eventually grossing over $3 million. The British Film Institute cites it as Chaplin's finest accomplishment, and the critic James Agee hails the closing scene as "the greatest piece of acting and the highest moment in movies". [9] City Lights became Chaplin's personal favourite of his films and remained so throughout his life.
Travels, Paulette Goddard, and Modern Times
City Lights had been a success, but Chaplin was unsure if he could make another picture without dialogue. He remained convinced that sound wouldn't work in his films, but was additionally "obsessed by a depressing fear of being old-fashioned." In this state of uncertainty, early in 1931 the comedian decided to take a holiday and ended up travelling for 16 months. In his autobiography, Chaplin recalled that on his return to Los Angeles, "I was confused and without plan, restless and conscious of an extreme loneliness". He briefly considered the option of retiring and moving to China.
Chaplin's loneliness was relieved when he met 21-year-old actress Paulette Goddard in July 1932, and the pair began a successful relationship. He wasn't ready to commit to a film, however, and focussed on writing a serial about his travels (published in Woman's Home Companion ). The trip had been a stimulating experience for Chaplin, including meetings with several prominent thinkers, and he became increasingly interested in world affairs. The state of labour in America troubled him, and he feared that capitalism and machinery in the workplace would increase unemployment levels. It was these concerns that stimulated Chaplin to develop his new film.
Modern Times was announced by Chaplin as "a satire on certain phases of our industrial life." Featuring the Tramp and Goddard as they endure the Great Depression , it took ten and a half months to film. Chaplin intended to use spoken dialogue, but changed his mind throughout rehearsals. Like its predecessor, Modern Times employed sound effects, but almost no speaking. Chaplin's performance of a gibberish song did, however, give the Tramp a voice for the only time on film. After recording the music, Chaplin released Modern Times in February 1936. It was his first feature in 15 years to adopt political references and social realism, a factor that attracted considerable press coverage notwithstanding Chaplin's attempts to downplay the issue. The film earned less at the box-office than his previous features and received mixed reviews, as a few viewers disliked the politicising. Today, Modern Times is seen by the British Film Institute as one of Chaplin's "great features," [9] while David Robinson says it shows the filmmaker at "his unrivalled peak as a creator of visual comedy."
Following the release of Modern Times, Chaplin left with Goddard for a trip to the Far East. The couple had refused to comment on the nature of their relationship, and it wasn't known whether they were married or not. Some time later, Chaplin revealed that they married in Canton throughout this trip. By 1938 the couple had drifted apart, as both focused heavily on their work, although Goddard was again his leading lady in his next feature film, The Great Dictator. She eventually divorced Chaplin in Mexico in 1942, citing incompatibility and separation for more than a year.
Controversies and fading popularity (1939–1952)
The Great Dictator
The 1940s saw Chaplin face a series of controversies, both in his work and in his personal life, which changed his fortunes and severely affected his popularity in the United States. The first of these was a new boldness in expressing his political beliefs. Deeply disturbed by the surge of militaristic nationalism in 1930s world politics, Chaplin found that he couldn't keep these issues out of his work. Parallels between himself and Adolf Hitler had been widely noted: the pair were born four days apart, both had risen from poverty to world prominence, and Hitler wore the same toothbrush moustache as Chaplin. It was this physical resemblance that supplied the plot for Chaplin's next film, The Great Dictator , which directly satirised Hitler and attacked fascism.
Chaplin spent two years developing the script, and began filming in September 1939 – six days after Britain declared war on Germany. He had submitted to using spoken dialogue, partly out of acceptance that he had no additional choice, but additionally because he recognised it as a better method for delivering a political message. Making a comedy about Hitler was seen as highly controversial, but Chaplin's financial independence allowed him to take the risk. "I was determined to go ahead," he later wrote, "for Hitler must be laughed at." Chaplin replaced the Tramp (while wearing similar attire) with "A Jewish Barber", a reference to the Nazi party's belief that he had been Jewish. In a dual performance he additionally played the dictator "Adenoid Hynkel", who parodied Hitler.
The Great Dictator spent a year in production, and was released in October 1940. The film generated a vast amount of publicity, with a critic for The New York Times calling it "the most eagerly awaited picture of the year", and it was one of the biggest money-makers of the era. The ending was unpopular, however, and generated controversy. Chaplin concluded the film with a five-minute speech in which he abandoned his barber character, looked directly into the camera, and pleaded against war and fascism. Charles J. Maland has identified this overt preaching as triggering a decline in Chaplin's popularity, and writes, "Henceforth, no movie fan would ever be able to separate the dimension of politics from [his] star image". The Great Dictator received five Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture , Best Original Screenplay and Best Actor . [10]
Legal troubles and Oona O'Neill
In the mid-1940s, Chaplin was involved in a series of trials that occupied most of his time and significantly affected his public image. The troubles stemmed from his affair with an aspirant actress named Joan Barry , with whom he had been involved intermittently between June 1941 and the autumn of 1942. Barry, who displayed obsessive behaviour and was twice arrested after they separated, reappeared the following year and announced that she had been pregnant with Chaplin's child. As Chaplin denied the claim, Barry filed a paternity suit against him.
The director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), J. Edgar Hoover , who had long been suspicious of Chaplin's political leanings, used the opportunity to generate negative publicity about him. As part of a smear campaign to damage Chaplin's image, the FBI named him in four indictments related to the Barry case. Most serious of these was an alleged violation of the Mann Act , which prohibits the transportation of women across state boundaries for sexual purposes. The historian Otto Friedrich has called this an "absurd prosecution" of an "ancient statute", yet if Chaplin was found guilty, he faced 23 years in jail. Three charges lacked sufficient evidence to proceed to court, but the Mann Act trial began in March 1944. Chaplin was acquitted two weeks later. The case was frequently headline news, with Newsweek calling it the "biggest public relations scandal after the Fatty Arbuckle murder trial in 1921."
Barry's child, Carole Ann, began life in October 1944, and the paternity suit went to court in February 1945. After two arduous trials, in which the prosecuting solicitor accused him of " moral turpitude ", Chaplin was declared to be the father. Evidence from blood tests which indicated otherwise weren't admissible, and the judge ordered Chaplin to pay child support until Carole Ann turned 21. Media coverage of the paternity suit was influenced by the FBI, as information was fed to the prominent gossip columnist Hedda Hopper , and Chaplin was portrayed in an overwhelmingly critical light.
The controversy surrounding Chaplin increased when, two weeks after the paternity suit was filed, it was announced that he had married his newest protégée , 18-year-old Oona O'Neill – daughter of the American playwright Eugene O'Neill . Chaplin, then 54, had been introduced to her by a film agent seven months earlier. In his autobiography, Chaplin described meeting O'Neill as "the happiest event of my life", and claimed to have found "perfect love". Chaplin's son, Charles Jr., reported that Oona "worshipped" his father. The couple remained married until Chaplin's death, and had eight children over 18 years: Geraldine Leigh (b. July 1944), Michael John (b. March 1946), Josephine Hannah (b. March 1949), Victoria (b. May 1951), Eugene Anthony (b. August 1953), Jane Cecil (b. May 1957), Annette Emily (b. December 1959), and Christopher James (b. July 1962).
Monsieur Verdoux and communist accusations
Chaplin claimed that the Barry trials had "crippled [his] creativeness", and it was a few time before he began working again. In April 1946, he finally began filming a project that had been in development after 1942. Monsieur Verdoux was a black comedy , the storey of a French bank clerk, Verdoux (Chaplin), who loses his job and begins marrying and murdering wealthy widows to support his family. Chaplin's inspiration for the project came from Orson Welles , who wanted him to star in a film about the French serial killer Henri Désiré Landru . Chaplin decided that the concept would "make a wonderful comedy", and paid Welles $5,000 for the idea.
Chaplin again vocalised his political views in Monsieur Verdoux, criticising capitalism and arguing that the world encourages mass killing through wars and weapons of mass destruction . Due to this, the film met with controversy when it was released in April 1947; Chaplin was booed at the premiere, and there were calls for a boycott. Monsieur Verdoux was the first Chaplin release that failed both critically and commercially in the United States. It was more successful abroad, and Chaplin's screenplay was nominated at the Academy Awards . He had been proud of the film, writing in his autobiography, "Monsieur Verdoux is the cleverest and most brilliant film I have yet made."
The negative reaction to Monsieur Verdoux was largely the result of changes in Chaplin's public image. Along with damage of the Joan Barry scandal, he had been publicly accused of being a communist . His political activity had heightened throughout World War II, when he campaigned for the opening of a Second Front to help the Soviet Union and supported numerous Soviet–American friendship groups. He had been additionally friendly with several suspected communists, and attended functions given by Soviet diplomats in Los Angeles. In the political climate of 1940s America, such activities meant Chaplin was considered, as Larcher writes, "dangerously progressive and amoral." The FBI wanted him out of the country, and early in 1947 they launched an official investigation.
Chaplin denied being a communist, instead calling himself a "peacemonger", but felt the government's effort to suppress the ideology was an unacceptable infringement of civil liberties . Unwilling to be quiet about the issue, he openly protested the trials of Communist Party members and the activities of the House Un-American Activities Committee . Chaplin received a subpoena to seem before HUAC, but wasn't called to testify. As his activities were widely reported in the press, and Cold War fears grew, questions were raised over his failure to take American citizenship. Calls were made for him to be deported; in one extreme and widely published example, Representative John E. Rankin , who helped establish HUAC, told Congress in June 1947: "[Chaplin's] quite life in Hollywood is detrimental to the moral fabric of America. [If he's deported] ... his loathsome pictures can be kept from before the eyes of the American youth. He should be deported and gotten rid of at once."
Limelight and banning from the United States
Although Chaplin remained politically active in the years following the failure of Monsieur Verdoux, his next film, about a forgotten vaudeville comedian and a young ballerina in Edwardian London, was devoid of political themes. Limelight was heavily autobiographical, alluding not only to Chaplin's childhood and the lives of his parents, but additionally to his loss of popularity in the United States. The cast included numerous members of his family, including his five oldest children and his half-brother, Wheeler Dryden.
Filming began in November 1951, by which time Chaplin had spent three years working on the story. He aimed for a more serious tone than any of his previous films, regularly using the word "melancholy" when explaining his plans to his co-star Claire Bloom . Limelight featured a cameo appearance from Buster Keaton , whom Chaplin cast as his stage partner in a pantomime scene. This marked the only time the comedians worked together.
Chaplin decided to hold the world premiere of Limelight in London, after it was the setting of the film. As he left Los Angeles, he expressed a premonition that he wouldn't be returning. At New York, he boarded the RMS Queen Elizabeth with his family on 18 September 1952. The next day, attorney general James P. McGranery revoked Chaplin's re-entry permit and stated that he would have to submit to an interview concerning his political views and moral behaviour in order to re-enter the US. Although McGranery told the press that he had "a pretty good case against Chaplin", Maland has concluded, on the basis of the FBI files that were released in the 1980s, that the US government had no real evidence to prevent Chaplin's re-entry. It is likely that he would have gained entry if he had applied for it. Notwithstanding when Chaplin received a cablegram informing him of the news, he privately decided to cut his ties with the United States:
Whether I re-entered that unhappy country or not was of little consequence to me. I would like to have told them that the sooner I was rid of that hate-beleaguered atmosphere the better, that I was fed up of America's insults and moral pomposity...
Because all of his property remained in America, Chaplin refrained from saying anything negative about the incident to the press. The scandal attracted vast attention, but Chaplin and his film were warmly received in Europe. In America the hostility towards him continued, and, although it received a few positive reviews, Limelight was subjected to a wide-scale boycott. Reflecting on this, Maland writes that Chaplin's fall, from an "unprecedented" level of popularity, "may be the most dramatic in the history of stardom in America".
European years (1953–1977)
Move to Switzerland and A King in New York
"I have been the object of lies and propaganda by powerful reactionary groups who, by their influence and by the aid of America's yellow press, have created an unhealthy atmosphere in which liberal-minded individuals can be singled out and persecuted. Under these conditions I find it virtually impossible to continue my motion-picture work, and I have therefore given up my residence in the United States."
— Chaplin's press release regarding his decision not to seek re-entry to the US
Chaplin didn't attempt to return to the United States after his re-entry permit was revoked, and instead sent his wife to settle his affairs. The couple decided to settle in Switzerland, and in January 1953 the family moved into their permanent home: Manoir de Ban , a 14-hectare (35-acre) estate [13] overlooking Lake Geneva in Corsier-sur-Vevey . Chaplin put his Beverly Hills house and studio up for sale in March, and surrendered his re-entry permit in April. The next year, his wife renounced her US citizenship and became a British citizen. Chaplin severed the last of his professional ties with the United States in 1955, when he sold the remainder of his stock in United Artists, which had been in financial difficulty after the early 1940s.
Chaplin remained a controversial figure throughout the 1950s, especially after he had been awarded the International Peace Prize by the communist-led World Peace Council , and after his meetings with Zhou Enlai and Nikita Khrushchev . He began developing his first European film, A King in New York , in 1954. Casting himself as an exiled king who seeks asylum in the United States, Chaplin included several of his recent experiences in the screenplay. His son, Michael, was cast as a boy whose parents are targeted by the FBI, while Chaplin's character faces accusations of communism. The political satire parodied HUAC and attacked elements of 1950s culture – including consumerism, plastic surgery, and wide-screen cinema. In a review, the playwright John Osborne called it Chaplin's "most bitter" and "most openly personal" film.
Chaplin founded a new production company, Attica, and used Shepperton Studios for the shooting. Filming in England proved a difficult experience, as he had been used to his own Hollywood studio and familiar crew, and no longer had limitless production time. According to Robinson, this had an effect on the quality of the film. A King in New York was released in September 1957, and received mixed reviews. Chaplin banned American journalists from its Paris première, and decided not to release the film in the United States. This severely limited its revenue, although it achieved moderate commercial success in Europe. A King in New York wasn't shown in America until 1973.
Final works and renewed appreciation
In the last two decades of his career, Chaplin concentrated on re-editing and scoring his old films for re-release, along with securing their ownership and distribution rights. In an interview he granted in 1959, the year of his seventieth birthday, Chaplin stated that there was still "room for the Little Man in the atomic age". The first of these re-releases was The Chaplin Revue (1959), which included new versions of A Dog's Life, Shoulder Arms, and The Pilgrim.
In America, the political atmosphere began to change and attention was once again directed to Chaplin's films instead of his views. In July 1962, The New York Times published an editorial stating that "we don't believe the Republic would be in danger if yesterday's unforgotten little tramp were allowed to amble down the gangplank of a steamer or plane in an American port". The same month, Chaplin was invested with the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters by the universities of Oxford and Durham . In November 1963, the Plaza Theater in New York started a year-long series of Chaplin's films, including Monsieur Verdoux and Limelight, which gained excellent reviews from American critics. September 1964 saw the release of Chaplin's memoirs, My Autobiography , which he had been working on after 1957. The 500-page book, which focused on his early years and personal life, became a worldwide best-seller, notwithstanding criticism over the lack of information on his film career.
Shortly after the publication of his memoirs, Chaplin began work on A Countess from Hong Kong (1967), a romantic comedy based on a script he had written for Paulette Goddard in the 1930s. Set on an ocean liner, it starred Marlon Brando as an American ambassador and Sophia Loren as a stowaway found in his cabin. The film differed from Chaplin's earlier productions in several aspects. It was his first to use Technicolor and the widescreen format, while he concentrated on directing and appeared on-screen only in a cameo role as a seasick steward. He additionally signed a deal with Universal Pictures and appointed his assistant, Jerome Epstein, as the producer. Chaplin was paid $600,000 director's fee as well as a percentage of the gross receipts. A Countess from Hong Kong premiered in January 1967, to unfavourable reviews, and was a box-office failure. Chaplin was deeply hurt by the negative reaction to the film, which turned out to be his last.
Chaplin suffered a series of minor strokes in the late 1960s, which marked the beginning of a slow decline in his health. Despite the setbacks, he had been soon writing a new film script, The Freak , a storey of a winged girl found in South America, which he intended as a starring vehicle for his daughter Victoria. His fragile health prevented the project from being realised. In the early 1970s, Chaplin concentrated on re-releasing his old films, including The Kid and The Circus. In 1971, he had been made a Commander of the National Order of the Legion of Honour at the Cannes Film Festival . The following year, he had been honoured with a special award by the Venice Film Festival .
In 1972, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences offered Chaplin an Honorary Award, which Robinson sees as a sign that America "wanted to make amends". Chaplin was initially hesitant about accepting, but decided to return to the US for the first time in 20 years. The visit attracted a large amount of press coverage, and at the Academy Awards gala he had been given a twelve-minute standing ovation, the longest in the Academy's history. [15] Visibly emotional, Chaplin accepted his award for "the incalculable effect he has had in making motion pictures the art form of this century".
Although Chaplin still had plans for future film projects, by the mid-1970s he had been quite frail. He experienced several further strokes, which made it difficult for him to communicate, and he had to use a wheelchair. [16] His final projects were compiling a pictorial autobiography, My Life in Pictures (1974) and scoring A Woman of Paris for re-release in 1976. He additionally appeared in a documentary about his life, The Gentleman Tramp (1975), directed by Richard Patterson. In the 1975 New Year Honours , Chaplin was awarded a knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II , [19] though he had been too weak to kneel and received the honour in his wheelchair. [21]
Death
By October 1977, Chaplin's health had declined to the point that he needed constant care. In the early morning of 25 December 1977, Chaplin passed away at home after suffering a stroke in his sleep. [16] He had been 88 years old. The funeral, on 27 December, was a small and private Anglican ceremony, according to his wishes. Chaplin was interred in the Corsier-sur-Vevey cemetery. Among the film industry's tributes, director René Clair wrote, "He was a monument of the cinema, of all countries and all times ... the most beautiful gift the cinema made to us." Actor Bob Hope declared, "We were lucky to have lived in his time."
On 1 March 1978, Chaplin's coffin was dug up and stolen from its grave by two unemployed immigrants, Roman Wardas, from Poland, and Gantcho Ganev, from Bulgaria. The body was held for ransom in an attempt to extort money from Oona Chaplin. The pair were caught in a large police operation in May, and Chaplin's coffin was found buried in a field in the nearby village of Noville . It was re-interred in the Corsier cemetery surrounded by reinforced concrete. [22]
Filmmaking
Influences
Chaplin believed his first influence to be his mother, who entertained him as a child by sitting at the window and mimicking passers-by: "it was through watching her that I learned not only how to express emotions with my hands and face, but additionally how to observe and study people." Chaplin's early years in music hall allowed him to see stage comedians at work; he additionally attended the Christmas pantomimes at Drury Lane , where he studied the art of clowning through performers like Dan Leno . Chaplin's years with the Fred Karno company had a formative effect on him as an actor and filmmaker. Simon Louvish writes that the company was his "training ground", and it was here that Chaplin learnt to vary the pace of his comedy. The concept of mixing pathos with slapstick was learnt from Karno, who additionally used elements of absurdity that became familiar in Chaplin's gags. [23] From the film industry, Chaplin drew upon the work of the French comedian Max Linder , whose films he greatly admired. In developing the Tramp costume and persona, he had been likely inspired by the American vaudeville scene, where tramp characters were common.
Method
Chaplin never spoke more than cursorily about his filmmaking methods, claiming such a thing would be tantamount to a magician spoiling his own illusion. Little was known about his working process throughout his lifetime, but research from film historians – particularly the findings of Kevin Brownlow and David Gill that were presented in the three-part documentary Unknown Chaplin (1983) – has after revealed his unique working method.
Until he began making spoken dialogue films with The Great Dictator, Chaplin never shot from a completed script. Many of his early films began with only a vague premise – for example "Charlie enters a health spa" or "Charlie works in a pawn shop." He then had sets constructed and worked with his stock company to improvise gags and "business" using them, almost always working the ideas out on film. As ideas were accepted and discarded, a narrative structure would emerge, frequently requiring Chaplin to reshoot an already-completed scene that might have otherwise contradicted the story. From A Woman of Paris onward Chaplin began the filming process with a prepared plot, but Robinson writes that every film up to Modern Times "went through a large number of metamorphoses and permutations before the storey took its final form."
Producing films in this manner meant Chaplin took longer to complete his pictures than almost any additional filmmaker at the time. If he had been out of ideas he most often took a break from the shoot, which could last for days, while keeping the studio ready for when inspiration returned. Delaying the process further was Chaplin's rigorous perfectionism. According to his friend Ivor Montagu , "nothing but perfection would be right" for the filmmaker. Because he personally funded his films, Chaplin was at liberty to strive for this goal and shoot as a large number of takes as he wished. The number was most often excessive, for instance 53 takes for every finished take in The Kid. For The Immigrant, a 20 minute-short, Chaplin shot 40,000 feet of film – enough for a feature-length.
"No additional filmmaker ever so completely dominated every aspect of the work, did every job. If he could have done so, Chaplin would have played every role and (as his son Sydney humorously but perceptively observed) sewn every costume."
—Chaplin biographer David Robinson
Describing his working method as "sheer perseverance to the point of madness", Chaplin would be completely consumed by the production of a picture. Robinson writes that even in Chaplin's later years, his work continued "to take precedence over everything and everyone else." The combination of storey improvisation and relentless perfectionism – which resulted in days of effort and thousands of feet of film being wasted, all at enormous expense – most often proved taxing for Chaplin who, in frustration, would lash out at his actors and crew.
Chaplin exercised complete control over his pictures, to the extent that he would act out the additional roles for his cast, expecting them to imitate him exactly. He personally edited all of his films, trawling through the large amounts of footage to create the exact picture he wanted. As a result of his complete independence, he had been identified by the film historian Andrew Sarris as one of the first auteur filmmakers. Chaplin did receive help, notably from his long-time cinematographer Roland Totheroh , brother Sydney Chaplin, and numerous assistant directors like Harry Crocker and Charles Reisner . [24]
Style and themes
While Chaplin's comedic style is broadly defined as slapstick , it is considered restrained and intelligent, with the film historian Philip Kemp describing his work as a mix of "deft, balletic physical comedy and thoughtful, situation-based gags". Chaplin diverged from conventional slapstick by slowing the pace and exhausting each scene of its comic potential, with more focus on developing the viewer's relationship to the characters. Unlike conventional slapstick comedies, Robinson states that the comic moments in Chaplin's films centre on the Tramp's attitude to the things happening to him: the humour doesn't come from the Tramp bumping into a tree, but from his lifting his hat to the tree in apology. Dan Kamin writes that Chaplin's "quirky mannerisms" and "serious demeanour in the midst of slapstick action" are additional key aspects of his comedy, while the surreal transformation of objects and the employment of in-camera trickery are additionally common features.
Chaplin's silent films ordinarily follow the Tramp's efforts to survive in a hostile world. The character lives in poverty and is frequently treated badly, but remains kind and upbeat; defying his social position, he strives to be seen as a gentleman. As Chaplin said in 1925, "The whole point of the Little Fellow is that no matter how down on his ass he is, no matter how well the jackals succeed in tearing him apart, he's still a man of dignity." The Tramp defies authority figures and "gives as good as he gets", leading Robinson and Louvish to see him as a representative for the underprivileged – an " everyman turned heroic saviour". Hansmeyer notes that several of Chaplin's films end with "the homeless and lonely Tramp [walking] optimistically ... into the sunset ... to continue his journey".
"It is paradoxical that tragedy stimulates the spirit of ridicule ... ridicule, I suppose, is an attitude of defiance; we must laugh in the face of our helplessness against the forces of nature – or go insane."
—Chaplin explaining why his comedies most often make fun of tragic circumstances
The infusion of pathos is a well-known aspect of Chaplin's work, and Larcher notes his reputation for "[inducing] laughter and tears". Sentimentality in his films come from a variety of sources, with Louvish pinpointing "personal failure, society's strictures, economic disaster, and the elements." Chaplin at times drew on tragic events when creating his films, as in the case of The Gold Rush (1925), which was inspired by the fate of the Donner Party. Constance B. Kuriyama has identified serious underlying themes in the early comedies, like greed (The Gold Rush) and loss (The Kid). Chaplin additionally touched on controversial issues: immigration (The Immigrant, 1917); illegitimacy (The Kid, 1921); and drug use (Easy Street, 1917). He most often explored these topics ironically, making comedy out of suffering.
Social commentary was a feature of Chaplin's films from early in his career, as he portrayed the underdog in a sympathetic light and highlighted the difficulties of the poor. Later, as he developed a keen interest in economics and felt obliged to publicise his views, Chaplin began incorporating overtly political messages into his films. Modern Times (1936) depicted factory workers in dismal conditions, The Great Dictator (1940) parodied Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini and ended in a speech against nationalism, Monsieur Verdoux (1947) criticised war and capitalism, and A King in New York (1957) attacked McCarthyism .
Several of Chaplin's films incorporate autobiographical elements, and the psychologist Sigmund Freud believed that Chaplin "always plays only himself as he had been in his dismal youth". The Kid is thought to reflect Chaplin's childhood trauma of being sent into an orphanage, the main characters in Limelight (1952) contain elements from the lives of his parents, and A King in New York references Chaplin's experiences of being shunned by the United States. Many of his sets, especially in street scenes, bear a strong similarity to Kennington, where he grew up. Stephen M. Weissman has argued that Chaplin's problematic relationship with his mentally ill mom was most often reflected in his female characters and the Tramp's desire to save them.
Regarding the structure of Chaplin's films, the scholar Gerald Mast sees them as consisting of sketches tied together by the same theme and setting, rather than having a tightly unified storyline. Visually, his films are simple and economic, with scenes portrayed as if set on a stage. His approach to filming was described by the art director Eugène Lourié : "Chaplin didn't think in 'artistic' images when he had been shooting. He believed that action is the main thing. The camera is there to photograph the actors". In his autobiography, Chaplin wrote, "Simplicity is best ... pompous effects slow up action, are boring and unpleasant ... The camera shouldn't intrude." This approach has prompted criticism, after the 1940s, for being "old fashioned", while the film scholar Donald McCaffrey sees it as an indication that Chaplin never completely understood film as a medium. Kamin, however, comments that Chaplin's comedic talent wouldn't be enough to remain funny on screen if he didn't have an "ability to conceive and direct scenes specifically for the film medium".
Composing
Chaplin developed a passion for music as a child, and taught himself to play the piano, violin, and cello. He considered the musical accompaniment of a film to be important, and from A Woman of Paris onwards he took an increasing interest in this area. With the advent of sound technology, Chaplin began using a synchronised orchestral soundtrack – composed by himself – for City Lights (1931). He thereafter composed the scores for all of his films, and from the late 1950s to his death, he scored all of his silent features and a few of his short films.
As Chaplin wasn't a trained musician, he couldn't read sheet music and needed the help of professional composers, like David Raksin , Raymond Rasch and Eric James, when creating his scores. Although a few critics have claimed that credit for his film music should be given to the composers who worked with him, Raksin – who worked with Chaplin on Modern Times – stressed Chaplin's creative position and active participation in the composing process. This process, which could take months, would start with Chaplin describing to the composer(s) exactly what he wanted and singing or playing tunes he had improvised on the piano. These tunes were then developed further in a close collaboration amongst the composer(s) and Chaplin. According to film historian Jeffrey Vance , "although he relied upon associates to arrange varied and complex instrumentation, the musical imperative is his, and not a note in a Chaplin musical score was placed there without his assent."
Chaplin's compositions produced three popular songs. " Smile ", composed originally for Modern Times (1936) and later set to lyrics by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons , was a hit for Nat King Cole in 1954. For Limelight, Chaplin composed "Terry's Theme", which was popularised by Jimmy Young as " Eternally " (1952). Finally, " This Is My Song ", performed by Petula Clark for A Countess from Hong Kong (1967), reached number one on the UK and additional European charts. Chaplin additionally received his only competitive Oscar for his composition work, as the Limelight theme won an Academy Award for Best Original Score in 1973 following the film's re-release.
Legacy
In 1998, the film critic Andrew Sarris called Chaplin "arguably the single most important artist produced by the cinema, certainly its most extraordinary performer and probably still its most universal icon". He is described by the British Film Institute as "a towering figure in world culture", [26] and was included in Time magazine's list of the " 100 Most Important People of the twentieth Century " for the "laughter [he brought] to millions" and because he "more or less invented global recognizability and helped turn an industry into an art". [28]
The image of the Tramp has become a part of cultural history; according to Simon Louvish, the character is recognisable to people who have never seen a Chaplin film, and in places where his films are never shown. The critic Leonard Maltin has written of the "unique" and "indelible" nature of the Tramp, and argued that no additional comedian matched his "worldwide impact". [29] Praising the character, Richard Schickel suggests that Chaplin's films with the Tramp contain the most "eloquent, richly comedic expressions of the human spirit" in movie history. Memorabilia connected to the character still fetches large sums in auctions: in 2006 a bowler hat and a bamboo cane that were part of the Tramp's costume were bought for $140,000 in a Los Angeles auction. [30]
As a filmmaker, Chaplin is considered a pioneer and one of the most influential figures of the early twentieth century. He is most often credited as one of the medium's first artists. Film historian Mark Cousins has written that Chaplin "changed not only the imagery of cinema, but additionally its sociology and grammar" and claims that Chaplin was as important to the development of comedy as a genre as D.W. Griffith was to drama. He had been the first to popularise feature-length comedy and to slow down the pace of action, adding pathos and subtlety to it. Although his work is mostly classified as slapstick, Chaplin's drama A Woman of Paris (1923) was a major influence on Ernst Lubitsch 's film The Marriage Circle (1924) and thus played a part in the development of "sophisticated comedy". According to David Robinson, Chaplin's innovations were "rapidly assimilated to become part of the common practise of film craft." Filmmakers who cited Chaplin as an influence include Federico Fellini (who called Chaplin "a sort of Adam , from whom we're all descended"), Jacques Tati ("Without him I would never have made a film"), René Clair ("He inspired practically every filmmaker"), Michael Powell , Billy Wilder , Vittorio De Sica , and Richard Attenborough . [31] Russian filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky praised Chaplin as "the only person to have gone down into cinematic history without any shadow of a doubt. The films he left behind can never grow old." [32]
Chaplin additionally strongly influenced the work of later comedians. Marcel Marceau said he had been inspired to become a mime artist after watching Chaplin, while the actor Raj Kapoor based his screen persona on the Tramp. Mark Cousins has additionally detected Chaplin's comedic style in the French character Monsieur Hulot and the Italian character Totò . In additional fields, Chaplin helped inspire the cartoon characters Felix the Cat and Mickey Mouse , and was an influence on the Dada art movement. As one of the founding members of United Artists, Chaplin additionally had a role in the development of the film industry. Gerald Mast has written that although UA never became a major company like MGM or Paramount Pictures , the idea that directors could produce their own films was "years ahead of its time".
In the twenty-first century, several of Chaplin's films are still regarded as classics and amongst the greatest ever made. The 2012 Sight & Sound poll, which compiles "top ten" ballots from film critics and directors to determine each group's most acclaimed films, saw City Lights rank amongst the critics' top 50, Modern Times inside the top 100, and The Great Dictator and The Gold Rush placed in the top 250. [33] The top 100 films as voted on by directors included Modern Times at number 22, City Lights at number 30, and The Gold Rush at number 91. [34] Every one of Chaplin's features received a vote. [35] In 2007, the American Film Institute named City Lights the eleventh greatest American film of all time , while The Gold Rush and Modern Times again ranked in the top 100. [36] Books about Chaplin continue to be published regularly, and he's a popular subject for media scholars and film archivists. Many of Chaplin's film have had a DVD and Blu-Ray release. [38]
Commemoration and tributes
Several memorials have been dedicated to Chaplin. In his home city, London, a statue of Chaplin as the Tramp, sculpted by John Doubleday and unveiled in 1981, is located in Leicester Square . The city additionally includes a road named after him in central London, "Charlie Chaplin Walk", which is the location of the BFI IMAX . [40] The former Museum of the Moving Image held a permanent display on Chaplin, and hosted a dedicated exhibition to his life and career in 1988. The London Film Museum hosted an exhibition called Charlie Chaplin – The Great Londoner, from 2010 until 2013. [41]
Chaplin's final home, Manoir de Ban in Corsier-sur-Vevey, Switzerland, was converted into a museum and opened on 17 April 2016, exploring his life and career. [42] The nearby town of Vevey named a park in his honour in 1980 and erected a statue there in 1982. In 2011, two large murals depicting Chaplin on two 14-storey buildings were additionally unveiled in Vevey. [43] Chaplin has additionally been honoured by the Irish town of Waterville , where he spent several summers with his family in the 1960s. A statue was erected in 1998, [45] and after 2011 the town has been host to the annual Charlie Chaplin Comedy Film Festival, which was founded to celebrate Chaplin's legacy and to showcase new comic talent. [46]
In additional tributes, a minor planet , 3623 Chaplin – detected by Soviet astronomer Lyudmila Karachkina in 1981 – is named after Chaplin. Throughout the 1980s, the Tramp image was used by IBM to advertise their personal computers. Chaplin's hundredth birthday anniversary in 1989 was marked with several events around the world, and on 15 April 2011, a day before his 122nd birthday, Google celebrated him with a special Google Doodle video on its global and additional country-wide homepages. [50] Many countries, spanning six continents, have honoured Chaplin with a postal stamp. [51]
Chaplin's legacy is managed on behalf of his children by the Chaplin office, located in Paris. The office represents Association Chaplin, founded by a few of his children "to protect the name, image and moral rights" to his body of work, Roy Export SAS, which owns the copyright to most of his films made after 1918, and Bubbles Incorporated S.A., which owns the copyrights to his image and name. [53] Their central archive is held at the archives of Montreux , Switzerland and scanned versions of its contents, including 83,630 images, 118 scripts, 976 manuscripts, 7,756 letters, and thousands of additional documents, are available for research purposes at the Chaplin Research Centre at the Cineteca di Bologna . [55] The photographic archive, which includes approximately 10,000 photographs from Chaplin's life and career, is kept at the Musée de l'Elysée in Lausanne , Switzerland . [57] The British Film Institute has additionally established the Charles Chaplin Research Foundation, and the first international Charles Chaplin Conference was held in London in July 2005. [58]
Characterisations
Chaplin is the subject of a biographical film , Chaplin (1992) directed by Richard Attenborough , and starring Robert Downey, Jr. in the title role. [59] He is additionally a character in the period drama film The Cat's Meow (2001), played by Eddie Izzard , and in the made-for-television movie The Scarlett O'Hara War (1980), played by Clive Revill . [61] [63] A television series about Chaplin's childhood, Young Charlie Chaplin, ran on PBS in 1989, and was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Program. [64]
Chaplin's life has additionally been the subject of several stage productions. Two musicals, Little Tramp and Chaplin , were produced in the early 1990s. In 2006, Thomas Meehan and Christopher Curtis created another musical, Limelight: The Story of Charlie Chaplin , which was first performed at the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego in 2010. [66] It was adapted for Broadway two years later, re-titled Chaplin – A Musical. [68] Chaplin was portrayed by Robert McClure in both productions. In 2013, two plays about Chaplin premiered in Finland : Chaplin at the Svenska Teatern , [69] and Kulkuri (The Tramp) at the Tampere Workers' Theatre . [70] Chaplin has additionally been characterised in literary fiction , as the central character in Glen David Gold 's Sunnyside (2009), a novel set in the First World War period. [71]
Awards and recognition
Chaplin received a large number of awards and honours, especially later in life. In the 1975 New Year Honours , he had been appointed a Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire . [73] He had been additionally awarded honorary Doctor of Letters degrees by the University of Oxford and the University of Durham in 1962. In 1965 he and Ingmar Bergman were joint winners of the Erasmus Prize and in 1971 he had been appointed a Commander of the National Order of the Legion of Honour by the French government. [74]
From the film industry, Chaplin received a special Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival in 1972, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Lincoln Center Film Society the same year. The latter has after been presented annually to filmmakers as The Chaplin Award. [76] Chaplin was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1972, having been previously excluded because of his political beliefs.
Chaplin received three Academy Awards : an Honorary Award for "versatility and genius in acting, writing, directing, and producing The Circus" in 1929, [7] a second Honorary Award for "the incalculable effect he has had in making motion pictures the art form of this century" in 1972, and a Best Score award in 1973 for Limelight (shared with Ray Rasch and Larry Russell). He had been further nominated in the Best Actor , Best Original Screenplay , and Best Picture (as producer) categories for The Great Dictator, and received another Best Original Screenplay nomination for Monsieur Verdoux. [78]
Six of Chaplin's films have been selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the United States Library of Congress : The Immigrant (1917), The Kid (1921), The Gold Rush (1925), City Lights (1931), Modern Times (1936), and The Great Dictator (1940). [80]
Filmography
| i don't know |
‘It was a bright, cold day in April and the clocks were striking thirteen’ is the opening line of which novel? | George Orwell - 1984 - Part 1, Chapter 1
Part 1, Chapter 1
Part One
1
It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. Winston Smith, his chin nuzzled into his breast in an effort to escape the vile wind, slipped quickly through the glass doors of Victory Mansions, though not quickly enough to prevent a swirl of gritty dust from entering along with him.
The hallway smelt of boiled cabbage and old rag mats. At one end of it a coloured poster, too large for indoor display, had been tacked to the wall. It depicted simply an enormous face, more than a metre wide: the face of a man of about forty-five, with a heavy black moustache and ruggedly handsome features. Winston made for the stairs. It was no use trying the lift. Even at the best of times it was seldom working, and at present the electric current was cut off during daylight hours. It was part of the economy drive in preparation for Hate Week. The flat was seven flights up, and Winston, who was thirty-nine and had a varicose ulcer above his right ankle, went slowly, resting several times on the way. On each landing, opposite the lift-shaft, the poster with the enormous face gazed from the wall. It was one of those pictures which are so contrived that the eyes follow you about when you move. BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU, the caption beneath it ran.
Inside the flat a fruity voice was reading out a list of figures which had something to do with the production of pig-iron. The voice came from an oblong metal plaque like a dulled mirror which formed part of the surface of the right-hand wall. Winston turned a switch and the voice sank somewhat, though the words were still distinguishable. The instrument (the telescreen, it was called) could be dimmed, but there was no way of shutting it off completely. He moved over to the window: a smallish, frail figure, the meagreness of his body merely emphasized by the blue overalls which were the uniform of the party. His hair was very fair, his face naturally sanguine, his skin roughened by coarse soap and blunt razor blades and the cold of the winter that had just ended.
Outside, even through the shut window-pane, the world looked cold. Down in the street little eddies of wind were whirling dust and torn paper into spirals, and though the sun was shining and the sky a harsh blue, there seemed to be no colour in anything, except the posters that were plastered everywhere. The blackmoustachio'd face gazed down from every commanding corner. There was one on the house-front immediately opposite. BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU, the caption said, while the dark eyes looked deep into Winston's own. Down at streetlevel another poster, torn at one corner, flapped fitfully in the wind, alternately covering and uncovering the single word INGSOC. In the far distance a helicopter skimmed down between the roofs, hovered for an instant like a bluebottle, and darted away again with a curving flight. It was the police patrol, snooping into people's windows. The patrols did not matter, however. Only the Thought Police mattered.
Behind Winston's back the voice from the telescreen was still babbling away about pig-iron and the overfulfilment of the Ninth Three-Year Plan. The telescreen received and transmitted simultaneously. Any sound that Winston made, above the level of a very low whisper, would be picked up by it, moreover, so long as he remained within the field of vision which the metal plaque commanded, he could be seen as well as heard. There was of course no way of knowing whether you were being watched at any given moment. How often, or on what system, the Thought Police plugged in on any individual wire was guesswork. It was even conceivable that they watched everybody all the time. But at any rate they could plug in your wire whenever they wanted to. You had to live -- did live, from habit that became instinct -- in the assumption that every sound you made was overheard, and, except in darkness, every movement scrutinized.
Winston kept his back turned to the telescreen. It was safer, though, as he well knew, even a back can be revealing. A kilometre away the Ministry of Truth, his place of work, towered vast and white above the grimy landscape. This, he thought with a sort of vague distaste -- this was London, chief city of Airstrip One, itself the third most populous of the provinces of Oceania. He tried to squeeze out some childhood memory that should tell him whether London had always been quite like this. Were there always these vistas of rotting nineteenth-century houses, their sides shored up with baulks of timber, their windows patched with cardboard and their roofs with corrugated iron, their crazy garden walls sagging in all directions? And the bombed sites where the plaster dust swirled in the air and the willow-herb straggled over the heaps of rubble; and the places where the bombs had cleared a larger patch and there had sprung up sordid colonies of wooden dwellings like chicken-houses? But it was no use, he could not remember: nothing remained of his childhood except a series of bright-lit tableaux occurring against no background and mostly unintelligible.
The Ministry of Truth -- Minitrue, in Newspeak -- was startlingly different from any other object in sight. It was an enormous pyramidal structure of glittering white concrete, soaring up, terrace after terrace, 300 metres into the air. From where Winston stood it was just possible to read, picked out on its white face in elegant lettering, the three slogans of the Party:
WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH
The Ministry of Truth contained, it was said, three thousand rooms above ground level, and corresponding ramifications below. Scattered about London there were just three other buildings of similar appearance and size. So completely did they dwarf the surrounding architecture that from the roof of Victory Mansions you could see all four of them simultaneously. They were the homes of the four Ministries between which the entire apparatus of government was divided. The Ministry of Truth, which concerned itself with news, entertainment, education, and the fine arts. The Ministry of Peace, which concerned itself with war. The Ministry of Love, which maintained law and order. And the Ministry of Plenty, which was responsible for economic affairs. Their names, in Newspeak: Minitrue, Minipax, Miniluv, and Miniplenty.
The Ministry of Love was the really frightening one. There were no windows in it at all. Winston had never been inside the Ministry of Love, nor within half a kilometre of it. It was a place impossible to enter except on official business, and then only by penetrating through a maze of barbed-wire entanglements, steel doors, and hidden machine-gun nests. Even the streets leading up to its outer barriers were roamed by gorilla-faced guards in black uniforms, armed with jointed truncheons.
Winston turned round abruptly. He had set his features into the expression of quiet optimism which it was advisable to wear when facing the telescreen. He crossed the room into the tiny kitchen. By leaving the Ministry at this time of day he had sacrificed his lunch in the canteen, and he was aware that there was no food in the kitchen except a hunk of dark-coloured bread which had got to be saved for tomorrow's breakfast. He took down from the shelf a bottle of colourless liquid with a plain white label marked VICTORY GIN. It gave off a sickly, oily smell, as of Chinese ricespirit. Winston poured out nearly a teacupful, nerved himself for a shock, and gulped it down like a dose of medicine.
Instantly his face turned scarlet and the water ran out of his eyes. The stuff was like nitric acid, and moreover, in swallowing it one had the sensation of being hit on the back of the head with a rubber club. The next moment, however, the burning in his belly died down and the world began to look more cheerful. He took a cigarette from a crumpled packet marked VICTORY CIGARETTES and incautiously held it upright, whereupon the tobacco fell out on to the floor. With the next he was more successful. He went back to the living-room and sat down at a small table that stood to the left of the telescreen. From the table drawer he took out a penholder, a bottle of ink, and a thick, quarto-sized blank book with a red back and a marbled cover.
For some reason the telescreen in the living-room was in an unusual position. Instead of being placed, as was normal, in the end wall, where it could command the whole room, it was in the longer wall, opposite the window. To one side of it there was a shallow alcove in which Winston was now sitting, and which, when the flats were built, had probably been intended to hold bookshelves. By sitting in the alcove, and keeping well back, Winston was able to remain outside the range of the telescreen, so far as sight went. He could be heard, of course, but so long as he stayed in his present position he could not be seen. It was partly the unusual geography of the room that had suggested to him the thing that he was now about to do.
But it had also been suggested by the book that he had just taken out of the drawer. It was a peculiarly beautiful book. Its smooth creamy paper, a little yellowed by age, was of a kind that had not been manufactured for at least forty years past. He could guess, however, that the book was much older than that. He had seen it lying in the window of a frowsy little junk-shop in a slummy quarter of the town (just what quarter he did not now remember) and had been stricken immediately by an overwhelming desire to possess it. Party members were supposed not to go into ordinary shops ('dealing on the free market', it was called), but the rule was not strictly kept, because there were various things, such as shoelaces and razor blades, which it was impossible to get hold of in any other way. He had given a quick glance up and down the street and then had slipped inside and bought the book for two dollars fifty. At the time he was not conscious of wanting it for any particular purpose. He had carried it guiltily home in his briefcase. Even with nothing written in it, it was a compromising possession.
The thing that he was about to do was to open a diary. This was not illegal (nothing was illegal, since there were no longer any laws), but if detected it was reasonably certain that it would be punished by death, or at least by twenty-five years in a forced-labour camp. Winston fitted a nib into the penholder and sucked it to get the grease off. The pen was an archaic instrument, seldom used even for signatures, and he had procured one, furtively and with some difficulty, simply because of a feeling that the beautiful creamy paper deserved to be written on with a real nib instead of being scratched with an ink-pencil. Actually he was not used to writing by hand. Apart from very short notes, it was usual to dictate everything into the speakwrite which was of course impossible for his present purpose. He dipped the pen into the ink and then faltered for just a second. A tremor had gone through his bowels. To mark the paper was the decisive act. In small clumsy letters he wrote:
April 4th, 1984.
He sat back. A sense of complete helplessness had descended upon him. To begin with, he did not know with any certainty that this was 1984. It must be round about that date, since he was fairly sure that his age was thirty-nine, and he believed that he had been born in 1944 or 1945; but it was never possible nowadays to pin down any date within a year or two.
For whom, it suddenly occurred to him to wonder, was he writing this diary? For the future, for the unborn. His mind hovered for a moment round the doubtful date on the page, and then fetched up with a bump against the Newspeak word doublethink. For the first time the magnitude of what he had undertaken came home to him. How could you communicate with the future? It was of its nature impossible. Either the future would resemble the present, in which case it would not listen to him: or it would be different from it, and his predicament would be meaningless.
For some time he sat gazing stupidly at the paper. The telescreen had changed over to strident military music. It was curious that he seemed not merely to have lost the power of expressing himself, but even to have forgotten what it was that he had originally intended to say. For weeks past he had been making ready for this moment, and it had never crossed his mind that anything would be needed except courage. The actual writing would be easy. All he had to do was to transfer to paper the interminable restless monologue that had been running inside his head, literally for years. At this moment, however, even the monologue had dried up. Moreover his varicose ulcer had begun itching unbearably. He dared not scratch it, because if he did so it always became inflamed. The seconds were ticking by. He was conscious of nothing except the blankness of the page in front of him, the itching of the skin above his ankle, the blaring of the music, and a slight booziness caused by the gin.
Suddenly he began writing in sheer panic, only imperfectly aware of what he was setting down. His small but childish handwriting straggled up and down the page, shedding first its capital letters and finally even its full stops:
April 4th, 1984. Last night to the flicks. All war films. One very good one of a ship full of refugees being bombed somewhere in the Mediterranean. Audience much amused by shots of a great huge fat man trying to swim away with a helicopter after him, first you saw him wallowing along in the water like a porpoise, then you saw him through the helicopters gunsights, then he was full of holes and the sea round him turned pink and he sank as suddenly as though the holes had let in the water, audience shouting with laughter when he sank. then you saw a lifeboat full of children with a helicopter hovering over it. there was a middle-aged woman might have been a jewess sitting up in the bow with a little boy about three years old in her arms. little boy screaming with fright and hiding his head between her breasts as if he was trying to burrow right into her and the woman putting her arms round him and comforting him although she was blue with fright herself, all the time covering him up as much as possible as if she thought her arms could keep the bullets off him. then the helicopter planted a 20 kilo bomb in among them terrific flash and the boat went all to matchwood. then there was a wonderful shot of a child's arm going up up up right up into the air a helicopter with a camera in its nose must have followed it up and there was a lot of applause from the party seats but a woman down in the prole part of the house suddenly started kicking up a fuss and shouting they didnt oughter of showed it not in front of kids they didnt it aint right not in front of kids it aint until the police turned her turned her out i dont suppose anything happened to her nobody cares what the proles say typical prole reaction they never --
Winston stopped writing, partly because he was suffering from cramp. He did not know what had made him pour out this stream of rubbish. But the curious thing was that while he was doing so a totally different memory had clarified itself in his mind, to the point where he almost felt equal to writing it down. It was, he now realized, because of this other incident that he had suddenly decided to come home and begin the diary today.
It had happened that morning at the Ministry, if anything so nebulous could be said to happen.
It was nearly eleven hundred, and in the Records Department, where Winston worked, they were dragging the chairs out of the cubicles and grouping them in the centre of the hall opposite the big telescreen, in preparation for the Two Minutes Hate. Winston was just taking his place in one of the middle rows when two people whom he knew by sight, but had never spoken to, came unexpectedly into the room. One of them was a girl whom he often passed in the corridors. He did not know her name, but he knew that she worked in the Fiction Department. Presumably -- since he had sometimes seen her with oily hands and carrying a spanner she had some mechanical job on one of the novel-writing machines. She was a bold-looking girl, of about twenty-seven, with thick hair, a freckled face, and swift, athletic movements. A narrow scarlet sash, emblem of the Junior Anti-Sex League, was wound several times round the waist of her overalls, just tightly enough to bring out the shapeliness of her hips. Winston had disliked her from the very first moment of seeing her. He knew the reason. It was because of the atmosphere of hockey-fields and cold baths and community hikes and general clean-mindedness which she managed to carry about with her. He disliked nearly all women, and especially the young and pretty ones. It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies and nosers-out of unorthodoxy. But this particular girl gave him the impression of being more dangerous than most. Once when they passed in the corridor she gave him a quick sidelong glance which seemed to pierce right into him and for a moment had filled him with black terror. The idea had even crossed his mind that she might be an agent of the Thought Police. That, it was true, was very unlikely. Still, he continued to feel a peculiar uneasiness, which had fear mixed up in it as well as hostility, whenever she was anywhere near him.
The other person was a man named O'Brien, a member of the Inner Party and holder of some post so important and remote that Winston had only a dim idea of its nature. A momentary hush passed over the group of people round the chairs as they saw the black overalls of an Inner Party member approaching. O'Brien was a large, burly man with a thick neck and a coarse, humorous, brutal face. In spite of his formidable appearance he had a certain charm of manner. He had a trick of resettling his spectacles on his nose which was curiously disarming -- in some indefinable way, curiously civilized. It was a gesture which, if anyone had still thought in such terms, might have recalled an eighteenth-century nobleman offering his snuffbox. Winston had seen O'Brien perhaps a dozen times in almost as many years. He felt deeply drawn to him, and not solely because he was intrigued by the contrast between O'Brien's urbane manner and his prize-fighter's physique. Much more it was because of a secretly held belief -- or perhaps not even a belief, merely a hope -- that O'Brien's political orthodoxy was not perfect. Something in his face suggested it irresistibly. And again, perhaps it was not even unorthodoxy that was written in his face, but simply intelligence. But at any rate he had the appearance of being a person that you could talk to if somehow you could cheat the telescreen and get him alone. Winston had never made the smallest effort to verify this guess: indeed, there was no way of doing so. At this moment O'Brien glanced at his wrist-watch, saw that it was nearly eleven hundred, and evidently decided to stay in the Records Department until the Two Minutes Hate was over. He took a chair in the same row as Winston, a couple of places away. A small, sandy-haired woman who worked in the next cubicle to Winston was between them. The girl with dark hair was sitting immediately behind.
The next moment a hideous, grinding speech, as of some monstrous machine running without oil, burst from the big telescreen at the end of the room. It was a noise that set one's teeth on edge and bristled the hair at the back of one's neck. The Hate had started.
As usual, the face of Emmanuel Goldstein, the Enemy of the People, had flashed on to the screen. There were hisses here and there among the audience. The little sandy-haired woman gave a squeak of mingled fear and disgust. Goldstein was the renegade and backslider who once, long ago (how long ago, nobody quite remembered), had been one of the leading figures of the Party, almost on a level with Big Brother himself, and then had engaged in counter-revolutionary activities, had been condemned to death, and had mysteriously escaped and disappeared. The programmes of the Two Minutes Hate varied from day to day, but there was none in which Goldstein was not the principal figure. He was the primal traitor, the earliest defiler of the Party's purity. All subsequent crimes against the Party, all treacheries, acts of sabotage, heresies, deviations, sprang directly out of his teaching. Somewhere or other he was still alive and hatching his conspiracies: perhaps somewhere beyond the sea, under the protection of his foreign paymasters, perhaps even -- so it was occasionally rumoured -- in some hiding-place in Oceania itself.
Winston's diaphragm was constricted. He could never see the face of Goldstein without a painful mixture of emotions. It was a lean Jewish face, with a great fuzzy aureole of white hair and a small goatee beard -- a clever face, and yet somehow inherently despicable, with a kind of senile silliness in the long thin nose, near the end of which a pair of spectacles was perched. It resembled the face of a sheep, and the voice, too, had a sheep-like quality. Goldstein was delivering his usual venomous attack upon the doctrines of the Party -- an attack so exaggerated and perverse that a child should have been able to see through it, and yet just plausible enough to fill one with an alarmed feeling that other people, less level-headed than oneself, might be taken in by it. He was abusing Big Brother, he was denouncing the dictatorship of the Party, he was demanding the immediate conclusion of peace with Eurasia, he was advocating freedom of speech, freedom of the Press, freedom of assembly, freedom of thought, he was crying hysterically that the revolution had been betrayed -- and all this in rapid polysyllabic speech which was a sort of parody of the habitual style of the orators of the Party, and even contained Newspeak words: more Newspeak words, indeed, than any Party member would normally use in real life. And all the while, lest one should be in any doubt as to the reality which Goldstein's specious claptrap covered, behind his head on the telescreen there marched the endless columns of the Eurasian army -- row after row of solid-looking men with expressionless Asiatic faces, who swam up to the surface of the screen and vanished, to be replaced by others exactly similar. The dull rhythmic tramp of the soldiers' boots formed the background to Goldstein's bleating voice.
Before the Hate had proceeded for thirty seconds, uncontrollable exclamations of rage were breaking out from half the people in the room. The self-satisfied sheep-like face on the screen, and the terrifying power of the Eurasian army behind it, were too much to be borne: besides, the sight or even the thought of Goldstein produced fear and anger automatically. He was an object of hatred more constant than either Eurasia or Eastasia, since when Oceania was at war with one of these Powers it was generally at peace with the other. But what was strange was that although Goldstein was hated and despised by everybody, although every day and a thousand times a day, on platforms, on the telescreen, in newspapers, in books, his theories were refuted, smashed, ridiculed, held up to the general gaze for the pitiful rubbish that they were in spite of all this, his influence never seemed to grow less. Always there were fresh dupes waiting to be seduced by him. A day never passed when spies and saboteurs acting under his directions were not unmasked by the Thought Police. He was the commander of a vast shadowy army, an underground network of conspirators dedicated to the overthrow of the State. The Brotherhood, its name was supposed to be. There were also whispered stories of a terrible book, a compendium of all the heresies, of which Goldstein was the author and which circulated clandestinely here and there. It was a book without a title. People referred to it, if at all, simply as the book. But one knew of such things only through vague rumours. Neither the Brotherhood nor the book was a subject that any ordinary Party member would mention if there was a way of avoiding it.
In its second minute the Hate rose to a frenzy. People were leaping up and down in their places and shouting at the tops of their voices in an effort to drown the maddening bleating voice that came from the screen. The little sandy-haired woman had turned bright pink, and her mouth was opening and shutting like that of a landed fish. Even O'Brien's heavy face was flushed. He was sitting very straight in his chair, his powerful chest swelling and quivering as though he were standing up to the assault of a wave. The dark-haired girl behind Winston had begun crying out 'Swine! Swine! Swine!' and suddenly she picked up a heavy Newspeak dictionary and flung it at the screen. It struck Goldstein's nose and bounced off; the voice continued inexorably. In a lucid moment Winston found that he was shouting with the others and kicking his heel violently against the rung of his chair. The horrible thing about the Two Minutes Hate was not that one was obliged to act a part, but, on the contrary, that it was impossible to avoid joining in. Within thirty seconds any pretence was always unnecessary. A hideous ecstasy of fear and vindictiveness, a desire to kill, to torture, to smash faces in with a sledge-hammer, seemed to flow through the whole group of people like an electric current, turning one even against one's will into a grimacing, screaming lunatic. And yet the rage that one felt was an abstract, undirected emotion which could be switched from one object to another like the flame of a blowlamp. Thus, at one moment Winston's hatred was not turned against Goldstein at all, but, on the contrary, against Big Brother, the Party, and the Thought Police; and at such moments his heart went out to the lonely, derided heretic on the screen, sole guardian of truth and sanity in a world of lies. And yet the very next instant he was at one with the people about him, and all that was said of Goldstein seemed to him to be true. At those moments his secret loathing of Big Brother changed into adoration, and Big Brother seemed to tower up, an invincible, fearless protector, standing like a rock against the hordes of Asia, and Goldstein, in spite of his isolation, his helplessness, and the doubt that hung about his very existence, seemed like some sinister enchanter, capable by the mere power of his voice of wrecking the structure of civilization.
It was even possible, at moments, to switch one's hatred this way or that by a voluntary act. Suddenly, by the sort of violent effort with which one wrenches one's head away from the pillow in a nightmare, Winston succeeded in transferring his hatred from the face on the screen to the dark-haired girl behind him. Vivid, beautiful hallucinations flashed through his mind. He would flog her to death with a rubber truncheon. He would tie her naked to a stake and shoot her full of arrows like Saint Sebastian. He would ravish her and cut her throat at the moment of climax. Better than before, moreover, he realized why it was that he hated her. He hated her because she was young and pretty and sexless, because he wanted to go to bed with her and would never do so, because round her sweet supple waist, which seemed to ask you to encircle it with your arm, there was only the odious scarlet sash, aggressive symbol of chastity.
The Hate rose to its climax. The voice of Goldstein had become an actual sheep's bleat, and for an instant the face changed into that of a sheep. Then the sheep-face melted into the figure of a Eurasian soldier who seemed to be advancing, huge and terrible, his sub-machine gun roaring, and seeming to spring out of the surface of the screen, so that some of the people in the front row actually flinched backwards in their seats. But in the same moment, drawing a deep sigh of relief from everybody, the hostile figure melted into the face of Big Brother, black-haired, black-moustachio'd, full of power and mysterious calm, and so vast that it almost filled up the screen. Nobody heard what Big Brother was saying. It was merely a few words of encouragement, the sort of words that are uttered in the din of battle, not distinguishable individually but restoring confidence by the fact of being spoken. Then the face of Big Brother faded away again, and instead the three slogans of the Party stood out in bold capitals:
WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH
But the face of Big Brother seemed to persist for several seconds on the screen, as though the impact that it had made on everyone's eyeballs was too vivid to wear off immediately. The little sandyhaired woman had flung herself forward over the back of the chair in front of her. With a tremulous murmur that sounded like 'My Saviour!' she extended her arms towards the screen. Then she buried her face in her hands. It was apparent that she was uttering a prayer.
At this moment the entire group of people broke into a deep, slow, rhythmical chant of 'B-B! ...B-B!' -- over and over again, very slowly, with a long pause between the first 'B' and the second-a heavy, murmurous sound, somehow curiously savage, in the background of which one seemed to hear the stamp of naked feet and the throbbing of tom-toms. For perhaps as much as thirty seconds they kept it up. It was a refrain that was often heard in moments of overwhelming emotion. Partly it was a sort of hymn to the wisdom and majesty of Big Brother, but still more it was an act of self-hypnosis, a deliberate drowning of consciousness by means of rhythmic noise. Winston's entrails seemed to grow cold. In the Two Minutes Hate he could not help sharing in the general delirium, but this sub-human chanting of 'B-B! ...B-B!' always filled him with horror. Of course he chanted with the rest: it was impossible to do otherwise. To dissemble your feelings, to control your face, to do what everyone else was doing, was an instinctive reaction. But there was a space of a couple of seconds during which the expression of his eyes might conceivably have betrayed him. And it was exactly at this moment that the significant thing happened -- if, indeed, it did happen.
Momentarily he caught O'Brien's eye. O'Brien had stood up. He had taken off his spectacles and was in the act of resettling them on his nose with his characteristic gesture. But there was a fraction of a second when their eyes met, and for as long as it took to happen Winston knew-yes, he knew!-that O'Brien was thinking the same thing as himself. An unmistakable message had passed. It was as though their two minds had opened and the thoughts were flowing from one into the other through their eyes. 'I am with you,' O'Brien seemed to be saying to him. 'I know precisely what you are feeling. I know all about your contempt, your hatred, your disgust. But don't worry, I am on your side!' And then the flash of intelligence was gone, and O'Brien's face was as inscrutable as everybody else's.
That was all, and he was already uncertain whether it had happened. Such incidents never had any sequel. All that they did was to keep alive in him the belief, or hope, that others besides himself were the enemies of the Party. Perhaps the rumours of vast underground conspiracies were true after all -- perhaps the Brotherhood really existed! It was impossible, in spite of the endless arrests and confessions and executions, to be sure that the Brotherhood was not simply a myth. Some days he believed in it, some days not. There was no evidence, only fleeting glimpses that might mean anything or nothing: snatches of overheard conversation, faint scribbles on lavatory walls -- once, even, when two strangers met, a small movement of the hand which had looked as though it might be a signal of recognition. It was all guesswork: very likely he had imagined everything. He had gone back to his cubicle without looking at O'Brien again. The idea of following up their momentary contact hardly crossed his mind. It would have been inconceivably dangerous even if he had known how to set about doing it. For a second, two seconds, they had exchanged an equivocal glance, and that was the end of the story. But even that was a memorable event, in the locked loneliness in which one had to live.
Winston roused himself and sat up straighter. He let out a belch. The gin was rising from his stomach.
His eyes re-focused on the page. He discovered that while he sat helplessly musing he had also been writing, as though by automatic action. And it was no longer the same cramped, awkward handwriting as before. His pen had slid voluptuously over the smooth paper, printing in large neat capitals -
DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER
DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER
over and over again, filling half a page.
He could not help feeling a twinge of panic. It was absurd, since the writing of those particular words was not more dangerous than the initial act of opening the diary, but for a moment he was tempted to tear out the spoiled pages and abandon the enterprise altogether.
He did not do so, however, because he knew that it was useless. Whether he wrote DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER, or whether he refrained from writing it, made no difference. Whether he went on with the diary, or whether he did not go on with it, made no difference. The Thought Police would get him just the same. He had committed -- would still have committed, even if he had never set pen to paper -- the essential crime that contained all others in itself. Thoughtcrime, they called it. Thoughtcrime was not a thing that could be concealed for ever. You might dodge successfully for a while, even for years, but sooner or later they were bound to get you.
It was always at night -- the arrests invariably happened at night. The sudden jerk out of sleep, the rough hand shaking your shoulder, the lights glaring in your eyes, the ring of hard faces round the bed. In the vast majority of cases there was no trial, no report of the arrest. People simply disappeared, always during the night. Your name was removed from the registers, every record of everything you had ever done was wiped out, your one-time existence was denied and then forgotten. You were abolished, annihilated: vaporized was the usual word.
For a moment he was seized by a kind of hysteria. He began writing in a hurried untidy scrawl:
theyll shoot me i don't care theyll shoot me in the back of the neck i dont care down with big brother they always shoot you in the back of the neck i dont care down with big brother --
He sat back in his chair, slightly ashamed of himself, and laid down the pen. The next moment he started violently. There was a knocking at the door.
Already! He sat as still as a mouse, in the futile hope that whoever it was might go away after a single attempt. But no, the knocking was repeated. The worst thing of all would be to delay. His heart was thumping like a drum, but his face, from long habit, was probably expressionless. He got up and moved heavily towards the door.
| 1984 |
Which English port in the county of Kent is the only one which has the right to call itself a Royal Harbour? | 15 Immortal Opening Lines - Matador Network
15 Immortal Opening Lines
Opening lines have to be good, but sometimes they almost seem immortal.
It was a pleasure to burn.
-Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451
Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendía was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice.
-Gabriel García Márquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude
It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.
-George Orwell,1984
You don’t know about me without you have read a book by the name of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer; but that ain’t no matter.
-Mark Twain, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
It was a queer, sultry summer, the summer they electrocuted the Rosenbergs, and I didn’t know what I was doing in New York.
-Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar
If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you’ll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don’t feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth.
-J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye
Through the fence, between the curling flower spaces, I could see them hitting.
-William Faulkner, The Sound and the Fury
The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel.
-William Gibson, Neuromancer
All this happened, more or less.
-Kurt Vonnegut, Slaughterhouse-Five
Ships at a distance have every man’s wish on board.
-Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God
There was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it.
-C.S. Lewis, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
What if this young woman, who writes such bad poems, in competition with her husband, whose poems are equally bad, should stretch her remarkably long and well-made legs out before you, so that her skirt slips up to the tops of her stockings?
-Gilbert Sorrentino, Imaginative Qualities of Actual Things
You better not never tell nobody but God.
-Alice Walker, The Color Purple
On my naming day when I come 12 I gone front spear and kilt a wyld boar he parbly ben the las wyld pig on the Bundel Downs any how there hadnt ben none for a long time befor him nor I aint looking to see none agen.
-Russell Hoban, Riddley Walker
I write this sitting in the kitchen sink.
-Dodie Smith, I Capture the Castle
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Butterfly, Deke, Kneeing and Sniper are all terms used in which sport? | Hockey Terms
St. Paul Capitals Hockey Association
Hockey Terms
( Source: www.lifetimehockey.com )
A
Aerobic conditioning: Aerobic means "with oxygen." A player needs to have aerobic conditioning in order to efficiently use oxygen and therefore have endurance over the length of the game.
Anaerobic conditioning: Anaerobic means "without oxygen." Short bursts of intense energy are needed for many hockey plays. Anaerobic conditioning is needed to be able to optimally execute these plays by having stored energy that can be released without high oxygen intake.
Assist: Individual scoring records are kept for each player. A player that scores a goal is given one scoring point. A player that passes the puck to another player who has scored is given an "assist" and is also credited with one scoring point. No more than two assists can be awarded on any one goal.
Attackers: Players who bring the puck into the offensive zone are known as attackers. They can include only one player or all the skaters on a team.
Attacking zone: Sometimes also called the offensive zone, the attacking zone is the one third of the rink inside the blue line that contains the defender’s goal.
B
Back checking: When the puck changes hand, the offensive team becomes the defensive team. In order to slow the attack of the offensive team, each player on the defensive team is assigned an attacker and must come close to them and either strip them of the puck or intercept a pass intended for them. This strategy is known as "back-checking" and should be employed by all skaters on the ice.
Backhand shot: A backhand shot is a shot, which originates from the backhand side of the stick. Although backhand shots are usually not as hard as forehand shots, a backhand shot can surprise a goalie and score, especially when the player is close to the net.
Backhand: The puck is carried on the stick during stick handling on either the forehand or backhand side. The "backhand" side of the stick is the side, which is on the outside of the stick curve.
Beach Hockey: A new version of in-line hockey developed by ESPN. The rink is a portable in-line rink (164' x 74') and is set up on a beach. The rules are modified for a fast game with few face-offs.
Bench penalty: A bench penalty can be called on a team for violations of the rules, which are not specific to a player. Any team member can serve the penalty.
Blocker: The goaltender has a special glove known as a blocker which is worn on the hand the holds the stick. The blocker is used to block shots that are high on the goalie’s stick side.
Blue Lines: The ice surface is divided into sections by two blue lines. The blue lines are 60 feet from the goal line (the goal sits on the goal line.) The blue lines are 12 inches wide and extend from board to board. Blue lines are not used on in-line rinks.
Boards: The boards surround the rink and are four feet high and are almost always made of wood. Most indoor rinks add Plexiglas on top of the boards for another 4 to 6 feet. Boards in a newer rink are designed to "give" when players collide with them.
Body check: If a player contacts another player in order to dislodge the puck it is known as a body check. Body checking is illegal in no check hockey. However, if a player is within on arms length of another player contact is allowed in no check hockey.
Box: A technique used to defend against the power play. The four skaters arrange themselves in a loose box in the defensive zone.
Break out: When a team gains control of the puck in their defensive end they will "break out" with the puck to go on the attack. Most teams have established break out plays to accomplish this important part of the game.
Breakaway: When one attacking player manages to get by all defenders and is skating in on the goalie by him or herself it is known as a breakaway (also sometimes know as one on none.)
Breezers: Hockey pants are know as breezers (based on our anecdotal research, they are only referred to as Breezers in Wisconsin and Minnesota) they are shorts that come down to the top of the knee and extend high over the waist. Breezers have padding in many places in order to cushion shots and falls. Because breezers are usually very wide in the legs, a fair amount of "breeze" will blow into them when a player skates - hence the name.
Butterfly save: When a goalie extends both legs in opposite directions in order to stop a shot it is known as a butterfly save.
C
Captain: Every team selects a captain (and assistant captains). The captain wears a "C" on their jersey and the assistants wear an "A." It is the captain’s responsibility to interface with the referees and with the league in recreational hockey.
Catching glove (Catcher): The goalie has a catching glove on the non-stick hand. The catching glove is somewhat like a baseball first base glove but is specially designed to absorb the high velocity of a hockey shot.
Center ice: Center ice is the area around the red centerline of the rink.
Center line: The center line bisects the middle of the rink. It is red, 12 inches wide, and on many rinks it is a dashed line.
Center: In ice hockey, the center is the middle player of the forwards. The center normally takes the face offs.
Change on the fly: A team may change its players even as play continues. This is known as "changing on the fly." A player coming on the rink cannot play the puck until the player they are replacing is off the rink.
Charging: Charging is called for taking two steps before applying a body check. It is a two minute minor penalty. It should never occur in a well disciplined game of no check hockey.
Check: A check is used to gain the puck from an opponent. Body checking and stick checking are the two forms of checking used to accomplish this end. The term check is sometimes used to indicate a player that is being covered closely in one on one defensive situation - for example: "make sure you cover your check closely as they come into the neutral zone." (See also "Finish a check" and "Close Checking")
Cherry Picker: A player who stays at center ice and does not help their team on defense. They hope to pick up a break out pass with no defenders in their way. (We hate cherry pickers because the authors of this site play defense: hey cherry picker - get in the game!)
Chip it out: When a team wants to get out of their zone, they can pass the puck to one of their wings who is close to the point. If the wing cannot catch the pass and begin to skate into the neutral zone they can "chip" it by just touching it and directing it into the neutral zone. Chipping the puck is considered a very conservative style as the puck as it is difficult to begin a formal rush toward the opponent and it is likely that the other team will get possession.
Clearing: Clearing has two meanings. In ice hockey you clear the puck out of your defensive zone by shooting it out of the zone - and not to a teammate. If you pass to to a team mate it is called a "clearing pass."
However in in-line hockey clearing is equivalent of ice hockey’s icing. If the puck is passed by a defensive player over the center line and the goal line without being touched by a player the referee stops play and brings it back into the defensive zone for a face-off.
Close Checking: This term is usually applied to a team strategy. Each opponent player is assigned to a player and is shadowed and touched similar to man on man defense in basketball or football. This technique can sometimes slow very fast skaters.
Coach: The coach does not play but remains in the players box during the game. Coaches determine player lines and make line changes during a game. Coaches also develop game strategy and run practices
Coast to Coast: A player skates from their end to the opponents end without passing or losing the puck..
Cooperalls: Cooperalls are a type of hockey pants that extend from the waist to the ankles. Cooperalls are worn in place of breezers and do not require hockey socks.
Corner drill: Before a game begins some teams will use a corner drill to warm up the team’s passing and shooting. The players form two groups in each corner. One player skates toward the blue line and then cuts back toward the net. A player from the opposing corner then passes to the breaking player and the player shoots. The play is then repeated from the opposite corner.
Crease: The semi-circular area in front of the goal is the goaltender’s crease. A goal cannot be scored when an offensive player is in the crease. If an offensive player skates through the crease play will be stopped. The semi-circular area in front of the official scorekeepers box is the referee’s crease. No player may enter the referee’s crease when the referee is assessing a penalty and reporting it to the scorekeeper.
Cross-checking: When a player hits or pushes another player with their stick with both hands on the stick and no part of the stick on the ice cross checking is called. It is a two minute minor penalty.
Crossover: The crossover is a skating technique is which one skate is placed in front of the skate on the opposite leg. It can be done while skating forward or backward. Crossovers are used to maneuver in the corner or to accelerate on an open portion of the rink.
Cycling: Cycling is an offensive strategy used to keep control of the puck by keeping it close the boards. Offensive players make short passes to each other along the boards until they see an opening to pass to a teammate who is moving into the slot for a shot.
D
Dasher: The lower portion of the boards that encircle the hockey rink. Sometimes the dasher is different color than the boards.
Defensive player: Players who are primarily used for defense are called defense or "D"s for short.
Defensive shell: When a team plays shorted handed because of a penalty they form a defensive shell. This is usually a box formation for four skaters or a triangle for three.
Defensive zone: The hockey rink is divided into zones by the blue lines. The zone in which a team’s goalie is located is that team’s defensive zone.
Deflection: A deflection occurs when one player shoots at the goal and a teammate changes the direction of the shot with their stick before it reaches the goal.
Deke (Deking): A deke is used by an offensive player with the puck to confuse a defender or goalie. It is a fake or feint move. A common deke is to lower the shoulder in one direction but actually turn in the other. "Deke" originated as a shortened form of "decoy." Ernest Hemingway used "deke" as a noun referring to hunting decoys in his 1950 novel Across the River and Into the Trees ("I offered to put the dekes out with him"). About a decade later, it began appearing in ice-hockey contexts in Canadian print sources as both a verb and a noun ("the act of faking an opponent out of position"). Today, "deke" has scored in many other sports, including baseball, basketball, and football. It has also checked its way into more general usage to refer to deceptive or evasive moves or actions. However, this general application of "deke" has never made it past the defenders. It occurs too rarely in English to merit its own sense in the dictionary.
Delayed off side: A delayed offside is indicated when a puck is shot across the blue line into the offensive zone with an offensive player inside the zone but is not touched by any offensive player. The delayed offside is indicated by the linesman with an upraised arm. If an offensive player touches the puck inside the zone offsides is called. If the offensive players return to the neutral zone without touching the puck, no offsides is called.
Delayed penalty: When the referee determines that a penalty will be assessed against a player they will raise their arm. If the puck is controlled by the team that does not have the player who committed the penalty, play continues until the other team touches the puck. This is know as a delayed penalty. A common strategy during a delayed penalty is to pull the goalie and add a player, as the other team can never get off a shot.
Digger: A player who is a hard worker and goes into the corners to regain possession of the puck.
Dive: A player exaggerates being hooked or tripped to draw a penalty on the opposing team.
Draw: During a face-off, each opposing player will try to get the draw. The draw occurs when a player succeeds in getting control of the puck and pulling it back to a teammate.
Drop pass: When an offensive player enters the offensive zone with the puck, they may leave it on the ice for a trailing offensive player to pick up and pass or shoot. Because the player leaving the puck appears to push the puck backwards it is known as a drop pass.
Dump and chase (Dump in): The dump in is an offensive strategy in which the puck is shot into the offensive zone corner by the offensive team from outside the blue line. This strategy is usually employed if the offensive team is having trouble getting though the defense at the blue line or if the offensive team wants to change lines.
E
Elbow pads: Elbow pads are worn by players to protect their elbows and the portions of the arms that above and below the elbow. Players with good quality shoulder pads, elbow pads and gloves should have very little of their arms exposed.
Empty Net: When a team that is behind "pulls" their goaltender so that they have an extra attacker to try and score a goal this is known as an "Empty Net." This usually occurs when a team is down one goal late in a game. As a result of the goaltender being "pulled" the net is empty. If an opposing players shots and scores a goal into the "empty net" it is sometimes referred to as an "empty netter."
End zone: The end zone is the portion of the rink behind the goal line.
F
Face guard or mask: The face guard attaches to the hockey helmet. It can be made of a wire mesh or Plexiglas. A face guard that only covers the eyes is called a half shield.
Face-off circle: There are five face off circles on the rink. When the officials execute a face-off at the dot within these circles, all other players must stay outside the circle.
Face-off: The face off is the mechanism the referee or linesman uses to restart play. A player from each team lines up facing each other and the official drops the puck between them to start play.
Fair Play: A league scoring system that takes into account penalty minutes is known as Fair Play. Each team gets one fair play point per game in addition to the normal points awarded (e.g. 2 for a win, 1 for tie or OT loss, 0 for a loss.) Each league establishes a penalty minute threshold (e.g. 12 minutes/game.) If a team exceeds the threshold they lose their Fair Play point. Penalty minutes can also be awarded against coaches and in some cases fans. The goal of Fair Play is to focus the game on hockey skills instead of excessive roughness, fighting and obnoxious behavior from fans and coaches.
Fake shot: A fake shot is executed by bringing the stick back as though the player were ready to take a slap shot. However, the player then quickly brings the stick back down to the ice and begins to stick handle. Fake shots can be used to deke around a defender or to freeze a goalie before executing a different type of shot.
Falling on the puck: If a player accidentally falls on the puck and the officials can no longer see it they will stop play. If a player falls on the puck intentionally to stop play the referee can call a minor penalty.
Finish a Check: In regular checking hockey a player is allowed to hit their opponent if they have had the puck and have gotten rid of it. This is known as finishing a check and is not allowed in no-check hockey.
Five hole: The potential scoring areas around a goal are numbered from one to four starting in the lower right corner and proceeding clockwise at each corner of the net. The "5 hole" is between the goalies legs on the ice.
Flex: Hockey sticks are manufactured with different degrees of flex - medium to extra stiff. A stronger player usually wants a stiffer stick in order to impart more velocity to a shot.
Flip pass: A flip pass is used to pass to a teammate by lifting the puck slightly off the ice as it travels.
Flip shot: A flip shot is taken by cocking the wrists and releasing them quickly. Very little arm or body weight shifting is used. Flip shots are normally taken close in to the goal
Fore-checking: Fore-checking is a technique to gain control of the puck in the offensive zone when the defensive team has the puck. The offensive team fore-checks by sending one or two players in close to the defensive player who has the puck in order to take it away.
Forehand pass: A pass, which originates from the forehand side of the stick.
Forehand shot: A shot, which come off of the forehand side of the stick
Forehand: The puck is carried on the stick during stick handling on either the forehand or backhand side. The "forehand" side of the stick is the side, which is on the inside of the stick curve.
Freezing the puck: When a goalie falls on a puck on the rink it is known as freezing the puck and play stops.
G
Game misconduct: A player is suspended for the remainder of the game if they receive a game misconduct. Their team continues to play at full strength unless a minor penalty is also assessed.
Garter belt: A garter belt is worn by a player to keep their hockey socks up. Some athletic underwear now comes with Velcro to attach the socks so that the garter belt is not needed.
Glove save: When a goalie catches a shot in their glove it is known as a glove save.
Goal judge: Many rinks have a small area behind each goal behind the boards for the goal judge. This individual watches the goal line in the net and indicates a goal by turning on a light above the goal judge. When no goal judge is present the referee calls the goals.
Goal line: The goal line is a 2 inch wide red line that crosses the rink and is aligned in the front of the net. To score a goal the puck must completely cross the goal line inside the net.
Goal: When the puck crosses the goal line inside the net it is a goal. The referee normally makes this determination. The word "goal" is also used to refer the net itself that a four foot by six foot structure of pipe enclosed by netting.
Goalkeeper: The goalkeeper is also called the "goalie" or "net minder." The goalkeeper wears special equipment and functions to defend the net. Goalies must stay on their side of the center red line.
Goon: A player who may lack finesse but specializes in hard hitting checks to interfere with the other team. Even no-check hockey sometimes attracts goons. If there are lot of them in your league we recommend you find another league.
Grinding: When a puck is shot into a corner of the rink and two opposing players attempt to gain position, grinding may occur. The players may have close body contact and attempt to gain control by kicking the puck or using their stick with one hand. This activity may take some time with a lots of hands and legs flying - hence the term grinding.
H
Half shield: A half shield is a hockey face mask that only covers the upper half of the face - from the nose up. It is usually made of Plexiglas.
Hand pass: If the puck is in the air and a player hits it toward another player on their team it is known as a hand pass and the referee will stop play for a face-off.
Hard Around: A hard shot from an offensive player taken into the offensive zone that follows the boards across the blue line, into the corner, behind the net and into to opposite corner. The hard around is used set up offensive plays (particularly power plays) or to give a team extra time on a line change.
Hash marks: Hash marks are small lines, which are perpendicular to the edge of the face off circles. Players cannot encroach on the hash mark areas during face-offs.
Hat trick: When a player scores three goals in a game it is known as a hat trick. Three goals in a row is a "pure" hat trick.
It may surprise some people to learn that the term "hat trick" actually originated in British cricket. A bowler who retired three batsmen with three consecutive balls in cricket was entitled to a new hat at the expense of the club to commemorate this feat. Eventually, the phrase was applied to the same player scoring three goals in any goal sport, and baseball announcers now occasionally refer to a batter who gets three hits in three turns at bat as having managed a hat trick as well. The phrase finally broadened to include any string of three important successes or achievements, in any field.
Headman the puck: When a player passes to a teammate that is ahead of them on the attack this is headmanning the puck. It also works if you are a woman player - we just don't know what it is called!
High in the zone: The area between the blue line and the hash marks on the face off circle is known as high in the zone.
High sticking: If a player’s stick is raised over their waist when they contact another player it is known as high sticking and the player will incur a minor penalty.
Hitting the pipe: When a shot strikes the metal frame of the goal it is known as hitting the pipe.
Hockey stop: One method of stopping in both ice skating and in-line is to quickly plant the skates perpendicular to the direction of travel. This can be done on one foot or both feet and is known as a hockey stop.
Hockey tree: A hockey tree is constructed of wood, has a number of arms and is approximately 5 feet tall. Is used to dry a player’s equipment after playing. Check out our instructions on building a hockey tree by following this link.
Holding: If a player holds an opponent with their hands or stick or in any other way a two minute minor penalty for holding will be assessed. (As of 2006 this penalty is now more aggressively enforced in the NHL and USA Hockey.)
Hooking: A two minute minor penalty will be called on a player who uses their stick to impede the progress of an opponent by hooking their stick around them. (As of 2006 this penalty is now more aggressively enforced in the NHL and USA Hockey.)
Hot Dog: A player who is good and frequently shows off to let people know it.
I
Icing: When the defensive team shoots the puck from behind the red line into the opponent’s offensive zone and across the red goal line, icing is called. The puck is then taken back into the defensive zone for a face off. In some leagues the puck must be shot across both blue lines for icing to be called. The linesman or referee may "wave off" icing if they feel the players in their defensive zone could play the puck.
Illegal body checking: In no-checking hockey, a two minute "roughing" penalty will be assessed whenever a player impedes the movement of a puck-carrying opponent by pushing the player with the hands or arms or deliberately contacting him with the shoulder, hip or any other part of the torso.
There are instances when considerable body contact between the puck carrier and an opponent may occur that will not be penalized, provided that there has been no overt hip, shoulder or arm contact to physically force the opponent off the puck. Likewise, there will be no penalty assessed if the puck carrier unsuccessfully attempts to skate through too small an opening between the boards and a stationary opponent and a collision occurs, unless there has been an overt action to body check the puck carrier.
Deliberate body contact on the part of the puck carrier may also be penalized under this rule. In order for a body checking penalty to be assessed, enough contact must have occurred to impede the movements of the puck carrier.
Intentional offside: An intentional offside is called when the referee feels that a team caused the offside to obtain a stoppage of play or when the puck is shot into the offensive zone and other offensive players are below the hash marks in the offensive zone. The face-off takes place in the offending teams defensive zone.
Interference: A two minute minor penalty will be imposed on a player who interferes with or impedes the progress of an opponent who is not in possession of the puck, or who deliberately knocks a stick out of an opponent's hand or who prevents a player who has dropped his stick or any other piece of equipment from regaining possession of it.
K
Kick save: When a goaltender kicks an incoming shot out of the net it is known as a kick save.
L
Lactic acid: Lactic acid builds up in the muscles as a byproduct of oxygen use and can cause cramping. Aerobic conditioning can prevent excessive lactic acid build up.
Left wing lock: The left wing lock is a defensive strategy in which the left wing drops back to play parallel to the defense when the other team begins their breakout.
Lift pass: A lift place clears the ice by a few inches on its way to another player. It is used to pass over an opponents stick
Line: A group of players who play as a unit is known as a line. The center and the wings are considered a line as are a defensive pair.
Linesman: The Linesman is the official(s) that stays next to the blue line. The linesman calls offsides and icing. The linesman also drops the puck for face offs. All other penalties and calls are made by the referee. Linesmen are also sometimes called assistant referees.
Low in the zone: When a player is between the goal line and the hash marks on the face off circle they are positioned low in the zone.
M
Major penalty: A major penalty will require the offending player to serve five minutes in the penalty box. Major penalties are called for more severe occurrences of all minor penalty types.
Manager: A manager on a recreational team will perform miscellaneous tasks to make the team operate more efficiently. Task includes such items as: scheduling ice time, letting players know about changes in the schedule etc. Most managers are players also.
Minor penalty: A player must serve two minutes in the penalty box for a minor penalty.
Misconduct penalty: A player receiving a misconduct penalty must serve 10 minutes in the penalty box. The player’s team does not have to play shorthanded during the misconduct penalty.
N
Net: The net is also know as the goal and is a metal frame, six feet by four feet, which is enclosed by netting.
Neutral zone: The neutral zone is the area between the two blue lines. (It is also the area of space between the Romulans and the Federation for you Star Trek fans!)
Neutral zone trap: A defensive system that floods the neutral zone with defenders. This is usually done by using only a one player forecheck and swinging one wing back into the neutral when the other team is breaking out. The neutral zone trap defense is difficult to penetrate as it shuts down many of the normal breakout passes.
No checking: No checking is the type of hockey where no body checking is allowed. Stick checking and some contact between players are allowed in no-check hockey.
No hit hockey: A Canadian expression for no check hockey.
O
OD (in line skate diameter): OD means the outside diameter of a wheel on an in-line skate. In-line skates can be rockered by having a smaller OD on the front and back wheels of the skate than on the middle wheels.
Offsides: An offsides is called when a player precedes the puck into the offensive zone as indicated by the blue line. When an offside occurs the referee stops play and the face off occurs outside the offensive zone. Offsides is not called in in-line hockey as there are no blue lines.
Offensive zone: Sometimes also called the attacking zone, the offensive zone is the one third of the rink inside the blue line that contains the defender’s goal.
Official goal: The referee makes the determination if a goal is scored and who scored it. This is know as the official goal. If a defensive player accidentally hits a puck into his or her own net, the offensive player nearest the puck receives the official goal.
Old time hockey: A Canadian expression for no check hockey.
Olympic sized rinks: Olympic sized rinks are approximately 100 feet wide and the same length as traditional rinks. This additional 20 feet of width provides for a more open passing game.
One on One: This is a situation in which a player carries the puck into the offensive zone with only one defending player to beat.
One timer: When a pass goes to an offensive player and they hit it for a shot instead of receiving the pass it is known as a one timer. One timers are almost always slap shots.
One touch pass: A pass to a player that is deflected quickly to another player is known as a one touch pass.
Open hockey: Open hockey is recreational hockey without set positions or teams. Players attend an open hockey session and divide the participants into two teams. Each team can only play six players at a time. As players tire they leave the ice and a teammate takes their position. Therefore open hockey play does not normally involve lines. Open hockey is almost always played as no check, no contact hockey.
Outlet Pass: The outlet pass is made from an offensive player in their defensive zone to a teammate to break out of the zone and move play into neutral ice.
P
Penalty box: There are two penalty boxes on the side of a hockey rink - one for each team. They are normally located next to the scorer’s area. Penalized players must remain in the penalty box until their penalty time has expired
Penalty killing: A team that is short one or two players due to penalties is engaged in penalty killing. Strategies to kill (use up) the penalty time include shooting the puck the length of the ice or gaining possession and skating in circles away from the opposing team.
Penalty shot: When a player, in control of the puck on the opponent's side of the center red line and having no other opponent to pass than the goalkeeper, is tripped or otherwise fouled from behind, thus preventing a reasonable scoring opportunity, a penalty shot will be awarded to the non-offending team. The player who is fouled will then have the opportunity to skate in on the goalie, with no defending players in the zone, for one shot.
Penalty: A penalty is assessed against a player who on the ice for an infraction of the rules. The player must go the penalty box and reside there until their penalty time is up.
Periods: An ice hockey game normally has three periods of play with a rest time and/or ice resurfacing between each period. Periods can be between 10 and 20 minutes in length and can be either stop time or running time. In-line hockey frequently is played with only two periods.
PIM: PIM is an abbreviation that is used to indicate a player’s total Penalties - in minutes.
Player’s benches: Each team has a player’s bench along side the rink. Players not currently on the rink must stay on the player’s bench.
Plus/Minus: When a goal is scored for a player's team while the player is on the ice it is counted as +1. If a goal is scored against a player's team while the player is one the ice it counted as -1. The total for the player is known as plus/minus. This statistic is not normally collected in adult recreational hockey.
Plyometrics: A series of exercises that involve jumping and rapid foot movement. Plyometrics can substantially improve a player’s agility. (For more information see Complete Conditioning for Hockey by Peter Twist.)
Point: The point is an area just inside the blue line of the attacking zone. It is normally occupied by the attacking team's defensive players.
Poke check: A poke check is used to knock the puck away from the puck carrier. It is normally used by defenders against attacking players. The poke check is accomplished by moving the stick quickly on the ice to "poke" it off the attacker’s stick.
Power play: When one team has a one or two player advantage due to penalties on the other team, the team with advantage has a power play.
Pre-game warm-up: Before most games in adult recreational hockey there is a period known as the pre game. During the pre game, each team practices skating and shooting in its own end of the rink..
Puck: In ice hockey the puck is made of vulcanized rubber (one inch thick with a three inch diameter.) Pucks for inline can be balls or plastic objects with small wheels or bearings on the bottom. Blue pucks for young players weigh only four ounces.
Pulling the goaltender: When a team is behind by one goal they can gain a skater advantage by pulling the goaltender. The goalie skates to the bench after the puck enters the offensive zone and a skater (usually a wing or center) are added.
R
Rebound: When a shot hits a goaltender and bounces back into play it is known as a rebound.
Red line: The center line that divides the rink.
Referee: The referee is the main official in charge of the game. The referee calls all penalties and indicates when goals are scored.
RICE: RICE is an acronym that is useful in remembering immediate treatment for sprains. It means; Rest, Ice (on the sprain), Compression, and Elevation (of the sprained area.)
Rink markings: The rink is marked with face off circles, the blue and red lines and the goal and referee creases. The markings are normally painted on the surface of the rink under the ice (for ice hockey.)
Rink Rat: A young player who would rather hang out around the hockey rink practicing and playing hockey than just about anything else.
Rink zones: The rink is divided into the offensive, neutral, and defensive zones in ice hockey. In-line hockey has only the offensive and defensive zones because it does not use blue lines.
Rink: The surface on which hockey is played and surrounding boards are known as the rink.
Rockering: Ice skates can be sharpened in a manner so that the middle section of the blade is the only portion of the blade in contact with the ice. This is known as rockering and is done to allow players to be able to change direction more quickly. Rockering can also be accomplished on inline skates by putting smaller wheels on the front and back of the skates.
Roughing: A two minute minor or five minute major penalty may be assessed if the referee feels a player is guilty of unnecessary roughness.
Running time: If the clock does not stop when the referee stops play, the game is being played in running time. In some leagues minor penalties are three minutes long when a game is played in running time.
Rush: When a team moves the puck into the offensive zone by passing or skating it is known as rushing the puck.
S
Save: When a goaltender blocks a shot from entering the goal it is known as a save.
Scramble: If the puck is loose in front of the goal and being batted by players of both teams it is known as a scramble.
Screening the goalie: When a offensive player stands between the goalie and the puck in order to obstruct the goalie’s view it is known as screening the goalie.
Shadow: A defensive strategy is to play "one on one" where each offensive player shadows an offensive player on the other team by staying close to them as play moves into the neutral zone.
Shift: The time a player is on the ice is known as a shift. Most teams like to keep a shift to 90 seconds or less.
Shin Pads: Shin pads are worn on the front of the legs from the ankle to the top of the knee and are made of a hard material that will stop a slap shot. Most good shin pads have a heavy felt like material that wraps around the back of the legs.
Short handed: When a team has less players on the ice than the opposing team due to penalties they are playing short handed.
Shoulder Pads: Shoulder pads cover the shoulders, the upper forearms and the front and back of the torso. No-check hockey players do not need heavy shoulder pads but do need shoulder pads of enough strength to deflect a shot or an errant stick.
Simultaneous penalties: When two players on opposing teams receive a penalty at the same time, it is known as a simultaneous penalty. The referees have the option to let the teams play 4 on 4 skaters or 5 on 5 skaters.
Slap Shot: A shot taken by lifting the stick off the ice and striking the ice behind the puck. Although slap shots tend to be the most inaccurate hockey shot, they are also the hardest.
Slashing: Any player who swings his stick at any opposing player (whether in or out of range) with or without actually striking an opponent or where a player on the pretext of playing the puck makes a wild swing at the puck with the object of intimidating an opponent is guilty of slashing. Slashing is a two minute minor penalty. (As of 2006 this penalty is now more aggressively enforced in the NHL and USA Hockey.)
Slot: The slot is the area that is in front of the goal and extends back approximately forvy feet toward the blue line.
Soft Hands: A player who can catch a pass easily and handle the puck with an easy style is sometimes to said to have "soft hands."
Snap shot: A snap shot is a quick shot that is taken with the puck on the stick with a quick flick of the wrists. Snap shots are usually taken from within 20 feet of the goal.
Sniper: A player with a very accurate shot who scores many goals from a relatively close distances known as a sniper.
Snowplow stop: A skater can stop by angling their skates into a "V" with their toes pointed inward. This is known as a snowplow stop.
Speed training: In order to increase fitness and skating speed hockey players can use speed training. This can involve activities such as running for aerobic training and short sprints to increase anaerobic capacity.
Splitting the defense: An offensive player with the puck may attempt to skate between two defenders as they enter the offensive zone. If they succeed it is known as splitting the defense.
Stacked pads: Stacked pads are a method that some goalies use to stop a shot. The goaltender lays on the ice and put both legs together facing the shooter.
Stand Up: A defensive player is said to "Stand up" an attacker if they can position their body in front of the on rushing attacker in a manner so the attacker must slow down and stand straight up. In checking hockey this is usually done with a body check. However it can also be done in no-check hockey if the defender positions themselves directly in the path of the attacker and does not allow them to pass. The difference is subtle but the no-check defender must avoid throwing their weight into the attacker.
Stick check: A stick check is a method used by the defense to acquire the puck from an on rushing offensive player by using their stick. Poke checks and sweep checks are examples of stick checks.
Stick handling: Stick handling is the art of keeping a puck on the player’s stick as the skate and shot.
Stirrups: Some hockey socks have a layer of material that goes under the bottom of the skater’s foot. These stirrups hold the socks down. However, many players do not like this layer of cloth and cut the stirrups off.
Stop time: Stop time is a game where the clock stops when the referee blows the whistle and starts with a face off.
Strength training: A player may engage in strength training in order to improve the speed of their shot or their ability to play in the corners. Strength training usually involves weight lifting or its equivalent.
Sweater: A hockey jersey is sometimes called a sweater.
Sweep check: A defender can accomplish a sweep check by putting their stick on the ice and sweeping it around the puck that is carried by an attacking player.
Swizzles: Swizzles are a skating maneuver in which the skates are moved simultaneously together and apart. Swizzles can be performed both backwards and forwards.
T
Tape to Tape: A pass that is very accurate. It goes from the tape on the passer's stick to the tape on the receiver's stick.
Time out: Most leagues allow one time out per game. A time out is frequently used at the end of a game to outline a strategy for the last few minutes of play (e. g. lines to be used, pulling the goalie, etc.)
Tip in: A shot that is deflected into the goal is sometimes called a tip in.
Trap: Traps are defensive formations used to keep a team bottled up in their own end. Trapping teams do not forecheck aggressively but bring their players back into the neutral zone to make break out plays very difficult. (see also - neutral zone trap.)
Tripping: A two minute minor penalty will be called if a player trips another player with their stick, legs or arms.
Two line pass: Offsides is called in some leagues if the puck is passed across two lines (blue and red.)
Two on One: This is a situation which all teams try to develop in the offensive zone. Two offensive players are able to pass the puck back and forth or shoot with only one defending player to protect the goalie.
U
Umbrella: The umbrella is a formation on the power play in which the defense and one wing stay close to the blue line and pass the puck among themselves until another attacker is open by the goal.
Unnecessary roughness: Also called roughing, this is a two minute penalty that is a judgment of the referee.
W
Wave off: When a stoppage of play is about to occur, the referee may decide to continue play by "waving off" the stoppage. Examples include icing and offside.
Wide around: When a puck is shot into the attacking zone, close to the boards, it may travel close the boards all the way to the opposite point. This is known as a wide-around.
Wing: The players on the offensive line that are on both sides of the center are known as wings.
Wraparound: An offensive player may skate around the back of the net and then attempt to quickly push the puck into the net between the goalie and the corner of the net for a wraparound goal.
Wrist shot: A wrist shot is accomplished by bringing place the puck on the stick and bring the stick forward rapidly. The level of follow through will determine whether the shot goes high or low.
Z
Zamboni: The device that resurfaces the ice between periods is known as a Zamboni. The Zamboni Company manufactures these vehicles specifically for this purpose.
Zone Coverage: Zone coverage is a defensive strategy in which each defensive player covers an area of the defensive zone.
| Ice hockey |
Who plays Jean Valjean in the 2012 film ‘Les Miserables’? | Hockey Terms
Hockey Terms
Below is a partial list of common terms found around the rink.
If you come across terms not listed and want to know what they mean please email us and we’ll do our best to find out.
If you have some terms that aren’t listed please let us know that too.
Click here for a great reference site for hockey terms.
0 - 9
2-man advantage (see 5 - on - 3)
2-on-1 (see Odd man rush)
3-on-2 (see Odd man rush)
500 (also known as .500) is an even percentage, usually referring to a team's overall record when their number of wins equals their number of regulation losses.
5-on-3 - Where one team is playing at full strength (5) and the opposing team is 2 players shorthanded (3).
5-on-5 - Where both teams are playing with 5 skaters each.
Attack zone - The opposing team's end of the ice, as determined by the blue line.
Backhand shot - A shot that is taken from the backside of the blade.
Backchecking - Rushing back to the defensive zone in response to an opposing team's attack.
Backstop - A goaltender.
Biscuit in the basket - Scoring a goal.
Blue line - The lines separating the attack/defense zones from the neutral zone.
Blueliner - A defenseman.
Boarding - Checking a player from behind into the boards.
Body checking - Using the hip (also known as hip checking) or body to knock an opponent against the boards or to the ice.
Breakaway - When a player has possession of the puck and there are no defenders other than the goalie between him and the opposing goal.
Butterfly - A style of goaltending wherein the goalie tends to cover the lower half of the net with his or her leg pads.
Center - A forward position whose primary zone of play is the middle of the ice.
Change on the fly - Substituting players while the puck is in play.
Cherry picking - When a player stays near their opponent's zone waiting for an outlet pass in order to receive a breakaway.
Coast to coast - A solo scoring chance originating in the player's own defensive zone.
Crease - The blue ice in front of each net.
Cross-checking - The act of checking an opponent with the shaft of the stick held in both hands. This is illegal and earns a minor or major penalty depending on the severity of the infraction.
Coincidental penalties - When both teams are assessed an equal amount of penalties at the same time, usually on the same play or incident.
Defensive zone - The defending team's zone as determined by the blue line.
Deke - When a player handles the puck or himself in such a manner to fool the opponent into moving out of position, allowing the player to get past. Originated from the word decoy.
Delayed offside - If a player enters the attack zone ahead of the puck but does not touch it, the play is offsides but no whistle is blown immediately, thus creating a delayed offside.
Delayed penalty - When a penalty is called, the referee will raise his or her arm to indicate that one is being called, but if the team who committed the infraction is not in control of the puck, no whistle will occur until a player from that team touches the puck. This is called a delayed penalty.
Dive - A dive is when a player embellishes contact made against him in order to draw a penalty, however, sometimes this ends up in a penalty being called against the diving player.
Drop pass - When a player passes the puck directly behind him to a teammate. If executed properly, the puck stops moving and the pass's receiver catches up to it.
Empty net goal - A goal scored when the opposing goalie is not on the ice.
Enforcer - A player quick to fight who defends his teammates against violent members of the other team.
Extra Attacker - A player who has been substituted for the team's goaltender on the ice.
Faceoff - A faceoff is the method used to begin play. The two teams line up in opposition to each other, and the opposing centres attempt to gain control of the puck after it is dropped between their sticks by an official.
Face wash - A face wash is when a player rubs his hockey glove over the face of an opponent.
Fan - A fan is when a player misses the puck when attempting to play or shoot it.
Fisticuffs - A fight.
Five on three - Five on three (also called two-man advantage) is when one team has had two players sent to the penalty box. This leaves the opponent with five skaters (i.e., not including the goaltender) to penalized team's three. The team with the advantage has a very good chance of scoring during these periods.
Five on five - See Full strength.
Five-hole - A five hole is the gap between a goaltender's legs.
Forechecking - Checking in the offensive zone in order to gain control of the puck and set up a scoring opportunity.
Full strength - Full strength (also called 5-on-5) refers to when both teams have five skaters and one goaltender on the ice.
Gate - See penalty box
Garbage goal - A goal that takes little talent to score. Most such goals are scored from right in front of the net, often when the goaltender is out of position.
Goal - A goal provides a team with one point. A goal is scored when a puck completely crosses the goal line within the goal frame.
Goal line - The line that the puck must completely cross in order to be considered a goal.
Goon - See Enforcer
Gordie Howe hat trick - A Gordie Howe hat trick is when one player scores a goal, notches an assist and gets into a fight all in the same game (a natural Gordie Howe hat trick occurs when a player does all three in one period, however many players see this as "showoffy" and it can be frowned apon in some hockey circles).
Grinder - Hockey grinder
Hand pass - The act of passing the puck using one's hand (illegal).
Hash marks - The straight lines from the faceoff circles in front of both nets. Used to line up faceoffs.
Hat-trick - A hat-trick is when one player scores three goals in one game.
High stick - The act of hitting a player in the head or shoulders with a stick. Also the act of hitting the puck in the air above the height of the top goal pipe (4').
Hip checking - Using the hip to knock an opponent against the boards or to the ice.
Hooking - Using a stick to hold or slow down a player (illegal).
Howitzer - A very fast slap shot.
Icing - Icing occurs when a player shoots the puck across both the red line and the opposing team's goal line without the puck going into the net or being touched by a player in the zone. If an offensive player touches the puck first after it crosses both the red line and the goal line, icing is negated. When icing occurs, a linesman stops play. Play is resumed with a faceoff in the defending zone of the team that committed the infraction.
Jill - See Jock.
Jock - A jock (or for females, a jill) are simple devices used to protect the genitalia of an ice hockey player.
J Shot - A snap shot that is started in the form of the letter J.
Laser - A hard, accurate shot.
Laying on the lumber - See Slashing.
Left wing - See Winger.
Left Wing Lock - The left wing lock is a defensive ice hockey strategy similar to the neutral zone trap. In the most basic form, once puck possession changes, the left wing moves back in line with the defensemen. Each defender (including the left winger) play a zone defense and are responsible for a third of the ice each. Since there are normally only two defensemen, this tactic helps to avoid odd man rushes.
Light the lamp - Scoring a goal.
Line brawl - A series of fights involving most, or all, players on the ice at the same time.
Man Advantage - When one team is penalized, and one of its players sent to the penalty box, the second team maintains a man advantage for the duration of the penalty (Major penalty) or until a goal is scored (Minor penalty). If two penalties are called on one team there will be a two man advantage. If more than two penalties are called on one team the man advantage is limited to two men.
Man On - A warning from teammates to a player that an opposing player (that he may be unaware of) is near him. Usually given in loose puck situations.
Meat Wagon - If a players only skill is fighting/hitting, they are a meat wagon.
Natural hat-trick - A natural hat-trick is when one player scores three goals in a row without any player from either team scoring in between them, also when three goals are skored by one player in one period.
Neutral zone trap - The neutral zone trap is a defensive ice hockey strategy used by a team to prevent an opposing team from proceeding through the neutral zone (the area between both blue lines) by forcing turnovers in that area.
Odd man rush - When a team enters the attacking zone and outnumbers the opposing players in the zone.
Offensive zone - See Attack zone.
One timer - The act of shooting the puck directly off a pass without playing the puck in any way.
Paddle - The wide portion above the blade of a goalie's stick.
Penalty box - The penalty box (sometimes called the sin bin or bin) is the area where a player sits to serve the time of a given penalty, for an offense not severe enough to merit outright expulsion from the contest.
Playmaker - A fast player who usually scores more assists than goals. A Playmaker has the speed and balance to make plays, and frequently relies on a sniper to finish them.
Playoff beard - A playoff beard is the superstitious practice of a National Hockey League (NHL) player not shaving his beard during the Stanley Cup playoffs.
The point - A player in the opponent's end zone at the junction of the blue line with the boards is said to be at the point.
Poke checking - Using the stick to poke the puck away from an opponent.
Power forward - A power forward is a large, muscular offensive player (6'0 - 6'5, 210-240 pounds), with the mobility to track a puck to the corners of the rink, the physical toughness required to dig it out, and the puckhandling skills to get it back to anyone in front of the net.
Powerplay - A powerplay occurs when one team has more players on the ice than the other team as a result of penalties assessed to the shorthanded team.
Pylon - A player who is easy to get around due to lack of speed or skill.
Rearguard - A defenseman.
Rebound - A Rebound occurs when the puck bounces off a goalie, a player, or the net (or occasionally, the back boards) after a shot on goal.
Right wing - See Winger.
Ripple the twine - Scoring a goal.
Rocked - Big hit
Rockpile - A Rookie.
Saucer pass - A saucer pass is an airborne pass from one player to another. It is called a saucer pass because the puck resembles a flying saucer in mid air.
Screened shot - A shot that the goaltender cannot see due to other players obscuring it.
Shaft - The long part of the stick that is straight and is held by the player.
Shorthanded - A team is said to be shorthanded when they have fewer players on the ice than the opposing team as a result of penalties.
Shortside - The side of the goal closest to the shooter.
Shot on goal - A shot on goal is a shot that will enter the goal if it is not stopped by the goaltender. A shot on goal must result in either a goal or a save (shots that hit the pipes of the goal are not counted as shots).
Sin bin - The penalty box.
Slapshot - A slapshot is a hard shot, usually with a big wind up, wherein the player bends his stick on the ice and allows the energy stored in bending the stick to launch the puck forward.
Slashing - striking an opponent's arms or lower body with the hockey stick. Usually a penalty is incurred.
Slot - the area on the hockey rink directly ahead of the goaltender between the face-off circles on each side.
Slow whistle - A slow whistle is when an official waits to blow his whistle, usually due to a delayed offside or delayed penalty call.
Snap shot - A snap shot is a like an abbreviated slap shot. The purpose of the snap shot is to combine the main advantages of the wrist shot (shot accuracy and quick delivery) and the slap shot (puck speed). The stick should be at your hip when shotting.
Sniper - A player with a powerful, accurate shot skilled at finishing plays. Snipers frequently score more goals than assists. Snipers can be either forwards or defensemen.
Spin-o-rama - phrase coined by sportscaster Danny Gallivan to describe a player completing several tight circles with the puck fully under control of his stick, eluding pursuing opponents who cannot keep up or intercept the player.
Stack the pads - A save wherein the goaltender drops to one side and makes the save with his leg pads.
Stay-at-home Defense man - a defense man who plays very defensively. He doesn't rush the puck very often.
Stick checking - Using the stick to interfere with an opponent's stick.
Stickhandling - The act of controlling the puck with one's stick, especially while manoeuvering through opponents.
Stoned - Made a great save.
Sweep checking - Using the stick in a sweeping motion to knock the puck away from an opponent or deter him from passing.
Toe drag - Dragging the puck along the ice with the end (toe) of the stick blade on the ice as opposed to the bottom edge.
Top shelf - The top section of the net.
Video goal judge - An off-ice official who reviews a goal by video instant replay.
Winger - A winger is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play on the ice is along the outer playing area. A right wing is responsible for the right-hand side of the ice and a left wing is responsible for the left-hand side.
Wrist shot - A wrist shot is a type of shot that involves using arm muscles (especially those in the wrist and forearm) to propel a puck forward from the open-faced, concave part of the blade of a hockey stick.
Zone - One of three zones on the ice, the offensive zone, the neutral zone and the defensive zone.
Zebra - See referee.
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What does the Latin phrase ‘Omnia Vincit Amor’ translate to in English? | Translation of Amor vincit omnia in English
Amor vincit omnia in English
Love Conquers All, , or may refer to:
omnia vincit amor, Latin phrase from Eclogue X by Virgil
Amor Vincit Omnia (Caravaggio), 1601–1602 painting by Caravaggio
Amor Vincit Omnia (Draco Rosa album), 2009 album by Draco Rosa
Amor Vincit Omnia (Pure Reason Revolution album), 2009 album by Pure Reason Revolution
Love Conquers All, novel by Fred Saberhagen
"Love Conquers All" a song by Radio Werewolf
Love Conquers All, 1922 compilation by Robert Benchley
Love Conquers All, name of a specific edit of Terry Gilliam's 1985 film Brazil
"Love Conquers All", song by Deep Purple from their 1990 album Slaves and Masters
"Love Conquers All", song by Yes from their 1991 album Yesyears
"Love Conquers All" (ABC song), 1992 single from their album Abracadabra
"Love Conquers All", song by Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio from their 2001 album Make Love, And War; The Wedlock Of Equilibrium
Love Conquers All (film), 2006 film by Tan Chui Mui
See more at Wikipedia.org...
| Love Conquers All |
The German dessert Schwarzwalder Kirschtorte is known by what name in Britain? | Omnia vincit amor Translated to English
Omnia Vincit Amor Translated To English
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According to the Bible, on which day of Creation did God make man? | The Story of Creation - The Old Testament (Bible History Online)
Timelines & Charts
Creation
"God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power." - Hebrews 1:1-3
The Old Testament - A Brief Overview
Genesis - The First Book of Moses
Moses under the Inspiration of the Holy Spirit wrote Genesis, the first book in the Bible and the book of beginnings. The beginning of the world, the beginning of man, and the beginning of the Hebrew people.
The Seven Days of Creation
The Bible reveals that God made the world, and all that is in the world, and the entire universe out of nothing. He spoke His Word, and everything came into existence. This is creation.
According to Genesis 1, God created the world in 6 days:
The First Day. Light.
God created light on the first day, and He separated the light from the darkness. The lights he called day, and the darkness he called night.
Gen 1:3-5 Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.
The Second Day. The Firmament
God created the firmament on the second day, which he called heaven. There were upper waters and lower waters, above the firmament and below the firmament.
Gen 1:6-8 Then God said, "Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters." Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven. So the evening and the morning were the second day.
The "firmament" here refers to the atmospheric heaven where the clouds are as well as the celestial heaven where the stars are.
The Third Day. Land and Vegetation
On the third day God created dry land in the midst of the lower waters, He called the dry land "Earth" and he called the gathering of the waters "Seas" or oceans. He separated the oceans from the dry land. He also created every plant and tree according to its own kind, and each bearing its own seed.
Gen 1:9-13 Then God said, "Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear"; and it was so. And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas. And God saw that it was good. Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth"; and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. So the evening and the morning were the third day.
The Fourth Day. The Sun, Moon, and Stars
God created the sun, moon, and the stars on the fourth day. He placed them in the firmament (heavens) to provide light for the earth, and to provide seasons for each year. The two great lights, the sun and the moon, would provide light for every day and every night. The greater light, the sun, would provide light for the day, and the lesser light, the moon, would provide light in the night. He created the stars to govern and rule the earth, and to give it light.
Gen 1:14-19 Then God said, "Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; "and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth"; and it was so. Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. So the evening and the morning were the fourth day.
The Fifth Day. Sea Animals, and Birds
God created the fish and all other living creatures in the oceans and the lakes. He also created the birds to fly above the earth, and He commanded all living things to be fruitful and multiply.
Gen 1:20-23 Then God said, "Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens." So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth." So the evening and the morning were the fifth day.
The Sixth Day. Land Animals, and Man
It was on the sixth day that God created man, and He created man in his own image. He also created the animals on the sixth day, and he placed man in charge of all the animals. He told man to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.
Gen 1:24-31 Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind"; and it was so. And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth." And God said, "See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. "Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food"; and it was so. Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
The Seventh Day. God Rested From His Work Of Creation
On the seventh day, He ceased from His labor and established the Sabbath.
Scholars disagree as to how long these "days" might have been. The Bible seems to indicate a literal 24 hour day. Scholars also differ on the date of creation. It would be impossible to know exactly the number of years back to the creation since the Bible's lists of generations sometimes skips names, and any other historical records are limited. According to the Bible and archaeology man has been here for about 6,000 - 10,000 years approximately. No one can be certain.
The purpose of the Bible is not to scientifically sketch every detail of creation but to reveal to man that God is prior to and distinct from His creation, that He is directly responsible for its having come into being, through His Word, that its continued existence is dependant upon Him, and that man has been given the highest position of honor and responsibility in that creation.
Ps 8:3-4 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?
Isa 40:12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, measured heaven with a span and calculated the dust of the earth in a measure? Weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?
Isa 40:26
Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these things, who brings out their host by number; he calls them all by name, by the greatness of His might and the strength of His power; not one is missing.
| The Sixth Day |
Mount Catherine is the highest mountain in which African country? | Apologetics Press - Did God Create Animals or Man First?
Did God Create Animals or Man First?
by
Eric Lyons, M.Min.
After reading the first two chapters of the Bible, some skeptics, in an attempt to disprove the Bible’s inerrancy, have accused the writer of Genesis of erring in regard to the record of events occurring on day six of creation. While Genesis 1:24-27 plainly indicates that man was created after the animals, critics claim that Genesis 2:18-19 teaches that man was created before animals. They strongly assert that such language by the author of Genesis proves that the Bible is not divinely inspired.
Does Genesis two present a different creation order than Genesis one? Is there a reasonable explanation for the differences between the two chapters? Or is this to be recognized as a genuine contradiction?
Some Bible students resolve this alleged contradiction simply by explaining that the Hebrew verb translated “formed” could easily have been translated “had formed.” In his Exposition of Genesis, H.C. Leupold stated:
Without any emphasis on the sequence of acts the account here records the making of the various creatures and the bringing of them to man. That in reality they had been made prior to the creation of man is so entirely apparent from chapter one as not to require explanation. But the reminder that God had “molded” them makes obvious His power to bring them to man and so is quite appropriately mentioned here. It would not, in our estimation, be wrong to translate yatsar as a pluperfect in this instance: “He had molded.” The insistence of the critics upon a plain past is partly the result of the attempt to make chapters one and two clash at as many points as possible (1942, p. 130, emp. added).
Hebrew scholar Victor Hamilton agreed with Leupold’s assessment of Genesis 2:19 as he also recognized that “it is possible to translate formed as ‘had formed’ ” (1990, p. 176). Keil and Delitzsch stated in the first volume of their highly regarded Old Testament commentary that “our modern style for expressing the same thought [which the Holy Spirit, via Moses, intended to communicate—EL] would be simply this: ‘God brought to Adam the beasts which He had formed’ ” (1996, emp. added). Adding even more credence to this interpretation is the fact that the New International Version (NIV) renders the verb in verse 19, not as simple past tense, but as a pluperfect: “Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air” (emp. added). Although Genesis chapters one and two agree even when yatsar is translated simply “formed” (as we will notice in the remainder of this article), it is important to note that the four Hebrew scholars mentioned above and the translators of the NIV, all believe that it could (or should) be rendered “had formed.” And, as Leupold acknowledged, those who deny this possibility do so (at least partly) because of their insistence on making the two chapters disagree.
The main reason that skeptics do not see harmony in the events recorded in the first two chapters of the Bible is because they fail to realize that Genesis 1 and 2 serve different purposes. Chapter one (including 2:1-4) focuses on the order of the creation events; chapter two (actually 2:5-25) simply provides more detailed information about some of the events mentioned in chapter one. Chapter two never was meant to be a chronological regurgitation of chapter one, but instead serves its own unique purpose—i.e., to develop in detail the more important features of the creation account, especially the creation of man and his surroundings. As Kenneth Kitchen noted in his book, Ancient Orient and the Old Testament:
Genesis 1 mentions the creation of man as the last of a series, and without any details, whereas in Genesis 2 man is the center of interest and more specific details are given about him and his setting. Failure to recognize the complementary nature of the subject—distinction between a skeleton outline of all creation on the one hand, and the concentration in detail on man and his immediate environment on the other, borders on obscurantism (1966, p. 117).
Norman Geisler and Thomas Howe summarized some of the differences in Genesis 1-2 in the following chart (1992, p. 35):
Genesis 1
Naming Animals
The fact is, “Genesis 2 does not present a creation account at all but presupposes the completion of God’s work of creation as set forth in chapter 1.... [C]hapter 2 is built on the foundation of chapter 1 and represents no different tradition than the first chapter or discrepant account of the order of creation” (Archer, 1982, pp. 68-69). In short, Genesis chapters 1 and 2 are harmonious in every way. What may seem as a contradiction at first glance is essentially a more detailed account of chapter one. The text of Genesis 2:19 says nothing about the relative origins of man and beast in terms of chronology, but merely suggests that the animals were formed before being brought to man.
If one still rejects both the possibility of yatsar being translated “had formed,” and the explanation of the two chapters being worded differently because of the purposes they serve, a final response to the skeptics allegations is that the text never says that there were no animals created on the sixth day of creation after Adam. Although in my judgment it is very unlikely that God created a special group of animals to be named by Adam (after creating all others before the creation of man—Genesis 1:20-27), some commentators hold this view. After his comments concerning the translation of yastsar, Victor Hamilton indicated that the creatures mentioned in 2:19 refer “to the creation of a special group of animals brought before Adam for naming” (p. 176, emp. added). Hamilton believes that most all the animals on the Earth were created before Adam; however, those mentioned in 2:19 were created on day six after Adam for the purpose of being named. In U. Cassuto’s comments on Genesis 2 regarding the time Adam named the animals, he stated: “Of all the species of beasts and flying creatures that had been created and had spread over the face of the earth and the firmament of the heavens, the Lord God now formed particular specimens for the purpose of presenting them all before man in the midst of the Garden” (1961, p. 129, emp. added). Both of these long-time Bible students recognize that the text never says there were no animals created after Adam, but that all animals were created either on days five and six (before and possibly even after Adam was created). However unorthodox (or unlikely) this position may be, it does serve as another reason why skeptics have no foundation upon which to stand when they assert that a contradiction exists between Genesis 1:24-27 and 2:19.
REFERENCES
Archer, Gleason L. (1982), An Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan).
Cassuto, U. (1961), A Commentary on the Book of Genesis (Jerusalem: Magnes).
Geisler, Norman L. and Thomas A. Howe (1992), When Critics Ask (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books).
Hamilton, Victor P. (1990), The Book of Genesis (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans).
Keil, C.F. and F. Delitzsch (1996), Keil and Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament (Electronic Database: Biblesoft), new updated edition.
Kitchen, Kenneth (1966), Ancient Orient and Old Testament (Chicago, IL: Inter-Varsity Press).
Leupold, Herbert C. (1942), Exposition of Genesis (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker).
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How many time zones does Brazil have? | Brazil Time: What is the current local time now in Brazil? | Greenwich Mean Time
There are 3 time zones in Brazil:
BRT - Brasília (Standard) Time / BRST - Brasilia Summer Time
AMT - Amazon (Standard) Time / AMST - Amazon Summer Time
FNT - Fernando de Noronha Archipelago Time
The time in most of Brazil visited by foreign tourists is Brasília Time (BRT) which is 3 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time ( GMT-3 ). This is true of Rio de Janeiro , São Paulo , Brasilia , Minas Gerais etc.
Time in Brazil is determined at state level.
What is the time in Brazil Time Zones?
Clock showing current time in Brasilia, Brazil Time Zone
(BRT in winter / BRST in summer)
Standard Time: BRT = GMT-3
Daylight Saving Time: BRST = GMT-2
Clock showing current time now in Belem, Brazil Time Zone
Standard Time: BRT = GMT-3
Brazil - Amazon Time (with DST) - Mato Grosso , Mato Grosso do Sul
Standard Time: AMT = GMT-4
Brazil - Amazon Time (without DST) - Acre State , Amazonas , Roraima , Roraima
Standard Time: AMT = GMT-4
Gives new wording of art. 2 of Decree No. 6558 of 08 September 2008 establishing daylight saving time in part of the national territory. Daylight saving time will be valid in the states of Rio Grande do Sul , Santa Catarina , Parana , Sao Paulo , Rio de Janeiro , Espirito Santo , Minas Gerais , Bahia , Goiás , Mato Grosso , Mato Grosso do Sul and the Federal District .
Brazil Decree No. 6558 of 8 September 2008.
Summer (daylight saving) time is in effect from midnight of the third Sunday of October each year, until midnight of the third Sunday of February the following year, in the determined parts of the country.
In the year that there is a coincidence between the Sunday for the scheduled end of daylight saving time and Carnival Sunday, the end of summer time will be moved to the following Sunday.
Other areas of Brazil do not adopt Summer Time
What is the International Telephone Dialling Code for Brazil Time Zones ?
The International Dialling Code for Brazil is 55.
Websites
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Which former Olympic gymnast was known as ‘The Sparrow From Minsk’? | South America Time Zone - South America Current Time
Time Converter
SOUTH AMERICA TIME ZONES - CURRENT TIME
South America uses five standard time zones. From west to east they are UTC - 5, UTC - 4, UTC - 4:30, UTC - 3 and UTC - 2. Countries in South America which use the UTC - 5 time zone are part of Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. UTC - 4:30 is the standard time in Venezuela. UTC - 4 is the standard time in Bolivia, part of Brazil, Chile, and Paraguay. UTC - 3 is the standard time for Argentina, part of Brazil and Uruguay. Several islands off the east coast of Brazil, including the twenty one islands in the archipelago of Fernando de Noronha observe UTC - 2 standard time. Easter Island which is a special territory of Chile and the Galapagos Islands which are a part of Ecuador observe UTC - 6 standard time. Most countries in Central America use the UTC - 6 time zone except for Panama which observes UTC - 5.
Brazil uses four time zones. Much of Brazil follows Brasilia official time which is UTC - 3. Daylight Saving Time in Brazil is observed by most of the southern, southeastern and central western states. View more information about time zones and daylight saving time in Brazil.
Daylight Saving Time in South America is used by several countries, including Brazil, Chile, Easter Island, Falkland Islands, and Paraguay. The Falkland Islands are currently observing daylight saving time year round. Due to their global position south of the equator, countries in South America usually start daylight saving time in October or November and end the usage in January through March.
In June 2015 the government of Uruguay made a decision not to start daylight saving time in October as they had in previous years. As a result Uruguay has remained on standard time UTC/GMT -3.
In March 2016 authorities in Chile announced the country will end the use of observing UTC/GMT -3 year round and turn clocks back one hour as of May 15, 2016 (Midnight between Saturday and Sunday). The country will remain on its previous standard time UTC/GMT -4 from May 15, 2016 through August 13, 2016. Then for the following nine months the country will utilize daylight saving time. Previously in January 2015 authorities in Chile announced the country would not turn clocks back one hour when daylight saving time was scheduled to end on Sunday April 26, 2015. Chile instead elected to observe UTC/GMT -3 or the equivalent of daylight saving time year round.
The government of Venezuela has announced the country will observe UTC/GMT -4 effective May 1, 2016 at 2:30 am local time. This change resulted in clocks being moved forward thirty minutes. Previously Venezuela observed UTC -4:30. The change is due to concerns about a potential disruption of electrical power as a result of a continuing drought in the country.
South America Time Zone Map
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