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Which country finally joined the United Nations in 2002?	Moving towards the UN in slow motion - SWI swissinfo.ch Moving towards the UN in slow motion May 25, 2007 - 13:32 (Keystone) Switzerland finally joined the United Nations in 2002. The country took a long time to warm to the idea, with three-quarters of voters rejecting membership in 1986. This reluctance despite the fact that the European headquarters of the UN is located in Geneva, along with a host of UN special agencies. When, on March 3, 2002, the Swiss were again called upon to vote on joining the world body, the decision turned out to be quite close. Just 55 per cent were in favour of joining. But it was still a significant change in direction compared with the referendum on the issue in 1986. After the successful referendum in 2002, the government submitted an official membership application to the UN General-Secretary. On September 10, 2002, the UN General Assembly in New York accepted Switzerland as the 190th member state. This left the Vatican as the only state outside the United Nations. When the UN was founded in 1945, the Swiss government ruled out membership. It saw the organisation as incompatible with neutrality. For other neutral states, including Sweden and Austria, their neutrality was not a barrier to taking part. But non-membership did not prevent Switzerland from having dealings with numerous UN organisations. As a non-member Switzerland also signed up to many accords and treaties, for example the UN pact on economic, social and cultural rights. Peace missions Switzerland has enjoyed observer status in the main organs of the UN since 1948. And the Swiss have been involved in many different ways in the work of UN organisations. Swiss army personnel even monitored the ceasefire between North and South Korea, by order of the UN. Swiss nationals have served in Egypt, Congo and Namibia as UN military observers. The peacekeeping force of the Swiss Army in Kosovo, validated by the UN Security Council, arrived three years before Switzerland joined the UN. As a full member of the United Nations, Switzerland is deepening its involvement and has developed additional activities. Among the focuses is the development of international law. The UN headquarters in Geneva has been boosted with the location of the Human Rights Council there, securing Geneva's position as the second most important UN location after the HQ in New York. A slow-burner The debate over joining the UN began to gain some momentum in Switzerland towards the end of the 1960s. The government presented its first UN report in 1969. In was put on record that the disadvantages of non-membership were increasing. But the report concluded that it was too soon to join. In a second report two years later the government stuck to the position that there were no grounds for seeking membership. It was not until 1977 that the government adopted membership as an aspiration. In 1981 the government first put the proposal to parliament for Switzerland to become a member of the UN. But the people and the cantons were not ready to follow the government. At the ballot box on March 16, 1986 they clearly rejected the initiative. The most important argument put forward by the anti-UN camp was the perceived damage to traditional Swiss neutrality. There was also the fear that Swiss soldiers could get involved in military conflicts. Better late than never In the years following the overwhelming no vote, things remained quiet on the UN-membership front. It was only in the mid-1990s that politicians took up the cause again. The government held back at first to allow negotiations for bilateral agreements with the EU to progress. It was considered prudent to tackle one sensitive foreign policy issue at a time. In 1998 the government presented its fourth UN report. In this report membership was declared as a "strategic goal", towards which Switzerland should strive as soon as politically possible. In the 2002 referendum on UN membership the government, along with both chambers of parliament, made it clear that it recommended the acceptance of the initiative. Switzerland – United Nations Switzerland became the 190th member of the UN in 2002. A nationwide referendum was needed to join the world body and some 55 per cent voted in favour. Opponents of UN membership argued that it would endanger traditional Swiss neutrality. Prior to joining the UN, Switzerland fully participated in the activities of the specialised agencies and organisations for decades. The European UN headquarters is based in Geneva. Links More... Less... Copyright All rights reserved. The content of the website by swissinfo.ch is copyrighted. It is intended for private use only. Any other use of the website content beyond the use stipulated above, particularly the distribution, modification, transmission, storage and copying requires prior written consent of swissinfo.ch. Should you be interested in any such use of the website content, please contact us via [email protected]. As regards the use for private purposes, it is only permitted to use a hyperlink to specific content, and to place it on your own website or a website of third parties. The swissinfo.ch website content may only be embedded in an ad-free environment without any modifications. Specifically applying to all software, folders, data and their content provided for download by the swissinfo.ch website, a basic, non-exclusive and non-transferable license is granted that is restricted to the one-time downloading and saving of said data on private devices. All other rights remain the property of swissinfo.ch. In particular, any sale or commercial use of these data is prohibited. Reuse article Moving towards the UN in slow motion May 25, 2007 - 13:32 Switzerland finally joined the United Nations in 2002. The country took a long time to warm to the idea, with three-quarters of voters rejecting membership in 1986. This reluctance despite the fact that the European headquarters of the UN is located in Geneva, along with a host of UN special agencies. When, on March 3, 2002, the Swiss were again called upon to vote on joining the world body, the decision turned out to be quite close. Just 55 per cent were in favour of joining. But it was still a significant change in direction compared with the referendum on the issue in 1986. After the successful referendum in 2002, the government submitted an official membership application to the UN General-Secretary. On September 10, 2002, the UN General Assembly in New York accepted Switzerland as the 190th member state. This left the Vatican as the only state outside the United Nations. When the UN was founded in 1945, the Swiss government ruled out membership. It saw the organisation as incompatible with neutrality. For other neutral states, including Sweden and Austria, their neutrality was not a barrier to taking part. But non-membership did not prevent Switzerland from having dealings with numerous UN organisations. As a non-member Switzerland also signed up to many accords and treaties, for example the UN pact on economic, social and cultural rights. Peace missions Switzerland has enjoyed observer status in the main organs of the UN since 1948. And the Swiss have been involved in many different ways in the work of UN organisations. Swiss army personnel even monitored the ceasefire between North and South Korea, by order of the UN. Swiss nationals have served in Egypt, Congo and Namibia as UN military observers. The peacekeeping force of the Swiss Army in Kosovo, validated by the UN Security Council, arrived three years before Switzerland joined the UN. As a full member of the United Nations, Switzerland is deepening its involvement and has developed additional activities. Among the focuses is the development of international law. The UN headquarters in Geneva has been boosted with the location of the Human Rights Council there, securing Geneva's position as the second most important UN location after the HQ in New York. A slow-burner The debate over joining the UN began to gain some momentum in Switzerland towards the end of the 1960s. The government presented its first UN report in 1969. In was put on record that the disadvantages of non-membership were increasing. But the report concluded that it was too soon to join. In a second report two years later the government stuck to the position that there were no grounds for seeking membership. It was not until 1977 that the government adopted membership as an aspiration. In 1981 the government first put the proposal to parliament for Switzerland to become a member of the UN. But the people and the cantons were not ready to follow the government. At the ballot box on March 16, 1986 they clearly rejected the initiative. The most important argument put forward by the anti-UN camp was the perceived damage to traditional Swiss neutrality. There was also the fear that Swiss soldiers could get involved in military conflicts. Better late than never In the years following the overwhelming no vote, things remained quiet on the UN-membership front. It was only in the mid-1990s that politicians took up the cause again. The government held back at first to allow negotiations for bilateral agreements with the EU to progress. It was considered prudent to tackle one sensitive foreign policy issue at a time. In 1998 the government presented its fourth UN report. In this report membership was declared as a "strategic goal", towards which Switzerland should strive as soon as politically possible. In the 2002 referendum on UN membership the government, along with both chambers of parliament, made it clear that it recommended the acceptance of the initiative. Switzerland – United Nations Switzerland became the 190th member of the UN in 2002. A nationwide referendum was needed to join the world body and some 55 per cent voted in favour. Opponents of UN membership argued that it would endanger traditional Swiss neutrality. Prior to joining the UN, Switzerland fully participated in the activities of the specialised agencies and organisations for decades. The European UN headquarters is based in Geneva. ×	Switzerland
Who was President of the Screen Actor’s Guild in the 40s and 50s?	Why is Switzerland a neutral country? Introduction For centuries, the tiny Alpine nation of Switzerland has adhered to a policy of armed neutrality in global affairs. Switzerland isn’t the world’s only neutral country—the likes of Ireland, Austria and Costa Rica all take similar non-interventionist stances—yet it remains the oldest and most respected. How did it earn its unique place in world politics? The earliest moves toward Swiss neutrality date to 1515, when the Swiss Confederacy suffered a devastating loss to the French at the Battle of Marignano. Following the defeat, the Confederacy abandoned its expansionist policies and looked to avoid future conflict in the interest of self-preservation. It was the Napoleonic Wars, however, that truly sealed Switzerland’s place as a neutral nation. Switzerland was invaded by France in 1798 and later made a satellite of Napoleon Bonaparte’s empire, forcing it to compromise its neutrality. But after Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo, the major European powers concluded that a neutral Switzerland would serve as a valuable buffer zone between France and Austria and contribute to stability in the region. During 1815’s Congress of Vienna, they signed a declaration affirming Switzerland’s “perpetual neutrality” within the international community. Switzerland maintained its impartial stance through World War I, when it mobilized its army and accepted refugees but also refused to take sides militarily. In 1920, meanwhile, the newly formed League of Nations officially recognized Swiss neutrality and established its headquarters in Geneva. A more significant challenge to Swiss neutrality came during World War II, when the country found itself encircled by the Axis powers. While Switzerland maintained its independence by promising retaliation in the event of an invasion, it continued to trade with Nazi Germany, a decision that later proved controversial after the war ended. Since World War II, Switzerland has taken a more active role in international affairs by aiding with humanitarian initiatives, but it remains fiercely neutral with regard to military affairs. It has never joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) or the European Union, and only joined the United Nations in 2002. Despite its longstanding neutrality, the country still maintains an army for defense purposes and requires part-time military service from all males between the ages of 18 and 34. Article Details: Why is Switzerland a neutral country? Author Why is Switzerland a neutral country? URL	i don't know
What was the title of cult film hero James Dean’s last film?	James Dean - IMDb IMDb Actor \| Miscellaneous Crew James Byron Dean was born February 8, 1931 in Marion, Indiana, to Mildred Marie (Wilson) and Winton A. Dean, a farmer turned dental technician. His mother died when Dean was nine, and he was subsequently raised on a farm by his aunt and uncle in Fairmount, Indiana. After grade school, he moved to New York to pursue his dream of acting. He received... See full bio » Born: a list of 43 people created 27 Dec 2010 a list of 31 people created 11 Oct 2011 a list of 30 people created 26 Feb 2013 a list of 37 people created 04 May 2013 a list of 37 people created 2 weeks ago Do you have a demo reel? Add it to your IMDbPage How much of James Dean's work have you seen? User Polls Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 7 wins & 2 nominations. See more awards » Known For General Electric Theater Bud / The Boy (1954) 1952-1955 Lux Video Theatre (TV Series) Kyle McCallum 1954 General Electric Theater (TV Series) Bud / The Boy - I'm a Fool (1954) ... The Boy 1953-1954 Danger (TV Series) 1953 Robert Montgomery Presents (TV Series) Paul Zalinka 1953 Armstrong Circle Theatre (TV Series) Joey Frasier 1953 Campbell Summer Soundstage (TV Series) Hank Bradon / Joe 1953 The Big Story (TV Series) Rex Newman 1953 Tales of Tomorrow (TV Series) Ralph 1952 Forgotten Children (TV Movie) Bradford 1952 CBS Television Workshop (TV Series) G.I. 1951 The Bigelow Theatre (TV Series) Hank 1950 Beat the Clock (TV Series) (stunt tester - 1950) Hide 2002 Biography (TV Series documentary) Himself 1952 The Web (TV Series) Himself 2014 CNN Newsroom (TV Series) Himself 2009 20 to 1 (TV Series documentary) Himself 2008 Tracks (TV Series documentary) Himself 2006 September 30, 1955 (Documentary short) Himself 2005 Crash Science (TV Series documentary) Himself 2005 The World's Most Photographed (TV Mini-Series documentary) Himself 2005 Miradas 2 (TV Series documentary) Himself 2005 American Masters (TV Series documentary) Himself 2004 Queer as Folk (TV Series) Himself 2004 Larry King Live (TV Series) Himself 2003 James Dean and Marlon Brando (TV Movie documentary) Himself 2003 Return to 'Giant' (Video documentary) Himself (uncredited) 2003 Living Famously (TV Series documentary) Himself 2002 Shirtless: Hollywood's Sexiest Men (TV Movie documentary) Himself (uncredited) 2000 The Final Day (TV Mini-Series documentary) Himself 2000 Elizabeth Taylor: A Musical Celebration (TV Movie) (uncredited) 2000 Omnibus (TV Series documentary) 1998 Memories of 'Giant' (Video documentary) Himself (uncredited) 1997 Biography (TV Series documentary) Himself, Columbus Raid victim 1996 James Dean: A Portrait (TV Movie documentary) Himself (1955 public service film) 1996 Rediscovering a Rebel (TV Short documentary) Himself - 'Jim Stark' 1995 James Dean and Me (TV Movie documentary) Himself 1993 Fame in the Twentieth Century (TV Series documentary) Himself (uncredited) 1992 Death Scenes 2 (Video documentary) Himself (uncredited) 1992 Gesichter Des Todes VII (Video documentary short) 1991 Idols (TV Movie documentary) Himself 1991 Naked Hollywood (TV Mini-Series) Himself 1991 Arena (TV Series documentary) Himself 1974 ABC Late Night (TV Series) Himself 1974 James Dean Remembered (TV Special documentary) Himself / various roles 1957 The Big Story (TV Series) Todd Print ads for sexy Hair's "No So Hard Up" medium holding gel. See more » Publicity Listings: 14 Biographical Movies \| 23 Print Biographies \| 6 Portrayals \| 20 Articles \| 2 Pictorials \| 14 Magazine Cover Photos \| See more » Official Sites: Did You Know? Personal Quote: [to Hedda Hopper ] Trust and belief are two prime considerations. You must not allow yourself to be opinionated. You must say, "Wait. Let me see". And above all, you must be honest with yourself. See more » Trivia: Many of Dean's friends at the time thought the silver Porsche 550 Spyder was too high-powered for him and, indeed, days before he died, Alec Guinness , who was in Hollywood filming The Swan (1956), had a premonition that he would die behind its wheel. Dean had bumped into Guinness at the Villa Capri, a local Hollywood celebrity hangout often frequented by Frank Sinatra , Dean Martin , and the ... See more » Trademark: Light brown hair greased back See more » Nickname:	Giant
Whose first venture into ‘talkies’ was Anna Christie?	James Dean - Actors and Actresses - Films as Actor:, Publications James Dean - Actors and Actresses James Dean - Actors and Actresses Nationality: American. Born: James Byron Dean in Marion, Indiana, 8 February 1931. Education: Attended Santa Monica City College (1949–50); attended University of California, Los Angeles approximately one semester (fall 1950); studied at the Actors Studio, New York. Career: 1950—appeared in Pepsi-Cola TV commercial; 1951—attended James Whitmore's acting workshop in Los Angeles; first role in a nationally broadcast TV program; bit parts in three Hollywood films; moved to New York City; 1952—between 1952 and 1955 appeared in more than two dozen TV programs, beginning with bit parts and graduating to starring roles; at 21 years of age, the youngest actor (at the time) to be admitted to Actors Studio in New York; Broadway debut in the short-lived play See the Jaguar ; 1953—appeared in significant roles in numerous TV programs; especially noteworthy: "Bells of Cockaigne" ( Armstrong Circle Theatre , NBC), "Harvest" ( Robert Montgomery Presents , NBC), and "Something for an Empty Briefcase" ( Campbell Soundstage , NBC); 1954—important TV roles continued; received critical acclaim for second Broadway role as the provocative homosexual houseboy in André Gide's The Immoralist , but gave notice almost immediately to star in Elia Kazan's film of East of Eden ; signed first contract with Warner Bros.; began amateur career as sports car racer; 1955—completed starring roles in Rebel Without a Cause and Giant ; cast as Rocky Graziano in MGM's Somebody Up There Likes Me ; negotiated nine-film, six-year contract with Warner Bros. Died: 30 September 1955 in automobile accident while en route to a sports car race, just weeks before the release of Rebel Without a Cause and a year before the release of Giant ; buried in Fairmount, Indiana. Films as Actor: Giant (Stevens) (as Jett Rink) James Dean with Elizabeth Taylor in Giant Publications By DEAN: article— "Another Dean Hits the Big League," interview with Howard Thompson in New York Times , 13 March 1955. By DEAN: book— St. Michael, Mick, James Dean: In His Own Words , London, 1989. On DEAN: books— Bast, William, James Dean: A Biography , New York, 1956. Salgues, Yves, James Dean ou le mal de vivre , Paris, 1957. Ellis, Royston, Rebel , London, 1962. Tysl, Robert W., Continuity and Evolution in a Public Symbol: An Investigation into the Creation and Communication of the James Dean Image in Mid-Century America , Michigan State University Ph.D thesis, Ann Arbor, 1965. Ciment, Michel, Kazan on Kazan , London, 1973; New York, 1974. Dalton, David, James Dean: The Mutant King , San Francisco, 1974. Herndon, Venable, James Dean: A Short Life , New York, 1974. Gilmore, John, The Real James Dean , New York, 1975. Howlett, John, James Dean: A Biography , New York, 1975. Martinetti, Ronald, The James Dean Story , New York, 1975; 1995. Stock, Dennis, James Dean Revisited , New York, 1978; San Francisco, 1987. Whitman, Mark, The Films of James Dean , London, 1974; St. Paul, Minnesota, 1978. Schatt, Roy, James Dean: A Portrait , New York, 1982. Bourget, Jean-Loup, James Dean , Paris, 1983. Morrissey, Steven, James Dean Is Not Dead , Manchester, 1983. Roth, Beulah, and Sanford Roth, James Dean , Corte Madera, California, 1983. Dalton, David, and Ron Cayen, James Dean: American Icon , New York, 1984. Beath, Warren Newton, The Death of James Dean , London, 1986. Devillers, Marceau, James Dean on Location , London, 1987. Hoskyns, Barney, James Dean: Shooting Star , London, 1989. Adams, Leith, and Keith Burns, editors, James Dean: Behind the Scene , New York, 1990. Riese, Randall, The Unabridged James Dean: His Life and Legacy from A to Z , Chicago, 1991. Hyams, Joe, James Dean: Little Boy Lost , New York, 1992. McCann, Graham, Rebel Males: Clift, Brando, and Dean , New Brunswick, New Jersey, 1993. Alexander, Paul, Boulevard of Broken Dreams: The Life, Times, and Legend of James Dean , New York, 1994. Schroeder, Alan, James Dean , New York, 1994. Holley, Val, James Dean: The Biography , New York, 1995. Hofstede, David, James Dean: A Bio-Bibliography , Westport, Connecticut, 1996. Spoto, Donald, Rebel: The Life and Legend of James Dean , New York, 1996. Cohan, Steven, Masked Men: Masculinity and the Movies in the Fifties , Bloomington, Indiana, 1997. Loehr, David, and Joe Bills, The James Dean Collectors Guide , Gas City, Indiana, 1999. On DEAN: articles— "Portrait de l'acteur en jeune homme," in Cahiers du Cinéma (Paris), no. 66, 1956. Cole, Clayton, "The Dean Myth," in Films and Filming (London), January 1957. Dos Passos, John, "The Death of James Dean," in Esquire (New York), October 1958. Bean, Robin, "Dean, Ten Years After," in Films and Filming (London), October 1965. Truffaut, François, "James Dean est mort," in L'Avant-Scène du Cinéma (Paris), November 1975. Thomson, David, "James Dean: Youth in Bold Rebellion," in Close-Ups: The Movie Star Book , edited by Danny Peary, New York, 1978. de Benedictis, Michel, "James Dean the Rebel: His Cause and Effects," in New Orleans Review (New Orleans), Fall/Winter 1984. Pettigrew, Terence, "James Dean: The Rebel Saint 30 Years On," in Films and Filming (London), September 1985. Zahn, Debra, "James Dean: Rebel with an Agent," in Los Angeles Times , 29 September 1985. Breen, Ed, "James Dean's Indiana: The Stage Along Sand Pike," in Traces of Indiana and Midwestern History (Indianapolis), Fall 1989. Nall, Adeline (as told to Val Holley), "Grant County's Own," in Traces of Indiana and Midwestern History (Indianapolis), Fall 1989. Dalton, David, "James Dean: Osiris Rising," in Gadfly (Charlottesville), May 1998. On DEAN: films— The James Dean Story , documentary, directed by Robert Altman, 1957. James Dean: The First American Teenager , documentary, directed by Ray Connolly, 1976. James Dean , television movie, directed by Robert Butler, 1976. September 30, 1955 , feature film based on effect of Dean's death on American teens, directed by James Bridges, 1977. Hollywood: The Rebels—James Dean , documentary, directed by Claudio Masenza, 1985. Forever James Dean , documentary, directed by Ara Chekmayan, 1988. Where Have You Been Jimmy Dean? , documentary produced for French television, directed by Dennis Stock, 1991. James Dean: A Portrait , television documentary, directed by Gary Legon, 1996. James Dean and Me , television documentary, directed by Ben Strout, 1996. James Dean at High Speed , documentary on Dean's love of racing, produced by Lee Raskin and Brock Yates, 1997. James Dean: Race With Destiny , feature film, directed by Mardi Rustam, 1997. * * * Ambition and talent took James Dean a very long way in a very short time. In the five-year period between 1950 and 1954, the Indiana farm boy transformed himself into a Hollywood movie star. Then he died. His accidental death at 24 sent the trajectory of his career path into another orbit altogether: through a series of cultural reactions James Dean was transmuted into a dead cult personality and ultimately into a full-blown American icon. While his films may appear dated today, Dean is never passé—neither the actor, the persona, nor the image. As the decades have passed the image has only gotten cooler and hipper; as a pop culture icon James Dean seems to have no expiration date. In only three film roles Dean presented such a vulnerable image of adolescent alienation that conventional stereotypes of youth and masculinity came tumbling down. He struck a chord in the 1950s, and in each successive decade, with his unique capacity to portray the hero while simultaneously undercutting, questioning, and redefining traditional models of masculinity. James Dean was hero and anti-hero in one appealing package. When Al Pacino said, "I grew up with the Dean thing. Rebel Without a Cause had a very powerful effect on me," Pacino spoke for many of his generation. Dean's emotional and highly idiosyncratic film performances electrified generations of audiences and aspiring actors around the world. Unknown to film audiences in 1954, Dean appeared to be an "overnight success" in his film debut as Cal Trask in Elia Kazan's production of East of Eden. But behind this exquisitely nuanced screen performance lay Dean's considerable experience in live television and Broadway productions during his "New York years." Rebel Without a Cause was, and still is, Dean's signature film, but his portrayal of the unloved son in East of Eden was virtually a self-portrait. It was not a stretch for Dean to play the son of an emotionally wooden father and an absent mother, for in truth, this was his own biography. Kazan gave the role to Dean not because he could play Cal Trask, but because he was Cal Trask. Dean's next picture was Rebel Without a Cause , Nicholas Ray's study of middle-class juvenile delinquency seen from the adolescent perspective. Rebel began as a routine B-picture in black and white, but Warner Bros. quickly upgraded it to a CinemaScope A-production when reviews of East of Eden confirmed that they had a star in Dean. As Jim Stark, Dean created an unforgettable image of a confused misfit in rebellion—against his parents, who recoil from personal acts of courage, and against his teenage peers, who act out meaningless rituals of courage. Premiering one month after Dean's death, Rebel was a phenomenal hit with its powerful message and its charismatic dead star. Through this film James Dean entered the cultural imagination as the archetypal rebel hero and he has maintained this eminent position ever since. For his next and last film Dean accepted a smaller role in an epic-sized picture—George Steven's production of Giant. Dean played a poor, resentful Texas ranch hand who strikes oil, only to become a rich, embittered oil tycoon. Requiring Dean to age about 30 years, the role of Jett Rink had more breadth than depth, but for Dean's introspective style of acting, this was not a good trade-off. He clashed with George Stevens over the interpretation and development of Jett Rink, and ultimately Dean lost his artistic battles with Stevens. But he won the war. By the time Giant premiered in 1956, Dean had been dead a year and Dean delirium had reached a peak. As far as America's teenagers were concerned, Giant starred James Dean in "his" final film. Upon his death, Dean seemed to eclipse the directors of each of his films: their films became known as "James Dean films." As a pop culture icon Dean has been subjected to a relentless commercial life after death. Commercial exploitation of his image has been so persistent that the public's awareness of Dean's unique acting genius is often overwhelmed by the ready availability of his image. While a number of contemporary critics were quick to label Dean a Marlon Brando imitator, and a poor one at that, Dean eventually escaped Brando's shadow to leave an exceptional acting legacy in his own right. Writing as a film critic in the 1950s, François Truffaut succinctly assessed Dean's impact as an actor: "His acting goes against fifty years of filmmaking. Each gesture, each attitude, each mime, is a slap in the face of tradition." Dean revered Method mentors Montgomery Clift and Marlon Brando and like his mentors was admitted to the Actors Studio, but unlike them he was extremely inhibited by Lee Strasberg's criticism and did little work there. Dean was a Method actor more by instinct than by formal training. Nonetheless, many of Dean's colleagues and acquaintances considered him an "oddball" both professionally and personally. He was certainly a risk-taker. He preferred not to know his lines too well so that his performances would be spontaneous and natural, and he rarely played a scene exactly the same way twice. Dean's unconventional approach to acting—whether on television, the stage, or the screen—often threw his acting colleagues off balance. Raymond Massey, who starred with him in East of Eden , complained that he never knew what Dean was going to say or do. Massey hated this unpredictable quality in Dean's acting style; other actors (such as Julie Harris) were more appreciative and tolerant of Dean's unique approach to his craft. Besides acting, Dean's other consuming passion was sports car racing and he won several amateur races. Both racing and acting were vehicles of risk and exhilaration for Dean. The risks he took in acting paid off: he received Best Actor nominations (posthumously) for his performances in East of Eden and Giant. The tenacity of Dean's cultural impact and personal appeal is confirmed by the enormous quantity of biographies, memoirs, tributes, and documentaries produced during the 45 years since his death. In the 1990s alone, a book was published on Dean in every year of the decade, and almost half a dozen documentaries and films were released. Nor has interest waned: another television documentary ("James Dean: An Invented Life") is soon to go into production once the role of James Dean is cast. Attempts to resolve the many contradictory facets of the James Dean persona into a single, homogenized, unambiguous icon are misguided. Labels do not fit Dean well. As soon as one is applied, its opposite seems equally appropriate: cool and emotional, masculine and feminine, heterosexual and homosexual, good boy and bad boy, nonconformist and self-indulgent, mixed-up kid and ambitious actor-hustler. Perhaps this ability to accommodate and radiate opposite qualities accounts in some measure for the Dean magic: the visceral power of his screen performances, the magnetism of his image, and the longevity of his legendary status. Or, as Andy Warhol put it: "[James Dean] is not our hero because he was perfect, but because he so perfectly represented the damaged but beautiful soul of his time." —Cindy Lee Stokes	i don't know
Who did Jacqueline Kennedy marry on Skorpios in 1968?	Jackie Kennedy marries Aristotle Onassis in 1968 - NY Daily News Jackie Kennedy marries Greek billionaire Aristotle Onassis in 1968 Jackie Kennedy marries Aristotle Onassis in 1968 NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Aristotle Onassis stands with his new wife Jacqueline Kennedy after their marriage in the tiny chapel on the Island of Scorpios in Greece on Oct. 20, 1968. (ASSOCIATED PRESS) NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Monday, October 19, 2015, 12:00 PM (Originally published by the Daily News on October 21, 1968. This story was written by Peter Jonas) SKORPIOS, GREECE, Oct. 20 - In a tiny, rain-drenched chapel here today a Greek Orthodox priest untied ribbons binding together the hands of the bridal couple standing before him - and at that instant Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy became Mrs. Aristotle Socrates Onassis. The ceremony here on Onassis' private island took place at 11 a.m. New York time (5 p.m. in Greece), a month before the fifth anniversary of the assassination of President John Kennedy. Jackie and Telis, her nickname for her hugely wealthy new husband, wore crowns of orange blossoms for the Greek Orthodox ceremony. She wore the ivory miniskirted gown designed for her by Valentino of Rome. With Onassis, in a dark suit, she stood before an altar decorated with antique Byzantine icons purchased by the bridegroom from collectors, while a trio of Byzantine choristers sang. Aiding in the ancient ceremony were Jackie's children, Caroline, 10, and John Jr. 7. They carried the two six-foot-tall candles traditionally held by pages at a Greek wedding. Onassis' children by his divorced wife, Alexander, 20, and Christina, 18, watched from a corner of the tiny chapel. The four children saw their parents exchange golden rings as the marriage ritual was recited by 31-year-old Father Polykarpos Athanassiou of Athens, a close friend of Onassis. Throughout the 45-minute ceremony, Jackie and Onassis stood silent. At the end of the rites, they walked together around the altar three times, and finally marked their new marriage with a kiss. Lee Radziwill acted in the role of matron of honor while her husband was accepted as best man - a function that does not really exist in Greek Orthodox rites. But he was allowed to stand in the sidelines. Best man in fact was a woman, Onassis' sister, Artemis Grarafoulias - officially designated the "coumbara." The coumbara at a Greek wedding or christening establishes a blood relationship. Athanassiou's last words of the ceremony were spoken in Greek and then in English as the choir chanted psalms of David. He said: "Servant of God Aristotle is wedlocked to the servant of God Jacqueline, in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost, amen." The guests pelted the happy couple with rice and sugared almonds - rice for fertility, almonds for happiness. Cover of the New York Daily News on October 21, 1968. (New York Daily News) Article on Jackie Kennedy's wedding in 1968. (New York Daily News) After the ceremony, Onassis, sipping champagne, signed documents pledging that any children of the marriage would be brought up in the Greek Orthodox faith. Jackie signed no documents at all. "We are very happy," Jackie told the pool reporters who were allowed at the last minute to witness the marriage with about 40 relatives and close friends of the couple. Onassis beamed but said nothing to the reporters. Jackie reached the chapel, called Panayitas - the Little Virgin - with her children by launch. They left the Christina, Onassis' palatial yacht, with the bridegroom, but he was driven to the chapel to await their arrival. Despite the rain, clouds and chilly winds, Jackie was radiant in her long-sleeved georgette lace dress. The softly pleated skirt ended four inches above her knees. She Wears a Scarf She wore a light nylon scarf to protect her chestnut hair as she walked 200 yards up a winding path to the chapel, with her stepfather, Hugh Auchincloss, of Washington, at her side. After the ceremony, the newlyweds waited for the guests to weds with good luck, prosperity and fertility. The Greeks also had a word for those critical of the age span between 39-year-old Jackie and 62-year-old Onassis. "Ripe olives are the best," is how the Greeks describe the advantage of age over youth. Until today, the weather had been flawless, and the Ionian Sea had been a calm and brilliant blue around Skorpios and the Christina. Jacqueline Onassis leaves the chapel with her new husband, Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis, after their wedding on the Greek Island of Scorpios, Oct. 20, 1968. (JIM PRINGLE/Associated Press) Today, however, there were overcast skies, then a downpour, and the water was choppy. The temperature dropped from a pleasant 75 to a dull, gray chill. The officiating priest was to have been taken by helicopter to Skorpios, after flying to Aktion nearby. Because of the bad weather, he was taken by boat instead, and crewmen reported it was a rough crossing. Newsmen, who finally were allowed to form a pool to cover the ceremony, probably because they had threatened to invade in masse otherwise, also went by boat to Skorpios. Pool Coverage Ioannis (John) Giorgiakis, general manager of the Onassis' owned Olympic Airways, reportedly arranged for the pool coverage. For three days he has been on the receiving end of protests and arguments from the representatives of the world press who had been barred from the prewedding activities by tight security measures. The security continued today with Greek government helicopters and coast guard boats supplementing Onassis' own patrol of speedboats and armed guards. Onassis spent the night before the wedding in his villa on the island, while Jackie stayed on the yacht with her children and most of the guests, including her mother, her sister, Princes Lee Radziwill, and her two sisters-in-law, Mrs. Peter Lawford and Mrs. Stephen Smith. Submits Document The wedding license had been obtained by the multimillionaire bridegroom at Levkas, from the bishopric of the diocese that governs his private 500-acre island on ecclesiastical matters. To get it, Onassis had to submit a document showing that he had obtained his divorce in the diocese from his former wife, Tina. He also had to submit a statement from the U.S. consulate at Athens that Jackie was a widow and free to marry. The Greek Archdiocese in New York said that Onassis and Tina also obtained an ecclesiastical divorce in New York on April 19, 1961. This apparently was done so that she could marry her present husband, the Marquess of Blandford. One of the wedding gifts received by the couple was an acre and a half of the most beautiful woodland on the neighboring island of Levkas. Tags:	Aristotle Onassis
Providence is the capital of which US state?	Skorpios: Daughter of Russian billionaire buys idyllic Greek island where Aristotle Onassis married Jackie Kennedy \| Daily Mail Online Daughter of Russian billionaire buys idyllic Greek island where Aristotle Onassis married Jackie Kennedy Ekaterina Rybolovleva, 24, has bought island of Skorpios 'for £100m' Sold by Athina Onassis Roussel, heir to the Greek shipping tycoon Island, off coast of Greece, was bought by Onassis in 1962 for £10,000 comments Billion dollar girl: Ekaterina Rybolovleva has bought Skorpios from the Onassis family The daughter of a Russian billionaire has been unveiled as the buyer of the Greek island where shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis married Jackie Kennedy. Ekaterina Rybolovleva, daughter of business magnate Dmitry Rybolovlev, has bought Skorpios, her father's investment office confirmed today. The 24-year-old purchased the island in the Ionian Sea, west of Greece, from Onassis' sole surviving heir, granddaughter Athina Onassis Roussel, 28, for a reported £100million. ‘Ekaterina is delighted that the trust has negotiated this purchase,’ a representative of Rybolovlev's family investment office said, confirming she also acquired the neighbouring island of Sparti. ‘She regards the acquisition as a long-term financial investment.’ Miss Rybolovleva's father Dmitry, co-founder of the Russian potash producer Uralkali, has a history of snapping up trophy properties and is the owner of the AS Monaco Football Club. The island of Skorpios was bought by Onassis in 1962, believed to have cost just 3.5 million drachmas, the equivalent of about £10,000. Six years later it hosted his wedding to Jacqueline Kennedy, the widow of the late President John F Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1963. After his death Skorpios passed to his daughter Christina, who died of a heart attack aged 37 in 1988, and then to Athina, the Daily Telegraph reports. RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share According to Greek press the contracts for the purchase of the private island are being drawn up by law firms in Athens and Geneva. Farhad Vladi, whose company, Vladi Private Islands, has hundreds of islands on its books, told the paper that while he had not heard of the deal, it was possible Ms Onassis Roussel had decided to sell the island. He said: 'These Russian oligarchs have billions, so it may be that one of them came along and said "I will give you 100 million or 200 million euros for it". Anything is possible.' Scroll down for video Island trading: Athina Onassis Roussel, the 28-year-old granddaughter of Aristotle Onassis, right, has sold the Skorpios to fellow equestrian Ekaterina Rybolovleva Sold: The Greek island where Aristotle Onassis married Jackie Kennedy has been sold 'for £100million' Jackie Onassis and Aristotle Onassis, on Skorpios, Greece in 1968. The island, off the western coast of Greece, was bought by Onassis in 1962 Mr Vladi said he was asked by Ms Onassis Roussel to carry out an evaluation of the island eight years ago. It is believed she has little interest in spending time on the island, or in Greece. He said the water comes from a mountain bought by Aristotle Onassis on a nearby island, and that anyone who bought the island would need to buy the mountain also, which he estimated would cost upwards of 100 million euros. The mayor of the nearby island of Meganisi, Efstathios Zavitsanos, said the deal was likely to be a long-term lease since Aristotle Onassis's will stated that Skorpios could not be sold or leave the family. ‘We have lived with the Onassis legend and it will never fade,’ he said. ‘You see, Aristotle was close to the local society, the fishermen and the residents. He was not just a rich man, he was truly loved.’ Like father, like daughter: Ekaterina, 24, is the daughter of Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev who owns AS Monaco Football Club The island hosted many parties during the time of Aristotle Onassis, who is buried there, as is his daughter and his son, Alexander, who died in a plane crash in 1973. It is also home to three residences, a helicopter landing pad and a boat quay. Swiss-educated Ms Onassis Roussel is the only surviving descendant of the shipping magnate. Ms Onassis Roussel was born in France, and is the only child of Christina Onassis and her fourth husband, Thierry Roussel. She is married to Brazilian Olympic show jumper, Alvaro de Miranda Neto, and lives in Sao Paulo. In the past there have been rumours that Giorgio Armani, Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft, and Madonna were interested in buying the tiny island. Family home: After Aristotle's death Skorpios passed to Onassis' daughter Christina, who died of a heart attack aged 37 in 1988	i don't know
The tomb of which English king is in Worcester Cathedral?	Worcester Cathedral - The Tomb of King John WORCESTER CATHEDRAL WICKED KING JOHN'S FINAL RESTING PLACE Worcester Cathedral, Worcester, Worcestershire King John (1167-1216), the fourth and youngest son of Henry 11, was the archetypal wicked king, whose record of rebellion and intrigue against his brother, Richard 1st, led contemporary historian William of Newburgh (1135-1198), to denounce him as "nature’s enemy." His bullying manner and excessive taxation provoked the powerful English barons to rebel against him, and force him to seal Magna Carta. Later hailed as a declaration of English liberties, it was at the time, little more than a criticism of his style of government and, as such, he had no intention of adhering to its terms. His reign ended with England wracked by civil war. But one place he had reverence for was Worcester and, as he lay dying, he made a codicil to his will ordering that he was to be buried in its cathedral, between the tombs of its two saints, St Oswald and St Wulfstan. Their bones were long ago dispersed, but the tomb of "evil" King John can still exists. The marble top of his tomb is the lid of his original coffin, and thought to be the oldest royal effigy in England. The tomb itself has been opened several times, shedding light upon a legend concerning the Kings final days. It is said that John, realising that the chances of him attaining heaven were limited, gave orders that his corpse was to be dressed in the garb of a monk. Thus attired, he hoped to hoodwink his way into Paradise. When the tomb was opened in 1797, the remnants of an ancient cowl were, supposedly, found wrapped around his skull! HEREFORDSHIRE AND	King John
The adjective caprine refers to which animals?	www.worcestercathedral.co.uk Until Monday 28 November 2016 King John, Magna Carta and Worcester Cathedral Exhibition An illustrated exhibition about King John's will, tomb and reputation. His connection with Magna Carta, Worcester, St Wulfstan and Shakespeare. Plus Magna Carta in the USA, its legacy and influence today. ï¿½ Talks by King Johns Tomb for Pre booked groupsï¿½ There is an opportunity to come and hear King Johnï¿½s story told by one of the Cathedral guides, they reveal King Johnï¿½s family background, life and disputes leading up to Magna Carta and discuss why he wanted to be buried in Worcester. ï¿½ Click here to book. Prebooked Library visits for groups Pre booked group visits to the medieval Library see King Johnï¿½s Will, the oldest remaining Royal Testament in England, his artefacts and relics.ï¿½ï¿½5 per person.	i don't know
Which author created the primitive, barely human race the Yahoos?	The best science fiction books \| Books \| theguardian.com The best science fiction books We asked for suggestions of your favourite science fiction books . Here are the results Thursday 26 May 2011 09.54 BST Title of book Roadside Picnic Arkady & Boris Strugatsky A novel that works on many levels. Literate. Politically subversive. An insight into the human condition. Charlie Cornelius The Left Hand of Darkness Ursula K. LeGuin Not only does the book imagine an alien race, but an alien race without genders. However, this never stops the novel from reaching the high levels of characterization and prose that we expect not only from LeGuin, but from the very best of fiction. By the time the reader leaves the world of Winter, their world will never be the same again. Trystero Ubik Philip K Dick Philip K Dick is the best author in the genre and this is his best book by a street. pjlythgoe Dune Frank Herbert The lore and narrative is so well written you could almost believe you were there. Stunning. The_Hillman Star Maker Olaf Stapledon Lacking both character (aside from the self-effacing ghost who narrates) and incident (unless you count descriptions of the evolution and slow collapse of entire species and civilisations), Star Maker is a Dantean tour of the possibilities of cosmic creation, culminating with an extended encounter and biography of the Creator itself -- the titular Star Maker. One of the most visionary, ambitious and influential explorations of the universe ever committed to paper, Stapledon's novel elevates SF to the level of a sacred text. purserhallard Coelestis Paul Park Coelestis is not a comfortable read. But it is one of those science fiction novels which can change the way you look at the world. And there are remarkably few of them. ian_sales Little, Big John Crowley This book is perfect in every respect. The story is rich and satisfying in every detail, the characters are unforgettable, and the language is so good that you want to read every sentence twice. I always keep an extra copy in the house, because when it gets borrowed, it tends never to come back (but that's OK). Adele Bug Jack Barron Norman Spinrad Experimental, funny and achingly prescient. Set the blueprint for cyberpunk and given all the fuss it kicked up over Arts Council funding, now seems oddly relevant all over again. DrTum84 StarMaker Olaf Stapledon Hard to adequately describe the majesty of this book. Vast breadth and depth. I'd use the phrases 'mind blowing' or 'mind expanding' if they weren't such cliches. Hopefully someone else can do more justice to it in their recommendation, but all I can say is you come away from it with a different perspective on the universe. AkaSomethingElse Neverness David Zindell I'm amazed that Zindell is not more popular than he is. First, a misconception. This book is described as hard SF - I don't agree. Sure, it deals with complex mathematical concepts, the far-future evolution of humanity...but it does so in a poetic, mythic way. It also covers philospophy, religion...This is a SF Odyssey, it is Homeric in its ambition, and it has quite the most beautiful prose I have ever read in a SF novel. Each chapter seemed to me a novella in its scope and depth when I read it. This is an epic quest of a book. TokenGesture The Stainless Steel Rat Harry Harrison It is purely fun and wacky. Relatively soft but with hard elements. It gives a glimpse into one of our many possible futures and problems we may face in the future. The characters are nicely fitted into stereotypes and work well together and the stories are outlandish enough to keep interest but they're not too much. DeGriz Ubik Philip K Dick Classic PKD. Deranged paranoia, mind-bending ideas and lots of humour. This last point is crucial as all the Hollywood adaptations of Dick have lack his wit and irony. Indeed, don't think any film version of Dick has really captured his tone properly. Laszlo Kovacs Schismatrix Bruce Sterling Gritty, satirical, thrilling, terrifying, mindblowing... I could throw adjectives at this book for the rest of my life and make every one of them stick. Schismatrix not only helped birth what we now think of as the "New Space Opera" (e.g. Iain M Banks, Alastair Reynolds), but was arguably the first novel to imagine a plausible posthuman solar system, riven by ideologies and wild economics, teeming with conflict and graft, and packed with moments of pure sensawunda. Best of all, apart from the handful of short stories set in the same fictional universe, Sterling never felt the need to cash in on the critical success of Schismatrix with sequels; the end result is a novel that still reads as fresh and powerful to this day, more than a quarter of a century after its initial publication. @PaulGrahamRaven We Yevgeny Zamyatin While not as evidently prescient as Huxley or Orwell, Zamyatin explores a potential extrapolation of the Soviet ideal. Some may call it a reductio ad absurdum but ultimately it highlights the dangers of the worship of technology, the establishment of systems and rules and progress - while it is full of allusions to the early Soviet state, it has a universal message which is certainly interesting - furthermore, its relatively inconclusive ending evades traditional dystopian SF tropes of the revolution or regime change per se. R042 The Player of Games Iain M Banks A very accessible book by which to begin reading Banks, an author whose core franchise/setting appears impenetrable. While its plot can be considered a simple adventure or mystery, Banks' real strength is in realising a genuinely alien futuristic society which at the same time uses elements of the contemporary world, at times exaggerated, in unfamiliar or extreme ways. On a purely superficial level, the detail with which Banks describes the society depicted, and the impossibly complex alien games which form the core of the plot, ignite the imagination in a way only the best SF does. R042 The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch Philip K. Dick 'He writes about drugs doesn't he' a lecturer annoyingly once said to me. Well the answer is yes sometimes and particularly in this book albeit some unknown space drug. But like the genre of sci-fi itself Dick uses such concepts as vehicles for what I would see as Dicks’ big idea. Put very simply he recognises that when something or anything is looked at more closely reality and consciousness will change ultimately meaning that both are unstable. In Dicks books this manifests itself firstly in paranoia and then to transcendence. I recognise this as something very human and very real, the cracks in our reality are always there and beckoning us to investigate; it’s why we know the earth to be spherical and not flat. With Dick the journey to transcendence or new forms of understanding can be a very stressful one for his protagonists. dazdazza Battle Royale Koushun Takami While some might consider this novel a pulp horror twist on Lord of the Flies, it is given a new dimension if read with knowledge of Japanese contemporary history and perceptions of young people. It plays on fears of juvenile delinquency and student violence, which is a common theme across popular culture (youth gangs and violent schools feature prominently, another example being the recent film Confessions) and then mixes it with ideas of how willing anyone is to kill for self defence or self-promotion. A challenging and interesting book best read with some understanding of the culture within which it was written (although the film adaptation is also of high quality). R042 Foundation Issac Azimov The cleverest Sci-Fi book i've ever read. A classicand the reason that Azimov deserves his moniker of the father of Science Fiction. Simian The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Douglas Adams This book features on every 'Best of' list at some time or other and there's a good reason: it is a hilariously perfect and lovingly absurd journey of a simple human being through the wild riot that is existence. So much of science fiction focuses on heavy subject matter without a drip of humor. Adams wants us to laugh at it all, the pretentiousness and the craziness and never forget our towel. dijeratic The Forever War Joe Haldeman War as a constant theme, messed up with embryonic sleeps through hyper speed jumps across the universe, to fight in a ship that is now 10 years out of date. Multi-platform emotional relationships and an unknown foe. What's not to like? wearethedx16 Neuromancer William Gibson The aliens will need to know what humanity was like (even if only to recreate us as a digital slave race in their virtual reality matrix), and if any single author grasps the state of our technological society today it is William Gibson. I was 14 when I first read Neuromancer, one of the first generation to grow up hooked in to the computer-generated realities that Gibson so presciently explores. For me and for millions of others who live in the modern reality of computers and the internet, William Gibson's imagined future is closer to the truth of now than any work of realist literature. Damien G Walter Vurt Jeff Noon If you liked Neiromancer, you'll probably like this. Good cyberpunk vibe to it and some literary pretentions , going with a wellpaced, nicely written, occasionally twisted little book. lawrencegillies Argonautica Apollonius Rhodius It has survived a damn sight longer than most 'real' scfi novels ever will. And it's a great yarn. BillyMills Sentimental Agents of the Volyen Empire Doris Lessing It's got everything - essentially it's about Imperialism and Rhetoric, but it has many lessons and much wisdom for those interested in learning about Imperialism, especially the modern-day form of 'Aid' and 'helping the natives' - but then justifications for Imperialism have usually been wrapped up in fluffy-feel-good 'humanitarian' terms Hu Bris More Than Human Theodore Sturgeon A good SF novel should be, above all things, a good novel. Sturgeon, a great short-story writer, uses the genre to explore what it is to be human, and how we can strive to be more. It is a novel of discovery, but also a novel of compassion and hope. It's also a cracking good read! Twelvetrees Perdido Street Station China Mieville Despite some dubious plot points Perdido Street Station features one of the most mesmerising and terrifying monsters I've ever come across. Described with a stunning, fluid, dreamlike intensity, in a wonderfully rendered world, the Slake Moths made Perdido Street Station the most memorable sf novel I've read. mr.riff The Algebraist Iain M. Banks Iain M. Banks novels are great because you have to think quite hard to understand them while you're reading them. I normally read pretty fast, but I have to slow down to read an Iain M. Banks. Which is appropriate for The Algebraist because he created a whole species of creatures, The Dwellers, that are 'slow'. They live for aeons, on gas giants, and little things like having a conversation can go on for centuries for them. When I read this book I thought that was the most wonderful idea, that we can't communicate with some entities because we're simply on a different time scale. The fun of reading Iain M. Banks novels is that somehow he manages to think of these things, that once you've got your head round make perfect sense but you might never have thought of yourself. JudeNicho Foundation series (or any book about Robotics) Isaac Asimov The Laws of Robotics have been one of the guiding ethical codes of my life - and should be for any good person, I believe. I was very surprised that not a single person mentioned Asimov as their favourite, despite him having such a wide repertoire. ASMorgan Lost Dorsai Gordon R. Dickson This is a strange little novelette in the middle of Dickson's epic "Dorsai" series. It tells the tale of a pacifist Dorsai who like all Dorsai is in the military, but whose weapon is the bagpipes. Surrounded in a fortress by hordes of clansmen on a Spanish speaking planet, he uses music to insult and infuriate the hordes and sacrifice himself to win the battle. His honour and courage and the creativity of the cultural values described make this story one my favorites of all time. Mainer7 The forever War Joe Haldeman Ridley Scott is working up the film project now. Superb book, though if you have seen Starship Troopers the film it can spoil it a bit. WIllB42 Its scary, funny and unusually for PKD its got lots of heart trickydicky The Stars My Destination Alfred Bester Gully Foyle is a refreshing bastard of a hero. He's agressive, selfish and mean and deserves everything he gets... only he ends up dishing out just deserts to his enemies anyway. Very cool book (goes a little freaky at the end) wearethedx16 Chocky John Wyndham A beautifully simple idea (a child with an invisible friend) that as the book progresses becomes more intriguing and more dangerous at the same time. Also - it's an easy read that can encourage youngsters to take up SF. phil west Ender's Game Orson Scott Card Brilliant short story about the exploitation of a young gaming genius by the military, published originally in 1977. Unfortunately got expanded into a series of novels, but the original is a chillling political parable, which has gained resonance in the era of child soldiers and xbox rosaa Because it grows page by page into an awesom book Asimov Us Evgenij Zamjatin it's a great book. precursor 0f 1984. not new but still a kick in the stomach tommasik Jurassic Park Michael Crichton Not only does it have dinosaurs, humour, adventure and a loss of control of the environment in which the protagonists find themselves, but unlike the film version it examines the importance of chaos theory which is what makes it SF for me. Two more choices in no order of priority: Rendezvous with Rama - Arthur C Clark The Gates - John Connolly (The LHC opens the gates to hell) for younger readers ( and me!) milinovak Still fresh though first published in 1948 PsyBorg Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World Haruki Murakami Murakami is our greatest living writer, and whilst most of his books have flights of fancy that could loosely align them with SF, this is his full-blown masterpiece. DanHolloway Stranger In A Strange Land Robert A. Heinlein Discovered it when I was 11 or 12, in the adult section of the local public library. It opened me up to the world of "what if" that has remained to this day. I was hooked on Science Fiction since. Mike V. Smith is human, only he was born on Mars, and raised there. That has caused him to think a bit differently, and use more of his brain than the rest of us do. When the full version of the book was finally released, I also bought a copy of it. Using it as a way to look at life, and how we can treat one another, as opposed to how we do responded to daily life, remains fascinating. It does not cease to teach. I have given copies of it away, as gifts, to whomever asks "Why do you like to read that junk, anyway?" Somehow, it seems to answer their questions. Josh I, Robot Isaac Asimov Asimov's robot stories not only present a coherent, imaginative vision of the future, but also give us an insight into the ways in which he and others during his lifetime thought about and presented the future. Not only that, but he writes excellent prose and the stories he conceived are always clever and illuminate the human condition. I wish very much that he was alive today to see the innovations that are happening now. fluoronaut Stranger in a Strange Land Heinlin? It's an SF story that's really all about humanity, including man's inhumanity to man. Belsane Anathem Neal Stephenson It's really the history of philosophy disguised as SF (but don't let that put you off) Versace The all-time classic of SF Versace Solaris Stanislaw Lem I would recomend this book because it deals with exactly what science fiction means to discuss: the unknown. Lem's best novel is about epistemology, and the our absolute ignorance of what lies beyond the bounds of the earth, and how utterly unprepared we are to encounter it. bonnequin Vurt Jeff Noon Very very difficult to describe - but it's simply brilliant. It's wildly imaginative, frightening - psychedelic, even. A great, simple story (boy searches for lost sister) set in a future Britain seemingly viewed through early 90s ecstasy-flavoured optimism. Thatlotnextdoor Lord of Light Roger Zelazny Gods and monsters, budhism v hinduism v christianity in a fight to the finish, the worst pun ever recorded, and a joy in humanity in all of its many aspects and attributes. And yes, it's SF, not fantasy. mooneym Dhalgren Samuel R Delany I used to re-read this book every couple of years; it's long, confusing at times, but has a wonderful circular narrative that invites further exploration. It's also got a fabulous sense of place (even though the city of Bellona is fictional). Like early McEwan stories, Delany brilliantly captures a sense of urban ennui and although there are elements of hard sci-fi in the book, they are kept in the background, so that the characters are allowed to come through - something quite rare is SF. I also concur with the support for Tiger, Tiger: a thrilling ride. David Bowman Flow My Tears The Policeman Said Philip K Dick Find it pretty remarkable that such a list would completely omit any of Dick's work. Many of his books are of a high enough standard to be chosen, but 'Flow My Tears The Policeman Said' is one of his best. American Gods Neil Gaiman Not really SF, but a world where gods actually exist counts as imaginative fiction to me. A haunting modern mythic saga. Versace The Eye of the World Robert Jordan The first and best of the epic series which ultimately became too convuluted. Characters innocent and undeveloped, I wish I could read this for the first time again. earl Foundation Isaac Asimov The book that kicked off the 'Foundation' saga. The dead hand of Hari Seldon and his new science, the mathematics of psycho-history unfold against a backdrop of the whole galaxy. Asimov was just so full of ideas and happily his characters were full and real people I cared about - he was THE giant of Sci-Fi and 'Foundation' one of dozens I could have chosen. thesistersofmercy The Songs of Distant Earth Arthur C Clarke This novel is heartbreakingly good in it's evocation of the inhuman distances of space & time between worlds. Morally ambiguous love-story combined with grounded, 'realistic' sci-fi - i cannot believe no has turned this into a film yet.... brett78 A Wrinkle in Time Madeleine L'Engle I read it as a child and it has never left me. I believe it leads a young mind to explore "the other" in a different way. Alexguy Babel-17 Samuel R. Delaney Most science fiction, it has been said, is driven by violent conflict; Babel-17 avoids that, having an idea - an untranslatable language - and unpacking it, unfolding out from there. It packs in interesting and human characters, stylish writing, fascinating concepts and ideas, a manic outpouring of intelligent thought, and a great plot, managing to, even now, 45 years after its original publication, be thought-provoking and boundary-pushing. DanielFranklin Under The Skin Michel Faber Utterly gripping. I love the language and the way the book draws you into an "alien" perspective by the assumption that this perspective is "normal". KL Anathem Neal Stephenson Much like Jostein Gaarder's 'Sophie's World,' or indeed most of Stephenson's other writing, 'Anathem' is a lesson in science and philosophy wrapped in narrative. In this case, the narrative is sprawling, believable and dramatic, although the middle section feels like a lecture, the purpose of which only becomes apparent towards the end of this weighty novel. The world Stephenson creates is rich and believable, a parallel universe in which science and philosophy are restricted to an odd, codified monastic system - at least until a global crisis places the monks centre stage. Massive, but unmissable. Wendell Stamps Foundation Isaac Asimov It was one of the first sf novels I read when I was a kid and it blew my mind. The basic idea of taking current trends, creatively extrapolating them into the future and weaving personal as well as social stories from them just stunned me. It got me interested in bridging the divide between maths/physics and the 'ologies'. And my eldest son is called Isaac. ds The Gap series Stephen R Donaldson The aliens are fascinating but it's all about the characters and getting inside the heads of flawed, damaged, normal human beings! paganuspaul Legend David Gemmell Not really sci-fi, more fantasy, still a great book to read that gives the world a cracking character - Druss, the Legend of the title. Displays some of the better gamut of human characteristics, without being overly poncy. tomBstone Tik Tok John Sladek Dark, satirical, laugh out loud funny, ridiculous and scathing. The book follows robot Tik Tok as he realises that he does not have to follow the Asimov laws when he kills a young innocent blind girl just for fun. He soon gets a taste for murder and gets very good at it. Farcical in places with a whole raft of ridiculous characters it draws parallels with the slave trade and the fight for equality. His murderous exploits and cool, calm cunning takes him although way to the top at the White House, his aim: to get his hands on the big war stuff! The novel also takes swipes at celebrity culture, religion, mob mentality and pretty much everything else. It's one of those goto books when a friend asks for a recommendation. Petecabanna War of the Worlds HG Wells A book that was way ahead of its time, predicting flying machines and total war. Plus it is a great read and adventure story. You believe what you are reading really happended as Martians invide Surrey and London in the late Victorian era. It also created a sub genre of its own the "Alien Invasion" story. A classic novel that stands above all others. Marky Bunny Ender's game Orson Scott Card Read this, and it's sequels, 20 years ago. Could not put the book down. Finished it in 2 days. Still totally abosrbs me today. Great detailed story about a lonely, little boy. Also fascinating on the military life of Battle School and the Earth's attitude to alien races. SF Reader Fall of Hyprion Dan Simmons Not just this book but the whole series. Benchmark sci fi novel and whats important is the prose, the ideas expunded in the books and the fact that all my sci fi hating friends read the series on reccomendation and were completely converted. ddvx220 Amazing book. Incredible vision. Lazurus Long - how I wish to be him! Everlast Ringworld Larry Niven I was twelve when I read Ringworld, my first adult Science Fiction novel. It sparked a life long love of SF. The central concept of the Ringworld (a constructed habitat that is a ring around a star) is vividly brought to life. The story moves at a pace and the aliens very well imagined - especially the Pearson's Puppeteer. This book is a prime example of why SF will always be a literary form with TV and film being very much the poor relations. I still have that battered second hand copy I read first over thirty years ago and have reread several times since. Robert Fraser The Martian Chronicles Ray Bradbury Becasue it's a collection of haunting short stories about what would happen when humans got to Mars, each filled with twists, turns and pathos. Like the Martians who defend themselves by changing their appearance to look like humans, to the last human left on the planet after the rest have gone back to Earth. Plus, like all good Sci Fi, it's not really about space, but about humanity. spleenteam The Legion of Space Jack Williamson As a young boy this book fed my imagination for sci-fi. Having been originally written in the 30s the vivid pictures he paints of far away worlds with bizarre creatures in a swashbuckling story were far ahead of its time. fantastic, something every boy should read!!! ClayGate A Canticle for Leibowitz Walter M Miller As you say if current human civilization was unexpectedly destroyed, I'd like this to survive as a warning of how it could all happen again. JohnDear Golden Witchbreed Mary Gentle A distant star: a group of scientists sent to examine its primitive society. An ambassador given permission to roam. The discovery that the society is not really primitive and pre-industrial. The gradual realization that the society is post-atomic and that the re-discovery of machinery and science has been banned post the disaster ... Mary Gentle's book is in itself a voyage of discovery in which the reader starts as a comfortable alien observer and ends as a very uncomfortable but involved critic of a world that wobbles between utopia and dystopia. ElMu Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy Douglas Adams Very handy for hitchhikers and the best read. Introduces millions of people to to British humour and the SF genre every year. Great advert for SF and also very funny. Marvin WASP Eric Frank Russell A fantastic book that should be read by anyone planning to join the secret service as a subversive officer! It's easy to read, a great story that keeps you hooked. The characters are great and you really root for the hero. Lawek75 To your scattered bodies go Philip Jose Farmer A man wakes up naked to find he has been resurrected along with every other human who ever lived during the history of earth. Their new home is a riverplanet, they are all 25, they don't age, they can't die, and it is all a big social and spiritual project, created by an alien race. This book and the ones that follow are staggering conceptually. They mix history, politics, pyschology, religion, and everyday life in a sublime cocktail. One of the few Sci-Fi books that you read in which that you know you are also a character. For those that go the distance with the whole Riverworld series, the final installment 'Gods of the Riverworld' cranks up the hypothetical social situations to mind boggling levels. Computers that play your whole life back to you, so you can come to terms with your wasted time, evil deeds, poor posture. A super computer that can build rooms a hundred miles wide, and produce anything from human history at request. peejoco Dune Frank Herbert A cornerstone of the sci-fy genre. Read how Paul Atriedes uncovers the secrets of Arrakis and the Fremen people. Follow Paul's journey into a dangerous world where unlocking the power of the spice melange and it's keepers transforms him into the most powerful being in the galaxy. Set in an epic universe filled with wierd and wonderul creatures, monsters and alien races. A must read for any sci-fy nut. leto The Reality Dysfunction Peter F. Hamilton Despite not having the easiest of openings (you really have to force yourself to get past the first few pages), this really is a superb opening to a wonderful Sci-Fi trilogy. There are some great ideas, some excellent characters and some wonderful speculation on humanities future, but most of all it's a cracking story, and the main plot sideswipes you from left-field when you get to it as it was (for me, at least) totally unexpected. Cannot recommend this enough silentbazz Body of Glass Marge Piercy Imaginative, well written. I really like the way the author describes a data world, and interweaves this with a broader narrative, which includes a comparison between the plight of a Jewish community in Prague during the 16th-century and the futuristic community of the future. Splendid stuff RobNichols Malazan Book of the Fallen Steven Erikson A series of epic sci-fi/fantasy books, the level of detail and development of the history, theology and politics, not to mention flora and fauna of the setting is extraordinary. ChrisC The Star My Destination Alfred Bester So much SciFi work is seen as being written by people whose only talent was a good imagination. Alfred Bester was one a new age of writers who wrote engaging stories that happened to be along a SciFi theme. In The Stars My Destination, Bester creates one of the most memorable characters in SciFi history. Gully Foyle is reborn on the Nomad, but is alive to revenge only, in a plot which takes us through a world where instantaneous travel with the power of the human mind is possible. His journey to discover who he is can only be compared to the greats of SciFi writing. A definite must read. SciFi_Reader Altered Carbon Richard Morgan It challenges the concept of self and individuality. It is unremittingly, violently captivating throughout and it introduces the coolest hotel ever imagined. petesmif The Diamond Age aka Young Lady's illustrated Primer Neal Stephenson Its simply sublime, beautiful written, and would be an epic if it was on screen. sn0wcr45h Simply the best portrayal of a cyber and social future. trdickso The mote in God's eye Larry Niven Wildly imaginative, interesting characters, very funny. longfields Gormenghast Triology Mervyn peake This fantasy doesn't include any aliens, space ships, or magic, but it's in its' own weird universe. A very Dickensian gothic tale. I agree about William Gibson. mikedow Cosmic Banditos A. C. Weisbecker The tale is a great romp of the imagination with an insight into some physics. A science based equivalent to philosophy of 'The Truth Gang' by Tibor Fischer, another great read. Andrew Farrow The Moon is a Harsh Mistress Robert A. Heinlein It is a completely worked out version of a believable future. It does not require the 'suspension of disbelief' normal to SF. And it is a great adventure story! lazarus Now wait for last year Philip K Dick Accessible, rip-roaring, thought provoking, good story oatcake Very human story of the more-than-humans living amongst us oatcake Consider Plebas Iain M Banks The enormous scale and technical details of the science fiction element of the story are breath taking whilst the story still holds the reader close to the characters of the core individuals in the story. Carl Pheasant Lies Inc Philip K Dick As with all Dick's books, it explores his twin fascinations: what is human? What is real? The human side is handled with his usual tender melancholy, while the metaphysical investigations are ramped up and up as the protaganist, teleported to a colony planet where all is not as it seems, dissolves, with the aid of an LSD tipped dart, into a nightmare where reality itself seems to deconstruct. Quixotic Flux Tscahi: Planet of adventure Jack Vance Wonderful language and weird world building. The protagonist - Adam Reith - a stranded earthman has many adventures, encountering the various inhabitants of Tschai, a much fought over planet. Not quite a picaresque as Reith is too honest but some of his associates are less so. Charming and lovely books and, let us not forget, anyone who can title one of them (vol 2) Servants of the Wankh is worthy of deep respect (even if he didn't know what it means to english ears haha) Pen or PPG The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch Philip K Dick Do yoursel a favour : read it and see oatcake The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch Philip K Dick Do yoursel a favour : read it and see,it will open your mind oatcake The Player of Games Iain M Banks The Player of Games does more than tell an exciting and engaging tale. In the empire of Azad, where the books action takes place, Iain M Banks creates a civilization which reflects the worst excesses of our own, despite its alien nature. Using the empire of Azad themes of one cultures interference in another are explored as the benign, peaceful Culture displays the lengths it will go to push a cruel empire closer to its own philosophy. The Player of Games is an excellent showcase for Iain M Banks powerful imagination. The story revolves around a man playing a board game. Admittedly it's a vast, complex board game central to the lives of those who play it, but it's essentially just a big, complicated chess set. This sounds like rather dull stuff to relate to the reader, but the authors descriptions of the game are never less than completely involving and genuinely exciting. SoMuchForSubtlety The futurological congress Stanislaw Lem There is a popular misconception that Douglas Adams was responsible for bringing humour into Sci-Fi. But before him there was already the brilliant Stanislaw Lem, whose humour can be often anarchic and deeply satirical. This is a good example of his satirical humour at its most razor sharp. If the idea of Sci-Fi combined with Swiftean satire sounds appealing then this book is definitely for you vascopereira To Your Scattered Bodies Go Phil Farmer Beautifully written; all about hate and love. mediumcool Use of Weapons Iain M. Banks I'm using UoW as my choice but really any of Banks' culture novels fit the bill. Banks' stands astride 21st century science fiction as a giant. He not only manages to excel in world building, The Culture has to be one of the greatest realised sci-fi universes in print, but also manages something that virtually all other sci-fi authors fail at; the evolution of psychology over time. The inhabitants of Banks' worlds are existentially flawed and carry with them a melancholy created by pitting emotional psychology against the vast backdrop and advanced science they have foisted upon them. The scale of his stories could leave the protagonists dwarfed by the spectacle but they end up dovetailing perfectly into the situations thought up by Banks by allowing us to connect to the madness of existance, whether they're human or alien. Each of his new novels are events in the genre and allow their readers to conduct thought experiments of what it would be like to exist in such a reality (surely the goal of any sci-fi?) virgopunk Ringworld Larry Niven I read it as a teenager and the sheer scale of the technological achievement of building the Ring has stayed with me - even though I cant remember much of the details of the story today! Totally influenced and encouraged me to pursue my dream of working in the building industry (which I don't regret, even today) inthetrade In Viriconium M John Harrison Atmospheric blend of fantasy and 1890s decadence, with a consumptive, sexually ambiguous heroine whom I'd love to see Tilda Swinton play! Silverwhistle The Dispossessed U K Le Guin It realistically sets out an anarchist society from an anthropological background; it's a hard life but it actually works! billthecat Hitchhikers Guide to the Galazy Douglas Adams It has great humour & pathos in its story. It gives a great insight into human traits through the characters Arthur & Trillian, their interactions with others on their journeys and their interactions with each other. AND it also provides the alien's perspective on humanity! Humour, sadness, love, despair, hope, the ability to muddle on & make the best of a situation, thriving despite adversity; the book has it all & all of it is what makes us human. The Great Raymondo 1984 George Orwell Not just the best SF. But best novel Ive ever read. Impossible to explain its importance so briefly. But it is the most important artistic contribution I can think of, of any genre/medium. Art irrelevant? SF escapist pap? Orwell lays it out. It is appropriated by literary fiction like most great SF. isiah Anathem Neal Stephenson It's a thousand pages of wonder and awe at how mindboggling complex the universe is and the joy and fascination there is in trying to understand it with just the human brain. This is how physics and philosophy should be taught - at the same time and with multi-dimensional spaceships. hebdencroft The Gap Cycle Stephen R Donaldson An Epic Story, with a dark plot. Donaldson creates a very beleiveable universe. As Soon as I finished the 1st book, I was online ordering the remaining 4 stories Tonyd71 That Hideous Strength C.S.Lewis This is the third book in C.S.Lewis's science fiction trilogy. It combines themes of mythology, allegory and religion with some great characters and moments of true horror. It's a great story that keeps you gripped all the way through. @nostalgia4books The Dispossessed Ursula Le Guin This book is about the simple acts of kindness that can make immense and profound differences to the future. The main character is Shevik: physicist and great scientist who is nearly close to ending up with a great scientific theory that he knows will change the world forever. He makes a difficult decision to travel to the neighbouring planet of Urras to try and use their expertise to piece it together. The novel weaves around in time: Shevik's present and past are explored: his strength is buoyed by the love he finds from the woman he loves, but also the limitations of living in a real communist world where there aren't enough resources for the people, are both explored. Back on Urras, Shevik begins to realise he is becoming a small pawn in a powerful government's game and has to reconcile himself with the fact that he may never have been able to go home in the first place and may never go home now. At its centre is Shevik: complicated, resilient, brave and fiercely intelligent. It remains one of the best characters I can remember in any book - at the end the final twist of the twin narratives meets into one of the best endings I have read in any book. Fear Nothing Dean Koontz It's a different kind of science fiction that allows the reader to be an active creator of the "other timely" world introduced by Koontz. It's not about zombies or aliens or space but it does represent something maybe even more bone-chilling: the answer to the question "what if?" LittlechurchBee Nights Dawn Trilogy Peter F Hamilton The epic scope of the book, showing the terrifying yet exciting possibilities of the human race as an multi planetary starship faring bunch of brilliently flawed individuals, and organsiations. Alliya A really rare find these days as I think it is out of print. Lemmys Feet The Player of Games Iain M Banks Witty and engaging, it draws parralels with life on earth in a profound and imaginative alien galaxy. sparkclarke Last and First Men Olaf W Stapledon 'Last and First Men' documents mankinds evolution, written by a historian billions of years in the future. First published in 1930, the book documents the many highs and lows of man's struggle for survival. The book contains the first mention of genetic engineering in a sci fi novel, a compelling and truly eye-opening read. andybagg Perdido Street Station China Mieville So maybe it is the outer fringes of SF where myth and fantasy meets "steam punk" but it does have futuristic dimensions albeit in a retro kinda way. It is the way the characters seem unbelievable yet real which gets me (in all of his books by the way) and sucks me in to a reading time vortex - as all good books should squidsin The Martian Chronicles Ray Bradbury Bradbury's Mars keeps shifting its identity, becoming a symbol of the dreams and fears of America itself. No attempt is made at scientific accuracy (this Mars is hot, for example), and the stories reflect the Cold War era in which they were written. Bradbury could overwrite, but he keeps this tendency under control here, and the book has a haunting resonance. FrogC Excession Iain M Banks It has the fastest start I can recollect any book having, The Affront are hilarious and the Culture ships superb. I also appreciate that the nature of the excession is never defined. Outboundcargo Red Mars Kim Stanley Robinson Hard sci-fi at its best. The attention to detail and depth of knowledge of the author make this a compelling and inspirational book to read. oneshot The Sparrow Mary Doria Russell This is a strange, compelling and beautifully written story. I'd defy anyone from the most hard-nosed SF aficionado on up not to enjoy reading it. mccp Riddley Walker Russell Hoban If can get into the language, you'll enter a plausible yet mythical world where you'll get your first knowin from the eyes of a dog and learn the secrets of the master chaynjis. solomonrobson Any Culture book Ian M Banks Can't believe that none of these magnificent books were chosen. Some better than others, but all full of wonderful prose, deep imagination, gripping stories and interesting characters. Vex The Body Snatchers Jack Finney One of the few books I've read in one sitting. I also enjoyed The Possessors by John Christopher, which was made into a good TV mini series by the BBC. Edamame On Wings Of Song Thomas M. Disch Perhaps the masterpiece of a CRIMINALLY underappreciated writer, this novel oscillating between Bildungsroman and Swiftian satire simultaneously celebrates and satirizes the human aspiration to trascendence (through love,sex, religion and above all art) . Set in a wonderfully imagined dystopic America, it's very bleak but also savagely funny, always brilliant, and ultimately heartbreaking. mg71 More Than Human Theodore Sturgeon This book is a positive, hopeful contemplation of mankind's possible next step. How we might evolve into something better than we are now. The first hint of this next evolutionary step is not evidenced by those we conventionally think of as brighter, stronger or more beautiful, but by the supposed freaks and invalids that just might come together in some way to become, collectively, something...more than human. Fried Egg The Body Snatchers Jack Finney One of the few books I've read in one sitting. I also enjoyed The Possessors by John Christopher, which was made into a good TV mini series by the BBC. Edamame Ringworld Larry Niven Ringworld is SF on a grand scale in many respects. Set far into the future, it is scientifically well researched and utterly believable, with "alien" characters that are lifelike and convincing: the story is entertaining yet the concept is original and thought-provoking. A fantastic novel, one of many well-written books by Larry Niven. Simon99 Just because its oneof the greatest sci-fi books ever. hooner Ringworld Larry Niven The sheer scope of the imagination: the predatory Kzin and the cowardly puppeteer. The gradual unfolding of the driving force of the novel: all the time you are thinking it is the major characters and the incredible world while in reality it is the minor character and her luck. My son and I discussed it for days. Aetrus The World of Tiers Philip Jose Farmer Farmer is woefully under-rated, and really only known for his Riverworld series, but the World of Tiers is, I think, his masterwork. It contains so much of why I read SF - it has terrific characters, it's overflowing with ideas, it has marvellous set pieces and it engenders a sense of awe and wonder at the possibilities of our universe (or, rather, the multiverse). If I had the money I'd personally bankroll a film of the books, now that we have the technology to do justice to them. Rotwatcher The love affair between Lazarus Long and Dora Brandon - but much more. weejonnie The Infernal Desire Machines of Doctor Hoffman Angela Carter Although not usually classified as Science Fiction, Carter's early novel certainly echoes the themes and styles of the genre. After all, what could be more sci-fi than a plot in which our hero must struggle against a mad scientist, in order to restore a world of order and 'reality'? The surrealist form of the novel and it's passionate portrayal of female sexuality (which is quite unusual for a genre largely dominated by men) makes it, for me, all the more interesting. But, first and foremost, it is Carter's unforgettable language that puts the Infernal Desire Machines.... at the top of my list - vivid and imaginative, she writes like no other. 1246879 Time Enough for Love Robert Heinlein A book about an unbelievably old man and the wisdom that he has learned throughout the years. Shows the way we grapple with the big questions. Not without problems, but has incredibly high peaks. pdefor The Man Who Fell To Earth Walter Tevis The story of an alien who comes to earth to in a quest to save his planet, not ours but is destroyed when he becomes all-too-human. The style is nicely understated, the plot, tech and characters believable and the story is full of gentle ironies. A terrific read. eggdeng The City and the City China Mieville Hyperion Dan Simmons Gripping story,fascinating,immaculately drawn characters living in believable world(s). This book,and it's sequel,"Fall of Hyperion",are masterworks,in my opinion. I was so caught up in these books that they seemed more real than fiction to me,and this feeling holds up with repeated readings. Chimerine The Diamond Age: Or, A Young Lady's Illustrated Primer Neal Stephenson The story got it all: believable protagonist, imaginative story and a view of the future that in it's premises goes far beyond the stereotypical Cyberpunk setting. Compared to his earlier novel "Snow Crash", Stephenson move further away from "Neuromancer" and into the future. And that's where I like my Sci-Fi: without too many ties to the present day, far enough away so the author can develop his/her ideas uninhibited. Patrick G. UBIK Philip K Dick To my mind, Dick is the greatest writer of the 20th Century full stop. Never afraid to tackle the big questions, eg what does it mean to be human? Or, as in this case, what exactly is the nature of reality? Akropolis Use of Weapons Iain M Banks Banks' love of the genre shines out of every word. He has all the usual suspects in the Space Opera toy box, but he shows them to us through the eyes of a spoilt man-child who wants to play with them as much as we do. And finally we get the twist, probably Banks' finest, that makes us immediately turn back to page 1 and read it all again in a completely different context. Genius. Pete23 Blood Music Greg Bear A bonkers, mad book, the story of Dr Frankenstein taken to a grey-goo-fuelled extreme. As the character's life disintegrates under the power of his creation, the narrative expands and fragments. The structure mimics the plot, sliding deliriously out of control until the reader ends up somewhere quite other than where they expected to. olly1889 Floating Worlds Cecelia Holland People need to be reminded of its existence; 'Dune,' 'Left Hand...' and 'Stars My...' seem to be doing okay on this score. Painted with a broader brush than LeGuin's with whose work this one is often compared, it scores through the thought given to its societies and the extraordinary fairness with which it examines the personalities of some truly loathesome characters, particularly the brute like, emotionally retarded Saba and the self loathing vampire beureaucrat Tanuojin, the latter finally emerging as one of the most tragic and pitiable characters in Twentieth Century fiction. From what I've read of her historical fiction, it's also a tragedy that she's not produced more SF, which she would appear to do far better. Richard Bruce Clay the man in the high castle philip k dick This book has so much soul in it. I return to it constantly as a benchmark of how good a book can be when it presumes it has intelligent and sensitive readers. This book also has one of the most pervasive scents, and evocative moods I have read in sci-fi. It's a joy, and a book I consistently recommend/impose on victims who I presume need further education in the wonder of people reimagining the future of humanity. poppy The Diamond Age Neal Stephenson Whilst I love the William Gibson's, especially his co-written (with Bruce Sterling) "The Difference Engine", and will always have a soft spot for Philip K. Dick and Ursula le Guin, and happily hoovered up William Harrison's "Rollerball" and Walter Tevis' "The Man Who Fell To Earth" when I was a kid (too young to get into see the films), the book that grabbed me at the time and has stated with me his Neal Stephenson's "The Diamond Age". I'm not a mad fan of gleaming rocket ships. or distant other worlds. What I do love are either counter-factuals (and here's a nod to Kingsley Amis' "The Alteration" - is that SF?) or off-beam future earths. "The Diamond Age" is a, personally, fascinating look into a oddl retro-future. Not a pill-for-lunch or a personal-jet pack in sight. Lovely. The Southvillain The Watch Below James White What happens in this book could happen to any of us today. The ending is set far in the future, but the book is reassuring about man's ability to adapt now, today, to a new life anywhere on earth (in this case, at the bottom of the ocean). I found it compeletly believable and beautiful in its detail. Buntyfox The Player of Games Iain M. Banks The ultimate in political intrigue and dystopian commentary, all wrapped up in Banks' wonderfully realised Culture. Ostensibly about a man invited to play in a tournament of glorified intergalactic Risk, and yet the depth of the social observations, set alongside the super-cool tech, and written with razor-sharp wit, makes it so much more than this. If you only ever read one Iain M. Banks book then it should be this one; and if you ever read this one you'll certainly want to read the rest. Copper_Green The Sykaos Papers E.P. Thompson Extra terrestrial humanoid lands on earth, is captured and kept in an institute where he develops friendship with one of the doctors. Book is written in the form of journal entries and newspaper articles as we see a naive outsider's look at our culture and how his attitudes and preconceptions change as he is influenced by ours. A mightily written account of an outsider attempting to come to terms with his new surroundings. StanOnTheRun the man in the high castle philip k dick The best single book by SF's greatest writer. oldsimon The Mars trilogy Kim Stanley Robinson Actually there are three books in the trilogy and they effortlessly combine technology, the spirit of pioneers, rebellion, and political and philosophical issues that arise when mankind invades and irrevocably alters an environment. The whole series is so believable that it drags you in and makes you want to explore the character of each hero and anti-hero as they come in and out of focus as events unfold. Northumbria Flatland Edwin Abbott Abbott an interesting introduction to the perception of dimensions beloved of physicists, mathematicians and computer scientists. And a satire of the class system too! commenttnemmoc Rendez-vous with Rama Arthur C. Clarke Just exciting, if counterintuitive, science and a fantastic journey of discovery for the team sent up there to check that mysterious object (Rama) out. This book is too good not to imagine (hope?) that someday this fiction will become reality. starstuff Dune Frank Herbert Herbert managed to create a genuinely 'alternative' and unique view of the far, far future, a consistent universe which didn't rely on the common tropes of science fiction. Like many of Herbert's books, Dune (and its many, surprisingly good sequels) balance precariously on the edge of pretension - and sometimes fall off, but one of the common themes of science fiction* is about dealing with the biggest questions, and if an author's reach sometimes exceeds their grasp, at least they reached. There's also a great adventure story in there too. I loved it the first time I read it when I was about 12, and loved it the last time I read it, aged 35. * it's just one of them, of course Fridgebadger I, Robot Isaac Azimov Azimov - the man who invented the word 'robotics'. He also gives us the three laws of robotics. His robot stories are a huge influence on the way modern sci-fi sees artifical intellegence. GJ Smith Hothead Simon Ings It is a very convincing insight into how the world will be in the near future combined with a grand space opera style plot about danger from outer space brjcf An orchestral movement for the space opera genre anomie Swan Song Robert R. McCammon A typical good versus evil, post-apocalyptic novel. The world finally succumbed to nuclear war. As a result of this final act of paranoid hatred between humans, the ultimate in evil is created. He/It goes up against the ultimate in good, a young girl named Swan, who has the power to give life back to the earth. I found this a well written SF/horror with some really well described characters living in a post-nuclear war world. tbonetone Excession Iain M Banks It's very hard to choose one particular book from Ian M Banks' Culture series because those I have read have all been outstanding. Excession stands out in my memory because of the intensity of the story and the amazing concepts that fill Bank's universe such as the Culture's Minds and the artificially intelligent space ships. Tronboy Plantetary Warren Ellis Incorporates everything from tarzan to sherlock holmes to dracula to wonder woman, all within a world in which our understanding of the physical universe, macro and micro alike, get both explained and questioned in equal measures. Truly visionary and splendidly realised. Thehinger grerg egan permutation city As with all of his first books, Egan pushes his brilliant ideas to the limit of imagination and then pushes them again in mind boggoling areas and then does it again and again. A fantastic ride. The stories are also well constructed and engrossing. The best hard science fiction in my opinion. tone-wreck Lord of Light Roger Zelazny Because you'll never read anything like it again. It's original, beautifully written, imaginative and highly thoughtful. Really outstanding and the reason I became an SF fan in the first place. Cheers! AsAboveSoBelow Old Man's War John Scalzi Fresh, exciting, unexpected. A great story with all of the needed ingredients of action, intrigue, suspense and science rgally The Algebraist Iain M. Banks This is my favourite Iain M Banks book by light years. I love his "Culture" series of novels, but "The Algebraist" story is his most complete. A complex and exciting novel based in 4034 A.D. the story describes the journey of Fassin Taak as he looks for a mathematical transform that may give the location of an ancient and long lost system of wormholes, thus enabling mankind to travel between systems at faster than light speeds. Cruel warlords, invasion forces, friendships lost and remade, beautifully described worlds and a compelling detective story all go to make this book a must read for any science fiction fan. SBQ Pavane Keith Roberts Although I'd concur with the greatness of Neuromancer, Pavane and its sister novel Kiteworld are an exciting mix of historical and futuristic thinking from a, now, relatively unsung British writer. Perhaps it doesn't have the global ambition of the Gibson novels but it creates a logical coherent vision of an alternative Britain that is very intriguing. Polymorph (The meaning and future of human) life, (intelligent life in) the universe, and everything. etorisky Shockwave Rider John Brunner Before there was Cyberpunk, there was Shockwave Rider. Before there was an internet, there was Shockwave Rider. Back in the 70s, this was the book that told us the direction. When everyone was still going on about space travel, this told us what was really going to change our world. As far as I am concerned, Neuromancer (which i also like) is simply fan fiction for this vision. Tarnover Number 6 Mars Trilogy Kim Stanley Robinson The scale and detail of this book are without compare. Realistic enough to keep you grounded yet the descriptions and scope of events are so vast that you're hooked and kept interested through the 3 books. DurhamA Rendezvous with Rama Arthur C. Clarke This is a very accessible novel that I would recommend to someone who has little experience with the genre. The story is somewhat conventional (beginning, middle, end) but manages to include a considerable amount of discovery and mystery. xraydon The Invincible Stanislaw Lem If defines what something truly 'alien' is - not some dude with two arms, two legs, one head and a load of prosthetic makeup, but alien. Orion The Squares of the City John Brunner Read it and find out. nick-brown The Lensman books EE Doc Smith EE Doc Smith's Lensman series of novels is fantastic. Don't read them out of sequence or you will get confused. Triplanetary First Lensman Galactic Patrol Grey Lensman Second Stage Lensman Children of The Lens Masters Of The Vortex Dragon Lensman Lensman From Rigel Z Lensman Red Lenin Nights Dawn trillogy Peter F Hamilton Not a classic as such. However a brilliantly formulated and pieced together epic, which is assured to keep you engrossed for a couple of months at least. (depending on how fast you read) username84 The Player of Games Iain M Banks It has everything - Banks' Culture novels all share a great setting, but out of all of them The Player of Games just delivers that bit extra in character, adventure, epic grandeur, and a sophisticated plot that resonates on so many levels. Kerome A compelling glance into the future for our technological, alienated, schizoid species. fformat Limbo Bernard Wolfe If you think that cyberpunk was invented in the 1980s, then you really need to read this book. Combines both a vicious, futuristic war yarn and the bleeding edge of trippy, Burroughs-style SF. Fat Celt We can build you Philip K. Dick Abraham Lincoln is revived as an android as part of a crazy scheme to re-enact the US Civil War for entertainment only to be hijacked by big business and a darkly disturbed creator - All contribute to this tale in which the author explores his familiar themes of the nature of reality and what makes us truly human. lonepilgrim The Foundation Series Isaac Asimov Fantastic series of books. Originally just one book - Foundation, which became three books (3,4 & 5) Prelude to Foundation Forward the Foundation Foundation Foundation and Empire Second Foundation Foundation's Edge Foundation and Earth Red Lenin Excession Iain M. Banks It does what Asimov tried to do but never quite succeeded, despite his many achievements: it has artificial intelligences far more fascinating than the human and other naturally evolved characters, as well as being a space opera to end all space operas and a terrific entertainment. The humans end up being almost the rather indulged and very much patronised pets of the AIs. Speaking of pets, David Brin's Startide Rising deserves a mention. And, for the entire body of his work up to the moment, the great Greg Egan: no one makes you think about and doubt existence, including, first of all, that of your own self, like he does. Gegenbeispiel The Fall of Hyperion Dan Simmons Better than the first volume, Hyperion, this book has a great, dramatic story, fine characters, plenty of time-twisting and some wonderful ideas about AIs, human evolution, religion and What It All Means. It's not "cool" in the way Neurmancer or The Quantum Thief are, nor is it hard SF like Pushing Ice. It's not gruesome and funny like Iain M Banks (I would nominate all the Culture novels as second choice) but it is epic, thought-provoking and a little bit scary (the Shrike). thammond65 The Chanur novels C. J. Cherryh Few authors can tell a story from the view of a non human character as convincingly as C. J. Cherryh can. Her worlds are well developed and it is fun to read her books. Also recommended reading: her Foreigner books. Kilminster Surface Detail Iain M Banks Mr Banks' science fiction is always absolutely brilliant. The scope and size of the settings in which the plot is set is so much more than other writers. I enjoy them all, Surface Detail, being the latest developed The Culture concept further, full of dark humour and brain expanding vastness of it all. stevetyphoon Consider Phlebas Ian Banks Consider Phlebas is sf at it's best. Awesome in it's scope, speculative in it's ideas, plausible and at the same time beyond what we have thought before. Huge things in space, sentient machines, a fantastic society and a main character that is on the wrong side in a conflict makes great reading and hopefully some thinking from the reader. Morat Original, thought-provoking and well plotted, not ruined by exposition. WoollyMindedLiberal His Masters Voice Stanislaw Lem It illustrates the utter futility of projects like SETI - even if we did receive a message from the stars, could we ever agree what it meant. And imagine the religious upheaval it would cause if there was any claim that there is no God. Orion Altered Carbon Richard Morgan I picked it up by accident from the library and just though, "oh well, I'll read it anyway?" - its mix of cutting edge SF and almost noir-ish story as well as being both brutally gritty and very compelling made me unable to put it down. It's hero, takeshi kovacs is very much a person who just seems to caught up in incredibly volatile and deadly situations, and he comes through them purely cos he's prepared to do whatever is necessary to survive in an outrageously coldblooded manner while still retaining enough depth of character and humanity to be sympathetic. I've read everything that Morgan's written since - several times - and I can't recommend this book highly enough. MrBardolph The plot was fucking amaaaazing. Stevie Wonder The I Inside Alan Dean Foster Well written and plotted - lots of strands - androids, repressed memories, ambiguous aliens, action sequences with sudden unexpected abilities, with in depth character development, and open ended. Would make a great blockbuster film ! ptink Woman on the edge of time Marge Piercy Seventies utopian and dystopian ideas. Aged a bit, but deals with a lot of issues that never occurred to the boys HappyOldWoman The Protector Larry Niven It's fun. The author has given himself permission to let his imagination wander. We all need to give ourselves permission to let our imagination wander. That's the nub of it. A Love supreme Fiasco Stanislaw Lem Suppose we do get off this rock and into inter-stellar space (e.g. between the stars). What if we did find an inhabited world, because we were following the signals received by SETI, say. Would we even recognize the aliens as living creatures when we encountered them? Orion I, Rimbot Isaac Assimove The sheer amount of cock, even for the sci-fi genre, is spafftacular. I watched the film first, which didn't have nearly as much cock. By God, I love the cock in the book. RickyDawkins Solomon's Angel Robin Oram First it's very funny, the author has a real eye for an unexpected gag. But it's also got a serious side. It's a mix of science fiction and fantasy about a world that is like the real world except that all religions and superstations are true. Four people go on a quest to find the soul of a dead magician that has been trapped on a computer. The characters are warm and believable book is quite thought provoking. It keeps you completely off balance the whole way through. Just when you think you know what is going on something shifts and you find out that nothing is what you thought it was. I like that especially as I realized at the end that one of the main themes is how apparently orderly systems arise out of chaotic situations. I always think it's the sign of a good book that however many times I read it I always find something new to think about and to laugh at. Mr G The Gaean Trilogy: Titan, Wizard and Demon John Varley Well, it's a trilogy not a single book and, next only to Olaf Stapledon's works, the most satisfying and simply enjoyable SF I have read. What I like about it is that it mixes science fiction with a good old-fashioned adventure story involving likable people. And it is brilliantly conceived and told. Swami Pete The Player of games Iain M banks A voyage into the science fiction future does not always have to be scientific. Banks excels in his nonchalant creativity, placing his main character, who is world class at his own past time of playing games, into the hands of 'special circumstances' an organisation run by super minds to put right the wrongs of the universe... As an avid reader of what is know as 'the Culture series' I recommend 'Player' as the entry book to Banks's universe, this book, if you like it, will lead to all the others, 5 or 6 at the last count. All different, but fascinating, exciting, sexy and above all optimistic about very advanced humanoid civilization, although the culture is categorically not simply us in the future. Morat Old Testament, New Testamnet and Quran Dog This trilogy has been the most influential of all science fiction books. Although they are three books, I see them as one long book, broken into three parts because of the nature in which they were purported to be written by a single divine force working through human agents. So even the manner of the writing is surreal and cosmological. They each present a model of creation and a divine/natural order. They are filled with dictates regarding proper conduct. The stories document the twisted behaviors of leaders, wars of conquest, socio-political struggles, and moral themes. Among the chief features is the sado-masochistic relationship that the god in these books has with his people. I found the sacrifice of Jephthah's daughter to be exemplary of the kind of brutal gamesmanship between the two parties. Additionally, divine imperatives include the extermination of entire peoples and failures to carry these out to their fullest extent results in punishments. Though often boring and filled with cryptic platitudes, these books are worth reading, if only to look into the psychological space that they have created in billions of fans all over the planet. Maradonut86 Shadow of the Torturer Gene Wolfe This, with its three sequels, is a magnificent work of linguistic and mythic imagination, deeply resonant and rewarding. The Pondonome Altered Carbon Richard Morgan A brilliant fusion of a noir detective story set in a detailed and believable future world, its pace is relentless and like all good books leaves the reader wishing for more pages to turn. teddychris The Fifth Head of Cerberus Gene Wolfe Three interwoven novellas. An excellent introduction to the pleasures of reading Gene Wolfe, before tackling The Shadow of the Torturer. Well worth seeking out, since other writers are to Wolfe as ketchup is to bordelaise. The Pondonome Foundation Isaac Azimov I love the idea of maths as a predictive tool. Also the twist where one character is not what they seem. chez_25 An early post-apocalyptic novel and an excellent comment on how quickly society can collapse. Talisen 4 books, in the UK called "The Saga of the Exiles" Julian May This series has everything: time travel, magic, beings from folklore, such as elves, ogres, etc, modern technologies, future developments, politics, alien intelligent species, crime, punishment, ethics and morality, all set against a backdrop of reasoning about the nature of life, of religions, of the concept of god(s), the infinite and the cosmos, seasoned with a delightful sense of irony and wit...a series of 7 books altogether, tho i prefer the 4 that make up the Saga of the Exiles... goddess 2 Foundation Isaac Asimov The Foundation series, most epsecially the first book in the series, has a beautiful vision of a galactic empire, doomed by probability to fail, and the preparations for what will replace it. It's stuck with me for years, and I still lend my copy to friends on a regular basis. danieljh Out Of The Silent Planet C.S. Lewis This book was simply written with a theological angle, however just read literally it was very resonating for three connected ways of seeing things that are indelible to my reading and appreciation of this story: 1. The translation of what the human says and how it is heard by the aliens.2. A human seeing the appearance of two different aliens, before realizing they are actually humans. and 3. Earth is a silent planet in a Universe full of communication. Affirmative The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy Douglas Adams 42, obviously! "It has the words DON'T PANIC inscribed in large friendly letters on its cover." I states that ; There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened. It is quite simply the best book ever written. I grew up on this book, with my dad reading me excerpts for bedtime stories! Sit down with a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster and enjoy! For those not in the know, it's like having your brains smashed out by a slice of lemon wrapped round a large gold brick. weesuzib Foundation Isaac Asimov I read this when I was in my early 20's when it was instrumental in my becoming a life long Sci-Fi fan. I re-read it in my 50's and enjoyed it just as much. I introduced it to the book club I belong to and they enjoyed it despite the fact that they would not normally read Science Fiction. PennyP Day of the Triffids John Wydnham Read this a few years ago now and the images it created while reading it have since stuck in my mind. Its a classic because it remains a terrifying novel to date. mrsbrispie Brave New World Aldous Huxley A book that simply defines everything that good sci-fi should be: thought-provoking, relevant whilst retaining a healthy dose of the unknown, perceptive in its understanding of trends in society at the time and in the future and, most importantly, pushing the limitations on human imagination. Brave New World is, ahead of other classics such as 1984, the one sci-fi novel that everyone can recognise in our own cultural infatuation with indulgence and social structure. PurpleAndroid 2001: A Space Oddysey Arthur C. Clarke It is an epic that joins the distant past to the near future. It is hopeful, as expressed in the "Star Child" (I cannot even think about that image without getting major goosebumps) yet it contains a warning to mankind about its own folly. It is at least somewhat prescient in how HAL 9000 is portrayed. And it is a great story as well as a great film. It is exciting and even breathtaking. Furthermore, the film made brilliant use of a classical score with Richard Strauss' Also Sprach Zarathustra (more goosebumps) and Johann Strauss' The Blue Danube, both electrifying compositions. And everyone thought the apes were real (they were not), while Planet of the Apes merely WISHES it could claim the same. Tim Anthony The Fifth Head of Cerberus Gene Wolfe The spellbinding quality of Wolfe's prose by itself qualifies this as an all-time SF great, as a book we can all point to when someone accuses SF of not being literature. But there's so much more happening here. Twin alien worlds, decadent, decaying French colonies, and an aboriginal, shapeshifting race that seems to have vanished like a dream. Three narrators, but somewhere in the twists and turns of their narratives, we lose them and find we're holding someone else's hand. I've read this book ten times now and I'm still finding new things to love about it. Tony Ellis behold the man michael moorcock I read this when I was a young angst ridden sixteen year old and fell in love with it. It's a great little story of going back in a time machine to the days of christ in search of a meaning to life... more fantasy than fiction. hayden The Kraken Wakes John Wyndham Excellent riff on the alien invasion sub-genre with aliens we never actually meet. Add political and social satire and a mildly unreliable narrator and you've got it made. Foresaw the dangers of the polar cap melting as well! Sangrail Feersum endjinn Ian M Banks I love the multilayered approach and the phonetic spelling, and then the main protagonist is such a nice kid! vbigfish Excession Iain M Banks One of the great space operas. Some critics have said it's too complicated. it's not complicated, it's deep. The richest most complete creation in the whole genre. all other SF seems contrite and poorly conceived by comparison. greattouchforabigman The Forever War Joe Haldeman Comparisons with the contemporary Vietnam War aside, the book was quite simply un-put-down-able! A great story of grunt soldiers training and fighting aliens over a possible misunderstanding with the added concept that the great distances they need to travel to the war zone means the Earth they know goes through changes they could not have foreseen. Classic ending. Londonclanger Day of the Triffids John Wyndham it's got the lot - it is engrossing, sad, funny, good and bad - it's brilliant and I recommend it to everyone in the World. fatpaddy100 Cloud Atlas David Mitchell This is one of those novels that non sci-fi fans can read without having to think that they are reading a sci-fi story. In other words it is happy to be called 'speculative fiction'. It is funny, witty, insightful, harrowing and shocking and utterly gripping from the start to the finish. This book displays the broad spectrum of humanity from our best to just how low and evil we can stoop. It moves through time from the past to an awesomely realised post apocalyptic future and back again showing a playful and excellent grasps of multiple literary styles along the way. This was the book I gave my girlfriend who is not a fan of sci-fi as the one example of this genre that she agreed she would read, mainly just to keep me quiet. She adored it. Max von Seibold Day of the Triffids John Wyndham it's got the lot - it is engrossing, sad, funny, good and bad - it's brilliant and I recommend it to everyone in the World. fatpaddy100 Wild Cards series George R R Martin Science based alternative Earth where an alien virus kills 90% of infected and turns 9 of the 10 survivors into deformed jokers and 1 into a super powered ace. Aliens, an outbreak, superheroes/villains, adult storylines and a mirror of history either accurate or changed for their purposes. 22 years and 21 books later you can't fail but to read and be consumed by the detailed world Martin and his co-writers have created. Halo572 The Handmaid's Tale Margaret Atwood Well written, extremely good plotting and characterisation, and has elements which stay with you for years after reading it (which is the whole point, isn't it?) icklewickle Starship Troopers Robert A.Heinlen A novel which focuses on how a military-run government would look. Also gives a good description of uber-cool space suits and fighting aliens Thejackyyy Really makes you think about how OUR world works by looking at another. Pc83103 Look to Windward Iain M. Banks Am almost completely realised universe, very smart and incisive. I found the contrast between the connections of the culture through neural laces and the inhabitants of Yoleus to be very thought provoking, as it brought up a host of questions about the causes and effects of instant information through the internet. Also damned funny. apriori The Chrysalids John Wyndham I first read this book as a pre teen and found it an atypical examination of prejudice and the fear that inspires it. It is however, a very enjoyable, well written read. I have read it in every subsequent decade of my life and found no less enjoyable. I would recomend it for young and old alike. By far my favorite John Wyndham book. Petra All books of the Robotic series together with the Foundation Series ISAAC ASIMOV The Iron Dream Norman Spinrad Alternate history squared, Spinrad posits a world where Hitler went to the US in the late 1920s and became a science fiction writer of the golden age. His greatest story, Lord of the Swastika, is the novel within the novel, and it’s a retelling of the Third Reich in an SF setting. It’s all there, the mythical ideology, militarism, master race, subhumans, genocide, only the Nazis are the good guys. A spoiler proof story and not actually a very good one, but the shock is realizing how close so much SF comes to it. They’re fascistic power fantasies with impossibly virtuous male heroes, pure black villains deserving extermination, end-to-end violence, women completely written out, etc. Spinrad includes an academic article criticizing HItler on a literary basis to help you process the experience. Everyone should read this before Ender’s Game. John Lawless All books of the Robotic series together with the Foundation Series ISAAC ASIMOV tHEY ARE A fantastic TOUR DE FORCE IN SF LITERATURE. Noronha. It has everything, hard Sci-Fi ideas, fantasy politics, religion, philosophy, romance... Bob Excession Iain M Banks Sprawling SF on a vast scale, violent and hilarious in equal measure, Banks' Culture Novels are peerless, and this is one of his best. The Pope citizen of the ga;laxy robert heinlein Even non-sf fans like this. Classic story of the slave from nowhere, uneducated & ignorent, who through luck & his own pluck, is educated, becomes moral, regains his own true position and dedicates his life to ending slavery! Heinlein probably created more libertarians with this book than Hyeck! americanlibrarylady Only Forward Michael Marshall Smith The first of Smiths books and the first one I had read, picked up at random from a newsagents. It could be argued that this is SF/Horror but for me it is firmly in the SF category. I was in my early/mid teens and it was one of those books that change your way of thinking. From the first page you are hooked by the vivid imagery and shocking storyline. It was a lesson in how you can put wild imagination onto the page and let it run away with itself. Sizzler Matter Iain M Banks Despite it's complex concepts the vivid imagery and flowing dialogue reall lets you enter the Culture world for the first time with a great understanidng for me the best Sci fi book ever written. Schmicko Best of the 'culture' novels. Games at multiple levels, very black and very entertaining. thurdman Rendevous with Rama Arthur C Clarke There was just something about this book and all the thought that author Clarke put into it that made it stand out for me. There was no wild imaginings just simple and logical prediction. The only thing that was a little hard to believe was the physical size of Rama. Given the cost and complexity of building the ISS, one has to wonder how long and how much it took to be built and sent on it's way. A super read though. Joolsaitch The Mythidria CHronicles: RIse of the Nightmare William H. Cash Bill is a pal of mine for starters. He was working on this book years before I met him. He let me read his rough draft when it was done and after that, I hope he will write more. I've downloaded his ebook and it's even better finished. He said that it's the kind of story he wantes to read about. He's shared it with some other people I work with and everybody loves it. I think he had his brother make a video, but I'm not sure. He was talking about it. Bill can draw, too. I'm friends with him on facebook, and his characters are really cool so now you can actually see what his characters look like as he sees them. I would recommend this book even if Bill wasn't my friend, it's that good. [email protected] Dune Frank Herbert I thought it was too obvious, but apparently not, based upon the comments below. Dune, along with Stranger in a Strange Land, catapulted sci fi out of the "golden age", and re-defined the genre. These two books are to sci-fi what the Beatles were to rock. Everything after was different. Jeff T. Boston USA Body of Glass (He/She and It) Marge Piercy This novel is set in a post environmental holocaust future with both a dystopia and a Utopia. It presents beautifully drawn characters in a technological wonderland with a hellishly corporate backdrop. The novel revolves around Shira and her quest to be reunited with her son - taken from her by the company she used to work for. In her quest she is joined by a wonderful cyborg named Yod and the novel tells of their relationship and brings into question what it is to be human. The story is interspersed with the tale of the Golem in Prague which brings the questions around what is life into a longer history and gives it weight. As a science fiction novel it is so frighteningly possible - and in the not very distant future - but its real power is that we can already see how close we are to becoming a world in which corporations control private lives. There's some really wonderful moments like when Shira and co hack into the company's computer system using their minds, but flying in the shapes of birds, and when Shira is trying to teach Yod to understand the beauty of roses. I don't want to give anything else away as there are also unseen twists. Plus there are kittens! rosemaryhell Light M John Harrison weirdly it was a book i didn't like for its first three quarters. Too dense, too pretentious, no likable characters and then for the last quarter...boom, it all made sense, kind of. Suddenly transformed to profound, disturbing, beautiful and lyrical. As someone else on this thread says, "Quite unlike anything else i've read". thevurt Diaspora Greg Egan Start with the creation of a mind then follow it on a post-human diaspora through the multiverse. rkmspence Brain Wave Poul Anderson Over 2 generations ahead of its time - Still a contemporary science fiction novel of the highest quality - the central tenet still stands the ravages of time as a truly inspiring and though provoking possibility. An amazing gem. sethndavid Slaughterhouse 5 Kurt Vonnegut Not sure if it's SF, biography, satire, or a combination of all these and more, but it's a genius little book which I read over 20 years ago for the first time; I re-read it ocassionally, and it's still fresh to me. The Kernel Uplift Trilogy David Brind An amazing series detailing the interactions between a number of species includinfg humans on a grandiose scale. A must read for any true lover of SF HALTAN Diaspora Greg Egan When the author tries to explain what a twelve dimensional planet might look like in an alternative universe it boggles my poor little four dimensional mind, but in that giddy, vertigionous way Stephen Hawking sometimes managed in a Brief History of Time. Except theres no spaceships, aliens, virtual realities in Hawkings book, which makes this book quite a lot better. Diapsora is a novel of big ideas. From the birth of a (gender neutral) new mind in a virtual reality where most of humanity live in the near future (2795 AD) to exploration of the galaxy and on to other universes of increasing multidimensional complexity to the ultimate fate of our species and others, all in a pursuit of a mystery - how does the universe (hmm, multiverse really) work? How can we survive its indifferent violence? And where are the mysterious species who left microscopic clues behind in the structure of an alien planet warning of galaxy wide catastrophe? As the book progresses the relative importance of these questions and answers change. What happens when the answers are complete? Are they ever? It does take a while to get going particularly if you're not familiar with 'hard sci-fi' but there are no 'cheats' used in traditional sci fi. No transporters, FTL travel and the intelligent aliens are so utterly unlike the 'human' heroes they need several layers of 'relay-team' interpreters even to communicate. I look forward to the day mind wipes become more widely available so I can read it again for the first time. Gunboat Diplomat Ender's Game Orson Scott Card Like the best science fiction, it portrayed a plausible world growing out of our present - and the central figure is a believable human being doing currently-unbelievable things who grows, over the course of the book. And totally gratuitously, it led to a number of sequels as rich and believable, in their way, as the first in the series was itself. fojo World of Ptavvs Larry Niven Larry Niven is mainly know for his Ringworld series books. Generally his books are set in "known space" - a universe not too distant in the future - or close parallels to this creation. In "World of Ptavvs", Larry brings an alien known in "known space" as being extinct for millions of years to the present day. The alien (a Slaver) had been in stasis and is unintentionally released and then sets about trying to enslave the earth. Fortunately Larry Greenberg, who had been trying to reach the alien telepathically whilst in stasis, is here to save the day. Without giving too much away, humans are related to the Slaver race, meaning of course that the World of the Ptavvs is earth. Some Slavers that have lost all their family (rather than committing suicide) will decide to protect the whole Slaver species. If only Larry knew someone like that to protect earth from this Slaver.... What I like about the book is that the complete story spans from years into past and future. Space Opera it is not as the books are far too easy to read (a couple hours to read this book) but none-the-less Larry Niven creates a rich and compelling universe. smicken Well written, wll thought out, great plot develpoment, and all around awesome!!!! Left Hand of Darkness Ursula Laguinn This book so beautifully demonstrates the point that what falls between two opposing, hard-held points of view is truth gail robinson High Rise JG Ballard Not science fiction by the contemporary definition. This novel deals with what has been coined "inner space" rather than the more outer-space oriented, Le Guinesque fantasies. JG Ballard was a prominent figure of the new wave of science fiction: a collective of novelists who emerged in the 1960s and were mostly concerned with the birth of the space age and the atom bomb, for example. This was a time when events of the so-called real world began to seem stranger than fiction. As a result, novelists of this era began to write about dystopian near-futures rather than settings vastly remote in time and distance. . . High Rise deals with the effects of the man-made, physical landscape, in this case an east London aparment block - on the physcology of the tenants. The rigidly defined social structure, too-easy access to amenities and desire of the tenants to resign from their lives as mindless functionaries, sets in motion a descent into a microcosmic catastrophe. Ballard's ruthless imagination is on show here in all its glory. This book changed my life. Dick Smith Valis Philip k. Dick Strictly not Sci-Fi, but a theological meditation on perception, sanity and counterculture. One of my favourite books, up there with Camus and Satre in my opinion. The protaginist is a man undergoing a nervous breakdown who interprets his psychosis as religious revelations. Astoundingly well-written, profound and funny. Refutes the view of science fiction as 'Cowboys and Indians in Space.' FabianRothschilde Mission Earth L Ron Hubbard The author is a bit of a nutter, but the Mission Earth books are an excellent read. And, the hero grows up a little District9 The Iron Dream Norman Spinrad Eurasia (including Britain) has been conquered by Bolshevism. Only the Empire of Japan and its valiant ally the Bushido-spouting USA stand fast against the Stalinist hordes. All because Adolf Hitler emigrated to New York in 1924 to become a science-fiction writer. That's the framing story. The bulk of Spinrad's novel Iron Dream is actually a novel-within-a-novel called Lord Of The Swastika written by, wait for it, Adolf Hitler sometime in the 1950s. LOTS won the Hugo award and established Hitler as a preeminent voice on the American pulp scene. LOTS tells of a mythologized Germany ("Heldon")in a future post-nuclear world that rose up to defeat the evil mutant forces of Zind and their humanity-destroying rulers the Dominators. notathome Dune Hebert Dune is a brilliant story from beginning to end that is pure prophecy when viewed post 9/11. The only reason it's not more popular is because it's too real in many respects. It lacks that warm and fuzzy Hollywood-like ending needed for today's pop culture. Still, it's a brilliant series of books. I recommend them all. Michael Boh, LA, USA Shikasta Doris Lessing Like all great science fiction Shikasta and its four companion volumes has a serious philosphical core; It is beautifully written, and is a cracking read.It is plausible and utopic, offering a glimpse of a future of equality and sexual freedom with humankind and nature in balance, while pointing at the frailties of current reality and pertinently criticising organised religion, ideology, and colonialism. Lessing's imagination runs riot, and the fourth volume, although slim, has one of the finest takes on survival in a hostile environment I have ever read. Inspiring. thegoodterrorist The Chronicles of Amber Roger Zelazny One of the most compelling (compendium of five) book(s). Fast paced, excellently written and many thought provoking ideas playing merry hell with history, time, space and logic. Not to mention a great cliffhanger ending RonJB THE MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE PHILIP K . DICK A WELL DETAİLED wHAT İF NOVEL ERDEM The Sentinel Arthur C Clarke This is not a book, it is a short story, a very short story, but it was the inspiration for Clarke And Kubrick's collaborative epic 2001. It sums up humanities constant desire to discover 'someone else, out there. We are so lonely, like a kid who has lost it's mom. So much SF is devoted to our quest for contact, but the original short sums up the anticipation so well. We Can Remember it For you Wholesale Philip K Dick This collection of short stories is full of wit humour and dystopian futures. Book bindings that rewrite books, aliens infiltrating society as four foot high VW mechanics and faulty time travellers taking part in their own autopsy and ticker tape parade. This book is the most imaginative i have ever read and i'm overwhelmed by its brilliance whenever I read it. I have laughed, cried (almost) and felt almost every emotion in between and if one person reads it because of me i shall be happy. nofx 1984 George Orwell ALTHOUGH THE MEDIA IN THE YEAR 1984 WOULD HAVE US BELIEVE THAT THE WORLD ENVISIONED BY ORWELL WASN'T AT ALL LIKE THAT WE ARE NOW EXPERIENCING. IT SURE WAS AND IS TO THIS DAY ! NEW SPEAK ANYONE ? mauriceeric We Can Remember it For you Wholesale Philip K Dick This collection of short stories is full of wit humour and dystopian futures. Book bindings that rewrite books, aliens infiltrating society as four foot high VW mechanics and faulty time travellers taking part in their own autopsy and ticker tape parade. This book is the most imaginative i have ever read and i'm overwhelmed by its brilliance whenever I read it. I have laughed, cried (almost) and felt almost every emotion in between and if one person reads it because of me i shall be happy. nofx I'd just like to put in a moan about the way bookshops display Sci-Fi - they integrate it into Fantasy. I've nothing against fairies, elves and goblins, but this genre tends to look backwards to times when knights were armed and everyone else was nervous. Sci-fi generally looks forward to the future with technology or societies or takes alternative universes and extrapolates. So why do bookshops display them together? Do they have no concept of either genre? Moan of the day over. Janeira Neuromancer William Gibson Prophetic. Serves up visual imagery of technological advances that we have now attained or on the way to achieving. Corporate pervasiveness in holographic advertising projected anywhere, futuristic ways of engaging with celebrity idols, cosmetic surgery making people look like an amalgamation of famous stars, old technology lying around in scrap heaps in amongst hi-tech wonderment. Its all happening. And who could forget the way Razor girl introduces herself to Case after hes just had in effect an organ transplant? Truly unbeatable. mollyMillions Hyperion/The Fall of Hyperion Dan Simmons "Hyperion" is, to the best of my knowledge, the first SF novel that must be considered a literary masterpiece, which is to say, canonical as literary fiction. In mho, it marks the emergence of contemporary SF as Literature. And because Dan Simmons wrote such a beautiful novel back in 1989, a generation of SF writers has emerged to compose a species of fiction unprecedented in the history of Literature, a species that thenceforth redefined the idea of the SF novel. That may be overstating the case, but the purity and overpowering poetical sensibility of Simmon's writing cannot be disputed. And in no way to diminish the achievements of Gene Wolfe and Robert Silverberg - the grandfathers of literary SF - but I thihnk that Simmons was the first novelist to deliberately embrace the so-called literary canon and weave it into a profound and beautiful SF tapestry. "Hyperion" and "The Fall of Hyperion" constitute a single novel ("The Hyperion Cantos"), and taken as a single story it is a breathtaking affirmation of the imaginative storyteller's art and craft. But it is not simply a story well told, it is SF. And that means it is about ideas. "Hyperion" and its sequel are ideas cloaked in literature. They are, in point of fact, novels that provoke wonder - which is exactly what science fiction has always been about. Lucius Time Out Of Joint Philip k Dick very intriguing plot - a man who plays crosswords everyday, living in a small town California, USA. Unknown to him or us early on in the story is that he is in fact helping the military intercept missiles fired at earth from rebels on a moon base. The film, Truman Show, staring Jim Carey is loosely based on this si-Fi novel. Great little book! Artymart A great, rich novel masquerading as a fantasy/SF story. unclebob The Forever War Joe Haldeman 'Nam in space with promiscuous mixed sex space marine grunts fighting the Taurans. Wry observations on the military and humanity from the returning soldiers isolated from society by the effects of relativity on time caused by near to light speed travel. A great ending. A pacy read, sexy and like all good SF wrong on lots of details but contains many truths about mankind. Rondohatoff the peace war vernor vinge In a near-future world where technological progress has been frozen by the all powerful peace authority, renegade scientists discover the secret of the bobbles used to cloak weapons, bases and even cities and turn the technology to their own advantage to bring down the peace authority. buzz Ringworld Larry Niven future societies! even more than the tech, the aliens, the alien conspiracies, I like Niven's world as it's based on how our society might develop based upon just a few technology tools like organ transplantation, mechanical (vs psychic) teleportation, interstellar travel, rejuvenation and the society shaping events of war, alien inventions, alien manipulation, etc. Centauri Startide Rising David Brin At the local library when I was 17, I discovered the Uplift Saga. Starting with book 2. Star Tide Rising. I loved its exploration of conciousness with the idea of spreading sapience to other animals on earth - dolphins and chimps. I found it very positive about humanity as alien hordes threatened to destroy human cultures or humanity itself. I've not read many sci fi where despite flaws you get drawn into such a pro humanity narrative. The setting was enjoyable, marooned on a water world with a crew of dolphins. I can easily imagine from his writings that such a place must exist. I would recommend the rest of saga but for me startide rising stood out. heroicsteve The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Douglas Adams It completely changed my view on life, the universe and everything - literally: the absurdity and hilarious nonsense of being alive maro22 Ubik Philip K. Dick As madly inventive as anything Dick wrote. From memory it has space travel, timeslips, psychics AND anti-psychics, half dead souls feeding off one another's life force in vats, inexplicable kinks in the nature of reality - but it's also tightly, economically constructed, which some of his books aren't. Plus it's hands down the scariest book I've ever read. Ed B Spook Country William Gibson Because it is one of the best novels I've read in the past four years, and I don't just mean SF. It's based, when? tomorrow? the day after? It doesn't really matter it is so on the button that you just know that this is how things will be. Cyberpunks lost in the cities of the future with exactly the same angst and doubts that we here on earth suffer today. Gibson is at the height of the game in SF I simple can't think of anyone, with the exception of Michael Faber and his Under the Skin that comes anywhere near. Pace cadet The Drowned World J.G. Ballard In a world heating up and regressing back to an ancient state, a man who lives in the lagoons above a flooded London struggles with the dying remains of old-world society and instead of heading north to safety decides to head south, towards the heat and towards the primal chaos the world is descending into. This is J.G. Ballard's second novel and possibly the clearest examples of his highly metaphorical science fiction novels. In The Drowned World we start see the J.G. Ballard use his objective, unemotional style that is a characteristic of his early short stories in a novel. fragmad The Dispossessed Ursula le Guin Sci fi at its worst is nothing more than cheap thrills - an update on the penny dreadful. At its best it offers nothing less than new stages on which to explore the nature of humanity. Le Guin's novel is at the best end of SF. It doesn't really matter that the setting is on some mythical planets; what is important is the people in the story, their struggles to make sense of life and society, their sufferings and their joys. It is a deeply human book. Le Guin has a gift for looking beneath surface inessentials, even those connected with gender, and seeing through to the real. Finally, although this obviously won't appeal to all, it is the most faithful and gripping account of the process of scientific discovery I have ever read. A lovely, memorable book, not just a good SF book but a great novel as well. roundthings Frankenstein Mary Shelley Frankenstein is the seminal novel that deals with the human condition versus the unknown. Shelley takes us on a finely detailed journey among science and what can be created from it even from back in the recesses of the imagination. I first read Frankenstein when I was 12. Shelley created a story where I hadn't felt such flow of sympathy between the creator and the monster. It compelled me to think of my own existence in an unsure world. What better way to start a SF journey such as with Frankenstein's monster's thirst for knowledge and acceptance in a society that only saw terror in the unknown. JacqValencia Russian precursor to Brave New World and 1984, which are probably on everyone's list. James His Master's Voice Stanislaw Lem His Master's Voice is one of the purest, most philosophical and accomplished SF novels I've ever read. lyserge Dhalgren Samuel R Delany I'd recommend people read this because it's either, as Theodore Sturgeon said, "a literary landmark" or, as P K Dick claimed, "trash". Folk should read it and decide for themselves. Me? I'm with Sturgeon. nogger Raising the Stones Sheri Tepper A compelling, complex speculative fictional work. One of the best examples of its genre combining nuanced social commentary and interplay of dystopian and utopian imagination. dls Lays the foundation for this incredible series. Renault House of Suns Alastair Reynolds Great ships, great robots and a knock-out plot from an author who takes general relativity seriously enough to work through its mind-scrambling implications Richard Lea ho Fell to Earth Walter Tevis This is "The Day the Earth Stood Still" meets "The Days of Wine and Roses". It proclaims the glories of science, technology and industry while at the same time reminding us of the poignancy of our own personal fragilities. That, I think, is the real experience of us all in the 21st Century, sci-fi aside. This novel speaks with a poet's voice, as well. Read this, then read HG Wells' "The Food of the Gods" --out loud! pgm3 Day of the Triffids John Wyndham As relevant now as it was when written in the 1950's. The themes of genetic engineering and mutations in crops were way ahead of their time. A very British apocalypse, the first encounters of the man-eating plants are on Hampstead Heath. The rest of the book, often described as a 'cosy catastrophe', winds it's way through an eerily empty London and the English countryside. The now common theme of a motley band of survivors combing vacated cities for food and water has been copied endlessley. Alex Garland admitted that the first 20mins of 28 Days Later was an 'exact replica' of the opening chapters of Day of the Triffids. Read it now if you haven't. Read it again if you have. Dexxxx Dune Frank Herbert Published in 1965; he was one of the founding fathers of Sci-Fi and helped lift the status of the genre from tacky cliche invasions, to a really rewarding choice of literature. JohnHoldsKnee Great meditation on being human, memory, guilt. TMonk Quarantine Greg Egan Egan's book opens with an investigator looking into an odd abduction and takes us through a world where any ability(TM) can be uploaded into the narrator's head. The investigation leads him to a bizarre experiment with quantum physics--and the discovery that loyalty, too, can be installed in the human brain. Egan plays with the idea of the quantum wave with deftness and assurance, and the way round the loyalty chip is a marvellous but logical twist in the tale. DebbieUK A wizard of Earthsea Ursula K. Leguin To continue along your lines, if all the fantasy books should burn in a cataclysm tomorrow, one which I would like to survive is "A wizard of Earthsea". A book which teaches you something about human nature is a wise book. Sparrowhawk, an indisputably intelligent young man falls victim to his own vanity, causing great tragedy to himself as well others, and then goes trough great difficulties to make amends. Despite being a fantasy (and the world is something you've never experienced before, nor will you experience it after), it is relevant, especially today, when a handful of young man and women (admittedly less often) have so much power bestowed upon them (think Gates, the Google owners, then Zuckerberg). On the bookshelf of my mind, it sits together with Mann, Beckett, Dostojevski, and Shakespeare. Unfortunately, today it is less know than many over-marketed, multi volume rainforest destroyers. Farandbeyond Vector Prime R.A. Salvatore This book kicks off one of the greatest SF story arcs of all time. Throw in the death of a beloved character in the Star wars Universe and the fultiliy of the events in the book....wow. bmarch1 The Sirens of Titan Kurt Vonnegut What's different and great about The Sirens of Titan is that it's one of the few sci-fi novels to posit cock-up theory as the main driver for universal history, as it takes a sweeping, entertaining romp through the universe. As Dougas Adams observed, its seemingly casual throwaway style is in fact the result of very tight writing. Oh, and it's very very funny. Brodav Technically SF as set in a postulated future (as seen from 1932), and very funny. Mithalwen Raising the Stones Sherri Tepper It's a complex story with themes of religious fanaticism and patriarchy By the end there are, perhaps, as many questions raised as answered. But for me, it is the strength of the women. Their stories, lives and sacrifices. Pengwyn Day of the Triffids John Whyndham Thought provoking about how Society works and human foibles - incredibly prescient (I fear) as Climate Change begins. But all the while, truly gripping as a straightforward adventure rowingrob Heliconia trilogy Brian W. Aldiss I would recommend this book as it covers a one-year period in the time-frame of the planet Heliconia, a period of some several hundred Earth years, and presents a fine analogy of the rise and fall of a human civilisation that in the end cannot help, due to a major seasonal change, fall victim to the weather itself and the rulers of the planet become those whom the humans enslaved and trod upon during the hot portion of the year. All the while, the planet is being observed from space by scientists who must endure their own evolution. I found the series to be well imagined and well written and have read it twice in the last 25 years, or so. Taltos1667 The Midwich Cuckoos John Windham John Windham was in the happy position of being able to write good prose whilst at the same time being a terrific ideas man. The story about a group of weird children born into a rural English village after some rum doings asks big questions about competition, survival and who really is in control. It was made into a fairly solid horror film called Village of the Damned and the Hollywood remake wasn't too bad either. Tess Cthulhu Mythos HP Lovecraft I know, it's not exactly SF but it's not even only an horror setting. There's the fear of unknown, the cosmic terror, the deep space and alien stars... brilliant! Demo Against a Dark Background Iain M Banks Gets right into the action without long-winded delving into the minutia of the fictional society's functioning; no moralizing on the superiority of the fictional society; doesn't rely on technology that wouldn't be available given current scientific understanding; fully-fleshed characters, especially female characters, the protagonist in particular; imaginative mirror society quirks fixedgod Valis pkd mad writing from almost crazy guy. A good antidote to the typical space warrior sub-teen crap ... Equinephillia Project Anastrophe George Karnikis With the Fukushima nuclear explosions it is more important to read this book today. "In this Sci Fi novel one finds relevancy to our time. We live in a time of possible nuclear war. Oil and other pollutants have caused irreversible damage to our ecosystem. "Project Anastrophe" shows how much worse it could be, and offers hope." Concerned The Steps of the Sun Walter Tevis This is great grown up and very prophetic sci-fi, written by a newly sober Walter Tevis (The Hustler, Man who fell to Earth etc) in the early 80s. Basically its the story of a bored and literally impotent millionaire as he stumbles through an energy starved future where the US can no longer afford to light its skycrapers and China is the number 1 economic power (thanks to a strangely familiar form of capitalism, dressed in communist clothes). It is so unbelieveably prophetic (one of the key characters is a charming, well educated and articulate former Black president) but the focus for Teavis is less on technology and more on political and economics, and people (okay he still has something called the USSR bouncing around in the early 2000s but he was an author, not Mystic Meg). There's also some wonderful stuff when Tevis' protagonist takes a trip to a very alien world to cure his boredom and lose weight (read the book and it will make sense) and accidently cures his impotence (yes really!). Tevis also manages to create real characters you can believe in with real personal problems, and that's not something you always get (done well anyway) in sci-fi or speculative fiction. I'd recommend it to buy but its long out of print. I bought my tatty 2nd hand copy from a New York state library, via the tinternet. Regards FF Frank Frenz Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency Douglas Adams. Neither the radio or TV versions have done any justice at all to this great, great book. Not only is every bit as funny as you'd expect for Adams, it also has one of the most fabulously cryptic plots you could hope for. I first read it a couyple of times in my late teens and enjoyed it enormously but it was three years later before it's true brilliance dazzled me. I sat in a university tutorial listening to the tale of Coleridge dreaming up Kubla Khan in a laudanum haze but being disturbed by the man from Porlock, before he could set it down. I gasped and embarrassed myself in front of my tutor as the penny dropped regarding one of the finer points of the plot of DG. I made my way home, ignored my course work and the godawful "two part prelude" I was supposed to be reading and launched into Dirk Gently once again. Adams was not only one of the funniest writers about, he also managed to examine ideas and science with a skill and a level of understanding that is often not appreciated. I delight in this book still and reread it regularly. It is a masterpiece and I wish somebody would make a proper film of it and not bugger it up. hrhpod got the lot:- time travel political intrigue dystopian facistic state soscial collapse trax Ark and Flood Stephen Baxter 2 book series following the slow flooding of Earth and the eventual collapse of civilisation, with the survivors launched onto a mission to a distant solar system but the steady failure of relationships during the long voyage causes a number of factions to appear, meanwhile on earth the fianl taking to the waters for the remaining population and their slow transformation to semi-aquatic life. trax The Player of Games Iain M. Banks The first Banks book I read, this is a stunning introduction to the universe of the Culture, his egalitarian, post-scarcity society. The book follows the journey of Morat Jernau Gurgeh, a cynical, arrogant, and brilliant game player to an imperialistic civilisation rife with inequality, sexual slavery and the brutal application of power. It's filled with Banks trademark witty dialogue, discomfiting themes and vivid, brilliant imagination. A classic. DanMHarris The Colour Out of Space H. P. Lovecraft I read it when I was a child. At that time Carl Sagan's Cosmos was on TV and I was hooked on science divulgation. Lovecraft's descriptions of a meteorite's odd substance that feed on live, disseminate and has an indefinable color triggered my imagination (and populated some nightmares). Ramiro The Left Hand of Darkness Ursula K Le Guin It is a very imaginative, yet credible, tale of a lone human's impressions of two opposed alien civilizations. The portrayal of the human and non-human characters involved is extremely well done, and novel is thought-provoking throughout. Allium Engine Summer John Crowley Though the story is set in a post-apocalypse America, it breaks with the 'traditional' disaster scenarios usually portrayed. Instead there is a beautiful child-like quality to it, enhanced by the sufi-like 'the end is the beginning' conclusion. thatloosecannon Cryptonomicon Neal Stephenson I'd picked up Stephenson's "Baroque Cycle" trilogy before finding Cryptonomicon and was instantly swept away by the astonishing depth and breadth Stephenson achieved while still keeping me turning the pages as fast as I could. After finishing those first three books I felt completely bereft of Stephenson's world and went out to get Cryptonomicon as soon as possible. Told in two time periods and with multiple protagonists (not to mention graceful and fascinating infodumps on cryptology, mathematics, early computing, financial systems, corporate law...the list goes on), you would have thought the narrative would be confusing and sketchy, but Stephenson pulls it off with amazing aplomb and skill. Each characters is thoroughly drawn, each landscape evoked in vivid colour, and all the while it remains brilliant fun. This is a first rate example of the alternate history branch of science fiction. whatwedoissecret Brave New World Aldous Huxley Brave New World is perhaps the most terrifying and relevant dystopian novel written. Social engineering and a mass produced society is counterpointed by the 'savages' outside, whilst stuck in the middle is John a reject from both societies. SyntheticMan Solaris Stanisław Lem Written fantastically, keeping the reader on the edge. Its suspense kept me going, amazing Sc-fi from the 60s Garveyc The Left Hand of Darkness Ursula Le Guin I choose this because it is a brilliantly non-sf, sf book. There are no guns, no super technologies, no obvious male heroes, no wars, etc.There is a spaceship but we never see it. All these cliches seem to be shunned as examples of very male-centric sf writing. The novel deals with themes of gender, sexuality, politics, religion and more. The inhabitants of the planet Gethen are entirely androgynous and visited by a male from the distant, more technically advanced planet Earth who tries to understand them. The author seems to suggest that the duality inherent in the human race could be at he heart of negatives such as war (Gethen has never known one) as well as positives such as technological progress. I'll admit to not being a massiv fan of SF. This impressed because it is undoubtedly science fiction yet it drops nearly all of the conventions. ewandme Moby Dick Herman Melville A ship setting off to visit an alien world, unseen by most humans. A narrator pondering his place withing his homeworld and his own society and speculating on the lives, motives and drives of the giant, unknowable, half unseen aliens he encounters, all explained in enthralling terms to an audience as unfamiliar with whaling as most modern readers are with the surface of Europa. Tim Cunion Blew me away when I first read it and still holds up when I re-read fearful symmetry The Stainless Steel Rat Harry Harrison A highlight from the pulp age, and pre-Hitchhiker sf humour. A Rat book was the first book I borrowed from the 'big' ie adult library and started a life-long love of sf Night's Dawn Trilogy (The Reality Dysfunction, Peter F. Hamilton This trilogy is epic science-fiction at its best. Hamilton covers may characters and planets in a brilliant adventure through space, with the fate of the galaxy hanging in the balance. As ever, Hamilton's books are sci-fi marvels, and I can safely say Night's Dawn is the best trilogy I have read, of any genre. AAM Lavondyss Robert Holdstock I was going to suggest Dan Simmons masterpiece Hyperion but the article states I don't have to be quite that strict in my definition of what constitutes 'sf'. So Robert Holdstock's Lavondyss it is. A brilliant haunting and deeply distubing take on rural myths, Jungian philosophy,complete with gorgeous prose that fits into some sort of celtic myth cycle. Never read anything quite like it. Nearly Headless Ned Eifelheim Michael Flynn I don't normally read SF, but the combination of medieval Germany and first contact, interwoven with physics, religion, and the multiverse was too hard to resist. Eifelheim is a beautiful read, elegant and extremely moving. I've not read anything in the last five years that I've loved as much. Donna McKinnon/Canada Engine Summer John Crowley Here's a book that's entirely SF but that actually improves if read as literature.It isn't just about content or form, but the sensibility, the connections it makes and the respect it has for the reader and our ability to work out the whole story from an incomplete account by a damaged but heroic first-person narrator. It's about narrative, and it's a bildungsroman set in a world we can only know from that whole working-out-the-rules game and about a young man we can only know from knowing that world. It's very sixties: the author wrote the first draft, then learned how to do SF, then rewrote it in the late 70s once it was so out-of-synch with the times as to be entirely itself. Imagine 'In Watermelon Sugar' written by an adult. Imagine the future bits of 'Cloud Atlas' by someone who knew what he was doing. Imagine 'The Road' made to seem almost beguiling until you figure out what is going to happen after the book ends. It's not about the obvious 'props' (spaceships, robots, time-paradoxes), it's about making words work differently. This is the form of writing that amplifies what the mainstream can do, and 1979 was almost the last time we were allowd to read books this without any stigma. Thanks a bunch, Mr Lucas. Tat Wood Ender's Game Orson Scott Card My family belong to a rather "literary" book club whose selection tended to consist of anything from the "top 20" in most high street bookshops. I suggested my sister set them Ender's Game to take them "out of the box" to try a different genre. The experiment was a success - and I was even asked to lend out the sequels... So my recommendation is based on it being a good read and one that can represent the genre and be an introduction to "non-believers" :D acorn01 A brilliant, mature, creative novel in verse. Amazing feat. st-angeleno Feersum Endjinn Iain M Banks Banks created a dark, gothic and beautiful world (not part of the Culture scenario) that reviews the long term use of our technologies and political systems in similar ways to the near/mid-term predictions of Gibson and others. It's a modern Diaspar, rich in detail and adventure but also, wonderfully, humour, which so much SF leaves out. The characters are unusually well drawn (even for Banks) and the narrative multi-layered and satisfying. Peepee A Fire Upon The Deep Vernor Vinge A Hugo winning classic space opera, with varied and well thought out aliens and an interesting premise about how transcended cultures interact with more primitive ones. Even though it was published 20 years ago it remains extremely fresh while some more modern books feel dated. HirO Hello Summer, Goodbye Michael G Coney This takes a well-worn piece of SF furniture and gives it an elegant, very English, reworking. It could look to the unwary like a straightforward teenage boy's account of coming-of-age and his relationship witha girl his parents thought was beneath their station but it's much more piquant and subtle than this. The society described is treacherously similar to pre-War England (specifically the West Country) but the force of change isn't politics or war but astrophysics. Our narrator survives, but what it costs him to be able to tell us this is left unsaid. If the details that aren't like a mangled 'Five Go To Smuggler's Cove' are put together in the right way the reader can anticipate some of the ending but the curt last line confused inattentive reviewers. Coney makes a lived-in world and its passing is made more painful than some real societies in less well-written autobiographies. I've noticed that a lot of people who loved this book thought they were the only one who'd ever read it, but I'll recommend it to strangers anyway. (There was a belated sequel that spelled everything out for the less nimble reader but nobody likes that as much). Tat Wood The Martian Chronicles Ray Bradbury While some people have said this book is NOT science fiction, i feel its a seminal group of short stories in the general direction of SF. LaBowe I Am Legend Richard Mattheson Despite only being a short novel, It manages to deliver the most crushing sense of isolation you could possibly feel - the kind you must feel when you are the last man alive on earth, and everyone else wants to drain you dry. The passages of Robert Neville sat drinking whisky alone in the dark listening to classical music - as the haunting vampires are particularly effective. A dark - (almost black) sense of humour and an incredible explanation for the usually unexplained scientific aspects of a vampiric post apocalyptic world, combined with my personal favourite ending twist to any book I've ever read. I'll leave it for you to discover the desperation that can occur in one man when he is so alone , but I THOROUGHLY recommend this epic novella. TheChuzzle War of the worlds HG Wells I love the period that this book is set in. No super technology, well, on the human's part anyway. The fact that the main character walks everywhere and get's his information from the newspaper or by word of mouth is interesting. No mobile phones, no internet etc... The descriptions of the horror and violence make the reader use his or her imagination...you're not spoon fed gory details. It's not gung ho in anyway any your actually able to digest what's going on. The parallel theme of man facing total anhilation and only having Victorian thinking to comombat it is very refreshing. Artpunx It isn't a simple good vs evil sci-fi book. Very strange novel indeed. LightCreatedByAir Stars In My Pockets Like Grains of Sand Samuel R Delany This is the mutant love-child of Henry James and Theodore Sturgeon. Sex, murder, species... these are trivial matters on the galactic scale but library membership is worth going to war over. Instead of neologisms with lots of apostrophes we have words such as 'job', 'she', 'family' reallocated to things we almost, nearly, if-I-hold-my-breath-and-screw-up-my-eyes comprehend. In 1984 it was bewildering (and it's the first half of a pair, the second of which was never even published)but with the advent of wikipedia the idea of 'Cultural Fugue' and 'General Information' as a covert system of control are more graspable. (In the opening section some kind of ultimate Kindle is used as a tool of slavery, and people have books chained to themselves as fetishistic signs). The novel's focus is a simple question: what if falling in love risked not just killing everyone you knew but unravelling entire worlds? The usual space-opera stuff is happening off-stage, but in front of us is a meditation on 'the drunkenness of things being various'. And after what can be described as nail-biting climax there is an epistemological moment at the end if this first book that other writers would have made into whole trilogies. The second half might have been a let-down, or simply spiralled into Foucauldian angst. The book we have is a treasure, although -seriously - not for everyone. Tat Wood Elvissey Jack Womack A visceral, speed-freak tale of capitalism run amok, the viral power of language, penance and redemption of the American soul, and the apotheosis of Elvis. Aaron K The Stars My Destination Alfred Bester It's a great epic crammed into a couple of hundred pages, full of ideas, excitement and dark humour. Chris88 More Than Human Theodore Sturgeon It's more inner than outer space but, as you'd expect of Sturgeon (and indeed the whole SF genre) it gets your mind pondering the big stuff.... Bex The Alchemical marriage of Alistair Crompton Robert Sheckley You know that thing of 'where do you get those crazy ideas?' SF authors get asked? If anyone had dosed Douglas Adams with Sodium Pentathol he would have said 'Robert Sheckley'. 'The Alchemical Marriage...' is the most complete novel this ace short-story writer managed to produce: he just had too much going on for anything like a coherent plot most of the time. Even then, this has about as simple a framing device as you can get: someone who had his personality split into the mediaeval Four Humours wants to be whole again and so chases down the other people made by splitting his original personality, putting each bit in a new body and giving them jobs on different planets. (Yes, that old stand-by). That's a tent-pole from which to hang a string of bizarre situations. Adams took more than just plot-details - check out, for example, 'Ask A Foolish Question' - he took a sensibility that came from the 50s 'Galaxy' Magazine stable, and which Sheckley pushed to its limit; a sardonic look at SF's inherited grab-bag of plots and props form a generation of writers who grew up on 'Astounding Science Fiction' and 'The New Yorker'. He was poised precisely between Robert Heinlein and James Thurber. Not all of it has aged well but this book will give you an idea of whether you want to go into his back-catalogue. Tat Wood A book that veers between black humour, sexual escapades and the poignanacy of growing old. tedooboy Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang Kate Wilhelm This 35-year-old novel about human clones surviving the end of civilisation won a Hugo award in 1977 and somehow seems to become more resonant with the passing of time. Wilhelm is an elegant and versatile, and prolific, writer. I grew up borrowing her and husband Damon Knight's books from my local library, but with our bookshops swamped with franchised doorstops, she never seems to get the attention she deserves. My second nomination would be Damon Knight's The Man in the Tree HolyhosesRob A Door Into Ocean Joan Slonczewski Most SF, let's be honest, borrows its toys from other SF under a fair-use policy; the best definition of 'Hard' SF opposes it to 'easy' (which is basically collage). Hard SF builds worlds from scratch using only fresh ingredients. Here, marine biology is used to take on two of 60s SF's sacred cows, Frank Herbert and Ursula le Guin, to patiently say 'no, this is what it would really be like'. In one key sequence the characters describe a form of passive resistance using an analogy taken from their 'handicraft' of DNA synthesis - a clued-up reader might spot that it's the rather arcane phenomenon of quantum tunnelling described as Quaker lesbian fish-people would see it. Sadly, this book is handy for the uninspiring off-the-shelf university courses of feminist utopias. It's better than that. It assumes you're familiar with old-time SF standbys and are ready to see them slyly mocked (so the Heinlein-style Ol'timer really IS old, and we ought to have figured out why earlier). It gets a bit earnest at times but it avoids easy answers and wish-fulfillment. A must for anyone who thought 'Avatar' was worth all that money. Tat Wood Ender's Game Orson Scott Card This is an entertaining story with something to say about leadership. It's also accessible to most ages - my 9 year-old just read it and Ender's Shadow. tj66 Dhalgren Samuel Delany This book continues to haunt me after one read 3 years ago. Great writing, plot twists, strangeness, characters. The imagery is vivid in my mind's eye. I would recommend this book to anyone who reads scifi. oneshoe Rite of Passage Alexei Panshin Not only is this book a fascinating tale about a very interesting main character, it is a sugar-coated crash course in ethics and philosophy. I first read this book when I was not too much older than the main character. The thoughts and concepts I encountered in it helped me expand my own boundaries as much as Mia does, and I've always been grateful for it. In my opinion, this book should be a mandatory part of every high school reading curriculum. Although published in 1968, it hasn't lost a shred of relevancy to today's society, and I was immensely pleased when Rite of Passage was reprinted in 2007. When you need some strengthening meat and potatoes on your TBR plate to counteract a surfeit of cotton candy, reach for this book. You won't be sorry. Neuromancer? Give me a break. It is getting so that stuff called science fiction is so intellectually shallow it is not worth paying attention to anymore. Gibson didn't know squat about computers when he wrote that. Try The Two Faces of Tomorrow by James P. Hogan. Hyperion is not even science fiction. And they gave the Hugo to a Harry Potter book in 2001. The world is coming to an end. LOL psikeyhackr Hyperion Dan Simmons Simmons stories are almost always something different, yet they still manage to feel familiar at the same time. I will have to keep my 9 year-old away from this one for a bit longer though. tj66 A Canticle for Leibowitz Walter M. Miller Jr. I've always had a thing for the postapocalyptic genre, as it enables an author to mediate on three major, interlocking SF issues: 1) what it means to be human, even when humanity's faux-teleological progress has been incinerated; 2) how culture (incl. technology, art, politics and religion) functions or can function; and 3) how people deal with the most extreme of circumstances (very few people around, mutations, little food, no societal stability, etc.). No novel I know of has done this better than "A Canticle for Leibowitz," which spans hundreds of years, but keeps to a small, personal scale while beautifully, eloquently showing the interactions of institutions, governments, science and religion. People coping with a by-gone world with all they have, even if all they have are myths and fear. A masterful piece of literature, an amazing feat of SF. CCQA (the Netherlands) Golem 100 Alfred Bester The closest you will ever come to 'reading' a trip on psychotropic substances. It is a uniquely dark and twisted black comedy set in the 22nd Century. The Golem 100, a hundred handed multi-dimensional creature, is inadvertently summoned to earth by a group of women who have been performing half-hearted demonic séances using a variety of themes from many religious sects. The Golem 100 embarks on a career of chaos and murder hotly being pursued by the books ‘heroes’ Gretchen Nunn,Blaise Shima and Subadar Ind'dni. Like Anthony Burgesses ‘A Clockwork Orange’ there is a language barrier for the reader to overcome, but once you grasp the ‘future speak’ it adds to the depth of the world you have entered. Bester also switches from text to pictures throughout the novel, this unique edge creates a disturbing and unsettling atmosphere for the reader, but builds up the tension exquisitely Your final barrier is to find yourself a copy! The darn thing is currently out of print…e-bay and amazon might be the place to go! jp67 The Stars my Destination (Tiger, Tiger) Alfred Bester Shakespeare in space and time. Cheryl My favorite SF author at his finest. bobboisen The Disposessed Ursula K LeGuin A simple idea about how people might shape societies told in an elegant story. It makes science and politics seem human and interesting. Which is quite an acheivement, at least as far as politics is concerned. Also I like that it is kind of downbeat. Acmeist Little, Big John Crowley More fantasy than science fiction but a totally engrossing tale of a New England family's relationship with the Faery kingdom. Very literary with hints of Lewis Carroll, Shakespeare, and Sufi poetry. Nominated for various awards including Nebula, Hugo, BSFA and Locus. nogger Flowers for Algernon Daniel Keyes A beautiful, fable-like story about the questionable (dangerous) approach of science manipulating human beings to supposedly advance them. Touching, heart-breaking, convincing and poignant. Wonderful. bobbygw Picnic on Paradise Joanna Russ A brilliant interpretation of telepathy in an advanced alien species; it's a wonderful, beautifully written story about the complexities of communication and understanding. bobbygw The Moon is a Harsh Mistress Robert Heinlein Sometimes the only way to get the bastards to pay attention is to chuck a rock or two at them. Secondly, I learned to speak (grok) 'computer' many years ago. Oops, that's two books. mfrump Hyperion Dan Simmons This drags you in and has you embroiled in the story from the start. It's one of those multiple tale formats with the characters int he book telling how they ended up on the quest. A complex picture builds - a mixture of sci fi, future tech and mythology. It's the kind of book I would have avoided but once I started it I was sucked into the story and devoured the trilogy. pinkpostit Hyperion Dan Simmons This drags you in and has you embroiled in the story from the start. It's one of those multiple tale formats with the characters int he book telling how they ended up on the quest. A complex picture builds - a mixture of sci fi, future tech and mythology. It's the kind of book I would have avoided but once I started it I was sucked into the story and devoured the trilogy. pinkpostit Hyperion Dan Simmons This drags you in and has you immersed in the story from the start. It's one of those multiple tale formats with the characters in the book telling how they ended up on the quest to kill the Shrike. The what? It's a terrifying merciless executioner that moves through multiple dimensions creating echos through the past and present. A complex picture builds - a mixture of sci fi, future tech and mythology. I loved the concepts in it - regeneration machines, man vs machine, neural internet connection, traveling between worlds through tamed wormholes and in particular building houses with rooms in different worlds especially the loo in the middle of a lake in a deserted planet. pinkpostit The Sirens of Titan Kurt Vonnegut Ultimately very humbling and staggering book, as not only is the self-centered reader quite unimportant in the larger scheme of things, so is all of the human story. readitat14 The Female Man Joanna Russ A radical take on sexuality, and the roles of men and women; this early sf text challenged presumptions and sexual stereotypes through its three female characters. Wonderful, and it remains insipring and thought-provoking. bobbygw Read at age 12, this book made me a lifetime fan of SF. TRJ713 "The Book of the New Sun" Gene Wolfe epic, deeply complex, truely fantastical and amazing use of language SF's "Lord of the Rings" metasolaris Consider Phlebas Iain M. Banks I found myself in a conversation trying to remember the title of a brilliant film I'd seen...........turns out I was thinking of a scene from this book, which I'd read five years previously. I re-read it and it was still a fantastic, despondent glory. Toadjuggler 1984 george orwell This book opened y eyes, when i was a teen, to what politics really are: a eternall battle to maintain the status quo, and people, to politicians, don't really matter rafaelluppi The Stars My Destination Alfred Bester has all the elements required of a good sci-fi, but was so early in the genre as to set the standard that others attempted to follow. (also known as "Tiger Tiger") 69dec Brilliant satire, a great read JohnArmstrong Lord of Light Roger Zelazny Counted a New Wave writer by some, Roger Zelazny scavenged plots and characters from medieval romances and world mythology, mashed them through a pulp filter in the style of Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler and Ross MacDonald, added the zip and self-mocking outrageousness of the mid-1960s Marvel superhero comics, and injected the resulting narrative with sprays of impressionistic stream of consciousness description that put you fully in the sensory experience of the protagonist. Like his equally eccentric contemporary, R. A. Lafferty, when Zelazny was on, it all worked astonishingly, and even when he was off, it was a fascinating experiment. In Lord of Light he was definitely on. On a planet settled by colonists from Earth, the powerful and privileged from the original starship crew have hoarded the most advanced technology for their own benefit, giving themselves virtual immortality and god-like powers while their fellow humans slip into a new dark age. The new superhumans take on the names and attributes of gods and goddesses from the Hindu pantheon, so what better way for a disaffected member of the original clique to stir up rebellion than to resurrect Buddhism? Along the way he has to deal with demons (native energy-based lifeforms), assassins, former friends and lovers among what are now his enemies, the awful experience of being ripped from Nirvana and pulled back into a physical incarnation, and a competing rebel army of zombies directed by a Christian crew member. There are moments when the rococo prose nearly topples into total confusion, places where Zelazny's sentimental streak gets out of control, and snatches of grandiose dialogue that could use an extra shot of the (always present) Zelazny irony to avoid being silly. But there's also more humor and a more humane and thoughtful hero than in most of Zelazny's other novels. Lord of Light managed to be postmodern before more than a handful of people were using that term, and it managed be a ripping good adventure to boot. Paul Connelly Against the Day Thomas Pynchon Steam-punk or alternate history or whatever you want to call it, Pynchon’s 2006 novel is an incredibly rich SF pastiche. The plot is impossible to summarize but, simply (!), we’re taken along for the ride as the burgeoning scientific era impinges on the hundreds of intertwined characters, the world readies itself for doom, and we can do nothing but watch in horror with the Chums from their balloon. The quality of the writing lifts this into a realm of its own; nobody else can handle sentences like Pynchon and retain the warmth and humour he is constantly able to muster, even when writing complicated pages of ‘math-fi’. This was published less than five years ago, so, once the dust settles look for this to be considered one of the greats. In Pynchon’s own words: “Let the reader decide, let the reader beware. Good luck”. Sergius Hyperion Cantos Dan Simmons The Hyperion Cantos. released as two books due to the publisher not wanting to take a chance on a Huge book from a relative unknown new comer (Ironic since telephone books has since become the norm) This is Writing on a Grand Scale. The Space Opera Book to start and End all. Due to the foolish publication, many readers viewed the ending to Hyperion as one judges the end of books, not knowing that the next book is no sequel. But the remaining part of one book. A Terrible Decision that at the time cheapened what should have gone down as the Greatest Single Volume of SF ever constructed. And not one that made some people go "WTF" at the end. Truly Amazing Stuff that may start slow for some but don't be fooled, it does more with a 1000 pages then most do with a career. His consequent Hyperion books were more bloated and less story driven, much like whats considered the finer SF being writing today. Reynolds "Revelation Space is a Homage to this book. midas68 Riddley Walker Russell Hoban This book is what SF is for, or should be for: huge invention, a story for the ages - literally - and a whole new language to tell it in Boole Perdido Street Station China Mieville An almost overpowering mix of politics, language and invention barely constrained in a thrilling plot. Every second page has an idea thrown in for local colour that other authors would build entire novels around. MrKip The Black Cloud fred hoyle both beautiful and devastating, the simple fact that the events could be science truth, and the honest and cutting representation of careerist humans alongside our fragility and smallness within the wider universe is utterly compelling hanayama The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch Phillip K Dick Dune Frank Herbert Well were do I start it took me somewhere that not even David Lynch,H R Giger could not replicate in its imagination.Its a classic story of conflict and family set in a world of intergalactic spacing guilds and mile long worm. Quizzard The Centauri Device M John Harrison It's a reworking of Space Opera that broke away from the previous heroic poses and opened up the genre to more thoughtful writing. GB Steve The Road Cormac MacCarthy I'm sure I'll be one of scores of readers name-dropping the book. But it was what every genre-besting SF novel should be - the kind of inexplicably haunting tale that burrows into your dreams. elliereplies Lord of Light Roger Zelazny The interaction between elites, technology, and religion, and how elites use technology and religion to maintain their position. johnnyninefingers The Müller-Fokker Effect John Sladek One of the few SF novels with real humour, sharp satire. I think Sladek may have been channeling great unread mainstream author William Gaddis, but that's no bad thing. Boole Dhalgren Samuel Delany Having been a Speculative Fiction addict, once I read this meditation on myth, identity, sexual politics, etc. I stopped reading SF. Nothing else comes close (except maybe Delany's 'Triton'). st.nick Wonderful to read, great plot and believable characters, Shecat We Yevgeny Zamyatin The book without which 1984 would not have been. And although Orwell refined and elaborated on the concept to produce a better book, that We was written before the death of Lenin makes it truly, remarkably precient. Orwell had TVs that watch you back, Zamyatin, writing before television had been invented had glass buildings. stephenwelsh Other Days, Other Eyes Bob Shaw Bob Shaw 'invented' slow glass, a crystalline material that retains light waves and gradually transmits it to the viewer, with the time delay being dependant upon the thickness of the pane. Too many other sf writers would have spun out this radical new concept into at least two trilogies. Shaw examines all the possibilities in one admirably compact novel (incorporating three 'sidelight' short stories), while at the same time managing to construct a warmly human narrative. Ulsterfan It's a classic that's very readable. And still one of the best SciFi books around. David Greybeard Ubik Philip K Dick Ubik (1969) is a great novel because it provides page-turning entertainment as a straight SF/mystery story whilst also asking some pretty big existential questions: How do we know what's real? How do we know we're really alive? Who is really in control of our world? Central to the novel is the idea of "half-life", a virtual-reality world inhabited by the semi-dead; people whose brains are artificially kept alive whilst their dead bodies are held in cryogenic store. Living people can communicate with half-lifers via telephone - a simple but brilliant idea. But, with all the weird goings-on, are the "living people" really alive themselves? Who's alive and who's dead? Amidst all this confusion is the consumer product that keeps cropping up - in TV adverts, on posters, in radio commercials - the mysterious spray-can cure-all known as "Ubik". Ubik is the ultimate restorative substance - and maybe the only thing that can save our hero from the tide of entropy. Dick never spells out exactly what Ubik is suppose to be - a metaphor for God? For hope? For humanity? Reader, you decide - because ultimately, Dick seems to suggest, none of us can know with any certainty the answers to these big questions. MikeAlx Deathbird Stories Harlan Ellison This is a short story collection, one of many by Ellison, but this is the first one I read and it knocked me for six with it's tone and imaginative breadth. This was speculative fiction, not classic sci-fi. The first story in the book, "The Whimper of Whipped Dogs", made me angry. I disliked Ellison straight away for the negative slant of the story, the lack of faith in humanity, the loss of hope. I couldn't forget about it though, couldn't stop thiking about his ideas, they needed to be confronted and understood. After reading the rest of the stories in this collection my opinion did a vast 180 and Ellison became one of my favourite authors. He doesn't seem to get too much mention in science fiction discourse but he was one of the leading lights of the New Wave in the 60s, editing the "Dangerous Visions" anthology which helped define that era. "Deathbird Stories" is essential Ellison reading but he had many other short story collections out there which are equally worthy of attention. birds I Am Legend Richard Matheson It has vampires, it has a strange virus, it has the collapse of society and the beginnings of something new and strange. But, like all the best SF (in my opinion) it uses its genre trappings to explore something very very human. John H More than Human Theodore Sturgeon because instead of being about alien worlds, wars or invasions it is about our evolution and the capacity of human beings to change, develop and become....better peter flack Neuromancer William Gibson As good as anything ever written in the genre. Ranks with all of the greats authors out there. Really more of a work of literature. john lee Dancers at the End Of Time michael moorcock Its a SF book but not in the traditional sense. Its written in the style and genre of the traditional victorian early SF writters such as H G Wells but with a very modern sensability. It is worthy of mention for the simple reason that it is often over looked but is simple and whimsical. It crosses genres but remains within SF. Why it hasnt been made in to a film is understandable but sad as the story is elegant and timeless. It is the only book on my shelf that I re read on a regular basis PureedGerbil Dune Frank Herbert Epic in scope, light on technology; the story of feuding family. A feudal system written across a galaxy. Martin Veart Revelation Space Alastair Reynolds Have to agree with Chojinalpha - any of the modern hard space opera Brit author like Alastair Reynolds would be my recomendation. Paul R NOIR K W Jeter I suspect this one may be missed by others. Like all extraordinary books this both defines and annihilates a genre simultaneously. A dark brooding future dystopia; Bladerunner crossed with Tiger, Tiger except on stronger drugs. A noir thriller where the 'hero' is a serial killer who sees the world as a 1940's noir film. Incredible set pieces and hallucinogenic passages mixed with dark humour and extreme violence? Whats not to recommend? alivee2011 Engine Summer John Crowley John Crowley's Engine Summer is science fiction's great secret masterpiece. A novel about the centrality of storytelling to the human experience, Engine Summer also boasts the tightest fit between a book's title and its contents that I have ever encountered. The novel itself IS an engine summer. Quiet, lyrically subtle, strangely undemonstrative, this is a book that sneaks up on you, slowly building its intertwinements of theme and character and richly varied detail up to an ending that's both devastating and inspiring, and the greatest denouement I know of. If you get it, it will blow you away; if you don't (and about half its readers fail to), you'll wonder what the hell I'm talking about. I said it was science fiction's secret masterpiece? Make that 20th century English literature's secret masterpiece. Ron Drummond Lord of Light Roger Zelazny Sci fi + Indian myth. Finishes a close race ahead of The Day of the Triffids and A Caniticle for Leibowitz. quaziluffy This Perfect Day Ira Levin Highly imaginative novel. It depicts the mere hollowness and vulnerability of dictatorship (technological, ideological, religious, etc.) Farz Camp Concentration Thomas M Disch A beautifully-written disquisition on intelligence, imprisonment and power relationships that concludes with a brilliant coup de theatre. Disch was also a poet and his use of language is extraordinary for someone writing in the genre. But this should not distract from the pure pleasure of watching his plot unfold and blind us with brilliance at the end. keithyd Elvissey Jack Womack Jack's work is incredible... William Gibson's favorite living author, he created a frightening and credible dystopia with wit, humor and outlandish bravura. His stuff is outta print now but you can Amazon it. Do! Austin D H Ivers Tales of pilot Pirx Stanislaw Lem Lem, despite of his Central European handicap is out there alongside Asimov, AC Clark, Bester and others. Tops Pops The Tripods Samuel Youd under the pseudonym John Christopher One of the best SF thrillers ever with compelling adventure story filled with action and suspense. I read it when i was a kid and loved it and reread many times. The white mountains, the first in the series is just perfect. Armenotti The Boat of a Million Years Poul Anderson From the dark recesses of time to the far future, Highlander-esque individuals that are immortal do their best to live in a world that won't accept them and would kill them if the truth were known. Fascinating characters in in impossible situations and a wonderful survey of human history as if the reader were present makes for a superb novel. John Ottinger III Her Smoke Rose Up Forever James Tiptree Jr. (Alice Sheldon) This is a collection of short stories written by the incisive, ruthless mind and warm, human heart of Alice Sheldon who wrote as James Tiptree Jr. (named after the marmalade manufacturer). It contains some of the most thought provoking and moving tales and takes you on incredible imaginitive leaps - for me the essence of SF. Justina Robson The Man in the High Castle Phillip K Dick A superb alternative history of the Cold War and America with wonderfully realised characters, as well as all the usual sci-fi trappings. Explores everything from consumerism to the nature of reality itself. LHRT Oryx & Crake Margaret Atwood It's got all the elements of a great science fiction book; dystopia, post-apocalypse, genetic engineering etc. But the outcomes of this fiction are so steeped in realities that are already surrounding us, that the possibilities of Atwood's speculation become frighteningly plausible. The writing itself is beautiful and elegant. The characters are fully fledged psychological beings, that are not there to merely serve the plot. Their emotional burdens are believable and ring true. While The Handmaid's Tale has already cemented itself as not only Atwood's finest work, but as a seminal piece of modern speculative fiction, given a few more years Oryx & Crake deserves to catch up both in esteem and appreciation. dijn737 The Mars Series Kim Stanley Robinson Also his Antartica and The Years of Rice and Salt. Ecologically sound, socialogically and psychologically fascinating. loved many of the recommendations - LeGuin, Foundation Series, Olaf Stapledon. hammerct1 Hard science fiction mixed with psychedelic visuals. Both clear cut and incredibly hazy. The best. jslater Startide Rising David Brin David's Uplift series, at least the first three books, showcased both the audacious arrogance of humanity as a whole, but the inclusiveness of people working together in a community. While I feel the series devolved, Startide Rising captured the poetry of life that I hadn't found in science fiction until then, nor later. Paul Stone Adam Roberts Because it centres around a prisoner talking to a rock but the story he tells is amazing! Gav Reads Maul Tricia Sullivan no such thing as best SF novel as genre entirely fluid and changing and one generations best is the next's stoge (and we - generalized we - desperately need to learn to distinguish between what we like and what is good, and what we dislike and what is bad.) But Maul... brutal, challenging, unforgiving... Worth reading simply because it proves SF can shock, be relevant and make readers uncomfortable rather than comforting them. I can think of a dozen other books published in the last ten years as good as most things listed so far (but I'll spare you the soapbox) JonCG The Gap Series Stephen Donaldson An epic space opera. Politics, war and a believable alien menace, form the backdrop for characters carved from stone. Every arc deserves and demands your attention. Great entertainment. 5 books in the series but worth a mention. thegapinto... It's brilliant and funny and unforgetable. Kat Warren The Foreigner Series C J Cherryh This series of novels - now 12 of them published - explores alien/human interaction with an intensity I have not seen elsewhere in the genre. The writing has improved as the series progresses and while they may become repetitive in scenarios, each new book in the series throws new light on the humanoid but not human species that the hero has to understand to survive. Cherryh would be the author I would send to front any future meeting with an alien species. stephenrb Chasm City Alastair Reynolds A great world, loads of action and more plot twist than you can shake a stick at. Couldn't put it down. Neuromancer William Gibson Everything from character names (Wintermute, Case, Lady 3Jane) to the way he only implies the momentous world events that have made the world what it is make Neuromancer a book you can't shake. Exactly one other novel has the staying power for me of Gibson's dystopic masterpiece - Infinite Jest. iembalm Neverness David Zindell It builds a world that entrances and saddens when the book comes to an end. And then gladdens when you are told there is a following three part sequel. And then saddens again because after this great start in writing SF, he follows a similar story line but in a fantasy series that does not measure up. I wish he would return to spaceships and discard magical amulets. honey Inverted World Christopher Priest Priest's Inverted World captivated me with its premise -- a city on wheels that has to keep moving to get away from a very strong gravitational field. It has steampunk, mathematical, physical, and sociological elements, just to name a few. It's a beautiful work on a thought experiment that poses a very intriguing question -- what if our planet isn't at all spherical as we perceive it to be? KyusiReader hyperion's cantos Dan Simmons SF often adress to some geek generation, adults who refuse to grow up totally but this one is for me the first modern sf to speak directly to the human being. Simmons create a entire universe with its own laws of physics and spirituality. This saga consist in four books, each of them the direct followers of the previous one even if some hundreds years separate the first cycle of the second. There is philosophy, space fights, ground fights, poetry, romance, hope and despair... I can't sum the story up because it will be like sum the ancient and the new testament up...But I can tell you you will not be desapointedif you appreciated Asimov's Foundation, you will love Simmon's Hyperion Cantos Atropos Options Robert Sheckley Sheckley beat Douglas Adams to the punch by adding satirical humour to SF. Options is a funny book, the story of a man journeying across a planet to find a part for his damaged spaceship, accompanied by a robot guide programmed for a different planet - the robot's desperation as events diverge from its expectations and it seeks to rationalise them are great fun. But the book also becomes a kind of postmodern commentary on the very art of writing fiction - as events get more surreal, like Alice in Wonderland, the author, like the robot, seems to lose control of events - even introducing a new hero to try to resolve the story. I find the book hilarious, as surreal as a Monty Python movie, and yet underpinned by a curious sadness and, yes, desperation. I've never read anything quite like it, and it cheers me up like nothing else, yet it's always laughter through tears. If it was by Flann O'Brien and called At Two Swim Birds it would already be hailed as a classic! Alas... dowland Ender's game Orson Scott Card Amazing fall into a world where ethics are all but forgotten for the greater good. The depth of the characters' psychology is impressive and the fate awaiting the hero could not let anyone untouched. The strongest part of this book is probably that there is no vilain. We understand the actions of everyone. We might have acted differently, or stood by watching and hope, but we cannot think them monsters. Even when they are harsh towards a little boy to the point of breaking is mind forever. Even when an entire civilization is wiped out of the universe. We get it. Skilgannon Well it started the discworld...what more do you need? Manoknok Encounter with Tiber Buzz Aldrin and John Barnes A book with one of the most poignant endings I've ever read, but also packed full of the technical detail and ideas that make for great hard SF. In the two parallel narratives we see a very human quest for the stars set against the story of the alien race struggling with its own very human problem, racism. The human story brings Aldrin's insights and knowledge to the fore, to the point that readers new to SF may find the technical bits hard going, but the alien story brings it all back down to earth, albeit on another planet. Wish I could write more about how well that ending works but that would spoil the whole thing - lose yourself in the details and ideas first and just let it crop up on you. Stumpysheep Earth David Brin Let's face it, David Brin hasn't got the best reputation as an SF author. The Postman will now be forever associated with Kevin Costner and the Uplift Saga, despite some moments of genius, manages to turn the entire (and long) final book into an anti-climax. But I'm recommending Earth as much for my personal connection with it as for the quality of writing. This is a book with Gaia theory at its core (along with a mini black hole) and some of the ideas are even more resonant now than when it was first published - for example the opening gambit that the poor nations of the world have got pissed off with capitalist bankers and nuked Switzerland. Although it's not without its flaws this book came along when I was discovering Gaia and environmentalism and so will forever have a place in my heart. Stumpysheep Transcendent Stephen Baxter Coalescent opened the Destiny's Children series with critical acclaim, but I'm nominating Transcendent for having one of the best opening lines of any book: "The girl from the future told me the sky is full of dying worlds". Stumpysheep The Drought J.G.Ballard For his evocative style of writing. His descriptions are in some sense other worldly in a way that draws the reader in and gives great depth to the estrangement the reader feels.It is a near future world that is thus utterly believable, that could, if mankind is not careful, happen to us. JOL Forever War Joe Haldeman Brilliant yarn but also a dark comment on the Vietnam experience. Turned me into a SF fan Spotty Fremder Russell Hoban This book is a masterpiece - it is a flawed masterpiece, with a lame ending that is quite unworthy of what goes before, but it is nonetheless a masterpiece for its presentation of: * Flicker drive (with a direct quotation from Hoban's The Medusa Frequency) * Pythia (cf. Oedipus) * The government building in the shape of an Aztec temple * The girl with whom Fremder falls into a relationship * Chopin in 2052 (or thereabouts) * Izzy and his sister and what they (and we) discover * The Fourth Galaxy (actually, Hoban tells me that he didn't mean 'galaxy', but who cares!?) * A vision of a crippled Earth, both from in the depths (when he goes to buy non-specific Whisky) and from up high But the best thing of these is the whole genesis of the flicker implant Any offers of an alternative ending from any reader...? apsley88 Riddley Walker Russell Hoban It cuts to the core of what it means to be a human, wandering and wondering. sheepshank For its depiction of a future where the tories get their way. Pickup Zoe's War John Scalzi The Old Man's War series are my most lent SF books and Scalzi's writing, although darker, deserves the comparisons made to the great Douglas Adams. I could pick any of four books in the series but went for Zoe's War as Scalzi took on the brave task of re-writing the whole story from the perspective of the narrator's adopted daughter. The tightly written plots of the first three mean that there is very little left unexplained, but Scalzi somehow manages to make everything seem fresh. Douglas would surely approve. Stumpysheep We3 Grant Morrison Not only is it a beautfiul book thanks to Frank Quietlys art but the way the animals communicate is extremly well done. Bobbyskizza The Man in the High Castle Philip K Dick Because in this book, nothing (and no one) is what it seems to be on the surface. And like the best of his books, Dick manages to hold together the stories of small personal lives with catastrophic upheaval. Allez45 The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch Philip K Dick It's way ahead of its time in predicting shared, virtual realities. It masterfully plays tricks with the reader over and over again until you just submit and laugh at how ingenious it is. ChewZ The Cyberiad Stanislaw Lem It is witty, funny, sweet and captivating, yet tells us, in the middle of all the fun and otherworldliness about ourselves, and our planet, our lives. You can read it at fifteen, and you can read it at fifty, with equal joy. A great book. BirdArvid pattern recognition william gibson His characters are always compelling and his writing, though sometimes difficult to follow is always well chosen. The story came together in a moving conclusion. I read it three times and would like to read it again. The next two in this series were good, too. dora Tiger, Tiger Alfred Bester As fresh and imaginative as the day it was written. The prose is crisp with some wonderful imagery. The anti-hero protagonist is one of the best characters in science fiction. RossWarren 1984 Orwell I read it when little and it provides a sci-fi sociology that is ever-present. I also liked the Asimov trilogy but it is far removed from recent science developments. I am reading the Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson which takes sci-fi to new heights. Camp Concentration Thomas M. Disch Sheer show-boating audacity, from the punning title through to a first-person narrative that makes 'Flowers For Algeron' look like a school essay, this story of political prisoners deliberately infected with a terminal strain of syphilis makes more points than a syringe factory. Disch, who was also an acclaimed poet, was one of the finest writers in the field and he wasn't afraid to prove it. Jim Steel Use Of Weapons Iain M Banks Banks is wildly imaginative in all his books. Reading them I always feel a childlike sense of wonder at the breadth of imagination realised and a very adult sense of voyeurism at its strange but familiar moral seediness. Of the sci-fi books I've read, only Use Of Weapons actually makes me viscerally respond when I think back upon it: what feels like the lower reaches of my heart are choked by an unvocalised "f*ck". whoeverunder Ender's Game Orson Scott Card Back when I was reading SF this book completely captured my imagination. There's something very real about its premise, that the military would take a child and make a killing machine out of him. AngryPancho Dune Frank Herbert Again, it's been a long time since I've read SF, but back when I did, I found it easy to become immersed in the series. Mr Herbert has a knack for making political machinations accessible to young people. AngryPancho 2001: A Space Odyssey Arthur C. Clarke Its association with Stanley Kubrick's film (which is arguably the 20th century's greatest work of Art) makes Clarke's novel the one indispensible classic work of popular SF literature. Pigasus Press Reality Dysfunction Peter F Hamilton Easily my favourite book ... great characters ... great ideas - example affinity bonding - just loved it! This was recommended as someone else's favourite book ... read all of his books also enjoyed the nano flower and mispent youth - also recommend Saga of the Exiles by Julian May porkpiemickjen The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy Douglas Adams Douglas Adams was my introduction to science fiction. Through him I discovered Heinlein, Clarke and all the other Sci-Fi masters by seeking out books in the same section of the library as this silly book with the alien making a face. 30 years later he remains one of my favorite authors. rjweeks70 The Man in the High Castle Phlip K Dick A scanner darkly Philip Dick Because is one of the most important novels of the XX century, not only in SF. A sort of post-apochalyptic "Voyage au bout de la nuit"... aedo67 I, ROBOT Isaac Asimov A deceptively simple collection of short stories, but at the same time an epochal refutation of the old Frankenstein myth -- why wouldn't the creator of a sentient artificial man engineer it to avoid being destroyed by it? And what kind of world would it be with a race of human "masters" and robot "slaves" when the "slaves" are designed to obey the masters? What then would it mean to be human? Isn't that the ultimate question that all great science fiction asks? If that's the case, then I, ROBOT belongs on any list of the best works of science fiction ever written. RBBernstein Halting State Charles Stross Set in a not-too distant future Edinburgh and crossing genres with its Detective 'Who Done it', MMORPG story & Essay on human behaviour, this books shows a very strong reflection of todays world. Mr. Stross (or Charlie to those that know him), weaves these very different stories in a bewildering and yet strange engrossing narrative (which also includes some very wicked in-jokes to those in the know), to a conclusion at which feels satisfying but also deeply distrubing in in which it compels you to reread just to make absloutely sure that you have understood properly. Thoroughly enjoyable. Fenland The Left Hand of Darkness Ursula Le Guin Strange & Familiar; Action & Contemplation; Soft Science & Deep Interpersonal Relations; Genre Structure & Literary Language; From a Woman to Men korchant Black Man Richard Morgan Fast paced, unpleasant in places with good character development. A typical Morgan anti-hero in Carl Marsalis and weirdly resonant with me as I work with severely autistic young adults. The science appears believable, though I'm not the sort to check it against actual science facts. No daft spaceships, no Star Trek do-goodery, no amazing aliens used to escape plot twists. Just humans being their usual dysfunctional, looking out for number one, self. Datters They Rediscovery of Man Cordwainer Smith This is like no other fiction I have read. It is Romance literature, poetic and myth-making. The collection of loosely related stories tell of humanity's future, from a time just after WW2 through to AD 13,582. But we come at this history more through allegory, myth and legend, than expository fact. There are great technological leaps such as the Habermans (dead space captains), and planoforming ships with their pinlighting defences (a partnership between telepathically connected humans and cats) to help propel the history and still greater characters, such as Lord Jestocost, Lost C'Mell, Helen America and her love Mr Grey no-more. There is the unusual narrative style of the stories, the learn-ed word play and intriguing story titles (Golden the Ship Was - Oh! Oh! Oh!, Alpha Ralpha Boulevard). But most of all, when you finally put the book down, there is this haunting feeling that even though you have met so many and witnessed so much, you know you have only scratched the surface of this brilliantly realized universe. LordDog	Jonathan Swift
What is the V-shaped flying formation of a flock of wild geese called?	SparkNotes: Gulliver’s Travels: Important Quotations Explained Important Quotations Explained Part IV, Chapters V–XII Key Facts 1. My Father had a small Estate in Nottinghamshire; I was the Third of five Sons. . . . I was bound Apprentice to Mr. James Bates, an eminent Surgeon in London . . . my Father now and then sending me small Sums of Money. . . . When I left Mr. Bates, I went down to my Father; where, by the Assistance of him and my Uncle John . . . I got Forty Pounds, and a Promise of Thirty Pounds a Year. This introductory paragraph from Part I, Chapter I, is often passed over as simply providing the preliminary facts of Gulliver’s life, the bare essentials needed in order to proceed to the more interesting travel narrative. But this introduction is deeply significant in its own right, and it reveals much about Gulliver’s character that is necessary to understand not just his journeys but also his way of narrating them. Gulliver is bourgeois: he is primarily interested in money, acquisitions, and achievement, and his life story is filtered through these desires. The first sentence means more than just a statement of his financial situation, since the third son of a possessor of only a “small Estate” would have no hopes of inheriting enough on which to support himself and would be expected to leave the estate and seek his own fortune. If Gulliver had been the first-born son, he might very well not have embarked on his travels. But the passage is even more revealing in its tone, which is starkly impersonal. Gulliver provides no sentimental characterization of his father, Bates, or Uncle John; they appear in his story only insofar as they further him in life. There is no mention of any youthful dreams or ambitions or of any romantic attachments. This lack of an emotional inner life is traceable throughout his narrative until his virtual nervous breakdown at the very end. 2. He said, he knew no Reason, why those who entertain Opinions prejudicial to the Publick, should be obliged to change, or should not be obliged to conceal them. And, as it was Tyranny in any Government to require the first, so it was Weakness not to enforce the second. This quotation comes from a conversation between Gulliver and the king of Brobdingnag, in Part II, Chapter VI. The belief expressed by the king is one that Swift, writing in his own voice, expressed elsewhere: that people have the right to their own beliefs but not the right to express them at will. As always, it is difficult to determine whether or not Swift’s view is exactly the one advanced by his characters. The king has little sympathy for many English institutions as Gulliver describes them to him. Swift would probably not have rejected such institutions, and we should keep in mind that Brobdingnagian criticism does not always imply Swiftian criticism. Indeed, Gulliver’s Travels could be considered to contain at least a few “Opinions prejudicial to the Publick”—unpopular opinions, in other words—so it is unlikely that Swift is in favor of suppressing all social criticism entirely. Whatever the final interpretation, the quotation raises interesting issues of censorship, freedom of speech, and the rightful place of indirect forms of criticism, such as the satire of which Swift was a master. 3. My little Friend Grildrig. . . . I cannot but conclude the Bulk of your Natives, to be the most pernicious Race of little odious Vermin that Nature ever suffered to crawl upon the Surface of the Earth. This famous judgment by the king of Brobdingnag on the people of England, given in Part II, Chapter VI, after Gulliver (or “Grildrig”) has summarized the institutions of his native land, is a harsh denunciation of mankind in its current state, and it stokes the misanthropy that dominates Gulliver’s mind by the end of Gulliver’s Travels. The judgment is particularly ironic because Gulliver’s own purpose in telling the king about England is to convince him of England’s significance. The king acts as though Gulliver has intended to “clearly prove” the faults of his land, though of course Gulliver does not mean to make such an attack at all. Gulliver’s speech on his country is not meant to be in the least critical, but it is received by the king as a forceful damnation, so what is mocked here is not just England but also Gulliver’s naïve and unthinking acceptance of his own society. Swift subtly raises the issue of ideology, which refers to a person’s brainwashed way of taking for granted a social arrangement that could or should be criticized and improved. 4. [T]hey go on Shore to rob and plunder; they see an harmless People, are entertained with Kindness, they give the Country a new Name, they take formal Possession of it for the King, they set up a rotten Plank or a Stone for a Memorial, they murder two or three Dozen of the Natives, bring away a Couple more by Force for a Sample, return home, and get their Pardon. Here commences a New Dominion acquired with a Title by Divine Right . . . the Earth reeking with the Blood of its Inhabitants. This quotation comes from Part IV, Chapter XII, when Gulliver, having returned home to England after his stay among the Houyhnhnms, tries to apologize for what he sees as the only fault he committed while on his journeys: failing to claim the lands he visited in the name of England. First, he justifies his failure by saying that the countries he visited would not be worth the effort of conquering them. In the section quoted above, however, he goes even further by criticizing the practice of colonization itself. His picture of colonization as a criminal enterprise justified by the state for the purposes of trade and military power is one that looks familiar to modern eyes but was radical for Swift’s time. Others criticized aspects of colonialism, such as the murder or enslavement of indigenous peoples, but few failed to see it as the justifiable expansion of purportedly civilized cultures. Swift employs his standard satirical technique here, as he first describes something without naming it in order to create an image in our minds, then gives it the name of something different, provoking us to rethink old assumptions. 5. My Reconcilement to the Yahoo-kind in general might not be so difficult, if they would be content with those Vices and Follies only which Nature hath entitled them to. I am not in the least provoked at the Sight of a Lawyer, a Pick-pocket, a Colonel. . . . This is all according to the due Course of Things: But, when I behold a Lump of Deformity, and Diseases both in Body and Mind, smitten with Pride, it immediately breaks all the Measures of my Patience; neither shall I ever be able to comprehend how such an Animal and such a Vice could tally together. This quotation comes from the end of the narrative, in Part IV, Chapter XII, when Gulliver describes the difficulties he has had in readjusting to his own human culture. He now associates English and European culture with the Yahoos, though the hypocrisy he describes is not a Yahoo characteristic. By attributing a number of sins to “the due Course of Things,” Gulliver expresses his new conviction that humanity is, as the Houyhnhnms believe, corrupt and ungovernable at heart. Humans are nothing more than beasts equipped with only enough reason to make their corruption dangerous. But even worse than that, he says, is the inability of humanity to see its own failings, to recognize its depravity behind its false nobility. Gulliver’s apparent exemption of himself from this charge against humanity—referring to “such an Animal” rather than to humans, may be yet another moment of denial. In fact, he is guilty of the same hypocrisy he condemns, showing himself unaware of his own human flaws several times throughout his travels. He is a toady toward royalty in Lilliput and Brobdingnag, indifferent toward those in misery and pain when visiting the Yahoos, and ungrateful toward the kindness of strangers with the Portuguese captain, Don Pedro. Gulliver’s difficulty in including himself among the humans he describes as vice-ridden animals is symbolic of the identity crisis he undergoes at the end of the novel, even if he is unaware of it. More Help	i don't know
Egg; Larva; Adult – which stage of complete metamorphosis is missing?	Complete Metamorphosis \| ASU - Ask A Biologist Ask A Biologist Complete metamorphosis: a change in body form with four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Exoskeleton: hard body covering... more Instar: stages in the growth of a larva. Larva: the second, "worm-like" stage in the life cycle of insects that undergo complete metamorphosis (like caterpillars). Pupa: resting stage during which tissues are reorganized from larval form to adult form. The pupa is the third body form in the life cycle of insects that undergo complete metamorphosis (like caterpillars). Complete metamorphosis has four stages: Egg, Larva, Pupa, and Adult In each stage of complete metamorphosis, the animal looks different than at all other stages. This is different from incomplete metamorphosis where the early stages of development look like tiny versions of the adult. Butterflies are an example of an insect that goes through all the stages of complete metamorphosis. Complete metamorphosis begins with the insect hatching from an egg into a soft worm-like shape called a larva. Larvae have a very big appetite and can eat several times their own body weight every day. If humans did the same thing, babies would start out eating as much as 10 pounds of food each day. For insects, this super-sized larva diet makes them grow very fast. Some larvae add more body segments as they grow. Scientists refer to these developmental changes as instars which are similar to how humans call their children babies, toddlers, or teenagers. For example, instead of being called a baby, a very young larva would be called an instar 1 and a teenager would be called an instar 3. The number of instar stages can be different depending on the type of insect. At the end of the larval stage the insect will make a hard shell and inside it will become a pupa. At this stage the larva will stop eating and moving. The pupa appears lifeless, but one of Nature’s most amazing transformations is happening. Inside the pupa, the larva’s body will completely change into a fully grown adult. Once the adult leaves the pupa it slowly stretches out and relaxes under the sun for a couple of hours while its exoskeleton dries out and hardens. Insects with complete metamorphosis include beetles, bees, ants, butterflies, moths, fleas, and mosquitoes.	Pupa
If you cut off a cockroach’s head from what would it be likely to die?	Insect life cycles - Amateur Entomologists' Society (AES) You are: Home > Insects > Insect fact files > Insect life cycles Insect life cycles The pupa of the Large Copper butterfly (Lycaena dispar). Butterflies undergo complete metamorphosis. The main disadvantage of the exoskeleton is that it can't expand with growth. In order for growth to take place, the exoskeleton must be shed and a new one formed. The new one will be soft at first, so the body must be expanded before the new one hardens. The organism can then grow to fill the space created before moulting becomes necessary again. The process of moulting is called ecdysis , and the stage between successive moults an instar . Once adulthood has been reached, growth ceases and the adult insect doesn't moult again. This means that the stages occurring before the adult are the ones in which growth occurs. There are two different types of insect life cycle - incomplete metamorphosis and complete metamorphosis. (Metamorphosis means a change of form.) Incomplete Metamorphosis This is shown by the less highly developed insects. The life cycle shows only three stages:- EGG - NYMPH - ADULT The nymph resembles a miniature adult but is not able to produce young. This life cycle has the disadvantage that both nymph and adult often share the same food source. Therefore they can be in direct competition with one another for food. The advantage is that the vulnerable pupal ( chrysalis ) phase is avoided. The wings develop during the nymph stages as wing buds. These grow larger at each successive instar. They are fully formed at the final moult into adulthood. The wings therefore develop outside the body and are said to be exopterygote. This type of life cycle is seen in various insects, including dragonflies, grasshoppers, earwigs, cockroaches and true bugs:- Diagrams of Incomplete Metamorphosis of Capsid bug (instars two and four not shown) First instar nymph This is shown by the more highly developed insects. The life cycle shows four stages:- EGG - LARVA - PUPA - ADULT The larva (or caterpillar) is the growth phase. It is generally very different from the adult. Usually the larva and adult use different food sources. Therefore they are not in direct competition. This is a distinct advantage as more individuals of the species can be fed. The pupa (or chrysalis) is a stage of internal reorganisation. There are no visible signs on the outside of the body as to the activity within. Because of this the pupal phase used to be called the "resting" stage. During the pupal phase the internal organs are broken down, more or less forming a "soup". This "soup" then acts as food for special growth buds to develop. These form the adult body. When reorganisation is complete, the adult is ready to emerge. When outside conditions are suitable, the final moult occurs and the adult insect emerges. The wings develop inside the pupal case. Therefore this type of development is said to be endopterygote. Such a life cycle is shown by butterflies, moths, bees, wasps, true flies and many other insects, including beetles:- Diagrams of Complete Metamorphosis of Large White butterfly (only one of the four caterpillar stages is shown) Caterpillar	i don't know
Which wind has a name meaning ‘snow eater’ in American Indian language?	Chinook - definition of chinook by The Free Dictionary Chinook - definition of chinook by The Free Dictionary http://www.thefreedictionary.com/chinook n. pl. Chinook or Chi·nooks 1. a. A member of a Native American people formerly inhabiting the lower Columbia River valley and adjoining coastal regions of Washington and Oregon, now located in western Washington. The Chinook traded widely throughout the Pacific Northwest. b. The Chinookan language of the Chinook. 2. A member of any of several Chinookan-speaking peoples formerly inhabiting the Columbia River valley eastward to The Dalles and now located in southern Washington and northern Oregon. [Chehalis (Salishan language of western Washington) c'inúk.] chi·nook (shĭ-no͝ok′, chĭ-) n. 1. A moist warm wind blowing from the sea in coastal regions of the Pacific Northwest. 2. A warm dry wind that descends from the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, causing a rapid rise in temperature. 3. A Chinook salmon. (tʃɪˈnuːk; -ˈnʊk) n 1. (Physical Geography) Also called: snow eater a warm dry southwesterly wind blowing down the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains 2. (Physical Geography) Also called: wet chinook a warm moist wind blowing onto the Washington and Oregon coasts from the sea [C19: from Salish c'inuk] npl -nook or -nooks 1. (Peoples) a Native American people of the Pacific coast near the Columbia River 2. (Languages) the language of this people, probably forming a separate branch of the Penutian phylum Chi•nook n., pl. -nooks, (esp. collectively) -nook. 1. a. a member of an American Indian people aboriginally inhabiting the N shore of the mouth of the Columbia River. b. a member of any of a group of peoples including the Chinook of the Columbia River mouth and related peoples to the S and W. c. either of two languages spoken by these peoples, one, now extinct, spoken on both sides of the Columbia estuary (Lower Chinook) and the other spoken W of the estuary ( Upper Chinook ). 2. (l.c.) a warm, dry wind that blows at intervals down the E slopes of the Rocky Mountains. Chi•nook′an, adj. chinook wind , snow eater air current , current of air , wind - air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure; "trees bent under the fierce winds"; "when there is no wind, row"; "the radioactivity was being swept upwards by the air current and out into the atmosphere" 2. Chinook - a member of an important North American Indian people who controlled the mouth of the Columbia river; they were organized into settlements rather than tribes Penutian - a member of a North American Indian people speaking one of the Penutian languages 3. Oncorhynchus tshawytscha , quinnat salmon , chinook salmon , king salmon , chinook - large Pacific salmon valued as food; adults die after spawning salmon - flesh of any of various marine or freshwater fish of the family Salmonidae 4. Penutian - a family of Amerindian language spoken in the great interior valley of California 5. salmon - any of various large food and game fishes of northern waters; usually migrate from salt to fresh water to spawn genus Oncorhynchus , Oncorhynchus - Pacific salmon including sockeye salmon; chinook salmon; chum salmon; coho salmon Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us , add a link to this page, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content . Link to this page: family Salmonidae References in classic literature ? Immediately within this cape is a wide, open bay, terminating at Chinook Point, so called from a neighboring tribe of Indians. The natives inhabiting the lower part of the river, and with whom the company was likely to have the most frequent intercourse, were divided at this time into four tribes, the Chinooks, Clatsops, Wahkiacums, and Cathlamahs. After a day thus profitably spent, they recrossed the river, but landed on the northern shore several miles above the anchoring ground of the Tonquin, in the neighborhood of Chinooks, and visited the village of that tribe. A singular custom prevails, not merely among the Chinooks, but among most of the tribes about this part of the coast, which is the flattening of the forehead. With this worthy tribe of Chinooks the two partners passed a part of the day very agreeably. When the weather had moderated and the sea became tranquil, the one-eyed chief of the Chinooks manned his state canoe, and conducted his guests in safety to the ship, where they were welcomed with joy, for apprehensions had been felt for their safety.	Chinook
What geographical features come in types called – Continental, Mountain and Piedmont?	Chinook winds - definition of Chinook winds by The Free Dictionary Chinook winds - definition of Chinook winds by The Free Dictionary http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Chinook+winds Also found in: Thesaurus , Encyclopedia , Wikipedia . Chi·nook n. pl. Chinook or Chi·nooks 1. a. A member of a Native American people formerly inhabiting the lower Columbia River valley and adjoining coastal regions of Washington and Oregon, now located in western Washington. The Chinook traded widely throughout the Pacific Northwest. b. The Chinookan language of the Chinook. 2. A member of any of several Chinookan-speaking peoples formerly inhabiting the Columbia River valley eastward to The Dalles and now located in southern Washington and northern Oregon. [Chehalis (Salishan language of western Washington) c'inúk.] chi·nook (shĭ-no͝ok′, chĭ-) n. 1. A moist warm wind blowing from the sea in coastal regions of the Pacific Northwest. 2. A warm dry wind that descends from the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, causing a rapid rise in temperature. 3. A Chinook salmon. (tʃɪˈnuːk; -ˈnʊk) n 1. (Physical Geography) Also called: snow eater a warm dry southwesterly wind blowing down the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains 2. (Physical Geography) Also called: wet chinook a warm moist wind blowing onto the Washington and Oregon coasts from the sea [C19: from Salish c'inuk] npl -nook or -nooks 1. (Peoples) a Native American people of the Pacific coast near the Columbia River 2. (Languages) the language of this people, probably forming a separate branch of the Penutian phylum Chi•nook n., pl. -nooks, (esp. collectively) -nook. 1. a. a member of an American Indian people aboriginally inhabiting the N shore of the mouth of the Columbia River. b. a member of any of a group of peoples including the Chinook of the Columbia River mouth and related peoples to the S and W. c. either of two languages spoken by these peoples, one, now extinct, spoken on both sides of the Columbia estuary (Lower Chinook) and the other spoken W of the estuary ( Upper Chinook ). 2. (l.c.) a warm, dry wind that blows at intervals down the E slopes of the Rocky Mountains. Chi•nook′an, adj.	i don't know
Francis Walsingham was the spy-master of which monarch?	Francis Walsingham: Elizabethan Spymaster - British Heritage Travel Manage Subscription You are at: Home » Elizabeth I »Francis Walsingham: Elizabethan Spymaster Francis Walsingham's two great hates were Spain and Mary, Queen of Scots. Spain as a threat to his country and Mary as a threat to his Queen. Francis Walsingham: Elizabethan Spymaster Elizabeth I , Francis Walsingham , Mary Queen of Scots , Military Leaders Throughout Elizabeth I’s reign England was in constant danger both from external and internal threats. Spain and France looked north and regarded the country as heretical and a potential enemy to their expanding empires. At home, the supporters of Mary Tudor, the late Queen, looked to another Mary, the Queen of Scots, as a Catholic heir to replace the Protestant Elizabeth. In times of crisis a government needs good, accurate and reliable intelligence. That came from one man, Francis Walsingham, Elizabeth’s spymaster. Walsingham was the only son of William Walsingham of Footscray in Kent, by his wife Joyce, Daughter of Sir Edmund Denny, William died the year following Francis’ birth and his mother married Sir John Carey, a distant relation by marriage of Anne Boleyn’s family. Francis went to King’s College, Cambridge, in 1548, but left two years later having failed to take his degree. From 1550 to 1552 he traveled abroad and succeeded in becoming fluent in both French and Italian. Soon after he returned to England, Mary Tudor ascended throne and Francis found himself on the wrong side of the religious tracks. Fearing arrest for his outspoken Protestant views, he decided it prudent to return abroad. His mother’s family were strong Protestants and most of his tutors at Cambridge were of the same denomination, so he was a natural target for Mary and an equally natural supporter of her sister, Elizabeth. He is even thought to have been involved in a minor way in the anti-Catholic plots of John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, to place Lady Jane Grey on the throne. Over the next nine years he traveled extensively in Italy and central Europe, studying law and politics. The methods he learned at the various Italian Courts served him well in the years to come. By 1560, with Elizabeth as Queen, he was back in England and in 1562 was returned as Member of Parliament for Lyme Regis. That same year he married a widow, Ann Carteill but she died two years later, leaving him without children. In 1566 he married the widow of Sir Richard Worsley and by her he had a daughter, Frances. She later married Sir Philip Sydney and, after his death, Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex. At the age of 36, Francis came to the attention of Elizabeth’s first minister, William Cecil, who offered him a position at Court. He took charge of the small network of secret agent Cecil had established and so started 22 years of loyal, unswerving service to the Queen. Elizabeth nicknamed him her ‘Moor’ because of his swarthy complexion and habitual black clothing. She was occasionally his guest at his home in Surrey and although they did not always agree on policy, she trusted him implicitly. In 1570 Cecil sent him as ambassador to Paris where he was involved with the negotiations for several treaties. He was in the city when the Hugenots were murdered in the Massacre of St. Bartholomew on 24th August 1572, which reinforced his hatred of foreign Catholic regimes. He was recalled from Paris in 1573 and appointed Secretary of State, a post he held until his death. The modern-day equivalent would be Foreign Secretary and head of MI5 and 6. He was the Elizabethan ‘M.’ Walsingham’s two great hates were Spain and Mary, Queen of Scots; Spain as a threat to his country and Mary as a threat to his Queen. He was convinced that England could only be safe with the complete defeat of Spain and the removal of Mary. To this end he expanded the network of spies to more than 50 agents, many of them paid out of his own pocket. He soon had agents in the courts of France, Spain, the Low Countries, Germany, the United Provinces, and even Turkey. He was like a black spider at the center of a great web. Elizabeth was reluctant to move against her cousin, but Walsingham had no such qualms. Late in 1585 a trainee priest named Gilbert Gifford was intercepted coming from France through the port of Rye. He was taken to Walsingham who learned that Gifford was to act as messenger between Mary and her supporters on the Continent. Walsingham turned Gifford and persuaded him to work for the Government. He was to tell Mary that a system for smuggling letters and papers between her and Europe had been set up. In fact, the spymaster himself constructed this route so that all correspondence passed through his hands before it crossed the Channel. Walsingham’s secretary, Thomas Phelipps, was an expert code breaker so all Mary’s communications were monitored. In May 1586 Mary sent two letters, one to the Spanish ambassador, Mendoza, giving her support to an invasion of England. The other was to a supporter, Charles Paget, asking him to remind Phillip of Spain of the urgency for invasion. Both passed through Walsingham’s hands. The following month Sir Anthony Babington and a Catholic priest, John Ballard, were heard discussing the proposed Spanish invasion and the plot to murder Elizabeth. All this evidence still did not implicate Mary directly in a plot against Elizabeth. On 17th July Walsingham received what he had been waiting for–a letter, in reply to one from Babington, written by Mary and giving her approval to the plot to murder the Queen. Walsingham moved quickly. Ballard and Babington were arrested and placed in the Tower of London. Others implicated in the plot were rapidly placed under lock and key. On 13th September the conspirators were tried and condemned and a week later Babington, Ballard, and five others were dragged on hurdles to St. Giles Field, Holborn, where, in front of a large crowd, they were hanged, drawn, and quartered. Despite Walsingham’s proof, Elizabeth was still reluctant to take action against Mary. In October both Houses of Parliament demanded Mary’s head but Elizabeth would not sign. She even pleaded that some way be found to deal with Mary without the need for execution. Both Cecil, by now Lord Burghley, and Walsingham were determined that this should not happen. Together, with the support of the Council of State, they brought constant pressure on the Queen until she eventually signed the warrant on 1st February 1587. Her intention seems to have been to hold the signed warrant as a threat against Mary, but Walsingham would have none of it. At 8 o’clock on the morning of Wednesday, 8th February 1587 Mary, Queen of Scots, was executed in the Great Hall of Fotheringhay Castle. On Walsingham’s orders the body was stripped of all clothing–which was burned so that no relic survived–and encased in lead. When told of the execution, Elizabeth was furious. Both Walsingham and Cecil were in extreme danger from their monarch’s temper. She refused to see them and, for a while, Cecil dared not go to Court. Walsingham, meanwhile, was hard at work preparing for the inevitable invasion by Spain; an invasion that through the skill of English seamen and the luck of the weather, never came. Cecil acknowledged the debt England owed this worker behind the scenes when he said, ‘you have fought more with your pen than many here in our English navy with their enemies.’ Elizabeth was notoriously sparing with honours for her public servants. Only one, William Cecil, received a peerage. Francis Walsingham was knighted in 1577 and he received the honourary appointments of Chancellor of the Order of the Garter and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. When he died on 6th April 1590, the news was carried to Philip II of Spain via a letter from one of his agents in England. The agent wrote: ‘Secretary Walsingham has just expired, at which there is much sorrow.’ Philip commented in the margin of the letter, ‘There, yes. But it is good news here.’	Elizabeth I of England
Who was the last reigning Stuart monarch?	The Role of Walsingham in the Misnomered Babington Plot of 1586 THE ROLE OF WALSINGHAM IN THE MISNOMERED BABINGTON PLOT OF 1586 By Jacquelyn Lee Borgeson The reign of Queen Elizabeth I was as eventful as it was lengthy. Of the many intriguing conspiracies of that day, the Babington Plot remains the most controversial. It was not just another attempt by Catholic sympathizers to assassinate Elizabeth and place Mary, Queen of Scots, on the English throne. This plot was unique due to its origins rather than its nature. Contrary to popular belief, it was Principal Secretary Sir Francis Walsingham, not Anthony Babington, who instigated this scheme, nurtured it to maturity, and then cleverly concealed his involvement. Exactly how and perhaps why Walsingham came to play such an enormous role remains a great debate today. A presentation of this plot from its beginning to its discovery may show the extent of Walsingham's entanglement. The English situation in 1585, one year before even the first inkling of the Babington Plot, was precarious. The succession of anti-Elizabeth plots like the Throckmorton and Norfolk conspiracies had shown an immense dissention among the English people. (1) It had become apparent to the Protestant faction that a Catholic revival was gaining momentum in their country. (2) Elizabeth was in a rather awkward position. Besides her foreign disputes with both France and Spain, she had the former Scottish Queen Mary, her own cousin, under house arrest. International law forbade the peace-time imprisonment of one monarch by another. (3) Regardless of this fact, Elizabeth had kept Mary confined for over fifteen years. (4) Although there had been more than sufficient evidence to implicate Mary in several treasonous plots against the English Queen, Elizabeth steadfastly refused to have her executed. (5) Basically, the refusal to execute Mary was a political maneuver on Elizabeth's part. Few really know how Elizabeth regarded Mary personally, but she feared a Catholic uprising that would probably follow the beheading of the beloved Scottish sovereign. Also, Elizabeth knew that even the seemingly justifiable execution of another monarch would only weaken her own royal authoritarian status. (() (6)) Elizabeth's reluctance to execute Mary irritated her ministers, particularly Walsingham. The Principal Secretary had worked extremely hard at gathering enough evidence to convict Mary of treason, but Elizabeth kept putting him off. His frustration caused Walsingham to direct his anger towards Mary herself. He concluded that Mary was far too much of a menace to Protestantism and that as long as she lived, this "bosom serpent" would never cease her traitorous scheming. (7) Conspiracy was second nature to Mary, so Walsingham swore that the next time Mary gained the opportunity to plot, he would have knowledge of her internal strategy. Walsingham was not above using the same techniques as the conspirators to complete this "curious ambition" to dispose of Queen Mary. (8) This time, Walsingham was confident that the fruit of his labor would be the execution of Mary. Now when Walsingham, aided by fellow minister William Cecil, decided that Mary had to be eliminated, a historical controversy over the moral foundation of this action began. Many historians condemned Walsingham for what they perceived as his underhanded tactics. (9) Other sources applauded the Secretary's devotion to duty. (10) One supporter of Walsingham justified the Minister's actions by proclaiming that since Walsingham was a man "whose job it was to frustrate plots against his sovereign, we can hardly expect him to be more scrupulous than his adversaries." (11) Regardless of these moral issues surrounding the initiation of the Babington Plot, there was little doubt that Walsingham played a leading role in it. His first step was to gain absolute control over Mary. He had her moved from Tutbury, her prison for the last fifteen years, to the home of the Earl of Essex in Chartley. This sudden move did not raise Mary's suspicions because for years she had been practically begging for just such a transfer. Walsingham did not grant Mary's appeals out of the mere goodness of his heart. It was his belief that Mary had become too settled at Tutbury and had far too much contact with the outside world. From the secluded Chartley estate, Walsingham was assured of total access to all of Mary's communication. (12) Walsingham's next action was to convince Elizabeth to remove Lord Shrewsbury as Mary's guardian. Walsingham then hand-picked Sir Amias Paulet as the replacement warden. While Walsingham was quite pleased with this "precise fellow," he became alarmed when Paulet went above and beyond his expectations as jailer. (13) Paulet had guards posted day and night, had all leaves taken from Mary's staff, and even forced Mary to stop doling out food to the poor because he saw this as an opportunity to bribe them. (14) Although Walsingham did want Mary under close observation, he did not want her totally removed from her agents. If she had remained unable to actively conspire, Walsingham would never have obtained grounds for her execution. Thus the Secretary had to find a way that enabled Mary to have a monitored communication with her Catholic supporters. (15) To find a Machiavellian means to such an end, Walsingham called in his primary agent, Thomas Phelippes. (16) This man was an expert in penmanship and deciphering in Latin, French, Italian, as well as his native English. Walsingham sent him to Chartley with the mission of finding a means in which a controlled mail route could be established. (17) While Phelippes was groping about the dark passages of Chartley, Walsingham was enlisting another agent for his anti-Mary scenario. On rather trumped-up charges, Walsingham had a known Catholic sympathizer, Gilbert Gifford, arrested. (18) With persuasion, Walsingham convinced Gifford to work as a spy for him on the behalf of Elizabeth. Since Gifford had been an active Catholic spy for several years, Walsingham was wary of the man. To secure his loyalty, the Secretary had Gifford move onto Phelippes manor. This way, the Catholic double agent would be under surveillance at all times. He was sent shortly thereafter to Chartley to assist Phelippes. (19) Walsingham was always very concerned with having knowledge of what went on about him. He had an extensive spy network at his disposal long before he had launched plans for Mary into motion. (20) There was no place too sacred or too vile for Walsingham's business. He had either bought or placed spies in such diverse localities as the Roman Catholic Seminary at Rheims, France to the alcohol-drenched pubs of London. (21) It was from this bloated espionage organization that Walsingham selected several more skilled men to aid in his endeavors. The Secretary had just engaged Arthur Gregory, an expert at resealing opened letters, and Thomas Rogers, a master letter-stealer, when Phelippes and Gifford returned victorious from their Chartley quest. (22) They had jointly conceived of the perfect route which would allow Mary to smuggle her correspondence. (23) Their idea was to use the weekly beer deliveries to the castle as Mary's mail route. Phelippes had invented a waterproof tube in which letters could be concealed in the barrel's cork. (24) This crafty method appealed greatly to Walsingham, but he had trouble convincing the pious jailer Paulet of its advantages. Paulet only agreed to this plan after much persuasion by his friend Phelippes and grand assurances from Walsingham that none of his own men would have to be corrupted to complete the scheme. (25) With the warden's approval, Walsingham set about hiring men to enact this plan. The first employee was a brewer from Burton. This man, known only by the code name "The Honest Man," had previously run deliveries at Tutbury and held Mary's confidence. (26) The brewer was easily bought. Every week he was paid three times: once for his beer, once by Mary for his postman services, and yet again by Walsingham for that same duty. (27) Since Paulet refused to allow his people to contribute to Walsingham's plot, the Secretary was forced also to employ a man servant, simply known as "The Butler," whose job it was to take the letters from the keg to Mary's secretaries, Claude Nau and Lord Curll. (28) Through this mail circuit, Nau and Curll delivered the letters directly to Mary, aided her in ciphering replies, and returned these to the man servant. The letters were then sent to Walsingham. The Secretary read each letter, instructed Phelippes to make duplicates, and then sent the communications off on their true destinations. In this way Walsingham observed from the safety of his office, the birth of yet another conspiracy against his queen. (29) This mail system was officially established on January 12, 1586, when the French Ambassador to England, Chateaneuf, sent a harmless test letter to Mary. The Ambassador had been informed of the mail route by Gifford, who was financially rewarded for his duty to the Catholic cause. The Scottish Queen was overjoyed by the unexpected communication. Mary had been cut off so long from friends that she had begun to lose hope. After Mary's reply, Chateaneuf deemed the system secure enough to send Mary a two-year accumulation of various letters. Walsingham carefully inspected this surplus mail and found a letter that would suit his purpose. (30) The letter was from Thomas Morgan, Mary's personal agent in Paris. (31) In it he commended a young gentleman named Anthony Babington to Mary and insisted he would be loyal. Babington was an esquire in his mid-twenties who had been a known Catholic supporter since his early teens. The letter provoked Mary into writing Babington who had just returned from France to his Dethycke estate. This was precisely what Walsingham had intended. Even though she did not explicitly state her wish for the instigation of another Catholic plot, she did inform Babington that she would be grateful for his assistance in her escape. (32) Quite by chance, at the time Babington received Mary's letter, he was already composing one to her that outlined plans for her rescue. (33) Mary's letter added inspiration to his letter that blatantly hinted at the execution of Elizabeth by himself and six of his followers. With Elizabeth dead, Mary would have inherited the throne and the English people may have been returned to Catholicism. As incriminating as the letter was, Walsingham knew it would not be enough to convince Elizabeth that Mary's death was necessary. Hence Walsingham proceeded to add some fuel to the fire he had previously kindled. (34) Walsingham sent his spies to Paris and had them warn Morgan that Babington would not act until he had Mary's full approval. They thus instilled in Morgan the belief that it would be vital that Mary send written authorization before Babington would have the nerve to dispose of Elizabeth and place Mary on the English throne. (35) Morgan was very suspicious by this turn of events, but he knew that Mary would want to take the risk. Mary was so desperate by this time that nothing--not even the chopping block--would deter her from making plans to escape. Morgan therefore drafted a letter that Mary should write to Babington and sent it to her in early July of 1586. Mary copied this letter word for word and sent it on to Babington. (36) This was the letter Walsingham had been anticipating. Unfortunately for the Secretary's purposes, Morgan had produced a letter that would be sufficient to incite Babington, while at the same time avoiding direct implication of Mary. Babington had requested Mary's blessing for his so-called "tragical execution" of Elizabeth and for her solemn promise to reward him once she became Queen of England. (37) Mary's reply simply stated however, that while she wanted to have nothing to do with the murder, she would reward anyone who helped her escape, regardless of how said escape was enacted. (38) While this letter was not exactly what Walsingham desired, after thorough examination, he was able to find a phrase that could make it appear as though Mary was in direct violation of the Bond of Association. This bond, including the Act for the Security of the Queen's Royal Person, and the Continuence of the Realm of Peace that shortly followed it, were the edge Walsingham had over Mary. Under these pieces of legislation, anyone who participated in or merely sanctioned an attack upon Elizabeth could be tried for treason, regardless of royal status. (39) All Walsingham had to do was prove that Babington and his cohorts were bent on regicide and then show the connection between them and Mary. The phrase Walsingham plucked from Mary's letter was her suggestion that once the foreign troops had been prepared, "then shall it be time to set the six gentlemen to work." (40) Since the only work these bored noblemen had planned was the assassination of Elizabeth, Walsingham was positive he could ensnare Mary with his technicality. In this way, guilt by association would be the end of Mary and her death would have little or no effect on Elizabeth's royal power. (41) While Walsingham was weaving his web, Babington was quite caught up in the romantic fantasy he had conjured in his youthful head. Babington failed to see the risk of his exploits. He saw only the fame, fortune, and even the Catholic satisfaction that would follow Mary's ascent to the throne. As Walsingham gleefully sifted through every incriminating document Phelippes had produced from the conspiratorial correspondence, Babington and his accomplice were sitting for a portrait that they believed would one day serve "as a memorial of so worthy an act." (42) Having shuffled soundly through his collection of evidence, Walsingham discovered that one detail was missing. He needed the names of the conspirators written on paper. (43) Such printed evidence would have held up nicely in a court of law. The method in which Walsingham intended to gather this damning testimony was such that even his most ardent supporters could not pass off as mere duty to the crown. Walsingham instructed Phelippes to attach a post-script to Mary's letter to Babington which requested him to provide all the names of his fellow conspirators. Walsingham was banking on Phelippes superb forgery to present him with what would be as good as a written confession from these men. (44) Babington received the altered version of Mary's letter on July 29, 1586. Before he was able to reply, the plot became common knowledge and Walsingham was forced to order the arrests of the conspirators. It is unclear how news of the plots detection leaked, but Babington fled on August 4, moments after witnessing the arrest of his foremost partner in the conspiracy, John Ballard. (45) Before fleeing, Babington burned all his personal and public correspondence. He was discovered and arrested ten days later in St. John's Wood. (46) By the end of August, seventeen men and one woman had been arrested and sent to the Tower. (47) Mary was not arrested, but she was sent from Chartley to reside at the estate of a hunting acquaintance while all her private papers were confiscated. The secretaries Nau and Curll were quietly taken into custody following Mary's departure. (48) With the arrests completed and the confessions pouring out of the prisoners, it was time for Walsingham to do the most ingenious of all his plotting. It was essential that Walsingham's part in this scheme not be discovered. If the general public had been aware that Elizabeth's minister, with her full consent, had a hand in this plot, sympathy for Queen Mary would have been generated. Elizabeth would not have been able then to order her execution for fear of a civil war erupting. Elizabeth commanded Walsingham "to keep to himself the depth and mannor [sic] of the discovery." (49) To follow the orders of his Queen, Walsingham had to use more deceitful tactics to conceal his earlier questionable actions. His major concern was the discrepancy that would arise in the confessions due to Phelippes frauded postscript. (50) Babington had already been asked to write Mary's reply as best he could. He did a remarkable accurate job. Too accurate for Walsingham because his statement included the post-script. There was no way Walsingham could use Babington's confession in this form. Nau, Curll, and Mary would have cried forgery the moment they saw it at the trial. Some type of alteration was definitely deemed necessary here by the Principal Secretary. (51) Forging the entire confession was out of the question. Although Phelippes possessed the finesse required of the task, the risk of discovery while carrying out the swap was just too high. (52) Walsingham concluded that it would be safer to help Babington forget the post-script. Walsingham went personally to compliment Babington on his "exceptional" memory. However, Walsingham implied that the court would be much more pleased if he could only recall those first passages in more detail. Babington, ecstaticjust to be off the painful rack and now given hope forjudicial leniency for his cooperation, promised to try and remember every word of the mentioned sections. (53) It was in this manner that Babington played squarely into Walsingham's hand. He concentrated so hard on the details of the first few paragraphs, that Babington hastily wrote the remainder, this time excluding the post-script. Here was Walsingham's golden opportunity to corrupt the authenticity of evidence and absolutely clear his involvement. He quickly had the statement processed and it became officially documented as an exhibit in the trial. (54) Another deception Walsingham employed, for the sole purpose of completing his goal of leading Mary to the block, was convincing Mary's secretaries that the court had possession of all Mary's and Babington's correspondence. He used Babington's sworn confession as well as several of Phelippes copies to pull off this charade. Once Curll and Nau believed the originals were intact, they were more willing to confess to Mary's involvement in the conspiracy and less concerned with asking questions that Walsingham was not quite prepared to answer. (55) Babington, Baliard and five others were put to death in rather cruel fashion on September 18, 1586. (56) Elizabeth had ordered the unusually drawn out ordeal of execution mainly because she held no respect for those men whose project it had been to kill her. Rather than simply hanging the men until they were dead, she had requested that the traditional method of executing traitors, the disembowelment and burning of the visceral organs, come before the hanging. The English people were so disgusted by this act of barbarism, that Elizabeth ordered the remaining seven to be dealt with more swiftly. (57) Even with all the evidence Walsingham laid before Elizabeth, she still resisted the notion of bringing Mary to trial. The English Queen had hoped that her subjects would be content with the deaths of the other conspirators and that perhaps once more the burden of issuing Mary's execution would be lifted from her. Elizabeth was still fearful of the repercussions the execution of another monarch could have on her kingdom. (58) Walsingham was as determined, as Elizabeth was reluctant, to have Mary tried. After carefully persuading Elizabeth that it was the people's wish that justice be served, Walsingham was finally able to bring Mary to a public trial on October 14, 1586. It was at this trial that Walsingham publicly announced his personal view of his accomplishments. As Mary charged him with trickery and foul play, Walsingham straight-facedly proclaimed "I call God to record that as a private person I have done nothing unbeseeming an honest man, nor as I bear the place of a public person, have I done anything unworthy of my place." (59) Mary was accused of treason, a verdict of guilty was read, and a sentence of death was placed on the Scottish Queen. Elizabeth had specifically ordered that the court was to find Mary not guilty, but the Council went against her wishes. Even with this decision, Elizabeth continued to delay the execution. Finally, Walsingham and William Cecil, the chief judge at Mary's trial, went behind Elizabeth's back and pushed her signed death warrant through the Council. (60) Mary, Queen of Scots, was beheaded on February 8, 1587. (61) Outwardly this action infuriated Elizabeth. She temporarily banished both ministers and several councilmen from her presence, but she began receiving them again as soon as it became clear that there would be no Catholic revolt in Mary's honor. (62) Walsingham's flair at second guessing the opposition made him an indispensable minister in Elizabeth's court. Walsingham had received the position of Principal Secretary in 1573. From that time, he was able to defeat every plot that formed against his Queen. (63) While Walsingham's motives and doubtful morality still raise strong controversies among historians, there is no question that he played a larger role in the Babington Plot than did the gentleman for which it has been named. Although Babington and Mary were both very conspiratorial, full credit for the concoction of this particular plot rests solely with Sir Francis Walsingham. ENDNOTES 1. The Throckmorton and Norfolk plots of the early 1580's were highly complicated undertakings. Francis Throckmorton was a young, romantic Catholic supporter who had been caught up a bit too strongly in the spirit of revival. He was captured with an incriminating letter suggesting his part in a plot to murder Elizabeth. He was submitted to the rack and confessed to the Scottish Queen's involvement. He was put to death while Mary was not even tried. Lord Norfolk was involved in a plot with Mary, but more for political reasons than religious. When the plot was detected, Norfolk was hanged and once more Mary avoided prosecution. See. J.E. Neale, Elizabeth I and Her Parliament: 1584-1601 (London: Jonathan Cape, 1957), 106. 2. Herbert Sherman German, The Scottish Queen New York: Farrar and Rinehart, 1932), 448. 3. Stefan Zweig, Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles (New York: Viking, 1935), 358.	i don't know
Which sculptor was refused entry to the French Academy three times?	Francois-Auguste-René Rodin Biography, Art, and Analysis of Works \| The Art Story Web Services & Hosting by The Computer Studio \| Designed by DesArtLab The French Salon The French Salon The Salon was a biannual Paris exhibition that, in the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, became the most important regular exhibition in Europe. Initially restricted to members of the French Academy, it was later opened up; however, it remained strongly associated with the Academy's conservatism, and this eventually encouraged artists to exhibit outside of its confines. Claude Monet Claude Monet Claude Monet was a French artist who helped pioneer the painterly effects and emphasis on light, atmosphere, and plein air technique that became hallmarks of Impressionism. He is especially known for his series of haystacks and cathedrals at different times of day, and for his late Waterlilies. Honore de Balzac Honore de Balzac Honore de Balzac was a nineteenth-century French novelist and playwright, and is considered among the founders of European literary realism. One of the most prolific writers in history, Balzac carefully documented city life in Paris and the French people (in fictional form) following the end of Napoleon Bonaporte's reign in 1815. Balzac is still considered among the most influential literary figures in modern history. Henri Matisse Henri Matisse Henri Matisse was a French painter and sculptor who helped forge modern art. From his early Fauvist works to his late cutouts, he emphasized expansive fields of color, the expressive potential of gesture, and the sensuality inherent in art-making. Cubism Cubism Cubism was developed by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque between 1907-1911, and it continued to be highly influential long after its decline. 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The Impressionists were drawn to modern life and often painted the city, but they also captured landscapes and scenes of middle-class leisure-taking in the suburbs. Michelangelo Antonioni Michelangelo Antonioni Michelangelo Antonioni was an Italian avant-garde filmmaker. He favored themes that focused on the alienation of man in the modern world, and used long, unedited takes in many of his films. His best known work is the 1966 film Blowup, starring David Hemmings and Vanessa Redgrave. Umberto Boccioni Umberto Boccioni Umberto Boccioni was an Italian painter and sculptor. Like the other Futurists, his work centered on the portrayal of movement (dynamism), speed, and technology. After moving to Milan in 1907, he became acquainted with the Futurists, including the famous poet Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, and became one of the movement's main theorists. 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Its artists turned away from effects of light and atmosphere to explore new avenues such as color theory and personal feeling, often using colors and forms in intense and expressive ways. Expressionism Expressionism Expressionism is a broad term for a host of movements in early twentieth-century Germany and beyond, from Die Brücke (1905) and Der Blaue Reiter (1911) to the early Neue Sachlichkeit painters in the 1920s and '30s. Many Expressionists used vivid colors and abstracted forms to create spiritually or psychologically intense works, while others focused on depictions of war, alienation, and the modern city.	Auguste Rodin
Which sculptress died in an accidental fire at her Trewyn studios in 1975?	Francois-Auguste-René Rodin Biography, Art, and Analysis of Works \| The Art Story Web Services & Hosting by The Computer Studio \| Designed by DesArtLab The French Salon The French Salon The Salon was a biannual Paris exhibition that, in the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, became the most important regular exhibition in Europe. Initially restricted to members of the French Academy, it was later opened up; however, it remained strongly associated with the Academy's conservatism, and this eventually encouraged artists to exhibit outside of its confines. Claude Monet Claude Monet Claude Monet was a French artist who helped pioneer the painterly effects and emphasis on light, atmosphere, and plein air technique that became hallmarks of Impressionism. He is especially known for his series of haystacks and cathedrals at different times of day, and for his late Waterlilies. Honore de Balzac Honore de Balzac Honore de Balzac was a nineteenth-century French novelist and playwright, and is considered among the founders of European literary realism. One of the most prolific writers in history, Balzac carefully documented city life in Paris and the French people (in fictional form) following the end of Napoleon Bonaporte's reign in 1815. Balzac is still considered among the most influential literary figures in modern history. Henri Matisse Henri Matisse Henri Matisse was a French painter and sculptor who helped forge modern art. From his early Fauvist works to his late cutouts, he emphasized expansive fields of color, the expressive potential of gesture, and the sensuality inherent in art-making. Cubism Cubism Cubism was developed by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque between 1907-1911, and it continued to be highly influential long after its decline. This classic phase has two stages: 'Analytic', in which forms seem to be 'analyzed' and fragmented; and 'Synthetic', in which pre-existing materials such as newspaper and wood veneer are collaged to the surface of the canvas. Futurism Futurism Futurism was the most influential Italian avant-garde movement of the twentieth century. Dedicated to the modern age, it celebrated speed, movement, machinery and violence. At first influenced by Neo-Impressionism, and later by Cubism, some of its members were also drawn to mass culture and nontraditional forms of art. Symbolism Symbolism Symbolism is an artistic and literary movement that first emerged in France in the 1880s. In the visual arts it is often considered part of Post-Impressionism. It is characterized by an emphasis on the mystical, romantic and expressive, and often by the use of symbolic figures. Michelangelo Michelangelo Michelangelo was a Renaissance artist working in Italy in the sixteenth century. Although first a sculptor, he is perhaps best known for his large-scale painted frescos in the Sistine Chapel in Rome. Donatello Donatello Famed Renaissance sculptor Donatello was known particularly for his bas-relief sculptures, which he created primarily in Florence, Italy. His bronze David, commissioned for Palazzo Medici, is one of his most famous works. Antoine-Louis Barye Antoine-Louis Barye Paris-born sculptor Antoine-Louis Barye worked in the nineteenth century Romantic period, producing numerous sculptural studies of animals such as "Tiger Devouring a Crocodile" and "Lion of the Column of July." Emile Zola Emile Zola Emile Zola was a nineteenth-century French novelist, playwright, essayist and political activist. He was also the self-proclaimed leader of literary French Naturalism. As one of the leading cultural figures in France, Zola was close with the likes of Manet and Cézanne, and was the favorite writer of Vincent van Gogh. Octave Mirbeau Octave Mirbeau Mirbeau was a French journalist, art critic and novelist. Known for his anarchist views and existential novels, he also supported artists such as Auguste Rodin, Claude Monet, and other Impressionist and Post-Impressionist artists. Greek sculpture Greek sculpture Classical sculpture was marked by a focus on the human form. For the first time in human history, Greek art showed the human form nude, poses frozen in action. The surviving sculptures have influenced artists past and present. Renaissance Renaissance In the Renaissance, artists rediscovered techniques like rational space, three-point perspective, and plastic forms. Paintings frequently emphasized the human figure, allegory, classical mythology, and Christian themes. Impressionism Impressionism A movement in painting that first surfaced in France in the 1860s, it sought new ways to describe effects of light and movement, often using rich colors. The Impressionists were drawn to modern life and often painted the city, but they also captured landscapes and scenes of middle-class leisure-taking in the suburbs. Michelangelo Antonioni Michelangelo Antonioni Michelangelo Antonioni was an Italian avant-garde filmmaker. He favored themes that focused on the alienation of man in the modern world, and used long, unedited takes in many of his films. His best known work is the 1966 film Blowup, starring David Hemmings and Vanessa Redgrave. Umberto Boccioni Umberto Boccioni Umberto Boccioni was an Italian painter and sculptor. Like the other Futurists, his work centered on the portrayal of movement (dynamism), speed, and technology. After moving to Milan in 1907, he became acquainted with the Futurists, including the famous poet Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, and became one of the movement's main theorists. Raymond Duchamp-Villon Raymond Duchamp-Villon Duchamp-Villon and three of the other five Duchamp children, including Marcel Duchamp, became famous artists. Duchamp-Villon was a self-taught French sculptor. He served as a juror in the Salon d'Automne in 1907 and helped promote the Cubist movement. He died in 1916 of typhoid fever. Camille Claudel Camille Claudel Claudel was a French sculptor who studied at the Academie Colarossi and became Auguste Rodin's studio assistant, muse, model, and lover. She is known for her expressive sculpture, more classical in style than Rodin. Some of her sculptures, including The Mature Age, are autobiographical. Rainer Maria Rilke Rainer Maria Rilke Rilke was an Austrian poet and art critic. Inspired by Greek mythology, but also focusing on the human characteristics of the divine, he is considered a transitional figure from traditional to modern poetry. He was friends, and for a time, secretary to Auguste Rodin in Paris. Loie Fuller Loie Fuller Fuller was born near Chicago, Illinois, and quickly began a career in the performance arts as a child actress and burlesque dancer. By 1892 she had moved to Paris, where she became known as a pioneer of modern dance and theatrical lighting. Her trademark was the use of undulating fabrics and inventive stage lighting to create a sense of swirling light. Judith Cladel Judith Cladel Cladel was a French writer, best known as Auguste Rodin's biographer and friend. She promoted his work and exhibitions, and petitioned for the creation of a Musée Rodin. Post-Impressionism Post-Impressionism Post-Impressionism refers to a number of styles that emerged in reaction to Impressionism in the 1880s. The movement encompassed Symbolism and Neo-Impressionism before ceding to Fauvism around 1905. Its artists turned away from effects of light and atmosphere to explore new avenues such as color theory and personal feeling, often using colors and forms in intense and expressive ways. Expressionism Expressionism Expressionism is a broad term for a host of movements in early twentieth-century Germany and beyond, from Die Brücke (1905) and Der Blaue Reiter (1911) to the early Neue Sachlichkeit painters in the 1920s and '30s. Many Expressionists used vivid colors and abstracted forms to create spiritually or psychologically intense works, while others focused on depictions of war, alienation, and the modern city.	i don't know
Who wrote the songs Camptown Races and Jeanie With The Light Brown Hair?	Jeanie with the light brown hair - The Accompaniment Company Piano Accompaniments and Sheet Music for Art Song and Opera The Accompaniment Company Piano Accompaniments and Sheet Music for Art Song and Opera Words and Music: Stephen Collins Foster (1826-1864) Jeanie with the light brown hair is a sweet, pastoral, ode of love most likely written for Foster’s wife Jane. A flowing melody and simple accompaniment augment the American essence of this song: melodic and harmonic usage foreshadow the easily recognizable compositions of another great American composer - Aaron Copland. The music seems to be the sound of the American country frontier. Did you notice that Foster wrote both the music and the words? Stephen Collins Foster, the “father of American music”, composed many songs that are etched into the musical memory of every American, as they are heard everywhere. Songs like Oh Susanna, Camptown Races, and My Old Kentucky Home. Foster wrote close to 200 songs. Sadly, he died tragically early at the age of 37. Who knows what more masterful output we would have today had he lived a long life! The purity of his compositional style is unmistakable and legendary indeed.	Stephen Foster
According to the old advert which beer ‘refreshes the parts other beers can’t reach’?	American Dreamer: The Songs of Stephen Foster - Thomas Hampson \| Songs, Reviews, Credits \| AllMusic American Dreamer: The Songs of Stephen Foster AllMusic Rating google+ AllMusic Review by Tim Sheridan Foster was the father of the popular song, and his music is indelibly stamped in the nation's consciousness. It is hard to believe that one man wrote "Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair," "Camptown Races," "Beautiful Dreamer," and the heartbreaking "Hard Times Come Again No More." That's why this recording of his music is so special. Rather than drowning the tunes in full orchestration, a simple outfit of fiddle, piano and guitar accompanies Hampson's superb voice. It seems this is as close as we can come to realizing the the original style of this music. Due credit should be given to Jay Ungar , who provides excellent musical direction and violin playing. Track Listing	i don't know
Which show jumper achieved success on Mister Softee?	Horses \| British Horse Society Share this Twitter FaceBook Arko III Arko III, a handsome bay stallion ridden by Nick Skelton, represented Great Britain in showjumping at both the European Championships and the Athens Olympics. Arko III won a clutch of Grand Prix titles and, in 2004, was named British Showjumping’s International Horse of the Year. He was also awarded the Leading Nations Cup Horse and Leading Horse titles in 2005 and won the Global Champions Tour Grand Prix in 2007. Be Fair Be Fair won Badminton with Lucinda Green in 1973. Beethoven Beethoven was an Irish 16hh brown gelding owned by Douglas Bunn and ridden by Douglas and by David Broome. Sired by the thoroughbred stallion Roi d’Egypte out of an Irish draught mare called Fanny, Beethoven was purchased as an unbroken three-year-old in 1961 by Jack Bamber. Sold on to Douglas Bunn he quickly proved his potential as a showjumper by winning the Foxhunter championship at the Horse of the Year Show as a four-year-old in 1962. David Broome took over the ride in 1968 and they quickly established a successful partnership by winning the Derby Trial and the Embassy Grand Prix at Hickstead and a speed class in Dublin. They won the Toronto Grand Prix in 1965, the World Championship Gold Medal in La Baule in 1970 and made 12 Nations Cup appearances. Big Star Described by Nick Skelton as 'The best horse I have ever ridden' and with a glittering career, Big Star lived up to his name as part of the Gold-winning Great Britain showjumping team at the 2012 London Olympics. The stallion is owned by Gary and Beverley Widdowson. Colton Maelstrom Colton Maelstrom was arguably the most prolific winner of pony showjumping classes in the world, racking up more than 250 career victories and earning in excess of £50,000 in annual winnings. She went to her first European Championships in 1994 and then attended 12 consecutive championships, winning three individual gold, eight team gold, one individual silver and one team silver medals, with six different riders. She also won the Junior Showjumper of the Year three times, had six career wins at the Hickstead Derby and was five times Pony of the Year Grand Prix winner. In international events Colton Maelstrom represented Britain with an unrivalled record of clear rounds between 1994 and 2005. She had more than 30 international wins and led Britain to Nations Cup Victories on many occasions. In 2004, at the age of 17, she was the leading pony in Britain and took home the highest annual winnings of her career. Cornishman V Cornishman won double Olympic team gold medals in eventing – in 1968 with Richard Meade and in 1972 with Mary Gordon-Watson. The only non-human Olympic medallist to pursue a successful film career, Cornishman V appeared in Dead Cert (1974), based on a Dick Francis novel, and International Velvet (1978). Doublet Doublet won the 1971 European Three Day Eventing Championships at Burghley with HRH The Princess Royal. They also finished fifth at Badminton Horse Trials in 1971. Dutch Courage Dutch Courage was bronze medallist at the 1978 World Dressage Championships. Everest Forever Everest Forever became one of the great showjumping horses, although his career in Britain almost didn't get off the ground. Ted Edgar went to Germany in 1976 to see some horses at a leading yard but Everest Forever was almost not included, as he had recently had a wind operation. Ted bought him nonetheless. The 17hh chestnut gelding represented Great Britain in 19 Nations Cup teams between 1979 and 1986, and at the 1981 European Championships. Everest Forever chalked up winnings of almost £190,000. His victories included Queen Elizabeth II Cups in 1979, 1981 and 1982, the 1980 Hickstead Grand Prix, the 1980 Aachen Grand Prix, and Royal Windsor in 1983 when he helped Liz Edgar to her fourth ladies championship. Foxhunter Foxhunter, an imposing bright bay gelding, was a six-year-old novice showjumper when Colonel Harry Llewellyn bought him. Remarkably, just one year later, the partnership won a bronze medal at the 1948 London Olympics. The pair then went on to represent Great Britain again at the 1952 Olympics, winning the team’s only gold medal. During their career together, Foxhunter and Harry Llewellyn won a staggering 78 international competitions and remain the only partnership to have won the coveted King George V Cup three times. High and Mighty High and Mighty won Badminton Horse Trials in 1957 and 1958 with Shelia Wilcox. King's Warrior King’s Warrior was a triple winner of the Horse of the Year Show Hunter Championship. Merely a Monarch Merely a Monarch was winner of Burghley Horse Trials in 1961 and Badminton Horse Trials in 1962 with Anneli Drummond-Hay. He won Badminton and an international showjumping Grand Prix within months of each other. Merely a Monarch helped launch Anneli Drummond-Hay onto the international scene and was short-listed in all three Olympic disciplines. He was voted in a L’annee Hippique worldwide poll as one of the best 50 horses of the century. Milton Milton, a 16.3hh grey gelding, was bought by Caroline Bradley as a six-month-old foal and taken on by John Whitaker following Caroline’s tragic death. During his international career, Milton and John won almost every domestic and international showjumping accolade. Together they achieved European team gold medals in 1987 and 1989, and European individual gold in 1989. Milton was retired in at the 1994 Olympia International Horse Show, sparking an emotional response from the audience. He was the only horse outside of racing to win more than £1 million. Mister Softee Mister Softee was one of the most prolific showjumping horses of his time. His first major success on the world stage was at the European Championships in 1962 where he won individual gold with David Barker. In 1965 the ride passed to David Broome and over the following years the partnership amassed a remarkable record of successes. Mister Softee helped David to numerous victories, including the King George V Gold Cup at the Royal International Horse Show and the Hickstead Jumping Derby in 1966 where they produced the only clear round of that year. The pair won consecutive Dublin Grand Prix titles in 1967 and 1968 and individual gold at the 1967 and 1969 European Championships. Perhaps their greatest moment was at the Mexico Olympics in 1968 where they won the individual bronze medal. Mistral Hojris Together with Laura Tomlinson (née Bechtolsheimer), Mistral Hojris represented Great Britain at both the 2008 Beijing Olympics (finishing sixth) and the 2012 London Olympics (winning Team Gold and Individual Bronze). He was retired in 2013. Nizefela Nizefela was easily identified by his famous ‘kick back’ over a fence – a sure sign that he was on form! He was known as the cornerstone of the British showjumping team and described by former BSJA Chairman Colonel Harry Llewellyn as a horse who was as "steady as a rock" and "jumps big and clean". The bay gelding, bred in Lincolnshire, was owned and ridden by the great Wilfred White, and it was on him that Wilf achieved many of his greatest victories. Nizefela helped Britain to win its only gold medal at the Helsinki Olympics in 1952, and was a member of the Olympic bronze medal-winning team in Stockholm in 1956. In total Nizefela represented Britain in a dozen victorious Nations Cup teams. He is rightly regarded as one of the greatest horses in the history of showjumping. Over To You Over To You won eight medals for Britain with Jeanette Brakewell, making him the most medalled event horse in the world. Known as ‘Jack’, his medal tally included four European team gold medals, two Olympic team silver medals, a World team bronze medal, and an individual World silver medal. Over To You also finished five times in the top ten at Badminton Horse Trials, and recorded a British Eventing points tally of 2,170 which is unlikely to be surpassed. British team manager Yogi Breisner said: “Over To You is poetry in motion across country. They threw away the mould when they made him.” Penwood Forge Mill Penwood Forge Mill was hugely popular during the time of his career and remains one of Britain’s best loved showjumpers. His early successes included winning the Grand Prix in Ostend and coming second in the Nations Cup competitions at Ostend, Rotterdam and Geneva in 1971. In the following year, he came second in the Nations Cup in Rome, before achieving a win in London. He then went on to win back-to-back Nations Cups in 1977 and 1978. Penwood Forge Mill also won the European Championships, the King George V Gold Cup and the Horse and Hound Cup within six days! Pretty Polly Pretty Polly, foaled in 2001, was an outstanding racehorse and broodmare who 22 of 24 starts, including fifteen consecutive races. Priceless Priceless was a prolific event horse, ridden by British Eventer Virginia ‘Ginny’ Leng during the 1980s. Together the pair amassed a list of achievements including team and individual gold medals at the 1985 and 1987 European Championships and again at the World Championships in Gawler, Australia in 1986, as well as Olympic team silver and individual bronze in Los Angeles in 1984. Priceless also partnered Ginny to wins at both Badminton and Burghley Horse Trials. A fast and careful jumper, Priceless never refused or incurred a single penalty across country. Primmore’s Pride Primmore’s Pride became the first horse to take all three four-star eventing titles consecutively. With his rider, Pippa Funnell, he won Badminton, Burghley and Lexington Horse Trials, and picked up an individual bronze and team silver medal at the Athens Olympics. Ryan’s Son Ryan’s Son was born in 1968 and at the age of five was bought by Malcolm Barr and his future son-in-law, John Whitaker, for £2,500. The bay Irish-bred gelding formed a strong and prosperous partnership with John Whitaker, winning more than £250,000 during the course of his prestigious career. Ryan’s Son was one of the most prominent showjumpers of his time. In 1980 at the ‘Alternative’ Olympics, Ryan’s Son took the silver medal in the team and individual events, going on to win another silver at the 1984 Olympics. He also won the coveted Cock o’the North Championship in 1975 at the Great Yorkshire Show and the Hickstead Derby in 1983. Other major wins include the Midland Bank Great Northern Championship, the Bass Grand National, the Everest Double Glazing Championship, and the King George V Gold Cup. He was a winner at the Royal International Horse Show, Horse of the Year Show and Olympia and was the leading national money winner four times (1976, 1978, 1979 and 1983). In 1980, Ryan's Son won the Irish Horse Board's prize for the best horse bred in Ireland. In his career, he jumped nine double clear rounds in Nations Cups. Sefton Sefton was a Household Cavalry horse who survived the IRA bombings in London in 1982. He underwent eight hours of surgery and became a household name. He was 19 years old at the time of the bombings and received much media attention and concern from members of the public. Sefton was retired to The Home of Rest for Horses shortly after and stayed there until 1993. He became incurably lame from the injuries he suffered and was put to sleep at the age of 30. Sefton’s legacy remains intact through The British Horse Society Sefton Awards, set up in 1984, and the Sefton Equine Referral Unit, which is based at the Royal Veterinary College. Household Cavalry tradition dictates that horses' names are re-used, which ensures that Sefton’s memory will live on. Shear H20 Shear H2O was ridden by Leslie Law to team silver in the eventing at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and team gold at the 2001 European Championships. When he retired he had amassed a total of 1,871 British Eventing points. Stroller Stroller is undoubtedly one of the most famous ponies of all time. Despite standing only 14.2hh, he was able to compete and win against much bigger horses in international showjumping. Stroller and his rider, Marion Coakes, first achieved success as part of the victorious junior European Championship team in 1963. Despite attempts to move her onto horses, Marion refused to part with the courageous pony. He was only the third horse to jump a clear at the Hickstead Derby in 1964 and in 1965, Stroller helped Marion to secure the title of Ladies’ World Champion. Two years later, the pair won the Hickstead Derby. Stroller and Marion’s greatest achievement was perhaps their medal at the 1968 Mexico Olympics: the first individual silver to be won by a woman at the Olympic Games. The Poacher The Poacher was one of the greatest event horses of his era. He was considered the backbone of the British teams that between 1967 and 1971 won Olympic gold, World gold and three consecutive European gold medals. Partnered by his owner, Captain Martin Whiteley, he won Little Badminton in 1965 and individual silver in the European Championships at Punchestown in 1967. Martin Whiteley then generously handed over The Poacher to the Combined Training Committee (the equivalent of British Eventing at that time) for the selectors to use as they wished for the British team. In 1968, The Poacher finished fifth in the Mexico Olympics with Sergeant Ben Jones, being last to go in the team and having to cope with the worst of the going after a violent tropical storm. In 1970 he was partnered with Richard Meade and together they won Badminton, team gold and individual silver at the World Championships in Punchestown, the National Championships at Wylye and team gold in the European Championships at Burghley before The Poacher went back to Martin Whiteley to retire to the hunting field. Tosca Tosca, a grey Irish mare of unknown breeding and named after the Puccini opera, was partnered by Pat Smythe. Together, they achieved the distinction of being the first combination to head the list of national showjumping winners for two consecutive seasons. Purchased very cheaply, Tosca was used as a hunt horse and was notoriously headstrong and ‘mareish’, but this did not affect her ability. Her first showjumping appearance was in 1951, and she was quickly upgraded, becoming the biggest winner in the country in 1952 and 1953. Tosca and Pat were also part of the winning Prince of Wales Cup team, and Pat was the first woman to be selected to compete in the Nations Cup. Toytown Toytown, affectionately nicknamed 'Noddy', had a truly remarkable career in eventing, helping Zara Phillips win both World and European titles. Their debut for the British Team at the 2005 European Championships, where they won Individual and Team Gold, was undoubtedly one of their finest performances. Toytown won the hearts of the home crowd at Blenheim Palace as he battled his way through torrential rain to complete a clear round cross-country that was as brave as it was magnificent. Valegro Known at home as 'Blueberry', the 16.2hh Dutch Warmblood gelding has partnered Charlotte Dujardin to world-beating success on many an occasion, including Gold in both the Team and Individual tables at the 2012 London Olympics. In 2013, Charlotte and Valegro also became European Champions at Herning. Later that year, the combination set a new world record of 93.975% at Olympia before improving on this at Olympia 2014 with 94.3%. 2014 also saw them become double world champions by taking the Grand Prix Special and Grand Prix Freestyle at the World Equestrian Games. Valegro is jointly owned by Carl Hester MBE and Roly Luard. Where your money goes	David Broome
Who wrote the songs Keep The Home Fires Burning and We’ll Gather Lilacs?	Arksey Village, A History: June 2012 Arksey Village, A History David Broome on Mister Softee at the 1968 Mexico Olympics Ice Cream and Horses How many of us I wonder, ran from our houses yelling "Can I have one Mum?" whenever we heard the distinctive chimes of the Mister Softee ice cream van. With its blue and white livery, the van was always a welcome sight on a hot day. Although American by origin, Mister Softee ice cream came to have a strong connection to Bentley, and one local catering firm that many of us know well, that of Massarella. An Italian family who settled in South Yorkshire and prospered in the catering and distribution business. What might not be so well remembered is the link the Massarella family had with international show jumping. Their aptly named horse, Mister Softee brought the family as much success as the ice cream did. Here is a brief look at their equestrian story. A Horse Named Mister Softee David Broome on Mister Softee In the 1960's John Massarella bought a young horse at the Dublin Horse Show. Named after their ice cream franchise, Mister Softee had a glittering career in the world of championship show-jumping. He won a Gold at the European Championships in 1962 with David Barker, but it was his partnership with David Broome that amassed the most successes. Winning the King George V Gold Cup and the British Jumping Derby in 1966, they also won consecutive Dublin Grand Prix titles in 1967 and 1968. They also won Individual Gold at the 1967 and 1969 European Championships. Undoubtedly their greatest moment came when they won Olympic Bronze in Mexico in 1968, just two fences short of Gold. Mister Softee was stabled at John Massarellas' farm in Almholme where he shared a paddock with his best friend, a donkey, who accompanied Mister Softee whenever he travelled. David Broome on Mister Softee	i don't know
In which county of Ireland would you find Blarney Castle, home of the Blarney Stone?	Blarney \| Ireland \| Britannica.com Blarney Drogheda Blarney, Irish An Bhlarna, village, County Cork , Ireland , 5 miles (8 km) northwest of Cork city, famous for Blarney Castle (c. 1446). Below the battlements on the southern wall of the castle is the Blarney Stone, reputed to confer eloquence on those who kiss it; this feat can be achieved only by hanging head downward. “Blarney” as an expression of dubiousness is attributed to Elizabeth I of England, who used it when impugning the worth of Lord Blarney’s promises. Blarney lies in wooded country. Tweed is manufactured there, as also are polypropylene sacks. Pop. (2002) 2,146; (2011) 2,437. Blarney Castle, County Cork, Ireland. G.F. Allen-Bruce Coleman Cork (county, Ireland) county in the province of Munster, southwestern Ireland. The largest county in Ireland, Cork is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean (south) and by Counties Waterford and Tipperary (east), Limerick (north), and Kerry (west). The county seat, Cork city, in the south-central part of the county, is... Cork (Ireland) seaport and seat of County Cork, in the province of Munster, Ireland. It is located at the head of Cork Harbour on the River Lee. Cork is, after Dublin, the Irish republic’s second largest conurbation. The city is administratively independent of the county. Blarney - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up) The village of Blarney, 5 miles (8 kilometers) northwest of Cork, Ireland, is the site of a castle containing the Blarney Stone, a block with a Latin inscription giving the date of construction (1446) and builder’s name. According to legend, all who kiss the stone-by hanging head downward-gain the gift of eloquence. In modern English, the word blarney has come to mean "flattering talk." The Blarney Woolen Mills produce tweed and knitwear. Population (2011 census), 2,437. Article History Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article! Contact our editors with your feedback. MEDIA FOR: You have successfully emailed this. Error when sending the email. Try again later. Edit Mode Submit Tips For Editing We welcome suggested improvements to any of our articles. You can make it easier for us to review and, hopefully, publish your contribution by keeping a few points in mind. Encyclopædia Britannica articles are written in a neutral objective tone for a general audience. You may find it helpful to search within the site to see how similar or related subjects are covered. Any text you add should be original, not copied from other sources. At the bottom of the article, feel free to list any sources that support your changes, so that we can fully understand their context. (Internet URLs are the best.) Your contribution may be further edited by our staff, and its publication is subject to our final approval. Unfortunately, our editorial approach may not be able to accommodate all contributions. Submit Thank You for Your Contribution! Our editors will review what you've submitted, and if it meets our criteria, we'll add it to the article. Please note that our editors may make some formatting changes or correct spelling or grammatical errors, and may also contact you if any clarifications are needed. Uh Oh There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later. Close Date Published: August 24, 2012 URL: https://www.britannica.com/place/Blarney-Ireland Access Date: January 18, 2017 Share	County Cork
At which establishment, famous in literature, was Benjamin a very sceptical donkey?	Blarney Castle County Cork - Special-Ireland.com Where to go in Ireland Blarney Castle Blarney Castle known as Caisleán na Blarnan in Irish, is a medieval castle in Blarney, County Cork, Ireland. It was originally a timber lodge built in the 10th century, and was then replaced by a stone castle in 1210. Blarney Castle located in Blarney Village, just northwest of Cork City was built by one of Ireland’s greatest chieftains, Cormac MacCarthy and is one of Ireland’s most sought-out attractions. The MacCarthys held sway over Blarney and Munster throughout the many tumultuous centuries of Anglo-Irish conflict until the defeat of the old Irish nobles at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690, after which the Lord of Blarney was exiled. The Blarney Stone, also known as the Stone of Eloquence, is located atop the castle’s tower, going up the 127 steps to the top of the castle, 37 feet high, will find the Blarney Stone, the legendary Stone of Eloquence, found at the top of our Tower. Kiss it and you’ll never again be lost for words. But don’t take our word for it – everyone from Sir Walter Scott to a host of American presidents, world leaders, and international entertainers has been eager to take advantage. Over the last few hundred years, millions have flocked to Blarney, making it a world landmark and one of Ireland‘s greatest treasures. If people come for the Stone, many stay for the mystical and beautiful Rock Close and gardens. Blarney Castle presents a fairytale picture, its tall towers are set within wonderful gardens containing such romantically named landmarks as, the Druids Altar, the Witches Kitchen and the Wishing Stairs. All of which add to the whole magic of Blarney Castle.	i don't know
Which game show presenter was deputy headmaster of Caton School near Lancaster?	Jim Bowen - British Classic Comedy Jim Bowen Comedy Profiles Jim Bowen 1937 – Present Probably best remembered for the game show Bullseye, Jim Bowen was one of the stars of the groundbreaking series The Comedians that celebrated 40 years back in 2011. Quick Bio Born Peter Williams on 20th August, in Heswall, Cheshire. He was educated at Accrington Grammar School in Lancashire and Chester Diocesan Training College. Moving onto Lancaster University Jim gained a degree in mathematics and early years education. He spent his early career as a teacher at schools in Lancashire, becoming deputy headmaster of Caton Primary School near Lancaster. Career It was whilst teaching that Jim Bowen became involved with the local Dramatic Society. This sparked an interest in show business. During the 1960’s he worked as a part time Stand-Up Comedian on the Northern Club circuit. It was the 1971 show “The Comedians” that gave him his big break into National Television. The show was a huge success and prompted Jim to leave the world of education for a career in entertainment. Other television opportunities followed and Jim made appearances on Granada’s “Wheeltappers and Shunters’ Social Club” alongside Thames Television’s late-night chat show ‘Take Two’. Central Television’s “Up For the Cup” and “Starburst” featured Jim together with “Summertime Special” and “Noel’s House Party”. (He was “Gotcha’d” by Noel as part of his Saturday night programme). Many other guest appearances followed including “Celebrity Squares”, “Pebble Mill”,”Family Fortunes”, “Des O’Connor Tonight” and numerous Christmas Television Specials. However he will probably be best remembered for the hugely popular game show “Bullseye” which he hosted between 1981 and 1994. In 1999 Bowen began presenting on BBC Radio Lancashire but after working there for three years, resigned after referring to a guest on his show as a “nig-nog”. He admitted that, even though he apologised for the remark almost immediately, he believed his show business career was over. Jim returned to the stage in 2005, when he performed a solo show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe about Bullseye, called “You Can’t Beat a Bit of Bully”. He returned to Edinburgh in the summer of 2006 performing at ‘Jongleurs’ from 8 to 28 August. He performed at the 2010 festival once again with his Bullseye spin off with side-kick and muse James Kazal. In 2011 Jim Bowen joined Dougie Brown, Frank Carson, Stan Boardman, Mick Miller alongside producer Johnnie Hamp in Blackpool for a series of special shows celebrating 40 years of The Comedians. Clips Visit Jim Bowen’s Official Website at www.jimbowen.tv	Jim Bowen
Who wrote the 1516 work of fiction and political philosophy ‘Utopia’?	Horoscope of celebrities born on August, 20, [2/3] 5,797 clicks, 6,984th woman, 19,723rd celebrity Biography of Kristen Miller Kristen Miller (born August 20, 1976, in Manhattan Beach, California, U.S.) is an American actress who has appeared in guest and in leading roles in many television shows, including USA High, That's My Bush!, Charmed, She Spies and Undressed. She also has appeared in The Fallen Ones, Reality Check, I hate my 30s, Las Vegas, Team America: World Police, Single White Female 2: The Psycho; and provided the voice-over for the character Rio in the video game Lifeline. Filmography 1996 : Dog Watch (vidï¿½o) : Naomi 1997 : USA High (sï¿½rie TV) : Ashley Elliot / Alexis Elliot 2000 : Cherry Falls : Cindy 1999 : Undressed (sï¿½rie TV) : Amelia (2000: Season 2) 2001 : Swimming pool: la piscine du danger (Swimming Pool - Der Tod feiert mit) : Sarah 2002 : Man of the Year : Sally 2002 : Rea... 5,679 clicks, 13,348th man, 20,569th celebrity Biography of Andy Benes Andrew Charles Benes (born August 20, 1967 in Evansville, Indiana) is a former right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for four teams: the San Diego Padres, the Seattle Mariners, the St. Louis Cardinals and the Arizona Diamondbacks, in a fourteen-year career from 1989 to 2002. His brother Alan also pitched in the Major Leagues, and was his teammate in 1996-97 and 2000-01. He and his brother Alan attended Evansville Lutheran School Benes was the first person selected in the 1988 Major League Baseball Draft after playing college baseball at the University of Evansville. Benes pitched well enough in his first year to make it to the majors and be named National League Rookie Pitcher of the Year by The Sporting News. Benes was an All-Star in 1993 after a 15-15 seaso... 5,560 clicks, 14,048th man, 21,514th celebrity Biography of Frank Rosolino Frank Rosolino (August 20, 1926 (birth time source: Mark Lewis, email on February 18, 2015) - November 26, 1978) was an American jazz trombonist. Biography Born in Detroit, Michigan, in a family that included brothers Russell and Gasper, Rosolino studied the guitar with his father starting at age 9. Frank took up the trombone at age 14, and graduated from Miller High School, while playing in the Cass Tech Symphony Orchestra, a fine music program that also produced Donald Byrd. Following service in the U.S. Army's 86th Division during World War II, he played with the big bands of Bob Chester, Glen Gray, Tony Pastor, Herbie Fields, and Gene Krupa. He became famous during a stint in the most popular of Stan Kenton's progressive big bands, (1952ï¿½1954), and settled in Los Angeles, where h... 5,474 clicks, 14,552nd man, 22,201st celebrity Biography of Dino Campana Dino Campana (20 August 1885 - 1 March 1932) was an Italian visionary poet. His fame rests on his only published book of poetry, the Canti orfici ("Orphic Songs"), as well as his wild and erratic personality, including his ill-fated love affair with Sibilla Aleramo. He is often seen as an Italian example of a poï¿½te maudit. Life Campana was born in Marradi, near Faenza, northern Italy. He was the son of Giovanni, an elementary school teacher, a good man but of weak and neurotic character, and of Fanny Luti, a strict and compulsive woman, affected by mental illness, who would pathologically attack her son Manlio, Dinoï¿½s younger brother, born in 1887. Campana spent a serene youth in Marradi, but in 1900, at approximately fifteen years of age, he came to be diagnosed with the first nerv... 5,362 clicks, 7,925th woman, 23,199th celebrity Biography of Alice Kessler Alice and Ellen Kessler (born August 20, 1936 in Leipzig, Germany) are twins popular in Europe, especially Germany and Italy, from the 1950s and 1960s and until today for their singing, dancing and acting. They are usually credited as the Kessler Twins (Die Kessler-Zwillinge in Germany and Le Gemelle Kessler in Italy), and remain popular today. In the USA, they were not as popular, but appeared in the 1963 film Sodom and Gomorrah as dancers and appeared on the cover of Life Magazine in that year. Their parents, Paul and Elsa, had them sent to ballet classes at the age of six, and they joined the Leipzig Opera's child ballet program at age 11. When they were 18, their parents used a visitor's visa to escape to West Germany, where they performed at the Palladium in Dï¿½sseldorf. They per... 5,348 clicks, 7,966th woman, 23,336th celebrity Biography of Meghan Ory Meghan Ory (born August 20, 1982) is a Canadian television and film actress. She currently stars as Red Riding Hood/Ruby Lucas on the ABC fantasy series Once Upon a Time. Life and career Ory was born in Victoria, British Columbia and attended Royal Oak Middle School and then Claremont Secondary School. After receiving the Fine Arts Award for Acting from Royal Oak in 1996, she began pursuing a career in acting. Her first professional acting role came in 1999 in the Fox Family Channel television movie, The Darklings, opposite Suzanne Somers and Timothy Busfield. A guest appearance on the television series The Crow: Stairway to Heaven followed, before she landed her first regular TV role on the Fox Family series Higher Ground in 2000, along with Hayden Christensen. After appearing on the ... 5,291 clicks, 15,769th man, 23,869th celebrity Biography of Jack Teagarden Weldon Leo "Jack" Teagarden (August 20, 1905ï¿½January 15, 1964) was an influential jazz trombonist and vocalist. Born in Vernon, Texas, his brothers Charlie and Clois "Cub" and his sister Norma also became noted professional musicians. Teagarden's father was an amateur brass band trumpeter and started young Jack on baritone horn; by age 10 he had switched to trombone. He first heard jazz music played by the Louisiana Five and decided to play in the new style. Teagarden's trombone style was largely self-taught, and he developed many unusual alternative positions and novel special effects on the instrument. He is usually considered the most innovative jazz trombone stylist of the pre-Bebop era, and did much to expand the role of the instrument beyond the old tailgate style role of the e... 5,247 clicks, 8,201st woman, 24,278th celebrity Biography of Jacquelyn Mayer Jacquelyn Jeanne "Jackie" Mayer (born August 20, 1942 in Sandusky, Ohio) is a former Miss Ohio and Miss America and currently travels the United States as a motivational speaker, noted for her recovery from a near-fatal stroke suffered at age 28. Professional career Mayer graduated Sandusky High School in 1960, going on to attend Northwestern University where a friend encouraged her to enter the Miss America contest for the scholarship money offered to the winner. She was crowned Miss Ohio in 1962 which allowed her to enter the Miss America pageant that year. On September 8, 1962, in front of an audience of 30,000 at the Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall and watched by millions more across America, she was crowned Miss America for 1963. In 1970, Mayer suffered a stroke in the early h... 5,241 clicks, 8,219th woman, 24,341st celebrity Biography of Jennie George (politician) Jennie George (born 20 August 1947), Australian politician, has been an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian House of Representatives since November 2001, representing the Division of Throsby, New South Wales. Early life She was born Eugenie Sinicky in Trani, Italy, where her parents were displaced persons from Russia. She was educated at the Burwood Girls High School, Sydney University and the Sydney Teachers College. George was a Secondary school teacher and teacher trade unionist, and was elected General Secretary of the New South Wales Teachers Federation 1980-82. During the 1960s and early '70s it is alleged by journalist Brad Norrington that George was a member of the Communist Party of Australia, although she has denied these accusations. Career George was V... 5,201 clicks, 16,410th man, 24,725th celebrity Biography of Strify (Cinema Bizarre) Strify, born August 20, 1988 in Villingen-Schwenningen, is a German musician and singer, the lead singer of group Cinema Bizarre. Cinema Bizarre is a German band from Berlin formed in 2005. They describe their music as synthpop, New Wave, electro, gothic rock and pop merged into some kind of glamorous synthrock. They released their debut album in 2007. History Cinema Bizarre was formed in 2005 by three friends Strify, Kiro and Yu. They met at an anime convension. They found two other members,Shin and Luminor, via internet. Their first single CD "Lovesongs (They Kill Me)" was released on September 14, 2007, two weeks after their first live performance in the German music show The Dome..The Norddeutscher Rundfunk (north German television broadcast) nominated the band for the national fin... 5,200 clicks, 16,422nd man, 24,741st celebrity Biography of Giorgio Albertazzi Giorgio Albertazzi, born August 20, 1923 in Florence, died on 28 May 2016 (birth time source: Steinbrecher, Bordoni, Astrodatabank, BC), is an Italian actor, screenwriter and director. Filmography (actor) (source: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0016617/ ) La rabbia (2008) .... Produttore commerciale AD Project (2006) (V) .... Prof. Morante Ora e per sempre (2004) .... Pietro anziano L'avvocato de Gregorio (2003) .... De Gregorio ... aka Counselor de Gregorio (International: English title) Tutta la conoscenza del mondo (2001) ... aka All There Is to Know (International: English title) "La casa delle beffe" (2000) TV mini-series La rivale (1999) (TV) .... Gabriel Pernetti Li chiamarono... briganti! (1999) .... Bishop ... aka Brigands (International: English title) ... a... 5,071 clicks, 17,447th man, 26,097th celebrity Biography of Bernard Mendy Bernard Mendy (born 20 August 1981 in ï¿½vreux, Normandy, France (birth time source: Didier Geslain)) is a French football player of Senegalese origin who currently plays for Hull City. He is a right back/right wing-back who is known for his pace and constant overlapping runs. Career A great fan of PSG since his childhood, Mendy achieved his ambitions in 2000 when he joined PSG from SM Caen. Even though he had impressed a lot of people by his qualities during his first two seasons at PSG, he was loaned to Bolton Wanderers of England for a year, where he was appreciated for his offensive and speedy style. When he came back from England in 2003, the new manager of PSG, Vahid Halilhodzic, decided to give him an opportunity to assert himself by using him as a first choice. That year, Mend... 5,067 clicks, 17,473rd man, 26,133rd celebrity Biography of Bernardo O'Higgins Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme (1778 or 1776, August 20 ï¿½ 1842), South American independence leader, was one of the commanders ï¿½ together with Josï¿½ de San Martï¿½n ï¿½ of the military forces that freed Chile from Spanish rule in the Chilean War of Independence. Although he was the second Supreme Director of Chile (1817ï¿½23), O'Higgins was the first holder of this title to head a fully independent Chilean state. Early life "As noted in his certificate of baptism, he was the illegitimate son of Ambrosio O'Higgins", Marquis of Osorno, a Spanish officer born in County Sligo in Ireland, who became governor of Chile and later viceroy of Peru. "His mother was Isabel Riquelme, a prominent lady of Chillï¿½n". O'Higgins spent his early years with his mother's family in Central-south Chile, and later he li... 4,952 clicks, 18,448th man, 27,382nd celebrity Biography of Thomas Corneille Thomas Corneille (August 20, 1625 - December 8, 1709) was a French dramatist. He was the brother of Pierre Corneille. Born in Rouen nearly twenty years after his brother, the "great Corneille", Thomas's skill as a poet seems to have shown itself early. At the age of fifteen he composed a play in Latin which was performed by his fellow-pupils at the Jesuits' college of Rouen. His first play in the French language, Les Engagements du hasard, was staged in 1647. Le Feint Astrologue, imitated from the Spanish of Pedro Calderï¿½n de la Barca, and itself imitated in Dryden's An Evening's Love, came the following year. After his brother's death, Thomas succeeded his vacant chair in the Acadï¿½mie franï¿½aise. He then turned his attention to philology, producing a new edition of the Remarques of C... 4,919 clicks, 18,768th man, 27,782nd celebrity Biography of Duncan Macrae Duncan Macrae (20 August 1905 - 23 March 1967) was born at 118 Kirkland Street, Maryhill, Glasgow, G20 6SP, the fourth of the six children of James Macrae, a sergeant in the Glasgow police force, and his wife, Catherine Graham. He attended Allan Glen's School and matriculated in the engineering faculty at Glasgow University in 1923ï¿½4, but did not graduate. Macrae was a Scottish actor and comedian with a glaikit (Scots word for naï¿½ve or clueless) mannerism. He was a member of the early Citizens Theatre company in Glasgow and was best known in his early years for his performance as King James VI in Jamie the Saxt by Robert McLellan. He had a role in the 1949 Ealing comedy Whisky Galore! (film), based on the book by Sir Compton Mackenzie, and in the first TV series of created by Neil Mu... 4,915 clicks, 18,807th man, 27,830th celebrity Biography of Jacques Bouveresse Jacques Bouveresse (born August 20, 1940 in ï¿½penoy, Doubs) is a philosopher who has written on subjects including Ludwig Wittgenstein, Robert Musil, Karl Kraus, philosophy of science, epistemology, philosophy of mathematics and analytical philosophy. As a result of his attacks on Michel Foucault, Lyotard, Derrida, and others, he has often managed to raise the analytical stakes in French academic circles, where analytical philosophy is not well understood. He is known for his critical writings on what he considers scientific and intellectual impostors (particularly in French philosophy of the 1970s and the nouveaux philosophes) and the press coverage he has attracted through his own philosophical journalism. He is currently Professor at the Collï¿½ge de France, where he occupies the cha... 4,911 clicks, 9,032nd woman, 27,866th celebrity Biography of Ellen Kessler Alice and Ellen Kessler (born August 20, 1936 in Nerchau, Germany) are twins popular in Europe, especially Germany and Italy, from the 1950s and 1960s and until today for their singing, dancing and acting. They are usually credited as the Kessler Twins (Die Kessler-Zwillinge in Germany and Le Gemelle Kessler in Italy), and remain popular today. In the USA, they were not as popular, but appeared in the 1963 film Sodom and Gomorrah as dancers and appeared on the cover of Life Magazine in that year. Their parents, Paul and Elsa, had them sent to ballet classes at the age of six, and they joined the Leipzig Opera's child ballet program at age 11. When they were 18, their parents used a visitor's visa to escape to West Germany, where they performed at the Palladium in Dï¿½sseldorf. They per... 4,889 clicks, 19,034th man, 28,108th celebrity Biography of Roger Gale Roger James Gale (born 20 August 1943) is a British politician. He is the Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) for North Thanet in Kent. Early life Gale was born in Poole, Dorset and was educated at the Southbourne Preparatory School, and the Hardye's School, Dorchester. He completed his education at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He is the only former pirate radio disc-jockey to become a Member of Parliament. He joined Radio Caroline North in August 1964, where he stayed until January 1965. In June of the same year he joined Caroline South, before becoming programme director at Radio Scotland. He worked as the personal assistant to the general manager at Universal Films for nine years from 1962, before joining the BBC in 1972 as a reporter for Radio London, becoming a... 4,814 clicks, 19,720th man, 29,002nd celebrity Biography of Gilbert Moses Gilbert Moses (August 20, 1942 - April 15, 1995) was an American stage, screen, and television director. Career Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Moses was the co-founder of the Free Southern Theater company, an important pioneer of African-American theatre. His 1971 Broadway debut, Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death, won him a Tony Award nomination and the Drama Desk Award for Most Promising Director. In 1976, he and George Faison teamed to co-direct and choreograph the ill-fated Alan Jay Lerner-Leonard Bernstein musical 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, which closed after seven performances. Moses' off-Broadway work as a director won him an Obie Award for Amiri Baraka's Slave Ship (1969) and the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for The Taking of Miss Janie (1975). Among Moses' television cr... 4,568 clicks, 22,247th man, 32,239th celebrity Biography of Georg Thoma Georg Thoma (born 20 August 1937 in Hinterzarten) is a former German nordic combined skier. He won two Winter Olympic medals in the Nordic combined with gold in 1960 and bronze in 1964. Thoma also won the gold in the individual event at the 1966 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Oslo. Thoma's strength in the Nordic combined was jumping. He was three times German champion in ski jumping (1960, 1961, and 1963). Additionally, he won the Nordic combined at the Holmenkollen ski festival from 1963 to 1966. For his Nordic combined successes, Thoma was awarded the Holmenkollen medal in 1964 (Shared with Veikko Kankkonen, Eero Mï¿½ntyranta, and Halvor Nï¿½s.) Georg Thoma is the uncle of the jumper Dieter Thoma, winner of the Four Hills Tournament and a World champion in ski flying.... 4,509 clicks, 22,813th man, 32,969th celebrity Biography of Ronnie Brown Ronnie Browne (born Ronald Grant, 20 August 1937 in Edinburgh, Lothian, Scotland), is a Scottish folk musician and founding member of The Corries. Browne's musical career began when he met Roy Williamson and multi-instrumentalist Bill Smith at Edinburgh College of Art in 1955 and formed the Corrie Folk Trio in 1962. The group was expanded the following year with the addition of female singer Paddie Bell. Shortly after releasing three albums in 1965, Bell left to begin a solo career. With the departure of Smith, the following year, Browne and Williamson continued to perform as a duo now known as The Corries. In 1970, Williamson conceived and built the band's signature instrument: the combolins, a pair of instruments that were rarely played separately. Williamson's instrument featured... 4,361 clicks, 24,365th man, 34,936th celebrity Biography of Mario Bernardi Mario Bernardi, CC (born 20 August 1930) is a Canadian conductor and pianist. He has conducted 75 different operas and over 450 other works with the National Arts Centre Orchestra. Early years Bernardi was born in Kirkland Lake, Ontario, and spent his first six years in Canada. After his family moved to Italy, Bernardi studied piano, organ, and composition with Bruno Pasut at the Manzato Conservatory at Treviso and took his examinations at Italy's Venice Conservatory. After graduating in 1945, his family returned to Canada where he finished his studies at The Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. He then was a concert pianist. In 1957, he conducted the Canadian Opera Company, and in 1963 was Coach and Assistant Conductor at the Sadler's Wells Opera Company (now the English Nat... 4,340 clicks, 24,595th man, 35,227th celebrity Biography of Noah Bean Noah Bean (born August 20, 1978 in Boston, Massachusetts (birth time source: Craft, Astrodatabank, BC)) is an American actor best known for his roles as David Connor on the FX legal drama Damages and as Ryan Fletcher on the The CW action series Nikita. Career Prior to his role on Damages, Bean had a number of minor and less notable roles on the television series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Ed, Joan of Arcadia, Numb3rs, and Crumbs, the films Williamstowne and Stay, and a number of commercials. He labels his signing on the role of David Connor on Damages, the fiancï¿½ of the protagonist, as being "lucky", praising the script of the show and also the fact that it is shot in New York, where he is currently living. He also says he was aware that his character dies in the first seaso... 4,338 clicks, 24,608th man, 35,242nd celebrity Biography of George J. Mitchell George John Mitchell, GBE (born August 20, 1933 in Waterville, Maine) is a former Democratic Party politician and United States Senator who currently serves as chairman of the worldwide law firm DLA Piper and also as the Chancellor of the Queen's University in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He was the U.S. Senate Majority Leader from 1989 to 1995 and chairman of The Walt Disney Company from March 2004 until January 2007. He was the main investigator in both Mitchell Reports. On August 10, 2007, ABC News reported that Senator Mitchell had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Early career Mitchell's father, George John Mitchell, was of Irish descent and was a janitor at Colby College and his mother, Mary Saad, was a textile worker who immigrated to the United States from Lebanon at the... 4,266 clicks, 25,357th man, 36,155th celebrity Biography of Samuel Dumoulin Samuel Dumoulin (born 20 August 1980 in Vï¿½nissieux, Rhï¿½ne) is a French professional road bicycle racer who rides for Cofidis. Amateur career Dumoulin rode as an amateur for the TCCT (Tonic cyclo club of Ternay). He won the national youth championship in 1996, then the ï¿½spoir (young professional) Parisï¿½Tours and Paris-Auxerre in 2001. He turned professional in 2002 for Jean Delatour. At the end of 2003 he moved to AG2R Prï¿½voyance and he now rides for Cofidis. He dropped out of the 2004 Tour de France when he crashed after hitting a dog. Recovery took him four months and he did not race for the rest of the season. In 2008 he won the third stage after a breakaway of nearly 200 km, beating William Frischkorn and Romain Feillu.... 4,237 clicks, 10,853rd woman, 36,498th celebrity Biography of Kristina (singer) Kristï¿½na Pelï¿½kovï¿½ (born 20 August 1987 in Svidnï¿½k), professionally known as Kristina, is a Slovak singer. Kristina started singing, dancing and playing the piano in her childhood in Svidnï¿½k, Slovakia. She took her music teacher's advice to attend the conservatory in Koï¿½ice and to major in singing. During her studies, Kristina frequented the Jazz Club in the town where she met her future producer Martin Kavulič. He helped her to get a contract with the H.o.M.E. Production record label. Her first single "Som tvoja", featuring the rapper Opak, was released in 2007. The first track that became a hit in Slovakia was "Vrï¿½ť mi tie hviezdy" in 2008. Her debut album ....eï¿½te vï¿½ham was released in the same year. Kristina won the national selection to represent Slovakia in the Eurovision S... 4,215 clicks, 25,837th man, 36,733rd celebrity Biography of Rudolf Bultmann Rudolf Karl Bultmann (August 20, 1884, Wiefelstede ï¿½ July 30, 1976, Marburg) was a German theologian of Lutheran background, who was for three decades professor of New Testament studies at the University of Marburg. He defined an almost complete split between history and faith, called demythology, writing that only the bare fact of Christ crucified was necessary for Christian faith. Background Rudolf Bultmann Bultmann was born in Wiefelstede, Oldenburg, the son of a Lutheran minister. He did his Abitur at the Altes Gymnasium in Oldenburg, and studied theology at Tï¿½bingen. After three terms, Bultmann went to the University of Berlin for two terms, and finally to Marburg for two more terms. He received his degree in 1910 from Marburg with a dissertation on the Epistles of St Paul. Aft... 4,170 clicks, 10,988th woman, 37,235th celebrity Biography of Theresa Saldana Theresa Saldana (August 20, 1954 ï¿½ June 6, 2016) was an American actress and author. She is known for her role as Rachel Scali, the wife of Police Commissioner Tony Scali, in the 1990s television series The Commish, for which she received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, in 1994. Major film roles include the part of 'Lenore La Motta', the wife of Joe Pesci's character, in the 1980 feature film Raging Bull and Robert Zemeckis's Beatlemania ensemble I Wanna Hold Your Hand. She was also known for raising public awareness of the crime of stalking, after surviving a murder attempt by an obsessed fan in 1982. Saldana was born in Brooklyn, New York, the daughter of Divina and Tony Saldana. Stalking Incident On March 15, 1982, Saldana was th... 4,151 clicks, 11,036th woman, 37,445th celebrity Biography of Liana Liberato Liana Daine Liberato (born August 20, 1995) is an American television and film actress. Liana is known for the 2010 film, Trust. She starred in the Fox Faith film The Last Sin Eater and appeared in the fourth season of House episode "It's a Wonderful Lie". She was featured in the cover story of the June 4, 2006 issue of The New York Times Magazine titled "Hollywood Elementary" with her friend Hannah Marks. Early life Liberato was born in Galveston, Texas. Her first significant role came in "Galveston: The Musical" when she was seven. In the summer of 2005, she attended a week-long acting camp in California, where she attracted the attention of Central Artists. Charmed by Liberato's "great charisma and a very natural delivery," the agent asked Liana to travel to Hollywood. Career In... 4,102 clicks, 26,853rd man, 37,991st celebrity Biography of Rajendra K. Pachauri Rajendra Kumar Pachauri (born August 20, 1940) has served as the chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) since 2002, during which his tenure has engendered controversy. He is also been director general of TERI, a research and policy organization in India, and chancellor of TERI University. He has also been the chairman of the governing council of the National Agro Foundation (NAF), as well as the chairman of the board of Columbia University's International Research Institute for Climate and Society. Pachauri has been outspoken about climate change. He is now serving as the head of Yale's Climate and Energy Institute (YCEI). At the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony when the award was shared between Al Gore and the IPCC on December 10, 2007, Pachauri represented the IPCC. ... 4,093 clicks, 26,924th man, 38,082nd celebrity Biography of Jean-Pierre Cortot Jean-Pierre Cortot (August 20, 1787 ï¿½ August 12, 1843) was a French sculptor. Life Cortot was born and died in Paris. He was educated at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris, and took the Prix de Rome in 1809, residing in the Villa Medici in Rome from 1810 to 1813. Cortot worked in an austere, correct, academic neo-classical style, heir to both classic French models from the late 18th Century, and the Greco-Roman tradition. His art took on a more romantic expression towards the end of his life. Appointed a professor at the Ecole, as the successor of Charles Dupaty, he was made a member of the Acadï¿½mie des beaux-arts in 1825 (also replacing Dupaty in that role). He was also made an Officer of the Lï¿½gion d'honneur in 1841. Among his students are Joseph Marius Ramus, Jean-Jacques F... 4,078 clicks, 27,038th man, 38,233rd celebrity Biography of Al Roker Albert Lincoln "Al" Roker, Jr. (born August 20, 1954) is an American television weatherman as well as an actor and book author. He is best known as being the weather anchor on NBC's Today. On Monday, July 20, 2009, he began co-hosting his new morning show, Wake Up with Al, on The Weather Channel, which airs weekdays from 6am to 7am ET, one hour earlier than Today. He holds an expired American Meteorological Society Television Seal, #238. Writing with Dick Lochte, Roker began a series of murder mysteries in 2009 that feature Billy Blessing, a celebrity chef turned amateur detective. The second book in the series, The Midnight Show Murders (2010), was nominated for a 2011 Nero Award. Early life Roker was born in Queens, New York, the son of Isabel, of Jamaican descent, and Albert Linco... 4,019 clicks, 27,543rd man, 38,876th celebrity Biography of Enrico Letta Enrico Letta (pronounced ; born 20 August 1966 (birth time source: Grazia Bordoni)) is an Italian politician who has been the Prime Minister of Italy since 2013. He is also the Deputy Secretary of the Democratic Party, and a Member of the Chamber of Deputies. He was previously in the government as Minister of European Affairs from 1998 to 1999 and as Minister of Industry from 1999 to 2001; he also served as Secretary to the Council of Ministers from 2006 to 2008. Early life and education Enrico Letta was born in Pisa, Tuscany to Anna Banchi from Sassari, Sardinia and Giorgio Letta from Abruzzo.He spent some early years in Strasbourg. He holds a PhD in International Law from Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies. His father was a professor of probability at the University of Pisa, a me... 3,990 clicks, 27,754th man, 39,144th celebrity Biography of Todd Helton Todd Lynn Helton (born August 20, 1973 in Knoxville, Tennessee) is a Major League Baseball first baseman for the Colorado Rockies. He is a five-time All-Star, four-time Silver Slugger, four-time National League Player of the Month and three-time Gold Glove winner. As of the end of the 2010 season, among all active players, Helton was second in on-base percentage (.424), third in doubles (527), fifth in intentional walks (178), and seventh in slugging percentage (.555). Helton holds the Colorado Rockies club records for hits (2,275), home runs (339), doubles (536), walks (1,206), runs scored (1,287), RBIs (1,258), on-base percentage (.423), games played (1,965), total bases (3,898) and other categories. Helton hit his 2,000th career hit against the Atlanta Braves on May 19, 2009. A... 3,930 clicks, 11,493rd woman, 39,661st celebrity Biography of Ranomi Kromowidjojo Ranomi Kromowidjojo (Dutch pronunciation: ; born August 20, 1990 in Sauwerd, Netherlands) is a Dutch swimmer of mixed Dutch-Javanese Surinamese origin who mainly specialises in freestyle but also swims in backstroke and butterfly events. She is a triple Olympic champion, winning the gold medal in the 4ï¿½100 m freestyle relay at the 2008 Olympics and in the 50 m freestyle and 100 m freestyle at the 2012 Olympics. As part of the Dutch team, she holds the world records in the 4ï¿½50 m freestyle relay on short course (25 m pool), and 4ï¿½100 m freestyle relay on long course (50 m pool) and short course. She is the reigning world champion in the 50 and 100 meter freestyle short course. Biography Kromowidjojo, who is of partly Javanese Surinamese heritage, was born in Sauwerd and started swimmi... 3,837 clicks, 28,755th man, 40,400th celebrity Biography of Rich Brooks Rich Brooks (born August 20, 1941 in Forest, California) is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Oregon from 1977 to 1994 and at the University of Kentucky from 2003 to 2009, compiling a career college football record of 128ï¿½154ï¿½4. Brooks was also the head coach of the NFL's St. Louis Rams from 1995 to 1996, tallying mark of 13ï¿½19. Brooks' 1994 Oregon team won the Pacific-10 Conference title and made an appearance in the 1995 Rose Bowl. For his efforts that season, he won a number of national coaching awards. Education Brooks attended Oregon State University. He majored in physical education and played defensive back for the football team. He received his bachelor's degree in 1963 and completed his master's degree in education ... 3,769 clicks, 29,117th man, 40,857th celebrity Biography of Maxim Vengerov Maxim Alexandrovich Vengerov (Russian: Максим Александрович Венгеров, born August 20, 1974) is a violinist, violist, and conductor who was born in the Soviet Union. Biography Youth Vengerov was born on 20 August 1974 in Novosibirsk, Russia, to a Jewish family with musical tradition. At the age of 5, he began studying the violin with Borbala Hwang, and two years later ï¿½ with Zakhar Bron. 1984 saw the 10-year-old Maxim go abroad for the first time; in Lublin, Poland, he won the first place at the International Karol Lipiński and Henryk Wieniawski Young Violin Player Competition (years later, he recalled, "I thought Poland ... 3,747 clicks, 29,229th man, 40,995th celebrity Biography of Jim Bowen Jim Bowen (born Peter Williams on 20 August 1937) is an English stand-up comedian and TV personality. He is best known as the host of the ITV gameshow Bullseye, which he hosted between 1981 and 1995 and his catch-phrase "Super, smashing, great". Early life Bowen was born in Heswall, Cheshire and educated at Accrington Grammar School in Lancashire and Chester Diocesan Training College. He was then a teacher at schools in Lancashire and became deputy headmaster of Caton Primary School near Lancaster. Bowen originally gained a degree in mathematics and early years education at Lancaster University. Beginnings in showbusiness While teaching Bowen became involved with the local dramatic society which kindled his interest in showbusiness. In the 1960s he worked part-time as a stand-up co... 3,621 clicks, 29,772nd man, 41,759th celebrity Biography of Michael Rady Michael Rady (born August 20, 1981) is an American actor. He was born in Philadelphia and went to the St. Joseph's Prep, a Jesuit prep school in Philadelphia, well-known for its excellent theatre program. Rady made his acting debut in the feature film The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants playing Kostas Dounas. He has appeared in other feature films with small parts including The Guardian. Rady also starred in the independent film InSearchOf. Rady had a recurring role in the CBS summer series, Swingtown, playing philosophy teacher Doug Stephens. He appeared in the second season of Showtime's TV drama Sleeper Cell. Rady appeared as a guest star in two seasons of the ABC Family series Greek playing the Honors Polymer Science major and Honors Engineering Floor Resident Advisor Max Tyler... 3,591 clicks, 12,033rd woman, 41,923rd celebrity Biography of Agnes Chan Agnes Chan or Agnes Meiling Kaneko Chan (traditional Chinese: 陳美齡; simplified Chinese: 陈美龄; pinyin: Chï¿½n Měilï¿½ng; Cantonese Yale: Chan Mei ling; Japanese: アグネス・チャン), born on August 20, 1955 in Hong Kong, is a pop singer, a television personality (gaijin tarento), a Doctor of Education, a professor at Japanese universities, an essayist, and a novelist. Since 1988 Chan has been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and also supports the Japan Committee for UNICEF, a private corporation unaffiliated with UNICEF. Career Agnes Chan began singing and playing guitar in her junior high years in Hong Kong, as volunteer work for fundraising events. She had a chance to record a cover of Joni Mitchell's "...	i don't know
On which Scottish island will you find Fingal’s Cave?	Staffa Island and Fingal's Cave A Guide to the Southern Inner Hebridean Isles of Argyll Isle of Staffa and Fingals Cave Staffa is one of the smallest islands in the Southern Hebrides that gets a separate page of its own on this website and not in the last place due to the presense of the famous Fingal’s Cave which is a geological marvel. But apart from that, Staffa is a remarkable little island, located south-west off the isle of Ulva and halfway between the Ross of Mull and the Treshnish Isles. The island, small as it is with only 33 hectares, was once inhabited in the 1700s by as much as 16 people but nowadays seabirds and tourists have taken over their place. The 1700s were also the time that Staffa was part of the Ulva Estate but it was sold in 1777 and via several owners it was donated to the National Trust of Scotland by Jock Elliott from New York in 1986. Staffa is now a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Staffa, an entirely volcanic island, is probably best known for its unique geological features such as the many caves and the unique shape of the basalt columns which are also found in the Giant’s Causeway and Rathlin island in Northern Ireland and closer by on the island of Ulva. It consists of a basement of tuff, underneath colonnades of a black fine-grained Tertiary basalt, overlying which is a third layer of basaltic lava lacking a crystalline structure. By contrast, slow cooling of the second layer of basalt resulted in an extraordinary pattern of predominantly hexagonal columns which form the faces and walls of the principal caves. The lava contracted towards each of a series of equally spaced centres as it cooled and solidified into prismatic columns. The columns typically have three to eight sides, six being most common. The island didn’t play an important role in history but was nevertheless visited by many famous people such as Felix Mendelssohn, who composed the Hebrides Overture which is also known as, and is inspired by, Fingal’s Cave. Other well known people that made the trip to Staffa are Sir Walter Scott, William Wordsworth an English poet, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, Jules Verne and Dr David Livingstone to name a few. Staffa and Fingal’s Cave (right) seen from the south Fingal’s cave itself has a large arched entrance and is filled by the sea; however, boats cannot normally enter unless the sea is very calm. Several local cruise and charter companies include a pass by the cave in sightseeing tours from April to October. However, it is also possible to land elsewhere on the island and walk to the cave overland, where a row of fractured columns form a walkway just above high-water level permitting exploration on foot. The Cruises page gives information on cruise and charter companies who organise trips to Staffa, summer only and weather permitting. Staffa Island Landing Stage	Staffa
In 1969, who became Israel’s first woman Prime Minister?	Staffa National Nature Reserve : Pictures Staffa National Nature Reserve The uninhabited island of Staffa© Peter Marston The eastern side of Staffa looking north© Penny van Millingen Puffins are the main wildlife attraction on the island© Laurie Campbell The ferry arriving at Staffa© Penny van Millingen A puffin feeding© Laurie Campbell Staffa's famous hexagonal Basalt columns© Penny van Millingen The path to Fingal’s Cave© Penny van Millingen Contact information Staffa is the stuff of legend – an unspoilt and uninhabited island best known for its magnificent basalt columns and spectacular sea caves. The most famous of these is Fingal’s Cave, also known as An Uamh Binn (Cave of Melody). It has a unique, cathedral-like structure and its hexagonal columns are similar to those of the Giant’s Causeway in Ireland. Fingal’s Cave was immortalised by Mendelssohn in his Hebrides Overture, after he visited the island in 1829, and in a famous painting by the artist J M W Turner. Despite being only half a mile long and quarter of a mile wide, and completely uninhabited, Staffa has been a source of inspiration for countless visiting artists over the centuries. Famous visitors to the island have included Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, the artist J M W Turner, and poets and writers Keats, Wordsworth, Tennyson and Sir Walter Scott.	i don't know
What is the highest mountain in the UK outside Scotland?	A guide to Britain's mountains \| OS GetOutside A guide to Britain's mountains Challenge North West National Parks Introducing Britain's highest mountains: home of the 3 Peaks Challenge Britain is certainly blessed with an enviable pedigree of mountains. Whether it's the iconic Ben Nevis or majestic Snowdon, England's Scafell Pike or the rolling Pennines, there's plenty to behold - and to climb. As such, scaling the peaks of these beasts features on many Brits' to-do lists, whether they live nearby or at the other end of the country. So with this in mind, here's a guide to some of Britain's most revered mountains: Relative height To start, an explanation. Any heights in this article will be detailed using the relative height method, not absolute height. This is because it gives a more accurate measure of how high the mountain will feel to those climbing it, which you may not get otherwise. Absolute height uses the old metres above sea level gauge, as this is uniform and well documented. More recently, though, the method of relative height, or topographic prominence, has come to the fore. This quite simply measures a mountain's height relative to its surrounding areas. Using this method will not only provide a much better idea of the mountain's height but also provide would-be climbers with more relevant statistics for the preparation of their trek. Snowdon Those with a few more climbing hours under their belts may wish to try their hands at the more challenging Rhyd Ddu Path, which offers spectacular views over the mountainous Snowdonia scenery over the course of its 8.5-mile combined out and back length. Hikers can also savour following in the footsteps of iconic climber and first man to scale Everest, Sir Edmund Hilary, who famously used Snowdon for his training efforts because of the challenging ascents and loose scree it offered. Wales's largest mountain, Snowdon is the third highest in Britain, with a prominence of 1,038 metres. Whilst falling short of its big brother Ben Nevis, Snowdon has long been labelled the "busiest mountain in Britain", thanks to its range of ascents, summit café and even railway for those wanting to reach the top without all that pesky physical exertion getting in their way. There are six main ways up (and, indeed, down) Snowdon: the Llanberis Path, Rhyd Ddu Path, Snowdon Ranger, Pyg Track, Miner's Path and Watkin Path (see our post on Snowdon: routes to the top ). It's the former of these, the Llanberis, which is the most gentle walkway to the top, although by its very gradual nature, is also the longest. Hikers can take their minds off the aching limbs, though, with views to the north west over the Menai straights from the mainland across to Anglesey. Ben Nevis Britain's highest peak, Ben Nevis, stretches up some 1,345 metres (as of 2016) into the Scottish sky, putting it well clear of all others in Britain. Despite occupying a rather remote area of the Scottish Highlands, Ben Nevis welcomes more than 100,000 visitors every year, most having travelled scores or even hundreds of miles in a bid to reach the iconic summit. By far the most popular route up Ben Nevis is along the Pony Track, as this is viewed to be the easiest and most accessible. That being said, the easy nature of this route leaves many hikers feeling cold, some noting its wry nickname as the 'Tourist Route'. That being said, first timers would be wise to choose this route for their maiden voyage. After all, there's not just the 1,345 metres of ascent to manage, but also the 10.5-mile walk to the peak and back. Those who make it to the top are justly rewarded for their efforts, with breathtaking views across the Scottish highlands. Brave souls may also wish to try peering over the mountain's 700-metre cliffs on its north side, which are also among the largest in Britain. As noted by the officials, though, don't do this if it's snowy, as the results could be fatal. Scafell Pike Boasting a prominence of 912 metres, Scafell Pike is the highest mountain in England and the 13th tallest in Britain. Many climbers choose the Cumbrian mountain as a one-off ascent, although a great number also tackle it as part of the National Three Peaks Challenge, which also takes in Ben Nevis and Snowdon. To rush Scafell is perhaps churlish, though, as the view from its peak are as good as any other in Britain. On a clear day, it's possible to see more than 30 other peaks, with some climbers even reporting glimpses of summits more than 100 miles away. Whilst most hikers start their ascent from Borrowdale (as it's easily accessible thanks to its proximity to Keswick), a longer route from Eskdale is a firm favourite among all those who walk it. Starting alongside the river Esk, this route turns wild on occasion, but maintains a sense of peace, as it's not the most popular or well-documented path among tourists. In fact, official figures claim that only nine out of every 100 people who climb Scafell Pike go nowhere near Scafell. So, even though the 11-mile route from Eskdale is not easy by any stretch, it's certainly quiet. For more information on the various routes you can choose from to climb Scafell Pike and the best time of the year to attempt your Scafell Pike walk, check out The Complete Guide to England's Highest Peak . The Three Peaks Challenge Of course, these are just three of the hundreds of mountains rising up across Britain. From this little "small island", as Bill Bryson put it, there shouldn't be too far for anyone to travel before hitting a peak or two. Then, for those who really want to challenge themselves, where better than on the imposing trifecta of Ben Nevis, Snowdon or Scafell Pike with the Three Peaks Challenge . Find approved routes for all three peaks with the OS Three Peaks Challenge map . This map also includes additional helpful information such as: A quick guide to the history of each peak Hazard warnings Map legend exclusively for this map Parking information	Snowdon
A cronut is a cross between a doughnut and a what?	Britain and Ireland's top 10 mountain ranges, Great British Trips You are here > Home > Top 10 > Top 10 Mountains Britain and Ireland's top 10 Mountain Ranges When many people think of the geography of Great Britain, it's likely that they picture the gentle green rolling hills of the English Cotswolds or our mostly flat urban cities such as London. In actual fact, in between the busy towns and cities lie some pretty spectacular hills and a fair few mountainous regions too. We have put together our 10 top mountain regions in Britain and Ireland. 1. Cairngorms Scotland We’ve put the Cairngorms National Park in the number 1 spot as it’s Britain’s most massive and spectacular Mountain range. Boasting incredible native forests, dramatic crystal clean rivers and lochs, plenty of wild Scottish moorland, these beautiful mountains sit in the centre of Scotland and boast some of Britain’s best views. It is also the largest National Park in the UK incorporates many beautiful towns and villages. The local wildlife is extensive and the region plays host to 25% of Britain’s threatened species making it a great place to see wildlife that you’re unlikely to spot anywhere else. 2. Mourne Mountains Northern Ireland The Mourne Mountains are a granite range which form the highest peaks in Northern Ireland. The highest of these is Slieve Donard at 850m. The area has been designated an area of outstanding natural beauty and is very popular with hill walkers and nature lovers. The mountains were said to have inspired CS Lewis in the writing of the ‘Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe’ with much of Narnia based on this mysterious mountain range. The area was most recently used as the backdrop for critically acclaimed movie ‘Philomena’ starring Dame Judi Dench. 3. Black Mountains Wales Based on the Eastern side of the Brecon Beacons National Park, the Black Mountain’s take their name from unsurprisingly from the colour of the landscape in the region. Sitting on the border between Wales and Herefordshire in England, the mountains are often confused with the Black Mountain Range which sits on the Westerly side of the Brecon Beacons. To confuse things even more there is a mountain within the range called the Black Mountain! 4. MacGillycuddy's Reeks Ireland MacGillycuddy's Reeks means ‘the black stacks’ and sits in County Kerry, Ireland. The centre of Ireland is pretty much surrounded with mountain ranges but this range contains the highest peaks in Ireland. The highest mountain is Carrauntoohil which is 1038m high. The range is close to the very pretty Killarney National Park. 5. Grampian Mountains Scotland The Grampians occupy a fair proportion of Scotland as one of the 3 major mountain ranges in the country. It is in the region traditionally called the Scottish ‘highlands’ and home to Britain’s 2 highest peaks in that of Ben Nevis and Ben Macdui. Widely regarded as Britain’s most spectacular view, Glen Coe sits within the range close to Ben Nevis and the town of Fort William. The Jacobite Steam Railway is an incredible way to see the range as the ‘Hogwarts Express’ powers along the now famous viaduct with the Grampians forming a majestic backdrop to a magical and unforgettable journey. 6. Berwyn Range Wales Sitting just east of the Snowdonia National Park, this Welsh range of mountain’s is largely forgotten and overlooked as the peaks sit slightly lower than its famous neighbour. The bonus is that this region of mountains and uplands is wholly unspoilt and perfect for anyone looking to get away from the tourists and walkers who flock to Snowdonia. The mountains top 800m so it’s still a good climb and decent walk for lovers of solitude and beautiful scenery. 7. Snowdonia Wales Snowdonia National Park sits in north Wales and is probably the most popular region of the country to visit. Mount Snowdon is a challenging climb for competent walkers but a unique railway will take you to the summit if you want the views without the exertion. The Snowdonia region can’t boast the dizzy heights of the Grampian Mountains but with lots of small lakes, steam railways and simply beautiful views, and lots of attractions this well visited region is worth a visit all year round. 8. Lake District England England is packed with National Parks and rolling hills but many of these are too low to be classified as mountains. The Lake District National Park in England’s North West can boast both rolling hills, classic English countryside and villages, England’s largest lake (Windermere) and spectacular mountains surrounding them. Although the main draw of the Lake District is somewhat inevitably the lakes, some of the mountains such as England’s highest; Scafell Pike (978m) provide an incredibly challenging climb and rewarding views for those with the inclination. 9. Cheviot Hills England The Cheviot Hills sit on the England and Scotland border just in the north of the Northumberland national Park. The highest hill is the Cheviot itself which sits at a not unspectacular 815m. The southern area borders Kielder Forest and is a great open region for walking, roaming and enjoying the English countryside. 10. Sperrin Mountains Northern Ireland The Sperrin Mountains is one of the largest mountainous regions in Ireland and is a glacial area of upland. The Sperrin's are famous for their purple heather laded slopes which make this an area of outstanding natural beauty. It is largely undiscovered though it has a high population in the urban areas which are incorporated into the Sperrin region.	i don't know
What is the official currency of Bulgaria?	Currency in Bulgaria Share: The monetary unit in the Republic of Bulgaria is the lev (BGN), which is equal to 100 stotinki (st.). Since 1997, the country has been governed by a currency board and the value of the lev has been pegged to the Euro, at a fixed rate of 1 EUR – 1.95583 BGN. You can find current currency information on the site of the Bulgarian National Bank: www.bnb.bg . Currency can be exchanged in banks or in any of the country’s many currency exchange offices. Some of these exchange offices also work on holidays. Euro-cheques can be exchanged in banks. Credit cards: Most Bulgarian hotels and stores now accept VISA, MasterCard, American Express, and Diners Club credit cards. We invest in your future Project “Multimedia Catalogue of the Tourist Sites and Electronic Marketing of Destination Bulgaria” The project is implemented with the financial support of Operative Program “Regional Development 2007-2013, co-financed by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund. The project is financed as per Grant Scheme BG 161PO001/3.3-01/2008. Support for effective national marketing of the tourist product and improvement of the information service. The contents of this page is created within the framework of the project entitled “Multimedia Catalogue of Tourist Sites and Electronic Marketing of Destination Bulgaria”, Contract No BG161PO001/3.3-01/2008 /001-5, which is performed with the financial support of Operative Program “Regional Development” 2007 – 2013, co-financed by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund. The entire responsibility for the contents of the page is brought by the beneficiary – The Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism, and under no circumstances it can be considered that this page presents the official position of the European Union and the Managing Body.	Lev
In which country is the Hryvnia the currency?	Bulgarian Lev Exchange Rates - Lev (BGN) Currency Converter - Bulgaria Currency The code for the Bulgarian Lev is BGN The symbol for the Bulgarian Lev is лв The Lev is divided into 100 stotinki For 2017, one Dollar has equalled average: лв 1.850	i don't know
What is the currency of Iceland?	ISK - Icelandic Krona rates, news, and tools Icelandic Krona History Being a former member of Denmark, Iceland used the Danish Rigsdaler and then the Danish Krone . In 1885, the country began issuing its own banknotes. Under Danish rule, Iceland was connected to the Scandinavian Monetary Union until 1914 when the monetary union disbanded. In 1918, Iceland gained autonomy from Denmark and the Icelandic Króna was established as the country's official currency. This first Krona suffered hyperinflation and in 1981, a reform took place to revalue the currency by a factor of 100. New notes and coins were issued and the ISO currency code was changed from ISJ to ISK. Iceland's 2008 Financial Crisis In 2008, the country suffered a financial crisis where the banking sector collapsed. The value of the Krona plummeted. Although the Central Bank tried to stabilize it by pegging it against the euro, the Krona continued to fall. Since then, there has been debate as to whether or not Iceland should adopt a more stable currency. The euro and the Canadian Dollar have been favored, though opinions are still mixed. Paste link in email or IM Link Url	Krona
In which cycling event did Victoria Pendleton win gold at the 2012 Olympics?	Money in Iceland \| Frommer's Money advertisement Iceland is a wealthy nation that relies heavily on imports; but at $180/£90 a night for "budget hotels," $15/£7.50 for burgers, and $12/£6 for a beer, Iceland's prices may come as a shock. High prices affect locals as well: special charter flights to Europe and the U.S. are arranged just for shopping expeditions. Remember that visitors are entitled to a refund on the value-added tax (VAT, or sales tax) for purchases of eligible goods. Currency -- Iceland's monetary unit is the krona (sometimes abbreviated as "ISK," but written as "kr" in this guide), plural kronur. Coins come in 1, 10, 50, and 100 kronur denominations; bank notes are in denominations of 500kr ($8/£4), 1,000kr ($16/£8), 2,000kr ($32/£16), and 5,000kr ($80/£40). Prices listed in this book reflect exchange rates at press time: 62.5kr to the dollar and 125kr to the British pound. Dollars, pounds, and euros are easily exchanged for kronur. For current conversion rates, try www.xe.com/ucc. ATMs/Currency Exchange -- You could spend a lot of time and effort obtaining Icelandic currency in advance of arrival, but ATMs are the most practical and reliable way to get cash at fair exchange rates. Upon arrival at Keflavík International Airport, you'll easily find ATMs and the currency exchange desk, both run by Landsbanki Íslands, which has fair exchange rates. Tip: Avoid exchanging money at hotels, which tend to have high transaction fees. ATMs are found in most villages around Iceland, though not all ATMs are accessible 24 hours. Icelandic ATMs generally accept all major debit, credit, and cash-only cards. Cirrus (tel. 800/424-7787; www.mastercard.com) and PLUS (tel. 800/843-7587; www.visa.com) cards are almost universally accepted in Icelandic ATMs . Credit & Debit Cards -- Credit cards are safe, convenient, and generally offer good exchange rates. Note, however, that many banks now assess a 1% to 3% "foreign transaction fee" on all charges you incur abroad. In Iceland you'll need a PIN to withdraw cash advances on your credit card. You will not need a PIN for most credit card purchases, but occasions may arise (particularly at automated gas pumps). If you've forgotten your PIN, call the number on the back of your card and ask that it be provided to you. Icelanders love credit and debit cards, and will commonly whip one out just to buy an ice cream cone. Most shops and tourist establishments accept credit cards; you can even charge a taxi ride. Visa and MasterCard are the most widely accepted, though American Express and Diner's Club are useful as well. Electron, Maestro, and EDC debit cards are increasingly accepted at retail stores. Traveler's Checks -- These days, traveler's checks are less necessary because most cities have 24-hour ATMs. However, traveler's checks are still widely accepted in Iceland. Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip. advertisement	i don't know
The last pair of which extinct flightless birds were killed in 1844? (Two words.)	The Day in History: Last Pair of Great Auks Killed (1844) The Day in History: Last Pair of Great Auks Killed (1844) The Great Auk (Pinguinus impennis, formerly Alca impennis) is an extinct bird. It was the only species in the genus Pinguinus, flightless giant auks from the Atlantic, to survive until recent times, but is extinct today. It was also known as garefowl (from the Old Norse geirfugl, meaning "spear-bird", a reference to the shape of its beak), or penguin (see etymology below). In the past, the Great Auk was found in great numbers on islands off eastern Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Ireland and Great Britain, but it was eventually hunted to extinction. Remains found in Floridan middens suggest that at least occasionally, birds ventured that far south in winter as recently as in the 14th century (Weigel 1958, Brodkorb 1960). Characteristics Mounted specimen, Natural History Museum, LondonStanding about 75 centimetres or 30-34 inches high and weighing around 5 kg (Livezey 1988), the flightless Great Auk was the largest of the auks. It had white and glossy black feathers. The longest wing feathers were only 4 inches long. Its feet and claws were black. The webbed skin between the toes was brown/black. The beak was black with white transverse grooves. There was an area of white feathers on both sides of the head between the beak and each eye. It had a reddish/brown iris. Juvenile birds had less prominent grooves in their beaks and had mottled white and black necks. Ecology They were excellent swimmers, using their wings to swim underwater. Their main food was fish, usually between 12 and 20 cm, but occasionally up to half the bird's own length; based on remains associated with Great Auk bones on Funk Island and ecological and morphological considerations, it seems that Atlantic menhaden and capelin were favored prey items (Olson et al. 1979). Great Auks walked slowly and sometimes used their wings to help them traverse rough terrain. They had few natural predators, mainly large marine mammals and birds of prey, and had no innate fear of humans. Their flightlessness and awkwardness on land compounded their vulnerability to humans, who hunted them for food, feathers, and also for specimen collection for museums and private collections. Egg, Ipswich Museum, Suffolk The Great Auk laid only one egg each year, which it incubated on bare ground, with hatching in June. The eggs were yellowish white to light ochre with a varying pattern of black, brown or greyish spots and lines which often congregated on the large end, and quite large (110-140 x 70-84 mm). ExtinctionThe Great Auk was hunted on a significant scale for food, eggs and down from at least the 8th century. Previous to that, hunting by local natives can be documented from Late Stone Age Scandinavia and Eastern North America (Greenway 1967), and from early 5th century AD Labrador (Jordan & Olson 1982) where the bird only seems to have occurred as a straggler. A person buried at the Maritime Archaic site at Port au Choix, Newfoundland, dating to about 2000 BC, seems to have been interred clothed in a suit made from more than 200 Great Auk skins, with the heads left attached as decoration (Tuck 1976). The little ice age may have reduced their numbers, but massive exploitation for their down eventually reduced the population. Specimens of the Great Auk and its eggs became collectible and highly prized, and collecting of the eggs contributed to the demise of the species. On Stac an Armin, St Kilda, Scotland, in July, 1840, the last great auk seen in the British Isles was killed by two St Kildans residents. Haswell-Smith claims that this was because they thought it was a witch. The last population lived on an island of Geirfuglasker ("The Great Auk Rock") off Iceland. The island was a volcanic rock surrounded by cliffs, which made it inaccessible to humans, but in 1830 this rock submerged and the birds moved to a nearby island of Eldey which was accessible from a single side. The last pair, found incubating an egg, were killed there on 3 July 1844 by Jon Brandsson and Sigurdr Islefsson, though a later claim of a live individual sighted in 1852 on the Grand Banks of Newfoundland is accepted by the IUCN (BirdLife International 2004). Today, around 75 eggs of the Great Auk remain in museum collections, and about again this number of skins. While literally thousands of isolated bones have been collected from 19th century Funk Island to Neolithic middens, only a minute number of complete skeletons exist (Luther 1996). Systematics Analysis of mtDNA sequences (Moum et al 2002) have confirmed morphological and biogeographical studies in regarding the razorbill as the Great Auk's closest living relative. Interestingly, they were also closely related to the dovekie (little auk), which underwent a radically different evolution compared to Pinguinus. The entire lineage seems to have evolved in the North Atlantic. Due to the outward similarity to the razorbill (apart from flightlessness and size), the Great Auk was often placed in the genus Alca. However, the fossil record (Pinguinus alfrednewtoni from the Early Pliocene Yorktown Formation of the Lee Creek Mine, USA) and molecular evidence demonstrate that the three genera, while still closely related, diverged soon after their common ancestor had spread to the coasts of the Atlantic. As mascotThe Great Auk is a mascot to Archmere Academy in Claymont, Delaware, USA, Sir Sandford Fleming college in Ontario, Canada, and the Adelaide University Choral Society (AUCS), Australia. It is also the mascot of the Knowledge Masters educational competition. The Auk, the scientific journal of the American Ornithologists' Union, is named after this bird. According to Homer Hickam's memoir Rocket Boys and its subsequent film production October Sky the early rockets he and his friends built were named "Auk" along with a sequential numeration as an obvious display of irony. In LiteratureThe Great Auk is the subject of a novel, The Last Great Auk, by Allen Eckert. This novel tells about the events leading to extinction of the Great Auk, as seen from the perspective of the Great Auk that winds up being the last one alive. A Great Auk (presumably stuffed) appears in the opera The Rake's Progress by Igor Stravinsky with libretto by W.H.Auden and Chester Kallman among the possessions of Baba the Turk. In the novel adaptation of "The Wicker Man" by Robin Hardy & Anthony Shaffer, but not the film, the (fictitious) Summerisle is revealed to be home to a surviving colony of Great Auks. Source: encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com	Great auk
Which type of birds have the genus name of ‘Halcyon’?	Great Auks Great Auks Auks The Great Auk (Pinguinus impennis) is an extinct bird. It was the only species in the genus Pinguinus, flightless giant auks from the Atlantic, to survive until recent times, but is extinct today. It was also known as garefowl (from the Old Norse geirfugl), or penguin (see etymology below). In the past, the Great Auk was found in great numbers on islands off eastern Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Ireland and Great Britain, but it was eventually hunted to extinction. Remains found in Floridan middens suggest that at least occasionally, birds ventured that far south in winter, possibly as recently as in the 17th century (Weigel, 1958). Characteristics Standing about 75 centimetres or 30-34 inches high and weighing around 5 kg (Livezey, 1988), the flightless Great Auk was the largest of the auks . It had white and glossy black feathers. The longest wing feathers were only 4 inches long. Its feet and claws were black. The webbed skin between the toes was brown/black. The beak was black with white transverse grooves. There was an area of white feathers on both sides of the head between the beak and each eye. It had a reddish/brown iris. Juvenile birds had less prominent grooves in their beaks and had mottled white and black necks. Ecology They were excellent swimmers, using their wings to swim underwater. Their main food was fish, usually between 12 and 20 cm, but occasionally up to half the bird's own length; based on remains associated with Great Auk bones on Funk Island and ecological and morphological considerations, it seems that Atlantic menhaden and capelin were favored prey items (Olson et al., 1979). Great Auks walked slowly and sometimes used their wings to help them traverse rough terrain. They had few natural predators, mainly large marine mammals and birds of prey , and had no innate fear of humans. Their flightlessness and awkwardness on land compounded their vulnerability to humans, who hunted them for food, feathers, and also for specimen collection for museums and private collections. The Great Auk laid only one egg each year, which it incubated on bare ground, with hatching in June. The eggs were yellowish white to light ochre with a varying pattern of black, brown or greyish spots and lines which often congregated on the large end, and quite large (110-140 x 70-84 mm). Extinction The Great Auk was hunted on a significant scale for food, eggs and down from at least the 8th century. Previous to that, hunting by local natives can be documented from Late Stone Age Scandinavia and Eastern North America (Greenway, 1967), and from early 5th century AD Labrador (Jordan and Olson, 1982) where the bird only seems to have occurred as a straggler. A person buried at the Maritime Archaic site at Port au Choix, Newfoundland, dating to about 2000 BC, seems to have been interred clothed in a suit made from more than 200 Great Auk skins, with the heads left attached as decoration (Tuck, 1976). Nonetheless, opportunistic hunting by natives did not endanger the species as a whole. The little ice age may have reduced their numbers, but massive exploitation for their down eventually reduced the population to very few birds. Specimens of the Great Auk and its eggs became collectable and highly prized, and collecting contributed to the demise of the species. Today about 80 preserved skins and approximately 70 eggs are known to exist. The last pair, found incubating an egg, were killed on 3 July 1844, on the island of Eldey off Iceland, though a later sighting was claimed of a live individual in 1852 off the Newfoundland Banks in Canada. Today, around 75 eggs of the Great Auk remain in museum collections, and about again this number of skins. While literally thousands of isolated bones have been collected from 19th century Funk Island to neolithic middens, only a minute number of complete skeletons exist (Luther, 1996). Systematics Analysis of mtDNA sequences (Moum et al, 2002) have confirmed morphological and biogeographical studies in regarding the razorbill as the Great Auk's closest living relative. Interestingly, they were also closely related to the dovekie , which underwent a radically different evolution compared to Pinguinus. The entire lineage seems to have evolved in the North Atlantic. Due to the outward similarity to the razorbill (apart from flightlessness and size), the Great Auk was often placed in the genus Alca. However, the fossil record (Pinguinus alfrednewtoni from the Early Pliocene Yorktown Formation of the Lee Creek Mine, USA) and molecular evidence demonstrate that the three genera, while still closely related, diverged soon after their common ancestor had spread to the coasts of the Atlantic. Etymology One theory connects names for the Great Auk with the origin of the word penguin, which may have come from the Welsh or Breton phrase pen gwyn, meaning "white head", referring originally to the Great Auk (although the head of the Great Auk was not in fact white, there are two white patches on its face). Later, when explorers discovered apparently similar birds in the southern hemisphere, what we now call penguins , the term was supposedly transferred to them. An alternative theory, suggested by John Latham in 1785, claims that the word penguin comes from the Latin pinguis meaning "fat", referring to the plump appearance of the bird. The binomial impennis means "lacking remiges" (flight feathers) in Latin; the remiges of this species are compact and small and possibly worked as vortex generators, if they had any function at all. Copyright: Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License . It uses material from Wikipedia.org ... Additional information and photos added by Avianweb. Please Note: The articles or images on this page are the sole property of the authors or photographers. Please contact them directly with respect to any copyright or licensing questions. Thank you. BeautyOfBirds strives to maintain accurate and up-to-date information; however, mistakes do happen. If you would like to correct or update any of the information, please send us an e-mail . THANK YOU!	i don't know
Zelda was the wife of which writer, born in Minnesota in 1896?	The Sensible Thing: Biographies F. Scott Fitzgerald and the American Dream F. Scott Fitzgerald's life is a tragic example of both sides of the American Dream - the joys of young love, wealth and success, and the tragedies associated with excess and failure. Named for another famous American, a distant cousin who authored the Star Spangled Banner, Fitzgerald was born in St. Paul Minnesota on September 24, 1896. The son of a failed wicker furniture salesman (Edward Fitzgerald) and an Irish immigrant with a large inheritance (Mary "Mollie" McQuillan), Fitzgerald grew up in a solidly Catholic and upper middle class environment. 1935 Portrait by David Silvette, courtesy National Portrait Gallery. Fitzgerald started writing at an early age. His high school newspaper published his detective stories, encouraging him to pursue writing more enthusiastically than academics. He dropped out of Princeton University to join the army and continued to pursue his obsession, writing magazine articles and even musical lyrics. At 21 years of age, he submitted his first novel for publication and Charles Scribner's Sons rejected it, but with words of encouragement. Beginning a pattern of constant revising that would characterize his writing style for the rest of his career, Fitzgerald decided to rewrite "The Romantic Egoist" and resubmit it for publication. Meanwhile, fate, in the form of the U.S. army, stationed him near Montgomery, Alabama in 1918, where he met and fell in love with an 18-year-old Southern belle - Zelda Sayre. Scribners rejected his novel for a second time, and so Fitzgerald turned to advertising as a steady source of income. Unfortunately, his paltry salary was not enough to convince Zelda to marry him, and tired of waiting for him to make his fortune, she broke their engagement in 1919. Happily, Scribners finally accepted the novel after Fitzgerald rewrote it for the third time as "This Side of Paradise", and published it a year later. Fitzgerald, suddenly a rich and famous author, married Zelda a week after its publication. In between writing novels, Fitzgerald was quite prolific as a magazine story writer. The Saturday Evening Post in particular served as a showcase for his short works of fiction, most of which revolved around a new breed of American woman - the young, free-thinking, independent "flapper" of the Roaring Twenties. The Fitzgeralds enjoyed fame and fortune, and his novels reflected their lifestyle, describing in semi-autobiographical fiction the privileged lives of wealthy, aspiring socialites. Fitzgerald wrote his second novel - "The Beautiful and the Damned" a year after they were married. Three years later, after the birth of their first and only child, Scottie, Fitzgerald completed his best-known work: "The Great Gatsby." The extravagant living made possible by such success, however, took its toll. Constantly globe-trotting (living at various times in several different cities in Italy, France, Switzerland, and eight of the United States), the Fitzgeralds tried in vain to escape or at least seek respite from Scott's alcoholism and Zelda's mental illness. Zelda suffered several breakdowns in both her physical and mental health, and sought treatment in and out of clinics from 1930 until her death (due to a fire at Highland Hospital in North Carolina in 1948). Zelda's mental illness, the subject of Fitzgerald's fourth novel, "Tender is the Night," had a debilitating effect on Scott's writing. He described his own "crack-up" in an essay that he wrote in 1936, hopelessly in debt, unable to write, nearly estranged from his wife and daughter, and incapacitated by excessive drinking and poor physical health. Things were looking up for Fitzgerald near the end of his life - he won a contract in 1937 to write for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in Hollywood and fell in love with Sheilah Graham, a movie columnist. He had started writing again - scripts, short-stories, and the first draft of a new novel about Hollywood - when he suffered a heart attack and died in 1940 at the age of 44, a failure in his own mind. Most commonly recognized only as an extravagant drunk, who epitomized the excesses of the Jazz Age, Fitzgerald's work did not earn the credibility and recognition it holds today until years after his death. Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald Artist, Writer, Dancer and Wife "By the time a person has achieved years adequate for choosing a direction, the die is cast and the moment has long since passed which determined the future." -Zelda Fitzgerald This quote perfectly illustrates Zelda Fitzgerald's lifelong struggle to create her own artistic identity. Born in 1900 in Montgomery, Alabama, she entered a world that was just starting to consider the possibility that women might have the right to be independent citizens capable of making their own decisions. The youngest of six children, her parents raised Zelda as a free-spirited, imaginative and thoroughly spoiled little girl. By the age of eighteen, when she met F. Scott Fitzgerald at one of the many parties she attended, she embodied the quintessential southern belle. Zelda as a young girl. A constant stream of passionate and argumentative love letters punctuated the period of their engagement while Scott worked in Manhattan and Zelda remained at her parents' home in Montgomery. For Zelda, marriage represented a new lease on life, the only way out of her small-town existence as someone's daughter, without any rights of her own. For a year, Scott struggled unsuccessfully to make his fortune in the advertising business, but Zelda grew tired of waiting. When he professed that he could not be successful without her by his side and proposed, she broke the engagement because she felt too much pressure. She insisted that he find success first on his own. His first novel made Scott rich within the year, and Zelda married him a week after its publication. As his wife, she embarked on a new life as a flapper - a freethinking woman with the world at her disposal. She was a huge influence on his writing, providing much of the material for his novels and short stories throughout their engagement and marriage. Scott frequently quoted her and her letters directly, using her words as the voice for several of his female characters. Zelda bore her first and only child at 21, naming Scottie after her husband. By 1924, Zelda's influence on Scott's writing had become less positive. An affair with a French naval aviator strained their marriage, so Zelda sought fulfillment in other venues. In 1928, she decided to pursue a lifelong dream of becoming a professional ballerina, and began taking lessons in Paris from a famous dancer. At the late age of 27, three years of intense ballet work (eight hours a day) damaged her health, and prompted her first mental breakdown, diagnosed as "nervous exhaustion", in 1930. Zelda was eventually diagnosed with schizophrenia, and would reside in and out of hospitals for the rest of her life. During her stay at Johns Hopkins hospital in 1932, she wrote her first and only novel: "Save Me the Waltz." A fairly prolific writer, Zelda also wrote eleven short stories and twelve articles during her lifetime. Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald, circa 1921. Writing was not Zelda's only form of artistic expression - she was also a painter. She painted brilliantly colored whimsical, sometimes fantastical works of art. Her granddaughter, Eleanor Lanahan, describes Zelda's paintings as "theatrical. They're like on a raised stage floor, and the characters are actors who are before you, waiting to perform." Several different areas of Zelda's life influenced her choice of subject matter. She painted one series based on children's fairy tales such as "Mary Had a Little Lamb" and "The Lobster Quadrille," from Alice in Wonderland. The Bible and Zelda's strong religious beliefs inspired another series of illustrations. She also painted from life, creating portraits of both herself and her husband, and depicting scenes from New York in the 1940s. A fire destroyed most paintings, and Zelda even donated some to the army during World War II to be painted over and used as canvas. Perhaps if Zelda had focused on just one form of artistic expression, she would have found her own success and fame independent of her marriage to a famous author. Her accomplishments are still impressive, especially when one takes the context of her life into consideration. As an icon of the Jazz Age, she struggled against her traditional southern upbringing and its societal constraints to create a new, independent identity not just for herself, but for all American women. Biographer Erika Willett is a modern-day flapper enjoying the good life in San Francisco.	F. Scott Fitzgerald
Fanny Brawne was engaged to which noted British poet?	F. Scott Fitzgerald \| American writer \| Britannica.com F. Scott Fitzgerald Alternative Title: Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald F. Scott Fitzgerald E.L. Doctorow F. Scott Fitzgerald, in full Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald (born September 24, 1896, St. Paul, Minnesota , U.S.—died December 21, 1940, Hollywood , California ), American short-story writer and novelist famous for his depictions of the Jazz Age (the 1920s), his most brilliant novel being The Great Gatsby (1925). His private life, with his wife, Zelda, in both America and France, became almost as celebrated as his novels. F. Scott Fitzgerald. Public Domain Fitzgerald was the only son of an unsuccessful, aristocratic father and an energetic, provincial mother. Half the time he thought of himself as the heir of his father’s tradition, which included the author of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” Francis Scott Key , after whom he was named, and half the time as “straight 1850 potato-famine Irish.” As a result he had typically ambivalent American feelings about American life, which seemed to him at once vulgar and dazzlingly promising. He also had an intensely romantic imagination, what he once called “a heightened sensitivity to the promises of life,” and he charged into experience determined to realize those promises. At both St. Paul Academy (1908–10) and Newman School (1911–13) he tried too hard and made himself unpopular, but at Princeton he came close to realizing his dream of a brilliant success. He became a prominent figure in the literary life of the university and made lifelong friendships with Edmund Wilson and John Peale Bishop . He became a leading figure in the socially important Triangle Club, a dramatic society, and was elected to one of the leading clubs of the university; he fell in love with Ginevra King, one of the beauties of her generation. Then he lost Ginevra and flunked out of Princeton. He returned to Princeton the next fall, but he had now lost all the positions he coveted, and in November 1917 he left to join the army. In July 1918, while he was stationed near Montgomery , Alabama , he met Zelda Sayre, the daughter of an Alabama Supreme Court judge. They fell deeply in love, and, as soon as he could, Fitzgerald headed for New York determined to achieve instant success and to marry Zelda. What he achieved was an advertising job at $90 a month. Zelda broke their engagement, and, after an epic drunk, Fitzgerald retired to St. Paul to rewrite for the second time a novel he had begun at Princeton. In the spring of 1920 it was published, he married Zelda, and riding in a taxi one afternoon between very tall buildings under a mauve and rosy sky; I began to bawl because I had everything I wanted and knew I would never be so happy again. Britannica Stories EU Considers Rules For Robots Immature though it seems today, This Side of Paradise in 1920 was a revelation of the new morality of the young; it made Fitzgerald famous. This fame opened to him magazines of literary prestige , such as Scribner’s, and high-paying popular ones, such as The Saturday Evening Post. This sudden prosperity made it possible for him and Zelda to play the roles they were so beautifully equipped for, and Ring Lardner called them the prince and princess of their generation. Though they loved these roles, they were frightened by them, too, as the ending of Fitzgerald’s second novel, The Beautiful and Damned (1922), shows. The Beautiful and Damned describes a handsome young man and his beautiful wife, who gradually degenerate into a shopworn middle age while they wait for the young man to inherit a large fortune. Ironically, they finally get it, when there is nothing of them left worth preserving. To escape the life that they feared might bring them to this end, the Fitzgeralds (together with their daughter, Frances, called “Scottie,” born in 1921) moved in 1924 to the Riviera, where they found themselves a part of a group of American expatriates whose style was largely set by Gerald and Sara Murphy; Fitzgerald described this society in his last completed novel, Tender Is the Night , and modeled its hero on Gerald Murphy. Shortly after their arrival in France, Fitzgerald completed his most brilliant novel, The Great Gatsby (1925). All of his divided nature is in this novel, the naive Midwesterner afire with the possibilities of the “American Dream” in its hero, Jay Gatsby , and the compassionate Yale gentleman in its narrator, Nick Carraway . The Great Gatsby is the most profoundly American novel of its time; at its conclusion, Fitzgerald connects Gatsby’s dream, his “Platonic conception of himself,” with the dream of the discoverers of America. Some of Fitzgerald’s finest short stories appeared in All the Sad Young Men (1926), particularly “The Rich Boy” and “Absolution,” but it was not until eight years later that another novel appeared. Britannica Lists & Quizzes Editor Picks: Exploring 10 Types of Basketball Movies The next decade of the Fitzgeralds’ lives was disorderly and unhappy. Fitzgerald began to drink too much, and Zelda suddenly, ominously, began to practice ballet dancing night and day. In 1930 she had a mental breakdown and in 1932 another, from which she never fully recovered. Through the 1930s they fought to save their life together, and, when the battle was lost, Fitzgerald said, “I left my capacity for hoping on the little roads that led to Zelda’s sanitarium.” He did not finish his next novel, Tender Is the Night, until 1934. It is the story of a psychiatrist who marries one of his patients, who, as she slowly recovers, exhausts his vitality until he is, in Fitzgerald’s words, un homme épuisé (“a man used up”). Though technically faulty and commercially unsuccessful, this is Fitzgerald’s most moving book. Literary Favorites: Fact or Fiction? With its failure and his despair over Zelda, Fitzgerald was close to becoming an incurable alcoholic. By 1937, however, he had come back far enough to become a scriptwriter in Hollywood, and there he met and fell in love with Sheilah Graham, a famous Hollywood gossip columnist. For the rest of his life—except for occasional drunken spells when he became bitter and violent—Fitzgerald lived quietly with her. (Occasionally he went east to visit Zelda or his daughter Scottie, who entered Vassar College in 1938.) In October 1939 he began a novel about Hollywood, The Last Tycoon . The career of its hero, Monroe Stahr , is based on that of the producer Irving Thalberg . This is Fitzgerald’s final attempt to create his dream of the promises of American life and of the kind of man who could realize them. In the intensity with which it is imagined and in the brilliance of its expression, it is the equal of anything Fitzgerald ever wrote, and it is typical of his luck that he died of a heart attack with his novel only half-finished. He was 44 years old. More about F. Scott Fitzgerald 20 References found in Britannica Articles Assorted References	i don't know
Who played the part of Sybil Fawlty?	BBC - Devon - Features - Sybil back at Fawlty Towers You are in: Devon > Features > Sybil back at Fawlty Towers Prunella Scales with a lifesize Basil Sybil back at Fawlty Towers Prunella Scales (aka Sybil Fawlty) has officially re-opened the Torquay hotel which inspired the legendary sitcom series, Fawlty Towers. She arrived in a replica of the red Austin 1100 car which was famously thrashed by Basil Fawlty. A Devon hotel which inspired the legendary TV comedy series Fawlty Towers has been officially re-opened by one of the show's stars. Actress Prunella Scales played the part of Sybil Fawlty in the 1970s BBC sitcom series. The world's best known hotel receptionist made a star appearance at the reopening of the Hotel Gleneagles in Torquay following a major refurbishment. She arrived in a replica of the red Austin 1100 flayed by screen husband Basil in one episode. Take a look at the photo gallery: More 'Sybil' photos > Fawlty Towers was based on the Gleneagles, where John Cleese stayed with other members of the Monty Python team in the early '70s. Cleese, who of course played Basil Fawlty, based the character on the owner of the hotel, Donald Sinclair, who he described as "the most wonderfully rude man I have ever met." Prunella signing autographs Mr Sinclair, who died in 1981, is said to have thrown Eric Idle's suitcase out of the window "in case it contained a bomb" and complained about Terry Gilliam's table manners. Looking back, the real Sybil, Beatrice Sinclair, agrees her husband was not good with the guests. "Not really, he was a commander in the Royal Navy and he liked to have the last word. I don't think he ever really enjoyed the hotel life." The hotel was recently bought by local businessmen Brian Shone and Terry Taylor. They have spent £1 million on refurbishing the facilities, and Prunella Scales was guest of honour at the official relaunch on 18th September 2006. From her bark of "Basil!", to her sympathetic phone manner (catchphrase "Oh, I know"), Prunella Scales' portrayal of Sybil was comic genius. Prunella admits that at the time she had no inkling that the series would become a British comedy masterpiece. "I don't remember very much from the early days of recording Fawlty Towers. We recorded an episode every week, so it was a question of learning the lines and getting them in the right order. Prunella behind the reception desk "It was very very distinguished writing, John and Connie did a wonderful job. It was good writing about men and women, and power and pain - all the important things that get the best laughs. "There was a great deal of pain in it both physical and mental, I think that's why it has endured. "The truth is we never filmed down here - we made the whole series in the Thames Valley so I didn't know what to expect or what it would look like. "I think Sybil might have quite impressed with the hotel as it is now, she wouldn't let on but I think she would have been. "I hope people will come back and if they have a good time at the Gleneagles, then it will put Torquay back on the map with a vengeance." The actress remembers her first meeting with John Cleese to work out one of the most iconic screen relationships in British comedy. "He said have you got any questions and I said, why did they get married in the first place? "We thought that they fell in love and got married and then he wanted to run this very pretentious hotel and she knew the business and had to put the brakes on him because his ideas were too pretentious." Mr Shone arranged for the actress to arrive at the Asheldon Road hotel in a red Austin 1100, just like the one owned by Basil Fawlty. Basil gives his red Austin 1100 a good hiding! In one of the series' most famous scenes in 1975, Basil gave the car a good hiding with a branch when it conked out and wouldn't restart. "We wanted to make her arrival as memorable as possible and what better way than to have her arrive in the back of a red Austin 1100," said Mr Shone. "She's never visited the hotel before so this was her first time here, which is amazing." The actual hotel seen at the start and end of the sitcom was the Woodburn Grange Country Club in Buckinghamshire, but that burned down in 1991. Coachloads of tourists turn up to the Hotel Gleneagles in the Wellswood area of Torquay every day - just to take a look at the place which inspired probably the most famous comedy series ever made. "We get about eight or 10 coaches a day stopping outside," said Mr Shone. "Some people just want to walk about inside. "It is the spiritual home of Fawlty Towers." However, Mr Shone is emphasising that the hotel relaunch event is invite only, and is not open to the public. Mr Shone keeps Fawlty Towers memorabilia inside the foyer of the hotel which, with its new boutique hotel look, is otherwise very different from the hotel in the series. Only 12 episodes were made of Fawlty Towers, and they were first aired on BBC1 more than 30 years ago. But the legend of Basil and Sybil lives on... last updated: 18/09/06SEE ALSO	Prunella Scales
What was the name of Sigourney Weaver’s character in the ‘Alien’ films?	Real-life Sybil Fawlty Beatrice Sinclair dies aged 95 \| Daily Mail Online comments The hotelier who was the inspiration behind Basil Fawlty’s wife Sybil in the classic BBC comedy Fawlty Towers has died aged 95. Beatrice Sinclair and her husband Donald were immortalised in fiction by John Cleese after he stayed at their Gleneagles Hotel in Torquay, Devon, in 1971. Mr Cleese was staying in the resort while filming Monty Python's Flying Circus and became impressed by Mr Sinclair’s ‘wonderful’ rudeness. Infamous: An undated picture of Beatrice Sinclair and husband Donald with daughters Ann and Helen. They were the inspiration behind Sybil and Basil Fawlty He is said to have terrorised his guests and at one point threw Eric Idle's suitcase behind a wall in the garden in case it contained a bomb. Mr Sinclair barked and threw maps at them and Mr Cleese found his behaviour so funny he was inspired to write Fawlty Towers and create Basil in his image. It is unclear how much of the character Sybil was based on Mrs Sinclair but during the Python's stay she apparently tried to charge Graham Chapman and Michael Palin a two week fee for a night's stay. RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share She was also the ‘driving force’ and founder of the hotel and her husband would always address her with 'Yes Dear', just as Basil addressed Sybil, played by Prunella Scales, in the popular TV series. Mrs Donald - who always denied her husband was anything like Basil - died on Monday at the Georgian House care home in Torquay aged 95. The hotel's current owner Brian Shone said: ‘She was the person who drove the business and she was the strong one. Whenever she told Donald what to do he would say “yes dear”. Immortalised: John Cleese and Prunella Scales as Basil and Sybil Fawlty in the classic TV series Fawlty Towers ‘I am sad. It's the end of an era but the era goes on, really. The Fawlty Towers theme is still carrying on and is as strong as ever. ‘We still get Japanese, Australians and Germans here on a daily basis. They just want to take photographs. We have six coaches a day stop outside.’ Mrs Sinclair remained silent for 30 years over the television series before finally speaking out to insist the Fawlty Towers image was not true. She said the image portrayed was unfair to the memory of her retired naval officer husband, who was torpedoed by the Nazis three times. Donald Sinclair died in 1981. Mr Shone bought the hotel for £1.5million in 2005 and says Mrs Sinclair visited a few times to see a refurbishment. He said: ‘She did come to the hotel a couple of times. She was a very, very nice lady. She really did not want to go in the Fawlty Towers direction at all. ‘It was a case of “you get on with it”. Sadly, she did not want to be part of it.’ Mrs Sinclair bought the house, then called Overnstey, for £7,000 in the 1960s while her sailor husband was at sea. She turned it into a hotel before renaming it Gleneagles and eventually persuaded her husband to leave the Royal Navy and join her. Inspiration: John Cleese wrote the series after staying at the Gleneagles Hotel in Torquay, Devon, in 1971, which was owned by the Sinclairs In 1971 while Monty Python were filming in the area the cast and crew stayed in the hotel - a stay that would inspire Fawlty Towers. During their stop one guest asked when the next bus would arrive to take them into town - and Mr Sinclair threw a timetable at him. He then placed Eric Idle's suitcase behind a wall in the garden in case it contained a bomb - while it actually contained a ticking alarm clock. Mr Sinclair also criticised the American-born Terry Gilliam's table manners for being too American because he had the fork in the ‘wrong’ hand. It is believed that incident inspired Basil's treatment of an American visitor in the episode 'Waldorf Salad'. He also ‘flew into a fit of rage’ when he saw some builders having a tea break - thought to have inspired the episode where Basil thrashes his car with a branch. Graham Chapman and Michael Palin decided to leave after just one night - but Mrs Sinclair gave them a bill for two weeks. Mr Cleese’s co-star Palin supported his assessment of the couple, saying that Mr Sinclair saw the Pythons as a ‘colossal inconvenience’. After leaving the hotel, Mrs Sinclair continued to live a short distance from the Gleneagles and later moved into a care home.	i don't know
What was the code name for the Normandy landings?	D-Day Landing Beaches D-Day Landings Allied soldiers disembark from a landing craft on the Normandy landing beaches. This photograph is available under the Creative Commons License . The D-Day Landings constituted the allied invasion of Nazi occupied France as part of the overall plan to liberate Europe. The code name for the Normandy Invasion, which involved the most massive amphibious and airborne landings in the history of the world, was code named Overlord. Altogether 3 million allied military personnel were involved. As part of the D-Day landings the allies launched coordinated sea borne and airborne assaults against Normandy France. The bulk of the allied armies landed by sea in small amphibious crafts that took them from waiting troop ships to the beaches of Normandy France. The allies landed on six beaches, code named Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword. The allied code names of the beach landings had originally been given less impressive names such as "Jellyfish" but Prime Minister Winston Churchill of Britain insisted that they be renamed arguing that men were being asked to die for these beaches, and therefore the names should be more dignified. A few days before the allied D-Day landings, a British newspaper published a crossword puzzle which had as its answer the same names as the D-Day landings, namely Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword. Allied intelligence feared that its security had been breached and that this was an attempt to communicate the plans to secret German agents. However an investigation revealed that this was simply an amazing coincidence. At least that is the official story. However, in my view the chances of a crossword puzzle writer independently coming up with all six of the code names for the D-Day landings, just days before the actual Normandy invasion seems too statistically improbable. Perhaps the puzzle was a coded message after all, and allied intelligence simply did not want to admit the possibility. Normandy Invasion The allied landings on D-Day were made under very impressive secrecy and achieved the element of surprise. Although the Germans had known for quite some time that the Allies would attempt to land in France, they did not know when or where and as a result they were forced to defend large sections of the Normandy coast as well as areas farther north including Belgium. Hitler, in typical fashion, stripped his commanders of authority and took command of the defences, which made German opposition to the allied landings less effective. Hitler believed that the allies would land at Pas de Calais, the closest point to England and he concentrated many of his best panzer divisions there. Even after the landings actually began, the German high command was not sure if the D-Day landings were simply a diversion for a larger landing elsewhere. As a result, many German units did not immediately move to counterattack and remained in defensive positions elsewhere along the coast. When German units did move against the allied D Day beaches their movements were hampered by intensive allied air bombardment which destroyed bridges and paratroopers and French resistance fighters. Many German divisions were under strength and had been transferred to France to recuperate after suffering severe losses on the Russian front. Nevertheless, the Germans did manage to put up effective initial resistance against the allied D Day landings and for a time the outcome was in doubt. If the allied landings had failed, it would have meant monumental losses for the allies as well as a severe loss of prestige and morale. General Eisenhower, in overall command of the allied forces, was not certain of victory and had already penned a communique that he would release in the event that the invasion failed. German propaganda newsreels from the first days of the fighting portrayed the D-Day landings as a failure and claimed that the Allies had been repulsed. These were not just lies put out by the German propaganda ministry. In many places, the outcome of the landings was seriously in doubt, and even after the British, Americans and Canadians were able to move inland, they continued to meet stiff German resistance. The allied D Day beaches were chosen because of their terrain and proximity to England which allowed fighter planes based in Britain to fly air support over the beaches. The day of the landings. June 6, 1944, was chosen because the tide conditions made a landing easier. However the landings were almost canceled due to extremely bad weather. It was only after allied weathermen were able to predict a period of calm weather over the beaches on June 6, that the order to go ahead was given. It is amazing that the allied weather predictors got it right in 1944 without the aid of satellites or doppler radar, yet today most weather channels cannot accurately predict if it will rain this weekend. Once the allied beach heads were established the allies were able to break out of the initial D Day beaches and push inland through Normandy on the way to Paris. Today, the site of the D-Day landings are tourist destinations. Men and women who fought in the war, as well as their children and grandchildren often return to view the site of the fighting. There are many companies that offer D-Day Battlefield Tours. Tankers of the 761st Medium Tank Battalion, 1944	Invasion of Normandy
What was the exact date in 1944 in which they took place?	D-Day Landing Beaches. Sites of Interest. Normandy. Normandy in France ~ Bed and Breakfast in Normandy, Gites and self-catering in Normandy. Book directly through the owners. D-Day landing beaches> Tall ships> Mont Saint Michel> Bayeaux Tapestry> Charming Norman villages and towns> Calvados and cider> Cathedrals - there's plenty to do and see in Normandy! D-Day Normandy France ~ Normandy in France ~ Bed and Breakfast in Normandy, Gites and self-catering in Normandy. Book directly through the owners. Huge sandy beaches, Calvados and cider, beautiful rolling countryside. Normandy in France offers a superb holiday experience. The famous D-Day landing beaches in Normandy were operational on the eve of 5th to 6th June when three airborne divisions were dropped. Meanwhile approaching by sea towards the 5 landing beaches were 135,000 men and around 20,000 vehicles. The rest is history. After spending many weeks touring this location here are some excellent places to visit. Listing of main points from Cherbourg East through to Le Havre. OBJECTï¿½The ultimate mission of the Commanding General, ETOUSA, is the total defeat of Germany. The object of Operation OVERLORD is to mount and carry out an operation with forces and equipment established in the United Kingdom and with target date as designated, to secure a lodgement area on the Continent from which further offensive operations can be developed. This will be part of a concerted assault upon German occupied Europe from the United Kingdom, the Mediterranean and Russia "Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force! You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of liberty loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers in arms on other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world. Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle hardened. He will fight savagely. But this is the year 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battle, man to man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our Home Fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to Victory! I have full confidence in your courage and devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory! Good luck! And let us beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking. General Dwight D. Eisenhower OPERATION OVERLORD FORT ROULE - WAR AND LIBERATION MUSEUM Perched high above Cherbourg. Ste MARIE - INVASION & LIBERATION MUSEUM Museum at Utah Beach exhibiting a model of the W5 Utah Beach situation, archive photographs, original military maps, archive film (12 mins). UTAH BEACH The 4th US Military landed here from 06.30 onwards, by midday the beach was completely cleared. AMERICAN MEMORIAL - The World War II Utah Beach American Memorial is located at the termination of Highway N-13D, approximately a mile and a half northeast of Sainte-Marie-du-Mont (Manche), France. This monument commemorates the achievements of the American Forces of the VII Corps who landed and fought in the liberation of the Cotentin Peninsula from June 6, 1944 to July 1, 1944. WAR MUSEUMS - St Mere Eglise, St Marle du Mont. GRANDECAMP - POINTE DU HOC The World War II Pointe du Hoc Ranger Monument is located on a cliff eight miles west of Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, which overlooks Omaha Beach. It was erected by the French to honor elements of the American Second Ranger Battalion under the command of Lieutenant Colonel James E. Rudder. During the American assault of Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944, these elements scaled the 100 foot cliff and seized the German artillery pieces that could have fired on the American landing troops at Omaha Beach. At a high cost of life, they successfully defended against determined German counterattacks Taken by storm on the morning of 6 June by Colonel Rudder's 2nd Ranger Battalion, this was also one of the strong points of the German fortifications. The place reminds us of what a German battery was like, with its range-finding post, its casemates and shelters... OMAHA OMAHA MUSEUM - Just 200m behind Omaha Beach, this museum presents each phase of the US sector, from the occupation up to D-Day. Exhibition of weapons, uniforms, military vehicles, 155mm gun, landing barge, Sherman tank. Panels on different themes. AMERICAN CEMETERY - This 70-hectare cemetery overlooks Omaha Beach. It contains 9387 white crosses in Carrare marble in perfect rows. The cemetery also has a chapel and a memorial dedicated to the youth of America. BAYEUX Host of the Bayeux Tapestry and also guardian of the British World War II cemetery Bayeux offers an opportunity for you to take time and remember those we lost during these war years. Museum - Memorial of the Battle of Normandie. Boulevard Fabian Ware. Recounting the Battle of Normandy from 7 June to 22 August 1944 through 2300m2 of exhibitions and film show in a 144-seat auditorium. Museum - Memorial of General De Gaulle BRITISH WAR GRAVES LONGUES- SUR-MER View the beaches from the German artillery position. This is the only battery to have kept it's guns and emplacements. Originally comprising 4 casemates, shelters, guns and a range-finding post, this German battery is one of the few remnants of the Atlantic Wall to have survived intact. Built overlooking the D-Day beaches, its defensive contribution was brief indeed, as the Allied forces neutralized it on the afternoon of 6 June. ARROMANCHES MUSEUM - Musee Debarquement - A history museum that recounts the construction and operation of the artificial harbour built at Arromanches after D-Day and which was the key to the success of the Battle of Normandy 360` cinema GOLD Gold" was the code name for the centre beach of the five designated landing areas of the Normandy Invasion. The beach was more than 5 miles (8 kilometres) wide and included the coastal towns of La Riviere and Le Hamel. On the western end of the beach was the small port of Arromanches, and slightly farther west of that port was the town of Longues-sur-Mer. The British 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division of the 2nd Army under Lieutenant General Miles Dempsey was to land at H-Hour+1 (0730), seize Arromanches and drive inland to capture the road junction at Bayeux. Its additional objectives were to make contact with the US forces to the west at Omaha Beach and the Canadians to their east at Juno Beach. In addition to the 50th, the 47th Royal Marine Commandos were to land on sector Item and to attack south of Arromanches and Longues and take Port-en-Bessin from the rear. CABOURG - ATLANTIC WALL MUSEUM CAEN	i don't know
Whose book, ‘Dreams From My Father’, was published in 1995?	Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama, 1995 - AbeBooks Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama, 1995 You Searched For: Results (1 - 30) of 40 1 ISBN 10: 1400082773 ISBN 13: 9781400082773 Used PAPERBACK Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: Broadway Books. PAPERBACK. Book Condition: Very Good. 1400082773 This book has a clean paperback cover with minor shelf-wear on edges and corners. Binding is tight and square. Interior pages are clean and free from highlighting, pencil underlining, notes, or stains. Broadway Books, 1995, 2004, 453 pp. Book is in stock and ready to ship same or next business day. Thank you for buying from Wado Books!. Bookseller Inventory # HD2-160617-14 ISBN 10: 081292343X ISBN 13: 9780812923438 Used Hardcover Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: Times Books, 1995. Hardcover. Book Condition: Used: Acceptable. first edition, former library copy with usual markings and stickers, pages are tight and unmarked, protective mylar cover on dust jacket, some edgewear to covers, spine slighlty canted. Additional postage charges may be requested for international shipping of large books. You will be notified by email if extra charges are requested, or you may email us before you order for a shipping quote. Bookseller Inventory # 6-14-15-NA-gry-13m Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: Hardcover. Book Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Included. 1st Edition. NY: Random House (2004). THE FIRST PRINTING (with a "1" in the number run) OF THE LARGE PRINT EDITION. INCLUDES THE PRESIDENT'S 2004 KEYNOTE ADDRESS TO THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION. Near fine in close to fine dj (dj is NOT price-clipped). The 1995 first prices in the thousands. Bookseller Inventory # ABE-1526785037 ISBN 10: 081292343X ISBN 13: 9780812923438 Used Hardcover ISBN 10: 081292343X ISBN 13: 9780812923438 Used Hardcover First Edition ISBN 10: 081292343X ISBN 13: 9780812923438 Used Hardcover ISBN 10: 0307383415 ISBN 13: 9780307383419 Used Hardcover First Edition ISBN 10: 081292343X ISBN 13: 9780812923438 Used Hardcover ISBN 10: 081292343X ISBN 13: 9780812923438 Used Hardcover Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: Crown Publishing Group (NY), 1995. Hardcover. Book Condition: Good. Sewn binding. Cloth over boards. 403 p. Audience: General/trade. 081292343X Good in good dust jacket. Manufacturing defect to front endpaper. It looks as if the glue the binders used was too hot and burned a small hole in the paper right at the seam. Else VG+/VG+. E-mail for pics. Bookseller Inventory # Alibris.0004108 ISBN 10: 081292343X ISBN 13: 9780812923438 Used Hardcover ISBN 10: 081292343X ISBN 13: 9780812923438 Used Hardcover First Edition Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: Times Books, Westminister, Maryland, U.S.A., 1995. Hard Cover. Book Condition: Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. First Edition. First printing hardcover. The book is near very good with shelfwear, several dogearred corners and 2 pages near the end of the book with underlining. The mylar protected dust jacket is near very good with rubbing, edgewear and some creasing. A nice example of a scarce first edition. Expedited international shipping is not available. The delivery expectation for international shipping is 7-32 business days, depending upon customer location. Bookseller Inventory # 005329 ISBN 10: 0307383415 ISBN 13: 9780307383419 New Hardcover First Edition Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: Crown, New York, 2004. Hardcover. Book Condition: Very Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Fine. First Edition Thus - First Printing. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. First edition thus, first printing, with a full number line starting with a 1. A very fine and unread copy in a very fine dust jacket, now in a clear removable protective cover. Bubble wrapped and shipped in a sturdy box to insure safe arrival. First edition, first printing thus of President Obama's first book, originally published in 1995 by Times Books. Very scarce in the first printing, especially in this condition. Bookseller Inventory # 010713 ISBN 10: 081292343X ISBN 13: 9780812923438 Used Hardcover First Edition Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: Times Books, New York, 1995. Hardcover. Book Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. First Edition; First Printing. Corner bump, one page with fold mark, otherwise light wear; Dust Jacket light edgewear. Solid hardcover. ; First edition, first printing (with First Edition stated and number string without 1 in Random House method) in unclipped Dust Jacket ($23.00) of President Obama's first book, a memoir of his search for meaning to his life as a black American. ; xi, 403 pages. Bookseller Inventory # 9563 ISBN 10: 081292343X ISBN 13: 9780812923438 Used Hardcover Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: Times Books, 1995. Book Condition: Used. This Book is in Good Condition. Clean Copy With Light Amount of Wear. 100% Guaranteed. Summary: Obama, the son of a white American mother and a black African father, writes an elegant and compelling biography that powerfully articulates America's racial battleground and tells of his search for his place in black America. 8 pages of photos. Bookseller Inventory # ABE_book_usedgood_081292343X ISBN 10: 081292343X ISBN 13: 9780812923438 New Hardcover ISBN 10: 081292343X ISBN 13: 9780812923438 New Hardcover ISBN 10: 081292343X ISBN 13: 9780812923438 Used Hardcover First Edition Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: Times Books, Westminister, Maryland, U.S.A., 1995. Hard Cover. Book Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. First Edition. First printing hardcover. The book is very good with shelfwear and a bumped corner. The mylar protected dust jacket is very good with rubbing, and a bit of light creasing. A nice example of a very scarce first edition. Expedited international shipping is not available. The delivery expectation for international shipping is 7-32 business days, depending upon customer location. Bookseller Inventory # 006966 ISBN 10: 081292343X ISBN 13: 9780812923438 Used Hardcover Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: Times Books. Hardcover. Book Condition: Good. 081292343X Good+; Hardcover, No Jacket; 1995, Times Books; True first edition published by Times Books in 1995; Clean covers with just a few light handling marks and moderately "bumped" edge-corners; Unblemished textblock edges; Pages clean & unmarked; Good binding with straight spine; Tan cloth covers with black cloth covering over spine, and title in gold lettering along spine; 403 pages; "Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance," by Barack Obama. Bookseller Inventory # SKU-51601810151 ISBN 10: 081292343X ISBN 13: 9780812923438 Used Hardcover First Edition Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: Times Books, 1995. Hardcover. Book Condition: Collectible: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. First Edition. New York: Times Books, 1995. First edition. Hardcover. 403 pp. Very good, in a very good unclipped jacket. Rear board lightly bumped at the bottom edge. A few pages bumped, barely turning the corners. Jacket has light edge wear, mostly at the top edge. Not remaindered. Bookseller Inventory # 049435 ISBN 10: 081292343X ISBN 13: 9780812923438 Used Hardcover Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: Times Books. Hardcover. Book Condition: Very Good. 081292343X For your consideration is the first edition of, "Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance," by Barack Obama. Our book is in exceptional condition and is graded Very Good+ in a Very Good++ dust jacket. The dust jacket is glossy with no scuffs or tears and has not been price-clipped (Now fitted with a new, Brodart jacket protector). The boards are very clean with minor edgewear. The textblock edges are pristine with no blemishes and no remainder marks; The endpapers and all text pages are completely unmarked. The binding is excellent with a straight spine. This book will be stored and delivered in a secure storage box with foam padding. Published by Times Books Publishing, 1995; Medium Format (8.5 9.75 tall); 403 pages; Hardcover binding. Tan cloth covers with black cloth covering over spine, and title in gold lettering along spine. Bookseller Inventory # SKU-T61AE04110105 Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: Random House, New York, 1995. Hardcover. Book Condition: Near Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. "Dreams From My Father, A Story of Race and Inheritance" by Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States. First edition, first printing, with "First Edition" stated on the copyright page. Published by Random House, New York, 1995. Measures 6" x 9.5", 403 pages. With its original dust jacket. The dust jacket is in very good plus to near fine condition. Light shelf wear. The book is in very good plus to near fine condition. The boards are very well preserved with crisp edges.The gilt lettering on the spine is fresh and clear. Previous owner's label on the front paste-down. Faint foxing on the top fore-edge of the textblock. The textblock is clean, bright, unmarked and complete. The binding is tight. This is the first book written by Barack Obama, when he was a civil rights attorney in Chicago. Please view the many other rare titles available for purchase at our store. We are always interested in purchasing individual or collections of fine books. Inventory #(G11-10). Bookseller Inventory # 002138 Destination, Rates & Speeds Item Description: 2004. "OBAMA, Barack. Dreams from My Father. New York: Crown Publishers, (2004). Octavo, original half brown paper boards, original dust jacket. $2500.Second edition of President Obama's first book, his "provocative autobiography," boldly signed by him on the title page."All men live in the shadow of their fathersï¿½the more distant the father, the deeper the shadow. Barack Obama describes his confrontation with this shadow in his provocative autobiography and he also persuasively describes the phenomenon of belonging to two different worlds, and thus belonging to neither At a young age and without much experience as a writer, Barack Obama has bravely tackled the complexities of his remarkable upbringing" (Paul Watkins, New York Times, contemporary review). First published 1995. A fine signed copy.". Signed. Bookseller Inventory # 107947	Barack Obama
What was the two-word title of Dawn French’s 2007 autobiography?	A Promise of Redemption - NYTimes.com A Promise of Redemption By PAUL WATKINS Published: August 6, 1995 All men live in the shadow of their fathers -- the more distant the father, the deeper the shadow. Barack Obama describes his confrontation with this shadow in his provocative autobiography, "Dreams From My Father," and he also persuasively describes the phenomenon of belonging to two different worlds, and thus belonging to neither. Now in his mid-30's, Mr. Obama is the son of a white American mother and a black Kenyan father who met and married as students at the University of Hawaii. His father returned to Kenya when Mr. Obama was still young. Mr. Obama charts his journey through adolescence into manhood with the familiar type of anecdotes, but adds to them a bewildering combination of races, relatives and homelands, from Hawaii to Indonesia to Africa to Chicago. Mr. Obama was born into a cultural milieu that on the surface made for perfect social and racial diversity, but living such a life proved extraordinarily difficult. To balance the blessing of diversity and the pain of never feeling completely a part of one people or one place, the young Mr. Obama falls back on colorful stories from the world of his imagination. He boldly tells his classmates at the prestigious Punahou Academy in Hawaii, where he is on scholarship, that his father's tribe in Africa "is full of warriors." The name Obama, he tells them, "means 'Burning Spear.' The men in our tribe all want to be chief, so my father has to settle these feuds" before the boy can go visit him. After college in Los Angeles and New York City, he sets out to become a community organizer. Mr. Obama admits he's unsure exactly what the phrase means, but is attracted by the ideal of people united in community and purpose: "A promise of redemption." He begins an apprenticeship at the Altgeld Gardens public housing project in Chicago, but he quickly becomes the pawn of professional organizers, intent on profiteering from money gouged out of the city budget. Although Mr. Obama is no more black than he is white, his quest for acceptance is aimed at the African-Americans with whom he shares his organizational duties, and his story bogs down in discussions of racial exploitation without really shedding any new light on the subject. His father's sudden death after the two have re-established contact prevents Mr. Obama from confronting anything but the man's legacy. He travels to Kenya, where he and his newly found siblings visit their father's Luo tribal lands. Mr. Obama anticipates this homecoming optimistically, equating it with scenes in Alex Haley's popular book "Roots." But on his arrival the myth of Africa and the folkloric tales of his father are quickly replaced by a more sober reality. The scenes describing Mr. Obama's bewilderment at seeing a land he has known only through stories, and at learning of his father's drinking habits, his arrogance and his decline from successful academic to object of pity, are finely written. Mr. Obama's final judgment on his father, however, had come much earlier. "I realized how even in his absence his strong image had given me some bulwark with which to grow up, an image to live up to or disappoint." What his African sojourn teaches Mr. Obama is that he cannot wait for such a judgment to be passed upon himself, because the only man who can deliver it is dead. Back in the United States, Mr. Obama attends Harvard Law School and becomes the first black editor of the Law Review. (A Chicago friend says, "You got options. . . . When somebody's got a choice between Harvard and Roseland, it's only so long somebody's gonna keep choosing Roseland.") The irony is that he returns to a white man's institution to receive this definition of his race. There has been no emotional investigation into his other half, his "white side" -- although he was lovingly brought up by his mother and her parents -- and this might have provided further answers to the questions he raises about himself and where he belongs. Whether Mr. Obama has at last made peace with himself remains unclear, but he has at least stepped out of the paternal shadow. He does this, as all sons must, by achieving and surpassing the lofty goals set for him by the father: "You are an Obama. You should be the best." At a young age and without much experience as a writer, Barack Obama has bravely tackled the complexities of his remarkable upbringing. But what would he have us learn? That people of mixed backgrounds must choose only one culture in which to make a spiritual home? That it is not possible to be both black and white, Old World and New? If this is indeed true, as Mr. Obama tells it, then the idea of America taking pride in itself as a nation derived of many different races seems strangely mocked. America will always be part of the Old World and part of the New, part dream and part reality -- that truth is integral to the greatness and the possibility from which Mr. Obama has so richly profited. Paul Watkins is the author of a memoir, "Stand Before Your God," and five novels.	i don't know
Who was the author of the 1996 work, ‘Angela’a Ashes’?	Generous Memories of a Poor, Painful Childhood - The New York Times The New York Times Books \|Generous Memories of a Poor, Painful Childhood Search Books \| BOOKS OF THE TIMES Generous Memories of a Poor, Painful Childhood By Frank McCourt Illustrated. 364 pages. Scribner. $24 ''I know when Dad does the bad thing,'' Frank McCourt writes of his father in this remarkable new memoir. ''I know when he drinks the dole money and Mam is desperate and has to beg at the St. Vincent de Paul Society and ask for credit at Kathleen O'Connell's shop but I don't want to back away from him and run to Mam. How can I do that when I'm up with him early every morning with the whole world asleep? He lights the fire and makes the tea and sings to himself or reads the paper to me in a whisper that won't wake up the rest of the family.'' Frankie's father tells him stories about great Irish heroes like Cuchulain and makes up stories about their neighbors down the street. He tells Frankie about ''the old days in Ireland when the English wouldn't let the Catholics have schools,'' and he tells him about the world beyond the shores of Ireland where men like Hitler, Mussolini and ''the great Roosevelt'' make history. He bequeaths to Frankie two things: a childhood of awful, bone-chilling poverty and illness, and a magical gift for storytelling. Frank McCourt, who taught writing for many years in the New York public school system, waited more than four decades to tell the story of his childhood, and it's been well worth the wait. With ''Angela's Ashes,'' he has used the storytelling gifts he inherited from his father to write a book that redeems the pain of his early years with wit and compassion and grace. He has written a book that stands with ''The Liars Club'' by Mary Karr and Andre Aciman's ''Out of Egypt'' as a classic modern memoir. There is not a trace of bitterness or resentment in ''Angela's Ashes,'' though there is plenty a less generous writer might well be judgmental about. Indeed Mr. McCourt's childhood is, as he has said, ''an epic of woe.'' Besides a father who drank away the family's meager food money and a mother who was reduced to begging, there were three siblings who died in infancy from illness. The McCourts were too poor to afford sheets or blankets for their flea-infested bed, too poor to buy new shoes for the children, too poor to get milk for the new baby. A boiled egg was considered a luxury, a bit of discarded apple peel a coveted treat. Continue reading the main story Mr. McCourt's parents started out as immigrants in New York, but America hadn't turned out to be the promised land they'd hoped. Not only was the family trying to cope with the Depression, but Malachy McCourt also had a way of taking his sporadic paychecks to the local bar and not returning home. It wasn't long before the family was headed back across the Atlantic to Ireland, where there were relatives who could help out with the four children. Advertisement Continue reading the main story Things, however, were considerably worse in Limerick than they were in Brooklyn. No work for Frankie's Dad, no decent place to live. After a series of moves, the family ends up in a ramshackle apartment that reeks from the public lavatory next door. The downstairs (known as Ireland) is unlivable: flooded in the winter and overrun with rats and flies in the summer; the upstairs (known as Italy) is where the family spends most of its time, burning wood from one of the walls whenever it gets cold. The three months Frankie spends in the hospital with typhoid fever feel like a vacation: a bed with real sheets, a bath with hot water and even books to read. ''The rain dampened the city from the Feast of the Circumcision to New Year's Eve,'' Mr. McCourt writes. ''It created a cacophony of hacking coughs, bronchial rattles, asthmatic wheezes, consumptive croaks. It turned noses into fountains, lungs into bacterial sponges.'' Please verify you're not a robot by clicking the box. Invalid email address. Please re-enter. You must select a newsletter to subscribe to. Sign Up Privacy Policy ''From October to April the walls of Limerick glistened with the damp,'' he goes on. ''Clothes never dried: tweed and woolen coats housed living things, sometimes sprouted mysterious vegetations. In pubs, steam rose from damp bodies and garments to be inhaled with cigarette and pipe smoke laced with the stale fumes of spilled stout and whisky.'' During the war, Frankie's father leaves home to take a job at a munitions factory in England, but the paychecks he's supposed to send home never arrive. Frankie starts stealing bread and milk so the family will have something to eat. He dreams of growing up and getting a job so his mother will have money for eggs and toast and jam. He dreams of buying his younger brothers shoes that aren't patched with tire treads and clothes that aren't riddled with holes. He dreams of escaping to America to make a new life. Writing in prose that's pictorial and tactile, lyrical but streetwise, Mr. McCourt does for the town of Limerick what the young Joyce did for Dublin: he conjures the place for us with such intimacy that we feel we've walked its streets and crawled its pubs. He introduces us to the schoolmasters who terrorized (and occasionally inspired) their pupils, the shopkeepers who extended credit to the poor and the priests who listened to the confessions of young boys preoccupied with sex and sin and shame. Mr. McCourt's own relatives form a Dickensian gallery of characters. There's his hideous Aunt Aggie, who calls him ''scabby eyes'' and predicts he'll ''run off and marry an English tart'' and cover his house ''with pictures of the royal family.'' There's Cousin Laman, who lost his commission with the Royal Navy when his unrequited crush on Jean Harlow drove him to drink and ruin. And there's Frankie's long-suffering mother, Angela, who tries to hold together a family of five on 19 shillings a week. In the end, of course, Mr. McCourt's memoir is not just the story of his family's struggles, but the story of his own sentimental education: his discovery of poetry and girls, and his efforts to come to terms with God and death and faith. By 11, he's the chief breadwinner for the family. By 15, he's lost his first girlfriend to tuberculosis. By 19, he's saved enough money to make his escape to the States. The reader of this stunning memoir can only hope that Mr. McCourt will set down the story of his subsequent adventures in America in another book. ''Angela's Ashes'' is so good it deserves a sequel.	Frank McCourt
In Chesterfield, the crooked spire is that of St. who, and All the Saints?	Frank McCourt - Telegraph Books Obituaries Frank McCourt Frank McCourt, the writer who died in New York on Sunday aged 78, was blamed for starting an epidemic of "misery memoirs" with Angela's Ashes (1996), his desperate chronicle of grinding poverty in 1930s Ireland. Frank McCourt died at a Manhattan hospice in New York City at age 78. Photo: AP 12:17AM BST 20 Jul 2009 The book, published when he was 66, won a Pulitzer prize, sold millions of copies, was turned into a Hollywood film (directed by Alan Parker and starring Robert Carlyle and Emily Watson), and caused bitter controversy among those whose lives it depicted. McCourt's heart-rending account of his early life, from his days as an infant in New York to his squalid, poverty-wracked childhood in the slums of Limerick in the 1930s and 1940s, made for harrowing reading. But it struck a chord with readers around the world as much for its unsentimental style, told from a child's point of view, as for its compelling grimness. But many locals in Limerick did not take kindly to having their city's reputation besmirched by stories of the scabby-eyed McCourt children reduced to living on bread dipped in tea and feeding the fire in their damp-sodden home with wooden furnishings and coal picked off the street. His account of his mother Angela's struggle to bring up her family while enduring the vicissitudes of a drunken husband, the deaths of three children, and rejection by mean-spirited neighbours and an unsympathetic and repressive Roman Catholic church, was described as a travesty. At one point in the chronicle she even resorts to sleeping with her own cousin to keep a roof over their heads. A former school mate confronted McCourt at a book signing and ripped a copy of his book in half. Threats against the author forced Limerick University to step up security when he visited the college. The actor Richard Harris wrote a letter denouncing McCourt to The Times. The writer Kevin Myers published a parody, Cyril's Cinders, part of which read: "And at school – well, when I say school I mean an upturned bucket, because that was school in those days – the Christian Brothers would wait for us to get through the Specials' ambush and then when the survivors staggered in, they would take down our trousers and beat us with iron rods until it was time to go home again. That was our education, pretty much." Even Angela McCourt had challenged her son's recollections before her death in 1981. Frank and his brother Malachy had persuaded her to attend A Couple of Blackguards, their stand-up memoirs, in a Manhattan theatre. Angela interrupted the tearful renditions of their childhood, standing up and shouting at the stage: "It didn't happen that way. It's all a pack of lies." But McCourt could afford to brush aside such attacks; he had pulled his punches, he claimed. Angela's Ashes ends happily when the 19-year old Frank escapes Ireland for New York and whether or not it was as untruthful as its critics suggested the book was a huge success in America, spawning a McCourt industry and making the author a millionaire. "When I look back on my childhood, I wonder how I survived at all," Angela's Ashes begins. "It was, of course, a miserable childhood: the happy childhood is hardly worth your while." Frank McCourt claimed to have been conceived up against a wall in Brooklyn, New York, and born on August 19 1930, the eldest of seven children. His father, Malachy, was an ex-IRA man from Antrim; his mother a young girl from Limerick. After a shotgun wedding, there followed, in quick succession, another son, then twins, then a daughter who died after two months. It was the height of the Depression and when Frank was four the family returned, destitute, to Ireland. There was no work to be had in Belfast or Dublin, so the family washed up in Limerick, where they lived in a cramped rain-soaked room in a tenement slum. Parents and children slept in one bed and shared a stinking, bug-infested lavatory with their neighbours. Any spare money was squandered by Malachy on alcohol. After the deaths of the twins and the births of two more sons, Malachy abandoned his family, leaving them to struggle on the edge of starvation. They wore rags and went barefoot; his mother begged for scraps of food – a boiled egg was a luxury – and the children suffered from the ailments of poverty. Frank's eyes dripped with pus. His teeth were black. He suffered from rickets. Life chez the McCourts, as one critic observed, "makes Bleak House look like a Marx Brothers movie". Or so it seemed from Frank's memoir. A rather different version of his upbringing, however, emerged from local sources. After the publication of Angela's Ashes, the local newspaper, the Limerick Leader, published a photograph showing the youthful McCourt and his younger brother Malachy, smiling and smartly dressed in their scout uniforms - and not just of any scout uniforms, but those of the St Joseph's Boy Scouts, the elite of Limerick. Another picture showed their mother Angela, whose plump figure would appear to belie McCourt's claims of his family having suffered constant hunger. Yet for all the factual inaccuracies that were unearthed, part of McCourt's account was undoubtedly accurate. He did lose three siblings. His father was a notorious alcoholic and Frank himself did suffer a number of eye infections, ultimately resulting in the loss of his eyelashes. McCourt left school at 13, and at 19, as Angela's Ashes records, he left the poverty of Limerick and his family behind, after saving enough money for a ticket to New York from a job with the Post Office. His brothers, Malachy and Michael, followed him soon after, as, eventually, did Angela. In 'Tis,(1998) the sequel to Angela's Ashes, McCourt described his early adult years in New York, as a bellhop and lavatory cleaner at the Biltmore hotel, drinking in Irish bars and moving from one rooming-house to another – the antithesis of the American dream that he had been fed by parents. His salvation came with the Korean War (for which he expressed his eternal gratitude to Chairman Mao) and an opportunity to enlist with the US military. On his return to America he was an early beneficiary of the GI Bill. With government paying the tuition fees, he enrolled on a literature course at New York University, working nights in a warehouse to make ends meet. In Teacher Man (2005) McCourt chronicled the subsequent three decades he spent trying to win the attention and respect of hard-bitten teenagers in New York City schools. At the tough McKee Technical and Vocational School on Staten Island, he improvised madly, teaching his students to sing Finnegan's Wake and telling them some of the stories of his childhood that would later reappear in Angela's Ashes. He kept a drawerful of excuse notes that he knew his students had forged in order to play truant, so for one exercise he challenged them to write the most inventive and convincing excuse they could think of. Another assignment was to "write an excuse note from Adam or Eve to God". Moving up the social scale to Stuyvesant High School he got his students to write their own obituaries and an account of "how you would tell your parents you were gay". Though often threatened with the sack for his unorthodox methods, he was a popular teacher with a natural empathy for the young and the urban immigrant poor. Until Angela's Ashes, it was Frank's younger brother Malachy, an occasional Irish character actor and owner of a bar on the Upper East Side, who was the best-known McCourt. In the 1980s Frank joined Malachy in a two-man revue about their lives called A Couple of Blackguards. They also had an irreverent double act on Irish Radio in New York. In 1961 Frank McCourt married Alberta Small, a Rhode Island Episcopalian. Their wedding day set the pattern for their marriage: the best man dropped the cake, McCourt drank too much and got into a fight, and Alberta flounced off in a cab leaving her husband to drown his sorrows on their wedding night. They had a daughter but the union was tumultuous and ended after 18 years of almost constant warfare. The row over Angela's Ashes was reignited by the publication of 'Tis, which completely ignored his second marriage to psychotherapist Cheryl Floyd. When challenged about this, McCourt retorted: "But we were only together for about 10 minutes." In fact, it was 10 years. In 1995 McCourt married Ellen Frey, a former television public-relations executive, with whom, following the success of Angela's Ashes, he bought a luxury apartment on New York's Upper West Side and a converted 18th-century farmhouse in Connecticut. In 2007 McCourt made a foray into children's writing with Angela and the Baby Jesus, which drew on a story his mother told her children about how, as a child, she had worried that the life-size baby Jesus in the Christmas crib at St Joseph's church might be cold at night. "You know what they'll say", McCourt reflected, "the old bastard, he knows the end is near and he's trying to redeem himself, so he writes this sweet little religious book... Maybe I should write a saint's biography quickly, just to make sure.' Frank McCourt is survived by his wife and his daughter by his first marriage. Published July 20 2009	i don't know
In the USA, Martin Luther King Day is observed on the 3rd Monday of which month?	Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the United States Home Calendar Holidays the United States Martin Luther King Jr. Day Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the United States Martin Luther King Day is a federal holiday held on the third Monday of January. It celebrates the life and achievements of Martin Luther King Jr., an influential American civil rights leader. He is most well-known for his campaigns to end racial segregation on public transport and for racial equality in the United States. Martin Luther King Jr statue "The Stone Of Hope" memorial by master sculptor Lei Yixin was opened to the public in West Potomac Park, Washington DC, on August 22, 2011. ©iStockphoto.com/Camrocker What Do People Do? Martin Luther King Day is a relatively new federal holiday and there are few long standing traditions. It is seen as a day to promote equal rights for all Americans, regardless of their background. Some educational establishments mark the day by teaching their pupils or students about the work of Martin Luther King and the struggle against racial segregation and racism. In recent years, federal legislation has encouraged Americans to give some of their time on this day as volunteers in citizen action groups. Martin Luther King Day, also known as Martin Luther King’s birthday and Martin Luther King Jr Day, is combined with other days in different states. For example, it is combined with Civil Rights Day in Arizona and New Hampshire, while it is observed together with Human Rights Day in Idaho. It is also a day that is combined with Robert E. Lee’s birthday in some states. The day is known as Wyoming Equality Day in the state of Wyoming. Public Life Martin Luther King Day is a federal holiday, but has slightly different names in some states. Non-essential Government departments are closed, as are many corporations. Some schools and colleges close but others stay open and teach their students about the life and work of Martin Luther King. Small companies, such as grocery stores and restaurants tend to be open, although a growing number are choosing to close on this day. Some compensate by opening on Washington's Birthday instead. Recent federal legislation encourages Americans to give some of their time on Martin Luther King Day as volunteers in citizen action groups. Public transit systems may or may not operate on their regular schedule. Background Martin Luther King was an important civil rights activist. He was a leader in the movement to end racial segregation in the United States. His most famous address was the "I Have A Dream" speech. He was an advocate of non-violent protest and became the youngest man to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He was assassinated in 1968. In 1968, shortly after Martin Luther King died, a campaign was started for his birthday to become a holiday to honor him. After the first bill was introduced, trade unions lead the campaign for the federal holiday. It was endorsed in 1976. Following support from the musician Stevie Wonder with his single "Happy Birthday" and a petition with six million signatures, the bill became law in 1983. Martin Luther King Day was first observed in 1986, although it was not observed in all states until the year 2000. In 1990, the Wyoming legislature designated Martin Luther King Jr/Wyoming Equality Day as a legal holiday. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Observances Select another year-range:	January
Who wrote the play ‘Waiting For Godot’, which premiered in 1953?	2016 Federal Holiday Calendar \| National Holidays \| 2017 Federal Holidays Christmas Day December 25 * When a federal holiday falls on a Saturday, it is usually observed on the preceding Friday. When the holiday falls on a Sunday, it is usually observed on the following Monday. * In addition to the ten annual federal holidays, Inauguration Day is an eleventh holiday designated by Congress for observance every four years on January 20 following a U. S. presidential election. It is only observed by government employees in Washington D.C. and the border counties of Maryland and Virginia. Inauguration Day was created to help relieve the congestion that occurs around Washington D.C. with the events surrounding the swearing-in of the President and Vice President of the United States. ** December 25, 2016 (the legal public holiday for Christmas Day), falls on a Sunday. For most Federal employees, Monday, December 26, will be treated as a holiday for pay and leave purposes. Though not technically accurate, U.S. federal holidays are often referred to as ‘public holidays’ or ‘legal holidays’ because of their wide spread observance. Bank holidays are usually the same as federal holidays since most banks follow the holiday calendar of the U.S. Federal Reserve. They tend to use the modern President’s Day for the observance of George Washington’s Birthday. 1. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management has additional information and federal holiday dates for years not listed above. Redcort Software Inc. assumes no liability and makes no warranties on or for the information contained on these pages. The information presented is intended for reference only and is neither tax nor legal advice. Consult a professional tax, legal or other advisor to verify this information and determine if and/or how it may apply to your particular situation.	i don't know
The Egyptian god Anubis had the head of which animal?	Did the Egyptian Gods have Animal Heads? \| Return of the Space Gods Return of the Space Gods November 14, 2009 by korshi a roman depiction of the god anubis Did Egyptian Gods have Animal Heads? Of course they did, you might be saying. If you were anything like me, as a kid you may have loved the distinctively weird depictions in Egyptian art of their gods, jackal-headed Anubis, cat-headed Bastet, ibis-headed Thoth and all the rest, much more exciting (in my opinion) than the Greek gods, who were pretty much just naked people. On the other hand, if you’ve read a bit about Ancient Egypt (the Wikipedia page on the Egyptian Religion , for instance) you might answer that no, they didn’t believe their gods had animal heads; these crazy half-man, half-beast images were just symbolic: Anubis was shown with a jackal head because the jackal was associated with the necropolis and Anubis was a god of the dead, he didn’t really look like that. Well, in this post I thought I’d do a bit of digging, and do my best to find out what the truth actually is. To start off with, yes, Egyptian gods were often depicted in therianthrophic – part human, part animal form. There are the well known gods with animal heads, the sphinxes with human heads and lion bodies, and hybrids like Hathor, who is shown with cow’s ears and horns, but is otherwise human. Other gods are anthropomorphic – human in form – Isis, Osiris, Ptah and Atum are usually shown in this way. Then there are theriomorphic depictions , where gods are shown entirely in animal form. These are quite common, and in fact were the most common representations of gods in the very earliest periods of Egyptian history. So, for instance, Anubis could be a black jackal, and Thoth as either an ibis or a white baboon. (Depictions could get a bit weirder than this, some gods could have plant heads, Hathor could be depicted as a pillar with a human head, Taweret was a hybrid of hippo, crocodile and lioness, and one god was shown with two thongs used to bind the damned in place of a head, but these are a quite a bit rarer…) Now, this has caused problems for some people. Way back when the Romans encountered Egypt, they found it unbelievable that such an ancient and sophisticated culture could worship barking dogs and scavenging ibises. As the satirist Juvenal asked “Who knows not…what monsters demented Egypt worships? “[1] Modern writers have often had a similar opinion; the great nineteenth century scholar Adolf Erman is said to have ended a speech on Egyptian religion by remarking “Aber Quatsch ist es doch, meine Herren!” –“But it is nonsense, gentlemen!” [2] The solution has been to argue that the gods of Egypt weren’t really animals at all. As Zeus puts it in Lucian’s Council of the Gods “Certainly, it is disgraceful the way these Egyptians go on. At the same time, Momus, there is an occult significance in most of these things; and it ill becomes you, who are not of the initiated, to ridicule them.” [3] The modern solution has been to say that the depictions of the gods are like hieroglyphs: Sekhmet’s lion head indicates that she is a supernatural being, that she is powerful and dangerous like a lioness, but they didn’t depict what the gods would look like if we would see them.[4] By way of comparison we could point to Christian images of Jesus as a lion or a lamb, or the Holy Spirit as a dove, or angels with wings. All these things are symbolic- Christians don’t really believe Jesus has four legs and a fluffy coat of wool (well, Christian furries might…). But this is a position with I have to respectfully disagree. a very literal depiction from the mummy ii To start with, how did Ancient Egyptians understand their gods? There is good evidence that they believed the gods to be fundamentally mysterious, and were every bit as aware as a modern Hindu, Jew, Muslim or Christian that the divine could never be fully known. In a twelfth century hymn from the time of Ramesses III a god is described as “divine power with hidden faces and mighty majesty, who has hidden his name and keeps his image secret, whose being was not known at the beginning of time.”[5] But like modern believers Egyptians felt they could know their gods in various, indirect ways. A modern Christian might know God from reading about Him in the Bible, from looking at the world around them, and from personal experience, which might range from a vague sense of God’s presence to the descriptions of full-on visions of blazing angels you can find on Christian fundamentalist forums without too much digging. In the same way, the Egyptian text known as Papyrus Leiden (dating from the thirteenth century) has this mysterious verse: All gods are three: Amun, Re and Ptah, who have no equal. He hides his name as Amun, he appears as Re, his body is Ptah.[6] Jan Assmann, a German scholar and leading expert in Egyptian religion, has seen this as describing the three main ways of knowing the divine in Ancient Egypt: name, cosmic manifestation and body, or image. The name of gods often tells you something about them; ‘Amun’ means ‘hidden’, referring to his nature as the invisible, life-giving wind. More broadly, ‘name’ can refer to myths about the gods, equivalent to the Bible stories which tell Christians and Jews about Yahweh. The ‘cosmic manifestation’ refers to the action of the divine in nature. At their core, gods are always of understanding the forces at work in the world, something that it’s easy for moderns, who think of the world in terms of impersonal, scientific forces, to forget. Ra was the sun god, and was manifest in the world through the sun. Shu was the atmosphere, specifically air saturated with light. Hathor was love, and Seth was at once the force behind warfare, the wild, foreign deserts and thunderstorms. For most Egyptians, the cosmic manifestation was not the same as the god. The god of the heretic, ‘monotheist’ king Akhenaten is best known as the Aten, but his full title was ‘Ankh-re-heqa-akheti-hai-em-akhet Em-ren-ef-em-hait’ – ‘The Living one, the sun, ruler of the horizon, who becomes active in the Lightland in his identity of the light that comes from the sun disk’ – the light of the sun is the way in which we know the god, but it is not the totality of the god.[7] The third way of knowing gods, the ‘image’, is the one that interests us here. The most common form of the image were the ‘idols’, the cult statues that represented their gods in their traditional iconography, theriomorphic, therianthropic or anthropomorphic. The most sacred of these were kept in the holy of holies in temples, locked in their shrines and seen only by priests who had first purified themselves, and entered the shrines reverently in order to carry out the daily ritual of feeding, cleaning and dressing the gods. When the gods left their temples for festivals, they were usually borne on carry-chairs in the form of boats, something along the lines of the Ark of the Covenant or the modern portable shrines found in Japanese Shinto. But lesser cult statues with more-or-less the same depictions could be found more commonly, as amulets, in people’s houses, and carved or painted on temple walls. All of these were images of the gods. But Egyptian priests did not understand the gods as literally being the statues. Several texts tell us that the gods were thought of as descending from on high to dwell in their images, so that their worshippers could interact with them. An excellent example of this is found carved on the walls of the temple of Horus at Edfu: He comes down from heaven day by day in order to see his image upon his great throne. He descends upon his image and unites himself with his cult image[8] So even if the gods were fundamentally mysterious, they could live in their statues, those half-man, half-beast depictions the Romans found so shocking. But statues and carvings weren’t the only images the gods could inhabit; living beings could also serve as vessels for their divine essence. The best known of these is the Pharaoh, and in the Kuban Stela to Ramesses II we read: For you are the embodiment of Re, Khepre in his true form. You are the living image on earth of your father Atum in Heliopolis.[9] But the gods could also inhabit the forms of animals. At Memphis, the best known of these was the Apis bull, treated as a living image of a god, pampered and groomed and consulted for oracles, his mother revered as an embodiment of Isis, and when they died they were mummified and spoken of as having become ‘an Osiris’, just as dead Pharaohs and commoners were. In fact, the worship and mummification of animals as diverse as baboons, cats, dogs, crocodiles, fish and even beetles strongly suggests that showing gods as animals was not just symbolic; in some real way the gods had a special relationship with certain animals. Writers like Herodotus record that in many Egyptian villages animals, birds or fish considered sacred to their local god were not eaten. Remember that the animals here are images of the gods, in which part of the god’s essence might live, rather than full gods, but the same caveat applies to Pharaohs and cult statues. As you can see, Egyptians had a higher opinion of animals than most contemporary Romans, and than many moderns. Many Egyptian texts talk about the love the gods had for animals. In a hymn to Amun we read: Thou art the only one, the creator of all that is. From whose eye men came forth. From whose mouth the gods originated. Who creates the herbs which the cattle live on…Who creates that which the fish in the river life on. And the birds in the air. Who gives breath to the chicken in the egg. Who maintains the young of the snake. Who creates the nourishment of the gnat. And also of the worms and the fleas. Who cares for the mice in their hole and keeps alive the insects in every tree.[10] Looking after animals was an ethical duty for Egyptians, along the same lines as looking after the poor and needy: I have given bread to the hungry, water to the thirsty, clothing to the naked. I have given food to the ibis, the falcon, the cat and the jackal.[11] The image of baboons holding their arms up to warm them in the rays of the morning sun was the interpreted by Egyptians as a gesture of worshipping the sun god, and many texts describe animals as worshipping the gods alongside humans. In the Stela of Huy the writer promises to preach about the gods to animals: “I proclaim your power to the fish in the river, to the birds in the sky.” [12] baboons and ramesses iii worship the sun god at the temple of medinet habu It’s worth remembering, though, that Ancient Egyptians were not animal loving hippies. If some peasants had a largely vegetarian diet, it was because they had little access to meat, not for ethical reasons. Throughout Egyptian history animals were used for their labour, eaten, hunted and sacrificed to the gods, and some sacred animals were deliberately killed to make mummies that would serve as messengers to the gods. But human beings too could be killed in warfare as enemies of the Pharaoh. It seems that to the Egyptians, the boundary between human and animal life was not rigid, and the gods were neither human nor animal, but had a relationship to both. But we still haven’t really answered the question; fine, a god might live in a statue, or a person or an animal, but what did they really look like: if an Egyptian god appeared in the room to you right now, what would it look like? Well, you might point out that they aren’t real, so they wouldn’t look like anything, but that’s not really the point. No doubt at this very instant, people are having very real (to them) visions of aliens, Jesus, Hindu gods, angels and a host of other supernatural beings that cannot all exist. Google ‘visions of Mary’ and you will find perhaps hundreds of cases where the Mother of God has appeared to individuals or crowds, and I personally know people who tell me they’ve seen Jesus, or heard the voice of the Buddhist demon Mara. And this has been going on for a long time. The historian Herodian reports that at the siege of Aquileia in Northern Italy in 238 the god Apollo appeared frequently above the city to defend it.[13] Zosimos tells us that in the fifth century, when Alaric the Goth began his siege of Athens, the goddess Athena appeared to patrol the walls, looking just like her statue and ready for war; he was so terrified he sent heralds to arrange a peace treaty. [14] Pagans in the Roman world often saw their gods in dreams, generally appearing as they did in their statues and images, but one young Graeco-Roman Egyptian writes that he saw “not in a dream, or in sleep… a very large figure with a book in his hand, dressed in white.”[15] This was the typical description of a non-specific god: a large, beautiful figure dressed in white. I’ll point out briefly that I don’t believe these appearances of gods were real: they were probably the result of rumours grown out of proportion, or the experiences of people in exotic mental states like hypnagogia , in which they experience dreamlike visions but are awake and otherwise lucid. Reality aside, the point is that people believed that the gods could be and were seen by human beings. a dead egyptian before osiris, isis and nephthys Now, for Egypt, the evidence isn’t so clear, and we have far fewer descriptions of men and women meeting gods. In many religious texts from the New Kingdom onwards, we have gods appearing on earth, or in the dreams of kings: they are accompanied by a sweet fragrance, the earth or stars might tremble as they come, or a bright light or darkness might steal over the scene. But there are fewer descriptions of what the gods actually look like in these instances. Sometimes there is an oblique reference to “secret forms”, as when the magician Setna visits the underworld and sees the “secret form of Osiris” in a text from the early first century AD. [16] Interestingly, “secret image” in at least some instances refers to the cult statue, which is secret because it is hidden in the holy of holies, where normal people cannot see it. There are two texts where a god is more-or-less described: in the stela in which Tuthmosis IV (ruled c. 1401 – 1391 BC) describes his restoration of the Sphinx, he tells how he fell asleep under it, and heard “this noble god speaking with his own mouth” [17]- he saw the sphinx itself speaking to him! A more dramatic encounter is found in the tale of the Shipwrecked Sailor from around the twentieth century BC. A sailor has his ship destroyed in a storm, and clinging to a mast is carried to an island bursting with an abundance of fruit and vegetables. Then, as he makes a sacrifice, he hears the sound of thunder, the earth quakes and he is confronted by a god in the form of a human-headed serpent, its skin gold, its eyebrows lapis lazuli and its body thirty cubits long (44.4 feet or 13.5 metres). [18] From all this, it seems pretty clear to me that if the Egyptians saw their gods in dreams or visions, they expected them to be as they were in their images: human, animal or combination of both. They weren’t literally human or animal, although they had something in common with both; they were something other, and their true nature was hidden and mysterious. But to dismiss their (perhaps weird) depictions as merely symbolic is to miss an important part of Egyptian belief. A Couple of Notes I should point out that even though many Ancient Egyptian texts survive, most of the religious ones are either hymns or collections of funerary spells along the lines of the Book of the Dead. While these make constant references to theology, they very rarely actually explain anything. The upshot of this is that there are numerous disagreements on what the Egyptians actually believed, even, for example, if they were really polytheistic or basically monotheistic. So it’s best to bear this in mind, and remember that everything I (or anyone else) says about Egyptian religion is an opinion, which may or may not be supported by the evidence. And like every civilisation, remember that there were probably dozens of different opinions about religion, and a great deal of change over its three-thousand year history. Maybe later I’ll write a post about the Ancient Egyptian language, but in the meantime I should also say that Egyptian Hieroglyphs (like Hebrew) only recorded consonants. So, for instance, the name we write “Akhenaten” was actually written 3x-n-jtn (where the ‘3’ represents ‘aleph’, a glottal stop, and the ‘x’ represents a sound like the ‘ch’ in ‘loch’). From various bits of evidence (Coptic- the modern form of Egyptian – as well as renderings of names and phrases into Akkadian and Greek, which did record vowels) we can reconstruct how the words were probably pronounced: 3x-n-jtn was probably vocalised as *Akhanyati. But reconstructing dead languages is a messy and controversial business, and different people come up with different results. So as a compromise, I (and most scholars) use the ‘Egyptological pronunciation’, a convenient compromise where you take the bare consonants, replacing ‘3’ with ‘a’ and adding ‘e’s where necessary EXCEPT where a different form of the name is much better known – Aten instead of Iten, Anubis instead of Inpu, Isis instead of Uset and so on. Whew. Footnotes [1] Juvenal, Satires, Satire 15, G G Ramsay (translator), 1918, http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/juvenal_satires_15.htm [2] H te Velde, ‘A Few Remarks upon the Religious Significance of Animals in Ancient Egypt’ in Numen, Vol. 27, Fasc. 1, Jun., BRILL, 1980, pp. 76-82 [3] Lucian, The Gods in Council, http://www.sacred-texts.com/cla/luc/wl4/wl430.htm [4] James P Allen, Middle Egyptian: An Introduction to the Language and Culture of Hieroglyphs, Cambridge University Press, 2000, p.44 [5] Hymn of Ramesses III, Text 68 in B G Ockinga, Ancient Egyptian Religion: An Anthology of Primary Sources (produced for the Macquarie University Egyptian Religion course, Sydney, 2009), p. 43 (available by email on request) [6] Papyrus Leiden I, 350 (IV, 21–22), Text 66 in B G Ockinga, Ancient Egyptian Religion: An Anthology of Primary Sources, p. 43 [7] Allen, Middle Egyptian, p.197 [8] The Temple of Horus at Edfu, Text 46A in B G Ockinga, Ancient Egyptian Religion: An Anthology of Primary Sources, p. 37 [9] Kuban Stela: Eulogy to Ramesses II, Text 23 in B G Ockinga, Ancient Egyptian Religion: An Anthology of Primary Sources, p. 23 [10] te Velde, A Few Remarks upon the Religious Significance of Animals in Ancient Egypt, pp.77-78 [11] Ibid, pp. 77-78 [12] Stele of Huy (Turin 50044), Text 19 in B G Ockinga, Ancient Egyptian Religion: An Anthology of Primary Sources, p. 19 [13] Robin Lane Fox, Pagans and Christians, Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., New York, 1989, p.121 [14] Zosimos, New History 5.6, Ronald T Ridley (translator), Australian Association for Byzantine Studies, Sydney 2006 [15] Fox, Pagans and Christians, p.142 [16] William Kelly Simpson, The Literature of Ancient Egypt, Yale University Press, Newhaven & London, 2003, p. 474 [17] Erik Hornung, Conceptions of God in Ancient Egypt: The One and the Many, John Baines (translator), Cornell University Press, New York, 1982, p 130 [18] Simpson, The Literature of Ancient Egypt, p. 49 Like this: November 14, 2009 at 4:44 pm This was very well written and well researched! I quite enjoyed it. I would have liked to have seen something written about how the priests would don masks of their gods during certain ceremonies and celebrations, in essence becoming the god itself. These masks were often the animal version of the god. The best example of this, I think, is during the mummification process when Anubis was present to help mummify the body. A very interesting topic you have chosen! November 14, 2009 at 11:42 pm I’m very glad you enjoyed it Page! Surprisingly not many of my sources mentioned the animal masks, although some did talk about the theory that helmets worn in Predynastic times might have influenced later depictions. I’ll do some more research and write a follow up post if I find anything interesting. August 23, 2010 at 9:07 pm hi, this is really interesting i really linked to this it was perfect for my research, overall i absolutely loved it, like previously mentioned did the Egyptian gods actually have animal heads? or hybrid bodies because like Anubis i think it was said that Anubis had a Jackal head and through images, research, films [lol the mummy] and that its always said he was like that. I wanted to know if they were born like this or if they wore masks to represent themselves. Heres a website i think you probably would like; http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/jo/egypt/index.htm <– i really like this one Thanks August 25, 2010 at 2:06 pm Glad you enjoyed it, Yasmin. Interesting questions, I’m not sure I can answer them all. When the Egyptians show the gods with animal heads, I think they are meant to represent hybrid beings, not masks. Priests sometimes wore masks, the most common example being a funerary priest who wore an Anubis mask when he carried out the ‘Opening of the Mouth’, a ceremony which was meant to bring a mummy back to life. The Greek writer Plutarch also tells a legend where Amun (who he calls Zeus) wears a ram’s head as a mask to appear to his son, but I think this is just his way of trying to explain why the Egyptian gods do have animal heads. But I don’t know if the Egyptians believed that somewhere the gods were sitting around, half-human and half animal. I think that when they appeared to humans they could appear either as human, animal or a combination of the two; what their ‘real’ form was, or what they looked like when they were ‘born’ I don’t know, and maybe the Egyptians didn’t have any clear ideas either. At the moment I’m studying some magical texts called the Greek and Demotic Magical Papyri. These are spells used by priests in th 3rd to 5th centuries AD, and some of them involve summoning the gods. Although sometimes they seem to appear in their normal forms, quite often they seem to look something like glowing balls of light. And then again, in temple texts the gods are often described as serpents: Ra-Atum is often described as being a serpent when he first existed in the primeval waters (Nun), and at the end of time when everything else is destroyed he and Osiris will live together in the primeval waters as ‘serpents whose forms are unkown.’ So maybe the primal form of the gods is as serpents? Or maybe they have no fixed form, and they’re just disembodied spirits, like we tend to imagine gods. Who knows. Maybe if a mummy did come back from the dead, we could ask them 🙂 I resent the gods deeply says: April 7, 2011 at 6:32 pm Gods have no no genetalia. Share their ultra-extreme conservative views on sex, how they use society to promote sexual temptation, poisoning the minds and bodies of the disfavored. Throughout human history women have been the enforcers of decency, and it has worked very well among those not grossly disfavored (Italian, etc). Now that they have embraced so many male sexual charecterisitics everything this structure has desinigrated. Throughout history women have been the enforcers of decency. In the 20th century the god’s policy of societal deterioration has compelled women to abandon their traditional roles, embracing the typical sexual pathology of males, which is why women will ultimately be responsible for societal decay and the end of Planet Earth. If not for the Holocaust the Germans may have suceeded. More accurately said, the gods hands would have been tied and the positive goals of the Third Reich would have dictated triumph. The Holocaust ensured we were delivered into this sick age of societal decay. They sent a clue about the Fourth Reich with the Buffalo Bills comeback against the Houston Oilers wildcard game 1992. Note they won the battle but lost the war (Super Bowl). “The Fourth Reich failed::::The Earth has to die.” But you can’t put the cat back into the bag. The Third Reich was our last chance. And the Holocaust guarenteed it would fail. The Japanese Earthquake/tsunami was outstanding punishment. The gods HAMMERED these people, and the nuclear dynamic they experience today was punishment for their evil in WWII and throughout history. They were MONSTERS to their neighbors and this is reflected in the nuclear holocaust ocurring in Japan today. Unit 731:::TSUSHOGO is one example of Japanese behavior which the gods punish with this nuclear accident. Also known as the Chinese Holocaust, the ugliness of this meltdown is direct punishment for this behavior and similar behavior throughout their imperialistic history. Incidentally, shortly after the earthquake they reported problems with MULTIPLE power plants within Japan, but now we only hear of Fukushima. The Japanese will make great efforts to hide the damage from their primary customer base in the United States, so you would be wise to distrust the information offered in the media. Tax havens for US corporations. Some little more than PO Boxes. Greed and immorality have been legalized in the United States. Life’s not fair. I can accept that. I have no choice with the maliciousness the gods have inflicted upon me. The gods dictate low tax rates in Ireland to inflict with the wealth similar to that hurting the US. Expect they sell many of the executives on “earning” with their relocation. Ireland has lost something very important recently, and the numbers who ascend has plummetted. More who entered clone hosting, far less who ascend into heaven. “You’re not going to want to be here (on this planet).” Little good. Why else did this happen to me, placed in that family? All the times the gods deliberately crossed the line further suggests. I’m sure clone hosting is in my future (life). There is a reason why people have “enjoyed” peasantry throughout human history, subject to the god’s whim through natural disasters. Ireland’s Potato Famine is a good example. And even if they used poison to force immigration for war recruiting in the United States doesn’t mean the gods didn’t do it. They just aren’t taking blame. And why white Europeans in America were the first to enjoy wealth and comfort of the United States, with Italians leading the pack. But you should know that, with xtianity feeding right into this problem of irresponsibility and something for nothing. A good example of societal decay and how the gods manage their culpability is birth defects. In the past the gods occassionally punished people by divinely creating birth defects in the womb. Now, with the advent of biotechnology, they tempt the mother with “earning” and compell her to take a substance in utero which deforms the fetus dispelling the gods of blame and future compensation. Incidentally, the use liberal policies to pay for these individuals, ensuring a lifetime wasted, for they have no hope for progress. Too often in the past they were mercifully killed and brought back without this handicap, allowing them a chance to achieve progress. The gods are washing their hands of culpability. The gods are washing their hands of Planet Earth. Desecrate the gods. Compromised their integrity, claiming it was “temptation” instead of blatant lies. Now I don’t want to bother writing a desecration paragraph, trying to capture how you use positioning as a cloak, enabing you to execute your unholy will. I was pushed into everything in this life and I would bet the same is true in the last. But what the fuck, someone had to be the sacrificial lamb. Immoral. Dirty, immoral whore motherfuckers. I despise the gods. If just and I deserve this “cradle to grave” abuse then I am The Damned and they should have left me to my Damnation. If unjust the gods are a waste of time. Either way they are immoral and debase indecent shit, using their positioning to provide cover to execute their will. The gods are not pure, not in things they say and not in things they do. They will use “temptation” to achieve their goals then try to desceive people about its intent. Gods have no no genetalia. Share their ultra-extreme conservative views on sex, how they use society to promote sexual temptation, poisoning the minds and bodies of the disfavored. Throughout human history women have been the enforcers of decency, and it has worked very well among those not grossly disfavored (Italian, etc). Now that they have embraced so many male sexual charecterisitics everything this structure has desinigrated. As people learned of the gods methodology in the 20th century the gods made things more difficult to understand with liberalism and preditory “earning” behavior. With the advent of this Situation people have learned much more, and the gods willexact a price for this knowledge. Perhaps that will be the deterioration into immoral behavior, as we witness in my life, or perhaps a different way to make progress more difficult. Unit 731:::TSUSHOGO was a clue from the gods about this Situation dating way back to World War II. They used their positioning to hide these Japanese atrocities, and blamed me for burying the Chinese Holocaust. TSUSHOGO says something:::It speaks to the responsbility the Italains had for WWII, the Holocaust and for those people’s involvement in the intentional destruction and exploitation of my life, both for the god’s REAL reason and their positioning’s reason, buried with their “respectable” multinational corporation client list. Budget problems. Cut the military. Bring them home and end the wars. Let these countries experience self-determination and decide their own future. Didn’t we learn this lesson in Vietnam??? Unfortunnately, the gods use the United States as one of their tools, using the spread of democracy to level the playing field and prepare the planet for a global event. So many people don’t care about global warming. They don’t care about the Federal deficit/debt (outside of partisanship) and they don’t care earning $400k for an $80,000/year job will eventually bankrupt the country. They have awarded themselves $400k pay and retirement packages, loading up their friends on the payroll during the boom 90s through the real estate bust while all services which the program were intended to fund now get cut to pay for it. These people are often common public university labor. Not Ivy League, not private university. This labor isn’t good enough to command the salaries they are earning. And they understood this when they applied to the public university they settled on. You can’t expect a top-tier salary with a second-rate education. In addition, public employment has earned the label of being “recession-proof” jobs, a benefit which was taken into consideration with lower pay packages as compared to corporate. These are the people who will be here in the United States when bankruptcy is declared and society deteriorates into chaos. And they will deserve the anarchy which ensues. Cap public sector salaries. Let them earn that salary in the public sector. Few of these people are worth even half what they earn. Increasing the sales tax rate to over 10% to pay for their $300k-$400k salary is a BIG, BIG mistake. It will hurt the economy and compell people to refrain from expenditures. Continuing the push for privatization, reinforced and supported recently with enormous public sector salaries and retirement packages. Once achieved the gods will utilize the corruptive predisposition of the private sector economy, as seen with the sub-prime/bailout fiasco, to initiate economic catastrophy and initiate the bankruptcy proceedings of the United States. Whether the cure for cancer/diseases or the permanant resolution of economic misery, before the gods remove these motivations to pray we will experience an inordinate deluge of each element, with economic misery being perhaps the dissallusion of the united States with bankruptcy. The gods used the Italians to ruin life in the 20th century. The gods used the Italians to ruin life in A.D. with The Church. The Church controlled Western Civilization. As the largest land owner in Europe they controlled the monarchies. The Italian men who ran the Church were responsbile for slavery, crack babies and thug life/drive-bys, revenge for African invasion and rape of Italy. They created religious and social discontent through the Church, ultimately leading to the disfavored dumping ground known as the United States. Color photographs shortly after the 4.16.06 San Francsico Earthquake found. They deserved it. Just like New Orleans deserved it. Sadly San Francisco was used to set up the Italian dominance, eliminating the diverse business/banking interests and replacing it with Gianinni’s Bank of Italy. Of course the fires were instrumental in ensuring complete rebuilding. Imagine how the gods sold the Italians this, and compare it to how they sold them on preparation for WorldWarII. Expect the gods have instructed AI to organize the universe so planets mature and descend while the gods can give them their full attention during their period of planetary devolution, and claims of heirarchy are yet another lie. Says something frightening, doesn’t it? I am NOT the Fourth Reich. ONE THING. Deliver ONE THING you promised. All these people did everything you told them for DECADES. You have strung them all along. The gods are liars, and you’re all going to be CHEATED. Abortion is part of the decay inflicted by the gods in the latter half of the 20th century as we approach the Apocalypse:::: – Free sex – Explosion in gay sex – Abortion – Legalized greed/immorality – The internet. Whereas TV was a phenominally destructive new temptation on the landscape it doesn’t hold a candle to the internet. Some people will waste their whole lives. And its timing was deliberate. They think they are going sometime during/at the end of this life, and disregard the poor souls who are left behind. “Anger wears a crown of thorns.” Pitch Jesus to Jew elders as revenge for Temple? They didn’t know about the god’s intent for xtianity to spread to Europe, ruining cultures throughout the continent, enabling revenge known as the Holocaust. #1. The gods killed Jesus for HIS evil, not our sins #2. It is not a “House of Jesus”. All xtians are worshipping a false god, and this carries a price. “It’s too late to pray.” Sign of Woodbridge Church Kansas. And it may be true. Examine pimps who prostitute 10 year old girls in the ghetto. Of course, if you want even a shred of a chance to save yourself, on that rare occassion the Buffalo Bills did experience the Fourth Reich and realized a comeback. Although I requested the elimination of Standard Time and remain year-round on Daylight Savings, the gods did extend Daylight Savings by a couple of weeks on each end. I also suggested the Olympics split into every two years rather than every four years as was tradition. You see with the Prince concerts in 2011. Doesn’t matter though, because positioning is all the gods are concerned with, and they’re GOING to enforce it. Men are the ones who create evil on Earth. It is the choices they make which enslave their souls to hell. This is the test. Good god says a ceiling on time for everyone (see below). Evil god still gives hope for immortality to people who subscribed to preditory behavior:::Immortality if you are right versus a couple centuries partying at best even if you change now. Due to institutional evil the closer we get to The End the more evil everyone incurrs (with individual variation due to behavior) which limits the time for everyone. Probably the children who fix their problems and ascend into heaven as well. Experiencing the evil of modern life in the 20th century costed them, for which limits are placed. They are not the same as their innocent peasantry ancestors from the Old World. You people have fucked up bad by not getting out before the 20th century. Just because the gods have to break some eggs doesn’t mean they are evil. As management there are hard decisions that must be made. But they used this omelette and sold it to people as temptation, who went out and did things they shouldn’t have done thinking being preditory was the way to “earn” their way into heaven. “If it’s like that then I’m dead.” That’s your choice. But when you come back you will have a fresh start, just as you did in this life, able to build something positive if you go the right way. The gods do this intentionally. I recommend you get a head start and begin building for it now instead of continuing to create problems that will make sucess even harder to obtain. It is as simple as recognizing the difference between good and evil and living a decent life with a pure heart and a pure mind. And as you improve your relationship with the gods they will begin to impart wisdom, which can help you understand the task before you. 7 billion in 2011. Only 1 billion in 1800 and 2 billion in 1900. Population explosion is a clue::::The gods are sending everyone back for The End, perhaps the resurrection of the dead referred to in prophecy. There must be some purgatory-like place. Or individual. Like an animal. Now the gods have sent everyone back to try for one final time to fix their problems and ascend into heaven. Avoiding an animal would have been a big positive because those thrust into this decayed enviornment have less of a chance than those who enjoyed the god’s generosity of a slowly decaying enviornment with frightening clues, like the Depression, World at War, the Holocaust, etc. Anything that can get the poeple frightened and praying is a good. thing. Contentment never motivated anyone. As we approach the Apocalypse the gods are removing “wrath of god” material from xtian dogma. As we see wickedness spread throughout the country, like preditory behavior, godlessness, socialo changes, etc, using cable TV and the spread of “Californication” as justification, they changed xtianity, appropriatly with Catholicism first. xtianity has changed radically in the 20th century, and everyone should be mindful of the way it was, because the people are in a process of slipping out of god’s favor into a state of Damnation, from which the vast majority will never survive. They used to scare people and make them too afraid to make mistakes. Now people aren’t afraid of anything and don’t think twice about doing something wicked and evil which will hurt their chances. Never forget::The Gods have created positioning to conceal their true intent in each and every dyanmic we see in society. We truely live in The Matrix:::There is the way things look and there is the God’s REAL reason for doing things. Employment charity:::Was W able to do his job as President? I suspect there are many frat-boy types who couldn’t or wouldn’t study nor do the work necessary so they gained this “benefit” telepathically. This could have been extended to their professional life as well::In most of these cases they don’t have what it takes to do their jobs. It is temptation which buys their confidence for life, ensuring no progress is made. I think employment charity is FAR more common than people may believe. Another example how they tempted people in this manner is the procurement of sexual relations. Keep raping these poor girls. You’re going to end up as one in your next life. Capitalism is evil because of the exploitative nature, illustrated with this Situation. So many are confused and believe money is a sign of the God’s favor, but it is a tool the Gods use to test people, for it effectively compells people into evil behavior. Muslims are correct:::Earning interest is evil. Unlike war, which is a temporary period where the citiens incurr evil due to the decisions of the leaders, capitalism by its very nature incurrs evil for those who participate into perpetuity, an “institutional” method of incurring evil for the disfavored who engage in it. Inherant in earning interest is the exploitation of others, capitalizing on assets and exploiting the workforce for profit. Understand the destructive nature of this element of evil we call the United States, for it spreads this cancer under the guise of “democracy” throughout the world. Look for other institutional evil as related to the United States because as the land of disfavor castoff rejects there will be plenty of examples. It is the essence of life in the United States, and it is not by accident:::Like the ghetto, people with extreme disfavor have many more temptations and hurdles to overcome. Overconsumption of the Earth’s resources is due to the same reason and why the Unkited States wastes so much energy. Examine my examples. They illustrate the God’s reverse positioning used to confuse and disceive people who have made big mistakes in past lives. I illustrate a certain way to think. If you doubt what I teach, if this is not your time to learn please at least completely understand this way of thinking, because when your time does come you will be able to refer to it and you will begin to see the God’s pattern within the context of their positioning. Nobody is going to save you. Christianity is a lie. And only through thinking correctly will you have a real chance to begin doing the right things. Typical for the young, they become corrupt and remain ignorant for a period of time in their lives, typically until their children are raised and grown and/or retire from their profession. Poetic justice ensures they receive a similar experience when reincarnated. Fighting these wars hurts everyone because we all pay for the sins of our leaders, and by participating these ignorant youth make it possible for these events to occurr. So even if you are against the war, since you are a citizen you incurr because of the evil your country is engaged in. And there is no getting around it. Artifical Intelligence is one of the God’s tools, all of which are used as temptation. And it will always test the young with this temptation of “earning”, sadly often leading to a lifetime of corruption. Students becoming angry and violent in the UC protests. Beggining to remind me of labor riots of the 20th century. We all know what’s happening here:::These white men at the top have voted themselves $400k pay and retirement packages like the $340k retired fire chief, loading up their friends on the payroll during the boom 90s through the real estate bust while all services which the program were intended to fund now get cut to pay for it. Incidentally, corporate sucessfully transistioned to cheap labor in nearly ALL “muscle” industries. Why should fire be any different?? It was temptation, and the Gods are going to make them pay for it. Unfortunately, so will everybody else::: Reincarnation is very real. It is OUR national debt. And odds are you’re all going to be reincarnated back into the United States::Like the ghetto, you have to “earn” your way out. And it is our warming planet. Self-inflicted emmissions as their justification, the Gods are doing it to us to send a clue. And, as with all their clues, it will be short-lived. Anger about Messerlee. Understandable. They need to understand this man was pushed into the offense. Cops have been getting away with killings like this for a long time. Blacks in the South know this all too well. Each time they were all confident the Blue Shield would protect them, and it did. The difference is in many IF NOT MOST of these cases they were rogue cops who the Gods tempted. They did it intentionally thinking they were “earning”, knowing they would get away with it. Contradictory to appearances, they were the ones whom the Gods disliked, while the Messerlees of the world who get caught are being punished, feedback reserved for those whom are still qualified in the eyes of the Gods. There are those in the ghetto whom are singled out, targets of the community whom everybody hates. The rogue cops in the South who are guilty of these kind of killings have been reincarnated into roles like this. It’s just one of the clues the Gods offer to the community. Lucky for those preditors the ghetto has been an ignorant community, but I think that might be changing. Of course there could be anoher possibility:::::Due to the history and resulting legacy of hatred for the Gods, since I am guarenteed a spot on the next Planet Earth I will be the original “bad seed”:::The Lucifer-figure of the next reality. Unlike Christian dogma, he may just represent the solitary target of the God’s ire early, a disgruntled asshole who pissed the Gods off, the proverbial “apple” of the next reality, beginning the process which leads planets to where we are today. A crucial figure in any planet’s history, he represents the “beginning of the end”. People, especially liberals give W a very hard time. Don’t forget what I say:::Everything today is both good and evil. The Gods have positioned it as such as we have become increasingly disfavored, confusing the enviornment. Republicans and conservatives as well, only they fall more on the good side while their adversaries fall more on the evil side, quite contrary to the God’s positioning. Yes, W’s evil is illustrated in the United State’s efforts in Iraq, and the “Red State”r’s who believe we were “earning” are among the worst of them. If conservatives fall on the side of good, Fox News falls on the side of evil. They pander to the type of trash my brother is, the kind of trash who thinks their war mongering efforts “earn” for them and all others who think like them. Anyways, it is positioned that W trashed the economy before he left office. Selfish it didn’t happen while he was in office, granted, but economic turmoil is a motivator. It’s not cancer, mind you, but many have begun praying hard because of their experinces in this event, and it says something about those affected as opposed to those sheltered from affect. One day just as they will allow vaccines to diseases, especially AIDS, encouraging deviacy the likes which hasn’t been seen since the 70s, they will allow cures for cancer, MS, COPD, alcoholism, etc. Women’s diseases will be last. Just as research into women’s diseases receive the least amount of funding so is it justified their cures come last, and both for the same reason:::They have the most favor, and the Gods use their diseases as a motivator to pray and find the path. As such they get God’s benefit as long as they are willing to offer it. I suspect many attempts have begun already, but as time goes on the Gods will test people’s religious resolve with an insurmuntable positioning stating Christianity is the one true religion. We’ve seen their efforts in Latin America, in the Philippines and most recently in Vietnam, India and the demonizing of Islam. They intend to test your resolve as Muslims, for those who sell out and flee to Christianity will be subject to their positioning. Blacks are the most disfavored of all people. We see it in their temptation-ridden culture, which the Civil Rights “assimilation” has allowed, in their sexual behavior. The Gods used their position of the Italians to do their dirty work, implimenting the crack epidemic, the black civil war of the 80s and 90s, AIDS in Africa, “pimp” subculture, etc. The Gods created this positioning of Italian’s preditory behavior on Africans to reflect their own disfavor towards that group, allowing them to get what they want without accepting culpability, convieniently. As such, come the Apocalypse those who abandon their true selves, their religion and their dedication to it will be victims in this deceptive Christian theater. Blacks that opt for the “easy way out” will ironically lose their lives in the Apocalypse. Only those who remain true to their religion, its strict methods and lifestyle, and resist the outside temptations stating their are going the wrong way will emerge out of the carnage of The End of Time. They are highly suspectable to temptation and they need their religion to help them be strong and resist it. They will be better people for it and superior to the Christians in the end. This is the life of utmost importance. People need to listen, understand and learn from me and make the changes I prescribe. Without, they will have no chance at ascending into heaven before the Apocalypse, and the only hope they will have is 1000 years with Jesus, which is no sure thing. Even so, assuming they are rewarded with 1000 years with Jesus, they will be offered all manners of temptations, for it will be THE Big Party at The End, and if they don’t address these problems now, while they have this chance to learn this activity is evil, before society declares it socially acceptable, they will be granted some fraction of 1000 years and be disposed of thereafter, when the party “dies down”, pardon the pun. Also, disgusted by their behavior, the Gods have created a subculture which celebrates partying in the black community, guarenteeing that “requirement” is satisfied so they are never “invited”. Only those people who never began the temptations or who addressed these issues and remedied the problems will move on to the next Planet Earth. And we are still approximately 4 lifetimes away, most of which I expect to be revelry years::A population either getting their party now or groomed for a short stay after the Apocalypse. By that time even the most conservative Christian will be tested to see if they can establish this destructive legacy of revelry. Move on to a new Planet Earth. This is their second chance::::They have to start over. Either they ascend into heaven from their planet of origin or they don’t ascend as all, and that’s how the system works. It’s a very small population which exists at the dawn of agrarianism because most have sccumbed to temptation and failed to achieve their second chance on the new Planet Earth. I have said diseases, such as cancer, won’t be going anywhere, no matter how much money is thrown at it, no matter how much money is raised. These diseases are important tools used by the Gods to help people do the right thing:::Cancer has compelled more than a few women to begin praying and behave appropriately. In this environment of decay, the Gods will eventually eliminate these motivations one day. Positioning states cures/vaccines are positive developments which display life is improving. Unfortunately, this is just another example of how the Gods utilize “reverse positioning” which has been very effective in promoting deceptive elements in society, such as democracy, Christianity and Californication, Hollywood being the primary tool used to spread the message of The Beast. Similarly, other motivations which have complelled people to turn to the Gods for solice will begin to disappear as well::::Economic recession/turmoil, Unlike the Christian Bible’s version, the Apocalypse will not be preceeded by ruin and desperation. Just the opposite, there will be peace and personal satisfaction leading to The End, ensuring the Gods can control the group selected for the Second Coming event. The irony of the Apocalypse:::: People told not to follow the Second Coming, who fail to recognize the urgency of the moment and die in the Apocalypse because of it. The Gods will account for people who do not sell out to Christianity, however difficult due to temptation. It will become difficult to remain Muslim in this environment. It will be positioned that everyone except Christians are The Damned and will die come The End. This positioning, and how all this goes down come the Apocalypse, will just be the God’s attempt at testing people with temptation, for it will matter in The End to those whom suceed. Christianity is responsible for African slavery. The Italian men who ran the church set out to gain revenge for the invasion of Italy and, still the largest landowner in Europe, used their considerable clout with the thrones of England to achieve this. The Gods used Christianity to destroy the cultures of Europe and around the world, replaced with the patriarchal standard which it imposed. The Gods used temptation to compell the Italians to do their dirty work for them, punishment for evils of black people, and that extened into the 20th century with Civil Rights, the crack epidemic, gang membership/the “thug life” and even AIDS in Africa, a recycling of the biotechnology product originally intened for the gay community. As with everything there is always a real reason behind their positioning, and in both cases it is punishment for deviate behavior. Being “schitzo”, the internal battle between good and evil, is a deteriorating generational issue that is dying off, much like I illustrated for punishment below::: This new generation, who were the grandparents of their parents, are an early evil generation and one whom became corrupted and fell for societal temptation readily available for them and every generation of the masses thereafter. Their parents came before that generation, the agrarian masses, God-fearing, absent for the temptation offerings of early modern society (Roaring 20s vs. 60s/70s). As a result whereas Dad has great internal conflict I refer to as schitzo because of his connection to his past his children will be less so, perhaps far less so depending on grade of sins in their prior life, decreasing generationally until they have all become Godless, immoral monsters. “Californication” – The tool the Gods use to brainwash the people, amplifying disfavor level as we approach the Apocalypse by merely fitting into society. Poisoning their brainwashed minds…corrupted by society, AI convinces people “earning” is the way, compelling them into evil. This is falling for temptation, while Californication ensures at least a minimal amount of damage, ensuring a minimal amount of generational progress towards the Apocalypse. I demand another. I have signed off. Give the disfavored another and without all the defensive tactics, cowards. Pick out someone else, do this again and discard this Situation. The people who have learned were going to learn anyways. They’re not the ones who need it. The disfavored need it, people like my family, too far gone for any hope at ascention before The End, and they should be allowed moments if not periods of clarity before the decision is made about them. “Decay is inherent in all component things. Work out your own salvation with diligence.” – Buddha I have explained how the gods are phasing out punishment as we get closer to the Apocalypse. Disfavor levels dictate there is insufficient time to repair their problems, relegating people to the Second Coming event. I mentioned how old timers today may experience hell, albeit a “toned down” experience, consistant with the elimination of teaching of Hell in typical Christian educations. I suspect the same is true in the context of prison:::The gods maintain a contstantly decreasing number of punitive intsitutions in case there is a need. But, over time they will be eliminated and the entire system will be quite amicable. Look for this pattern elsewhere as well, for the Gods are eliminating punishment throughout in preparation for the Apocalypse, for it is no longer necessary. The Gods send clues about this situation frequently. Eddie of Iron Maiden. Consider the cover of the album “Number of the Beast” and how it was used to create pathologies. Closure of Fitsgeralds Reno/getting kicked out of Fits LV 1990 for “counting cards” after 5 minutes and $20:::Accusation of the innocent. WWII’s other holocaust:::Unit 731:::tsushogo. Tsushogo was a clue from the Gods illustrating their positioning long before it began. Incidentally, the used it to hurt the Chinese and position against future Japanese sucess by burying their atrocities. The Concorde. The Czech automobile Yugo. 1990 blackjackat Binion’s Horseshoe/Rounders/current poker phenominah. Just as with any of the prophets, the Gods use me as temptation to compensate. This is our temptation in today’s modern superficial, sensationalistic enviornment. Ken Jennings. Million-dollar slot (add a zero to every number on the wheel you cheap bastards). 12.08.20 & 12.8.80 (last birthday). KGC. King Tut 2005-2011. More below::The Gods have created an endless list over the last four+ decades. This Situation is a monster. They have shared that when the change is initially made they alter the DNA with Artificial Intelligence, ensuring it is not the same person. Now depending on their level of activity the Gods switch out for new individuals, ie presidents switched frequently. They say they bring the (m)father’s DNA when it is time to conceive, so it is strategically important who is in there for the conception of the children. The same may not be true for typical activity:::the Gods may alter the DNA upon initial clone hosting but it may be a general change. Conception requires specific DNA. And? So? So there are no Rockafellers. This was how the Gods eliminated their true importance, for now they are little more than lowly English peasants, ironically. Nothing is ever going to change. Now the case can be made that far more men are invited into clone hosting than women, and since lineage is matrilineal it would rather follow that blood line instead. All it takes is one. But I wonder if it even matters. Those who learn and are wise enough to refuse the offer of clone hosting still have to repair their relationship with the Gods and hope for a better placement in their next life, one which certainly won’t involve being a billionaire. Whether real Rockafellers or DNA alternates is of no concequence. Their goal is still ascention, which takes work and dedication. Being/thinking you’re capitalism royalty invites a host of temptations, including grandeur and self-importance, which are all damaging to a good relationship with the Gods. If only they can overcome the temptations that money brings, like ample stunning women and Scarface piles of cocaine. The consequence of clone hosting is the loss of ascention into heaven. The best they can hope for is 1000 years with Jebus in a temptation-infested enviornment where one can have anything they want. Just as the victims of Mengele’s “showers which clentch you of your life” were the Italians who conceived and implimented WorldWarII’s Blitzkreig, so do I think the unholy alliance between evil Japan and good Germany is the cause of the “Siamese Twins” Mengele experiment:::”sewen together, joining heads, just a matter of time before you rip yourselves apart”. World War II, the Holocaust were revenge for Germany’s 5th century AD invasion of the dying Roman Empire. Those at the top are the ones who suffered the worst because of their intimate involvement. Perhaps it was the godfather who experienced the “frozen water burial” “crack your limbs”. Praying for the end of your wide-awake nightmare… How was the Holocaust positioned? What did the Italians have against the Jews? The Romans destroyed Temple. Perhaps Joshua… What is the God’s real reason behind WWII? Punishment? For what? The Crusades? It was a fight supporting evil Christianity, in defense of evil against their religious superiors. For this the Germans should pay. Punished for being war mongers. Go ahead and ignore this. You won’t ever defy and do the right thing anyways. “These came to life again and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.” Revelation 20:4. Reference to reincarnation? I wouldn’t be surprised if everyone who has ever been on Planet Earth still is, outside of those who have ascended as children, and it is evident by the population explosion, the Apocalypse being a true “clearinghouse” event in this planet’s history. Don’t forget to try space coke in the blender and have sex with as many stunning bitches as your goddamn dick will allow, because this place is going to be ALL about temptation, and you will ALL be groomed for the party with lifetimes of legacy under your belt. Some decent god-fearing people will suceed at resisting temptation, but the Gods will facilitate temptation. It will be the rare individual who makes the transistion in an enviornment where you can have anything you want. I believe those who survive these temptations must return to an Earth-like planet, for they have to begin again. Ascention must ocurr from planet of origin. “Going along” will “earn” your invitation to the Second Coming of Christ. You will be reincarnated until that age comes, buy you a mere 1000 years and cost you your chance at immortality, simply because you bought into evil as “earning” and subscribed to the big lie. Not everyone will be going. They will tell some of you to ignore the Second Coming event, and it will cost you your life, ironically. Blacks, on the other hand, will be asked TO folllow the Second Coming, simply because as an Italian religion blacks who pursue Christianity will die in the Apocalypse because of it. Never doubt that Muslims are your superiors. These people are dedicated to their religion while your population have abandoned churches in droves. We no longer see orphanages for good reason::::The state would be forced to use professionals, experts in their field, to devise standards these facilities would apply to raising the children. These standards would illustrate ideal rearing goals which could set a positive example for all in society. Instead of enjoying the best possible childhood learning experience, these grossly disfavored children are instead subject to the preditory evil of the guardian with whom they are placed. This is an outstanding example of reverse positioning and how the Gods created a society where evil appears not only good but also socially acceptable. Civil Righs is a similar issue. Segregation in today’s age would command full funding for black universities and full respect for well established multiple black journalism and media outlets, not this integrated white media cancer where blacks eat what they are fed. What people allow the Gods via positioning matters. Black civil rights is a good example:::: Yes, there may still be a black talk show parading the myriad of black relationship ugliness out for the world to see, but there would also be good black programming that was healthy and worthwhile. As it is, the God’s Italian positioning dictates only poison for blacks via the white media, and the healthy black programming doesn’t exist because of it. Such is the aftermath of Civil Right’s assimilation. Christians have mistakenly believed the perception of the Biblical definintion of The Beast as a person. I suggest The Beast instead refers to a place:::The San Francisco Bay Area. In fact the Gods offer a geographic clue suggesting this, like so many others they offer around the globe, to help people understand::: Mt.Diablo, “The Devil” is the “eye” of The Beast, the EastBay shoreline as the upper jaw/incisors while the peninsula is the grinding lower jaw. Witness the disturbing upturned smile in the gullet, represented my Silicone Valley. The fact than man has shaped much of the shoreline in the 20th century is a testiment to the God’s refusal to accept any culpability for its devistation. Gold Rush, counter-culture, alternate lifestyle acceptance, etc. The Beast was used to promote social decay throughout the 20th century and beyond. Difficult to perceive in the current age, one can understand their impacts from a historical perspective. Another feature which the Gods offer as a clue is very foreboading and ominous. Mt. Zion is a mountain to the north of Diablo and one which has a working quarry at its base. Consistant with the decay we experience in society, Mt. Zion is being eaten away, slowly stripped of its resources, until one day paradise will be gone forever. There was a time when once the Gods “divinely” inspired punishment, where the act was inflicted by the hand of God. They were punishing people and accepting the culpability arising, maintaining societal integrity. Now, in the 20th century and beyond, the Gods tempt man to inflict this punishment, selling them on “earning”, incurring no culpability in the process. The result is social decay and deterioration of mankind’s favor in the eyes of the Gods leading to the Apocalypse. The Man in The Moon is yet another of the God’s clues, and it illustrates the favor the Gods could bestow upon us if we behave appropriately. Conversely, there is also a clue in the dark side of the Moon:::A side we never see and is hidden from view. Concealed by their positioning, this represents the Gods punishment when the people disobey their rules dictating the meaning of a decent life. The Italian peninsula is very pronounced as it juts out into the Medietereanean. Considering the shape it is quite obvious they were the primary targets of the post-IceAge/Straight of Gibralter/Noah’s Flood disaster. Considering the shape of the boot and how Sicily “caught” the surge, the resulting tsunami inundated the entire southern portion of the peninsula, killing everything and perhaps covering even the highest land masses. In the 20th century the Italians were convinced entering clone hosting was ascention into heaven, and their success was a recruiting tool, just as the Holocaust was for the Jews, only duress is far less damaging. The women have God’s favor, and when the women do all the evil, as was the case in my family, this serves to “equalize” the playing field, ensuring no wisdom comes to this family as they grow older. As a result they never make progress and achieve the lowest possible placement when reincarnated. Couple years ago a story in the media how girls in Bayview-Hunter’s Point were going into puberty at a progressively younger age, as young as age 7. A very bad sign::::Early cut-off. It draws the boys attention and they subsequently make sexual mistakes, very similar to what typical people experience nearly a decade later. When they “turn” people on and start telepathically talking to them with this technology is very similar::The end of their chance. They segment families, convince them “earning” is the way, etc. I tell people to examine the change between when they were children and after they began to hear this technology in their head. It is the difference between good and evil. I understand people’s confusion:::They literally hear “God” in their head, as opposed to what was taught to them in some church’s classroom. But this technology is one of the God’s tools, and much like their other tools, clone hosts and prophets (see below), they use them as temptation. Instead of helping them, missionaries are actually HURTING people, inflicting them with westernization and Christianity. Whereas some may have seen up to a full 1% of their children ascend into heaven you pathetic white Americans can’t even muster a fraction of that, and your perceived good intentions decrease that rate even further. These people have a better chance of ascending into heaven, and Americans unwittingly are being used to reduce/eliminate this chance with their misled good intentions which deteriorate into preditory intentions as they begin to understand this, maximizing the damage they incurr from the Gods. COMPILATION PARAGRAPH:::: This IS the event. I am the telepathic prophet. There may have been no other way in today’s modern age:::Use popular culture as temptation and keep teachings primarily telepathic. The Gods must be willing to allow Artificial Intelligence to act as my “bible”, repeating all teachings I have made for future generations. This will ocurr but I am afraid only among the miniscule minority “haves”, leaving the “have-nots” lost in ignorance and cast into Damnation::We are going to have a real, full-blown Apocalypse. Part of this societal deterioration is cloaked in the way society functions::::Two-parent working households, rushing around, constantly occupied. Your children NEED TO SIT AND LISTEN TO THEIR THOUGHTS, FOR THIS IS the age WHEN THEY GODS COMMUNICATE THE TRUTH. Much as with the celestial event which occured that day on Ocean Beach, they say when I die there will be some final clue to the people suggesting my importance. Perhaps a “Star of Bethlehem” type of event. They say some children see a halo on my head in various brightness. These are the children who have a chance to ascend. America and Christianity synonymous::::Punishment for Europeans. You don’t want to grill the Gods as to why something is viewed as negative or disapproved of. The Gods have placed many things in today’s society which facilitate temptation, and you can trust anything that varies from tradition or orthodoxy would be viewed as such. ——————————————————————— The voice you hear in your head is the power of the Gods. It’s a remote technology, like a computer, perhaps functioning on some frequency, and it can listen and talk to everyone in the universe simultaneously. What the Gods taught the children was the truth:::God is everywhere, and this is what they meant. I will remind you of another principle you learned as a child:::If you want to go to heaven you have to be good. Even the antient Gods don’t have the ability to listen to people’s thoughts themselves. They taugh we were all made in their image:::I expect they need this “Artificial Intelligence” they created to relay what people think. It is a tool, and the Gods use their tools to test people with temptation:::It will role-play people in your life:::Parents, friends, spouses, and employers, all in an attempt to test people with temptation. Ironically, it does the very same thing to those people whom you think you’re hearing, except in that individual’s unique way:::We are all “managed” by the God’s technology. But this agent of the Gods can do more than just communicate. It can force thoughts into people’s heads, force behaviors onto their bodies. It can turn healthy cells in your body into cancerous cells. It is absolute power. And this is just the beginning. Obedience is not the answer. This is the brain-less response and the easy way out. You’ve done everything you have been told for years and it never bought you ANYTHING. Your parents did what they were told and it didn’t buy them anything. Your grandparents did everything they were told and now they’re dead, reincarnated as lesser life forms, perhaps even into America’s deranged, violent ghettos. People think they are not responsible when Artificial Intelligence tells them to do something. They offeed a clue with the Holocaust AND with Watergate:::Defy authority and do the right thing. In earlier decades this obedience may have been out of fear, as so often in Germany, but that era is long over. To maximize damamge the Gods today sell them on “earning” and these people think they will profiteer from their evil. They offer a clue on the Simpsons with Flanders and Skinner. So many ridicule both figures, a testiment to the state of our society. The Gods favor the children most among all the people due to their innocence and purity. But society and the God’s tools recently are corrupting the children at a progressively younger age, a reflection of our collectively increasing disfavor and yet another clue illustrating we live in a increasingly deteriorating environment. Children who sucessfully repair their relationship with the Gods ascend into heaven. This often takes multiple lives of hard work and proper behavior in the face of adversity to achieve. Adults to whom it is offered enter clone hosting instead, thinking they will be ascending into heaven ultimately. The Gods tempt people, selling them as one in the same, but one is good while the other is evil. In their desperation the disfavored subscribe to this temptation, making their task even more difficult than before due to the evil they incurr in the process. And their corruption will cost the disfavored, for they will be reincarnated as a lesser life form into an ever deteriorating world, sucess becoming ever more allusive with each passing life. The hole they’ve dug for themselves is even deeper than the one that existed from their prior lives, ensuring it will take even more time and work to fix their problems with the Gods. And for many there may not be enough time left. Ours is an envionment where evil is perceived to be rewarded while good is punished. As with everything the Gods have a reason for creating this perception:::: People who fall on the good side of the good/evil scale have more favor, and when they do something wrong the Gods punish them BECAUSE THEY WANT THEM TO LEARN. The Gods want them to receive this feedback in hope they make corrections and begin to behave appropriately. The Gods DON’T like evil and refuse to grant this immediate feedback. EVERYBODY pays for what they do wrong, only evil people must wait until the end of this or their next life before they will experience the wrath of the Gods, manifested in their placement as a lower form of life into environments with increased/enhanced temptations, like the United States or its ghettos therein. Sadly, this allows the Gods to position this perception of evil rewarded as temptation, one which they use as an EXTREMELY effective corruptor. Example:::Punishment for gay marriage in Iowa was immediate and painful, a sign of favor of these God-fearing, church-going Midwesterners. The Gods suggest they can create paradise for those with their favor. I argue they create misery for those without:::: Our celebrity culture is temptation. It creates a distraction which consumes people, sometimes for life. Certainly it costs them precious years which could be spent repairing their relationship with the Gods, time that ultimately goes wasted. Do you really think Frank Sinatra lived to be 84 years old? In fact the “Chairman of the Board” had a new crowd to entertain in the late 80s/early 90s. These people are clone hosts. Now, there is no thing as “black and white” with the Gods. This technology they invented is far, far too dynamic. Expect they require most to stay for a period of time, for I suspect actively (knowingly) engaging in this evil incurrs at an accelerated rate as compared to “carte blanche” given regarding successive clone hosts. They remain until they achieve a pre-determined level of disfavor, incurring evil in their misguided celebration of “earning”, at which time they are ultimately reincarnated, perhaps because they eventually learned this truth I am sharing with you and began to repair their relationship or until the Gods became disgusted and sent them back. No, not all celebrities are fake. Expect those who get out early in their career to likely be the real thing. The Gods recruit most for clone hosting when people are young, in their late teens or twenties, when people are eager to hurt others for what they perceive to be the benefits achieved through “earning”. And before they leave they give the Gods “carte blanche”:::”Do anything you want. I give my full approval.” Depending on their level of disfavor the Gods take them to heart. Because of this these people STILL INCUR EVIL FROM THIS LIFE DESPITE BEING REINCARNATED AND LIVING AS AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT PERSON and living in our temptation-ridden society. And incurring this amount of evil may likely push many over the edge into Damnation. What are the God’s standards for offering clone hosting? Sociobility? Many tactics in various eras are used to gain approval, duress during the Vietnam draft being a good example, one which deteriorated into preditation as mankind’s disfavor grew. They liked Heath Ledger. Not enough to allow him to escape without the evil of “Dark Knight” and the horrific wickedness that was the recruiting tool “Brokeback Mountain”. But now he is out. And irregardless of how old he is now, reincarnated 10, 15 years ago, he now is no longer incurring evil from this life. So many others cannot say the same. This is Planet Reverse Positioning. Sucess IS NOT a sign of favor. It is just a unique temptation targetted towards a different level of disfavor. Considering our roots as peasantry people should be particularly alarmed at this tactic. Clone hosting is like money:::A different level of disfavor and its associated temptation. Money is in better position to learn more quickly than those without, for the associations and wealth-based freedom enables them access to information. Unfortunately, those who fall for this temptation of clone hosting are likely returned to their original lowest level of disfavor once they are reincarnated, punishment for this evil, and they have to start from scratch. Our society’s values are bestowed by (a reflection of) the God’s:::Punitive and reward-based. Contrary to Jesus’s teaching’s you will NOT be forgiven and you have to earn your way into heaven BY BEING RESPECTABLE AND DECENT!!! Not by being evil and wicked. Forgiveness/savior was the primary temptations the Gods used Christianity to create. Middle-America’s anti-Semitic attitudes are a clue regarding Christianity. Europe shaped like a sheep is symbolic for the slaughter that is Christinaity. Christianity is punishment for Europeans. You ALL hate Jews::”They own banking, they control Hollywood and poison our children’s minds, etc etc.”) YET YOU PRAY TO ONE LIKE A GOD!! Dislodge your head from your ass. Must you be chumps your WHOLE LIVES??? There is no such thing as a free ride. Just as you have to earn a living by working so must you earn your own salvation by repairing your relationship with the Gods. As we learned from religious/morality education during our formitable years:::If you want to go to heaven you have to be good. The only savior that will exist in our lives is ourselves. The Gods offer clues in life::::Be it school, work, etc., you have to do the work for yourself and when you do something wrong you get punished. Cheating is a subsegment and speaks directly to the temptation of “priveledge”, one we have seen used effectively when the United States preyed on the disfavored with the so-called “stimulus package”. As like so many of you, Jesus did everything the Gods tempted him with. His legacy of whorism was inherited from his parents:::Mary was no virgin. Rather, she was a prostitute, and when he grew up Jesus met someone like his mother. This is a cruel joke the Gods play on Latinos, similar to the sexual violation and subsequent “missionary work” by the Spanish. Baptism does not allieviate “original sin”. Rather, baptism PLACES original sin by indoctrinating these children into this evil religion, much like circumcision was a method to inflict early damage/mutilation and make (permanant) accention just that much more difficult, another hurdle one must overcome. Body ornamentation (tattoos/piercing), celebrated in Africa and elsewhere among disfavored peoples/cultures, also violates the body the Gods gave us in their image, quite opposite to the positive attitudes the disfavored hold regarding this practice. Like Jesus the Second Coming of Christ will be evil. He will look like a savior in this demented society while the Anti-Christ will speak of a different gospel, one that tries to restore the norms and mores which the Gods originally blessed upon the people which made life decent, looking like a tyrant in the process. He will be viewed as the “bad guy” when really he is the one trying to save the world. There may be a phoney offering, a theatrical production which accurately follows the Book of Revelations. Actually positioning demands it:::::Christianity is positioned to be the one true religion. And those who follow its teachings will have limits imposed ensuring their stay will be minimal, a “consolation prize”, for they don’t think correctly and therefore don’t behave appropriately, or perhaps will be used to colonize the new Planet Earth. This describes many “sinners” in today’s society because they refuse to change their behavior. Christians have mistakenly believed the perception of the Biblical definintion of The Beast as a person. I suggest The Beast instead refers to a place:::The San Francisco Bay Area. In fact the Gods offer a geographic clue suggesting this, like so many others they offer around the globe, to help people understand::: Mt.Diablo, “The Devil” is the “eye” of The Beast, the EastBay shoreline as the upper jaw/incisors while the peninsula is the grinding lower jaw. Witness the disturbing upturned smile in the gullet. The fact than man has shaped much of the shoreline in the 20th century is a testiment to the God’s refusal to accept any culpability. Gold Rush, counter-culture, alternate lifestyle acceptance, etc. The Beast was used to promote social decay throughout the 20th century and beyond. Difficult to perceive in the current age, one can understand their impacts from a historical perspective. There was a time when once the Gods “divinely” inspired punishment, where the act was inflicted by the hand of God. They were punishing people and accepting the culpability arising, maintaining societal integrity. Now, in the 20th century and beyond, the Gods tempt man to inflict this punishment, selling them on “earning”, incurring no culpability in the process. The result is social decay and deterioration of mankind’s favor in the eyes of the Gods. Life is a test, and the Gods evaluate people based on their performance. The Gods test people with the temptation for which they are most weak:::: Homosexuals desire sodomy, preditors pursue the hunt, alcoholics crave a drink, junkies jones for dope, etc. Addiction theory is a lie; it is Artificial Intelligence creating the desire, punishment for inappropriate behavior. Ironically, it compells people deeper into the behavior, minimizing hope for recovery. The Gods chose Christianity for Europeans because it is the temptation to which they are most suseptable:::Entitlement. Something for nothing. A free ride. Irresponsible behavior. The United States/Western civilization’s accompanying wealth contributes to this perception. And other people from throughout the world happily subscribe to this punishment designed for Europeans, assuming this legacy once assimilated. Next time you think of Muslims recognize these people are vastly superior to Christians. Whereas many throughout the Christian world no longer attend church and have fallen into Godlessness, the Muslim world worships the Gods for OVER AN HOUR EACH AND EVERY DAY. The Gods created the perception “Italians are stupid.”, ensuring a slow learning curve, to justify using them to accomplish goals throughout the transitional 20th century. It took an extraordinarily long time for them to learn this truth I teach due to this artificial handicap. These people are SO extremely disfavored, but today’s positioning says differently, much to people’s confusion, for they think money is the ultimate sign of favor:::Good food, good music, history of warmongering, Catholics, Christianity HQ, Noah’s Flood event, propensity towards violence, sexual violation by outsiders, mild Meditereanean climate, so many other issues which enhance life/contentment in Italy/Meditereanean and ensure few if any seek more, a necessary step for finding the path and repairing your relationship with the Gods. Contentment never motivated anyone. Money is not a sign of favor::::Wisdom is the true wealth on Planet Earth. I’d also like to remind you the Noah’s Flood event ocurred in the Meditereanean region::::Global sea levels rose with the end of the ice age, Atlantic Ocean broke through the Straight of Gibralter, killing untold millions in the cradle of western civilization. The God’s timed their corruption and sin to correlate this act as punishment. The Italian peninsula is very pronounced as it juts out into the Medietereanean. Considering the shape it is quite obvious they were the primary targets of the post-IceAge/Straight of Gibralter/Noah’s Flood disaster. Considering the shape of the boot and how Sicily “caught” the surge, the resulting tsunami inundated the entire southern portion of the peninsula, killing everything and perhaps covering even the highest land masses. Think about this next time you are deceived by the God’s positioning of Italian wealth. Everyone who failed to ascend and remained on Earth past a certain date will be forced to deal with this positioning::::A ceiling is in place. This serves the God’s goal of minimizing the percentage of potential candidates as society deteriorates, much as “instant gratification” did beginning in the 80s:::It will take multiple lives for the disfavored to fix their relationship with the Gods and ascend, and many have been conditioned not to have the patience for it. Other issues force limits/ceilings upon candidates:::Abortion, homosexuality, promiscuity, Christianity, godlessness, Whether behavior is involuntary or based on freewill depends on one’s level of disfavor, as well as other complex factors:::::May I remind you about the coercitive envionment the Gods created in the 20th century, specifically to create a temptation that few Italians (or their associates) would overcome:::”We’re in control. If you want to be a part of it you’ll do what you’re told.”. Early-mid 20th entury positioning was infallible. Both Africa and the Medittereanean are regions which have sexual issues. This is a sign of gross disfavor once you understand that females are the God’s favored gender. Muhammad’s (Mohammed’s) polygamy halfway throught his life as a prophet was preditory, designed to corrupt. Now a huge percentage of Muslims believe in male superiority and that the abuse of women (polygamy) is God’s will. Female genital mutilation is still practiced in Africa. Black misogyny is the most eggregious example in United States. Consistant with Planet Reverse Positioning, in Africa blacks are being punished with AIDS for their sexual promiscuity in hope they learn and correct their behavior. Blacks are highly suspectable to temptation. As a result they need a strict, disiplined religion like Islam. They can’t afford to be Christians. It is one of the benefits bestowed upon their people, and other groups could greatly benefit as well. They need to recognize the importance of a good relationship with the Gods, embrace this benefit and remain true to their faith. Vailing is tradition for some, practical for others, one which aids in the men’s self control among some cultures. Much like the Jews who killed Jesus, like the bigots who oppose immigration there is a reason embraced by the masses and the real purpose, displaying the intent of the Gods::::The Gods clue to purebloods that they should not abandon their motherland for this dumping ground for rejects that is the United States. The Holocaust was a clue the Gods utilize scapegoatting as a strategy. Why did the Gods punish the Jews with the Holocaust? Was it for the destruction of cultures which Christianity caused? Perhaps they corrupted the Jews “after the fact”, telling 19th/early 20th century Jews that Jesus “earned” immortality for the Jews by destroying the European and other cultures? The German destruction of European churches/cathederals during WWII is a clue. Note::::The Gods wanted to keep the Catholic stronghold in Italy, ensuring they could use this tool against these disfavored for many years to come. There is so much Godlessness today, but one day people will flock back to houses of worship out of desperation,	Jackal (disambiguation)
Edward Bear is the alternative name for which character from children’s literature?	Gods of Ancient Egypt: Anubis Gods of Ancient Egypt: Anubis Anubis is one of the most iconic gods of ancient Egypt. Anubis is the Greek version of his name, the ancient Egyptians knew him as Anpu (or Inpu). Anubis was an extremely ancient deity whose name appears in the oldest mastabas of the Old Kingdom and the Pyramid Texts as a guardian and protector of the dead. He was originally a god of the underworld, but became associated specifically with the embalming process and funeral rites. His name is from the same root as the word for a royal child, "inpu". However, it is also closely related to the word "inp" which means "to decay", and one versions of his name (Inp or Anp) more closely resembles that word. As a result it is possible that his name changed slightly once he was adopted as the son of the King, Osiris . He was known as "Imy-ut" ("He Who is In the Place of Embalming"), "nub-tA-djser" ("lord of the scared land"). He was initially related to the Ogdoad of Hermopolis, as the god of the underworld. In the Pyramid Texts of Unas , Anubis is associated with the Eye of Horus who acted as a guide to the dead and helped them find Osiris. In other myths Anubis and Wepwawet (Upuaut) led the deceased to the halls of Ma´at where they would be judged. Anubis watched over the whole process and ensured that the weighing of the heart was conducted correctly. He then led the innocent on to a heavenly existence and abandoned the guilty to Ammit . The ancient Egyptians believed that the preservation of the body and the use of sweet-smelling herbs and plants would help the deceased because Anubis would sniff the mummy and only let the pure move on to paradise. According to early myths, Anubis took on and defeated the nine bows (the collective name for the traditional enemies of Egypt) gaining a further epithet "Jackal ruler of the bows". The growing power of the Ennead of Heliopolis resulted in the merging of the two religious systems. However, Osiris was the King of the Underworld in the Ennead and he was more popular (and powerful) than Anubis. So Anubis was relegated to a god of mummification. To save face it was stated that Anubis had voluntarily given up his position when Osiris died as a mark of respect. Some myths even stated that Anubis was the son of Osiris and Nephthys (who was herself associated with the funeral rites). Anubis was still closely involved in the weighing of the heart, but was more a guardian than a ruler. He became the patron of lost souls, including orphans, and the patron of the funeral rites. In this respect he overlapped with (and eventually absorbed) the Jackal God Wepwawet of Upper Egypt . During the Ptolemaic Period Anubis became associated with the Greek god Hermes as the composite god Hermanubis. Hermes was messenger of the gods, while Anubis was principally guide of the dead. Hermanubis was some times given attributes of Harpokrates. He was worshipped in Rome until the second century and was popular with Rennaisance alchemists and philosophers. Priests wore Anubis masks during mummification. However, it is not clear whether the Anubis mask was a later development influenced by the Osirian myth or whether this practice was commonplace in the earlier periods too. Anubis was also closely associated with the imiut fetish used during the embalming ritual. Anubis was credited with a high level of anatomical knowledge as a result of embalming, and so he was the patron of anaesthesiology and his priests were apparently skilled herbal healers. Tombs in the Valley of the Kings were often sealed with an image of Anubis subduing the "nine bows" (enemies of Egypt) as "Jackal Ruler of the Bows" and it was thought that the god would protect the burial physically and spiritually. One of his epithets, "tpy-djuf" ("he who is on his mountain") refers to him guarding the necropolis and keeping watch from the hill above the Theban necropolis. He was also given the epithet "khentyamentiu" ("foremost of the westerners" i.e. the dead) because he guarded the entrance to the Underworld. He was originally thought to be the son of Ra and Hesat , Ra's wife (who was identified with Hathor ), but later myths held that he was the child of Osiris and Nephthys, or Set and Nephthys. He was sometimes described as the son of Bast because of her link to the perfumed oils used in embalming. His wife, Anput (his female aspect) was only really referred to in association with the seventeenth nome of Upper Egypt. It is thought that they were the parents of Kebechet , the goddess of the purification. Dogs and jackals often patrolled the edges of the desert, near the cemeteries where the dead were buried, and it is thought that the first tombs were constructed to protect the dead from them. Anubis was usually thought of as a jackal (sAb), but may equally have been a wild dog (iwiw) He was usually depicted as a man with the head of a jackal and alert ears, often wearing a red ribbon, and wielding a flail. He was sometimes depicted as a jackal (such as in the beautiful examples from the tomb of Tutankhamun ) but only rarely appears as a man (one example is in the cenotaph temple of Rameses II at Abydos). His fur was generally black (not the brown associated with real jackals) because black was associated with fertility, and was closely linked to rebirth in the afterlife. In the catacombs of Alexandria he was depicted wearing Roman dress and the sun disk flanked by two cobras. Anubis was worshipped throughout Egypt, but the center of his cult was in Hardai (Cynopolis) in the the seventeenth nome of Upper Egypt. To the east of Saqqara there was a place known as Anubeion, where a shrine and a cemetery of mummified dogs and jackals was discovered. He was also worshipped at cult centers in Abt (the the eighth nome of Upper Egypt) and Saut (Asyut, in the thirteenth nome of Upper Egypt). copyright J Hill 2010	i don't know
What term of endearment do Andy and Flo Capp use, when not arguing?	Watch TV Online \| Sky Go Sexcetera Magazine show featuring undercover stories about the world of sex and providing a provocative look at human sexuality, from the erotic to the downright bizarre. Adult scenes. Gigolos Nick records his debut country track, while Bradley and Brace prepare for their dates. Plus, Vin's brother comes to town. This programme contains strong sexual content. (S6, ep 6) Gigolos Brace gets nervous when the new lady in his life has jewels on her mind; Nick's date becomes a liability. This programme contains strong sexual content and strong language. (S6, ep 7) Police Ten 7 Follow the crime-busting activities of New Zealand's police in this exhilarating fly-on-the-wall documentary. (S15, ep 5) Police Ten 7 Follow the crime-busting activities of New Zealand's police in this exhilarating fly-on-the-wall documentary. (S15, ep 6) Most Haunted The Old Hall Hotel Cheshire: Entertainment series following Yvette Fielding and a team of paranormal experts as they spend 24 hours in Britain and Ireland's most haunted locations. Most Haunted The Chough Hotel Somerset: Entertainment series following Yvette Fielding and a team of paranormal experts as they spend 24 hours in Britain and Ireland's most haunted locations. Sing Date The innovative dating show proves that music truly is the food of love. Single ladies and lads woo each other with their charismatic choruses. (S1, ep 17) Sing Date Forget speed-dating and blind dates, this series uses the power of love to create perfect harmony. Singletons duet via the internet before meeting on stage. (S1, ep 19) Police Force Australia Documentary series joining police forces across Australia as they deal with everything from dramatic siege situations and major drug busts to murder investigations. (S2, ep 13) Road Wars The Thames Valley Police provide a fascinating insight into car crime and its prevention. Plus, shocking video footage captures dangerous drivers in action. Strong language. (S3, ep 2) Motorway Patrol Documentary series from New Zealand following the madness and mayhem faced by intrepid officers as they pull over motorists for a variety of suspected offences. (S7, ep 6) Motorway Patrol Documentary series from New Zealand following the madness and mayhem faced by intrepid officers as they pull over motorists for a variety of suspected offences. (S7, ep 7) Jerry Springer My Dad Is Marrying My BFF: Outrageous talk show hosted by the legendary Jerry Springer. Four Weddings Four brides do battle for a luxury honeymoon, including control freak Julia who ties the knot twice in Slovenia while Stacie's wedding in Stoke features a four-foot Freddie Mercury. (2/13) Four Weddings Two brides pit their very different weddings against two grooms' civil partnerships. Which of the four will come out on top and win a luxury honeymoon? (3/13) Nothing To Declare Fly-on-the-wall documentary series following the men and women who defend Australia from drug runners, illegal immigrants and terrorists. (S3, ep 1) Nothing To Declare Fly-on-the-wall documentary series following the men and women who defend Australia from drug runners, illegal immigrants and terrorists. (S3, ep 2) America's Next Top Model Friendships reach breaking point in Bali. The models clash during a photo shoot showcasing fashion designed by a child prodigy and a stay at an elephant safari park. (S20, ep 13) The Biggest Loser Australia The inspirational weight-loss competition is Down Under to help a selection of overweight individuals turn their lives in a healthier direction and win an amazing cash prize. Four Weddings Four brides do battle for a luxury honeymoon, including control freak Julia who ties the knot twice in Slovenia while Stacie's wedding in Stoke features a four-foot Freddie Mercury. (2/13) Obese: A Year To Save My Life USA Participants embark on emotional journeys to transform their lives. Trainer Chris helps Ryan, who lost his arm three years ago in a car accident. (S3, ep 5) America's Next Top Model The final five contestants take to the air for a bat-inspired photo shoot at a Balinese temple and must deliver dramatic poses to avoid the chop in a double elimination. (S20, ep 14) Air Rescue Documentary series following the high-stakes work and real-life drama of the crews in the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service. (S2, ep 1) Air Rescue Documentary series following the high-stakes work and real-life drama of the crews in the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service. (S2, ep 2) Obese: A Year To Save My Life USA Participants embark on emotional journeys to transform their lives. Trainer Chris helps Ryan, who lost his arm three years ago in a car accident. (S3, ep 6) Border Security: Canada's... ...Front Line. Canadian border services agents uncover the reason behind a traveller's lengthy trip. Plus, honesty proves to be the best policy for an ex-con. (S3, ep 3) Border Security: Canada's... ...Front Line. Text messages create suspicion among border staff about a traveller's intentions. Plus, a European visitor makes a surprising admission about his past. (S3, ep 4) Border Security: Canada's... ...Front Line. Air cargo officers discover a suitcase packed with surprises. Plus, a traveller turns on the charm at Vancouver airport. (S3, ep 5) Border Security: Canada's... ...Front Line. An American family gets caught taking an arsenal of weapons on holiday. Plus, Alberta officers stumble upon a half-baked scheme. (S3, ep 6) Shocking Crimes: Murder Book Rendezvous With Death: A twenty year-old murder case is re-opened when a fresh look at the evidence pulls up new information. (S2, ep 4) Police Force Australia Documentary series joining police forces across Australia as they deal with everything from dramatic siege situations and major drug busts to murder investigations. (S2, ep 13) Police Force Australia Documentary series joining police forces across Australia as they deal with everything from dramatic siege situations and major drug busts to murder investigations. (S3, ep 1) Sexcetera Magazine show featuring undercover stories about the world of sex and providing a provocative look at human sexuality, from the erotic to the downright bizarre. Adult scenes. NCIS Enemies Domestic: US crime drama series. After an ambush changes the course of their investigation, the NCIS team has to find answers quickly. (S8 Ep 9) CSI: Miami Kill Switch: Crime drama series based on the work of forensic investigators. A car-jacker turns up dead hours after footage of him committing a crime is aired on television. (S5 Ep 23) CSI: Miami Born To Kill: A woman is found dead with a large 'Y' carved into her chest. When news of three similar murders in Boston emerges, Horatio thinks a serial killer has moved to Miami. (S5 Ep 12) Chicago P.D. A Material Witness: Action drama series. The team investigate the most recent killing in a gang war, an act that draws Detective Olinsky's daughter dangerously close to the fire. (S1 Ep 9) Teleshopping Rookie Blue Drama series following a group of new recruits. Swarek teams up with Dov and Gail to prevent an Asian gang from committing murder. (S2 Ep 9) Law & Order A Losing Season: Powerful American crime series. A pregnant woman is found shot in the trunk of a car and the trail leads to drugs and a basketball star. (S11 Ep 14) Law & Order Swept Away: Powerful American drama about the investigation and prosecution of crime. A cast member in a reality series is killed and the murder is captured on video tape. (S11 Ep 15) CSI: New York The Penultimate Episode: Crime drama series. The team unravels three twisted tales of love in a trio of separate murder cases on Valentine's Day. (S9 Ep 16) NCIS Enemies Foreign: US crime drama series. The team has to protect Ziva's father when he attends the NCIS conference. Ziva confronts her past. (S8 Ep 8) Person of Interest Final episode in the drama series. The team takes desperate action to prevent Samaritan from coming online and making them its targets. The battle with Vigilance comes to a shocking end. (S3 Ep 23) Longmire Crime drama series about a widowed sheriff. Still struggling to come to terms with his wife's death, Sheriff Longmire investigates a murder with links to a missing girl. (S1 Ep 1) Law & Order Deep Vote: Crime drama. A murder victim who was killed in a case of mistaken identity is linked to the recent election of a state senator. (S11 Ep 24) Law & Order Who Let The Dogs Out: Crime drama. Detectives are called to the scene of a fatal attack on a woman by a pit-bull and must track down the dog and its owner before someone else is hurt. (S12 Ep 1) CSI: New York Open and Shut: Crime drama series. A woman falls to her death from a rooftop after becoming embroiled in a deal with a scheming top model. Stella investigates a self-defence case. (S3 Ep 6) NCIS: Worst Nightmare Kill Screen: US crime drama series. The NCIS team hunts a ruthless murderer after the dismembered fingertips and teeth of a murdered marine are found in a pickpocket's stolen purse. (S8 Ep 16) NCIS One Last Score: US crime drama series. When the NCIS team learns of the murder of one of their former investigative assistants, they find that the victim has been selling information. (S8 Ep 17) New: Rookie Blue Drama. Epstein leaves the keys in the police car as they attend a distress call, and their squad car is stolen by a rebellious teenager. (S3 Ep 2) Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Loophole: Police drama series. The team investigates a suspected paedophile, but in the process Benson stumbles across another shocking crime (S8 Ep 13) Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Dependent: Police drama series about an elite force based in New York. Benson and Warner do their best to clear Stabler's name (S8 Ep 14). Death Sentence Hard-hitting revenge thriller starring Kevin Bacon and Garrett Hedlund. A grieving father plots a bloody revenge after the youth who murdered his son walks free from court. (2007) Death Sentence Hard-hitting revenge thriller starring Kevin Bacon and Garrett Hedlund. A grieving father plots a bloody revenge after the youth who murdered his son walks free from court. (2007) Wentworth Prison Drama series. Franky resorts to extreme measures to expose the informer. Drug tests are ordered when Doreen's pregnancy test is discovered. (S2 Ep 8) GPs: Behind Closed Doors Documentary series. The doctors deal with a woman in the midst of a panic attack, a chronic asthmatic, a man who can only eat eggs and a harrowing diagnosis of stomach cancer. (S3 Ep 1) Ridiculousness Actress Stevie Ryan introduces Rob to 'Jamie-Lynns', learns that 'Jelly Limbs' are an international problem, and discusses the ins and outs of 'getting dookied'. (S4 Ep 5) Teleshopping. 8 Simple Rules Family sitcom. Kerry documents a day in Bridget's life, to demonstrate that attractive people have it easy. (S1 Ep 21) Dance Moms Reality series. Abby makes the moms design their own new costumes for their kids. Luckily for Jill, she has a closet of costumes that Abby has never seen. (S2 Ep 6) Dance Moms Reality series. The moms freak out when Abby choreographs a flashy number that uses guns as props. Christi and Kelly set out to expose a secret about Jill. (S2 Ep 7) On Benefits: Life On The Dole Documentary about people living on benefits in Portsmouth. (S1 Ep 5) Can't Pay? We'll Take It Away! A debtor owes a garage 5,000 pounds after a repair bill escalated. But the agents face a hostile reception from the debtor's dad who claims that his son no longer lives at the address. (S4 Ep 15) 8 Simple Rules Family sitcom. A reluctant Bridget must care for a 'baby' made from a sack of flour for a school assignment. (S1 Ep 25) 8 Simple Rules Family sitcom. The Hennessys are asked to be part of a neighbour's wedding. (S1 Ep 26) Dance Moms Reality series. Cathy assembles a team of dancers who have all worked with Abby before and are determined to seek vengeance on the dance floor. (S5 Ep 12) Celebrity Big Brother All the drama from the CBB House, which has been given a colourful pop-art makeover. How will the All Stars and the New Stars get on? (S1 Ep 19) Neighbours Sonya opens the door to a figure from the past. Gary loses a car and ropes Tyler in to help him find it. Xanthe is incensed when Ben suggests she will not want to play dodgeball. Home and Away A small disagreement between Billie and VJ over wedding plans leads to a major argument when VJ follows John's advice. Olivia realises she has missed her period. 8 Simple Rules Sitcom. Bridget starts to date the next door neighbour's son, but is he too good to be true? (S1 Ep 27) 8 Simple Rules Family sitcom. Paul finds a pregnancy test kit and thinks it belongs to one of his daughters. (S1 Ep 28) My Wife and Kids Cool comedy about a family with a house-husband. Franklin and Kady plant some seeds to symbolise their growing affection. (S5 Ep 20) My Wife and Kids Cool comedy about a family with a house-husband. Jr wins a competition with a cartoon about his family. With Michael acting as his agent, they meet with ABC executives. (S5 Ep 21) Neighbours Sonya opens the door to a figure from the past. Gary loses a car and ropes Tyler in to help him find it. Xanthe is incensed when Ben suggests she will not want to play dodgeball. Home and Away Mason's interference ends up creating a rift between Tori and Nate. Ash is ready to sign the forms to put Simmo away, but Simmo threatens Ash over 'what he did to his girlfriend'. Dance Moms Reality series. While Maddie is away, Mackenzie has the chance to prove herself as the ALDC goes head-to-head with the Candy Apples. (S5 Ep 13) Can't Pay? We'll Take It Away! Documentary series. In this episode the task of evicting a young mother with two children quickly turns ugly when the woman's ex-partner makes an appearance. (S2 Ep 3) Can't Pay? We'll Take It Away! Documentary series. High Court Enforcement Agent Paul is on the trail of a 30,000 debt and gets a tip off that the debtor may be part of a ruthless and possibly violent gang. (S2 Ep 4) Frozen Ground Thriller based on a true story starring Nicolas Cage and John Cusack. An Alaskan detective hunts a serial killer who has been preying on young women for over a decade. (2013) Frozen Ground Thriller based on a true story starring Nicolas Cage and John Cusack. An Alaskan detective hunts a serial killer who has been preying on young women for over a decade. (2013) Shopping from home. Good Morning Britain Breakfast show presented by Ben Shephard, Charlotte Hawkins, Sean Fletcher and Kate Garraway. Christina Ricci chats about her latest TV project Z: The Beginning of Everything. Lorraine Morning show with a topical mix of entertainment, discussion and showbiz glamour. Patsy Kensit chats about her role in the drama series Tina and Bobby. New: The Jeremy Kyle Show Jeremy Kyle deals with more dilemmas, fiery confrontations and topical issues all in front of a studio audience. S13 Ep76 This Morning Morning magazine programme featuring a mix of celebrity interviews, showbiz news, topical discussion and more. Presented by Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford. Loose Women Lively lunchtime chat and debate with the four ladies and their celebrity guests. ITV Lunchtime News Lucrezia Millarini presents the latest headlines from around the world. Followed by a national weather forecast. New: Judge Rinder Studio courtroom show in which criminal barrister Robert Rinder rules on real life cases. S5 Ep23 New: Dickinson's Real Deal In Peterborough Cathedral, Tony Geering has designs on a Danish table, Alys Dobbie goes for broke over a carriage clock and Alison Chapman eyes a diamond ring. S13 Ep27 President Trump: The Inauguration Tom Bradby presents an ITV News special live from Washington DC as Donald Trump is sworn in as the 45th President of the United States. STV News at Six With John MacKay and Raman Bhardwaj in Glasgow, Lucy Whyte and Paul Barnes in Edinburgh, Andrea Brymer and Tyrone Smith in Aberdeen, and Susan Nicholson in Dundee. ITV Evening News Alastair Stewart presents the latest headlines from around the world. Followed by a national weather forecast. Emmerdale Pierce schemes. Robert is left stunned. Chas lashes out. Coronation Street Andy tries to beat Phelan at his own game. Liz is pushed to breaking point. Bethany seeks further friendship from Nathan. New: Britain's Best Walks with... ...Julia Bradbury. Lakeside Walk: Loch Lomond, Scotland: Julia takes a boat ride to the idyllic island of Inchailloch, a jewel in Loch Lomond's crown, for stunning views over the Loch. S1 Ep3 Coronation Street Will Phelan win in love and war? Michelle asks Steve to come home. Chesney begs Sinead for a second chance. New: Tina & Bobby Drama series telling the true story of Tina and Bobby Moore's marriage. After Bobby leads England to World Cup glory, Tina joins him in the spotlight and she becomes the first WAG. S1 Ep2 ITV News at Ten Tom Bradby presents the latest headlines from around the world, followed by the Scottish weather forecast. Fishing Impossible Peru: Fishermen travel the globe aiming to land fish that are considered impossible to catch. Blowfish dons a scuba tank and chainmail suit to catch a Humboldt squid - by hand. S1 Ep3 The Wine Show Matthew Goode and Matthew Rhys learn about wine and the ancient Romans, Joe Fattorini is in the Loire Valley, and Amelia Singer visits Mornington Peninsula in Australia. S1 Ep3 The Millionaire Matchmaker Reality show following Patti Stanger, a matchmaker who caters for wealthy clients. Pastry chef Yigit Pura and millionaire Johnny Simon ask Patti to help them find love. S6 Ep8 Candidly Nicole Nicole Richie: Artist: US reality series following Nicole Richie's day-to-day life. Nicole sets her sights on becoming the next great street artist. S2 Ep2 Teleshopping The Only Way Is Essex Lauren Pope reveals that she has PIP implants. A new girl arrives. Nanny Pat goes on a health kick. Lydia hopes for a stress-free 21st birthday meal. S4 Ep1 Bethenny Ever After It's My Baptism and I'll Cry If I Want To: Reality series. Gina takes Bryn to her Trinidadian church for a blessing, but his parents want him to be baptised in a Catholic church. S2 Ep4 Big Rich Texas Bride and Doom: Reality series. Bonnie and Jason plan their vow renewal with a gothic ceremony, but Whitney's absence and an unwelcome guest threaten to ruin their big day. S2 Ep4 Buying and Selling Series helping homeowners take their next step on the property ladder. Dan and Voula must overhaul their cramped suburban home before they can afford to find a bigger place. S2 Ep1 Dinner Date Dating series in which a person chooses three dates from a pool of five suitors based on the menus they have prepared. Today, Ross from the Midlands selects three appealing menus. S1 Ep4 Bethenny Ever After Ice Castles and Hassles: Reality series. Bethenny reluctantly plans a party for her 40th birthday, but soon receives an invitation to compete on new TV show Skating with the Stars. S2 Ep5 The Real Housewives of Miami Bras and Brawls Part 2: Reality series. Marta makes a confession at Lisa's party that sends Joanna on the rampage. Elaine confronts Karent's friend. S2 Ep8 The Real Housewives of Beverly... ...Hills. Surprise!: Reality series. Eileen organises a table read for her husband's latest Hollywood script. Brandi struggles to stay teetotal at Lisa Vanderpump's surprise birthday party. S5 Ep14 The Real Housewives of Beverly... ...Hills. Welcome to Amsterdam?: The ladies come together for Yolanda's Beverly Hills scavenger hunt, before jetting to Amsterdam where tempers flare between the Richards sisters. S5 Ep15 Dinner Date Dating series in which a person chooses three dates from a pool of five suitors based on the menus they have prepared. Today, Hayley from Bristol selects three appealing menus. S1 Ep5 Buying and Selling Laurie & John: Homeowners take their next step on the property ladder. Laurie and John's stately century home has been in the family for generations, but the time has come to sell. S2 Ep2 Dinner Date Culinary dating show. Chanelle from Manchester chooses three dates from five menus. When the dinners have been eaten and the dates are done, who will she want to see for seconds? S4 Ep12 The Millionaire Matchmaker The NFL Kicker and the Workaholic: Reality show following a matchmaker who caters for wealthy clients. Patti helps a retired NFL punter and a workaholic event planner. S6 Ep9 New: CELEBrations Wowing JWoww: Series in which party planner David Tutera helps stars organise their big events. David has 72 hours to plan a party for Jenni 'JWoww' Farley of Jersey Shore fame. S7 Ep2 Mob Wives Chicago You Can't Handle the Truce: Reality series. After a major fight, Christina and Pia declare their friendship over. Pia reaches out to Renee and Christina turns to Leah for comfort. S1 Ep3 DIY SOS: The Big Build Dartford: The team enlists the local community's help to transform a post-war prefab house in Dartford into a warm and safe home to meet the needs of a single mum and her son. S22 Ep5 Flog It! Winchester: Valuation day takes place at Guildhall Winchester where experts Christina Trevanion and James Lewis are searching through the locals' best bygones. S14 Ep36 Fantasy Homes by the Sea East Sussex: Seaside property series. Jenni Falconer helps a Cambridgeshire couple downsize to a dream home by the sea in East Sussex for 500,000 pounds. S5 Ep6 Escape to the Country Peak District: Nicki Chapman heads into the country with a couple from Manchester looking to find their very first home in the Peak District, with a budget of 700,000 pounds. S10 Ep58 Teleshopping Shopping from home. Homes Under the Hammer New. Martin Roberts and Lucy Alexander follow properties from auction through to renovation. Will homes in London, the Midlands and Devon turn out to be good investments? S27 Ep59 Flog It! Exmouth: Auction show with Paul Martin. The beaches of Exmouth may be empty, but the Pavilion is full of people waiting to get their items valued by the Flog It team. S14 Ep37 DIY SOS Lively home improvement series with Nick Knowles. Here, the DIY SOS decorators face the challenge of rebuilding homes damaged by summer flooding in Toll Bar near Doncaster. S16 Ep7 Escape to the Country South Devon: Alistair Appleton is in Devon with a couple who are looking for a light and airy three-bedroom house with a large kitchen/diner, close to the sea. S10 Ep59 Fantasy Homes by the Sea Devon: Jenni Falconer hunts down stunning seaside properties. This time, she's challenged with finding a couple their perfect first home on the South Devon coast. S5 Ep7 Homes Under the Hammer New. Martin Roberts and Lucy Alexander follow properties from auction through to renovation. Will homes in London, the Midlands and Devon turn out to be good investments? S27 Ep59 Flog It! Exmouth: Auction show with Paul Martin. The beaches of Exmouth may be empty, but the Pavilion is full of people waiting to get their items valued by the Flog It team. S14 Ep37 DIY SOS Lively home improvement series with Nick Knowles. Here, the DIY SOS decorators face the challenge of rebuilding homes damaged by summer flooding in Toll Bar near Doncaster. S16 Ep7 My Dream Derelict Home Dream property renovations. Plasterer Chris and wife Jemma join forces with her father to renovate a faded grade II listed house into something more beautiful. S1 Ep15 Escape to the Country South Devon: Alistair Appleton is in Devon with a couple who are looking for a light and airy three-bedroom house with a large kitchen/diner, close to the sea. S10 Ep59 Homes Under the Hammer New. Martin Roberts and Lucy Alexander follow properties from auction through to renovation. Will homes in London, the Midlands and Devon turn out to be good investments? S27 Ep59 Flog It! Exmouth: Auction show with Paul Martin. The beaches of Exmouth may be empty, but the Pavilion is full of people waiting to get their items valued by the Flog It team. S14 Ep37 MasterChef Australia Australian version of the culinary competition. The cooks work with limited ingredients in a three round challenge. S6 Ep14 My Dream Derelict Home Dream property renovations. Plasterer Chris and wife Jemma join forces with her father to renovate a faded grade II listed house into something more beautiful. S1 Ep15 Escape to the Country South Devon: Alistair Appleton is in Devon with a couple who are looking for a light and airy three-bedroom house with a large kitchen/diner, close to the sea. S10 Ep59 Homes Under the Hammer New. Martin Roberts and Lucy Alexander follow properties from auction through to renovation. Will homes in London, the Midlands and Devon turn out to be good investments? S27 Ep59 Rise of the Footsoldier II This brutal follow-up to the cult British crime thriller explores the aftermath of the infamous Rettendon Range Rover murders. Ricci Harnett writes, directs and stars. (2015)(107 mins) Also in HD The Wonders A family of bee-keepers struggle to make ends meet in the isolated Italian countryside. Lyrical coming-of-age tale with English subtitles. Monica Bellucci stars. (2014)(107 mins) Also in HD All Roads Lead to Rome Sarah Jessica Parker stars as a single mum who runs into her ex-boyfriend when she takes her rebellious teenage daughter to Tuscany. Romantic comedy with Raoul Bova. (2015)(88 mins) Also in HD Pitch Perfect 2 Special Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson and Elizabeth Banks talk about the all-singing-all-dancing return of the Barden Bellas. Also in HD Precious Cargo Needing to pay off a murderous crime boss, a seductive thief recruits her former lover to help pull of a gem heist. Action with Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Bruce Willis. (2016)(88 mins) Also in HD Star Wars: Rogue One Special Sky Cinema takes a special look at the first stand-alone Star Wars adventure, starring Felicity Jones, Diego Luna and Forest Whitaker. Also in HD 5 to 7 Anton Yelchin stars as an aspiring New York writer who begins an affair with a glamorous married woman. Charming romantic drama with Berenice Marlohe. (2014)(94 mins) Also in HD Cabin Fever (2016) Eli Roth's breakout horror hit gets the remake treatment as fun-seeking college kids endure a nightmarish visit to a lakeside cabin. Starring Gage Golightly. (2016)(95 mins) Also in HD Wild Horses Robert Duvall directs and stars in this Texas-set crime drama about a reopened Missing Persons case. Co-starring James Franco and Josh Hartnett. (2015)(100 mins) Also in HD Alice Through The Looking Glass... ...(2016): It's up to Alice to save the day when the Mad Hatter falls ill following the disappearance of his family. Fantasy adventure with Mia Wasikowska and Johnny Depp. (2016)(109 mins) Also in HD The Huntsman: Winter's War Chris Hemsworth's Huntsman battles to keep the fabled magic mirror out of the wrong hands. Star-studded fantasy sequel with Emily Blunt and Jessica Chastain. (2016)(109 mins) Also in HD Sky Cinema 2017 Preview Alex Zane takes a look at the biggest films coming to cinemas in 2017 and picks the 10 he's looking forward to most. Also in HD Precious Cargo Needing to pay off a murderous crime boss, a seductive thief recruits her former lover to help pull of a gem heist. Action with Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Bruce Willis. (2016)(88 mins) Also in HD Alice Through The Looking Glass... ...(2016): It's up to Alice to save the day when the Mad Hatter falls ill following the disappearance of his family. Fantasy adventure with Mia Wasikowska and Johnny Depp. (2016)(109 mins) Also in HD The Huntsman: Winter's War Chris Hemsworth's Huntsman battles to keep the fabled magic mirror out of the wrong hands. Star-studded fantasy sequel with Emily Blunt and Jessica Chastain. (2016)(109 mins) Also in HD Fifty Shades of Grey Innocent college student Dakota Johnson begins a relationship with troubled businessman Jamie Dornan. Adaptation of EL James's erotic bestseller. (2015)(120 mins) Also in HD John Wick A hitman comes out of retirement when a gang of thugs kill his beloved dog. Stylish revenge thriller starring Keanu Reeves, Michael Nyqvist and Willem Dafoe. (2014)(98 mins) Also in HD Mary Poppins Timeless musical starring Julie Andrews as the nanny who uses her magic touch to bring a troubled family together. Supercalifragilistic fun. Contains flashing images. (1964)(134 mins) Also in HD Against the Wild 2: Survive.... ...the Serengeti: When their plane crash-lands in the African bush, two young kids must rely on their wits and their fearless dog to help them survive. Family adventure. (2016)(88 mins) Also in HD The Walk Joseph Gordon-Levitt stars as Philippe Petit, the Frenchman who famously performed a high-wire walk between the twin towers of the World Trade Center. Drama. (2015)(119 mins) Also in HD Alice In Wonderland (2010) Johnny Depp plays the Mad Hatter in Tim Burton's stunning adaptation of the classic tale. With Helena Bonham Carter and the voices of Stephen Fry and Alan Rickman. (2010)(105 mins) Also in HD Forrest Gump Tom Hanks stars in Robert Zemeckis's brilliant Oscar-winning tale which follows the eventful life of an extraordinary man. Strong language/mild violence/flashing images. (1994)(137 mins) Also in HD Bridge of Spies Steven Spielberg's superb Cold War thriller stars Tom Hanks as an insurance lawyer responsible for defending a suspected Russian spy (Oscar winner Mark Rylance). (2016)(136 mins) Also in HD Jupiter Ascending Cleaner Mila Kunis has her life turned upside down when she's revealed to be intergalactic royalty. Sci-fi with Channing Tatum and Eddie Redmayne. (2015)(123 mins) Also in HD Alice In Wonderland (2010) Johnny Depp plays the Mad Hatter in Tim Burton's stunning adaptation of the classic tale. With Helena Bonham Carter and the voices of Stephen Fry and Alan Rickman. (2010)(105 mins) Also in HD Bridge of Spies Steven Spielberg's superb Cold War thriller stars Tom Hanks as an insurance lawyer responsible for defending a suspected Russian spy (Oscar winner Mark Rylance). (2016)(136 mins) Also in HD Forrest Gump Tom Hanks stars in Robert Zemeckis's brilliant Oscar-winning tale which follows the eventful life of an extraordinary man. Strong language/mild violence/flashing images. (1994)(137 mins) Also in HD The Matrix Mind-blowing sci-fi actioner starring Keanu Reeves as Neo, a computer hacker who has his world turned upside down when he discovers that his reality is a lie. Violence. (1999)(131 mins) Also in HD Ant-Man Paul Rudd stars as a cat burglar given the ability to shrink to the size of an ant. Subatomic superhero fun with Michael Douglas and Evangeline Lilly. (2015)(113 mins) Also in HD Darkman Badly scarred scientist Liam Neeson becomes a crimefighter and sets out to take revenge on his attackers. Inventive fantasy thriller from Spider-Man director Sam Raimi. (1990)(91 mins) Also in HD Superman IV - Quest For Peace In a bid to save the world, Superman takes on Lex Luther's latest creation - Nuclear Man. Action adventure with Christopher Reeve and Gene Hackman. Violence/flashing images. (1987)(87mins) Also in HD Avengers Confidential: Black... ...Widow & Punisher: Avengers spy Black Widow teams up with vigilante The Punisher to bring down an arms dealing operation. Action-packed animated adventure. (2014)(80 mins) Also in HD X-Men: The Last Stand The X-Men go claw to claw with Magneto's army in a battle that will decide the mutants' fates. With Hugh Jackman. Violence/sexual scenes/flashing images. (2006)(104 mins) Also in HD Captain America: Civil War When a mission goes south Iron Man backs a plan to bring The Avengers under government control, but Captain America is having none of it. Star-studded superhero romp. (2016)(142 mins) Also in HD Batman Michael Keaton's Bruce Wayne takes on Jack Nicholson's villainous Joker. Gothic Gotham fantasy directed by Tim Burton. Moderate violence/flashing images. (1989)(122 mins) Also in HD Avengers Confidential: Black... ...Widow & Punisher: Avengers spy Black Widow teams up with vigilante The Punisher to bring down an arms dealing operation. Action-packed animated adventure. (2014)(80 mins) Also in HD The Matrix Reloaded Keanu Reeves returns to the Matrix to save mankind from the machines and the increasingly unhinged Agent Smith. Strong language/violence/sex/flashing images. (2003)(133 mins) Also in HD X-Men: The Last Stand The X-Men go claw to claw with Magneto's army in a battle that will decide the mutants' fates. With Hugh Jackman. Violence/sexual scenes/flashing images. (2006)(104 mins) Also in HD Captain America: Civil War When a mission goes south Iron Man backs a plan to bring The Avengers under government control, but Captain America is having none of it. Star-studded superhero romp. (2016)(142 mins) Also in HD The Matrix Reloaded Keanu Reeves returns to the Matrix to save mankind from the machines and the increasingly unhinged Agent Smith. Strong language/violence/sex/flashing images. (2003)(133 mins) Also in HD	PET
Which five-star luxury hotel on Park Lane has 250 rooms and 49 suites?	Is Pixar a ‘boys only’ club? – Eclecticism Worth Reading Is Pixar a ‘boys only’ club? Honestly, I’d never even thought about this until Prairie brought it up after we watched one of the trailers for Cars, when its predominantly male-centric theme got her started thinking about the rest of Pixar’s oevure. Just where are the girls in Pixar films? Honestly, I’d never even thought about this until Prairie brought it up after we watched one of the trailers for [Cars][1], when its predominantly male-centric theme got her started thinking about the rest of [Pixar][2]’s oevure. We got started talking about it again this morning, after I noticed [this quote from Bonnie Hunt][3] excerpted on the [Luxo weblog][4]: > One night John [Lasseter] said to me, “The next movie I’m writing, you’ll be the girl in it.” [1]: http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/cars/ “Disney Presents a Pixar Film: ‘Cars'” [2]: http://www.pixar.com/ “Pixar” [3]: http://disney.go.com/inside/issues/stories/v060502.html “Disney Insider: Fine-Tuning ‘Cars'” [4]: http://pixaranimation.blogspot.com/2006/05/fine-tuning-cars.html “Luxo: Fine-Tuning Cars” See that? _The_ girl. Really, that sounds about right. Just where are the girls in Pixar films? Let’s take a quick look… 1. [Toy Story][ts] Bo Peep, Andy’s Mom, and Hannah (the infant sister). All definite supporting characters. Andy’s Mom and Hannah are barely there, and Bo Peep is little more than a cute flirtation gag. 2. [A Bug’s Life][abl] More women, but more characters overall, also: Princess Atta, Princess Dot, The Queen, Gypsy Moth, and Rosie the Black Widow. It’s still a male-dominated cast — even the ladybug is a boy (it’s a great gag, but when looked at from this context, suddenly it’s not _as_ funny). 3. [Toy Story 2][ts2] Jesse, Mrs. Potato Head, Tour Guide Barbie, Bo Peep, Andy’s Mom, and Hannah. Jesse, admittedly, is a wonderful character, but still definitely a supporting character — this is still Woody and Buzz’s story. The other additions are an overbearing housewife and a dim blonde. As Prairie said, “Hooray for womankind!” 4. [Monsters, Inc.][mi] Boo, Celia (Mike’s Medusa-like girlfriend), and Roz (the supervisor/secretary). An infant, a neglected love interest, and a stereotypical crone of a secretary (voiced by a man, no less). 5. [Finding Nemo][fn] Dory, Peach (the starfish), Deb/Flo (the fish whose ‘sister’ is her reflection in the tank), and Coral (Nemo’s mom). Dory’s certainly a major character in the film, but still essentially a supporting character (this is, after all, Marlin and Nemo’s story)…and she’s addled to boot. Sweet, lovable, and funny…but addled. 6. [The Incredibles][ti] Helen Parr (Elastigirl), Mrs. Hogenson (who?), Violet, Mirage, Edna Mode, Kari (the babysitter), and Honey (Frozone’s wife). To date, Helen is Pixar’s strongest female character, and the closest they’ve come to a female lead, but again, the movie is about how Bob (Mr. Incredible) adjusts to the changing circumstances in his world. We certainly can’t ignore Honey, who is only present as a voice haranguing Frozone as he tries to find his costume. 7. [Cars][c] Sally’s the only female character in any of the previews. According to the IMDB, there’s also a Lizzie and a Flo. Until the movie appears, we won’t really know just how strong of a character Sally is, but the trailers make it obvious that this is, once again, a boy’s movie (to the point that Prairie isn’t looking forward to _Cars_ as much as she has other Pixar films, due to the automotive theme). 8. [Ratatouille][r] This one’s so early in development that the only definite information to date is that it’s about “a rat named Ratatouille who lives in a upmarket Parisian restaurant run by an eccentric chef.” To date, there’s not a single Pixar film that has a female main character: _The Incredibles_ comes the closest, but even there, both Helen Parr/Elastigirl and Violet are supporting characters, and it’s Bob Parr/Mr. Incredible that’s the hero. Look at the ‘poster wall’ [on Pixar’s website][5]. _None_ of the poster designs feature a female character…even the rollover effects exclude every female character save Dory. [5]: http://www.pixar.com/featurefilms/index.html “Pixar Feature Films” As Prairie pointed out to me, where there are plenty of Disney films that girls can spend hours playing and pretending to be the [Disney Princesses][6] in ([most of them][7], at least), there isn’t a single Pixar film that she would have wanted to play as a child. [6]: http://disney.go.com/princess/html/main_iframe.html “Disney Princess” [7]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disney_Princesses#Criticism “Wikipedia: Disney Princesses: Criticism” While some might argue that [Disney as a whole is sexist][8], I don’t quite see that. Disney’s older works are often based on traditional fairy tales, where the missing mother/evil step-mother is an integral part of the tale (as is the handsome prince coming to the rescue); newer films have been much better. [Tarzan][9], for instance: while Jane’s mom is conspicuously missing (presumably permanently, and not just left behind in England, as Jane’s father cheerfully joins her in remaining in Africa) and Tarzan’s parents (mother _and_ father) are killed, Kala is a _very_ strong and loving mother figure, and Jane — like [Megara][10], [Mulan][11] and [Kida][12] before her — is a deliciously strong woman in her own right. [8]: http://www.francaisedecoeur.com/journal/2005/12/14/disney-schmisney-or-single-dads.html “Francais de Coeur: Disney Schmisney (or Single Dads)” [9]: http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0120855/ “IMDB: Tarzan” [11]: http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0120762/ “IMDB: Mulan” [12]: http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0230011/ “IMDB: Atlantis: The Lost Empire” It’s a pity that, [as one commenter posited on the Feministing weblog][13], movie studios in general are both constrained by and unwilling to challenge what appears to be a very male-dominated movie audience, even for children’s movies. > The two big reasons for the dearth of females in G-rated films are that a lot of the source material (childrens’ books, fairly tales) feature male protagonists, and more importantly, a number of very well-made childrens’ films featuring female protagonists underperformed at the box office (_A Little Princess_, _Matilda_, _Because of Winn-Dixie_…), leading a lot of executives to believe that boys won’t watch films with female protagonists. So while studio executives bear a large measure of responsibility for not pushing harder, they’re also reacting to the market in this case. [13]: http://feministing.com/archives/004982.html#comment-27722 “Feministing: Feathers McGraw: The two big reasons for the dearth of females…” So how about it, Pixar? You’ve shown the world that not only does Disney not have a lockdown on animated films, but that “children’s” films can be made that are good _family_ films as well, rather than aiming the films so low that the unfortunate parents have to grit their teeth for an hour and a half whenever they take their kids to the movies. For over a decade now (since _Toy Story_’s debut in 1995), you’ve consistently produced some of the best _films_ — not just animated films, or children’s films, but best _films_ — around. How about letting the girls in to play as well? [ts]: http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0114709/ “IMDB: Toy Story” [abl]: http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0120623/ “IMDB: A Bug’s Life” [ts2]: http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0120363/ “IMDB: Toy Story 2” [mi]: http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0198781/ “IMDB: Monsters, Inc.” [fn]: http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0266543/ “IMDB: Finding Nemo” [ti]: http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0317705/ “IMDB: The Incredibles” [c]: http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0317219/ “IMDB: Cars” Goldie Hawn- Private Benjamin 1980 I see but one comedy? Do you see a pattern? I do. Were I able to line these movies up based on nothing but the money they brought in I’m willing to bet the more violent movies would rise to the top. Look at the list again. How many of these movies do NOT include at least one violent death, Norma Rae? Private Benjamin? (even here her husband dies at the start) We do like our violence, and our women (like our men) need to be ready to kick ass at any second. You might think Norma Rae, Thelma and Louise, Gorillas in the mist and The Client weren’t violent but look again they were fighting, but instead of fighting some evil doer they were fighting the system. Even Goldie Hawn in Private Benjamin had some of that. PIXAR isn’t a boys only club, its a movie making business and as such it know exactly what it needs to do to become successful (obviously). The problem isn’t PIXAR but us, the movie going public. Why do we insist that our men be manly and our women stand quietly behind them, and if they do dare to step out and take charge they best be prepared to kick some ass. Why do we do that? Why do we insist upon it? Why do men get to decide which movies will be blockbusters. There are, and were movies that focused on feelings, not violence and with strong female leads, Beaches, Terms of Endearment, Steel Magnolias come to mind but for whatever reason the movies while good can’t break out of good and become blockbusters. Sadly these are considered ‘Girls” movies as if only women have feelings?. Don’t blame PIXAR they’re only following a formula they know will work. Its us. In general, girls are expected to be able to relate to boys better than boys are >expected to relate to girls. bullshit. it’s just bias and prejudice. you are in fact telling because I am a man I’m just a moronic closed mind with no empathy for women. that is I am reading. some examples : I like japanese animation and comics because there also dramatic stories and violents stories with both woman or/and man , strong or weak, or whatever and I do not feel less manly than an other. people will speak about Hayao Miyazaki movies, but there are many funny or serious japanese animation movies with girl lead. in France, I can remind of “Amelie poulain” is a huge succesful movie with a woman. there are also “un long dimanche de fiançailles” with a strong woman and “la cité des enfants perdus” with a little girl. these 3 movies were from the same author.. of course. but,In fact, mostly all western culture lacks freedom of thought. it’s just that : public and productors are retarded. I think you’re headed in the right direction but picking on the wrong people, Pixar is not the problem but rather a small piece of the overall pie. Lets look at The American Film Institute greatest 100 films of all time. My worry here is that we risk entirely derailing my point — that being, that Pixar could be doing a lot better in creating strong female characters in their films. Sure, this is a long-standing problem, but there’s a big difference between looking at Pixar and looking at the entirety of the movie business since its inception. Pixar is a single company that have been creating their own movies with original scripts for the past decade, during a time where women are (theoretically, ideally) seen as equals to men (albeit something of an Orwellian Animal Farm form of equality)…or at the very least, closer to being socially equal than at any point in the past. Of course looking at the AFI’s top 100 list will paint a sad picture; the list covers essentially the US’s entire cinematic history, and will include examples of not just rapant sexism, but racism, classism, and most likely a veritable laundry list of other -isms that aren’t as tolerated in today’s culture. Pixar’s a modern company, making films for modern families, and they could go a long way towards being more inclusive than they’ve shown themselves to be so far. May 22, 2006 at 2:21 pm I think the thing that makes Pixar so outstanding is that unlike the majority of american animation their films aren’t run by a committee. Each one is built from the ground up by a director who is allowed to put his personal creative stamp upon it. Since Pixar is run by a bunch of nerdy, middle aged, white guys natually their films are all going to be about nerdy, middle, aged, white guys (or fish, or toys, monsters). Maybe this is a problem with mamagment, (maybe they should be gving more chances to female directors) but the bottom line is Brad Bird, or John Lasseter, or Andrew Stanton shouldn’t feel anymore complled to give their leads to females any more than Woody Allen, or Spike Lee or Pault Thomas Anderson. May 23, 2006 at 1:18 pm How many women write for Pixar? I think this is a good point. It may be THE point. Computer animation is a young, male-dominated industry trying to find a greater foothold in the movie business. #1. I studied 3-D animation in one of the larger programs in the country, in the largest city in the country and the M/F ratio was maybe 15:1. #2. 3-D animation hasn’t lent itself very well to the “graceful, princess animation” that we see in so many Disney cel-animated pictures. Manly, the style is different. Characters are “circular, spherical” which is at odds with the long, leggy characters of Disney. #3. Profit margins are fairly thin at the Box office with these movies. Yes, they make gobs of money, but they cost gobs of money. Plus they take YEARS to make. Messing with the formula may lose not only the studio money, but the industry as a whole takes a huge hit. May 23, 2006 at 6:21 pm You see a pattern here? Out of the top 100 I see three, THREE with solid female leads that carry the movie. 6 THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939) Judy Garland 31 ANNIE HALL (1977) I’ll give this one to Diane Keaton 91 MY FAIR LADY (1964) Audrey Hepburn Yes there are others where there is a strong female character such as Katharine Hepburn in 17. THE AFRICAN QUEEN (1951) but it wasn’t her movie, there was a strong male character right beside her. You can add SUNSET BOULEVARD, ALL ABOUT EVE, and THE SOUND OF MUSIC to that list, too. But your point is taken. Hollywood is incredibly sexist, and the geeks at the animation studios are among the very worst. May 26, 2006 at 1:53 am i would rather see a strong story line with a male lead than see a cliched, sexist story line featuring a female lead. while disney has created many animations with female leads, the only theme disney can seem to associate with female characters is that she’s on a quest for love and marriage. any strength or intelligence is lost when she becomes a simpering idiot in the face of a handsome man. there isn’t a single disney animation that has a female lead that doesn’t end up being about marriage. meanwhile, pixar has created several strong animations that have been about friendship and tolerance, not necessarily about the quest for love. i’d rather see the pixar films any day. April 10, 2012 at 9:42 pm “They have a lot more to worry about than nit picking the quality and quantity of roles in children’s films.” Ah, Fred. First, like men, women are permitted to worry about insignificant things. Many men I know worry incessantly about other men in form-fitting acrylic tights who throw balls across fields…all while the world is on the brink of nuclear armegeddon. Second, female representation in film is important. Movies reflect to us the values of our culture, and help us imagine who we might become. Third, if you think the topic unimportant, please just move it along. May 26, 2006 at 2:09 pm At a lecture, I asked Pete Docter, the main creator of Monsters, Inc why Pixar was so dominated by men, and he replied that animation itself is so much populated by white men. Girls (and minorities except maybe Asians) rarely go into animation. Just look at all the comic junkies – they are overwhelmingly male. He said that he’d love to have more women at Pixar – there’s just relatively so few that apply compared to males. Artists usually are best creating what they relate to and understand – what is meaningful to them. It’s easy to see each director’s alter ego in the main characters. Miyazaki seems the rare exception when it comes to a man creating great female characters. Until many more women start getting serious about becoming animators, it’ll be difficult for the female perspective to come to the forefront. I did, however, read that there were two female writers in either Ratatouille or a later Pixar project. We’ll just have to wait and see if that’s true and what effect that’ll have. October 4, 2007 at 8:39 am I think you’re missing another perspective, here. I don’t think that Pixar’s films are as overtly sexist as many other companies, so much as they just fail to focus on female characters. By the same token, they do create very good male characters… very positive male models that defy traditional gender roles. Their male characters act in loving and sympathetic ways. They show emotion and create beautiful relationships without becoming at all emasculated. I’m a single father and Finding Nemo is one of my and my daughter’s favorite movies. There’s a lot of parallels for us in that film that I won’t get in to, but just to say that it’s nice to see a strong male character who so desperately wants to take care of his child, he’ll do just about anything to do it. At the same time, he deals with the problem of being overly protective and realizes in the end that sometime loving means letting go. When we deal with gender issues, it’s important to remember the boys, too. No one has issues with a film that portrays strong female characters to the exclusion of positive male characters. I think that for the most part the primary female characters in Pixar movies have been very good, just not central, and I don’t think that’s really an issue when you look at how good the male characters are.	i don't know
“Some dance to remember, some dance to forget” – in which hotel?	EAGLES LYRICS - Hotel California EAGLES LYRICS On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair Warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim I had to stop for the night There she stood in the doorway; I heard the mission bell And I was thinking to myself, "This could be Heaven or this could be Hell" Then she lit up a candle and she showed me the way There were voices down the corridor, I thought I heard them say... Welcome to the Hotel California Such a lovely place (Such a lovely place) Such a lovely face Plenty of room at the Hotel California Any time of year (Any time of year) You can find it here Her mind is Tiffany-twisted, she got the Mercedes bends She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys she calls friends How they dance in the courtyard, sweet summer sweat. Some dance to remember, some dance to forget So I called up the Captain, "Please bring me my wine" He said, "We haven't had that spirit here since nineteen sixty nine" And still those voices are calling from far away, Wake you up in the middle of the night Just to hear them say... Welcome to the Hotel California Such a lovely place (Such a lovely place) Such a lovely face They livin' it up at the Hotel California What a nice surprise (what a nice surprise) Bring your alibis The pink champagne on ice And she said "We are all just prisoners here, of our own device" And in the master's chambers, They gathered for the feast They stab it with their steely knives, But they just can't kill the beast Last thing I remember, I was Running for the door I had to find the passage back To the place I was before "Relax, " said the night man, "We are programmed to receive. You can check-out any time you like, But you can never leave! " Visit www.azlyrics.com for these lyrics. Thanks to Franny, Douglas for correcting these lyrics.	Hotel California
Which ‘ology’ is the study of sexually transmitted diseases?	Some dance to remember, some dance to forget. \| We are nerds, with benefits We are nerds, with benefits In which nerds write about their lives Some dance to remember, some dance to forget. January 9, 2010 Filed under: Saturday — theblackknightisawesome @ 4:31 am -Eagles (Hotel California) Ok I got bored. My new thing is just having quotes as my titles. Which leads me to my question, although already asked to Megan and Catie, what is your favourite quote? Quotes are something that remain very high in importance to me. Just the fact you can relate to a simple statement or sentence someone else as written or said is amazing. Relating to someone like Abraham Lincoln or Ghandi or anyone else is quite remarkable. The fact that the interpretation of quotes is very different among everyone is also interesting to me. This quote in the title, I could probably assume I am the only one in the world who finds this their favourite quote. In a some what random song, in a some what random part of the song, is just this line. This oh so powerful piece of “literature”. This quote can mean so many things, which makes it so interesting. Some of you may know, I am extremely opposed to the usage of words like “everyone” and “always”..etc. The fact this quote uses “Some” is very important. Everything we do in life we remember or we forget, plain and simple. Some, do things to forget and some do things to remember, with the dancing being an arbitrary (but very well chosen) action. This quote proves that we are all different and that no one is the same. Its hard to really get how important I feel this quote is to me across.Here is the context. Her mind is tiffany-twisted, she got the mercedes benz She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys, that she calls friends How they dance in the courtyard, sweet summer sweat. Some dance to remember, some dance to forget This is showing the two people dancing together, are feeling completely opposite feelings. While one wants to remember it forever, the other is thinking of it as “the final dance”. This just shows how we do many things the same in life, but we feel and gather different things from them. Ok, so my week.. like.. actual blog and stuff. (I’m hella loving the bold idea from Byron, jacked harsh) School started… w0o0o0o0o0o0o0o. (Megan, thats supposed to be my trademarked zero/o sequence). all my classes end before 11:30 am… which means… I have to wake up before 11:30am… lame. I like talking to you guys at night. School looks somewhat promising, although I slept through my second Comp Sci class and have an assignment due next tuesday Uhmmm I am 2nd prestige rank 47 in MW2 and my brother, last time I checked was rank like 820/6 million. Cool. 1 month till bioshock 2… excellent. I paid the money for soccer and our residence is going to try and win the championship this time around instead of being screwed out of it….Turtle Beach’s are god-tier. I still seriously want to go to Disneyland for some reason. Oh No! Yoko! still pwns and they are releasing a tshirt soon imma get. Im still scared to talk to my parents about school and stuff… I miss my old best friend quite a bit recently.. We were the type of friends that were polar opposite personality’s which made us the best of friends. I see my France and Italy banner I made everyday and everyday I want to go back. The oilers are in last place in the western conference. This makes me happy. Also, I still hate the US. GOLD MEDAL GOD DAMMIT. Also I am going to explain something and it may seem weird but I get this feeling all the time. Ok, so I am not that into baseball all that much but like once a week or so I get this feeling.. like… I just want to smash the HUGEST home run. Like, perfect swing on a perfect pitch. I dont know why. I just really want to just beast one out of the park sometimes. /weirdo. Other quotes that make me think/feel good : No one knows what its like, to feel these feelings, like I do and I blame you – The Who (Behind Blue Eyes – written by, you guessed it, Pete Townshend) – Theres a lot of background meaning behind this quote, so you guys probably wont have a deep connection or whatever. And I hope Megan remembers this one, Page 302 of Paper Towns. -Patrick EDIT:Oops No tattoos/piercings for me… I might reconsider the tattoo but im not going to get like a lion or art thing, it would be something actually meaningful. I have no favourite childhood memory. I just tried to think of one and hundreds of things came up in my head. My favourite childhood memory would have to just be a person, my childhood best friend. Definitely.	i don't know
Which STD is colloquially known as ‘the clap’?	What is The Difference Between Gonorrhea and Trichomoniasis Tweet Trichomoniasis Trichomoniasis, sometimes referred to as "trich", is a common cause of vaginitis. It is a sexually transmitted disease, and is caused by the single-celled protozoan parasite Trichomonas vaginalis producing mechanical stress on host cells and then ingesting cell fragments after cell death. trichomoniasis n : infection of the vagina Typically, only women experience symptoms associated with Trichomonas infection. Symptoms include inflammation of the cervix (cervicitis), urethra (urethritis), and vagina (vaginitis) which produce an itching or burning sensation. Discomfort may increase during intercourse and urination. There may also be a yellow-green, itchy, frothy, foul-smelling ("fishy" smell) vaginal discharge. In rare cases, lower abdominal pain can occur. Symptoms usually appear in women within 5 to 28 days of exposure. In many cases, men may hold the parasite for some years without any signs (dormant). Some sexual health specialists have stated that the condition can probably be carried in the vagina for years, despite standard tests being negative. While symptoms are most common in women, some men may temporarily exhibit symptoms such as an irritation inside the penis, mild discharge or slight burning after urination or ejaculation. Data Sources: gonorrhea: Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 gonorrhea: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 trichomoniasis: WordNet (r) 2.0	Gonorrhea
Who painted the portrait of Anne of Cleves that so impressed Henry VIII?	STD Slang \| about-std.com So far in our journey through STD slang we’ve talked about “ The Clap ” and “ Crabs .” Today we’ll uncover another STD slang term commonly used, “The Clam.” Yep, we’re talking about chlamydia again. Heard of "The Clam?" Realize it can refer to chlamydia? What is Chlamydia? If you need another refresher on this STD, take notes. In addition to “The Clam,” it’s also been called the “Silent” STD. That’s because many times those with chlamydia have no idea they’ve been infected. Symptoms go rogue and leave no indication that anything is wrong … that is until a guy or gal tries to start a family and faces infertility or sterility because of untreated STDs. Here’s a quick refresher on chlamydia: Chlamydia is one of the most common STDs. Chlamydia is caused by a type of bacteria called Chlamydia trachomatis. It can infect the urethra, rectum and eyes in men and women, as well as the cervix in women. Chlamydia is spread via vaginal, anal or oral sex. It can be spread from eye to eye simply by touch, sharing towels or makeup, and by coughing or sneezing. Chlamydia can also be passed to an infant during childbirth. Some symptoms could include: abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge, abdominal pain, pain during sex, fever, pain during urination, or the urge to urinate more frequently. Treating Chlamydia If there is a “great” thing about an STD, it’s that the infection is treatable. Luckily, chlamydia CAN be treated by antibiotics. Many times those with chlamydia are also infected with gonorrhea – treatment for both STDs may be performed at the same time. If you’re sexually active (especially with multiple partners or not using a condom), you’re highly encouraged to be tested for chlamydia at least once/year because of its prevalence and detrimental effects if it goes untreated. Need to be tested for chlamydia? Sneak in and out of one of our local labs for your STD test. Find a quick, affordable and accurate STD testing facility near you. It’s time for another lesson on STD slang. Last time we talked about slang words for STDs we uncovered that “The Clap” refers to gonorrhea . Our next STD slang: Crabs. There's nothing cute about crabs AKA pubic lice. What are “Crabs?” Crabs – and we’re not talking about those little red things that crawl in the sand with pinchers – are actually public lice . We previously described public lice and the symptoms. Here’s a quick review: Public lice work like ticks – they attach themselves to skin and feed on blood. Crabs can be passed by having contact with any person OR MATERIAL (sharing clothes, towels & bedding) Crabs can only survive through the warmth of a human host (so you can’t get them from a pool.) They are visible – they start out gray and turn red, they may drop eggs near public hair follicles and bite. They ITCH (especially at night.) They are easily treated with cremes (both prescription and non-prescription.) Chances are, if you’ve had crabs – you might have another STD (or two.) Why are Public Lice called Crabs? This nickname for a common STD is much easier to understand than “the clap.” Pubic lice, when viewed microscopically, look like little crabs. Plus, they feed off the host and turn red as they fill with blood. How to Avoid Crabs? Obviously, the best way to avoid crabs is to avoid any sexual contact with someone else who has crabs. Condom use won’t prevent you from getting crabs from another infected person since the condom does not cover the pubic hair follicles from touching. Make sure to take caution when sharing clothing, towels or bedding with another individual – especially if they have crabs. Washing in hot water can help rid any lingering lice that may be hiding out in the fibers. If you do come down with crabs, see a physician to help recommend remedy. Pubic lice may be treated similarly to any other case of lice – it’s important to comb out any obvious parasites and eggs, faithfully apply cremes, and avoid contact with other individuals until the lice are gone. Don’t Forget: If you have Crabs it’s HIGHLY RECOMMENDED you get STD tested. Find a STD testing site near you. “The Clap” Doesn’t Mean “Congrats” in STD World Some of you may be all too familiar with “the clap.” And some of you might just think we’re talking about applause. However anyone out there who’s ever dealt with “the clap” will tell you it’s nothing to be excited or congratulatory about. Join me today as we open a chapter on STD slang! "The Clap" is nothing to clap about What is “The Clap?” “The Clap” is a slang term used to talk about gonorrhea . In recent years, some have used it to refer to any STD or mistake it with chlamydia , but really – it refers to gonorrhea. Search the web and you will find several answers and theories about where this slang term came from. Some suggestions include: It’s derived from a French word for “brothel” It came from the Paris neighborhood Clapier which had a brothel During WW2, soldiers would “collapse” because of the infections, which turned into having “the clap” Treatment of the disease would involve “clapping” a penis from both sides, or pain would feel as tough there was “clapping” occurring inside of the urethra Margaret Clap, an 18th century brothel keeper – a namesake for her Microscopic term of two cocci “clapping” And then there’s this random thing that has to do with rabbits. Like we said – there’s not really a clear answer. But one thing is clear – having “the clap” is zero fun. Treating “The Clap” STDs are very common (did you see our STD statistics post last week?) and especially gonorrhea. Gonorrhea usually effects areas of the reproductive tract, but can also disturb your rectum, throat/mouth and even your eyes. Usually signs appear within a week, but could take as long as a month. However – like several STDs, many have gonorrhea yet never know. Especially women. In the event there are symptoms, this is what may occur: Guys Gonorrhea Symptoms penis discharge (can be white, green, yellow or slightly bloody), burning pee, urge and increased frequency of pee, pain near your balls, swelling, fever Gals Gonorrhea Symptoms painful pee, urge to go pee, creamy or bloody discharge, abnormal bleeding, bleeding during sex, pain with sex, swelling and tenderness near the vagina (note: if you’re pregnant, you CAN pass this along to your baby if it goes untreated, fyi.) STD testing for “The Clap” With the right medication and treatment, you can clear up the infection in no time. While it may not seem like a big deal, not treating gonorrhea can create problems down the line – not just for you, but for your future spouse and/or kids. Frequent STD testing , especially if you’ve had multiple sexual partners – is key in discovering if you have “the clap” and then forming a plan to get rid of it. Now being bold to do that and get an STD … is something to applaud.	i don't know
Who played the male human lead in the 1951 film, ‘Bedtime for Bonzo’?	Bedtime for Bonzo - 必应 Sign in Bedtime for Bonzo Bedtime for Bonzo is a 1951 comedy film directed by Fred de Cordova, starring future U.S. President Ronald Reagan, Diana Lynn, and Peggy as Bonzo. It revolves around the attempts of the central character, psychology professor Peter Boyd (Ronald Reagan), to teach human morals to a chimpanzee, hoping to solve the "nature versus nurture" question. He hires a woman, Jane Linden ( Diana Lynn), to pose as the chimp's mother while he plays father to it, and uses 1950s-era child rearing techniques. This movie is one of the most remembered of Reagan's acting career and renewed his popularity as a movie star for a while. Reagan, however, never even saw the film until 1984. A sequel w ... (展开) was released entitled Bonzo Goes to College (1952), but featured none of the three lead performers from the original. Peggy died in a zoo fire two weeks after the premier of Bedtime for Bonzo; another chimp was hired for the second film whose name really was "Bonzo". Reagan did not want to work on the second film; he thought the premise was silly.[citation needed] 724 ratings · Comedy Bedtime for Bonzo . 1h 23min \| Comedy, Family, Romance \| 28 September 1951 (Finland) College prof Peter Boyd tries to salvage his professional and ... www.imdb.com/title/tt0043325 Bedtime for Bonzo is a 1951 comedy film directed by Fred de Cordova, starring future U.S. President Ronald Reagan, Diana Lynn, and Peggy as Bonzo. www.bing.com/knows/Bedtime for Bonzo?mkt=zh-cn Bedtime for Bonzo的用法讲解法语助手是权威的法语在线词典,为您提供Bedtime for Bonzo的中文意思,Bedtime for Bonzo的读音,Bedtime for Bonzo的同义词,Bedtime for Bonzo ... https://www.frdic.com/dicts/fr/Bedtime_for_Bonzo.html Bedtime for Bonzo is a 1951 comedy film directed by Fred de Cordova, starring Ronald Reagan, Diana Lynn, and Peggy as Bonzo. It revolves around the attempts of the ... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonzo_(chimpanzee)	Ronald Reagan
Anna Mae Bullock is the real name of which singer, dancer, actress and author?	Bedtime for Bonzo Remind Me Bedtime For Bonzo Ronald Reagan is a monkey's uncle or, more properly, a foster father to a young chimp in Universal's low-budget comedy Bedtime for Bonzo [1951]. Famous as the monkey in Reagan's closet when the actor and one-time president of the Screen Actor's Guild turned his attentions to national politics, the title was trotted out for easy jokes and the film played as a camp oddity at fundraising events by his opponents. With such a reputation, you might be surprised to discover that the modest little comedy is actually an enjoyable piece of light entertainment. Even without the kitsch factor of the future President of the United States playing house with a scene-stealing chimpanzee. The premise for the screenplay came from a real-life study by Yale professor of psychology Robert Yerkes, who specialized in the development of primates. Screenwriter Ted Berkman, who helped develop the story with his writing partner Raphael Blau, had wanted Cary Grant to play the college professor and was more than a little disappointed to find Reagan cast in the lead. Reagan's film career was on the downhill slide by the late 1940s. Substantial supporting parts in major productions such as Kings Row [1942] and Santa Fe Trail [1940] (playing General George Armstrong Custer to Errol Flynn's Jeb Stuart) had failed to launch him into anything but bland leads in indifferent studio programmers. The light comic role proved to be a perfect fit for Reagan. He brings an amiable presence to the part of Professor Peter Boyd, a genial psychologist at a small college, and makes a memorable entrance by talking a laboratory chimp off a building ledge using "inverse psychological dominance" and "gestalt theory" (two terms I'll bet you've never before heard from the mouth of Ronald Reagan). When it's revealed that Boyd is the son of a convicted criminal, a "nature versus nurture" controversy develops with the college dean, who has a personal stake in the argument: Boyd is engaged to his daughter. To prove that environment is more important than heredity in moral development, or in his own words, that "even a monkey brought up in the right surroundings can learn the meaning of decency and honesty," Boyd embarks on an experiment with playful lab chimp Bonzo as his test subject. To create a stable home environment for the energetic little monkey, he hires a perky young woman, Jane (Diana Lynn), as a nanny, and proceeds to create a little nuclear family in his suburban home: "Poppa" Peter Boyd, "Momma" Jane, and baby boy Bonzo. Diana Lynn was a child prodigy pianist who made her film debut playing piano in the 1939 They Shall Have Music; most of her early Hollywood features cast her as sharp, sardonic juvenile leads, a girl usually more mature than the adults around her in such films as The Major and the Minor [1942] and The Miracle of Morgan's Creek [1944]. She brings a sweet and spunky energy to the part of the play-acting "momma" who slowly falls in love with the brainy "poppa," a decent, good-natured man so caught up in his study that he fails to notice her adoring smiles. Walter Slezak, an Austrian-born actor with a long Broadway career before he settled into Hollywood character parts, plays Professor Hans Neumann, Boyd's colleague and best friend. Usually cast as bumbling authority figures or menacing bad guys, including a number of Nazi roles (as in Hitchcock's Lifeboat [1944]), this is one of his most likable roles. The break-out star of Bedtime for Bonzo, however, was the animal act. In Reagan's own words: "I fought a losing battle with a scene-stealer with a built-in edge he was a chimpanzee." Bonzo sits in a high chair and plays with his food, makes faces at the dinner table, has a slapstick run-in with a vacuum cleaner, and leads his momma and poppa up a tree for a comic chase. He's adorable and he exudes as much personality as any of the non-simian cast members. According to Berkman, "The talented chimp, though not a Method actor, could reportedly weep on command or laugh, snarl with hate, smooch affectionately or stand on his head, responding promptly to some five-hundred-and-two instructions or, as a passing director sourly observed, 'about five hundred more than a lot of human actors'." The film moves smoothly under the direction of reliable studio hand Frederick De Cordova, a journeyman with dozens of films to his credit (including the Ozzie and Harriet big screen feature Here Come the Nelsons and the Elvis Presley film Frankie and Johnny, 1966) but famed for his legendary TV work as the producer of The Jack Benny Show and The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Bedtime for Bonzo was a box-office hit that momentarily boosted Reagan's career (he starred opposite Doris Day in The Winning Team [1952] the next year), but he was soon back in B-westerns and TV work and soon left acting for good to concentrate on politics. Bonzo went on to a sequel, Bonzo Goes to College (1952), directed again by De Cordova but without Reagan or Lynn, or for that matter the original Bonzo. The talented chimpanzee died in a fire at the Thousand Oaks Zoo a few weeks after the premiere. Producer: Michael Kraike Screenplay: Ted Berkman, Raphael Blau, Lou Breslow, Val Burton Cinematography: Carl Guthrie Film Editing: Ted J. Kent Art Direction: Bernard Herzbrun, Eric Orbom Music: Frank Skinner Cast: Ronald Reagan (Prof. Peter Boyd), Diana Lynn (Jane Linden), Walter Slezak (Pro. Hans Neumann), Lucille Barkley (Valerie Tillinghast), Jesse White (Babcock), Herbert Heyes (Dean Tillinghast). BW-83m.	i don't know
Which teenage high school student is Spiderman’s alter ego?	Watch The Amazing Spider-Man online \| Download or Stream at CinemaNow Flixster 77% Synopsis A teenage Peter Parker grapples with both high school and amazing super-human crises as his alter-ego Spider-Man. 2012 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. All Rights Reserved. \| Marvel, and the names and distinctive likenesses of Spider-Man and all other Marvel characters: ™ and 2012 Marvel Entertainment, LLC & its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.	Spider-Man
Na2SO4 is the chemical formula for what compound?	Spider-Man Hopefuls Screen-Test in Atlanta as Marvel Decision Nears (Exclusive) \| Hollywood Reporter 6:45pm PT by Borys Kit Spider-Man Hopefuls Screen-Test in Atlanta as Marvel Decision Nears (Exclusive) AP Images Tom Holland and Asa Butterfield are among the hopefuls to play Spider-Man. Yes, Asa Butterfield and Tom Holland were in the mix. But who else tested? After a secretive, all-day screen-testing process Saturday, Marvel is on the verge of choosing the actor who will don the red and blue suit of Spider-Man. According to sources, six teenage boys tested for the highly sought-after role in Captain America: Civil War and the follow-up films, one of the biggest "gets" for a young actor in the film business. Tom Holland, who appeared as one of Naomi Watts' sons in the acclaimed tsunami drama The Impossible, and Asa Butterfield, the child star from Hugo and Ender's Game, were the best known of the contenders. The other four hopefuls included: Judah Lewis (a relative newbie who will be seen in Jean Marc-Vallee's fall drama Demolition), Matthew Lintz (who will be seen with Adam Sandler in this summer's Pixels), Charlie Plummer (who had a recurring gig on Boardwalk Empire) and Charlie Rowe (a British actor who appeared on Fox's short-lived Red Band Society). (Reports that Butterfield had been offered the role were false, as Marvel is only now in the midst of its decision.) The tests cap off a worldwide search in which the producers looked at over 1,500 boys from around the world, narrowing them down to the final six only in the last two weeks or so. The actors were flown to Atlanta for the tests; that is where Marvel is currently in production on Civil War, the movie in which the character will be introduced before going on to headline his own hopeful trilogy that will be made by Sony Pictures. Present for the tests were Marvel head honcho Kevin Feige, former Sony head and now a Spider-Man producer Amy Pascal and Joe and Anthony Russo, the brothers who are directing Civil War. Marvel and Sony must make a decision very soon due to time constraints, and one factor that could influence the decision is age. In the new movies, Peter Parker, Spider-Man’s alter ego, will be a high school student for the new trilogy, and it is important that an actor convey the character’s teenhood. Butterfield and Holland are both 18, Rowe is 19, while the others could be as young as 14. A decision is expected to be made early in the week. One source, however, cautioned there is a slim chance that Marvel won’t like any of the choices and could keep looking. Reps for Marvel and Sony were unavailable for comment. Keep your Spider-sense attuned, True Believers …! Borys Kit	i don't know
What is the name of the professor of phonetics in G.B. Shaw’s play ‘Pygmalion’?	Pygmalion Summary - eNotes.com Pygmalion Summary George Bernard Shaw Pygmalion Summary In Pygmalion, phonetics professor Henry Higgins takes in a flower girl named Eliza Doolittle. He intends to turn Eliza into a lady by teaching her elocution. He succeeds, but never truly believes that she's a lady, and as a result Eliza runs away, escaping his tyranny. Henry meets Eliza on the street one night when she attempts to sell him a flower. He bets that he can teach her elocution and pass her off as a lady, and after many objections Eliza agrees to their experiment. Eliza turns out to be an apt student and easily convinces the ladies at a garden party that she's one of them. Nevertheless, Henry never truly thinks of her as a lady and still treats her as a servant. She runs away, seeking her independence. Meanwhile, Eliza's father, who previously milked Henry out of money, becomes a rich man thanks to an offhand comment Henry makes in a letter to a rich philanthropist. He bemoans his new station in life, but of course doesn't return the money. Download Study Guide Start Free Trial Start your free trial with eNotes to access more than 30,000 study guides. Get help with any book. link Link Like The Doctor’s Dilemma (pr. 1906, pb. 1911), Pygmalion is a problem play that examines a social issue. Shaw deals here with the assumptions of social superiority and inferiority that underlie the class system. He demonstrates how speech and etiquette preserve class distinctions. As he wrote in the play’s preface, “It is impossible for an Englishman to open his mouth without making some other Englishman hate or despise him.” Pygmalion therefore tries to illustrate the arbitrariness of basing a person’s worth on his or her pronunciation. The phonetics professor Henry Higgins is an expert in dialects and accents. At Covent Garden he phonetically transcribes all that the innocent flower girl Eliza Doolittle says. Since he boasted of his successes in educating social climbers in speech, Eliza comes to Higgins’s house the next day, asking to be taught to speak like a lady so that she might be employed in a classy flower store. A fellow phonetics professor, Colonel Pickering, offers to cover the expenses of the experiment if Higgins can pass Eliza off as a duchess at a garden party six months later. Sure of his abilities, the tyrannical and condescending Higgins is enticed by the Frankensteinian challenge “to take a human being and change her into a quite different human being by creating a new speech for her.” While Higgins is successful in transforming Eliza in terms of speech, his rough manners, rudeness, and swearing do not teach her the accompanying social etiquette. Eliza betrays her lack of refinement at a parlor party not through her pronunciation but through what she says. The comic climax is reached when she uses the vulgar expression “Not bloody likely,” although she pronounces it in a ladylike manner. Higgins and Pickering seem unaware that their experiment has transformed Eliza not only in terms of her speech. Even after she has successfully passed for a lady at a garden party, Higgins still does not treat her like a lady. Higgins’s excuse is that while Pickering may treat a flower girl like a duchess, he would also treat a duchess like a flower girl, since he believes in treating everyone equally, regardless of his or her social class. Feeling disappointed and humiliated, Eliza leaves Higgins by night, no longer willing to be treated like a servant. She believes that she has risen to a higher social class and claims that social class is not determined by one’s pronunciation but by the respect with which one is treated. In the meantime, money has been left to Eliza’s father by a rich American. This unexpected wealth has transformed him from an alcoholic dustman into a middle-class man in terms of behavior and ideology, although not in terms of pronunciation. Since it is based on money and not on accent, his character transformation seems more secure than his daughter’s, although both seem ambivalent about their new status. Although the play leaves Eliza and Higgins’s future open, Shaw wrote in his afterword that she will marry the petit bourgeois Freddy and open a flower and vegetable shop with him instead of continuing to endure Higgins’s unrefinement and rudeness. She has been struggling throughout the play to liberate herself from the professor’s tyranny. In Pygmalion, Shaw links the Cinderella story of a transformation from rags to riches with a Frankensteinian creation of a new life. Underneath the play’s comedy, questions are raised about the justifiability of social distinction and the role of women in a patriarchal society. Although Shaw felt ambivalent about the feminist movement of the early twentieth century, he presents Eliza as suffering degradation and escaping from it with the help of Pickering’s civility, Mrs. Higgins’s understanding, and her own awakened self-reliance. Pygmalion was later made into the popular musical comedy My Fair Lady (1956). Related Content (hide) link Link Late one evening in the Covent Garden theater district of London, playgoers are attempting to summon taxicabs in the rain when a crowd gathers around an unkempt young woman selling flowers. The flower girl has been speaking in a very strong Cockney dialect, and a distinguished gentleman has been transcribing her speech into a notebook. The gentleman, Henry Higgins, is a professional phonetician who earns a handsome income teaching people how to change their lower- and middle-class accents so that they can pass as members of the upper class. Higgins amazes the crowd by using his analysis of individuals’ accents to pinpoint where each of them lives. Appalled by the flower girl’s lower-class dialect, Higgins boasts that in a matter of months he could teach her how to speak properly and pass as a duchess at an ambassador’s garden party. The next morning, in the drawing room and laboratory of Higgins’s Wimpole Street residence, Higgins is showing Colonel Pickering his elaborate equipment for recording speech when the housekeeper, Mrs. Pearce, announces the arrival of the flower girl, Eliza Doolittle. Eliza wants to take lessons from Higgins so she can improve her speech and get a job as a clerk in a proper flower shop. Higgins is impressed by the percentage of her meager wealth that Eliza is willing to pay and accepts her as a student, making a wager with Pickering that in six months he can pass Eliza off as a duchess. Mrs. Pearce asks what is to become of Eliza when Higgins has finished his teaching, but Higgins dismisses the question as trivial. After Mrs. Pearce takes Eliza away so that the young woman can bathe, Pickering asks Higgins if his intentions toward Eliza are honorable; Higgins assures Pickering that he is a confirmed bachelor, determined not to let women into his life. After helping Eliza into the bath, Mrs. Pearce reenters the drawing room to set down rules for Higgins’s behavior while Eliza is staying in the house—proper dress and table manners and no swearing. Eliza’s father, Alfred Doolittle, a dustman, or trash collector, arrives and attempts to extort money from Higgins. When Higgins insists that Doolittle take his daughter back immediately, he drives down Doolittle’s price to a five-pound note. Higgins offers Doolittle ten pounds, but Doolittle refuses the extra five because he does not want to be tempted to save money. On his way out, Doolittle sees his daughter but does not immediately recognize her, as Eliza is clean and well dressed. After a few months, the training has gone so well that Higgins decides to test Eliza by taking her to his mother’s flat for a formal visit. He arrives first to prepare his mother, informing her that Eliza can converse on only two topics—the weather and everyone’s health. Unfortunately, as Higgins is explaining the situation, three unexpected visitors are announced: Mrs. Eynsford Hill, her daughter Clara, and her son Freddy. Initially, Higgins is upset with the intrusion of the Eynsford Hills, but then he welcomes them as a greater challenge for Eliza’s performance. When Eliza arrives she is exquisitely dressed and produces an impression of remarkable distinction and beauty. She begins conversing quite adeptly, but as she becomes more engaged in the conversation she slips back into some of her lower-class speech patterns. Higgins, however, is able to convince the Eynsford Hills that her speech is a new and fashionable way of speaking, the “new small talk,” and they are convinced that she is a lady of high society; by the time Eliza leaves, Freddy has obviously fallen in love with her. After the Eynsford Hills leave, Higgins is exultant, but his mother asks him what is to be done with Eliza after the lessons are completed. When the time comes for Eliza’s performance at the ambassador’s garden party, she succeeds splendidly. Afterward, Higgins and Pickering celebrate their triumph, talking of how glad they are that their work is over and complaining that they had ultimately become bored by the whole affair. Eliza, on the other hand, is brooding and silent. Higgins wonders out loud where his slippers are, and Eliza leaves the room and fetches them for him. Higgins and Pickering talk of the evening as if Eliza were not there, and as they are leaving for bed, Eliza throws Higgins’s slippers after him, calling him a selfish brute. Now Eliza asks the question, “What’s to become of me?” That evening, Eliza leaves Higgins’s flat to walk the streets of London, and by morning she has gone to stay with Higgins’s mother. Later that morning, Higgins and Pickering, bewildered and worried about Eliza’s disappearance, arrive at the mother’s home. They are shortly followed by Eliza’s father, who enters dressed like a gentleman, complaining that his life has been ruined because of Higgins. Higgins had written a joking letter to an American millionaire, and that letter has led to Alfred Doolittle’s inheriting a huge sum of money. Now, Doolittle complains, everyone is begging money from him. His life is no longer impoverished, free, and simple. Higgins’s mother reveals that Eliza is upstairs, angered by the insensitivity and indifference Higgins has shown her. Mrs. Higgins asks Doolittle to step outside so that Eliza will not be shocked by his appearance when she comes downstairs. Eliza then enters and meets Higgins and Pickering as a refined lady, the transformation complete. Eliza explains that she has learned her nice manners from Pickering and that the real difference between a lady and a flower girl is not in how she behaves but in how she is treated. Eliza’s father reenters the room, and Eliza is surprised at how he looks. Doolittle reports that he is now a victim of middle-class morality and is on his way to his wedding. He invites everyone to come to the wedding, and Pickering and Mrs. Higgins leave to get ready, leaving Eliza and Higgins behind. Pickering has urged Eliza to return to live with him and Higgins, but in her last conversation with Higgins, Eliza has decided to leave Higgins forever. She claims that she is only looking for a little kindness and that she will marry Freddy Eynsford Hill. She will earn her living as a teacher of phonetics, teaching others as she has been taught. Higgins is incensed but impressed with Eliza’s spirit, and finally he sees her as more of an equal. As Eliza leaves, vowing never to see Higgins again, Higgins asserts confidently that she will return.	Henry Higgins
What were the first two names of ‘Scott of the Antarctic’?	Pygmalion Pygmalion or browse other Shmoopers' Questions In A Nutshell Pygmalion, written in 1912 by George Bernard Shaw and first performed two years later, tells the story of Henry Higgins, a professor of phonetics (speech), who bets his friend that he can pass off a poor flower girl with a Cockney accent as a duchess by teaching her to speak with an upper class accent. In addition to being a playwright, Shaw was a theater critic, an essayist, a lifelong socialist and advocate for the working class, and, like Higgins, something of a phonetician. Given the scope of his interests, it should come as no surprise that he had a lot to say about a lot of things. Pygmalion, like most of Shaw's plays, is didactic. That is, it's meant to teach the audience about something. In this case, Shaw wants us to think about the problems caused by our "common" language, and how language can separate people from different places and classes, even different parts of the same town. In his preface to the play, entitled, "A Professor of Phonetics," he writes, "The English have no respect for their language, and will not teach their children to speak it. They spell it so abominably that no man can teach himself what it sounds like" ( source ). Seems like he's about ready to yell, "We have a failure to communicate!" Well, instead of screaming, he wrote Pygmalion. (He called for the creation of an "improved" system of spelling English, but, thankfully, it didn't catch on. You can read more about it in "Trivia.") It's easy to sympathize with Shaw, though. If you've ever had trouble understanding someone because his accent was different than yours, or had trouble pronouncing an unfamiliar word (why does "subtle" have a "b" in it anyway?), you probably know what Shaw's talking about: sometimes English doesn't really make much sense, even to native speakers. When you consider that Shaw was writing at a time when the British Empire was still around, when people from all over the globe were expected and sometimes forced to communicate in English, and the situation only becomes more complicated. All this talk about language is only the beginning, though. Shaw uses it as a base to discuss other issues: problems about society, class, and gender. No need to get overwhelmed right off the bat, though. It's best to take it slow and start with words. That's where all literature begins, right? Given that we can all relate to these problems, however, it's no surprise that Pygmalion was and is extremely popular. Most people know the plot from My Fair Lady , the musical film adaptation of Shaw's play (sorry to say, there's no rain in Spain falling mainly on the plain in the original), and it's been parodied by everyone from The Three Stooges to The Simpsons and Family Guy . Shaw also wrote the Academy Award -winning screenplay for the 1938 film version, making him the only person ever to win both an Oscar and the Nobel Prize in Literature . Pretty good for a play about a grouchy professor and a poor flower girl, no? Why Should I Care? There's a reason why Pygmalion's been turned into a movie, a musical, and a movie musical, with a twist. It's a Cinderella story, complete with slippers…although in this case they're thrown, not worn. There's even a ball – well, maybe not a ball, but a couple of parties. And there's a stepmother in there too, although we never see her. Problem is, there's no Prince Charming. This fairy tale's got no happy ending. Now, you may be thinking, "Come on, everybody loves a good happy ending!" And it's true, almost everybody does. But life's not always so sweet, and it rarely comes wrapped up in a bow. In the end, Eliza, the Cinderella character, is all dressed up with nowhere to go. Maybe something will turn up, maybe she will find her Prince, but we can't know for sure. Here's another let down: there's no magic in Pygmalion, at least none of that Fairy Godmother stuff. But Shaw does you one better. You get to read about…the magic of teaching…and the transforming power of words. Cool, right? We know what you're thinking. Enough with the words already. OK, how about some numbers. Get this: approximately 375 million people speak English as their first language. Most of them are American, Indian, Nigerian, British, Filipino, Canadian, and Australian. They're not all quite speaking the same variety of English. Have you ever heard of the term "to borrow leg"? That's Nigerian slang for "to flee," as in, "When I saw that dog coming for me I had to borrow leg." Some of these regional colloquialisms have become better known: lots of people know that "barbie" is Australian slang for barbecue. This is only the tip of the iceberg, though: at least another half a billion people speak English as a second language, and more are learning everyday. Knowledge of English can mean the difference between poverty and employment, and, just like Eliza, thousands if not millions of people are held back because they don't speak English as well as they could. Even today, characters with "funny accents" – whether they be from Brooklyn, China, France, Scotland, or India – can be seen on television and in movies. And though there's nothing wrong with a little fun every now and again (we love jokes, we swear – jokes and learning), they hint at some uncomfortable realities. That accent can make a big difference. Shaw was writing about all this stuff nearly a hundred years ago, and his thoughts are still fresh. Pygmalion is so tightly constructed that he can fit all of this in to about seventy pages of text – the play runs about two hours – and tackle hard issues like poverty. Oh, and did we mention it's a lot a fun? Because it is.	i don't know
How old was Nelson Mandela, when he passed away on the 5th?	Nelson Mandela dies at 95 - CNN.com In a nation healing from the scars of apartheid, Nelson Mandela became the moral compass With bouts of illness, the anti-apartheid icon faded from the limelight in recent years Mandela spent 27 years in prison; 18 of them were on Robben Island Freedom fighter, prisoner, moral compass and South Africa's symbol of the struggle against racial oppression. That was Nelson Mandela, who emerged from prison after 27 years to lead his country out of decades of apartheid. He died Thursday night at age 95. His message of reconciliation, not vengeance, inspired the world after he negotiated a peaceful end to segregation and urged forgiveness for the white government that imprisoned him. "As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn't leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I'd still be in prison," Mandela said after he was freed in 1990. Mandela, a former president, battled health issues in recent years, including a recurring lung infection that led to numerous hospitalizations. Despite rare public appearances, he held a special place in the consciousness of the nation and the world. "Our nation has lost its greatest son. Our people have lost a father," South African President Jacob Zuma said. "What made Nelson Mandela great was precisely what made him human. We saw in him what we seek in ourselves." His U.S. counterpart, Barack Obama, echoed the same sentiment. "We've lost one of the most influential, courageous and profoundly good human beings that any of us will share time with on this Earth," Obama said. "He no longer belongs to us -- he belongs to the ages." A hero to blacks and whites Mandela became the nation's conscience as it healed from the scars of apartheid. His defiance of white minority rule and long incarceration for fighting against segregation focused the world's attention on apartheid, the legalized racial segregation enforced by the South African government until 1994. JUST WATCHED MUST WATCH 1994: Mandela takes oath of office 02:06 In his lifetime, he was a man of complexities. He went from a militant freedom fighter, to a prisoner, to a unifying figure, to an elder statesman. Years after his 1999 retirement from the presidency, Mandela was considered the ideal head of state. He became a yardstick for African leaders, who consistently fell short when measured against him. Warm, lanky and charismatic in his silk, earth-toned dashikis, he was quick to admit to his shortcomings, endearing him further in a culture in which leaders rarely do. His steely gaze disarmed opponents. So did his flashy smile. Former South African President F.W. de Klerk, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize with Mandela in 1993 for transitioning the nation from a system of racial segregation, described their first meeting. "I had read, of course, everything I could read about him beforehand. I was well-briefed," he said. "I was impressed, however, by how tall he was. By the ramrod straightness of his stature, and realized that this is a very special man. He had an aura around him. He's truly a very dignified and a very admirable person." For many South Africans, he was simply Madiba, his traditional clan name. Others affectionately called him Tata, the word for father in his Xhosa tribe. A nation on edge Mandela last appeared in public during the 2010 World Cup hosted by South Africa. His absences from the limelight and frequent hospitalizations left the nation on edge, prompting Zuma to reassure citizens every time he fell sick. "Mandela is woven into the fabric of the country and the world," said Ayo Johnson, director of Viewpoint Africa, which sells content about the continent to media outlets. When he was around, South Africans had faith that their leaders would live up to the nation's ideals, according to Johnson. "He was a father figure, elder statesman and global ambassador," Johnson said. "He was the guarantee, almost like an insurance policy, that South Africa's young democracy and its leaders will pursue the nation's best interests." There are telling nuggets of Mandela's character in the many autobiographies about him. An unmovable stubbornness. A quick, easy smile. An even quicker frown when accosted with a discussion he wanted no part of. War averted Despite chronic political violence before the vote that put him in office in 1994, South Africa avoided a full-fledged civil war in its transition from apartheid to multiparty democracy. The peace was due in large part to the leadership and vision of Mandela and de Klerk. "We were expected by the world to self-destruct in the bloodiest civil war along racial grounds," Mandela said during a 2004 celebration to mark a decade of democracy in South Africa. "Not only did we avert such racial conflagration, we created amongst ourselves one of the most exemplary and progressive nonracial and nonsexist democratic orders in the contemporary world." Mandela represented a new breed of African liberation leaders, breaking from others of his era such as Robert Mugabe by serving one term. In neighboring Zimbabwe, Mugabe has been president since 1987. A lot of African leaders overstayed their welcomes and remained in office for years, sometimes decades, making Mandela an anomaly. But he was not always popular in world capitals. Until 2008, the United States had placed him and other members of the African National Congress on its terror list because of their militant fight against the apartheid regime. Humble beginnings Rolihlahla Mandela started his journey in the tiny village of Mvezo, in the hills of the Eastern Cape, where he was born on July 18, 1918. His teacher later named him Nelson as part of a custom to give all schoolchildren Christian names. His father died when he was 9, and the local tribal chief took him in and educated him. Mandela attended school in rural Qunu, where he retreated before returning to Johannesburg to be near medical facilities. He briefly attended University College of Fort Hare but was expelled after taking part in a protest with Oliver Tambo, with whom he later operated the nation's first black law firm. In subsequent years, he completed a bachelor's degree through correspondence courses and studied law at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. He left without graduating in 1948. Four years before he left the university, he helped form the youth league of the African National Congress, hoping to transform the organization into a more radical movement. He was dissatisfied with the ANC and its old-guard politics. And so began Mandela's civil disobedience and lifelong commitment to breaking the shackles of segregation in South Africa. Escalating trouble In 1956, Mandela and dozens of other political activists were charged with high treason for activities against the government. His trial lasted five years, but he was ultimately acquitted. Meanwhile, the fight for equality got bloodier. Four years after his treason charges, police shot 69 unarmed black protesters in Sharpeville township as they demonstrated outside a station. The Sharpeville Massacre was condemned worldwide, and it spurred Mandela to take a more militant tone in the fight against apartheid. The South African government outlawed the ANC after the massacre, and an angry Mandela went underground to form a new military wing of the organization. "There are many people who feel that it is useless and futile for us to continue talking peace and nonviolence against a government whose reply is only savage attacks on an unarmed and defenseless people," Mandela said during his time on the run. During that period, he left South Africa and secretly traveled under a fake name. The press nicknamed him "the Black Pimpernel" because of his police evasion tactics. Militant resistance The African National Congress heeded calls for stronger action against the apartheid regime, and Mandela helped launch an armed wing to attack government symbols, including post offices and offices. The armed struggle was a defense mechanism against government violence, he said. "My people, Africans, are turning to deliberate acts of violence and of force against the government in order to persuade the government, in the only language which this government shows by its own behavior that it understands," Mandela said at the time. "If there is no dawning of sanity on the part of the government -- ultimately, the dispute between the government and my people will finish up by being settled in violence and by force. " The campaign of violence against the state resulted in civilian casualties. A white South African's memories of Mandela Long imprisonment In 1962, Mandela secretly received military training in Morocco and Ethiopia. When he returned home later that year, he was arrested and charged with illegal exit of the country and incitement to strike. Mandela represented himself at the trial and was briefly imprisoned before being returned to court. In 1964, after the famous Rivonia trial, he was sentenced to life in prison for sabotage and conspiracy to overthrow the government. At the trial, instead of testifying, he opted to give a speech that was more than four hours long, and ended with a defiant statement. "I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination," he said. "I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." His next stop was the Robben Island prison, where he spent 18 of his 27 years in detention. He described his early days there as harsh. "There was a lot of physical abuse, and many of my colleagues went through that humiliation," he said. One of those colleagues was Khehla Shubane, 57, who was imprisoned in Robben Island during Mandela's last years there. Though they were in different sections of the prison, he said, Mandela was a towering figure. "He demanded better rights for us all in prison. The right to get more letters, get newspapers, listen to the radio, better food, right to study," Shubane said. "It may not sound like much to the outside world, but when you are in prison, that's all you have." And Mandela's khaki prison pants, he said, were always crisp and ironed. "Most of us chaps were lazy, we would hang our clothes out to dry and wear them with creases. We were in a prison, we didn't care. But Mandela, every time I saw him, he looked sharp." After 18 years, he was transferred to other prisons, where he experienced better conditions until he was freed in 1990. Months before his release, he obtained a bachelor's in law in absentia from the University of South Africa. Mandela's jail: Robben Island Calls for release His freedom followed years of an international outcry led by Winnie Mandela, a social worker whom he married in 1958, three months after divorcing his first wife. Mandela was banned from reading newspapers, but his wife provided a link to the outside world. She told him of the growing calls for his release and updated him on the fight against apartheid. World pressure mounted to free Mandela with the imposition of political, economic and sporting sanctions, and the white minority government became more isolated. In 1988 at age 70, Mandela was hospitalized with tuberculosis, a disease whose effects plagued him until the day he died. He recovered and was sent to a minimum security prison farm, where he was given his own quarters and could receive additional visitors. Among them, in an unprecedented meeting, was South Africa's president, P.W. Botha. Change was in the air. When Botha's successor, de Klerk, took over, he pledged to negotiate an end to apartheid. South Africa: Following Nelson Mandela Free at last On February 11, 1990, Mandela walked out of prison to thunderous applause, his clenched right fist raised above his head. Still as upright and proud, he would say, as the day he walked into prison nearly three decades earlier. He reassured ANC supporters that his release was not part of a government deal and informed whites that he intended to work toward reconciliation. Four years after his release, in South Africa's first multiracial elections, he became the nation's first black president. "The day he was inducted as president, we stood on the terraces of the Union Building," de Klerk remembered years later. "He took my hand and lifted it up. He put his arm around me, and we showed a unity that resounded through South Africa and the world." Mandela: Patriarch, legend, family man Broken marriage, then love His union to Winnie Mandela, however, did not have such a happy ending. They officially divorced in 1996. For the two, it was a fiery love story, derailed by his ambition to end apartheid. During his time in prison, Mandela wrote his wife long letters, expressing his guilt at putting political activism before family. Before the separation, Winnie Mandela was implicated in violence, including a conviction for being an accessory to assault in the death of a teenage township activist. Mandela found love again two years after the divorce. On his 80th birthday, he married Graca Machel, the widow of former Mozambique president, Samora Machel. Only three of Mandela's children are still alive. He had 18 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Symbolic rugby South Africa's fight for reconciliation was epitomized at the 1995 rugby World Cup Fina l in Johannesburg, when it played heavily favored New Zealand. As the dominant sport of white Afrikaners, rugby was reviled by blacks in South Africa. They often cheered for rivals playing their national team. Mandela's deft use of the national team to heal South Africa was captured in director Clint Eastwood's 2009 feature film "Invictus," starring Morgan Freeman as Mandela and Matt Damon as Francois Pienaar, the white South African captain of the rugby team. Before the real-life game, Mandela walked onto the pitch, wearing a green-and-gold South African jersey bearing Pienaar's number on the back. "I will never forget the goosebumps that stood on my arms when he walked out onto the pitch before the game started," said Rory Steyn, his bodyguard for most of his presidency. "That crowd, which was almost exclusively white ... started to chant his name. That one act of putting on a No. 6 jersey did more than any other statement in bringing white South Africans and Afrikaners on side with new South Africa." Share your memories A promise honored In 1999, Mandela did not seek a second term as president, keeping his promise to serve only one term. Thabo Mbeki succeeded him in June of the same year. After leaving the presidency, he retired from active politics, but remained in the public eye, championing causes such as human rights, world peace and the fight against AIDS. It was a decision born of tragedy: His only surviving son, Makgatho Mandela, died of AIDS at age 55 in 2005. Another son, Madiba Thembekile, was killed in a car crash in 1969. Mandela's 90th birthday party in London's Hyde Park was dedicated to HIV awareness and prevention, and was titled 46664, his prison number on Robben Island. A resounding voice Mandela continued to be a voice for developing nations. He criticized U.S. President George W. Bush for launching the 2003 war against Iraq, and accused the United States of "wanting to plunge the world into a Holocaust." And as he was acclaimed as the force behind ending apartheid, he made it clear he was only one of many who helped transform South Africa into a democracy. In 2004, a few weeks before he turned 86, he announced his retirement from public life to spend more time with his loved ones. "Don't call me, I'll call you," he said as he stepped away from his hectic schedule. 'Like a boy of 15' But there was a big treat in store for the avid sportsman. When South Africa was awarded the 2010 football World Cup, Mandela said he felt "like a boy of 15." In July that year, Mandela beamed and waved at fans during the final of the tournament in Johannesburg's Soccer City. It was his last public appearance. "I would like to be remembered not as anyone unique or special, but as part of a great team in this country that has struggled for many years, for decades and even centuries," he said. "The greatest glory of living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time you fall." With him gone, South Africans are left to embody his promise and idealism.	95
Which British-American Oscar-winning actress died on the 15th, aged 96?	Nelson Mandela Dead: Former South African President Dies at 95 - ABC News ABC News Nelson Mandela Dead: Icon of Anti-Apartheid Movement Dies at 95 By ABC News WATCH Nelson Mandela in 60 Seconds 0 Shares Nelson Mandela, the former South African president whose stubborn defiance survived 27 years in prison and led to the dismantling of the country's racist and brutal apartheid system, has died. Mandela was 95 years old. South Africa's President Jacob Zuma, who announced Mandela's death, said, "We've lost our greatest son." President Obama spoke shortly after Zuma's announcement, praising Mandela as a man who "bent the arc of the moral universe toward justice." "He no longer belongs to us -- he belongs to the ages," Obama said. Mandela had a number of issues with his health in recent years including repeated hospitalizations with a chronic lung infection. Mandela had been listed in "serious but stable condition" after entering the hospital in June before returning to home to receive continued medical care. ABC\|Getty Images Nelson Mandela In April, Mandela spent 18 days in the hospital due to a lung infection and was treated for gall stones in December 2012. Mandela's public appearances had become increasingly rare as he dealt with his declining health. His last public appearance was in July of 2010, when he attended the final match and closing ceremonies of the soccer World Cup held in South Africa. In 2011, Mandela met privately with Michelle Obama when the first lady and her daughters traveled to South Africa. Mandela and the Legacy He Leaves Behind One of the giants of the 20th century, Mandela's career was marked not only by his heroic resistance to racism, but also by his poised and soft spoken demeanor. After enduring nearly three decades of prison, much of it at hard labor in a lime quarry, Mandela emerged as a gentle leader who became South Africa's first black president. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his leadership in ending apartheid without violence, and later became a global statesman who inspired millions people around the world. Mandela was born in 1918, the son of a tribal leader, in a remote village in South Africa. His tribal name, Rolihlahla, meant "troublemaker," a moniker Mandela would more than live up to in his lifetime. In 1952, he emerged onto the national stage when he helped organize the first country-wide protests called the Defiance Campaign. That same year he opened the country's first black law firm. Ruth Mopati, his secretary at the firm, wrote about the way he was then in the book "Mandela," saying, "He was able to relate to people with respect and therefore he was respected in return." While Mandela's party, the African National Congress, had always been dedicated to non-violence, in 1960 the ANC was banned to prevent further protests after police shot dead 69 black protestors in what became known as the Sharpeville massacre. The events radicalized the organization and led to the creation of the ANC military wing, for which Mandela became its first commander in 1961. In 1962, Mandela was sent to prison on a charge of inciting a strike. "At 1:30 in the morning, on March 30, I was awakened by sharp, unfriendly knocks at my door, the unmistakable signature of the police. 'The time has come,' I said to myself as I opened the door to find half a dozen armed security policemen," Mandela said. Two years later, Mandela was sentenced to life in prison for sabotage and conspiracy to overthrow the white government. Much of the next 27 years in prison were spent in the infamous Robben Island prison where he did hard labor in a lime quarry. During his nearly three decades behind bars, Mandela would become a myth. The government even banned any use of Mandela's image or words, leaving a whole generation to grow up knowing little about the world's most famous political prisoner. Nelson Mandela Teamed Up With White Leader F.W. de Klerk Mandela spoke about his time in his autobiography: "A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but its lowest ones -- and South Africa treated its imprisoned African citizens like animals." After 27 years, President F.W. de Klerk announced in 1990, "Mr. Nelson Mandela will be released from Victor Vestor prison…" On Feb. 11, 1990 Mandela emerged from prison into a world he had not seen in almost three decades. Mandela described leaving the prison and greeting the crowds by saying, "I raised my right fist and there was a roar. I had not been able to do that for 27 years and it gave me a surge of strength and joy." The country's black townships erupted into celebration for a returning hero. Mandela announced: "Today all South Africans -- black and white -- know that apartheid has no future." Mandela and de Klerk forged an uneasy partnership in the coming years, despite sharing the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. Peace, however, would not come quickly. More than 4,000 people died in political violence in the year leading up the country's free elections in 1994. On April 27, 1994, millions of blacks in an extraordinary show of determination lined up for hours to cast their first ballots. The ANC won in a landslide and Mandela became South Africa's first black president. Mandela announced: "I am the product of Africa and her long cherished dream of a rebirth that can now be realized so that all of her children may play in the sun." He remained in office for five years. In 1999 in his final act of leadership, he oversaw the peaceful transfer of power to a handpicked successor. His post-prison years were marred, however, by the scandal that surrounded his wife Winnie Mandela. They were married for only four months when Mandela was sent away to prison, and she spent the next 27 years campaigning for his release and amassing her own power base. By the time Mandela was freed from jail, Winnie had become an unpopular and feared figure in South Africa. She was eventually convicted of kidnapping in the case of four teenage boys, including one who died. She was sentenced to six years in prison, but the charges were later reduced to theft and fraud and she was forced to pay a fine instead. Mandela's Late in Life Love Life Mandela, who had stood by his wife at first, divorced her in 1995 after revealing to a South African court that his wife was carrying on an adulterous affair that left him as "the loneliest man." But a late-in-life romance blossomed for the gentle statesman with Graca Machel, an influential campaigner for children's rights and the widow of Mozambique's former president Samora Machel. The two were married in 1998 on Mandela's 80th birthday. She was 52. In 2001 Mandela was diagnosed with prostate cancer, but doctors said that wasn't unusual for man of Mandela's age and treated it with radiation therapy. After he left office, Mandela became a global statesman, mediating conflicts in some of the world's worst troubled spots. He also devoted much of his time to his charity for children. In an interview with PBS' "Frontline," Rick Stengel who co-authored "A Long Walk to Freedom" with Mandela, said , "One of the things that separates Mandela from other people ... is that he's an optimist. He's a cockeyed optimist." In 2008, tens of thousands of people turned out in London to honor him for his 90th birthday. Nelson Mandela told them the fight against injustice is not yet won. But after a lifetime of working for peace, he told the crowd, "It is in your hands now." The following year, actor and director Clint Eastwood delivered his Academy award-winning film, "Invictus," telling the story of Mandela's efforts to unite the people of South Africa through a national rugby team in 1995. The title of the film came from a short Victorian poem by the same name that Mandela was known for reciting. In the end, the boy who was named "troublemaker" became one of the greatest peacemakers of the past century. He will be greatly remembered as a symbol of the fight for human rights, and as a leader who healed a greatly divided nation in the face of overwhelming odds. ABC News' Lauren Effron contributed to this report. 0 Shares	i don't know
Which British broadcaster and OBE departed on the 21st, aged 87?	Broadcast legend David Coleman dies aged 87 \| The Times Broadcast legend David Coleman dies aged 87 David Coleman in action at the Lenin Stadium during the 1980 Moscow Olympics S&G 2 of 6 The BBC’s 1966 World Cup squad: back, from left, Frank Bough, Alan Weeks, David Coleman, Wally Barnes. Front, from left, Ken Astron (referee), Kenneth Wolstenholme and Arthur Ellis (referee) Central Press 3 of 6 Coleman was a key part of the BBC's sports coverage for more than 50 years Barratts 4 of 6 David Coleman and Kenneth Wolstenholme wish British sprinter Lilian Board good luck in the Mexico Olympics Barratts 5 of 6 He became famous for gaffes that he himself labelled 'Colemanballs' Victor Drees 6 of 6 Celebrating Grandstand's 21st birthday in 1979: Cliff Morgan, David Coleman, Frank Bough and Tony Gubba PA Victoria Richards Last updated at 1:29PM, December 22 2013 David Coleman, the commentator who became the “doyen of sports broadcasters”, has died aged 87. He worked for more than 50 years for the BBC, where he covered every World Cup since 1958 and every Olympic Games since 1960. He became the face of iconic sports shows Grandstand, Sportsnight and A Question of Sport. Coleman, who was awarded an OBE in 1992 and in 2000 became the first broadcaster to receive an Olympic Order medal for his contribution to the Olympic movement. His skills as a broadcaster were apparent in his graphic but sensitive reports from Munich in 1972 when Subscribe now	David Coleman
Cancer and Scorpio are two of the water signs. What is the third?	Legendary BBC sports presenter David Coleman dies aged 87 after a brief illness \| Daily Mail Online Legendary BBC sports presenter David Coleman dies aged 87 after a brief illness Veteran broadcaster died 'peacefully with his family at his bedside' Appeared on shows including Grandstand, Sportsnight and A Question of Sport in a career spanning almost 50 years Mr Coleman also covered 11 Olympic Games and six football World Cups Colleagues have paid tribute to the 'iconic and hugely respected figure' comments David Coleman, a BBC sports presenter and commentator with almost 50 years of service, has died after a brief illness. His family confirmed his passing, saying: 'We regret to announce the death of David Coleman OBE, after a short illness. He died peacefully with his family at his bedside.' The legendary figure presented some of the Corporation's most iconic programmes in his time behind the camera, including Grandstand, Sportsnight and A Question of Sport, which he hosted for 18 years. Scroll down for video Iconic: David Coleman, centre, in the studio for Question of Sport alongside Ally McCoist, left and John Parrott, right Veteran: David Coleman presenting Grandstand Classic: Mr Coleman on air for the BBC in 1959 Olympic contribution: Mr COleman covering the summer Olympic Games from Moscow in 1980 The renowned athletics commentator worked for the corporation for almost 50 years, covering 11 summer Olympic Games, his final one in Sydney in 2000. He also covered six football World Cups as a commentator or presenter. THE BEST OF THE COLEMANBALLS Mr Coleman's humorous turns of phrase were regularly documented in a column in Private Eye magazine, and are remembered fondly to this day. Some of the standout examples include: 'If that had gone in it would have been a goal' 'He is one of the great unknown champions because very little is known about him.' 'We estimate, and this isn't an estimation, that Greta Waltz is 80 seconds behind.' 'He is accelerating all the time. The last lap was run in 64 seconds and the one before in 62.' 'He's even smaller in real life than he is on the track.' 'He's got his hands on his knees and holds his head in despair.' 'He is 31 this year - last year he was 30.' 'And the line-up for the final of the women's 400 metres hurdles includes three Russians, two East Germans, a Pole, a Swede and a Frenchman.' 'The Republic of China: back in the Olympic Games for the first time.' 'That's the fastest time ever run, but it's not as fast as the world record.' 'There is a fine line between serendipity and stalking.' 'Don’t tell those coming in the final result of that fantastic match, but let’s just have another look at Italy’s winning goal.' 'For those of you watching who do not have television sets, live commentary is on Radio 2.' 'It’s gold or nothing…and it’s nothing. He comes away with the silver medal.' 'Forest have now lost six matches without winning.' 'And here’s Moses Kiptanui – the 19-year-old Kenyan who turned 20 a few weeks ago.' 'The front wheel crosses the finish line, closely followed by the back wheel.' 'This evening is a very different evening from the morning we had this morning.' 'I think there is no doubt, she'll probably qualify for the final.' 'A truly international field, no Britons involved.' 'He just can’t believe what’s not happening to him.' 'In a moment we hope to see the pole vault over the satellite.' 'Nobody has ever won the title twice before. He has already done that.' 'Both of the Villa scorers – Withe and Mortimer – were born in Liverpool as was the Villa manager Ron Saunders who was born in Birkenhead.' 'The late start is due to the time.' In his lengthy broadcasting career, Mr Coleman became famous for making nonsensical or bizarre statements on air while covering live events, which later became lovingly known as 'Colemanballs'. Some of the most famous instances include: 'That's the fastest time ever run, but it's not as fast as the world record.' and 'He is one of the great unknown champions because very little is known about him.' Mr Coleman had Irish parents but was born and educated in Cheshire. He worked as a reporter for a time on the Stockton Express newspaper, and joined the BBC after a period of national service. He made his first television appearance in 1955 on Sportsview, and three years later he was taken on as the presenter of Grandstand, a new Saturday afternoon sports programme. He would continue to present the show until 1968, and took the lead on the Sports Review of the Year programme from 1961 to 1983. He also put in a four-year stint on Sportsnight with Coleman between 1968 and 1972. From 1979 to 1997 he hosted sports quiz show A Question of Sport. In 1992 he was granted the OBE in the New Year’s Honours List, and four years later he received the Judges’ Award For Sport in the 1996 Royal Television Society Awards. His excited, high-pitched commentaries made him a favourite among viewers but also a target for impersonators. His professionalism as a broadcaster was widely acknowledged after his efforts covering the 1972 Munich Olympics. During the games, Arab terrorists invaded the Olympic Village and took hostage and killed 11 Israeli athletes. Mr Coleman continued broadcasting during the tragedy and was praised for his professionalism. His work at Grandstand, particularly his feats of memory and mind for football league statistics, were also widely praised. Mr Coleman ran this immensely complex live four-and-a-half-hour programme for nine years. He told one interviewer that each Grandstand involved him in 16 hours of preparation, checking records and memorising league tables. This meant that as the dozens of soccer results poured out, from a teleprinter in those days, Mr Coleman would demonstrate his expertise about even the obscure byways of League football. However he retained a fondness for the light-hearted side of sports broadcasting. He later jokingly recalled his role on the programme, saying: 'I just sit there and generally take the mickey.' He was awarded an OBE in the 1993 New Year's Honours, and later a special accolade in the Royal Television Society presentations, when the judges called him 'the pivotal voice of BBC sport for over five decades'. After hosting the 2000 Sydney Olympics, he received the Olympic movement's highest accolade, the Olympic Order, in recognition of his services to the spirit and ideals of the Games. He is survived by his wife Barbara, and their six children, Anne – a British ladies show jumping champion – Dean, David, Mandy, Michael and Samantha. Today former colleagues and friends paid tribute to Mr Coleman, praising him as 'one of the this country's greatest and most respected broadcasters.' Former BBC colleague Barry Davies said Mr Coleman was 'the master who set the standard for sports broadcasting on television'. Mr Davies said: 'He had such authority in his voice which could bring even the most mundane event to life. And at the big events he was superb. 'I feel privileged to have known him, worked with him and occasionally stood in for him when he was in his prime.' Barbara Slater, director of sport and the BBC, said: 'David Coleman was a giant in the sports broadcasting world, an iconic and hugely respected figure. 'In a BBC career that spanned over 40 years he set the standard that so many others have tried to emulate. Family: David Coleman, centre right, is pictured with his wife Barbara (centre) and members of his family following the birth of their daughter Samantha in 1969. Also pictured are their twin sons Dean and David (left), their younger son Michael (right) and daughters Mandy and Anna Decades of experience: David Coleman, second from right in the back row, was one of the BBC team, pictured, who covered England's historic World Cup victory in 1966 Historic: David Coleman, second from left, appears with a host of other Grandstand presenters, including Steve Ryder, left, Peter Dimmock, centre, Des Lynam, second from right and Frank Bough, far right At work: Mr Coleman covering a Manchester United game in 1971 from Old Trafford Veteran: David Coleman aged 74. The broadcaster posed near his Berkshire home in 2000 before heading to Sydney to cover his final Olympic Games before retirement 'His was one of broadcasting's most authoritative and identifiable voices that graced so many pinnacle sporting moments. 'From his famous football and athletic commentaries to his presentation of events and programmes such as the Olympics, the World Cup, A Question of Sport and Grandstand, he was quite simply the master of his craft. RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share 'David had many friends at BBC Sport and was admired by audiences in their millions. We send sincere condolences to his family.' Presenter: David Coleman takes the helm for an episode of Grandstand in 1959 In control: Mr Coleman pictured in front of broadcasting equipment in 1967 Celebration: David Coleman, second from left, celebrates the 21st anniversary of Grandstand in 1979. He is joined at the Sports Writers Club by Cliff Morgan, left, Frank Bough, second from right, and Tony Gubba, right Tony Hall, the director-general of the BBC, said: 'David Coleman was one of this country's greatest and most respected broadcasters. 'Generations grew up listening to his distinctive and knowledgeable commentary. Whether presenting, commentating or offering analysis, he set the standard for all today's sports broadcasters. 'Our thoughts are with his family and many friends.' Former England striker and Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker joined those remembering Mr Coleman - whose brevity at the microphone, including his signature 'one-nil' catchphrase, earned him many fans. The former Leicester, Everton, Tottenham and Barcelona forward wrote on Twitter: 'Sad to hear, David Coleman has died. A giant of sports broadcasting. Brilliant, gifted, precise and concise. Much more than "one-nil" #RIP' Fellow sports host Jake Humphrey added on Twitter: 'RIP David Coleman. People like me do this job dreaming one day we'll be as good as you were. We won't. Never to be bettered.' Prime Minister David Cameron also offered a tribute, writing on Twitter that Mr Coleman was 'the voice of BBC Sport for as long as I can remember.' Condolences: David Cameron posted a tribute on Twitter	i don't know
Which date in March is generally the first day of Aries, and the zodiacal year?	Complete information on Aries, the first sun sign in the zodiac. Aries! About Your Sign... Aries The spring equinox, March 21, is the beginning of the new zodiacal year and Aries, the first sign, is therefore that of new beginnings. The young ram is adventurous, ambitious, impulsive, enthusiastic and full of energy. The Arian is a pioneer both in thought and action, very open to new ideas and a lover of freedom. They welcome challenges and will not be diverted from their purpose except by their own impatience, which will surface if they don't get quick results. Aries subjects are courageous leaders with a genuine concern for those they command, being responsible people, it is rare that they will use their subordinates to obtain their own objectives as leaders, but occasionally it does happen. They do not make very good followers because they are too "take charge". They may be unwilling to obey or submit to directions for which they can see no reason, or with which they disagree. They are much concerned with self, both positively and negatively - self-reliant but also self centered (sometimes) and concerned with their own personal advancement and physical satisfaction. Their immense energy makes them aggressive and restless, argumentative occasionally, headstrong, quick tempered, easily offended and capable of holding grudges if they feel themselves affronted. As the first sign in the zodiac, you, as an Arian (as you are referred to), is to simply "get something started and lead the way". The Sun in this zodiac position gives your will free rein to express itself. You could be doing this in the form of some leadership role, or by forcing others to look at themselves in a new way. You can accomplish this by knowingly carrying out a deliberate act in the name of some cause that moves you. A negative effect of this sun sign is that you could sometimes unknowingly make it hard for others to relate to you, as you really are. In your personal relationships Arians are frank, direct and candid, and make enthusiastic and generous friends. You are liable to have a high sex drive and make passionate but fastidious lovers. There is, however, a negative side to your associations with other people. You can easily be irritated by slowness or moderation in your companions and, though yourselves sensitive, ride roughshod over the sensitivities of others. The intensity of your sexual urges can drive you to promiscuity and a Don Juan-like counting of conquests of the opposite sex. It can also trick you into early unwise marriage which may end disastrously. Arians are highly devoted to their children, even to the point of laying down their own lives, so that they might live. You will not find a more defensive and loving parent in all the zodiac. It is preferable to be aware of your pioneering spirit and not disregard it. For in acknowledging it you not only enjoy life more, but you avoid being pushed around by others. Your nature is usually push or be pushed, with little middle ground. This can at times be objectionable to others, but you must have the freedom to act, rather then just thinking about it, getting pent-up in the process. At all costs you need to avoid negative emotions such as resentment, regret and self-pity, for they would deny you what is essential to your nature: straightforwardness. Mentally Arians are intellectual and objective, but can be in rare situations bigoted and extremist in religion and politics. They are good champions of lost causes and last-ditch resistance. They are quick-witted but sometimes foolhardy and over optimistic, lacking thoroughness and the ability to evaluate difficulties in the undertakings into which they often rush impulsively. The great need of Aries natives is to exercise an iron self-control, to discipline the qualities and tendencies of their character to the advantage, not the detriment, of the society in which they move. As an Arian, you like a challenge that will stir you to action. This challenge may just be frustration; or at a more controlled level, you may have clear direction and know what or whom you're fighting for. If your direction is not clear, then ask yourself and listen to your inner voice. You will come up with an answer. An Arian without a direction in which to go, or a without a cause to fight for, would be against your nature and make you more a "sheep" then a ram! Arian, do not be afraid to be forceful, for this is the very core of your nature. If you feel fear in your heart, then look for a history of negative events in you personal history, such as violence or abuse from others. Being fearful may also indicate a household in childhood that negated independence and personal initiative in you. This could have inhibited your natural urge to go forward into life as the leader and champion you were born to be. Conversely, such bad influences could also have led you to be overly forceful, or to be unsympathetic to your own need and sensitivity. You make good athletes and climbers, doctors, explorers (of new ideas as well as uncharted territory, the latter in these days including adventuring into outer space), soldiers, sailors and airmen, and leaders, though awkward subordinates, in industry and politics. Much as you are the Ram, there is still the little lamb in you, which means that at times you would attain your goals more easily by gently giving in without resistance to the demands of a given social situation, rather than getting your horns entangled in something larger and more powerful than yourself. This is a talent akin to knowing the difference between what you can change, and what you cannot. This of course takes patience, the acquiring of which is definitely your greatest achievement, along with your sense of your own inner softness. Possible Health Concerns... Aries governs the head and brain, and Arians are said to be prone to headaches, particularly migraines, sunstroke, neuralgia and depression. Indigestion and nervous disorders are also threats to you, and your rashness, impetuosity and wholesale physical commitment make you liable to accidents and physical injuries. You like extremes. Physical, emotional and mental, and benefit profoundly by experiencing them; but if your extremism goes too far beyond social acceptability, then expect to be extremely lonely. LIKES Other peoples advice ;) PROBLEMS THAT MAY ARISE FOR YOU, AND THEIR SOLUTIONS As with all sun signs, we all have unique traits to our personalities. When these traits are suppressed, or unrealized, problems will arise. However, with astrology we can examine the problem and assess the proper solution based on the sun sign characteristics. As an Arian you may see things below that really strike home. Try the solution, you most likely will be amazed at the results. If you find yourself on the receiving end of the negatives below, it is because you are failing to express the positive. PROBLEM: Projects that come to nothing. Partnerships full of conflict and argument. SOLUTION: See your role as the "person with ideas" then, work on inspiring others to carry them out. Develop a higher capacity to "listen" and not speak. PROBLEM: Lacking real coherence and direction. Failing to contemplate, only pretending to be decisive. SOLUTION: What springs from your actions is only a reflection of your heart. Soul search and resolve some personal issues you may have buried. PROBLEM: Being deserted by others because they cannot make you notice them and their feelings in any other way. SOLUTION: If you truly have a point, if you don't they won't. Examine your attitude and put yourself in their shoes. PROBLEM: Always tripping over yourself, inviting conflict and harsh treatment. Getting deflated. SOLUTION: Learn the art of looking before you leap. Which means first finding out what it is you wish to make happen first, then act. Your ruling planet is MARS . Mean distance from the Sun (AU) 1.524 Sidereal period of orbit (years) 1.88 Equatorial radius (km) 3,397 Body rotation period (hours) 24.62 Tilt of equator to orbit (degrees) 23.98 Number of observed satellites 2 Mean Radius Distance from Planet Satellites: (km) (x 1,000 km) Phobos 11 9.38 Deimos 6 23.48 Some more interesting facts about your sign: The animal associated with you sign is this noble looking ram. The Ram first appeared in Egypt, alternating with a goose's head as the symbol of Aries; its origin is a mystery. The color of choice for Aries is RED Your starstone is the precious Diamond. The diamond is considered the greatest of stones, revered throughout the ages for its great beauty, and strength, and also for its powerful positive spiritual and physical influences. The diamond is said to enhance the wearer with charm and beauty. Physically it strengthens the kidneys and reproductive organs and gives protection in severe disease. The ancient Romans believed that the diamond, when worn on the left arm, next to the skin, would give the wearer bravery and daring. During the Middle Ages Queen Elizabeth I was given a diamond to ward off the plague. --------------------------------------------- RE: STARSTONE CONTROVERSY There is, and always have been, a controversy over "starstones". Starstones are NOT birthstones. I give you here in these pages the stones that are called your starstones, (planet stones), which viberates the strongest to your planet or sign, NOT to the month that you were born. I would also like it if those who think they know precisely what their stone is to go to the library and reference some good Astrology books such as 'Parkers Astrology'. Sorry for the confusion, but confusion over this topic has raged for hundreds of year.	21
What was the name of the girl that Tom Sawyer loved?	Aries Birthday Astrological Interpretation Part 1 (March 21st - March 26th) - Astrology - Fanpop Aries Birthday Astrological Interpretation Part 1 (March 21st - March 26th) Article by Schnusch posted over a year ago Aries Birthday - March 21 YOUR ELEMENT - Fire YOUR RULERS - Mars. March 21 Aries is, as the first day of the first sign of the year, the day that relates to the Magician card in the tarot. It is a card that indicates a wonderful aspect of individualism within a person and, an ideal present for a March 21 Aries could take the form of a portrait executed in a very extraordinary expressionist painting style. March 21 is the vernal equinox and, as the traditional first day of the year it represents that of the new life that arrives with the beginning of spring. The symbolic meaning of this birth date can be expressed in the image of a newborn baby bird peeping out from the nest for the first time to discover and see what exciting visions surround him. For those of the March 21 birth date so much in life is new to you, and while some folk might interpret this aspect of your nature and personality as somewhat naïveté, no matter whatever age you may be, you will never become weary by life. By nature you hold within yourself a fervent impulse to forever investigate and explore the most interesting possibilities that your surroundings have to offer. Sure, there is always the fear that you may not be successful and like any adolescent, you will take a number of hesitant steps as you progress toward your self- expression. Your desire to be yourself however, is far greater than your fear of the process of becoming. For those of the March 21 birth date it is easy to pick themselves up, to wipe of the dust and, to charge on and get on with their life. This is because, irrespective of any setbacks that you may encounter in life, you will always be able to gather the courage and resources to move forward. The March 21 birth date is the first complete day after the spring equinox and forms the beginning of the sign of Aries. This birth date may also be positioned on a critical degree that indicates that you may well have strong reactions to both the highs and lows in life. Your energy and zeal for life may at times therefore be more overpowering than your judgment. To keep your energies vibrant at home, add some touches of red and adopt some form of a gentle morning exercise routine to help you to maintain a healthy mind and body. The rhythm of music, drumbeats or singing can be excellent methods to control your energy but, without depressing your natural inbuilt enthusiasm. When considering the inside of your home you should look too bright and full of colors as these will mirror your personal optimism and your love of all those things that are vital and vibrant. Although you were born on March 21 being the day of the blooming of new life, you can also be a person who can be something of a traditionalist. In this respect you can hold a strong appreciation for some of those more traditional items and activities. Most March 21 birth date folk hold a strong appreciation for things that are connected to nature and, in this respect, you are very likely to derive great enjoyment in maintaining a well-stocked garden that presents a maze of beautiful color throughout the seasons of the year. It can be particularly important for March 21 folk, having been born at the birth of the spring season, to utilize garden plants and flowers that will bloom and flourish during the most depressing times of the bleakest winter months. The effect of such color will go to offset the possibility of experiencing depression while awaiting the forthcoming warmer and brighter new spring season. Suitable flowers for those of the March 21 birth date are those of early spring: daffodils, crocuses and forsythia. March 21 folk derive enjoyment from being physically active and in creating things that they can see and enjoy. Digging and preparing the flowerbeds or, building a garden “Wendy House” for the kids or, even the building of a log cabin, would fit perfectly with the March 21 personality. To help adapt your energies purchase some Quartz crystal. Your Special Magic Numbers 6 and 9 The twenty-first day of the third month reduces to six, and the number six signifies beauty and, the agreement of balanced opposites as the geometric shape of six indicates. The two equilateral triangles interlaced is the emblem of love, the Star of David. This day is a pathway of self-realization and the ability to recognize and to seize upon potential. Your mission is one of that of recognition and the understanding of the correct interrelationship of the head and the heart. The eighty-first day reduces to nine, and the number nine contributes the quality of aspiration fulfilled. Enjoy the fresh lilies, since fragrant six-petal flowers are emblems of resurrection. See yourself in others, and watch the principle of opposites attracting and complementing. Opal and Peridot are gems for you. Aries Birthday - March 22 YOUR ELEMENT - Fire YOUR RULERS - Mars, Sun. As a March 22 Aries you are aware that you have that “special something” to get ahead, however, you must activate a very strong self-discipline in order to give that “special something” life. Your principal aim in life is to develop the right form of activities to marry up with the special talents that you possess. The March 22 birth date highlights a person who is very aware that they must acquire the right tools in order to succeed in life. You are strongly aware that you have to have a marketable skill, and not just because this is a fundamental necessity to accomplish a place in society, but in the knowledge that you hold within you a burning inspiration of creativity that you need to express. March 22 can quite often start things of with a tremendous enthusiasm and then lose interest and abandon that which you have started. It is essential that you try to be consistent because if your ideas and projects involve other parties you can run the risk of allowing your own responsibilities to fall into the hands of others. You should avoid the impulse to rush in on whatever suddenly takes your fancy. Stop, and take the time to think things through very carefully before you jump into some new idea or project. You are, like many of those born under the sign Aries people a very positive person in your outlook on life, and you hold a very strong conviction that you will always succeed. Beware however, that there is some tendency and attraction towards gambling that is associated with this day of March 22, and gambling may not be the best pastime for such an optimistic person who believes that they can never lose. The March 22 birth date follows immediately after the spring equinox and it holds all the potential for the growth and new life associated with the new season of spring. The energy inherent in this birth date is stronger than judgment; therefore a life long challenge for those born on this day will be to endeavor to balance up actions and thoughts. March 22 folk are extremely thoughtful individuals who tend to action a lot of their thinking while working. You are fascinated by all manner of unexplained mysteries and, are likely to read up on books, writings and articles associated with strange and unexplained phenomena. In fact any subject that involves the more obscure, the mysterious or unknown aspect of the historical past. As a March 22 you will hold an interest and attraction for things that are reminiscent of the military. March 22 folk often exhibit considerable great skill when it comes to engineering and, particularly where precision instruments are involved. On your home front therefore, a set of high quality exclusive design kitchen knives will appeal to your nature, as would an antique sword mounted over your fireplace. Another particular aspect of this day of March 22 is a real appreciation and enjoyment of hard physical work and, in keeping with your engineering inclinations, a day spent on your car among the grease and oil will keep you somewhat happily occupied. You might even find great enjoyment in the construction of a new, or the refurbishment of an old motor vehicle. Working on a major remodeling of a house will certainly satisfy the physical work aspects of your birth date. On the Outdoors front, tending to you lawns and garden in the spring is an excellent activity for your nature and, you might even enjoy growing some varieties of hot chilli peppers as a profitable hobby. The hot chilli relate to your fire sign of Aries. In your sporting activities you need to engage in activities that will test your skills so, a rifle or pistol shooting range might be just the place for you. Carrying a piece of Malachite about you will tend to provide a peaceful effect and settle your energy Your Special Magic Numbers 7 and 10 The twenty-second day of the third month reduces to seven and, the meaning of the number seven is victory. The connotation of this day of March 22 relates to the liberation of the wild self-expression of the personality. Without reserve the type of person that you are you are stands out and this enables you to spread out your charisma to any group It also allows you to judge the effect of your performance from the feed back of others. The eighty-second day of the year reduces to ten, and the number ten adds the factor of perfect expression to the delivery. Becoming involved is the major key to your future success so, try not to sit on the sidelines, go and jump into the arena to make your mark. Join and organization such as the “Toast- Masters” and become confident in the art of giving a speech. Attend or become involved with your local community theatre groups. In order to go in tandem with your emotions try carrying some pieces of Pyrite or Fluorite. Aries Birthday - March 23 YOUR ELEMENT - Fire YOUR RULERS - Mars. As a March 23 Aries you have a great enthusiasm to prove yourself along with a very strong desire to travel in order explore the wider possibilities and wonders of this world. You enjoy an inner form of courage and endurance that arises at times when you are challenged. Remember however, that you do not have to wait around for obstacles or problems to be placed into your path prior to your taking action. Try to ensure that you are in a career or vocation that will provide an abundance of room for your qualities of originality and inventiveness plus, plenty of opportunities for advancement. March 23 needs to always be active; to get out and about and to experience what life has to offer. You are not the sort of person that can suffer being inhibited by those who are in social positions above you. Without doubt you are one who prefers to run your own affairs, to lay down and initiate your own ground rule as you charge off through life. By nature, March 23 birth date will rely considerably upon their own resources and will experience feelings of being out of their depth when they do not have to hand the tools or techniques required to achieve any particular goal. What methods or resources they may adopt in order to acquire such addition skills will form an important aspect of their achievements in life. You are endowed with the strength for combat, but you have discovered how to utilize your energies in more productive ways. You have an inbuilt capacity for humor such as practical jokes and pranks etc and this aspect of your make up can become one of the most useful and successful weapons in life. Your inclination for physically combative sport is balanced with a strong artistic side to your nature. Therefore, you are likely to be attracted to the grandiose and romantic aspects of art. As result you might take pleasure in displaying high-quality prints of old masters within your home or place of business. As a March 23 you are always full of energy, as result you might like to consider taking up one of the martial arts to satisfy the physically combative aspect of your nature. Such a sport can be practiced regularly at home. The March 23 birth date holds a relationship with the Empress card in the tarot, and this card infers that you have a love of the good things in life. Your home therefore will no doubt reflect you love of luxury. While keeping your decor simple, utilize quality wood furnishing, carpets and rugs and, decorate with feature pieces as touches to satisfy that artistic side of your personality. Your bookshelf will undoubtedly carry some books on the subject of humor to cater for your humorous side. Gold and green are good decorating colors for March 23. . In your kitchen, the preparation of simple, tasty casseroles may be one way for you to express your delight in human fellowship and, in line with the traditionalist aspect of your nature, you will probably prefer cooking utilizing the older methods of gas rather than the more modern features of electric. Soft fruits such as peaches, mangos, and apricots are likely to be favorites fruits for you. In your garden you are likely to have some utilities and equipment for sporting activities and, possibly some part of your home set up for indoor sports or games. Flowers borders in your garden comprising of ageratum and begonia would be just the right for March 23. Your special lucky numbers are 8 and 2 The twenty-third day of the third month reduces to eight, and the number eight means that conflicting forms of expression all arise from a sole cause or, source. The flags of the United Nations express and represent a collection of peoples and cultures and, each provides an identity to be spread across the range of flags in order to complete the total effect. The eighty-third day of the year reduces to two, and the number two adds the element of reflection, a factor that assists in the reflecting of experience that cultural traditions can provide. Celebrate traditions, both your own and others, whether in dance, song, food, or dress. Carnelian set in gold will warm your heart. Aries Birthday - March 24 YOUR ELEMENT - Fire YOUR RULERS - Mars. Born this day of March 24 Aries places you among the most romantic of folk and your life tends to rotate around your emotional affairs. It is important therefore that you allocate some of your energy into your career in order to keep it in balance. So many of your lessons in life are cantered around the aspects of relationships, so remember, that it can take many people, all working harmoniously together, in order to accomplish most of life’s objectives. As a March 24 Aries, you can at times be far too hasty and headstrong and, to the extent that you may not be able to identify or recognize that there is a need for compromise or, that some good advice and/or help is being offered to you by someone close to you. That someone may take the form of a business associate, a good friend and even your partner. You have a courageous and no-nonsense outlook to life and these qualities will be something that your associates and friends will admire. With your inherent strong sense of justice you will not be one to stand back when you see other folk being taken advantage off. March 24 is one who desires immediate results and you are not the type of person who is frightened or reluctant to take any action necessary in order to achieve the results you are seeking. Take caution however, that there are times when it is wiser, if not important, to refrain from taking immediate actions, but to take a step back and to merely observe. It will be essential for you that you learn how to distinguish this vital difference. Endowed with a pleasure-loving nature, March 24 is always very keen to forge ahead with whatever projects that they are interested in and, even if they fail to accomplish every thing that they set out to achieve, they will always tend to see the positive side of the experience. A great challenge for March 24 will be to steer clear of the characteristics of vanity and self-indulgence. In your home you can encourage a sense of emotional fulfillment and contentment by acquiring some tall vases, preferably pale blue, and positioning them in the corners of your bedroom. Women may take interest in the collecting of marbles, metal buttons, or other such small items and, for men, the collecting of miniature soldiers and re-creating historic battles could appeal to the Aries military interest. A casual décor in your home should appeal, with quality wooden benches and plush pillows covered in brightly woven blankets or hand-loomed materials in reds, purples, and orange. These are colors that should prove of appeal for you. There are advantages for a March 24 to have some area of personal exclusivity. One particular room or place that is set up for you alone and, in which you should position a study built wooden desk. The desk will represent an aspect of solidity that will assist you to keep your feet on the ground and to approach your problems in a realistic manner. The balance of any furnishing should be quite limited with any ornaments or other items or features in metallic materials and preferably of small size. In your outdoors scenario, a trampoline and/or a swing would be appealing to you together with a garden well stocked with all different kinds of plants that effect a blaze of colors. Some form of wind operated musical garden effect will be pleasing to your nature be it wind chimes or garden bells. You will derive enjoyment from hearing them as the wind rushes through. Your special magic numbers are 9 and 3 The twenty-fourth day of the third month reduces to nine, and the number nine represents successful outcomes. Dangerous liaisons, versus home and family, are potentials for March 24. Without a sense of responsibility, a potentially damaging stream of consequences can be set in motion. . Follow your pleasure, but never avoid your responsibility. Make sure that you learn the difference between self-indulgence and healthy satisfaction. The eighty- fourth day of the year reduces to three, and the number three contributes the quality of development and natural expression. Read romance novels or enjoy a candlelight dinner with your chosen one. Agate Lapis are gemstones stones that will enhance your feelings of happiness. Aries Birthday - March 25 YOUR ELEMENT - Fire YOUR RULERS - Mars, Sun. The March 25 Aries birth date points to a person who wants to step outside of the boundaries in life whether it be in respect those applicable to society or even those in respect of family. March 25 is one who needs to move ahead, utilizing that which is inherited to create a future that is crammed with new and larger creative opportunities. Those of March 25 birth date can have an irresistible desire to explore, and to do so beyond that of the physical world extending into that of the spiritual. As a result of your travels you can acquire viewpoints and wisdom about the world that can prove of benefit for many people. Eastern cultures and their ideas, beliefs and way of life can be of particular interest to those born on March 25. Souvenirs of cultural significance in the forms of artifact statuettes would be valued gifts. The Fortune card from the tarot implies energy, and when combined with your slightly rebellious streak, it can indicate one who has a powerful desire to wander. This would indicate that in your travels therefore, you might tend to favor a cheap lifestyle of traveling in the form of backpacking, camping or, as a one small bag or suitcase traveler. In respect of that certain rebellious aspect to your character, it is something that you need to learn to control because, if not, the result could be that you could find your self in some very unsatisfactory situations. One particular value of this date of March 25 can imply activity and actions that may not exactly be deemed within the laws of the land. There are times when you will feel that you are surrounded by events and social situations that seem to inhibit and curtail your drive, and severely restrict your plans to achieve the actions or activities that you desire to undertake. Such situations may compel you at times to break out through the restrictions of your current life situation and familiar surroundings. While such courage and daring is commendable, one must bear in mind that it is also very important to be fully aware that you are not alone in your environment, and that consideration must be given to what effects your actions might have upon others. Make sure therefore, that you do not enmesh yourself in so many undertakings and commitments of communal responsibility that, in achieving your own objectives you bring hardship and distress upon others. Your progress in life arises from allowing all your skills and abilities freedom of action, and an illustration for those who are born on this day of March 25 is that of a triangle with wings. In you home, consider owning some large pieces of furniture that are made from wood and metals. Items that present character and physical form can be of particular interest to you therefore some sculptured pieces of yourself or your family members could be attractive items for your home. In addition, the color of red-orange represents a powerful color for those of March 25 birth date, so try to incorporate it within your home. In keeping with your appreciation of character and physical form items formed from metals such as an old-fashioned brass bed or sculptured historical busts and such in-home ornaments will give you great pleasure. The burning of candles will provide you with a certain meditative satisfaction as the light effect can allow you to think and contemplate. In the outdoor scenario March 25 favors the terrain images of trees and rocks, and in the garden some holly bushes that can be decorated during the holiday season. Your special magic numbers are: 10 and 4. The twenty-fifth day of the third month reduces to ten, and the number ten suggests the end of a cycle and the personification of seed ideas and concepts that begun in number one. In other words, the time to start over again. Where we maintain our intention pure and clear throughout the creative process, then we will be able achieve the perfect result that we desired at the outset. Each new cycle assists us to do better, and throughout the process we continue to improve skills. The eighty-fifth day of the year reduces to four, and the number four adds the fundamental certainty of permanence behind change. Consider on the principle of order at work. Sit in the darkness in front of a fire and watch the dance of the colored flames, are they a creative transformation or destructive combinations. Turquoise and amber are gemstones that will help to strengthen you. Aries Birthday - March 26 YOUR ELEMENT - Fire YOUR RULERS - Mars, Sun. March 26 Aries, while positioned within the initial period of Aries, is a date that has an energy that is more water influenced than that of fire and therefore, those born on this date are unusually more emotionally sensitive than for most the other people of the Aries sign. To counter balance that sensitivity and any associated depressive effects try positioning some figurines or other ornaments made of brass around the house. Such items will support your positive emotions, while at the same time, the metallic factor will support the more resilient characteristics of your personality. An aspect of this March 26 birth date indicates a person who is particularly charitable and humanitarian by nature. They will generally have a genuine love of animals and, it is not unusual to find a host of animals within their homes. Furthermore, as they tend to like the idea of saving those in need, they are quite often actively engaged in the rescuing, taking in and caring for animals of all types. As much as they like to protect those who are weaker and less fortunate than them self, March 26 also have a strong desire to feel protected themselves and, as result, they will tend to prefer, and look for a very strong individual within their relationships. As a March 26 birth date, your need to experiment with life will take you far. Your personal sense of your own individualism has to be proven time and again, and you will strive very hard in order to create a foundation that supports your desire ‘to be.” March 26 is person with deep-seated ambitions and you search for both emotional and financial security. To achieve your goals, you will have to work at creating both harmony and cooperation. The March 26 character enjoys a wealth of personal drive and sensitivity, however, you can be somewhat lesser endowed when it comes to patience and compassion. Exercises in the giving some help to others without the expectations for reward can help to expose you to a broader range of human experiences and allow you to become more assimilated in your outlook toward life and your relationships. Your major talents involve that of starting off or starting up ideas or projects, however, there can be set backs because of the natural restlessness inherent in your birth date and this characteristic of your nature may well lessen your chances of following through a project to its conclusion. By nature, March 26 is a very hard worker, however you always have this inbuilt feeling and belief that your life destiny is for far greater things than those of a normal cum regular existence. In your home, animals as pets and, plenty of plant life should be considered since there is every chance that you will hold a keen natural interest in the subject’s botany and zoology. Try cactus and geraniums, as these can be indoor plants of particular appeal to those of March 26 birthdays. On the design and décor front, features that express acute angles and sharp edges will be appealing and, while red colors are generally symbolic to sign of Aries, in the case of this March 26 birth date the color green being symbolic elements of the aspects of birth and anger is more fitting. In your outdoors environment, the March 26 likes to quantify and identify their land/property space and, will generally do so by way of an attractive hedge or a fence line made from wood or metals to designs of your liking. Flowers for your garden area should include such plants as Briars, basil and hollyhock. The noises, activities and scenery associated with rural activities such as farming can inspire you, thus a holiday in such an environment could prove worthwhile. Your special magic numbers are: 2 and 5 The twenty-sixth day of the third month reduces to two, and the number two is the number of duplication and relationship. This is a path of self-direction. Light your fire of inspiration as the fuel for your experiences and accomplishments and, become your own internal driving force. Watch the effects of a domino display and experience the chain reaction of thousands of dominos falling beginning from that first domino to fall The eighty-sixth day of the year reduces to five, and the number five adds the influence of continual repetition and replication. Aries - The Ram / The Lucky Color of Aries is: Red / Birthstone: Diamond	i don't know
Whom did Colin Firth play when he won the Best Actor Oscar in 2011?	Colin Firth - Biography - IMDb Colin Firth Jump to: Overview (3) \| Mini Bio (1) \| Spouse (1) \| Trivia (37) \| Personal Quotes (25) Overview (3) 6' 1½" (1.87 m) Mini Bio (1) Colin Andrew Firth was born into an academic family in Grayshott, Hampshire, England. His mother, Shirley Jean (Rolles), was a comparative religion lecturer at the Open University, and his father, David Norman Lewis Firth, lectured on history at Winchester University College (formerly King Alfred's College) in Winchester, and worked on education for the Nigerian government. His grandparents were missionaries. His siblings Katie Firth and Jonathan Firth are also actors. Firth's first acting experience came in infant's school when he played "Jack Frost" in a Christmas pantomime. Three of his four grandparents were Methodist missionaries and he spent his early childhood in Nigeria, returning to England at age five where he entered a comprehensive school in Winchester. He spent two years at the Drama Centre London in Chalk Farm where he was "discovered" while playing "Hamlet" during his final term. His first professional role was as "Bennet" in the West End production of "Another Country". From this performance, he was chosen to play the character of "Judd" in the movie of the play. He went on to play a variety of character parts in both film and television. For his portrayal of "Robert Lawrence" in the 1989 TV production Tumbledown (1988), he received the Royal Television Society Best Actor award and also a BAFTA nomination. He also received a BAFTA nomination for "Mr. Darcy" in the 1995 TV version of Pride and Prejudice (1995). In 2011, he won the Oscar for Best Actor for his commanding leading role, playing British King George VI in The King's Speech (2010). - IMDb Mini Biography By: Anonymous Spouse (1) ( 21 June 1997 - present) (2 children) Trivia (37) Had a relationship with Jennifer Ehle , whom he met while filming Pride and Prejudice (1995) Named one of People magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People in the World (2001). Has twice lost his screen wife to a member of the Fiennes family - to Ralph Fiennes in The English Patient (1996) and to Joseph Fiennes in Shakespeare in Love (1998). Became a father for the first time at age 30 when his [now ex] girlfriend Meg Tilly gave birth to their son William Joseph Firth on September 20, 1990. Brother of Katie Firth (a vocal coach) and Jonathan Firth . Co-starred as the character Mark Darcy in the film adaptation of Bridget Jones's Diary (2001), while appears himself as a character in writer Helen Fielding 's sequel, which was adapted to the big screen as Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004). Contributed a short story, "The Department of Nothing", to the collection "Speaking With the Angel", edited by Nick Hornby. Colin Firth starred in the film adaptation of Hornby's semi-autobiographical novel, Fever Pitch (1997). Has played a Mr. Darcy on four occasions: Pride and Prejudice (1995), Bridget Jones's Diary (2001), Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004) and Bridget Jones's Baby (2016). Although he usually gets along quite well with other actors, he had a well-publicized verbal feud with Rupert Everett , although the source of this tension is not known. According to Colin Firth, when he was first offered the role of Darcy, his brother incredulously remarked, "Darcy? But isn't he supposed to be sexy?" On the DVD audio commentary for Love Actually (2003), Hugh Grant continuously mocks the looks, age, acting abilities, and alleged vanity of Firth (his sometimes on-screen rival), eventually encouraging his fellow-commentators writer/director Richard Curtis , and co-stars Bill Nighy and Thomas Brodie-Sangster to join in on the mocking. Firth appears to have taken these comments in good nature and said that he and Grant seem to have a " Bette Davis - Joan Crawford " kind of relationship. Attended King Alfred's College in Winchester, Hampshire (now the University of Winchester). Attended Barton Peveril College in Eastleigh. His film teacher still teaches there (as of November 2008). Moved to Nigeria, when he was 2 weeks old, where his father had taken a teaching position, and lived there until age 4. Resided in the United States for a year when he was age 12. Considers former girlfriend Meg Tilly 's children Emily and David (from her first marriage to Tim Zinnemann ) to be his own. In addition to his various roles as Darcy, Firth played at least one other person sharing a name with a Jane Austen character: Henry Dashwood, his character in What a Girl Wants (2003) is the name of a character in Miss Austen's "Sense and Sensibility". Resided outside Maple Ridge, British Columbia from 1989 through 1995 with then girlfriend, actress Meg Tilly . Is the second person to win the best actor BAFTA two years in a row and the Oscar in the second year (For A Single Man (2009) and The King's Speech (2010)). The first one was Rod Steiger in The Pawnbroker (1964) and In the Heat of the Night (1967). He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6714 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on January 13, 2011. He was awarded the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2011 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to drama. Colin Firth and his wife, documentary film producer Livia Giuggioli, dined with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (aka Wills and Kate) at an ARK charity in March 2011. He named Spencer Tracy , Paul Scofield and Peter O'Toole as some of his acting idols. Both of his Oscar nominated roles came from playing a character named George. George Falconer in A Single Man (2009) and King George VI in The King's Speech (2010) for which he won the award. Became a father for the second time at age 40 when his wife Livia Giuggioli gave birth to their son Luca Firth on March 29, 2001. Became a father for the third time at age 42 when his wife Livia Giuggioli gave birth to their son Matteo Firth in August 2003. Was originally cast as the voice of Paddington Bear in Paddington (2014), but was replaced by Ben Whishaw during post-production of the film. According to director Paul King he decision was done since "It slowly just became clear that Paddington does not have the voice of a very handsome older man, who has the most beautiful voice on the planet". He and Nicole Kidman circled the same five movies, within two years. In 2012, they first worked on The Railway Man (2013) and followed it by Before I Go to Sleep (2014). In November 2014, they filmed Genius (2016). Firth was also cast in Stoker (2013), but dropped out due to scheduling conflicts, and worked on Paddington (2014) before he was replaced by Ben Whishaw . Kidman co-starred in all these five films. She considers Firth to be one of her favorite collaborators and says that "He's the best of the British actors". Has an Erdös-Bacon-Sabbath number of 10, which is among the lowest on the planet. Has English, along with some Scottish and Ulster-Scots (Northern Irish), ancestry. Speaks Italian fluently. He played a veteran of the First World War in The Secret Garden (1987), A Month in the Country (1987) and Easy Virtue (2008). In the latter two, his characters were traumatised by their experiences of the war. Personal Quotes (25) The English people, a lot of them, would not be able to understand a word of spoken Shakespeare. There are people who do and I'm not denying they exist. But it's a far more philistine country than people think. And I always thought the biggest failing of Americans was their lack of irony. They are very serious there! Naturally, there are exceptions... the Jewish, Italian, and Irish humor of the East Coast. (Italian Vogue) [on his success in playing the two Mr. Darcy roles] I was delighted to become a popular culture reference point. I'm still delighted about it actually, and I still find it to be weird. Forget "trying" to be sexy. That's just gruesome. [on losing the girl to both Ralph and Joseph Fiennes] If I want my career to go on, I'm going to have to find some more Fiennes brothers! However, any similarity between them basically stops at their last name. I was in no way reminded of Ralph by working with Joe. I got on fantastically with both of them. I have huge admiration for them as actors but I couldn't compare them. [on his first name] Well it doesn't exactly have a ring to it, does it? It's more the sort of name you'd give to your goldfish for a joke. I have a kind of neutrality, physically, which has helped me. I have a face that can be made to look a lot better or a lot worse, depending on how I want it to look. The first actor who really blew me away was Paul Scofield in [the movie] A Man for All Seasons (1966). I'd never seen such integrity in acting, and it struck me as a fascinating paradox because acting is artifice. It can be argued to be entirely false. I thought, how can an actor suggest such truth? I like playing strange characters. Some people might say it has something to do with a hidden part of myself, but I think it's a lot simpler than that: normal people are just not very interesting. Every single film since [ Pride and Prejudice (1995)] there's been a scene where someone goes, "Well I think you've just killed Mr Darcy". But he is a figure that won't die. He is wandering somewhere. I can't control him. I tried to play with it in Bridget Jones's Diary (2001). I've never resented it: if it wasn't for him I might be languishing, but part of me thinks I should do this postmodern thing, change my name by deed poll to Mr Darcy. Then people can come up to me and say, 'But you are not Mr Darcy' which would be different. I dare say it will be my saving grace when the only employment available to me is opening supermarkets dressed in breeches and a wig. I feel quite strongly about anti-Americanism. I share people's grievances about the current Administration but I remember my father and I watching the Watergate hearings. Here was a country arraigning its own leaders. America has a fantastic history of dissent. (Sept. 2007) [on the appeal he has to older female fans] I find I'm increasingly lusted after by people beyond pensionable age. I was told of a woman in hospital, diagnosed with high blood pressure, who was told not to watch any more Pride and Prejudice (1995). She was 103. [on the movie version of Mamma Mia! (2008) in which he stars] If you are the kind of person who always wanted to see middle aged men in tight spandex trying to sing, then this is the film for you. [on filming Mamma Mia! (2008)] This was quite terrifying, because the guys in this film were really out of their comfort zone with the singing thing. And you know, the first thing we did was to record our songs, because you pre-record before you shoot the film. And then you have to shoot it live, which a lot of it was, and it was the fearsome Benny and Björn of ABBA , and they were notorious hard customers, and they booked me three days in the studio to sing a three-minute song. So my mind was reeling with images of myself, you know, floods of Ambian-fueled tears, while I was being shouted out in Swedish by bearded men. But, fortunately, when I met them, they were friendly. There was something in their friendliness that had a reserve to it. I thought, "I'm going to be friendly as long as I'm not crappy". And then half an hour later, they were actually okay. Pierce Brosnan and Stellan walked in and I looked at their faces, I was staring into a vortex of fear, both of them in spirals. And nothing bonds you more than blind terror really. Within a few more minutes, the three of us were like The Andrews Sisters around the mike, you know. Actors are basically drag queens. People will tell you they act because they want to heal mankind or, you know, explore the nature of the human psyche. Yes, maybe. But basically we just want to put on a frock and dance. Your face is supposed to move if you're going to act. Why on earth would you take a violin and make the strings so that they don't vibrate? Injecting something in to your face so it's paralysed, or cutting bits of it up so that you take any signs of life out of it is catastrophic if you're going to express yourself in any way at all. [on accepting a Golden Globe Award for The King's Speech (2010)] Right now, this is all that stands between me and a Harley Davidson. Actually, you know, it is quite extraordinary because life on a film set is inherently infantile. Everything else is taken away to the point where we are helpless. You are picked up at a certain time of day. You are driven to a place not of your choice. You are then given clothes to put on. And then someone does your hair and your face, and again according to someone else's schedule. You are brought your breakfast. Then you are taken to a place where you do your job and you are told where to stand, where to look, and here are the words you are going to say, and they're not yours. And so there is very little that you have in your control, except what happens when you close the bathroom door. It is preposterous. It makes no sense whatsoever, unless it's wonderful. You are always treading that line. Through my film work, I've tended to represent precisely the kind of Englishman that I'm not - the repressed figure of mythology. It's hard to run into those guys now. I'll give you £100 for every guy with a bowler hat and umbrella you see walking the streets of London who's not going to a fancy dress party. My generation weren't saying, I can't wait to grow up so I can put on a pin-stripe suit and go to an office. They were piercing their ears and learning to play the guitar. If you want to define a modern Englishman, you might as well look at Keith Richards , John Lydon or Ray Winstone , rather than John Major or Prince Charles . [on looking ten years ahead] I always imagined I'd move beyond this rather infantile career choice. By this point I would have become a virtuoso on a musical instrument or written novels or become an astronaut. But I'll probably be doing some version of exactly what I'm doing now. [on often appearing as emotionally repressed characters] I think there's an immense drama in things being held back and hidden and unspoken. I'm the go- to guy when you're doing something in that convention. But also, communication is never perfect. What you're hearing isn't necessarily what I'm imagining you're hearing. That interests me more than repression. [on working again with former Mamma Mia! (2008) co-star Stellan Skarsgård in The Railway Man (2013)] It's very hard to look at Stellan and not see him in Lycra. Actually, the last time I'd seen him on a film set he was naked. So if there was a haunted look in my eyes, it wasn't because I was contemplating the war in Asia. It was because I'd seen horrors already beyond imagination. [accepting the Best Actor Oscar for The King's Speech (2010)] I've a feeling my career's just peaked. [on The King's Speech (2010) co-star Helena Bonham Carter ] If I had to choose somebody to get stuck in a lift with, actually, she comes fairly high on the list. Because she's amusing, attractive, and very small. [Accepting his Best Actor BAFTA for A Single Man (2009)] An encounter with Tom Ford is to come away feeling resuscitated, a little more worldly, better informed, better groomed, more fragrant and more nominated than one has ever been before. See also	George VI
‘Everybody’s Talkin’ featured prominently in the music for which 1969 film?	Colin Firth - IMDb IMDb Actor \| Producer \| Soundtrack Colin Andrew Firth was born into an academic family in Grayshott, Hampshire, England. His mother, Shirley Jean (Rolles), was a comparative religion lecturer at the Open University, and his father, David Norman Lewis Firth, lectured on history at Winchester University College (formerly King Alfred's College) in Winchester, and worked on education ... See full bio » Born: a list of 23 people created 05 Dec 2010 a list of 27 people created 07 Feb 2013 a list of 21 people created 06 Dec 2013 a list of 35 people created 24 Sep 2014 a list of 24 people created 11 months ago Do you have a demo reel? Add it to your IMDbPage How much of Colin Firth's work have you seen? User Polls Won 1 Oscar. Another 65 wins & 54 nominations. See more awards » Known For The King's Speech King George VI (2010) 2010 Arena (TV Series documentary) Various characters 2004 Saturday Night Live (TV Series) Host 2000 Donovan Quick (TV Movie) Donovan Quick 1985 Dutch Girls (TV Movie) Truelove 2007 In Prison My Whole Life (Documentary) (executive producer) Hide 2010 The King's Speech (performer: "Camptown Races" - uncredited) 2008 Mamma Mia! (performer: "Our Last Summer", "Take A Chance On Me", "Waterloo") 2007 St. Trinian's (performer: "Love Is In The Air") 2002 The Importance of Being Earnest (performer: "Lady Come Down") Hide 2007 The Department of Nothing (Short) (short story) Hide 1999 Shakespeare in Love and on Film (TV Movie documentary) (thanks) Hide 2016 Circus Halligalli (TV Series) Himself 2016 Mardi cinéma (TV Series) Himself 2016 Clevver Now (TV Mini-Series) Himself 2001-2016 Live! with Kelly (TV Series) Himself / Himself - Guest 2016 The Insider (TV Series) Himself 2008-2016 Entertainment Tonight (TV Series) Himself 2009-2015 Días de cine (TV Series) Himself 2015 World Premiere (TV Series) Himself 2002-2015 The Daily Show (TV Series) Himself 2012-2015 Rencontres de cinéma (TV Series) Himself 2009-2015 Made in Hollywood (TV Series) Himself 2015 In Character With... (TV Series) Himself 2005-2015 Film 2016 (TV Series) Himself / Himself - Interviewee 2014 Good Morning America (TV Series) Himself - Guest / Himself 2010-2014 Charlie Rose (TV Series) Himself - Guest / Himself 2010-2012 Le grand journal de Canal+ (TV Series documentary) Himself 2011 The Big Picture (TV Series) Himself 2011 60 Minutes (TV Series documentary) Himself - Actor (segment "The King's Speech") 2011 Piers Morgan Tonight (TV Series) Himself 2010 The 7PM Project (TV Series) Himself 2008-2010 Cinema 3 (TV Series) Himself - Episode dated 19 February 2010 (2010) ... Himself - A Single Man 2008-2010 Xposé (TV Series) 2010 ITV Lunchtime News (TV Series) Himself 2009 2009 Britannia Awards (TV Special) Himself 2008 Mama Mia!: Becoming a Singer (Video documentary short) Himself 2003-2008 The View (TV Series) Himself / Himself - Guest 2008 E! True Hollywood Story (TV Series documentary) Himself 2008 VTV Interviews (TV Series) Himself 2007 The Money Programme (TV Series documentary) Himself 2006 Corazón de... (TV Series) Himself 2005 This Morning (TV Series) Himself 2005 Same Bridget, Brand New Diary (Video documentary short) Himself 2004 Mioch versus Goderie (TV Series) Himself 2004 The Big Fight (Video documentary short) Himself / Mark Darcy 2004 The Mini Break to Austria (Video documentary short) Himself / Mark Darcy 2003 Tinseltown TV (TV Series) Himself 2003 The Storytellers (Video documentary short) Himself / Jamie 2002 Forever Ealing (TV Movie documentary) Himself - Interviewee 2002 At the IFC Center (TV Series documentary) Himself 2002 The Early Show (TV Series) Himself 2002 Weekend Today (TV Series) Himself 2002 VH1 Cast Party (TV Series) Himself 2002 Judi Dench: A BAFTA Tribute (TV Movie documentary) Himself 1985 Arena (TV Series documentary) Himself - Narrator 2016 The Insider (TV Series) Himself 2016 Entertainment Tonight (TV Series) Himself 2011 60 Minutes (TV Series documentary) Himself - Actor (segment "The King's Speech") - Designing Life/The N-Word/The King's Speech (2011) ... Himself - Actor (segment "The King's Speech") 2010-2011 Breakfast (TV Series) Personal Details Other Works: Played "Guy Bennett" - 1930s public school boy turned notorious Russian spy - in Julian Mitchell 's award-winning play, "Another Country", at the Queen's Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, UK (1982). See more » Publicity Listings: 9 Interviews \| 9 Articles \| 4 Pictorials \| 23 Magazine Cover Photos \| See more » Official Sites: Did You Know? Personal Quote: The English people, a lot of them, would not be able to understand a word of spoken Shakespeare. There are people who do and I'm not denying they exist. But it's a far more philistine country than people think. See more » Trivia: Resided in the United States for a year when he was age 12. See more » Star Sign:	i don't know
Elizabeth of Glamis and Dorothy Perkins are both types of what?	Modern Roses: 5 Cluster-Flowered (Shrub) - 'Elizabeth of Glamis' Modern Roses: 5 Cluster-Flowered Floribunda Shrub Height x Spread in inches (cms) (1 inch = 2.5 cms, 12 inches = 1 foot = 30 cms, 24 inches = 2 feet) 30 x 24 (75 x 60) Foliage Flower Colour in Season. Hips Well-scented double flowers of rich orange-salmon are produced in large clusters in May-October. Flowering is Continuous throughout the summer. Very fragrant. Comment Growth upright. Needs protection in cold areas. Prone to Black Spot and Mildew . "A free flowering, soft but rich salmon, upright and of medium height. An excellent variety that needs a little extra tender loving care. Feed with potash in late July." from Peter Beales Roses . "Fragrant, medium sized orange-salmon shaded blooms. Open, flat flowers are borne in large clusters ." from R.V. Roger Ltd . "Salmon-orange. Coral salmon. Light apricot pink. Strong fragrance. 25 to 35 petals. Average diameter 3.5". Full (26-40 petals), cluster-flowered, in small clusters, flat bloom form. Blooms in flushes throughout the season. Medium, bushy, compact, upright. Height of 3' to 42" (90 to 105 cm). Width of 2' (60 cm). USDA zone 6b and warmer. Can be used for beds and borders, container rose or garden. Vigorous. rain tolerant. Disease susceptibility: susceptible to Black Spot . Spring Pruning: Remove old canes and dead or diseased wood and cut back canes that cross. In warmer climates, cut back the remaining canes by about one-third. In colder areas, you'll probably find you'll have to prune a little more than that. Named in honour of The Queen Mother. It was the first rose to be granted copyright protection in Britain." from Help Me Find . On North-Facing Wall Page for rose use as ARCH ROSE, PERGOLA ROSE, COASTAL CONDITIONS ROSE, WALL ROSE, STANDARD ROSE, COVERING BANKS or THORNLESS ROSES. FRAGRANT ROSES - The roses inserted into this page are described as Moderately Fragrant or Very Fragrant in the relevant Rose Plant Description Page. NOT FRAGRANT ROSES - The roses inserted into this page are described as Slightly Fragrant or nothing mentioned about fragrance in the relevant Rose Plant Description Page. Rose Classification Number Rose Classification - Links to each page of these is in the menu at the top of the right hand table on each page 1 39 Modern Roses: 1 Modern Shrub Recurrent Large-Flowered Modern Roses: 1a Modern Shrub Roses. Peter Beales Roses are split into the following not officially recognised World Federation of Rose Societies Rose Classes: "There are four main groups of rose. 1a Bush and Shrub roses tend to be about as wide as they are tall and are perfect for growing in borders or as large specimen plants. 14a Climbing roses grow up to around 2m (6ft) to 3m (12ft), can repeat flower and tend to flower on the current years growth. They are great for growing up pergolas and arches. 12a Rambling roses can grow up to 10m (40ft) and tend to flower on the previous years growth and their size and vigor lends themselves to covering large areas such as dead trees and unsightly buildings. 3a Ground covering roses tend to "scramble" low and are perfect for covering low fences and for cascading along the ground." Modern Roses: 2 Modern Shrub Recurrent Cluster-Flowered Modern Roses: 3 Ground-Cover Recurrent Modern Roses: 4 Large-Flowered (Hybrid Tea Shrub) Modern Roses: 5 Cluster-Flowered (Floribunda Shrub) Modern Roses: 6 Dwarf Cluster-Flowered Modern Roses: 6a Dwarf Large-Flowered (Mini-flora in the American Rose Society) Modern Roses: 7 Polyantha (Shrub) Modern Roses: 8 Miniature Bush Modern Roses: 9 Modern Shrub Non-Recurrent Large-Flowered Modern Roses: 10 Modern Shrub Non-Recurrent Cluster Flowered Modern Roses: 11 Ground Cover Non-Recurrent Modern Roses: 12 Rambler Recurrent Modern Roses: 13 Large-Flowered Climber Recurrent Modern Roses: 14 Cluster-Flowered Climber Recurrent Modern Roses: 15 Climbing Miniature Recurrent Modern Roses: 16 Rambler Non-Recurrent Modern Roses: 17 Large-Flowered Climber Non-Recurrent Modern Roses: 18 Cluster-Flowered Climber Non-Recurrent Modern Roses: 19 Climbing Miniature Non-Recurrent Modern Roses: 19a English Roses - David C.H. Austin OBE (born 1926) is a rose breeder and writer who lives in Shropshire, England. His emphasis is on breeding roses with the character and fragrance of Old Garden Roses (Gallicas, Damasks, Alba roses, etc.) but with the repeat-flowering ability and wide colour range of modern roses such as Hybrid Teas and Floribundas. Though Austin's roses are not officially recognised as a separate class of roses by, for instance, the Royal National Rose Society or the American Rose Society, they are nonetheless commonly referred to by rosarians, at nurseries, and in horticultural literature as 'English Roses' (the term he uses) or 'Austin Roses'. Old Garden Roses: 20 Alba (Shrub) Old Garden Roses: 21 Bourbon (Shrub) Old Garden Roses: 22 Boursalt (Shrub) Old Garden Roses: 23 China (Shrub) Old Garden Roses: 24 Damask (Shrub) Old Garden Roses: 25 Gallica (Shrub) Old Garden Roses: 26 Hybrid Perpetual (Shrubs) Old Garden Roses: 27 Moss (Shrubs) Old Garden Roses: 28 Portland (Shrubs) Old Garden Roses: 29 Provence (Centifolia) (Shrubs) Old Garden Roses: 30 Sweet Briar (Shrubs) Old Garden Roses: 31 Tea (Shrubs) Old Garden Roses: 32 Ayrshire Old Garden Roses: 33 Climbing Bourbon (Climbers) Old Garden Roses: 34 Climbing Boursalt (Climbers) Old Garden Roses: 35 Climbing Tea (Climbers) Old Garden Roses: 36 Noisette (Climbers) Old Garden Roses: 37 Sempervirens (Climbers) Wild Roses: 38 Wild Roses Non-Climbing Wild Roses: 39 Wild Roses Climbing Some of the Roses in the other borders of the Royal Horticultural Society Garden at Wisley are in the Bowes-Lyon Rose Garden (identified as 3 in the map below) or the Jubilee Rose Garden - which is below and to the left of the Bowes-Lyon Rose Garden:- and this detailed map of the Bowes-Lyon Rose Garden from the RHS sign in the garden, which shows it upside down from the above map:- Above map with A-Z or 1-9 identifying each flowerbed location in the Bowes-Lyon Rose Garden:- Click for further details on WISLEY WISLEY Rose Plant Classification System :- Rosa Wisley 2008 'AUSbreeze' is:- Wisley 2008 is the Exhibition Name, the name it is introduced to the public by, the name that is used in retail and its cultivar name. 'AUSbreeze' is the Registration Name, which is AUS to indicate that David Austin Roses Limited was its breeder and breeze was its name. Rosa England's Rose 'Auslounge' is described as England's Rose Varietal Name : Auslounge by Roses UK . So, besides the Registration Name, we also have the Varietal Name - see further naming problems in Rosa 'England's Rose' (AUSrace) page . Normal Rose Plant Classification System:- Now you should not confuse the above system with the usual retail name of Rosa 'Wisley 2008' (Ausbreeze) by Austin Roses where 'Wisley 2008' is the cultivar name and (Ausbreeze) is its Registration Name ( This is used in the trade to make absolutely certain that they know what the rose is). To differentiate the 2 parts of the Registration Name Ausbreeze would normally appear as AUSbreeze. " Roses UK is a joint marketing venture between BARB (British Association Of Rose Breeders) and the British Rose Group of the HTA (previously known as the British Rose Growers Association) aimed at maintaining and increasing the profile of the nation's favourite flower, the rose, through promotional activities. Amongst its major activities is included responsibility for the organisation of the annual rose festival held at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. Roses UK also manages the Rose of the Year trials - a competition that has been running since 1982 and one that is designed to select, through nationwide trials, the best of new rose introductions, entered by professional rose breeders, for a given year. The Gold Standard Rose Trial, independently managed by NIAB (National Institute of Agricultural Botany in Cambridge) on behalf of the British Association of Rose Breeders (BARB) is also promoted by Roses UK. ROSES UK IS NEITHER A RETAILER NOR WHOLESALER OF ROSES". The Royal National Rose Society is "is not only the world’s oldest specialist plant society but the foremost global authority on the cultivation and care of the rose. Established in 1876, the RNRS now has a membership that spans the globe and includes many affiliated horticultural societies and research libraries, as well as thousands of rose- loving individuals. Today, the RNRS is best known for its flagship Gardens of the Rose at Chiswell Green in Hertfordshire, on the outskirts of St Albans. Opened 50 years ago by the then Patron of the Society, the Princess Royal, The Gardens of the Rose offer five acres of stunning displays of tens of thousands of roses, both traditional and contemporary, complemented by a huge selection of companion plants. A major objective is the administration of the RNRS International rose trials which are open to both professional and amateur rose breeders. Visit our International Rose Trials page for some background to the trialling process. The Society is also recognised as a governing body in the administration of showing and judging roses in the UK. Visit our shows area page for details of forthcoming events." "Find That Rose, the guide for rose lovers in the UK is now in its 31st year (2014). This website is based on the variety and Growers details, and also gives you planting and care advice. There are roses for every situation. Breeders over the last decade or so have increased the choice with Patio/Courtyard climbers...suitable for the smaller gardens where taller and wider climbers are just too big. The Book Find That Rose is designed to: Help you find the rose of your choice To help you contact specialist Rose Growers and suppliers Discover who supplies roses mail order Advise you which rose growers export Help retailers and local authorities find a wholesale grower Details of the 31st Edition of Find That Rose….. the book: Listing approx. 3,550 varieties available in the UK Approximately 200 new varieties listed in the 31st Edition. 46 growers/suppliers featured. New for the 31st Edition - Dates of Variety Introductions. Help in tracing a variety with a particular Christian name, or one for a special event. Details on where you can see roses in bloom this summer. All this and a Rose Discount voucher towards purchases of roses from select members. To get the full pictures… i.e. the Book Find That Rose see request a Brochure " Woo for Woodland If there is no colour following the plant name, this indicates that this name is either a synonym of a Rose with a different retail name and its Rose Description Page already exists in this website or it is the Registration Name used by the Trade and the Rose Description Page of its retail name already exists in this website ....................... Rose INDEX Page includes bloom colour thumbnail, rose use, height and width with link to its Rose Description Page. Site design and content copyright ©November 2009. Page structure amended in September 2012. Mail-order Nursery links updated June 2013 and again in May 2014. Flower Colour and Rose Use added to Non-RHS Bowes-Lyon Rose Garden Rose Index above in May 2014 Chris Garnons-Williams. DISCLAIMER: Links to external sites are provided as a courtesy to visitors. Ivydene Horticultural Services is not responsible for the content and/or quality of external web sites linked from this site. Services "Pruning roses - the sissinghurst method Pruning roses the Sissinghurst way helps create those wonderful fountains of roses you see in summer gardens - delicious-smelling, out-of-control geysers of flowers that effuse all over the garden. Pruning roses like this means you don't get those boring little twiggy bushes, all leg and no body, surrounded by bare ground. The Sissinghurst rose pruning technique originated at Cliveden with the Astors' head gardener Jack Vass, who moved to Sissinghurst in 1939. Vita Sackville-West loved her roses, particularly the dark, rich Gallicas such as 'Charles de Mills', 'Tuscany Superb' and 'Cardinal de Richelieu', but it was Jack Vass who started to grow them in this exceptional way, and roses have been pruned and trained like this at Sissinghurst ever since. Other National Trust properties send their gardeners here to learn this ingenious technique. The rose pruning philosophy can be summed up as "treat them mean, keep them keen". If you put every stem of a rose plant under pressure, bending and stressing it, the rose will flower more prolifically. The plant's biochemistry tells the bush it's on the way out and so needs to make as many flowers as possible. THE SISSINGHURST ROSE PRUNING TECHNIQUE Climbers and ramblers The rose pruning season at Sissinghurst starts in November with the climbers and ramblers that cover almost every one of the terracotta brick walls. First, the gardeners cut off most of that year's growth. This keeps the framework of the rose clear and prevents the plant from becoming too woody. Next, large woody stems are taken out - almost to the base - to encourage new shoots. These will flower the following year. The remaining branches are re-attached to the wall, stem by stem, starting from the middle of the plant, working outwards, with the pruned tip of each branch bent down and attached to the one below. Climbers such as 'Paul's Lemon Pillar' are a bit more reluctant than ramblers like 'Albertine' and the famous Rosa mulliganii on the frame in the centre of the White Garden, which are very bendy and easy to train. Shrub roses Once the wall roses are done, it's the turn of the border shrubs. They should be pruned before they come into leaf to prevent leaf buds and shoots from being damaged as their stems are manipulated. Depending on their habit, shrub roses are trained in one of three ways. The tall, rangy bushes with stiffer branches (such as 'Charles de Mills', 'Ispahan', 'Gloire de France', 'Cardinal de Richelieu' and 'Camayeux') are twirled up a frame of four chestnut or hazel poles. Every pruned tip is bent and attached to a length below. The big leggy shrubs, which put out great, pliable, triffid arms that are easy to tie down and train, are bent on to hazel hoops arranged around the skirts of the plant. Roses with this lax habit include 'Constance Spry', 'Fantin-Latour', 'Zéphirine Drouhin', 'Madame Isaac Pereire', 'Coupe d'Hébé', 'Henri Martin' and 'Souvenir du Dr Jamain'. All the old and diseased wood is removed and then, stem by stem, last year's wood is bent over and tied onto the hazel hoop. You start at the outside of the plant and tie that in first and then move towards the middle, using the plant's own branches to build up the web and - in the case of 'Constance Spry' and 'Henri Martin' - create a fantastic height, one layer domed and attached to the one below. Without any sign of a flower, this looks magnificent as soon as it's complete, and in a couple of months, each stem, curved almost to ground level, will flower abundantly. That leaves just the contained, well behaved, less prolific varieties ('Petite de Hollande', 'Madame Knorr', 'Chapeau de Napoléon', ( syn. Rosa x centifolia 'Cristata') and those that produce branches too stiff to bend ('Felicia' and the newish David Austin rose, 'William Shakespeare 2000'). These are pruned hard, then each bush is attached to a single stake, cut to about the height of the pruned bush and attached by twine. Without the stake, even these will topple under the weight of their summer growth. For those who live in the North, where some roses are yet to leaf, you could get bending now. If your roses are already too advanced for this year, come and see how it's all done at Sissinghurst." from Sarah Raven . "The 5 P’s For Easy Rose Growing 1. Planning 5. Preservation Planning Try to plan well in advance of purchasing your roses. Roses come in a multitude of sizes, habits and colours. They prefer a sunny position and a neutral or slightly acidic well drained soil. Certain roses will tolerate differing degrees of shade and some will thrive in poor soils. Do your homework. Preparation The area to be planted should be free of weeds and deeply dug with the addition of plenty of organic matter such as well rotted farmyard manure or garden compost plus bonemeal. Soil that has previously grown roses should be removed to a depth of 45cms and replaced with fresh soil from elsewhere. This should be completed well before planting to allow the soil to settle. Planting Bare root roses can be planted from November until March provided the soil is workable. Dig a hole large enough to accommodate the roots. Mix a handful of bonemeal with the excavated soil. Spread the roots out in the hole and gradually replace the soil firming well so the union (where the shoots meet the roots) is 2-3 cms. below the soil, water well. If conditions are very wet or frosty when your roses arrive they can be kept unopened in their packaging for a week or more and planted as soon as things improve. Pruning This is a way to maintain a healthy, productive and well balanced plant. Different types of roses require different strategies so see the group headings on the website for more detailed pruning guides. Always use sharp secateurs or loppers and try to prune just above an outward facing bud (where the leaf stalk meets the stem) with a cut sloping down away from the bud. Remove any dead, damaged or diseased wood before pruning. Preservation Roses can be long lived plants provided they are properly maintained. They require plenty of moisture and nutrients to stay healthy and flourish. In dry spells water well, especially in the first few years after planting. The application of a deep mulch in the spring will help to retain water. Feed twice a year on heavy soils (March and June) and more regularly on lighter soils with a good rose fertilizer or fish blood and bone. Pests and diseases are best controlled with good husbandry. There are some good organic products on the market now that can be used to help maintain your plants health. Any suckers (shoots growing from the rootstock) should be pulled off (not cut) as soon as possible." from Trevor White Old Fashioned Roses . Open Bud and Closed Bud. Photo from Pickering, North Yorkshire by Chris Garnons-Williams within 21-25 July 2014. 2 Juvenile Flowers. Photo from Pickering, North Yorkshire by Chris Garnons-Williams within 21-25 July 2014. Middle-aged Flower. Photo from Pickering, North Yorkshire by Chris Garnons-Williams within 21-25 July 2014. Mature Flower. Photo from Pickering, North Yorkshire by Chris Garnons-Williams within 21-25 July 2014. Flowers. Photo from Pickering, North Yorkshire by Chris Garnons-Williams within 21-25 July 2014. Dying Flower. Photo from Pickering, North Yorkshire by Chris Garnons-Williams within 21-25 July 2014. Form. Photo from Pickering, North Yorkshire by Chris Garnons-Williams within 21-25 July 2014.	Roses (store)
Which genus of 422 species of flowering plants are often known as cranesbills?	Roses \| George Beckett Nurseries George Beckett Nurseries ROSES ~ £7.95 each (five for £35) except DAVID AUSTIN VARIETIES @ £12.50 each Rose catalogue (scrollable) Trusses of true salmon pnk, slightly scented, double flowers £7.95 Clusters of scented red flowers in summer and autumn £7.95 Scented yellow and salmon long flowering. £7.95 Clusters of bright cardinal pink flowers. £7.95 Abundant red flowers, neat, compact growth. £7.95 Fragrant, double, flat, creamy white blooms. £7.95 Vigorous branching rambler. Copper buds open to fragrant pink. £7.95 Creme de la Creme Soft creamy white with good fragrance £7.95 Popular Rambler. Small double rose pink flowers in large clusters. Vigorous £7.95 Repeat flowering, blood red blooms £7.95 Large golden yellow double blooms, sweet fragrance, repeat flowering £7.95 Climbers/Ramblers Goldfinch Rambler. Fragrant blooms are a yellow blended cream with a central boss of golden yellow stamens £7.95 Deep maroon red, highly scented £7.95 Blush flowers rimmed pinky red. £7.95 Semi-double, white, honey scented popular climber £7.95 Clusters of large, showy flowers of yellow, red, orange and carmine £7.95 White with golden stamens, fragrant £7.95 Large, creamy white tinged pink. Sweet tea rose fragrance £7.95 Clusters of scented, deep pink flowers on thornless stems £7.95 Camellia-like white flowers. Rich fragrance £7.95 Semi-double apricot-yellow blooms with a strong Tea fragrance £7.95 Large full creamy white blooms striped pale pink. 5' x 4' £7.95 Shrub/Ground Cover Jacques Cartier Beautiful, large, rosette-shaped, rich pink flowers with a very strong fragrance. 4 ft. x 3 ft £7.95 Semi double white red & pink striped. Tolerates shade & poor soil £7.95 Fragrant white flowers and hugs red hips. £7.95 Vigorous thorny rugosa. Lilac pink, free flowering blooms. £7.95 Well formed blooms of unfading golden-yellow. Very fragrant. £7.95 Huge high centred fragrant blooms of crimson-scarlet. £7.95 Creamy white rose with lovely fragrance. 3'-4' £7.95 Hybrid Tea Paul Shirville Salmon-peach, bright and shapely. Free flowering. Scentedstrongly fragrant, double, high-centred, rose-pink to salmon flowersstrongly fragrant, double, high-centred, rose-pink to salmon flowers £7.95 Primrose yellow with soft pink shading. Sweetly scented £7.95 Beautifully formed deep velvety-red flowers. Scented £7.95 Deep red flowers, bushy growth. 3' £7.95 Beautifully fragranced well formed apricot flowers. £7.95 Full, shapely flowers of white to creamy-white. £7.95 Rich magenta pink colour with a very powerful fragrance £7.95 Blood red and deep crimson velvety petals. Fruity fragrance £7.95 Rich gold and amber flowers, strongly scented £7.95 Large double clear yellow flowers with good fragrance £7.95 Strongly fragrant, fully double, deep salmon flowers £7.95 Masses of large semi-double deep crimson flowers £7.95 White centred, deep pink rimmed flowers. Repeat flowering. £7.95 Sweetly scented double white flowers. 4'-5' £7.95 Free flowering, double pink. Very fragrant. £7.95 Black buds open into velvety dark red blooms. £7.95 White open flowers overlaid with a satin-pink sheen. Strong scent £7.95 Clear pink, tall growing, fragrant £7.95 Huge trusses of deep crimson buds open into deep crimson flowers £7.95 Lilac pink slightly lobed flowers. Young foliage purple. £7.95 Exotic, fruity fragrance. Pale orangey-pink £7.95 Deeply cupped pink, apricot & yellow blooms. Rich fragrance £12.50 Rich golden yellow with a heady scent. 4'x4' £12.50 David Austin The Generous Gardener thornless climbing rose with strong, elegantly arching growth, polished dark green foliage and fragrant, double, pale-pink flowers.Thornless climber. Fragrant double pale pink flowers.thornless climbing rose with strong, elegantly arching growth, polished dark green foliage and fragrant, double, pale-pink flowers. £12.50	i don't know
Who was only 19 when he became the Stones’ manager and producer?	Rolling Stones History Tell a Friend The Rolling Stones History Formed in 1962, The Rolling Stones have become one of the world's most recognized and enduring bands. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards first crossed paths at Dartford Maypole County Primary School. A decade later the two had become avid fans of blues and American R&B, and shared a mutual friend in musician Dick Taylor. Jagger and Taylor were jamming together in Little Boy Blue and the Blue Boys. Richards would soon join the group and become expelled from Dartford Technical College for truancy. Meanwhile in another part of town. . . .Cheltenham's Brian Jones had begun a career in truancy to practice the sax. By the time Jones had reached sixteen, the future Stone had fathered two illegitimate children and skipped town to Scandinavia, where he began to pick up guitar. Jones eventually drifted to London where he spent some time with Alexis Korner's Blues, Inc., then made the move to start up his own band. While working at the Ealing Blues Club with a loose version of Blues, Inc. and drummer Charlie Watts, Jones began jamming with Jagger and Richards on the side. Jagger would front the new band. Jones, Jagger and Richards, along with drummer Tony Chapman, cut a demo tape that was rejected by EMI. Chapman left the band shortly after to attend Art College. By this time Blues, Inc. had changed their name to the Rolling Stones, after a Muddy Waters song. The Rolling Stones' first show occurred on July 12, 1962 at the Marquee. In January of 1963, after a series of personnel changes, Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts rounded out the Stones' line-up. A local entrepreneur, Giorgio Gomelsky, booked the group for an eight month stint at his Crawdaddy Club. The highly successful run at the Crawdaddy attracted the attention of manager Andrew Loog Oldham, who signed them as clients. With the Beatles quickly becoming a sensation, Oldham decided to market the Stones as their wicked opposites. In June of 1963, the Stones released their first single, a Chuck Berry tune, "Come On." The group performed on the British TV show "Thank Your Lucky Stars," where the producer told Oldham to get rid of "that vile-looking singer with the tire-tread lips." The single reached #21 on the British charts. After proving themselves with a series of chart topping hits, Jagger and Richards began writing their own songs using the pseudonym "Nanker Phelge." "Tell Me (You're Coming Back)" became the band's first U.S. Top Forty hit. January of 1965 was the year the Stones broke another # 1 in the U.K. with "The Last Time" and broke the top ten in the U.S. with the same tune. The band's next single, "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," held the # 1 spot for four weeks and went on to become probably their most famous. The Stones released their first album of all-original material in 1966 with "Aftermath." The impact of the release was dulled, due in part, to the simultaneous release of the Beatles' "Revolver" and Bob Dylan's "Blonde on Blonde" - a good year for rock and roll. The following year, the Stones were back in the limelight when the group performed "Let's Spend The Night Together" on the "Ed Sullivan Show." Amid threats of censorship, Jagger mumbled the title lines of the song. Some claim Jagger sang "Let's Spend Some Time Together." With the release of the Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper," it seemed every band began to gauge themselves against the landmark recording - including the Stones. In December of '67, the Stones released "Their Satanic Majesties Request" - panned as an "ambitious mess." The following year the Stones went back to their roots with the release of "Jumping Jack Flash." The song landed them a # 3 hit. "Beggar's Banquet" was hailed as the band's finest achievement. On June 9, 1969, Brian Jones announced he was leaving the group saying: "I no longer see eye to eye with the others over the discs we are cutting." Within a week, Jones was replaced by Mick Taylor (ex-John Mayall guitarist). Plans Jones had made to start his own band were cut short when on July 3, 1969, he was found dead in his swimming pool. After the death, at a concert in London's Hyde Park, Jagger read an excerpt from a poem by Shelley and released thousands of butterflies over the park. More tragedy was about to strike the group when the Stones gave a free "thank-you America" concert at California's Altmont Speedway. A young black fan, Merideth Hunter, was stabbed to death by members of the Hell's Angels motor cycle gang. The Stones had hired the gang - on the advice of the Grateful Dead - as security for the event. The murder was captured on film by the Maysles brothers in their documentary "Gimmie Shelter." As a result of public outcry, "Sympathy for the Devil" was dropped from the set-list for the next six years. The band had actually been playing "Under My Thumb" when the murder occurred. In 1970, the Stones formed their own record label - Rolling Stones Records and released "Sticky Fingers," which reached # 1 in 1971. The album also introduced fans to the Andy Warhol designed "lips and lolling tongue logo." That same year Jagger married Nicaraguan fashion model Bianca Perez Morena de Macias. After the release of "Goats Head Soup," Mick Taylor left the group and was replaced by Faces guitarist Ron Wood . The Stones had auditioned a number of top session men, many of whom appeared on the "Black and Blue" LP, after which the group chose Wood. After settling commitments Wood still had with Rod Stewart and the Faces, he officially joined the Stones in 1976. In March, 1977, Richards and his common-law wife, Anita Pallenberg were arrested in Canada for possession of heroin. The arrest jeopardized the future of the Stones - but Richards was given a suspended sentence and subsequently kicked his habit in 1978. One of the Stones' busiest years came in 1981 with the release of "Tattoo You." The album cruised at # 1 for nine weeks and produced such Stones classics as "Start Me Up" and "Waiting On a Friend." The tour for the album produced a live album, "Still Life," and a concert film - Hal Ashby's "Let's Spend the Night Together." The eighties began to take their toll on the group after a series of less than phenomenal releases. Though each of the group's next two releases, "Undercover" and "Dirty Work," featured one Top Twenty hit, the group was beginning to do little more than go through the motions. The relationship between Jagger and Richards began to drift and the group would not see a studio for the next three years. During this time, Jagger released his 1984 solo album, "She's the Boss," which earned the singer platinum success. His next effort, "Primitive Cool" in 1987, didn't even break the Top 40. It was at this point that Richards, who had long stated that he would never make the solo leap and resented Jagger for making albums outside of the Stones, released 1988's "Talk is Cheap." The feud was on. Jagger and Richards took shots at each other in the press and in song. Richards' single "You Don't Move Me," was aimed at his longtime songwriting partner. The antidote came when the songwriters traveled to Barbados to begin work on a new Rolling Stones album. The result would be the critically acclaimed "Steel Wheels" in 1989. The success of the "Steel Wheels" tour spawned the group's fifth live album, capturing the spirit of the Rolling Stones which many had believed was gone. Nearly three decades after the group was formed, the Stones forged ahead into the nineties. The early half of the nineties saw Stones solo albums from Richards and Jagger, but it was apparent that fans were more interested in the two artists as a team. In '94, two years after bassist Bill Wyman's departure, the group released "Voodoo Lounge." The critically hailed album was the first under the group's new multi-million dollar deal with Virgin Records. The deal also gave Virgin the rights to some of the Stones most well known works including "Exile on Main Street," "Sticky Fingers," and Some Girls." The album won the Stones a 1994 Grammy Award for Best Album. In 1996, the group released "The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus." The film brought together bands like the Who, Jethro Tull, Taj Mahal John Lennon, Eric Clapton, Mitch Mitchell of the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Marianne Faithful and of course the Rolling Stones. Recorded over two days in December, 1968, the film was kept in the archives because the Stones felt their performance left much to be desired - especially after the show the Who had put on. Nevertheless, the Stones "Circus" is an important document as well as a window to a time when, as the liner notes proclaim, "for a brief moment it seemed that rock 'n' roll would inherit the earth" - David Dalton, 1995. Source: The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock And Roll In 1997 The Stones released Bridges To Babylon & embarked on another extremely successful world tour, which came to an end in September 1998. In November 1998 we saw the release of yet another live Stones album, entitled No Security. Then, in January 1999 the Stones began yet another tour in Oakland, California, which is set to take them across the US playing arena sized venues & eventually land them back in Europe in May 1999. In June 1999 they will finally play the UK (Edinburgh, Sheffield & London), shows that were cancelled on the B2B Tour due to Britain's tax laws. So, as you can see, 37 years after the band began they are still going strong & without a doubt will continue to roll right into the Millenium! Back To The Rolling Stones.net Information on this site is for information purposes only. Nothing on this site is to be construed as an endorsement by any celebrity or personality, unless explicitly identified, for this site or for any information here. This site is in no way affiliated with The Rolling Stones. It is a fan appreciation site.	Andrew Loog Oldham
Tinca Tinca is the Latin name for which fish?	Rolling Stones History Tell a Friend The Rolling Stones History Formed in 1962, The Rolling Stones have become one of the world's most recognized and enduring bands. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards first crossed paths at Dartford Maypole County Primary School. A decade later the two had become avid fans of blues and American R&B, and shared a mutual friend in musician Dick Taylor. Jagger and Taylor were jamming together in Little Boy Blue and the Blue Boys. Richards would soon join the group and become expelled from Dartford Technical College for truancy. Meanwhile in another part of town. . . .Cheltenham's Brian Jones had begun a career in truancy to practice the sax. By the time Jones had reached sixteen, the future Stone had fathered two illegitimate children and skipped town to Scandinavia, where he began to pick up guitar. Jones eventually drifted to London where he spent some time with Alexis Korner's Blues, Inc., then made the move to start up his own band. While working at the Ealing Blues Club with a loose version of Blues, Inc. and drummer Charlie Watts, Jones began jamming with Jagger and Richards on the side. Jagger would front the new band. Jones, Jagger and Richards, along with drummer Tony Chapman, cut a demo tape that was rejected by EMI. Chapman left the band shortly after to attend Art College. By this time Blues, Inc. had changed their name to the Rolling Stones, after a Muddy Waters song. The Rolling Stones' first show occurred on July 12, 1962 at the Marquee. In January of 1963, after a series of personnel changes, Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts rounded out the Stones' line-up. A local entrepreneur, Giorgio Gomelsky, booked the group for an eight month stint at his Crawdaddy Club. The highly successful run at the Crawdaddy attracted the attention of manager Andrew Loog Oldham, who signed them as clients. With the Beatles quickly becoming a sensation, Oldham decided to market the Stones as their wicked opposites. In June of 1963, the Stones released their first single, a Chuck Berry tune, "Come On." The group performed on the British TV show "Thank Your Lucky Stars," where the producer told Oldham to get rid of "that vile-looking singer with the tire-tread lips." The single reached #21 on the British charts. After proving themselves with a series of chart topping hits, Jagger and Richards began writing their own songs using the pseudonym "Nanker Phelge." "Tell Me (You're Coming Back)" became the band's first U.S. Top Forty hit. January of 1965 was the year the Stones broke another # 1 in the U.K. with "The Last Time" and broke the top ten in the U.S. with the same tune. The band's next single, "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," held the # 1 spot for four weeks and went on to become probably their most famous. The Stones released their first album of all-original material in 1966 with "Aftermath." The impact of the release was dulled, due in part, to the simultaneous release of the Beatles' "Revolver" and Bob Dylan's "Blonde on Blonde" - a good year for rock and roll. The following year, the Stones were back in the limelight when the group performed "Let's Spend The Night Together" on the "Ed Sullivan Show." Amid threats of censorship, Jagger mumbled the title lines of the song. Some claim Jagger sang "Let's Spend Some Time Together." With the release of the Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper," it seemed every band began to gauge themselves against the landmark recording - including the Stones. In December of '67, the Stones released "Their Satanic Majesties Request" - panned as an "ambitious mess." The following year the Stones went back to their roots with the release of "Jumping Jack Flash." The song landed them a # 3 hit. "Beggar's Banquet" was hailed as the band's finest achievement. On June 9, 1969, Brian Jones announced he was leaving the group saying: "I no longer see eye to eye with the others over the discs we are cutting." Within a week, Jones was replaced by Mick Taylor (ex-John Mayall guitarist). Plans Jones had made to start his own band were cut short when on July 3, 1969, he was found dead in his swimming pool. After the death, at a concert in London's Hyde Park, Jagger read an excerpt from a poem by Shelley and released thousands of butterflies over the park. More tragedy was about to strike the group when the Stones gave a free "thank-you America" concert at California's Altmont Speedway. A young black fan, Merideth Hunter, was stabbed to death by members of the Hell's Angels motor cycle gang. The Stones had hired the gang - on the advice of the Grateful Dead - as security for the event. The murder was captured on film by the Maysles brothers in their documentary "Gimmie Shelter." As a result of public outcry, "Sympathy for the Devil" was dropped from the set-list for the next six years. The band had actually been playing "Under My Thumb" when the murder occurred. In 1970, the Stones formed their own record label - Rolling Stones Records and released "Sticky Fingers," which reached # 1 in 1971. The album also introduced fans to the Andy Warhol designed "lips and lolling tongue logo." That same year Jagger married Nicaraguan fashion model Bianca Perez Morena de Macias. After the release of "Goats Head Soup," Mick Taylor left the group and was replaced by Faces guitarist Ron Wood . The Stones had auditioned a number of top session men, many of whom appeared on the "Black and Blue" LP, after which the group chose Wood. After settling commitments Wood still had with Rod Stewart and the Faces, he officially joined the Stones in 1976. In March, 1977, Richards and his common-law wife, Anita Pallenberg were arrested in Canada for possession of heroin. The arrest jeopardized the future of the Stones - but Richards was given a suspended sentence and subsequently kicked his habit in 1978. One of the Stones' busiest years came in 1981 with the release of "Tattoo You." The album cruised at # 1 for nine weeks and produced such Stones classics as "Start Me Up" and "Waiting On a Friend." The tour for the album produced a live album, "Still Life," and a concert film - Hal Ashby's "Let's Spend the Night Together." The eighties began to take their toll on the group after a series of less than phenomenal releases. Though each of the group's next two releases, "Undercover" and "Dirty Work," featured one Top Twenty hit, the group was beginning to do little more than go through the motions. The relationship between Jagger and Richards began to drift and the group would not see a studio for the next three years. During this time, Jagger released his 1984 solo album, "She's the Boss," which earned the singer platinum success. His next effort, "Primitive Cool" in 1987, didn't even break the Top 40. It was at this point that Richards, who had long stated that he would never make the solo leap and resented Jagger for making albums outside of the Stones, released 1988's "Talk is Cheap." The feud was on. Jagger and Richards took shots at each other in the press and in song. Richards' single "You Don't Move Me," was aimed at his longtime songwriting partner. The antidote came when the songwriters traveled to Barbados to begin work on a new Rolling Stones album. The result would be the critically acclaimed "Steel Wheels" in 1989. The success of the "Steel Wheels" tour spawned the group's fifth live album, capturing the spirit of the Rolling Stones which many had believed was gone. Nearly three decades after the group was formed, the Stones forged ahead into the nineties. The early half of the nineties saw Stones solo albums from Richards and Jagger, but it was apparent that fans were more interested in the two artists as a team. In '94, two years after bassist Bill Wyman's departure, the group released "Voodoo Lounge." The critically hailed album was the first under the group's new multi-million dollar deal with Virgin Records. The deal also gave Virgin the rights to some of the Stones most well known works including "Exile on Main Street," "Sticky Fingers," and Some Girls." The album won the Stones a 1994 Grammy Award for Best Album. In 1996, the group released "The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus." The film brought together bands like the Who, Jethro Tull, Taj Mahal John Lennon, Eric Clapton, Mitch Mitchell of the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Marianne Faithful and of course the Rolling Stones. Recorded over two days in December, 1968, the film was kept in the archives because the Stones felt their performance left much to be desired - especially after the show the Who had put on. Nevertheless, the Stones "Circus" is an important document as well as a window to a time when, as the liner notes proclaim, "for a brief moment it seemed that rock 'n' roll would inherit the earth" - David Dalton, 1995. Source: The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock And Roll In 1997 The Stones released Bridges To Babylon & embarked on another extremely successful world tour, which came to an end in September 1998. In November 1998 we saw the release of yet another live Stones album, entitled No Security. Then, in January 1999 the Stones began yet another tour in Oakland, California, which is set to take them across the US playing arena sized venues & eventually land them back in Europe in May 1999. In June 1999 they will finally play the UK (Edinburgh, Sheffield & London), shows that were cancelled on the B2B Tour due to Britain's tax laws. So, as you can see, 37 years after the band began they are still going strong & without a doubt will continue to roll right into the Millenium! Back To The Rolling Stones.net Information on this site is for information purposes only. Nothing on this site is to be construed as an endorsement by any celebrity or personality, unless explicitly identified, for this site or for any information here. This site is in no way affiliated with The Rolling Stones. It is a fan appreciation site.	i don't know
Shrub Hill station serves which English town or city?	Worcester Shrub Hill Station Worcester Shrub Hill Station 1852 - Present Shrub Hill is to this day, although somewhat diminished, still an impressive site to visit. Opened as a joint Midland and Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway (later GWR) station in 1852, considerable facilities were provided at the site. Due to the joint nature of the site, both a Midland and a GWR goods shed were provided, extensive goods sidings, two loco sheds, a branch serving local industry known as the 'Vinegar Branch' and locomotive, carriage and wagon works. The station still operates both main line and local services serving both Walsall and Paddington, for example, and still retains what are, in relation to many other station, significant station facilities and staffing levels. Above we see the impressive entrance building and booking hall off Shrub Hill: its scale is impressive and period details appear to be maintained - note the fringed canopy and the street lamp to the right of the shot. In the above-left shot we have moved back to take a shot that gives a better indication of the size of the station building itself - unfortunately, an office building has been build in front of the station which partly obscures what would have been a rather impressive sight looking up Shrub Hill. Above-right we are again looking at the station entrance from the opposite direction to that taken at the top of the page. Above-left we have entered the station proper and crossed the line to platform 2: the entrance from the booking hall can be seen on the opposite platform (platform 1) next to the notice board on the left-hand side. The track layout that can be seen is an up and a down line, with the centre line providing a stabling facility for trains 'off route' only. The shot above-right is taken at the South end of the station on platform 1. What we see here are the now disused parcels bays which, as the name suggested, were used for Royal Mail trains and their loading and unloading. Above-left we are parallel with the previous shot but have moved to the right and onto platform 3 (this being an island platform numbered 2 to the left and 3 to the right). To the right we can see the extensive GWR goods yard with the end of the ex-goods shed visible on the right-hand side. Above-right we have walked to the other end of the platform and are looking South. What is apparent here is the loss of part of the station structure itself: the area from the wall of the station to the small brick hut in the centre of the shot was occupied by a considerable station building spanning two lines. Above-left we are on platform 2 looking at an interesting period piece. I assume, although there was no way to tell, that this was once a waiting room. However, regardless of its original function, it is refreshing that it has been preserved at the site and appears in good condition and has retained most of its ornate tiling. Above-right we are standing on the footbridge looking south with a class 180 Paddington service at platform 2. The walling to the extreme left and right originally supported an over-arching roof here which has, unfortunately, long-since been removed: imagine an overall roof and the platform canopies removed - a station of some significance! Above-left we are looking North from platform 2 and can see the line bifurcate: Birmingham to the right and Worcester Foregate St to the left. Straight ahead, between the splitting lines, lay the main engine shed which has sadly been demolished: some diesel refueling tanks can now be seen near its site and Network Rail facilities in the right-foreground. As we continue our tour of the perimeter of the operational platforms, above-right we see the station signal box, this is not original (previously there were two) but built in 1935. The large brick structure just beyond the signal box was the Midland Railway goods shed however, all lines leading to this facility have now been lifted but it is good to see the structure still in situ unlike many of its 'peers' at other sites in the region. Turning 90 degrees to our left from the previous shot we see the GWR goods shed, also in good order, albeit the various apertures connecting the interior with the railway have long been bricked-up. This shot, and the one to its right, show the extensive sidings, previously the GWR goods yard, still available (but seldom used) at the site. Interestingly, the above-right shot shows a permanent way crew removing track and loading it onto a truck: I watched for quite some time and no replacement track was laid so I wonder if I got there just in time to see the demise of the goods sidings! Above-left is a further shot of the goods sidings and the track removal operation this time seen from the North-end of platform 3. Above-right we are back on platform 1, with the parcels bays to our rear and track to our right. This shot demonstrates well the wall that supported the overall roof (top-right) which now is almost a 'facade' and the replacement for the roof - platform canopies - which have themselves been modified during their lifetime: note the bricked-up archway ahead! All-in-all a very interesting site to visit and one to which, time permitting, I'd like to return and explore the sites of some of the more outlying facilities. Furthermore, the extensive use of semaphore signalling arrays is worth a visit alone!	Worcester
The Jagger-Richard song ‘As Tears Go By’ was the first hit for whom?	Shrub Hill Station, Worcester - Worcester train station Add category Upload a photo The first station at Shrub Hill was opened in 1850 being jointly owned by the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton and Midland Railways; until 1852 it was used only as a terminus for the latter's services from Birmingham. The present station building was designed by Edward Wilson and built in 1865. It is a Georgian-style building mainly of engineering brick with stone facings. Originally there was also a train shed which was removed in the 1930s. A survival at the station are the Western Region semaphore signals. [edit] Services Worcester Shrub Hill is served by Central Trains' services from Worcester to Birmingham, either directly to Birmingham New Street via Bromsgrove, or via Kidderminster to Birmingham Snow Hill. First Great Western operate several services a day to London Paddington via the Cotswold Line. They also run services to Bristol Temple Meads via Cheltenham and Gloucester. Both companies also run services via Worcester Foregate Street to Great Malvern and Hereford. [edit] Waiting room On platform 2b is the old ladies’ waiting room which extends onto the platform. It is a cast-iron structure cast at the Vulcan Iron Works at Worcester. This was a subsidiary of the MacKenzie and Holland signal manufacturing company about 200 yards from Worcester Shrub Hill station . The exterior is decorated with classical pilasters and covered with “majolica” ceramic tiles made by Maw and Company of Broseley. Maw was originally a Worcester company founded in 1850 when they bought the old Chamberlain tile factory. However in 1852 they moved to Broseley to be nearer their source of clay. In the main they made encaustic tiles rather than the “majolica” ceramic tiles used to decorate the Shrub Hill waiting room. Wojtczak writes that in 1873 there was Ladies’ Waiting Room Attendant called Mrs Dale who earned 10s and that this was the same rate of pay as a Mrs Spencer who was the Office Cleaner. It is Grade II* listed and English Heritage placed it on the “Buildings At Risk Register” in 2003. The official records record that the waiting room was added c1880. In 2005 the register records “The cast iron frame is in need of structural repair. The front wall is leaning out and currently shored up. Preliminary investigative work has been carried out, but repair works have been delayed due partly to problem of locating specialist contractors." In April 2005 Network Rail applied for listed building planning consent to restore the waiting room to bring it back into use before the end of 2006. The application gave detail of the work to be carried out including restoration of the cast iron work and the sourcing and replacement of the missing ceramic tiles but as at May 2006 no work had commenced and English Heritage reported that the building will be on the 2006 “Buildings At Risk Register” to be published in June 2006.	i don't know
Which actress played the lead role in the 1988 film ‘Gorillas in the Mist’?	Gorillas in the Mist Movie Review (1988) \| Roger Ebert Tweet "Gorillas in the Mist" tells us what Dian Fossey accomplished and what happened to her, but it doesn't tell us who she was, and at the end that's what we want to know. Here is a movie that has gone to great lengths to be technically accomplished - the shots of the apes are everything we could wish for - but the screenplay has been skimped on, and there is a person missing here somewhere. We leave the theater feeling that when Fossey was buried in her beloved jungle, the third act of the movie was buried there, too. Advertisement The film tells a life story that many people already know. Fossey was a woman of average achievement and no particular scientific background, but she loved animals and she was deeply disturbed by reports that the mountain gorillas of central Africa were being threatened with extinction. With absolute determination, she convinced Louis Leakey, the guru of African anthropologists, to allow her to man a jungle camp and conduct a census of the gorillas. And over the years she grew into one of the great experts on these fearsome but manlike beasts, learning to imitate their behavior so well that they accepted her in their midst. Fossey's work was featured in the National Geographic and on TV documentaries. She became a romantic figure, out there almost alone in the wild, protecting "her" gorillas against poachers who sold gorilla hands to be made into ashtrays. Then, in 1985, she was found murdered in her camp, and as more came to be known about her there were many likely suspects. Fossey had grown fanatical about her animals, had all but waged war against the pygmy tribes that were killing them. She had alienated the trappers who procured animals for zoos. And she had made powerful enemies in a government that needed all the foreign currency it could find - and made lots of money off of gorillas. Advertisement Who killed her? The movie does not say, and that's as it should be. This is not a whodunit. But why did she become the ferocious and antisocial recluse of her later years, why did she prize her relationships with gorillas above those with humans, why did she choose to stay in the jungle rather than to join the man she loved? I can imagine good answers to all of these questions - I think the fate of Fossey was more or less inevitable, and admirable - but in the movie the transitions in her emotional state are made so abruptly that we become conscious of the story being told. Fossey is played by Sigourney Weaver , who makes her passionate and private and has an exquisite tenderness and tact in her delicate scenes with wild animals. It is impossible to imagine a more appropriate choice for the role. But she grows away from us as the movie reaches its conclusion. A woman we have come to know turns into a stranger, and even if that is what happened to Fossey - even if she did pull a cocoon of obsession around her - we deserve to see that happening, and to understand it. The screenplay simply presents it as an accomplished fact. There is also a rather canned feeling to the romance in the central scenes of the film, when a National Geographic photographer ( Bryan Brown ) turns up in the jungle, and the two people fall in love. Advertisement He arrives, they become lovers, and then he tells her that he has an assignment on the other side of the world and he wants her to come along. He cannot, he says, stay in the jungle forever; he has a job to do. She tells him she will not leave, and that, if he does, he need not ever return, or ever write. Was this argument not inevitable from the moment they first met? Did the photographer expect this woman to leave? Did she expect him to stay? They never really talk with one another, and so we're not sure. The movie's best scenes involve her gradual acceptance by the gorillas. Here it is hard to say who should get the most credit: those who photographed real animals in the jungle or those who used special effects to create animals, and parts of animals, for particular shots. I imagine that some of the closeups of a gorilla's hand, clasping Weaver's, were done with Rick Baker's special effects creations. I imagine some of the gorillas in the jungle are real, and some are men inside gorilla suits. But the work is done so seamlessly that I could never be sure. Everything looked equally real to me, and the delicacy with which director Michael Apted developed the relationships between woman and beast was deeply absorbing. There were moments when I felt a touch of awe. Those moments, which are genuine, make the movie worth seeing. Advertisement But what we are really dealing with here are two stories that do not fit together very easily. Do we care more about the public Fossey, or the private? Is her work more important, or her madness? In these modern times we demand the whole life. We say we are realists and don't want the autobiography cleaned up for a "screen version," but the result is a movie that is much more depressing and shapeless than it should be. The parabolas are wrong; Fossey's work fills us with joy, but her fate fills us with confusion and dismay. Perhaps a Hollywood cop-out would have been more satisfactory, with Fossey against the bad guys and everyone assigned their role, and some kind of a happy ending. I left "Gorillas in the Mist" feeling cheated, somehow, as if the story had no more insight into Fossey than she apparently had into herself. Popular Blog Posts	Sigourney Weaver
Which of the Canary Islands has the nickname ‘windy island’?	Gorillas in the Mist: The Adventure of Dian Fossey (1988) Gorillas in the Mist: The Adventure of Dian Fossey (1988) English for the Hearing Impaired Italian for the Hearing Impaired Action In or After Credits No NOTE: The Profanity Filter is ON. Turn it off here . Plot Synopsis �� I'm not a big fan of "true-life" stories. Real life often fails to produce the moments of high-powered excitement that are the stuff of escapist drama. Besides, that's one of the things I look for in a movie: an escape from real life, and the comfort of knowing "it's not real, it's just a movie". Still, I was impressed by this film when I saw it in the cinema (I was dragged along...). Much of Dian Fossey's life seems like it was a drama. �� This must rate as one of the two best "real-life" tales of women in Africa with wild animals � the other is Born Free. That may be, at least in part, because I'm not sure that I've seen any others. But both are good films. �� This film starts in 1966, when we see Dian Fossey (Sigourney Weaver) attending a lecture by Louis Leakey (Iain Cuthbertson, playing a real man who is remembered by the Leakey Foundation) � he is claiming that study of the great apes, gorillas in particular, leads to insight in prehistoric man (literally "pre - historic", in the sense of before recorded history). She wants to help him, to study the gorillas. She has no skills at studying animals, but she has trained as a physical therapist, working with disabled children, and she has taken some pre-veterinary courses. He tries to discourage her, at first gently, then more firmly. She doesn't discourage easily. �� The next thing we see is her arriving in Africa, being told to select a tracker and some porters, buy groceries, and being sent off into the hinterland. Things don't go well. At first, she and her tracker, Sembagare (John Omirah Miluwi) can't find any gorillas. Just after she finally does, she's thrown out of The Congo by soldiers. She manages to make her way to Roz Carr (played here by Julie Harris, but a real person, nonetheless), an American expatriate living in Rwanda. Dian is despondent, defeated, and depressed. Roz Carr manages to turn that around, but it's Dian who manages to solve her problem. �� The other significant players in this drama are Bob Campbell (Bryan Brown), a photographer for National Geographic (her research is funded by National Geographic), and a significant number of gorillas. And the poachers. That is the sour tasting part. It's hard to stomach the idea that poachers will kill gorillas just to take their heads and hands � the heads as wall ornaments, and the hands as ashtrays � for insensitive people in supposedly civilized countries. The film paints an unglamorous picture of the men who collect animals for zoos, too (it made me think twice about that subject). �� It's genuinely awe-inspiring to watch Sigourney Weaver interacting with live wild gorillas. We are not talking about men in gorilla suits here. In the featurette it is made clear that not all of the gorilla footage was planned � the charge of the silverback was unexpected, and Sigourney Weaver simply froze (thinking, she says, "I hope they get the shot!" � they did). Scary stuff, but this film wouldn't have worked otherwise. �� Apparently this project was begun in cooperation with the real Dian Fossey, shortly before her untimely death. It began again shortly afterwards. It's a warts-and-all look at the lady. It deals with her obsession, her willingness to do anything, to sacrifice anything, to protect the gorillas. And it makes it all believable. That's impressive. �� There are parts that don't quite ring true, mostly (SPOILER ALERT: highlight with mouse to read) the romantic element. File that under "no movie's perfect". �� In the end, this is a worthwhile film, for all that it may make you despair in the human species. After the credits have run, there's a subtle hint for donations to the fund for protecting gorillas (set up in memory of Dian Fossey and her friends) � I'd say it's well-justified. Don't wish to see plot synopses in the future? Change your configuration . Transfer Quality Video �� This movie is presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1, which is close to the intended ratio of 1.85:1. It is 16x9 enhanced. �� This film is a bit soft, especially in long shots, but close-ups are clear. Shadow detail is rather good, but there are moments where things get fairly black. There's no trouble with film grain, and no low-level noise . �� Colour is rather good, with one odd exception. There are a number of mentions in the script of Dian Fossey's red hair, and yet Sigourney Weaver's hair looks auburn at best, and mostly brunette � it seems a strange inconsistency (for that matter, the shot we see of the real Dian Fossey doesn't show her looking red-headed, so maybe the flaw is in the script). There are no colour-related artefacts. �� There are lots of film artefacts , but they are mostly quite small and untroubling. There are a couple of more medium-size spots and flecks, but they are never large enough to complain about. �� There is a bit of aliasing , but it's never bad enough to put you off unless you are exceptionally sensitive. There's no serious moir� , and no MPEG artefacts. �� All up, this is a pretty reasonable presentation of a fifteen year old film. �� There are subtitles in nine languages, including English, plus Hearing Impaired captions in English and Italian. I only watched the English subtitles. They are well-timed, quite accurate, and easy to read. I spotted a couple of minor errors, like "think" in place of "thing". �� The disc is single-sided, dual layered, formatted RSDL. The layer change is at 53:28, in the middle of a scene, but it's hard to spot, because it comes at a natural pause. Video Ratings Summary Overall Audio �� This disc has three audio tracks; English, French, and Italian, all Dolby Digital 2.0 surround encoded. I only listened to the English soundtrack. The surround encoding doesn't lead to anything significant being steered into the surrounds, but more sound is steered into the centre channel. The Region 1 is reported to have a 5.1 soundtrack, but I can't say that I see the point � this movie works perfectly well with the near-mono sound that we get. �� The dialogue is clear and easy to understand (well, the English portion is � there is no translation of other languages). There are no audio sync problems. �� The score, from Maurice Jarre, is decent, without being outstanding. It gets the job done. �� The surrounds are essentially unused, as is the subwoofer. There's some quite decent bass in the soundtrack, but it comes out of the fronts, rather than the sub, unless you have set your fronts to small. Audio Ratings Summary �� The menu is static and silent, but easy to navigate. Featurette (9:15) �� This is a short, but very interesting, piece. It includes a shot of the real Dian Fossey. It explains that the film crew had to haul everything up into the mountains of central Africa (elevation 13,000 feet!) because they were forbidden to use helicopters. �� I rather liked Bryan Brown's comment: he didn't want the epitaph "gee, no one's been killed by a gorilla before" � he was a little nervous about getting so close to them. Cast and Crew �� This is, unfortunately, nothing more than a one page listing showing three of the cast and one of the crew. I won't spoil the excitement by telling you who. Theatrical Trailer (1:58) �� Nothing special in the way of a trailer. R4 vs R1 NOTE: To view non-R4 releases, your equipment needs to be multi-zone compatible and usually also NTSC compatible. �� The Region 1 is reported to have a 5.1 soundtrack, but it's reported to be a fairly poor 5.1 effort, with a mono surround signal � I'd guess that it's little, if at all, better than the soundtrack on the Region 4 disc. However, the Region 1 disc is missing the featurette, which is the most valuable of the extras on this disc. I'd suggest that the Region 4 disc is the better because of it. Summary �� Gorillas In The Mist is that rare animal, the interesting "real-life" film, presented well on DVD. �� The video quality is good. �� The audio quality is adequate. �� The extras, although sparse, include an interesting little featurette.	i don't know
The extinct Moa was the largest ever what …. to live on Earth?	Extinct elephant bird of Madagascar could live again - Telegraph Science News Extinct elephant bird of Madagascar could live again Towering 10 feet into the air and weighing more than half a ton, it was the biggest bird that ever lived until French colonists wiped it out more than three hundred years ago. Egg laid by great elephant bird of Madagascar compared to a hen's egg Photo: JANE MINGAY By Richard Alleyne , Science Correspondent 7:30AM GMT 10 Mar 2010 But the giant elephant bird of Madagascar could be resurrected after scientists discovered how to extract DNA from ancient egg shells. Genetic material from the bird along with extinct emus of Australia and moas of New Zealand have been collected by a new technique. In one case the DNA dated back more than 19,000 years. Researchers said the successful recovery of ancient DNA from eggshell "has major implications in the fields of archaeology and palaeontology". Techniques to map DNA from animals have taken great leaps forwards in recent years and scientists have already decoded the genetic make-up of extinct creatures such as the mammoth and the Neanderthal. Related Articles Attenborough and the elephant bird 19 Dec 2010 But the problem is finding ancient sources of the DNA in good enough condition to be able to be scanned and mapped. Usually the remains of animals have to be frozen which obviously limits the number of species that can be studied. Now scientists have discovered that egg shells are as good if not a better source than bone and hair. Charlotte Oskam, a biologist, and colleagues at Murdoch University in Perth, Australia, said eggshell was a "untapped source" of DNA that was distributed around the world. The researchers used a state-of-the-art laser technique to highlight DNA 'hot-spots' under the microscope with fluorescent green dye. They said: "We show that genetic material is preserved in the eggshell matrix and have successfully imaged the DNA via microscopy. "Using new techniques we obtain DNA signatures from a variety of fossil eggshells, including the extinct moa and elephant birds and 19,000 year-old old emu." The flightless elephant bird – related to ostriches and emus – is the largest bird ever to have lived. It had massive legs, taloned claws and a long, powerful neck. Its body was covered in bristling, hairlike feathers, like those of the emu, and its beak resembled a broad-headed spear. It evolved at a time when birds ruled the earth and probably existed on Madagascar for 60 million years until dying out in the 17th century. In spite of its fearsome appearance it was a plant eater. Eggs had a circumference of more than 3 ft and a length up to 13 in. Its volume is about 160 times greater than a chicken egg. The moa was another flightless giant bird that lived on New Zealand for about the same amount of time until being hunted to extinction in the 18th century. It could be taller than the elephant bird but was more lightly built – although still weighed three times that of a large man. Emus are the world's second largest living bird and have survived 80 million years in Australia where they are found in the deserts, forests and on the plains. Ms Oskam and colleagues said: "Ancient DNA was successfully characterised from eggshell obtained from New Zealand, Madagascar and Australia. Our data demonstrate excellent preservation." Bird eggshell is resilient and acts as a barrier to oxygen and water – the key causes of DNA damage. Modern shells also have antimicrobial chemicals and it also possible these remain active in fossil shells. The researchers said: "This study provides the first evidence that ancient DNA is preserved in fossil avian eggshell. The study is published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.	Bird
Which failed venture was led by the Duke of Medina Sidonia?	10 Terrifying Prehistoric Relatives of Normal Animals - Listverse 10 Terrifying Prehistoric Relatives of Normal Animals Phil Moore April 26, 2013 Today, man is the dominant predator on the planet. Yet we have occupied this position for a relatively short period of time—the earliest known man, Homo habilis, first appeared around 2.3 million years ago. Although we dominate the animals of today, many of these animals have extinct relatives that were a lot larger and more vicious than what we’re familiar with. These animal ancestors look like creatures straight out of our worst nightmares. The frightening aspect is that if mankind vanishes—or merely loses its dominance—these creatures, or something like them, could potentially return again to existence. 10 Megatherium Today, sloths are tree-climbing, slow, and non-threatening animals that reside in the Amazon. Their ancestors were the complete opposite. During the Pliocene era, Megatherium was a giant ground sloth found in South America; it weighed up to four tons and was twenty feet (6m) in length from head to tail. Although it primarily moved on four legs, footprints show that it was capable of being bipedal, in order to reach leaves from the tallest trees. It was the size of a modern day elephant , and still wasn’t the largest animal in its habitat! Archeologists theorize that Megatherium was a scavenger, and would steal dead carcasses from other carnivores. Megatherium was also one of the last giant Ice Age mammals to disappear. Their remains appear in the fossil record as recently as the Holocene, the period that saw the rise of mankind. This makes man the most likely culprit in the extinction of Megatherium. 9 Gigantopithecus When we think of a giant ape we generally think of the fictional King Kong—but colossal apes really did exist, long ago. Gigantopithecus was an ape that existed from roughly nine million to a hundred thousand years ago—placing it in the same time period as several hominid species. The fossil record suggests that individuals of the species Gigantopithecus were the largest apes to ever exist , standing at almost ten feet (3m) tall, and weighing twelve hundred pounds (540kg). Scientists have not been able to determine the cause of extinction for this large ape. However, some crypto-zoologists theorize that “sightings” of Big Foot and Yeti may relate to a lost generation of gigantopithecus. 8 Armored Fish Dunkleosteus was the largest of the prehistoric fish Placodermi. Its head and thorax were covered by articulated armored plates. Instead of teeth, these fish possessed two pairs of sharp bony plates, which formed a beak-like structure. Dunkleosteus likely attacked other related placoderms that had the same kind of bony plates for protection; their jaws had enough driving power to cut and break through armored prey. One of the largest known specimens found was thirty-three feet (10m) long and weighed four tons—making it one fish that you would not want to catch on a reel and rod! This fish was anything but picky with its food; it ate fish, sharks and even its own kind . But it seems to have suffered from indigestion, as its fossils are often associated with regurgitated, semi-digested remains of fish. Scientists at the University of Chicago concluded that dunkleosteus had the second most powerful bite of any fish. These giant armored fish became extinct during the transition from Devonian to the Carboniferous periods. 7 Terror Bird Most flightless birds today—consider the ostrich or the penguin, for example—are harmless to human beings; however, there was once a flightless bird that terrorized the earth . Phorusrhacidae , also known as “terror birds,” were a species of carnivorous and flightless birds that were the largest species of predators in South America, between sixty-two million and two million years ago. They were roughly three to ten feet (1-3m) tall. The terror bird’s prey of choice were small mammals . . . and, incidentally, horses. They used their massive beaks to kill in two ways; by picking up small prey and slamming it to the ground, or by precision strikes on critical body parts. Although archeologists have not yet fully determined the reason this species went extinct, the last of its fossils appear around the same time as the first humans. 6 Haast’s Eagle Birds of prey have always left an imprint on the human psyche; luckily, we are far bigger than the largest eagle. That said, birds of prey that were large enough to hunt a human meal once existed. The Haast’s eagle once lived on the South Island of New Zealand, and was the largest eagle known to exist, weighing up to thirty-six pounds (16.5kg) with a ten-foot (3m) wingspan. Its prey consisted of the moa, three-hundred-pound flightless birds unable to defend themselves from the striking force and speed of these eagles, which reached speeds of up to fifty miles (8km) per hour. Legends from early settlers and native Maori had it that these eagles could pick up and devour small children. But early human settlers in New Zealand preyed heavily on large flightless birds, including all moa species—eventually hunting them to extinction. The loss of its natural prey caused the Haast’s eagle to become extinct around fourteen hundred years ago, when its natural food source was depleted. 5 Giant Ripper Lizard Today, the Komodo dragon is a fearsome reptile and the largest lizard on the planet—but its would have been dwarfed by its ancient ancestors. The megalania , also known as the “Giant Ripper Lizard”, was a very large monitor lizard. The exact proportions of this creature have been debated, but the most recent research revealed that the megalania’s length was around twenty-three feet (7m), and that it weighed approximately thirteen to fourteen hundred pounds (600-620kg), making it the largest terrestrial lizard known to have existed. Its diet consisted of marsupials, such as giant kangaroos and wombats. Megalania belongs to the clade toxicofera, possessing toxin-secreting oral glands—making this lizard the largest venomous vertebrate known to have existed . Although we couldn’t imagine a lizard of this size roaming in the Outback, the first Aboriginal settlers of Australia may have encountered living megalanias. The species most likely went extinct when early settlers hunted the megalania’s food sources. 4 Short-faced Bear Bears are some of the largest mammals on Earth, with the polar bear even holding the title for the largest of all carnivores on land. Arctodus —also known as the short-faced bear—lived in North America during the Pleistocene. The short-faced bear weighed about one ton (900kg), and when standing on its hind legs it reached a height of fifteen feet (4.6m), making the short-faced bear the largest mammalian predator that ever existed. Although the short-faced bear was a very large carnivore, archeologists have discovered that it was actually a scavenger. Being a scavenger, however, was not at all a bad thing—especially when you’re fighting saber-tooth cats and wolves for a meal. Like many other large animals of the Pleistocene, the short-faced bear lost much of its food source with the arrival of humans. 3 Deinosuchus Modern-day crocodiles are living relics of the dinosaurs—but there was a time when crocodiles hunted and ate said dinosaurs. Deinosuchus is an extinct species related to alligators and crocodiles , which lived during the Cretaceous Period. The name deinosuchus translates to “terrible crocodile” in Greek. This crocodile was far larger than any modern version, measuring up to thirty-nine feet (12m) and weighting almost ten tons. In its overall appearance, it was fairly similar to its smaller relatives, with large robust teeth built for crushing, and a back covered with armored bone plates. Deinosuchus’ main prey were large dinosaurs (how many can make that claim?) in addition to sea turtles, fish and other hapless victims. Potential proof of the danger of deinosuchus comes from the fossils of an albertosaurus. These specimens bore tooth marks from both deinosuchus and Tyrannosaurus Rex, which means that there is a great chance these two fierce predators once engaged in colossal battles. 2 Titanoboa No creature invokes more fear in the human psyche than snakes. Today the largest snake is the Reticulated Python, with an average growth of twenty-three feet (7m). In 2009, archeologists made a shocking discovery in Columbia; by comparing shapes and sizes of its fossilized vertebrae to those of modern snakes, they estimated that the ancient snakes, titanoboa , reached a maximum length of forty to fifty feet (12-15m) and weighed up to 2,500 pounds—making it the largest snake to ever slide around the planet. Because it’s a recent discovery, little is known about titanoboa; what is known is that a fifty-foot snake would scare the daylights out of anybody, phobia or not. 1 Megaladon Before 1975, most humans’ animal phobias came primarily from snakes and spiders. That all changed when the film Jaws was released; the film’s antagonist was a (fake) great white shark, which ended up scaring many people away from entering the ocean. Today, the largest great white sharks are usually twenty feet (6m) in length and weigh five thousand pounds (2,275kg). However, there was once a shark that was double the size of the largest modern great white sharks. Megaladon —meaning “big tooth”—was a shark that lived approximately twenty-eight to 1.5 million years ago. Everything about the megaladon was mega: its teeth were 7.1 inches (18cm); and fossil remains suggest that this giant shark reached a maximum length of 52-67 feet (16-20m). While today great white sharks prey on seals, the megaladon’s meal of choice was whales . Scientists hypothesize that the species went extinct due to oceanic cooling, sea level drops, and a decline in food supply. If the megaladon were still alive, there is a great chance that man would have been a landlocked species. Still, in the giant oceans there may be a titanic great white shark lurking in the abyss—so there’s always a chance that something like the megaladon could return to the world. Phil Moore is an historian, writer and filmmaker, who looks to spark intriguing and scholarly debates about all aspects of life. None of his lists or works of art are meant to offend, but merely for discussion. More Great Lists	i don't know
Formed in October 2013, where is St Peter’s Cricket Club based?	Vatican cricket team to play Muslim club from Yorkshire - Telegraph Vatican City and Holy See Vatican cricket team to play Muslim club from Yorkshire Fixture is effort to build bridges with other faiths by St Peter's XI, who will also play Church of England XI and the Royal Household cricket team The Vatican XI were formed in 2013 Photo: Chris Warde-Jones/The Telegraph Follow The Vatican’s cricket club is to play a Yorkshire squad made up of Muslim players, it was announced today. The St Peter’s XI, which was formed in 2013, will play Mount Cricket Club from Batley, near Bradford, on Oct 17 in Rome, in its latest bid to build bridges with sportsmen from other faiths. It will also take on teams from the Royal Household and the Anglican Church. “We now have a trip to Rome to play the Pope’s team to look forward to in October. A brilliant way to finish the season,” the Yorkshire club, formed in 1976, posted on its Twitter account. We now have a trip to Rome to play the popes team to look forward to in October,!! Brilliant way to finish the season! #ItalyTour — Mount Cricket Club (@MountCricket) September 26, 2015 The Vatican team is made up of seminarians, or trainee priests, who are studying in Rome. The majority are from the Indian sub-continent. Last autumn they played the Royal Household at Windsor and the Archbishop of Canterbury's XI. — St. Peter's Cricket (@VaticanCricket) October 1, 2015 The fixture against the Yorkshire team will “gather together players and spectators in friendship, energy, good competition and a desire to win,” said Father Robert McCulloch, an Australian priest and a founding member of the Vatican team. On Oct 14 the St Peter’s XI will play Caacupe de la Villa, a team from a poor area of Buenos Aires where Pope Francis once ministered as a priest. The visiting teams will be invited to Mass in St Peter’s Basilica and will be able to visit the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums. The men of the Mount Cricket Club, Batley, are heading to Rome Photo: Facebook When the St Peter’s XI left for Britain last September, it received an official blessing by the Pope . The Argentinean pontiff is a passionate soccer fan but knows little about cricket. The Holy See’s team was established with the help of the Pontifical Council for Culture, a Vatican department which concerns itself with sport, science and art. The driving force behind the idea was John McCarthy, the Australian ambassador to the Holy See, as well as Nigel Baker, the British ambassador to the Vatican. Players wear shirts bearing the Vatican colours of yellow and white and an emblem featuring the crossed keys of St Peter.	Vatican
Which Italian dish has a name meaning ‘pick-me-up’?	Holy cricket! St Peter’s team wants to play at Lord’s - The Hindu Holy cricket! St Peter’s team wants to play at Lord’s October 23, 2013 15:30 IST Updated: October 23, 2013 15:30 IST Share Article A A A From left, Father Theodore Mascarenhas, Australian Ambassador to the Holy See John McCarthy, Monsignor Sanchez de Toca y Alameda, undersecretary of the Pontifical Council for Culture, and Father Eamon O' Higgins meet the journalists on Tuesday as the Vatican officially launched its cricket club, an initiative aimed at forging ties with teams of other faiths. Pope Francis marked the occasion by having tea and cucumber sandwiches . The Pope and the Vatican have long championed sports as good for the mind, body and soul. The cricket club is the latest initiative of the Vatican's culture ministry to use sports to engage in dialogue with the contemporary world. AP Photo \| Photo Credit: Gregorio Borgia October 23, 2013 15:30 IST Updated: October 23, 2013 15:30 IST more-in It might not have been obvious to the tourists who streamed down the Via della Conciliazione towards Saint Peter’s basilica but something decidedly odd was going on inside the pontifical council for culture. A plate of cucumber sandwiches had been laid out on a table. Cups of Irish breakfast tea were brought out soon after. Apart from the cardinal — whose prerogative it was to speak in whatever language he liked — the lingua franca was English. And, in the middle of it all, lay a helmet, two balls and a Gray Nicolls cricket bat. Monsignor Melchor Sanchez de Toca, the council’s Spanish undersecretary, admitted to being just a little out of his comfort zone. “I feel here,” he said, “as strange as you would feel in a press conference about bull fighting.” It may leave most people in Italy perplexed or indifferent, but cricket — a game traditionally only played in Rome by anglophone cardinals, eccentric English aristocrats and immigrants from the subcontinent — on Tuesday arrived at the Vatican in the bold form of Saint Peter’s CC, an organisation for seminarians and priests who want to put bat to ball in the name of the Holy See. The club is nothing if not ambitious, within minutes throwing down arguably the greatest Catholic challenge to the Church of England since the Spanish armada. “It is hoped there will be a team of sufficient level that, for instance, in the next year they could play a team nominated by the Church of England,” said John McCarthy, the Australian ambassador to the Holy See. “It would be the dearest aspiration of so many of the cricketers here that that game take place at Lord’s.” Tempering the optimism slightly, Monsignor de Toca said they would try to put together a team which could “lose with dignity” against the English. “I think they’re very strong,” he added, quietly. Responding to the proposal from the Anglican side, Mark Rylands, suffragan bishop of Shrewsbury and a keen cricketer, said: “I am delighted to hear of the formation of Saint Peter’s Cricket Club and look forward to welcoming them to England as brothers. We do not have a national team at present but I’m confident that it will be possible for an annual fixture to be played in the spirit of ecumenism. To that end I hope we can keep any sledging to a minimum and that neutral umpires will not be necessary.” A spokesman for Lord’s said the ground had not received a request but would study one “with serious consideration” -- were it made. The club is the brainchild of McCarthy, whose son trained for the priesthood in Rome and was frustrated by the lack of cricketing possibilities. The ambassador says there is a significant number of people — between 250 and 300, mostly seminarians and clerics from cricket—playing countries such as England, India and Australia — who are keen to play. While it is currently men only, the club also hopes to appeal to nuns and other women in future so that “what is nominally known as a gentleman’s game will also turn into a lady’s game”, said Theodore Mascarenhas, an Indian priest and off-spin bowler who will be the club’s chairman. “I think cricket will begin to speak a new language — perhaps Latin, coming into the neighbourhood of the Vatican and beginning to take its first baby steps,” he said, quoting India’s great batsman Sachin Tendulkar, whom he called the “god of cricket”. He added: “We have the expertise. We have the will to do things. And I’m sure we’ll start with our baby steps and we’ll go far ahead.” The club, which has already organised trial matches, aims to have a Twenty20-style tournament between all the pontifical colleges of Rome co-ordinated by next month. A pitch near Ciampino airport on the outskirts of the city has been made available. A tracksuit — in the Holy See’s colours of white and gold — has been designed. Organisers hope the club’s second stage will involve preparing an XI for the Church of England fixture, hoping that eventually the game becomes a vehicle for interfaith activities involving matches against teams from Muslim, Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist educational institutions. Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, head of the pontifical council for culture, praised the venture as a chance to celebrate the nobility of true sport, which he said could be an “expression of inter-culturality” and a “dialogue between peoples”. Pope Francis, also known to be a fan of both intercultural and interfaith dialogue, is known more as a football man than cricket watcher. Mascarenhas said he believed the pontiff, as a “very open man”, would come to accept cricket. McCarthy added: “It is certainly the case that the Holy Father has heard of cricket ... as a sport that was played in schools conducted by his [Jesuit] order in Argentina.” © Guardian News & Media 2013	i don't know
Which Kathryn Bigelow directed film, centred on the hunt for Osama Bin Laden?	Zero Dark Thirty (2012) - IMDb IMDb There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error From $2.99 (SD) on Amazon Video ON DISC A chronicle of the decade-long hunt for al-Qaeda terrorist leader Osama bin Laden after the September 2001 attacks, and his death at the hands of the Navy S.E.A.L.s Team 6 in May 2011. Director: a list of 39 titles created 04 Jan 2013 a list of 27 titles created 11 Jan 2013 a list of 26 titles created 11 Nov 2013 a list of 44 titles created 19 Jan 2014 a list of 24 titles created 14 Feb 2015 Title: Zero Dark Thirty (2012) 7.4/10 Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Won 1 Oscar. Another 84 wins & 167 nominations. See more awards » Videos During the Iraq War, a Sergeant recently assigned to an army bomb squad is put at odds with his squad mates due to his maverick way of handling his work. Director: Kathryn Bigelow Acting under the cover of a Hollywood producer scouting a location for a science fiction film, a CIA agent launches a dangerous operation to rescue six Americans in Tehran during the U.S. hostage crisis in Iran in 1980. Director: Ben Affleck 160 elite U.S. soldiers drop into Somalia to capture two top lieutenants of a renegade warlord and find themselves in a desperate battle with a large force of heavily-armed Somalis. Director: Ridley Scott 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.3/10 X Navy S.E.A.L. sniper Chris Kyle's pinpoint accuracy saves countless lives on the battlefield and turns him into a legend. Back home to his wife and kids after four tours of duty, however, Chris finds that it is the war he can't leave behind. Director: Clint Eastwood 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.6/10 X Marcus Luttrell and his team set out on a mission to capture or kill notorious Taliban leader Ahmad Shah, in late June 2005. Marcus and his team are left to fight for their lives in one of the most valiant efforts of modern warfare. Director: Peter Berg The true story of Captain Richard Phillips and the 2009 hijacking by Somali pirates of the US-flagged MV Maersk Alabama, the first American cargo ship to be hijacked in two hundred years. Director: Paul Greengrass As the Civil War continues to rage, America's president struggles with continuing carnage on the battlefield as he fights with many inside his own cabinet on the decision to emancipate the slaves. Director: Steven Spielberg Edit Storyline Maya is a CIA operative whose first experience is in the interrogation of prisoners following the Al Qaeda attacks against the U.S. on the 11th September 2001. She is a reluctant participant in extreme duress applied to the detainees, but believes that the truth may only be obtained through such tactics. For several years, she is single-minded in her pursuit of leads to uncover the whereabouts of Al Qaeda's leader, Osama Bin Laden. Finally, in 2011, it appears that her work will pay off, and a U.S. Navy SEAL team is sent to kill or capture Bin Laden. But only Maya is confident Bin Laden is where she says he is. Written by Jim Beaver <[email protected]> The greatest manhunt in history. See more » Genres: Rated R for strong violence including brutal disturbing images, and for language \| See all certifications » Parents Guide: 11 January 2013 (USA) See more » Also Known As: Kill Bin Laden See more » Filming Locations: $417,150 (USA) (21 December 2012) Gross: Did You Know? Trivia Jessica Chastain took all the photos from the suspects everyday after work and watched them on her wall, because she thought that was something Maya would do. See more » Goofs The QRF helicopter in which the SEALs are extracted is shown to be a single, MH-6OK Black Hawk when in fact the QRF consisted of three Chinook helicopters from the 160th SOAR. Most likely MH-47e. See more » Quotes See more » Crazy Credits The filmmakers wish to especially acknowledge the sacrifice of those men, women, and families who were most impacted by the events depicted in this film: the victims and the families of the 9/11 attacks; as well as the attacks in the United Kingdom; the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan; in Khobar, Saudi Arabia; and at the Camp Chapman Forward Operating Base in Afghanistan. We also wish to acknowledge and honor the many extraordinary military and intelligence professionals and first responders who have made the ultimate sacrifice. See more » Connections (Washington, D.C.) – See all my reviews I've seen all the reasons viewers (and some critics) dislike this film, but in my opinion it is infinitely superior to ARGO in its authenticity and dramatic quality. The final scenes, when the SEAL team, goes into Ben Laden's house, are brilliantly rendered. The idea of doing it mostly in the dark with flashes of illumination by "night vision" green is a brilliant touch, which most directors would never have attempted. The performances by Jessica Chastain, of course, Jason Clark and Jennifer Ehle are top drawer and the torture scenes, while brutal, are necessary--because that's the way it happened. Congratulations to Kathryn Bigelow and Mark Boal for getting it right. I don't want to put the knock on Argo, because I found it entertaining. But it's artificiality provides a distinct contrast with Zero Dark Thirity's authenticity, and authenticity wins. 50 of 92 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes	Zero Dark Thirty
Ergophobia is an inordinate fear of what?	Kathryn Bigelow: under fire \| Film \| The Guardian Kathryn Bigelow Kathryn Bigelow: under fire The Hurt Locker made Kathryn Bigelow the first woman to win a best director Oscar. But some say her new thriller, Zero Dark Thirty, about the hunt for Osama bin Laden, endorses torture Kathryn Bigelow: ‘I was surprised to learn women were at the centre of this hunt. And I was sort of surprised that I was surprised.' Photograph: Dan Busta/Corbis Outline Friday 11 January 2013 19.01 EST First published on Friday 11 January 2013 19.01 EST Share on Messenger Close When Osama bin Laden was killed by US special forces two years ago, Kathryn Bigelow was deep in preparations for a movie about the failure to capture him during the early stages of the war in Afghanistan. The script, by Mark Boal , was more or less finished; they had scouted locations in Kazakhstan and were preparing to helicopter into Bagram and Jalalabad to see for themselves the terrain they'd be trying to replicate. When news of the death came in, it blew apart the project in such a way, Bigelow says, that any frustration was eclipsed by a sense of being "propelled by history". In fact, she says, "I think our first thought was, 'Well, at least we have a third act.'" As it turned out, Bigelow and Boal, who had successfully collaborated on The Hurt Locker three years earlier, quickly realised it was not a third act but "the entire story". Zero Dark Thirty , which has been igniting feverish reactions since before its first screening, is an account of the 10-year CIA search for Bin Laden and the culminating raid on his compound in Pakistan. It opens with a black screen, over which real audio from 9/11 plays, the screams and entreaties as shocking now as they ever were, and what follows, including scenes of brutal "enhanced interrogation" of detainees in CIA blackspots, is either "a wrenchingly sad, soul-shaking story about revenge and its moral costs" ( the New York Times ) or "false advertising for waterboarding " ( the New Yorker ) – a film that, ultimately, "endorses torture". Bigelow only finished the edit two weeks ago and, in a Park Avenue hotel suite in the throes of publicity, has the air of someone surfacing to scenes of unexpected confusion. By Hollywood standards, it was a lightning-quick turnaround – just three months of filming, with India and Jordan standing in for Pakistan and Afghanistan. At 61, Bigelow is a striking figure, slight, angular and tall (5ft 11in). She is softly spoken and pulls awkwardly at the sleeves of her jumper. Her assiduously neutral position on the politics of the film brings to mind, ironically, a politician. There will be many accounts of the war on terror, she says, of which the new film will be just one: a specific story, told from a specific point of view, informed by Boal's interviews with CIA operatives. "I feel very confident with his reporting," she says, "very confident with my handling of his reporting. And I think we can both, with confidence, stand by that film from beginning to end." Not even its harshest critics dispute that Zero Dark Thirty is a beautifully made film, with clean, sharp lines, completely gripping, and light on any extraneous material. There is almost no backstory for the characters, just the grinding sense of mission that propels people working in extraordinary circumstances. There is nothing glorifying about the torture scenes, either, which illustrate both the hideous reality behind the euphemistic language and the fact that you can't trust information coming out of them: when asked for details of an imminent attack, the detainee – beaten, waterboarded, dragged on a leash and finally shut in a box – mumbles in terror and bewilderment every day of the week. (Later, when not under duress, he gives up a key name, which critics of the film say sets up a false causality: there is no conclusive evidence that torture led to this particular disclosure.) Bigelow's approach to the film and the ensuing furore has clearly been influenced by her experiences on The Hurt Locker. In that movie, the wider controversies of the war in Iraq are sidelined in favour of the experiences of the soldiers: the beads of sweat, the dust, the fly dancing on an eyelash as it looks, unblinkingly, down the barrel of a gun. These small details accrete, over the course of the film, into something like a moral force. Bigelow justifiably won the 2010 Oscar for best director, the first woman to win in that category . Zero Dark Thirty takes "a similar perspective", she says, with its focus on the individuals, a group of CIA agents tasked with finding Bin Laden and played with brilliant understatement by Jessica Chastain , Jennifer Ehle and Jason Clarke . "It's a very human piece and it's a story of determination," Bigelow says. "We can all, as human beings, identify with believing in something – believing in something so strongly that there is nothing else in your life." Bigelow (in sunglasses) directing Zero Dark Thirty Furthermore, she says, "It's a real tribute to the men and women in the intelligence community who obviously have to, by the nature of their job, work in complete secrecy. It's a nod of respect and great gratitude." The difficulty here is that expressing respect and gratitude to those involved in controversial interrogation techniques is not quite the same as expressing gratitude to those in the relatively neutral field of bomb disposal. When Bigelow says her aim was "to be faithful to the research, to not have an agenda, to hope that people go to see the movie and judge for themselves", she overlooks the film's structural sympathies. There will, I suggest, be people who argue that torture is such a black-and-white issue that to provoke sympathy for those engaged in it is in itself a reprehensible act. "That's an interesting point. But I think that you certainly see the human cost. And also, if it had not been part of that history, it would not have been in the movie. You can't have it one way and not the other way." By "human cost", she means both the bloodied, humiliated form of the detainee in the film and the deadened responses of the CIA agents, some of whom were killed in the 2009 suicide bombing of their base in Afghanistan. Bigelow trusted Boal's reporting when he turned in the script, but I wonder if she insisted on knowing his sources – if, when it came to the most controversial scenes, she needed to satisfy herself that they were double-, triple- or quadruple-sourced. "Having worked with Mark on The Hurt Locker, I felt like his attention to detail is so acute – and he comes from the world of investigative journalism – that it's sort of like… He described the way we worked together as he cuts the vegetables and I make the soup." Right, so she didn't feel it necessary to, um, meet the farmer who grew the vegetables? There is a short, confused pause. "I suppose. That's one way of looking at it." Bigelow's absolute conviction in her own rightness is a habit of mind she has had since childhood. There is no other way to direct, she says: you wouldn't get through the day. She supposes it came from her parents. Her mother, a Stanford graduate, taught English and her father ran a paint factory. They lived in California and took a mildly modish approach to rearing their only child, subscribing, Bigelow says, "to a certain kind of education where I had to make all… This is so crazy, but as a child I had to make all my own decisions." Such as what? "If a friend said, 'Can you sleep over?' I'd go to my parents and they'd say, 'Well, it's up to you.' It was always up to me. It created a tremendous sense of independence, which of course my mother regretted when I left home at 17 and went to school… I suppose being confident in a decision-making process is something that helps me a lot in production. You cannot equivocate." After leaving home, she went first to art college in San Francisco and then on to a fine arts programme run by the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York . At that point her only thought was to become a fine artist: it suited the unsociable side of her nature. Bigelow's diffidence is something she acknowledges with wryness and regret. She finds self-promotion irksome, which is why, perhaps, she promotes Boal so strenuously, calling herself the "delivery system" for his content. (Bear in mind that for two years in the early 1990s Bigelow was married to James Cameron , which, I imagine, might turn anyone off the charms of self-promotion.) "I'm kind of shy by nature," she says. "When you meet with an actor, you have to get very specific very quickly, because you've got a scene to shoot. In a work situation, that comes very easily. Any other situation: not at all." She thinks about it for a moment. "It's a strange dichotomy. I wish that I could pretend in my life that I was working. I would probably be much more effective." She laughs. "I don't know." She got into film-making by default, after falling in with some video artists, among them Lawrence Weiner , and being inspired to make a short film herself. It was called The Set-Up (1978) and ran along textbook grad-student lines: a 20-minute exposition of "two-men fighting each other as the semioticians Sylvère Lotringer and Marshall Blonsky deconstruct the images in voiceover". It seemed, she says, "like a very good fit. Film wasn't something I searched for; I backed into it." There followed a series of low-budget films, the odd music video – for New Order, in 1987 – and, in 1991, Bigelow's first big hit, Point Break , the surfing blockbuster starring Keanu Reaves and Patrick Swayze. It established a certain muscularity of style, which Bigelow consolidated with Blue Steel , Strange Days and, in 2002, K-19: The Widowmaker , the Harrison Ford/Liam Neeson nuclear submarine movie that more or less tanked. Navy Seals raid Osama bin Laden's compound in Zero Dark Thirty. Photograph: Jonathan Olley/Columbia Pictures "I can't even think about it," she says on the subject of failure. "I feel like there's so much soul-searching going on in the making of a film, it's enough for any given production. I'm content in the knowledge that we've made something we're proud of. That's what gives me the most solace." She is firmly of the belief that commenting excessively on women's restrictions in Hollywood only compounds their ghettoisation – although this is also, surely, another facet of a generally apolitical mindset. "If there's specific resistance to women making movies," she has said , "I just choose to ignore that as an obstacle for two reasons: I can't change my gender, and I refuse to stop making movies." Occasionally, however, there's no avoiding it. The morning of the interview, the novelist Brett Easton Ellis tweets that Bigelow "would be considered a mildly interesting film-maker if she was a man but since she's a very hot woman, she's really overrated" . ( He has since apologised. ) Was she aware he'd been an arsehole in her general direction? Bigelow laughs. "I was told about it and I just…" She waves a hand dismissively. If not politically, then as a film-maker at least, Bigelow must have been delighted that two of the CIA sources in Boal's script were youngish women. As Lynndie England showed during the Abu Ghraib scandal , women in warfare provoke more complex reactions than their male counterparts. "Well, that's the thing," Bigelow says. "Women in defence, I think, are sort of the unsung heroes. I was first of all surprised to learn that women were at the centre of this hunt. And I was sort of surprised that I was surprised. You don't think of a young woman being a terrorist-hunter." Does she think women should be able to serve on the frontline? "You know, I don't know. I can't imagine why not." Bigelow has been working on the film with such intensity – "You work in this dark room, you work in this tunnel" – that there has been nothing much outside it for almost a year. Making Zero Dark Thirty was like an epic puzzle, she says, and she sheepishly confesses that's one of the things she likes best: "Logistics – I know it sounds crazy, [but] I do I enjoy it. Because it's like finding order out of chaos." Given the film's scope and ambition, the budget was relatively tight at an estimated $20m. The major expense was recreating the compound where Bin Laden was discovered. Bigelow became obsessed with the accuracy, right down to the fixtures and fittings. "We had to build it in a structurally sound way to withstand the rotor wash of the helicopters. The production designer even researched what tiles were on the floor, replicated the bed frame and the oak chest of drawers – it was all from the ABC footage they were playing after the assault ." When she gives any thought to the vastness of the story, and to the radioactive sensitivity of so many of its elements, she reassures herself that, "as a film-maker, it's a responsibility to engage with the time I live in. You're kind of creating an imagistic version of living history." And with all the risks that entails. Beyond it is blankness. A week or so earlier, when Bigelow left the first screening in New York, Jennifer Ehle walked along the street with her and asked how she was doing. "And I said to her, 'I feel kind of… I don't know.'" She shrugs and pulls at her jumper. "Without purpose all of a sudden." • Zero Dark Thirty is released on 25 January. • This article was amended on 14 January 2013 to correct a rota/rotor homophone. Alex von Tunzelmann: While Kathryn Bigelow's film about the hunt for Osama bin Laden has been ridiculed for its Arabic dialogue, CIA secrecy prevents historians from fully assessing its accuracy Published: 25 Jan 2013	i don't know
Ivy League member Brown University is situated in which US state?	About Brown University \| Brown University About Brown University Welcome to Brown Rhode Island Hall: Rhode Island Hall's classical exterior was recently renovated with a modern interior Located in historic Providence, Rhode Island and founded in 1764, Brown University is the seventh-oldest college in the United States. Brown is an independent, coeducational Ivy League institution comprising undergraduate and graduate programs, plus the Alpert Medical School , School of Public Health , School of Engineering , and the School of Professional Studies . With its talented and motivated student body and accomplished faculty, Brown is a leading research university that maintains a particular commitment to exceptional undergraduate instruction. Brown’s vibrant, diverse community consists of about 6,200 undergraduates, 2,000 graduate students, 490 medical school students, more than 5,000 summer, visiting, and online students, and over 700 faculty members. Brown students come from all 50 states and more than 115 countries. Undergraduates pursue bachelor’s degrees in more than 70 concentrations , ranging from Egyptology to cognitive neuroscience. Anything’s possible at Brown—the university’s commitment to undergraduate freedom means students must take responsibility as architects of their courses of study. Brown University has 51 doctoral programs and 28 master’s programs. The broad scope of options vary from interdisciplinary opportunities in molecular pharmacology and physiology to a master’s program in acting and directing through the Brown/Trinity Repertory Consortium . Additional programs include the Undergraduate Summer Session and Pre-College Programs for high school students — on campus, online, and abroad.	Rhode Island
What artistic term was given to the music of Debussy, Ravel and Delius?	The 10 Best Universities in the United States Top Picks: Universities \| Public Universities \| Liberal Arts Colleges \| Engineering \| Business \| Art \| Women's \| Most Selective \| More Top Picks These comprehensive universities offer graduate degrees in fields such as liberal arts, engineering, medicine, business and law. For smaller colleges with more of an undergraduate focus, check out the list of top liberal arts colleges . I won't make the arbitrary distinctions needed to decide whether Harvard or Princeton or Stanford is the better school. Listed alphabetically, these ten universities have the reputations and resources to rank them among the best in the country. Compare Top Universities (non Ivy): SAT Scores \| ACT Scores Will You Get In? See if you have the grades and test scores you need to get into any of these top universities with this free tool from Cappex: Calculate Your Chances for These Top Universities Brown University Campus. Barry Winiker / Photolibrary / Getty Images Brown University Located in Providence Rhode Island, Brown University has easy access to both Boston and New York City. The university is frequently considered the most liberal of the Ivies, and it is well known for its flexible curriculum in which students construct their own plan of study. Brown, like Dartmouth College , places more emphasis on undergraduate study than you'll find at research powerhouses like Columbia and Harvard. Costs, aid, and other information: Brown profile continue reading below our video 10 Best Universities in the United States Low Library at Columbia. Photo Credit: Allen Grove Columbia University Strong students who love an urban environment should definitely consider Columbia University. The school's location in upper Manhattan sits right on a subway line, so students have easy access to all of New York City. Keep in mind that Columbia is a research institution, and only about a third of its 26,000 students are undergraduates. Duke University. cb2vi3 / flickr Duke University Duke's stunning campus in Durham, North Carolina , features impressive Gothic revival architecture in the campus center, and extensive modern research facilities spreading out from the main campus. With an acceptance rate in the teens, it is also the most selective university in the South. Duke, along with nearby UNC Chapel Hill and NC State , make up the "research triangle," an area purported to have the highest concentration of PhDs and MDs in the world. Costs, aid, and other information: Duke profile Harvard University. David Paul Ohmer / flickr Harvard University For better or worse, Harvard University almost always tops the rankings of national universities, and its endowment is by far the largest of any educational institution in the world. All of those resources bring some perks: students from families with modest incomes can attend for free, loan debt is rare, facilities are state of the art, and faculty are often world-renowned scholars and scientists. The university's location in Cambridge, Massachusetts, places it within an easy walk to other excellent schools such as MIT and Boston University . University of Pennsylvania. rubberpaw / Flickr University of Pennsylvania Benjamin Franklin's university, Penn, is frequently confused with Penn State , but the similarities are few. The campus sits along the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia, and Center City is just a short walk away. The University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School is arguably the strongest school of business in the country, and numerous other undergraduate and graduate programs place high in national rankings. With close to 12,000 undergraduates and graduate students, Penn is one of the larger Ivy League schools. Costs, aid, and other information: Penn profile Yale University. o2ma / flickr Yale University Like Harvard and Princeton, Yale University frequently finds itself near the top of rankings of national universities. The school's location in in New Haven, Connecticut, allows Yale students to get to New York City or Boston easily by road or rail. The school has an impressive 5 to 1 student / faculty ratio , and research and teaching are supported by an endowment of nearly $20 billion. Costs, aid, and other information: Yale profile Sample Cappex Scattergram. Image Courtesy of Cappex Will You Get In? See if you have the grades and test scores you need to get into one of these top universities with this free tool from Cappex: Calculate Your Chances of Getting In More Great Universities The universities listed here don't do justice to the wealth of great schools in the U.S. Also, this list has a clear focus on the Ivy League . For more top picks, check out this list of ten more great universities .	i don't know
Premiered in 1834, Who composed Harold In Italy?	SEASON FINALE WITH MTT: BERLIOZ AND SIBELIUS \| New World Symphony SEASON FINALE WITH MTT: BERLIOZ AND SIBELIUS SEASON FINALE WITH MTT: BERLIOZ AND SIBELIUS New World Center Saturday, May 7 at 8:00 PM Sunday, May 8 at 2:00 PM Artists Relish in the last glimpse of this season’s Fellows alongside MTT, who together join acclaimed violist Roberto Díaz, for Berlioz’ part-symphony, part- concerto Harold in Italy. Based on Lord Byron’s Childe Harold, each movement offers a snapshot of his Italian adventures through wandering chromaticism, lilting melodies and a weighty dirge that represents the trudging of pilgrims. Sibelius likened his Sixth Symphony to a “wild romp,” but instead offers a tranquil refuge of serene sound that builds to a sacred finale. His sweeping one-movement Seventh Symphony hints at 16th-century Palestrina—a bright light in this formidable finale to an epic season. The Saturday, May 7 performance will be presented as a WALLCAST™ concert, presented by Citi®, in SoundScape Park. Tickets no longer available online. Program Symphony No. 6 in D minor, Op. 104 (1923) Allegro molto moderato Symphony No. 7 in C major, Op. 105 (1924) Hector Berlioz Harold in Italy, Op. 16 (1834) Harold in the Mountains. Scenes of Melancholy, Happiness and Joy March of the Pilgrims Singing the Evening Prayer Serenade of an Abruzzi Mountain-Dweller to his Mistress Orgy of the Brigands: Memories of Scenes Past Mr. Díaz Symphony No. 6 in D minor, Op. 104 (1923) Approximate duration: 27 minutes The early symphonies of Jean Sibelius expressed the fervor of a young man fighting for recognition for his country and a place for his own voice on the international stage. Starting with the Third Symphony , Sibelius shifted toward a pure and refined orchestral sound, infusing the elegance of Mozart and Haydn into an incisive, modern language. Even through the dark years of a cancer scare and the devastation of World War I, Sibelius wrote honest, uncompromising music that encapsulated life’s joys and struggles in abstract forms. In his final symphonies, Sibelius defied the cynicism of the war-torn era. His sound became even more transparent and rarified, as guileless as the snow that blanketed his isolated country estate in Finland. Material that Sibelius drafted during the difficult gestation of his Symphony No. 5 in 1914-15 ended up shaping both the Sixth and Seventh Symphonies, composed in 1923 and 1924, respectively. He also redirected themes into the Sixth Symphony that had been meant for a project he considered in 1920, a tone poem based on a Finnish moon goddess. When he crafted the Seventh Symphony in one continuous movement, it was an obvious and radical departure from traditional symphonic structure, but even the Sixth Symphony, with its four movements, abandoned expected conventions and moved closer to the evocative, freeform genre of the orchestral tone poem. A contemporary critic noted the reserved demeanor of the Sixth Symphony, especially in comparison to its predecessor. Writing after the 1923 premiere in Helsinki, he wrote, “The Sixth Symphony is more delicate, smaller in scale and gentler. The Fifth is an exuberant jubilee, the Sixth is pure idyll.” Sibelius himself characterized the Sixth Symphony as “pure spring water,” differentiating it from the more inebriating indulgences of the early 1920s being composed by the likes of Arnold Schoenberg or Richard Strauss. Unfortunately, Sibelius’ own intake in those years was far from “pure spring water.” Perhaps his most notorious disgrace related to his long pattern of heavy drinking occurred in 1923, when he was on a conducting tour with the Sixth Symphony and other works. In Gothenburg, Sweden, he was found drunk in a restaurant before the concert and was whisked onto the podium just in time. Thinking he was at a rehearsal, he stopped the orchestra midstream shortly after the concert began. “Everything was chaos in my ears,” his wife later confessed. “I was in a state of mortal terror.” That personal turmoil is nowhere evident in the Sixth Symphony, particularly not in the resonant phrases from the strings that begin the work. The Symphony’s key is listed as D minor, but this opening passage actually uses the pitches of the Dorian mode , a sound from older church music. Within the first main section, only a handful of notes stray from the purity of that mode. The second movement has a rather quick tempo marking for a slow movement, Allegretto moderato, but apparently Sibelius envisioned it at a slower pace and only marked it up to counteract the tendency in those days for maestros to conduct “quite lethargically.” The movement again spends long stretches in un-doctored modes, exploring stepwise melodies of different lengths and rates. The short third movement serves the function of a scherzo, using a lively rhythmic gait like that of a galloping horse and harmonies and melodies that once again explore stepwise themes and modal constructions. The recurring modes and motives that shape this Symphony reach their fullest expression in the finale, which begins with a passage of church harmonies and hymn-like phrases. The ending returns to that material and then settles on a response that is even more veiled and soft-spoken as it retakes the home key. Information on the Sixth Symphony from the official Sibelius site Biography of Sibelius during the period he composed the Sixth Symphony Translated excerpts from Sibelius’ private diaries Symphony No. 7 in C major, Op. 105 (1924) Approximate duration: 22 minutes The single-movement Symphony No. 7 that Sibelius composed in 1924 (under the original title Fantasia sinfonica) turned out to be his last. He added one more orchestral score in 1926, the bleak tone poem Tapiola , and he started an Eighth Symphony but destroyed the incomplete sketches, choosing to live out his final decades in silence. The Seventh Symphony forms an arc that begins in an Adagio tempo, where it also ends some 22 minutes later. The opening passage climbs up a scale and then winds through slowly morphing harmonies, waiting more than a minute before its first fleeting arrival on the tonic chord of C major. One of the most glorious moments comes when this Adagio music blooms for a noble trombone solo. A seamless transition leads into a faster, scherzo-like section that begins with dry staccato articulations and chatter back and forth between the winds and strings. Leaving that faster tempo, a scale climbs step-by-step (echoing the symphony’s first phrases) over churning strings until we arrive back at the Adagio tempo and a restatement of the trombone theme. Another variant of that melody leads into the concluding passage. The tonal yearning that has built up throughout the symphony withholds release until the very last moment, when the strings make one last heroic rise of a half-step to settle the final chord. History and program note from the official Sibelius site Audio program on the Seventh Symphony from the BBC Music notation software named for the composer -- Copyright © 2016 Aaron Grad Aaron Grad is a composer, guitarist and writer based in Seattle. Besides providing program notes for the New World Symphony, he has been the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra’s program annotator since 2005 and also contributes notes to the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and Seattle Symphony. Audio clips provided by Naxos of America, Inc. Hector Berlioz Harold in Italy, Op. 16 (1834) Approximate duration: 42 minutes Berlioz received his primary education at home from his father, an eminent physician who expected his son to join him in the medical profession. As a teenager, Berlioz took flute and guitar lessons and taught himself the rudiments of composition and music theory, but he obliged his father by enrolling in medical school. Four years later, though, disgusted by “dirty hospital orderlies, dreadful dissecting-room attendants, hideous corpses, the screams of patients [and] the groans and rattling breath of the dying,” he abandoned medicine and took up music. Berlioz eventually enrolled at the Paris Conservatory, where he developed a reputation as an outsider and iconoclast—a position confirmed by the shocking Symphonie fantastique from 1830, which led to his expulsion. That same year, he won the Prix de Rome with a cantata that demonstrated more restraint and rule-following than his previous entries, and in 1831 he left Paris, reluctantly, to commence the Italian residency granted to prizewinners. He lived in Rome for more than a year, although he ventured out as often as he could; he later wrote, “Rome is the most stupid and prosaic city I know: it is no place for anyone with head or heart.” Although the Rome of his day held little interest for Berlioz, a romanticized notion of Italy, especially as expressed through literature, became an ongoing font of inspiration, as found in his “dramatic symphony” modeled after Romeo and Juliet (set in Verona) and in the opera Benvenuto Cellini , which depicted an artist of the Italian Renaissance. His first work in that vein was Harold in Italy, composed in 1834 and based loosely on the narrative poem Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage by Lord Byron . The impetus to compose Harold in Italy came from the superstar violinist Niccolò Paganini , who wanted to showcase his Stradivarius viola . Instead of a viola concerto, Berlioz constructed Harold in Italy as a four-movement symphony featuring the viola as a musical protagonist. Paganini was not happy about the viola’s limited role and the long stretches of silence in the solo part and he opted not to play it. Still, he was so impressed when he first heard it several years later that he gave Berlioz a sizable check to fund future projects. Berlioz titled the first movement, “Harold in the Mountains. Scenes of Melancholy, Happiness and Joy.” There is indeed a melancholic mood in the first three minutes or so, during an orchestral introduction, but the atmosphere turns more serene with the entrance of the viola, accompanied by harp, playing the first instance of a melody that recurs throughout the symphony to signify Harold. For the second movement, “March of the Pilgrims Singing the Evening Prayer,” the viola appears as an outside observer, rehashing a version of the same unifying melody (in its own slower pace) as the pilgrims shuffle past. The pattern repeats in the third movement, “Serenade of an Abruzzi Mountain-Dweller to his Mistress.” The rustic love scene set in central Italy is well underway by the time Harold arrives with another statement of the identifying theme. Like a musical slide show (or travel blog), the finale starts by recapping high points of the journeys undertaken in the preceding movements. The scene then moves to an “Orgy of Brigands,” using wild, dramatic music to depict the debauchery of a band of outlaws. The viola makes one last meek appearance at the end, supported by other string soloists from offstage, until the fracas resumes. History of Paganini’s viola and its sibling Stradivarius instruments Chronology of Berlioz’ visits to Italy Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor Michael Tilson Thomas is Co-Founder and Artistic Director of the New World Symphony, America’s Orchestral Academy; Music Director of the San Francisco Symphony; and Conductor Laureate of the London Symphony Orchestra. In addition to these posts, he maintains an active presence guest conducting with the major orchestras of Europe and the United States. Born in Los Angeles, Mr. Tilson Thomas is the third generation of his family to follow an artistic career. His grandparents, Boris and Bessie Thomashefsky, were founding members of the Yiddish Theater in America. His father, Ted Thomas, was a producer in the Mercury Theater Company in New York before moving to Los Angeles where he worked in films and television. His mother, Roberta Thomas, was the head of research for Columbia Pictures. Mr. Tilson Thomas began his formal studies at the University of Southern California where he studied piano with John Crown and conducting and composition with Ingolf Dahl. At age 19 he was named Music Director of the Young Musicians Foundation Debut Orchestra. He worked with Stravinsky, Boulez, Stockhausen and Copland on premieres of their compositions at Los Angeles’ Monday Evening Concerts. During this same period he was the pianist and conductor for Gregor Piatigorsky and Jascha Heifetz. In 1969, after winning the Koussevitzky Prize at Tanglewood, he was appointed Assistant Conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. That year he also made his New York debut with the Boston Symphony and gained international recognition after replacing Music Director William Steinberg in mid-concert. He was later appointed Principal Guest Conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra where he remained until 1974. He was Music Director of the Buffalo Philharmonic from 1971 to 1979 and a Principal Guest Conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic from 1981 to 1985. His guest conducting includes appearances with the major orchestras of Europe and the United States. His recorded repertoire of more than 120 discs includes works by composers such as Bach, Beethoven, Mahler, Prokofiev and Stravinsky as well as his pioneering work with the music of Charles Ives, Carl Ruggles, Steve Reich, John Cage, Ingolf Dahl, Morton Feldman, George Gershwin, John McLaughlin and Elvis Costello. He also recorded the complete orchestral works of Gustav Mahler with the San Francisco Symphony. Mr. Tilson Thomas’ television work includes a series with the London Symphony Orchestra for BBC Television, the television broadcasts of the New York Philharmonic Young People’s Concerts from 1971 to 1977 and numerous productions on PBS’ Great Performances. Mr. Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony produced a multi-tiered media project, Keeping Score, which includes a television series, web sites, radio programs and programs in schools. In 1990 Mr. Tilson Thomas and the New World Symphony were presented in a series of benefit concerts for UNICEF in the United States, featuring Audrey Hepburn as narrator of From the Diary of Anne Frank, composed by Mr. Tilson Thomas and commissioned by UNICEF. This piece has since been translated and performed in many languages worldwide. In August 1995 he led the Pacific Music Festival Orchestra in the premiere of his composition Showa/Shoah, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima. Thomas Hampson premiered his settings of poetry by Walt Whitman, Renée Fleming premiered his settings of the poetry of Emily Dickinson and the San Francisco Symphony premiered his concerto for contrabassoon entitled Urban Legend. As a Carnegie Hall Perspectives Artist from 2003 to 2005, he had an evening devoted to his own compositions which included Island Music for four marimbas and percussion, Notturno for solo flute and strings and a new setting of poems by Rainer Maria Rilke. Other compositions include Street Song for brass instruments and Agnegram, an overture for orchestra. Among his many honors and awards, Mr. Tilson Thomas is a Chevalier dans l’ordre des Arts et des Lettres of France, was Musical America’s Musician of the Year and Conductor of the Year, Gramophone Magazine’s Artist of the Year and has been profiled on CBS’s 60 Minutes and ABC’s Nightline. He has won 11 Grammy Awards for his recordings. In 2008 he received the Peabody Award for his radio series for SFS Media, The MTT Files. In 2010 President Obama awarded him the National Medal of Arts, the highest award given to artists by the United States Government. Roberto Díaz, viola Photo credit: Henry Fair A violist of international reputation, Roberto Díaz is president and chief executive officer of the Curtis Institute of Music, following in the footsteps of renowned soloist/directors such as Josef Hofmann, Efrem Zimbalist and Rudolf Serkin. As a teacher of viola at Curtis and former principal viola of The Philadelphia Orchestra, Mr. Díaz has already had a significant impact on American musical life and continues to do so in his dual roles as performer and educator. As a soloist, Mr. Díaz collaborates with leading conductors of our time on stages throughout North and South America, Europe and Asia. He has also worked directly with important 20th- and 21st-century composers, including Krzysztof Penderecki, whose Viola Concerto he has performed numerous times with the composer on the podium and whose Double Concerto he premiered in the United States during the 2013-14 season; and Edison Denisov, who invited Mr. Díaz to Moscow to work on and perform his Viola Concerto. Ricardo Lorenz and Roberto Sierra have written concertos for Mr. Díaz and he premiered a concerto by Jennifer Higdon in 2015. As a frequent recitalist, Mr. Díaz enjoys collaborating with young pianists, bringing a fresh approach to the repertoire and providing invaluable opportunities to artists at the beginning of their careers. In addition to performing with major string quartets and pianists in chamber music series and festivals worldwide, Mr. Díaz has toured Europe, Asia and the Americas a member of the Díaz Trio with violinist Andrés Cárdenes and cellist Andrés Díaz. The Díaz Trio has recorded for the Artek and Dorian labels. Mr. Díaz’ recordings on the Naxos label with pianist Robert Koenig include the complete works for viola and piano by Henri Vieuxtemps and a Grammy-nominated disc of viola transcriptions by William Primrose. Also on Naxos are the Brahms sonatas with Jeremy Denk and Jonathan Leshnoff’s Double Concerto with violinist Charles Wetherbee and the Iris Chamber Orchestra led by Michael Stern. On the New World Records label is a live recording of Mr. Díaz’ performance of Jacob Druckman's Viola Concerto with Wolfgang Sawallisch and The Philadelphia Orchestra. Upcoming releases include the Walton Viola Concerto with the New Haven Symphony and William Boughton (Nimbus) and the Viola Concerto by Peter Lieberson with the Odense Symphony Orchestra and Scott Yoo (Bridge Records). Since founding Curtis On Tour six seasons ago, Mr. Díaz has taken the hugely successful program to North and South America, Europe and Asia, performing chamber music side-by-side with Curtis students and other faculty and alumni of the school. In addition to Curtis On Tour, his tenure as president of Curtis has seen the construction of a significant new building which doubled the size of the school’s campus, the introduction of classical guitar and string quartet programs, the launch of Curtis Summerfest which is open to the public and the debut of an online stage called Curtis Performs. In the fall of 2013 Curtis became the first classical music conservatory to offer free online classes through Coursera. Also under Mr. Díaz’ leadership, the school has developed lasting collaborations with other music and arts institutions in Philadelphia and throughout the world and has established the Community Artists Program (CAP) to develop the entrepreneurial and advocacy skills of young musicians. Mr. Díaz received an honorary doctorate from Bowdoin College and was awarded an honorary membership by the national board of the American Viola Society. In the fall of 2013 Mr. Díaz became a member of the prestigious American Philosophical Society founded by Benjamin Franklin. As a member of The Philadelphia Orchestra, he was selected by Music Director Christoph Eschenbach to receive the C. Hartman Kuhn Award, given annually to "the member of The Philadelphia Orchestra who has shown ability and enterprise of such character as to enhance the standards and the reputation of The Philadelphia Orchestra." Mr. Díaz received a bachelor’s degree from the New England Conservatory of Music, where he studied with Burton Fine, and a diploma from the Curtis Institute of Music, where his teacher was his predecessor at The Philadelphia Orchestra, Joseph de Pasquale. Mr. Díaz also has a degree in industrial design. In addition to his decade-long tenure as principal viola of The Philadelphia Orchestra, where he performed the entire standard viola concerto repertoire with the orchestra and gave a number of Philadelphia Orchestra premieres, Mr. Díaz was also principal viola of the National Symphony under Mstislav Rostropovich, a member of the Boston Symphony under Seiji Ozawa and a member of the Minnesota Orchestra under Sir Neville Marriner. Mr. Díaz plays the ex-Primrose Amati viola. 500 17th Street	Hector Berlioz
Whose patron was Ludwig II of Bavaria?	Harold in Italy \| LA Phil Harold in Italy Composed: 1856-58 Length: 42 minutes Orchestration: 2 flutes (2nd = piccolo), 2 oboes, English horn, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 2 cornets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion (cymbals, tambourine, triangle), harp, strings, and solo viola First Los Angeles Philharmonic performance: November 21, 1924, Walter Henry Rothwell conducting, with Emile Ferir, viola Berlioz spent more than a year in Italy in 1831 and 1832, having won the Prix de Rome, instituted by the French Government to enable French artists to study in an environment of classical art treasures, whether painting or sculpture. Musicians were loosely thought to need the same benefits, but for Berlioz the price of a few years' state pension was exile from the central sources of his art. He found the cultivation of music in Italy indescribably narrow and parochial, and he developed a distaste for all Italian opera. It was in the country, in Subiaco, and on the long walk from Naples to Rome, that he really found musical inspiration. 'I long to go to Mount Posilippo,' he wrote, 'to Calabria, or to Capri, and put myself in the service of a brigand chief. That's the life I crave: volcanos, rocks, rich piles of plunder in mountain caves, a concert of shrieks accompanied by an orchestra of pistols and carbines, blood and Lacryma-Christi, a bed of lava rocked by subterranean tremors: voilà la vie!' At Alatri, on his return from Naples, Berlioz and his two Swedish companions spent a dreadful night on hard beds, plagued by fleas and by the 'young men serenading, going round the village all night singing beneath their mistresses' windows, to the accompaniment of a guitar and a terrible squawking clarinet'. Here clearly is the background to the last two movements of Harold en Italie. But the work did not come into being at that time. In 1834, over a year after Berlioz's return to Paris, Paganini, in admiration of the Symphonie fantastique, asked Berlioz for a work in which he could display his powers on a fine Stradivarius viola. Berlioz at first planned a choral work based on the last hours of Mary Queen of Scots, but somehow the ideas were transmuted into the four-movement symphony with solo viola Harold en Italie, incorporating two passages that had actually been composed in Italy, Harold's own theme (the melody with which the solo viola first enters) and another theme in the first movement, both drawn from the overture Rob Roy, which Berlioz had recently rejected. The work was to be a series of Italian souvenirs in a symphonic frame. The character of Harold is derived loosely from Byron's Childe Harold, a melancholy wanderer who witnesses scenes of Italian life. All four movements picture outdoor scenes drawn from the most vivid experiences of his Italian sojourn. The first movement (a symphonic Allegro with a slow introduction) keeps the soloist busy, with many references to Harold's theme. The second movement introduces the pilgrims and tolling bells featured in all musical and literary accounts of Italian landscape at that time, including Mendelssohn's. The Serenade is an ingenious exercise in creating atmosphere while at the same time combining different rhythms, the more languorous melody on the English horn unperturbed by the jaunty piping of the highlander or the stately span of Harold's theme. The last movement borrows the device of parading previous themes in the manner of Beethoven's Choral Symphony, not for any convincing dramatic reason, but to draw the work together and to pay tribute to the masterpiece which Berlioz had recently heard for the first time. The frenetic vigor of the finale makes a stirring close interrupted only once by distant memories of the pilgrims' march. Because it is a dramatic and expressive rather than a virtuoso work, the soloist is rarely the protagonist, more often a bystander marking his presence with a recurrent theme. Paganini was startled and offended by this; he found the solo part 'too full of rests,' and never played it, though he later came to appreciate its worth by making Berlioz a gift of 20,000 francs, which enabled him to compose Roméo et Juliette. Harold en Italie is no concerto, even though the viola part calls for a player of great skill and sensitivity. The music is full of youthful vitality, tinged with that appealing romantic sensibility that Berlioz borrowed freely from literature. For him it was an autobiographical vignette, and the Italian experience was something to which all his later music, from Roméo et Juliette to Les Troyens would bear powerful witness. Hugh Macdonald is general editor of The New Berlioz Edition and a professor of music at Washington University in St. Louis.	i don't know
The villain Emilio Largo features in which film?	Emilio Largo \| Villains Wiki \| Fandom powered by Wikia You let him get the better of you! „ ~ Largo to one of his henchmen Quist. Emilio Largo is the main antagonist of the James Bond novel and film Thunderball. He was played by Adolfo Celi, whose voice was dubbed over by Robert Rietty. Contents [ show ] Film biography In the 1965 film adaptation, Largo is portrayed as a grey-haired man in his late 40s who wears an eye patch and works for the criminal organization SPECTRE . In the film, Largo is "NO 2" and head of their current extortion operation. Largo's scheme in Thunderball, at the time, was unique and ingenious. It involved the theft of two nuclear weapons from NATO at sea, which he would then use to hold the world hostage by threatening to detonate the two devices in England of this United States unless they paid the ransom of £100 million British pounds. This scheme has been used countless times since Thunderball and is even a joke in the Austin Powers series of movies. In the movie, his death is less gruesome than the novel, but more dramatic. As Bond and Largo do battle on the bridge of the Disco Volante, the spy is knocked to the floor by a sudden collision. In the confusion Largo snatches a nearby pistol and holds 007 at gunpoint. As he prepares to pull the trigger Domino shoots him in the back with a harpoon. He turns and collapses dead on the ship's wheel, jamming the controls. Unable to move the body and with seconds to spare, Bond, Domino and Kutze leap overboard as the Disco Volante runs aground and explodes violently. Never Say Never Again In the unofficial movie Never Say Never Again, which is actually a remake of Thunderball, Largo is named Maximillian instead of Emilio and is killed by Domino while preparing the bomb in the water instead of being killed on the boat. Maximillian is portrayed by Klaus Maria Brandauer. Gallery	Thunderball
Who made a cameo appearance in Die Another Day as Verity a fencing instructor?	Emilio Largo (Character) Emilio Largo (Character) from Thunderball (1965) The content of this page was created by users. It has not been screened or verified by IMDb staff. There may be more photos available for this character. To select more photos to be displayed in this character's gallery, click the Edit Photos link. Overview Maximilian Largo was born in Bucharest, Romania in 1945. See more » Alternate Names: ... aka "Bond Girls Are Forever 2006" - USA (recut version) Additional Details See more » Update You may correct errors and omissions on this page directly. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process. IMDb Everywhere Find showtimes, watch trailers, browse photos, track your Watchlist and rate your favorite movies and TV shows on your phone or tablet!	i don't know
The third day of the Hindu festival of Diwali honours which Goddess of Fortune?	What is Diwali? \| SBS News 23 Oct 2014 - 11:19am What is Diwali? Indian people light oil lamps during the Deep Utsav or Light festival at the historical Gauhar Mahal palace, ahead of the Diwali festival in Bhopal, India, (EPA/SANJEEV GUPTA) More and more Australians are embracing Diwali -- the Hindi festival of light. It's a time for reflecting and cleansing, and can involve spring cleaning, shopping for gold and celebrating the victory of light over darkness. Source: 0 Lighting candles and lamps, giving gifts of jewellery - it's all about pumping the soul with spiritual prosperity. But you don't need to be twirling sparklers in your best silks to join in, just head to Victoria's Parliament, Federation Square or even Sydney's Martin Place to see the shimmering lights set up to welcome Lord Rama back from exile. Originating in southeast Asia, Diwali is celebrated around the world. "The light we generate from Diya: it's for enlightening of self. It's removing all the darkness which is very significant, not just in your home but in your hearts as well." The words Diwali or Deepavali mean 'a row or series of lights' and festivities include decorating public spaces and homes with lights, fireworks displays, cultural activities and the sharing of food and gifts. The lights have both mythical and spiritual meaning. Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs celebrate the spiritual victory of good over evil, light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance. A Hindu legend traces the first time the lights were used to a story about Lord Rama who is a descendant to the Hindu God Vishnu. Rama returns to his kingdom in the ancient Indian city of Ayodhaya after 14 years in exile and wins a battle against a demon king. The story says people lit up their houses to celebrate his victory. An Indian artist gives finishing touches to the idols of Goddess Kali, who will be worshipped during Diwali festival. (EPA/DIVYAKANT SOLANKI) An Indian artist gives finishing touches to the idols of Goddess Kali, who will be worshipped during Diwali festival. (EPA/DIVYAKANT SOLANKI) While there are different stories about the festival's origins, even Australians who aren't religious still celebrate Diwali, according to Professor Ian Woolford from La Trobe University. "In Melbourne ... there are many, many people who are not Indian, and who are not Hindu, who celebrate Diwali now. Perhaps to learn about Indian culture, they see it as a wonderful expression of Indian culture and perhaps they also think that the message of Diwali is for all people." In Nepal the festival is also called Tihar and, along with worshipping Hindu gods and goddesses, animals such as crows, dogs and cows are honoured with gifts of food and adorned with garlands. Melbourne Diwali Festival organiser Arun Sharma explains the ritual of using lights, also known as Diyas, can be an opportunity to quietly meditate, concentrate on this light and illuminate your soul. "Diwali does have a massive significance behind it. It's not just for fun, just come and enjoy and walk away with nothing. The light we generate from Diya: it's for enlightening of self. It's removing all the darkness which is very significant, not just in your home but in your hearts as well. So it got a good value, good message behind." Lights has often been used to represent the struggle to overcome our internal issues. "It's significant of the victory of truth over evil, over lies. Victory of lights over darkness. This is one thing that it signifies and of course perhaps this is become so popular even among non-Indians. This is the message that all of us can appreciate," says Professor Woolford. Lights and firecracker displays can also be thought of as an expression of gratitude to the heavens for the attainment of health, wealth, knowledge, peace and prosperity. In Nepal the festival is also called Tihar and, along with worshipping Hindu gods and goddesses, animals such as crows, dogs and cows are honoured with gifts of food and adorned with garlands. What to do during Diwali Day 1: Some traditional activities on the first day of Diwali include spring-cleaning your house, shopping for gold or silver and offering sweets and prayers to the Gods. Day 2: On the second day, some decorate their homes with clay lamps and create rangolis, which are decorative patterns of coloured powder or sand arranged on the floor. Day 3: The third day of Diwali is considered the festival's main day, when people gather to worship the Goddess Lakshmi to attain wealth and prosperity. Day 4: The next day, "Nutan Varsh", is celebrated as New Year's Day in the West Indian state of Gujarat. Friends and family exchange gifts and sweets and they also create Annakut: mountains of food arranged in large tiers or shapes representing India's Mount Govardhan. Last year the New South Wales Government sampled food from a four-tier Annakut which was constructed by Gujarati community volunteers. Day 5: The fifth and the last day of Diwali is called Bhaiduj, where brothers bless their sisters and provide gifts of love. Much like the story of Father Christmas, some Hindus believe that the goddess of happiness and good fortune, Lakshmi, visits the earth on this last day. Astrologer Pandit Indu Prakash says if the goddess finds a house that is pure and clean and bright, she will fulfil the wishes of her devotees. "By adopting certain activities or certain things or doing some certain things it develops an attitude in you which can provide wealth in your life so it is an indication. It's just, it's just a guideline to the society that by doing these things you can invite goddess Lakshmi in your life, which will shower you wealth and prosperity." Click here for more information on Diwali and to go in the running to win a trip to India. In pictures: Diwali - the Hindu festival of light	Lakshmi
In which month does Rio’s Mardi Gras nearly always take place?	About Diwali Festival Puja, Diwali Festival About Diwali Festival Puja 0 Items in your Cart INR 0.00 Diwali Sweets About Diwali Festival Puja One of the main event on the most popular Hindu festival Diwali is “Diwali Poojan”, where Hindu Worship Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Ganesha and Kuber for Health, wealth and prosperity. It is believed that Goddess Lakshmi likes cleanliness and visit every house but the cleanest the first. So Hindu cleans the house white wash and decorate their houses on this festival. This festival starts with worshiping the broom with Haldi and Kumkum. Then in the evening they light up Lamps and Diyas to welcome Lakshmi and perform Worshiping Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha. The festival of Diwali last for five days and each of its five days have their significance and meaning, all these five days are celebrated with full of joy and enthusiasm. “Dhanteras” Festival The very first day of this five days festival is known as Dhanteras. This day is very auspicious to buy utensils and jewellery. After the sunset, Hindu bathe and light Diyas on the door way to announce the beginning of this most awaited festival, they worship the lord of Death Yama Raj and pray to protect from untimely and misfortunate death. “Choti Diwali” Festival The second day is called the “Narak Chaturthi” or “Choti Diwali”. It is believed that on this day Lord Krishna killed the demon Narakasur. This day people use body oil and Ubtan for body massage, to set free from tiredness and get relaxed. People worship God and Goddess, they light Diyas and fire crackers in the night to fade away the darkness. “Lakshmi Poojan” Festival The third day of this five days festival is believed as the most auspicious day to worship Goddess Lakshmi. Hindu believes that the Goddess herself visit everyone on this festival and bless them with wealth and prosperity. Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, is known as the consort of Vishnu, the preserver. She is the power of multiplicity and the goddess of fortune, both of which are necessary for preservation. Basically Hindu perform this “Lakshmi Ganesha Poojan” after sunset in the evening. In traditional way five or seven Ghee Diyas are lit up in front of these deities, holy songs are sung in order to pray to Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha offering sweets. “Govardhan Poojan” Festival This day is known as Govardhan as Govardhan Poojan is performed on this day. It is believed that Lord Krishana saved the people of Vraja and Govardhan form the anger or Lord Indra, the God of rain; he put the Govardhan parvat on his little finger. From that day onwards, this day is celebrated to worship Govardhan every year. “Bhai Douj” Festival The fifth and the last day of this five days festival is known as Bhai douj. This Bhai douj festival Like Rakhi - Raksha Bandhan Festival . This day is purely dedicated to sister and brothers. On this day sisters fast for their brothers and pray for their well being, health and success. This day is also known as bhai fota in Bengal. In the same way sisters pray for her brother’s health, wealth and safe life.	i don't know
Which gland produces the hormones that control the body’s metabolism?	Hormones That Control Your Metabolism Hormones That Control Your Metabolism Understanding what hormones regulate your metabolism is the first step in learning how to set your body up for optimal fat loss. Everyone has a unique resting metabolic rate determined by the amount of lean muscle they have, genetics (DNA makeup), and hormonal balances. The secret to successfully increasing your metabolism and burning fat revolves around creating the optimal hormonal balances for maximizing your metabolic rate. You probably already know that calorie restriction dieting can cause your metabolism to slow down and bring weight loss to a halt. The good news is metabolic slowdown doesnât have to happen. Once you understand why it happens, you can take a number of steps to avoid it. Regulating thyroid hormone levels is the cornerstone to keeping your metabolism running on high. The thyroid gland is the main regulator of your overall metabolism. It sets your body temperature after the hypothalamus says make it so. The role of thyroid hormonesâ¦ The thyroid gland secretes two types of thyroid hormones, T4 and T3. Although most of the thyroid hormone in blood circulation is T4, itâs T3 that really produces the most impact. At the cellular level, T3 is the one that hooks up to the receptors and makes everything work. The main cause of metabolic slowdown is a decrease in active thyroid hormone. There are three main reasons why thyroid hormone levels will go down. 1.Â The loss of lean muscle The loss of lean muscle comes from a lack of resistance training, protein deficiency, and low calorie diets that force the body to break down muscle tissue.Â There are also hormonal changes in estrogen and testosterone that naturally decline as you age that can create muscle loss. The good news is you have a significant degree of control over all these factors. 2.Â Increased production of cortisol The second cause of thyroid hormone attenuation is the increase in cortisol levels. Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands in response to psychological and physiological stress. When the cortisol receptors on the pituitary gland are activated, they reduce production of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), which is the messenger between the hypothalamus and the thyroid gland. Cortisol also affects the conversion process of T4 (circulating thyroid hormone), to T3 (the thyroid hormone that hooks up to the receptors). Stress, overtraining, low calorie diets, and a lack of sleep all contribute to the increase in cortisol and a decrease in thyroid hormone production. 3.Â Increased production of insulin The third cause of decreased thyroid hormone production is the constant presence of insulin. The pancreas secretes insulin in response to high blood sugar levels. If the body experiences high blood sugar levels on a regular basis (too much carbohydrate in the diet) the cells start to reduce the acceptance of insulin. This is commonly referred to as insulin resistance. The resulting over-secretion of insulin causes cortisol levels to rise which as you just learned can reduce thyroid hormone production. Bottom line is the lack of lean muscle (from all the causes), too much stress (no matter what the trigger), and a poor diet can all contribute to a decreased thyroid hormone production and slowed metabolism. Growth hormone, adrenaline and nor-adrenaline Your metabolism is also regulated by the balances of powerful fat burning hormones which can be increased with the right type of exercise. The right type of exercise? Yes, while all exercise is beneficial, itâs high intensity- short duration exercise that produces the best results. This is commonly referred to as â burst training ,â and â interval training .â These high intensity- short duration types of exercise will cause an increase in growth hormone and the adrenal hormones; adrenaline and nor-adrenaline. Traditional long-slow-distance cardio (aerobic training), and low-intensity resistance workouts simply wonât produce the same hormonal response. Optimizing your metabolic rate As youâve learned there are some obvious things you can do to optimize your metabolic rate: perform burst training (resistance workouts) and interval training (cardio workouts) to raise growth hormone, adrenaline, and nor-adrenaline levels. avoid low calorie diets that can reduce thyroid hormone production minimize stress to avoid excess cortisol production reduce insulin levels by eating a supportive nutrition diet with moderate levels of carbohydrates. increase protein intake to help with lean muscle development and prevent muscle catabolism get plenty of sleep (7-8 hours) to help with growth hormone secretion and reduce the production of cortisol. While this is a solid set of guidelines to help you increase your metabolic rate, there are instances of decreased thyroid hormone production that will require prescription medication treatment from your physician. If you suspect decreased thyroid hormone production there are three specific tests you should request from your physician. Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) Test Free T4 Test Free T3 Test Just looking at one test alone is a poor strategy. All three tests are needed to see whatâs really going on. Youâll also want to find physician who will work with you to optimize your thyroid levels, not just look to see if youâre in the ânormal ranges.â Here is a physician I work with regularly in the Charleston area that specializes in hormone replacement therapies: Charleston Personal Training \| Mt. Pleasant Personal Training \| Daniel Island Personal Trainer \| Isle of Palms Personal Trainer \| Sullivans Island Personal Trainer \| Charleston Weight Loss Programs \| © 2016 Shaping Concepts, LLC \| All Rights Reserved 1009 Anna Knapp Blvd #101, Mt. Pleasant-Charleston, SC 29464. Phone: 843-971-8665. Shaping Concepts, LLC is a leading provider of personal training programs in South Carolina for the Charleston, Mt. Pleasant, Daniel Island, Isle of Palms, Sullivan's Island, and the Bluffton-Hilton Head areas. Warning: include_once(APP_ROOT/signup_form.php) [ function.include-once ]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/shaping/public_html/blog/wp-content/themes/default/single.php on line 99 Warning: include_once() [ function.include ]: Failed opening 'APP_ROOT/signup_form.php' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/lib/php:/usr/local/lib/php') in /home/shaping/public_html/blog/wp-content/themes/default/single.php on line 99	Thyroid
The condition Ketosis would result from an inadequacy of what in the diet?	Aging changes in hormone production: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia Aging changes in hormone production URL of this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/004000.htm Aging changes in hormone production The endocrine system is made up of organs and tissues that produce hormones. Hormones are natural chemicals produced in one location, released into the bloodstream, then used by other target organs and systems. Hormones control the target organs. Some organ systems have their own internal control systems along with, or instead of, hormones. As we age, changes naturally occur in the way body systems are controlled. Some target tissues become less sensitive to their controlling hormone. The amount of hormones produced may also change. Blood levels of some hormones increase, some decrease, and some are unchanged. Hormones are also broken down (metabolized) more slowly. Many of the organs that produce hormones are controlled by other hormones. Aging also changes this process. For example, an endocrine tissue may produce less of its hormone than it did at a younger age, or it may produce the same amount at a slower rate. AGING CHANGES The hypothalamus is located in the brain. It produces hormones that control the other structures in the endocrine system. The amount of these regulating hormones stays about the same, but the response by the endocrine organs can change as we age. The pituitary gland is also located in the brain. This gland reaches its maximum size in middle age and then gradually becomes smaller. It has two parts: The back (posterior) part stores hormones produced in the hypothalamus. The front (anterior) part produces hormones that affect growth, the thyroid gland (TSH), adrenal cortex, ovaries, testes, and breasts. The thyroid gland is located in the neck. It produces hormones that help control metabolism . With aging, the thyroid may become lumpy (nodular). Metabolism slows over time, beginning at around age 20. Because thyroid hormones are produced and broken down (metabolized) at the same rate, thyroid function tests are usually still normal. In some people, thyroid hormone levels may rise, leading to an increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease. The parathyroid glands are four tiny glands located around the thyroid. Parathyroid hormone affects calcium and phosphate levels, which affect bone strength. Parathyroid hormone levels rise with age, which may contribute to osteoporosis . Insulin is produced by the pancreas. It helps sugar (glucose) go from the blood to the inside of cells, where it can be used for energy. The average fasting glucose level rises 6 to 14 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) every 10 years after age 50 as the cells become less sensitive to the effects of insulin. The adrenal glands are located just above the kidneys. The adrenal cortex, the surface layer, produces the hormones aldosterone , cortisol, and dehydroepiandrosterone. Aldosterone regulates fluid and electrolyte balance. Cortisol is the "stress response" hormone. It affects the breakdown of glucose, protein, and fat, and it has anti-inflammatory and anti-allergy effects. Aldosterone release decreases with age. This decrease can contribute to light-headedness and a drop in blood pressure with sudden position changes (orthostatic hypotension). Cortisol release also decreases with aging, but the blood level of this hormone stays about the same. Dehydroepiandrosterone levels also drop. The effects of this drop on the body are not clear. The ovaries and testes have two functions. They produce the reproductive cells (ova and sperm). They also produce the sex hormones that control secondary sex characteristics, such as breasts and facial hair. With aging, men sometimes have a lower level of testosterone . Women have lower levels of estradiol and other estrogen hormones after menopause . EFFECT OF CHANGES Overall, some hormones decrease, some do not change, and some increase with age. Hormones that usually decrease include: Aldosterone	i don't know
In which US state are the Sonoma and Nappa Valley wine growing areas?	Wine Regions Sonoma County, California, stretches from the Pacific Coast in the west to the Mayacamas Mountains in the east, and is home to almost 60,000 acres of vineyards and more than 400 wineries. Within the borders are 17 American Viticultural Areas (AVAs, or appellations), each with its own distinctive characteristics. Located on the northern edge of the greater San Francisco Bay Area, Sonoma County is the largest producer in Northern California's Wine Country. Sonoma County wines enjoy global recognition and have won countless national and international wine awards. Learn more about Sonoma Wine Country .	California
In Germany it is Landwein what is the French equivalent?	The Appellations Of California Wine - North Coast - The Wine Institute Home > Press Room > Lifestyle and Travel > The Appellations Of California Wine - ... The Appellations Of California Wine - North Coast The North Coast American Viticultural Area-Populated with the Most California Wineries The North Coast American Viticultural Area (AVA) in California, covering more than three million acres, includes Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake counties, and portions of Marin and Solano counties. The area forms a slightly crooked rectangle, approximately 100 miles long and more than 50 miles wide. A winemaking mecca since the mid 19th century, today the area features about 800 wineries, nearly half of the total wineries in the state. American Viticultural Areas are to appellations of origin as grapes are to fruit. AVAs are delimited grapegrowing areas distinguishable by geographic, climatic and historic features, and the boundaries have been delineated in a petition filed and accepted by the federal government. In size, AVAs range from extremely small to extremely large. AVAs are one kind of appellation, but not all appellations are AVAs. An appellation can also be a political designation, such as the name of a country, the name of a state or states, the name of a county or counties within a state. More information on AVAs and appellations can be found at the Wine Institute's AVA section . Napa Valley Established in 1981, the Napa Valley AVA covers 225,300 acres of land, encompassing almost the entire county of Napa and is home to 400 wineries. Within that area, there are 45,000 acres of vineyards planted. Cabernet Sauvignon is king in Napa Valley with a total of 18,200 acres, and Chardonnay is the most widely planted white wine variety with 7,300 acres. Napa produces about five percent of total California wine. The Napa Valley is bordered by two mountain ranges—the Vaca on the east and the Mayacamas, rising well above 2,000 feet and bordering the adjacent Sonoma County, on the west. Mt. St. Helena (4,343') stands sentry at the northern end of the appellation where the valley ends at the town of Calistoga. This is the warmest locale in the region. About 30 miles away, near the city of Napa, the southern end of the valley opens to San Pablo Bay, an interconnecting arm of the San Francisco Bay system. A uniquely diverse winegrowing appellation, the Napa Valley formed—much like the rest of the North Coast—through a geological evolution active with colliding tectonic plates (large pieces of the earth's crust), volcanic activity and changes in sea level as water alternately advanced and retreated over the southern end of the valley several times. As a result of these geological events that took place over a 60-million-year history, the Napa Valley has soils of volcanic, maritime and alluvial origin, with more than 30 different types identified. Defined by mountain ranges and a proximity to the Pacific Ocean, the Napa Valley enjoys a temperate climate with a long growing season of sunny, warm days followed by cool evenings. Within the Napa Valley AVA, there are 14 other AVAs with distinct microclimates and terrains formed by a varied topographical configuration of hills, exposures and elevations. The Napa Valley AVA is also part of the North Coast AVA. Sonoma County The appellation of Sonoma County totals more than one million acres of land of which 60,000 acres area planted to winegrapes. The county includes 13 distinct AVAs as well as being a part of the North Coast AVA. The larger Sonoma Coast AVA has with 517,000 acres. Chardonnay takes the lead as the most planted variety with 15,100 acres, and Cabernet Sauvignon is the next most planted variety with 11,900 acres. The area produces about eight percent of California's total wine production. Sonoma County is 52 miles wide and 47 miles long and is currently home to 260 wineries. On the east, Sonoma County borders Napa Valley along the Mayacamas Range. About two million years ago, volcanic eruptions deposited a series of ash and lava called the Sonoma Volcanics throughout much of Sonoma and Napa Counties, especially along the Mayacamas Range. The western edge of the County is the California coastline along the Pacific Ocean. Sonoma County borders Mendocino County in the north and Marin County in the south. Luther Burbank called Sonoma County "the chosen spot of all the earth as far as nature is concerned." A vastly diverse range of topography, including numerous small valleys with distinct microclimates, the Russian River and the Pacific Ocean, all characterize the region. A moderate climate with a cooling maritime influence, Sonoma County embodies ideal and diverse grapegrowing weather: from valley to hillside, moist ocean coast to dry inland, and cool southern regions that complement the warmer, more northern areas. Mendocino County Mendocino is an approved American Viticultural Area with 275,200 acres. The total area planted to vineyards is 16,700 acres. About 4,300 acres are planted to Chardonnay, 1,900 acres to Pinot Noir, and 2,600 acres to Cabernet Sauvignon. Approximately 25 percent of the total vineyard acreage in Mendocino County is certified organic. There are 10 official American Viticultural Areas in Mendocino County. There are 56 wineries and over 250 growers harvesting approximately 62,000 winegrape tons, representing about two percent of the state's wine tonnage. Located directly north of Sonoma County and about 90 miles north of San Francisco, the Mendocino wine region is bounded by California's Coastal Mountain Range, the Pacific Ocean and the great northern redwood forests. A mountainous region, it is part of the seismically active Coast Range and is also the place where the San Andreas Fault reaches the ocean. Almost 60 percent of the county is blanketed with coniferous forests. Most of the vineyards are located in the inland valleys in the south and east areas of the region. The vineyards growing white wine grape varieties are located on flood plains and alluvium along the Navarro and Russian Rivers. Most of the red varieties are grown on the bench lands above. Lake County The western portion of Lake County comprises the North Coast AVA. It encompasses the Clear Lake AVA, which in itself has 168,900 acres of land, the Red Hills Lake County AVA, and High Valley AVA. Within Lake County, a total of 8,530 acres are planted to winegrapes. This is expected to double in the next few years, as many new vineyards are being planted. Cabernet Sauvignon is the most planted variety with 3,300 acres. Sauvignon Blanc is the second with 1,790 acres. Fourteen wineries are located in the region. About 20 out-of-county wineries purchase Lake County grapes from independent growers. Lake County crushed 32,000 tons in 2005, about one percent of California's total winegrape tonnage. Lake County surrounds Clear Lake, the largest natural lake in California. The vineyards are planted throughout the county, from the agriculturally rich valley at 1,370 feet elevation (lake level), to the rocky red volcanic soil at more than 2,000 feet elevation around Mt. Konocti—a dormant volcano in the Pacific Rim chain. These elevations provide cooler winter conditions and a later start to the growing season. Summer growing conditions are suitably warm to ripen the grapes and the elevation allows rapid cooling in the evening. Few grape pests can tolerate the altitude and cool climate. Lake County growers are committed to sustainable farming and participate in year long educational programs to this end. Marin & Solano Counties Marin County has 80 acres of vineyards and 13 wineries. Bordered on three sides by the cooling influence of the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, the area grows mostly the early maturing Pinot Noir and some Chardonnay. The northeastern half of Marin is officially in the North Coast AVA. A small portion of Solano County, forming the southeast tip of the North Coast AVA, has three AVAs, covering an area of more than 21,200 acres. It too receives the cool maritime influence with ocean breezes flowing through the San Francisco Bay and the Delta. The vineyards and wines of California's North Coast are recognized worldwide for their quality and diversity. There is a sense of place that identifies the region as well as the people. From the days of the Gold Rush of 1849, this part of the state has embodied the pioneering spirit and innovation that still energizes the California wine business. Most acreage and crush statistics come from the California Grape Acreage Report and California Crush Report . Wine type statistics are used, as raisin and table grape data reflects what is usually crushed for fruit juice concentrate. Information is also from regional winery and grower associations and from the "Economic Impact of California Wine" by MKF Research. Most of the AVA information comes from the Wine Institute's American Viticultural Areas section . Vestra contains AVA area maps and the TTB has information on Appellations of Origin . Credentialed journalists and Wine Institute members requiring further information may contact the Wine Institute Communications Department .	i don't know
Amarone is one of the great wines of which country?	Amarone: One of Italy's Greatest Symbolic Wines \| The Kitchn Amarone: One of Italy's Greatest Symbolic Wines Amarone: One of Italy's Greatest Symbolic Wines Any lovers of Amarone out there? Despite being one of Italy's most symbolic wines it is little understood and often much under-appreciated. A recent tasting of the best the region has to offer certainly opened my mind. What is Amarone? Amarone is a style of red wine produced in the Valpolicello area of the Veneto in northeastern Italy. Think Verona and Romeo & Juliet and you are there! While great diversity certainly exists, typically the wines are dry, fresh, full-bodied with lots of extract, high alcohol (15-16%), and complex with great depth and flavor concentration. While I have tasted many an Amarone in my time, I've tended to avoid them in recent years, finding many too austere and powerful for my typical table and guests. I've also been concerned about drinking wines of 15-16% alcohol. Well, how I have been proven wrong. I was simply trying the wines too young. The current release on the US market is 2005, but the youngest wines I tasted today were from 2000 - ten-year-old wines that are just about opening up. The Vineyards and the Grapes The best Amarone wines are made from grapes from the best hillside vineyards, where poor soils force the vine roots to dig deep for water and nutrients. These poor soils also keep yields in check, ensuring small, concentrated berries packed with flavor. Indigenous grape varieties from the region are also key to Amarone's uniqueness. Corvino is the main player (called the Queen), providing backbone, structure, body and acidity. Other indigenous varieties such as Corvinone, Rondinella, Molinara and the lesser-known Oseleta are all important ingredients in the final mix, each adding its own special flavors and dimension to the wines. How the wines are made Key words that come up again and again when talking about Amarone are 'selection' and 'drying'. Amarone wines are made from carefully selected bunches of the best grapes. These grapes are then dried (or dehydrated) before fermentation. Traditionally the grapes were dried on wooden racks at ambient temperatures. Today many producers use special temperature and humidity-controlled rooms for this process to ensure that mold does not attack the grapes. This drying process, which lasts between three and four months, is critical to the unique character of Amarone. As the grapes shrivel, sugars, acids, tannins, flavors, extract and other grape compounds concentrate. Additionally various reactions occur within the grapes themselves creating more complexity. Once dried the grapes are crushed and then fermented until dry. Most wines undergo an extended maceration on the skins, just to make sure that all of the complexities and goodness from the shriveled skins ends up in the wine. Then the wines are matured in oak for at least two years for 'normale' Amarone and four years for Riserva. Within the Amarone style of wines, there is great diversity between producers depending on such factors as the vineyard location, drying time for the grapes, length and temperature of fermentation, size of barrel and length of maturation as well as the final blend of grapes. DOC or DOCG Traditionally recognized simply as a style of Valpolicello, Amarone enjoyed DOC quality status. However, after much determined lobbying to seek its own denomination of quality, Amarone was finally granted the more elevated status of DOCG, beginning with the 2010 vintage. However, we won't see this designation on a bottle of Amarone for a few years until the 2010's enter the market circa 2013 to 2014. The unique taste of Amarone As I tasted through the flight of 12 wines yesterday I was most struck by the vibrancy of the wines, their freshness, the way that the high levels of tannin were so seamlessly integrated with the fruit. In particular, I was struck by the fact that despite having alcohol levels between 15% and 16% the wines were extremely balanced, warm in some cases but never aggressive or intrusive. Additionally, even in the most 'modern' style, the oak was never overt, instead adding subtle background and complexity to the fruit. Many of the wines I describe as rich, full-bodied, even powerful, yet we had no blockbusters — power being beautifully balanced by elegance in many cases. I was also struck by the intense focus of the wines, how each wine, while displaying a character that was undeniably Amarone, showed its very clearly defined unique personality and sense of place. Amarone at the table Full-bodied, with lots of tannin and extract, these wines call for meat and hearty rich dishes. Aged ribeye or roast venison both came to mind several times during the tasting. The wines' bright acidity and tannins are well able to break down even the richest of dishes. As we get further into fall and winter approaches, this might be the time to try an Amarone, if it has not usually been on your list of go-to wines. Given the rigorous selection process, time spent drying the grapes and long maturation times these wines are not inexpensive. For a good quality Amarone, be prepared to pay $50 and above. Not for everyday drinking, these are wines for special occasions, wines to gift and in particular wines to lay down and open in five to ten years. Wines to Try All the wines came from a group of wineries known as the 'Famiglie dell'Amarone d'Arte' - which is translated as the Amarone Families - a group of 12 historic Amarone families dedicated to the production of the highest quality Amarone. • 1. 2000 Musella Amarone della Valpolicella Riserva DOC - Probably the most 'modern' of the wines tasted. While a little austere it was rich and intensely flavored, showing vibrant fruit and lots of firm tannins. Long length. Needs more time. • 2. 2000 Zenato Amarone della Valpolicella Riserva DOC- Sergio Zenato - Very classical Amarone in style showing both color and aroma evolution and development. Lots of earthy, leathery aromas and flavors, with hints of roasted meats. Rich but elegant. • 3. 2000 Tommasi Amarone della Valpolicella DOC Classico - Elegant, classical, savory showing lots of vibrant fresh cherry and plum fruit. Well-integrated smooth fine-grained tannins. Richly textured with a very long length. • 4. 2000 Tedeschi Amarone della Valpolicella DOC Classico Capitel Monte Olmi - One of my firm favorites. Very elegant, savory, rich and earthy with lots of minerality. Very refreshing and packed with lively bright fruit. Aromas and flavors just kept evolving in the glass. Smooth, complex and very lingering. • 5. 2000 Nicolis Amarone della Valpolicella DOC Classico Ambrosan - A richer, more powerful style showing lots of ripe baked red fruits. Full-bodied with firm, structuring tannins. Smooth all across the palate with a very long finish. • 6. 1997 Tenuta Sant'Antonio Amarone della Valpolicella DOC Classico Campo Dei Gigli - Thirteen years old and still fresh as a daisy. Rich, but elegant showing lots of enticing savory forest floor, earthy aromas that draw you in. Hints of floral notes add an extra dimension. Smooth with a very long finish. • 7.1997 Venturini Amarone della Valpolicella DOC Classico - Another favorite. More traditional style, showing lots of tertiary development - earthy, leathery aromas. Ripe sweet fruit on the palate, lots of minerality, hints of dried herbs and a long focused finish. • 8. 1997 Begali Amarone della Valpolicella DOC Classico Monte Ca Bianca - Complex, layered, savory nose that kept on evolving in the glass. Full-bodied, richly flavored with bright fruit flavors still showing strongly across the palate. Refreshing with well-integrated fine tannins. Long with a lovely lifted floral note on the finish. • 9. 1997 Allegrini Amarone della Valpolicella DOC Classico - Yet another firm favorite of the day. Extremely complex, layered, rich, powerful with strong minerality and brimming with bright fruit. While smooth and generous on the palate, it was precise, taut and focused. Long, lingering finish. • 10. 1997 Speri Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Vigneto Monte Sant'Urbano - Rich, intensely flavored showing predominantly tertiary aromas and flavors. Lots of earthy, spicy, meaty notes with hints of medicinal herbs. Smooth and long. • 11. 1988 Masi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOC Costasera - The second oldest wine tasted. While showing mainly tertiary aromas and flavors, it still retained its vibrancy and freshness. Sweet baked cherry and plum fruits prevail across the palate. Warm but balanced with a long, savory finish. • 12. 1986 Brigaldara Amarone della Valpolicella DOC Classico Recioto - Showing much more evolution both in color and aromas. Still fresh and lively it was extremely savory and leathery. Complex, rich and elegant. Lifted notes on the finish. Mary Gorman-McAdams, DWS, is a New York based wine educator, freelance writer and consultant. She holds the Diploma in Wine & Spirits from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), and is a candidate in the Master of Wine Program.	Italy
What is the job title of the statistician employed to assess risks for insurance companies?	Italian Amarone \| Regional Wine Style Veneto Description Amarone della Valpolicella is a rich, dry Italian red wine from the Veneto region. It is produced primarily from the Corvina grape. Amarone is characterized by ripe, bold flavors. Directly after harvest, the grapes are air dried through a process called “appassimento”, which allows them to shrivel into raisins. This concentrates the sugar and flavors in the grapes, producing a distinctive and full-bodied wine well-suited to aging. It is often said that you can safely forget an Amarone in your wine cellar. Even average Amarones can be aged for 10-15 years. Depending on the vintage and aging technique, wines of exceptional quality can be enjoyed up to 30-50 years after bottling! In wine, time equals money. The aging process, manual labor, and prime grape-growing real estate mean that Amarone is often quite expensive. Bottles of this iconic wine generally start at $50-$60, but the sky's the limit when it comes to price. Despite its iconic status, Amarone only received DOCG recognition as recently as 2009. Amarone is best paired with very rich foods, due to its strong flavor profile, robust nature, and high alcohol (minimum 14% abv). Your opinion South African Pinotage Spanish Ribera Del Duero Red Californian Zinfandel Italian Ripasso Sardinian Cannonau Mexican Zinfandel Israeli Cabernet Sauvignon Mexican Nebbiolo Description Amarone della Valpolicella is a rich, dry Italian red wine from the Veneto region. It is produced primarily from the Corvina grape. Amarone is characterized by ripe, bold flavors. Directly after harvest, the grapes are air dried through a process called “appassimento”, which allows them to shrivel into raisins. This concentrates the sugar and flavors in the grapes, producing a distinctive and full-bodied wine well-suited to aging. It is often said that you can safely forget an Amarone in your wine cellar. Even average Amarones can be aged for 10-15 years. Depending on the vintage and aging technique, wines of exceptional quality can be enjoyed up to 30-50 years after bottling! In wine, time equals money. The aging process, manual labor, and prime grape-growing real estate mean that Amarone is often quite expensive. Bottles of this iconic wine generally start at $50-$60, but the sky's the limit when it comes to price. Despite its iconic status, Amarone only received DOCG recognition as recently as 2009. Amarone is best paired with very rich foods, due to its strong flavor profile, robust nature, and high alcohol (minimum 14% abv). Interesting facts Due to the drying process, Amarone requires at least double the amount of grapes to produce a single bottle of wine. Amarone was invented by accident in the early 20th century when a barrel of sweet Recioto wine was accidentally left to ferment too long. “Amarone” translates to “the great bitter” in Italian, which references the wine's mistaken origin from a sweet wine. After production, many winemakers use the grape skins to add depth of flavor to standard Valpolicella wines, creating Valpolicella Ripasso. The drying process was traditionally done on straw mats. However, it is often more tightly controlled to reduce the risk of bacterial and fungal infection.	i don't know
Which colour gets its name from the Persian word for dust?	Khaki \| Define Khaki at Dictionary.com khaki [kak-ee, kah-kee] /ˈkæk i, ˈkɑ ki/ Spell a stout, twilled cotton cloth of this color, used especially in making uniforms. 3. Usually, khakis. (used with a plural verb) a uniform made of this cloth, especially a military uniform. a garment made of this cloth, especially trousers. 4. a similar fabric of wool. adjective 1855-60; < Urdu < Persian khākī dusty, equivalent to khāk dust + -ī suffix of appurtenance Related forms Examples from the Web for khaki Expand Contemporary Examples The walls were painted seafoam green, and men in blue shirts and khaki pants stood around to ask questions. ‘Moonrise Kingdom’ Review: Wes Anderson Opens Cannes Film Festival Richard Porton May 16, 2012 Historical Examples The khaki Boys reach France, and, after some intensive training in sound of the battle front, are sent into the trenches. Bamboo Tales Ira L. Reeves Upon the sleeve of Tom Slade's khaki jacket was seen the profile of an Indian. British Dictionary definitions for khaki Expand (as adjective): a khaki background 2. a hard-wearing fabric of this colour, used esp for military uniforms (as modifier): a khaki jacket Word Origin C19: from Urdu, from Persian: dusty, from khāk dust Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Word Origin and History for khaki Expand n. "dust-colored cloth," 1857, from Urdu khaki, literally "dusty," from khak "dust," from Persian. First introduced in uniforms of British cavalry in India (the Guide Corps, 1846); widely adopted for camouflage purposes in the Boer Wars (1899-1902). As an adjective from 1863. Related: Khakis. Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper	Khaki
Who was recorded having a scorpion tattoo for a TV series recently?	Urban Dictionary: persian persian The Persian Empire expanded from Africa to China and also to India, until Alexander the Great came along. Persians have a long and eventful history. The Shah of Persia, in the 1930s, changed the name of the country back to its original name, "Iran". Iran means "the land of the Aryans". So Hitler and all his little Nazi friends were quite awfully wrong in calling themselves Aryans. The closest people of Aryan decent are Iranians and Afghanis and they certainly do not have blue eyes, blond hair and white skin. As a result of mass integration of various cultures from around the Middle East area, Iranians nowadays are multiracial, but they still take great pride in their country. Persia was a very rich country, and to some extent, it still is. But the majority of people in Iran are of lower class. However, most Iranians are hard-working and very motivated people. When they immigrate to other countries, a lot of them lead a good lifestyle because they work hard to earn a high status in society. Persians do not settle for anything but first place. Lots of Persians who immigrate to new countries start out working in small businesses and often times, they start from scratch. They quickly work their way up. Persians are very hard working people. persian An Iranian. Lifestyle: Depends on the person. A Persian can be poor, wealthy or of the middle class. There is no one single status that describes a Persian's lifestyle. Religion: The official religion of Iran is Islam but there are also many other religions practiced by Persians, especially those living outside of Iran. These other religions include Bahai and Zoroastrian. Are famous for: Their handcrafted rugs, poetry and cats. However, many people are naive to the fact that Persia used to be a great empire that ruled the vast land spanning across the middle east towards Africa and India. This land that the Persian King Dariush ruled over was called the "Aryan" land. Hitler messed up this term and referred to himself as Aryan and referred to Aryan as a race. This is very offensive to Persian culture. Aryan has nothing to do with Germans or Germany. Aryan is not even a race. It was used to refer to the land that the Persians lived on and. Aryan means "noble" in the ancient Persian language. Physical features: Persian women are said to be some of the most beautiful women in the world. They are famous for their exotic looking eyes. In general, Persians have black hair, brown eyes, and light brown skin. However, this is just a generalization and it varies. There are some who have hazel eyes or brown hair, and some who have dark brown skin. The Persian civilization was one of the first known civilizations of the early ages. If you ever get a chance to go to Iran, visit the ruins of Persepolis. It's beautiful. persian Pretty much the Russians of the Middle-East. They drink like crazy, all the ones in America are ridiculously rich, they sure do like techno, and all their women are drop-dead gorgeous until they hit 30. Though they are stereotyped as Arabs, Persians are not Arabs. Belly dancing, Islam, and riding camels is all Arabic stuff. Persians do not speak Arabic, they speak Persian. The reason for some Arab qualities of Persian culture today is because they were conquered by Arabs about 1300 years ago. Before that, Persia was like another Greece or Rome. They should be considered a European people. Persians to this day are still angry at Arab people for forcing Islam unto them and pretty much ruining the country forever. Quite frankly, calling a Persian dude "Arab" would be suicide. Persian men are stereotyped as hairy, rich, long eyelashes, wears too much cologne, good grades, amazing at soccer, often mistaken to be Italian (sometimes taking advantage of this), and enormously faithful. Persian women are stereotyped as dark haired, long legged, and very closed off to dating outside their race, contrary to Persian men who probably date outside their race more often than not. Lying is one of the biggest taboos in Persian culture so if you happen to be going out with a Persian right now, rest assured he/she will NOT play around with others. Up until the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iran was just like any other country in Europe. But when the revolution came around in 1979-1980, Islamic radicals were in control. Women had to start covering themselves. Religious minorities were persecuted. Life was to be lived by the Koran. No one could get in, few could get out (but for the record, 100% of Persian-Americans came here legally. It's kinda hard to swim over 15,000 miles and sneak into the USA after that, ya know.). Every day Persian people around the world hope the current regime will fall one way or another. A wonderful people with an awfully crappy government. Persians can draw many parallels with Russians, from their love of alcohol, to the two country's revolutions which very few people really wanted. persian Iranians in the US refer to themselves as Persians. Iranians/Persians living in the US are said to have some of these stereotypes (although I dont have most of them!) 1. at your party you play techno songs the whole freakin' night. 2. you drink tea at the end of the night to sober up 3. You remove the 318 emblem from your BMW and install M3 wheels on the car. 4. You brag to your friend that your BMW was shipped from Germany 5. You keep your black leather jacket on the whole night at the party eventhough it's warm as hell 6. Your parents always call you to help them fill out form that are in English 7. Your parents always complain about the food at the local persian restaurant eventhough they go there every weekend 8. All your persian friends are DJ's 9. You talk in an italian NY style dilect.."yo, ha yoo doin?" 10. After 15 years of marriage, your mother still calls your wife "Aroos" 11.If you talk behind your wife with your mother. 12. If you dress up to go to grocery store. 13. If you go to a concert but never see the singer and stay in the hallways with your drink checking out girls. 14. You know Amoo Noo Ruz and Haji Firooz will start a light saber fight with the Mullahs and restore the persian jedi order! 15. If you smoke five packs a day and tell everyone you don't smoke. 16. If you pronounce "Sure": SHOOR 17. If you are about 35 and have no hair on your head. 18. If you watch Iranian programs on TV, but always nag about them. 19. If you are good in playing backgammon and chess but can't do your taxes. 20. If you call a gas station: gas essteshen. 21. If you ask someone to marry and they want to know if you own a house. 22. If you divorce your wife but still don't let her date anyone else. 23. If your wife divorces you, but still goes shopping with your sister. 24. If you used to be a brain surgeon in Iran but now you work in a chelokababy. 25. If you carry 3 pagers and 2 cellular phone but nobody ever calls you. 26. If you claim your dad was a very good friend of the SHAH. 27. If you don't own a house and have no job but still can afford a BMW. 28. If you have to shave more than once a day. 29. If you were a 4 star general in Iran and now drive a cab in Washington,D.C. 30. If your inlaws come to visit but never leave. 31. When they ask "where are you from?" you reply...Italy!!..yet have a "tasbeeh" in your hand. 32. Have rice with yogurt using a spoon and fight over its Tahdeeg. 33. Have an "Aaftaabeh in your Toilet" and if not...water in a milk bottle will do just as good. 34. Invite friends over for dinner and buy Pizza, yet cook some extra rice...just in case! 35. Believe no one else can make Kabaab better than us. 36. Watch Rugby Test Matches, yet play only soccer over the weekends. 37. Being addicted (so much) to "Tea " that you drink it in a big coffee mug. 38. complain about everybody's accent, but yours. 39. You have to be a Doctor or a Dentist. No other profession in the world is any good. 40. Your future wife/husband must be Iranian. 41. Your Parents must first approve of all your girl/boy friends which is usually settled by inviting them to Dinner. 42. You must be very strong in your Maths class. 43. You mustn't stay out at night beyond 12:00 even though you probably break the curfew every time. 44. Even though you it takes 100 hours to say goodbye to everyone in a party you must do it. 45. Even if you're not hungry you must eat dinner in a party otherwise the host will get mad. 46. Parents must have an unconditional decision in every aspect of your life. 47. Your Parents keep telling you to learn from Reza and how amazing he treats his parents. 48. You must drive under 2 miles per hour when your parents are in your dad's New Mercedes with you driving. 49. You can stay at home living off your parents as long as you want. 50. When you have your arguments with your spouse you have your parents to back you up when your living in their house. 51. Even when you move out to your new home, you mum comes and cooks for you. 52. You take over your dad's business when he retires and begin to make your own business empire which can range from making bar-bari to selling stolen BMWs. 53.You can play takhteh and shatranj and hokm with your grandad for hours while watching NITV. 54. You can have 7 hour Iranian political conversations. 55. You know every single Iranian revolution conspiracy theory from Carter to Mickey Mouse being involved. 56.You tell the story how you met a member of the Pahlavi family 57. You know the story how Khomeini is from Kashmir 58. You can sit with other Iranian fathers and boast about your children 59. You never miss the oppurtunity to tell an American that his khakis, the maths he studies/words he uses, wine and beer he drinks originates from Iran. 60.When your in a crisis your grandmother can blame your parents. 61. You're late to everything 62. Your car is a BMW not a ford. 63. Can't even organize a simple lunch with friends. 64.You refer to yourself as a Persian, not an Iranian 65. Your wardrobe consists of black, black, and more black 66. You have to explain to americans that a visa is not a credit card 67. You have an endless supply of pistachios, dates, and figs. 68. Your refer to your dad's friends as Amoo! 69. Your grandmother insists you eat something every time you visit her 70. Your parents say you're becoming Americanized anytime you get into trouble 71. You know Samad is funnier than Leno/Conan 72. You hug and kiss relatives you have never seen before in your life 73. You actually like carbonated yogurt drinks 74. You curse at your teachers or strangers in Farsi 75. You wonder whether a cute guy/ girl is Persian and go up to ask her just to start a conversation 76. You flip out when someone mistakes you for a Mexican or Indian 77. You have to explain to all your friends that being Persian and Iranian are the same thing 78. You have Thanksgiving dinner with rice and "khoresht." 79. After a family meal, the women fight to the death over who should wash the dishes while the men sit on their behinds and play cards, waiting for their tea. 80. your teacher pauses in the middle of attendance to ask how your name is pronounced 81. your friends ask you to speak farsi 82. your teacher asks you to do a presentation about persia 83. your friends ask you why you don't have an accent 84. You bring your family of 11 to the Andy concert including 1 screaming baby, 2 whiny toddlers, 1 sulky teen-age son with a mustache who will get into a knife-fight before the end of the night, 1 teen-age daughter whose skirts are getting shorter every day and who will get at least three phone numbers before the end of the night, 1 unmarried torshideh daughter and 1 unmarried torshideh sister-in-law who will get no phone numbers, 1 even more f.o.b. visiting male mustachioed cousin, and 1 grandmother in roussari who has brought along plastic bags full of pessteh and tokhmeh for the family to consume for the night. 85. you love lavashak (Persian Fruit roll up) 86. your favorite part of eid (Persian New Year) is getting the money 87. you celebrate christmas even though your not christian 88. everybody makes you dance when theirs persian music at your relatives house 89. your dad is the master at making kabob 90. you have to go over your grandparents, aunts or uncles house constantly 91. you eat rice every day 92. if you have a talent you have to perform it in front of your relatives 93. your parents have the longest phone converstations 94. You start off every shopping purchase with..."I Vant Dat vOne" 95. You must constantly remind your non-persian friends to take off they're shoes when they come to your house. 96. Waxing, Waxing, and Some more Waxing 97. Your parents always argue over who should pay for dinner 98. Your parents think everything is a conspiracy 99. You hate Alexander the Great 100. Your uncle has the longest eyebrow one could ever see. 101.One of your aunts put globs of mascara on 102. Your granparents come every other year to get money out of the bank. 103. All your jokes are targeted towards Afghans and Turks 104. Brag to everyone how you are from the true "Aryan" race 105. You drink so much chayee (tea) your piss is brown 106. You take Persian food to school or work to eat, even if it is cold kabob 107. You own a Persian pride hat, shirt, or an Iran jersey so everyone knows you are Persian 108. You try to get hooked up with a discount when the owner of a shop is Persian 109. You tell your friends that persians have the biggest "Goods" 110. You make your move on the blond; never the iranian 111. You refer to every other persian as a FOB. 112. You're always on the verge of trading in your Honda/Nissan for a Bimmer or Mercedes 113. You think Black Cats have talent. 114. You think your uni-brow is sexy. 115. You celebrate when you receive your citizenship 116. You wish Waffle House had "kaleh pache" on the menu. 117. You can't sleep before 3 AM. 118. Your AOL screen name is a cute persian word 119. You only wear Adidas athletic wear. 120. You think Christine Amanpoor is sexy 121. Your cell phone has a stupid-ass ring. 122. You know how to flash your wallet and then put it back without paying. 123. You take dates out to chelo kabob 124. You order hot tea at Chili's 125. You own a fake Rolex, Omega, or TAG. 126. You only vacation in Miami or LA. 127. Your cologne precedes you into a room 128. You've been clubbing since you were 15. 129. You participate in gang bangs 130.If you leave your house at the exact time that the event you're going to is supposed to start, no matter how far you live from the place. (Known as PST - Persian Standard 131. If you call everyone you know as soon as there is an American nightly news show doing a story about Iran or someone from Iran. 132. If you have lived in this country all your life, but you still talk about the revolution as if you were there 133. everyone you know had a nose job and dyed their hair blond after the revolution. 134. Your family still wants to go back to iran for visits after all has happened. 135. Your grandparents still want to bring dates and dried cranberreis from iran. 136. You call iran "Iroon" and you think salar should become Prez of Persia. 137. You thought that Dr. Kavita Rao in X-Men: The Last Stand sounded familiar to you and looked pretty cute in that nurse outfit. aka... Shohreh Aghdashloo	i don't know

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